Page 378 of 491

377 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
(USA only);(Canada only)3
Brake fluid
Visit workshop
There is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.
Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle and
notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Do not add brake fluid! This
will not solve the problem.
Warning!
G
Driving while these messages are displayed
can result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately.
If there is a malfunction in the SBC brake
system, we recommend that the vehicle be
transported with all wheels off the ground
using flatbed or appropriate wheel lift / dolly
equipment.
A tow bar must be used if circumstances do
not permit the use of the recommended
towing methods and the vehicle requires
towing with all four wheels on the ground.
Towing the vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is only permissible for distances
u p t o 3 0 m i l e s ( 5 0 k m ) a n d a t a s p e e d n o t t o
exceed 30 mph (50 km / h). For more infor-
mation, refer to “Towing the vehicle”
(page 430).
If the SBC brake system enters its emergen-
cy operation mode, the driver must apply
significantly greater brake pedal pressure
and depress the pedal much further than
normal to obtain braking effect. If neces-
sary, apply full pressure to the brake pedal.
Brakes may only be applied to the front
wheels. Stopping distance is increased!
Do not add brake fluid before checking the
brake system. Overfilling the brake fluid res-
ervoir can result in spilling brake fluid on hot
engine parts and the brake fluid catching
fire. You can be seriously burned.!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.
Page 379 of 491

378 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
?
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
Visit workshop
There may be a malfunction in the:
fuel injection system
ignition system
exhaust system
fuel system
Have the measuring system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
B
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.
Add coolant (
page 303).
If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You can be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning. Extended driving with
the message and symbol displayed
may cause serious engine damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount
of coolant in the cooling system. The
engine will overheat causing major en-
gine damage.
Page 380 of 491

379 Practical hints
What to do if …
During severe operation conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off
The coolant is too hot.
Stop the vehicle.
Only start the engine again after the
message disappears. You could other-
wise damage the engine.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly overheat-
ed can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns and can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
!The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious
damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Page 382 of 491
381 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
G
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
The displays for several systems have
malfunctioned. Some systems them-
selves may also have malfunctioned.
Continue driving with added caution.
When the display is malfunctioning,
warnings and malfunction messages
might not be displayed.
Have the electronic systems checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
±
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
Certain electronic systems are unable to
relay information to the control system.
The following systems may have failed:
Coolant temperature display
Tachometer
Cruise control display
Have the electronic systems checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
J
Doors open
You are attempting to drive with one or
more doors open.
Close the doors.
Page 384 of 491

383 Practical hints
What to do if …
When the
Engine oil - Visit workshop
message appears while the engine is run-
ning and at operating temperature, the en-
gine oil level has dropped to approximately
the minimum level.
When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.If no oil leaks are noted, continue to drive
to the nearest service station where the
engine oil should be topped to the required
level with an approved oil specified in the
Factory Approved Service Products pam-
phlet.
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
:
Engine oil
Visit workshop
The engine oil has dropped to a critical
level.
Check the engine oil level
(page 301) and add oil as required
(page 302).
If you must add engine oil frequently,
have the engine checked for possible
leaks.
It may be that there is water in the engine
oil.
Have the engine oil checked.
Engine oil level
Visit workshop
The measuring system is malfunctioning.
Have the measuring system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.!The engine oil level warnings should
not be ignored. Extended driving with
the symbol displayed could result in
serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Page 392 of 491
391 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Reactivate
tire pres. monitor
after corr. pres.
There was a tire pressure warning mes-
sage.
The yellow warning lamp for the tire pres-
sure monitoring system* comes on and
you have not reactivated the system
since the last tire pressure warning mes-
sage.
Reactivate the tire pressure monitoring
system* after correcting the tire pressure
values (
page 320).
Tire pres. monitor
deactivated
Drive to workshop
The tire inflation pressure monitor is mal-
functioning.
A wheel without proper sensor was in-
stalled.
Have the tire inflation pressure monitor
checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Change the wheel (
page 419).
Page 393 of 491

392 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Caution
Tire pressure
One or more tires is deflating.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers. Ob-
serve the traffic situation around you.
Change the wheel (
page 419).
Have the damaged wheel repaired or
replaced at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Tire pres.
Check tire
The tire inflation pressure in one or
more tires is already below the mini-
mum value.
The tire inflation pressure in one or
more tires is low.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Observe the traffic situation around you.
Check the tires.
Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
as required.
If necessary, change the wheel (
page 419).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Page 394 of 491
393 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Caution
Tire pres., RL
The left rear tire is deflating.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Observe the traffic situation around you.
Change the wheel (
page 419).
Have the damaged wheel repaired or
replaced at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Tire pressure, RL
Check tire
The left rear tire inflation pressure is
low.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.
Check the tire.
Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
as required.
If necessary, change the wheel (
page 419).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.