2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E WAGON display

369 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag activated
see Oper.’s Man.
Front passenger front air
bag is activated while driv-
ing even though a child,
small individual, or object
below the system's weight
threshold is on the front
passenger seat, or the
front passenger seat is
empty. Objects on the seat
or forces acting on the seat
may make the system
sense supplemental
weight.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible
and check the following:
Make sure that there is nothing between seat cush-
ion and child seat and check installation of the child
seat.

Make sure that no objects applying supplemental
weight onto the seat are present.

Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the
seat are present (e.g. objects such as books, brief-
cases etc. lodged behind or around the seat, head
restraints pushing against roof etc.). The system
may recognize such forces as supplemental weight
and sense that an occupant on the front passenger
seat is of a heavier weight than actually present.
(Continued on next page)

370 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag activated
see Oper.’s Man.
If performing any of the above corrective steps is suc-
cessful, the message
Front passenger airbag deacti-
vated
will appear in the multifunction display,
confirming the situation has been remedied. Note that
after performing the corrective steps, it may take up to
60 seconds for the message
Front passenger airbag
deactivated
to appear.
If the message
Front passenger airbag activated

remains on in the multifunction display and/or the
75indicator lamp remains out even after
performing the above corrective steps, have the system
checked as soon as possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not have any children12 years old and under and
other small individuals use the front passenger seat un-
til the system has been repaired.
Warning!
G
If the message
Front passenger airbag
activated
remains on in the multifunction
display and/or the 75indicator
lamp remains out even after performing the
above corrective steps, do not have any
children12 years old and under and other
small individuals use the front passenger
seat until the system has been repaired.

371 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag deactivated
see Oper.’s Man.
Front passenger front air
bag is deactivated while
driving even though an
adult or someone larger
than a small individual is
occupying the front pas-
senger seat. Forces acting
on the seat may make the
system sense a decrease
in weight.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible
and check the following:
Do not lean on armrests or lift yourself up using han-
dle over the door.

Adjust the seat in a height position (
page 39).

Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the
seat are present (e.g. objects such as books, brief-
cases etc. lodged underneath, behind or around the
seat). Such forces may cause the system to sense
that an occupant of a lesser weight than actually
present is on the front passenger seat.

Re-position yourself.

Sit properly belted in a nearly upright position with
your back against the seat backrest.
If performing any of the above corrective steps is
successful, the message
Front passenger airbag
activated
will appear in the multifunction display,
confirming the situation has been remedied.
(Continued on next page)

372 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag deactivated
see Oper.’s Man.
Note that after performing the corrective steps, it may
take up to 60 seconds for the message
Front passen-
ger airbag activated
to appear.
If the message
Front passenger airbag deactivated

remains on in the multifunction display and/or the
75indicator lamp remains on even after
performing the above corrective steps, have the system
checked as soon as possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not have any passenger use the front passenger seat
until the system has been repaired.
Warning!
G
If the message
Front passenger airbag
deactivated remains on in the multifunc-
tion display and/or the 75 indica-
tor lamp remains illuminated even after
performing the above corrective steps, do
not have any passenger use the front pas-
senger seat until the system has been re-
paired.

373 Practical hints
What to do if …
Symbol messagesDisplay symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Undervoltage
Switch off
consumers
The battery has insufficient voltage.

Turn off unnecessary electrical con-
sumers.
Visit workshop
The battery was charged with a battery
charger or jump started.

Have the battery checked at a service
station.
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning


broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake system re-
quires electrical energy and may be oper-
ating with restricted capability.
Considerably greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping distance is in-
creased.

Stop immediately and check the
poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:

Do not continue to drive. Otherwise
the engine will overheat due to an in-
operative water pump which may re-
sult in damage to the engine. Notify
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:

Drive immediately to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Adjust driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.

374 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicle
The battery is malfunctioning.
The SBC brake system requires electrical
energy and therefore has only limited op-
eration. Considerably greater brake pedal
force is required and the stopping dis-
tance is increased.

Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe
to do so. Adjust driving to be consis-
tent with reduced braking responsive-
ness.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Low voltage
Start engine
The battery has insufficient voltage.

Start the engine (
page 47).
Malfunction
Electrical consumers
switched off
The consumer battery has insufficient
voltage and can no longer supply the con-
venience functions such as seat ventila-
tion*.
The electrical consumers will come back
online as soon as on-board voltage is suf-
ficient.
(
Backrest, right rear
not locked
The rear seat backrest is not engaged.

Adjust the rear seat backrest until it is
fully engaged in position.
Backrest, left rear
not locked
The rear seat backrest is not engaged.

Adjust the rear seat backrest until it is
fully engaged in position.

375 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
2
Brake wear
Visit workshop
The brake pads have reached their wear
limit.

Brake pad thickness must be visually
inspected at the intervals specified in
the Maintenance Booklet.

Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
T
Reduced braking power
Depress brake
pedal fully
The SBC brake system is in emergency
operation mode. Considerably greater
brake pedal force is required and the
stopping distance is increased.
The maximum speed is limited to 55 mph
(90 km / h).

Do not drive any further.

Stop the vehicle and notify an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Significantly greater force must be ap-
plied to the brake pedal.

Call for Roadside Assistance.
(USA only);(Canada only)3
Reduced braking power

Start engine
The battery has insufficient voltage and
cannot supply sufficient power to the
SBC brake system.

Start the engine.
The message disappears when suffi-
cient voltage is available.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
inspected by a qualified technician at
the intervals specified in the
Maintenance Booklet.

376 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
(USA only);(Canada only)3
Reduced braking power
Visit workshop
The SBC brake system is in emergency
operation mode. Considerable brake ped-
al force is required and the stopping dis-
tance is increased.

Continue driving with added caution.

Adjust driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Service brake
Visit workshop
There are malfunctions, but the SBC
brake system is operating normally.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Brake overheated
Drive carefully
The brake system is overheated due to an
excessive load on the brakes.

Relieve the load on the brake system.

Drive more smoothly and think ahead
to avoid unnecessary braking.

When driving down slopes, shift into a
lower gear to use the engine’s braking
power (
page 185).

Cautiously continue driving so that
the air stream will cool down the
brakes.
Release
parking brake
You are driving with the parking brake
set.

Release the parking brake
(page 49).