2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 Front

365 Practical hints
What to do if …
Lamp in center consoleProblem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
75The indicator lamp illuminates and remains
illuminated with the weight of a typical adult
or someone larger than a small individual on
the front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Also note any messages in the
multifunction display and follow cor-
rective steps (
page 374).
Warning!
G
If the
75
indicator lamp illumi-
nates and remains illuminated with the
weight of a typical adult or someone larger
than a small individual on the front passen-
ger seat, do not have any passenger use the
front passenger seat until the system has
been repaired.

366 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
75The indicator lamp does not illuminate
and/or does not remain illuminated with
the weight of a typical 12-month-old child in
a standard child restraint or less on the
front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

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.

If the light remains out, have the system checked as
soon as possible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Do not transport a child on the front passen-
ger seat until the system has been repaired.

Also note any messages in the multifunction display
and follow corrective steps (
page 374).
Warning!
G
If the
75
indicator lamp does not
illuminate or remains out with the
weight of a typical 12-month-old child in a
standard child restraint or less on the front
passenger seat, do not transport a child on
the front passenger seat until the system
has been repaired.

374 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag activated
See Operator’s Manual
Air bag is activated while
driving 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)

375 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag activated
See Operator’s Manual
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
75 indicator lamp remains out even after per-
forming the above corrective steps, have the system
checked as soon as possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the message
Front passenger airbag
activated
remains on in the multifunction
display and/or the
75
indicator
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.

376 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag deactivated
See Operator’s Manual
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 38).

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)

377 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag deactivated
See Operator’s Manual
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
75 indicator lamp remains on even after per-
forming 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.

382 Practical hintsWhat 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 439).
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.!Brake pad thickness must be visually
inspected by a qualified technician at
the intervals specified in the
Maintenance Booklet.

392 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Brake lamp
Drive to workshop
Brake lamp illumination is delayed or
lamp is permanently on.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Brake lamp, left
Substitute bulb on
The left brake lamp is malfunctioning. A
substitute bulb is being used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Brake lamp, right
Substitute bulb on
The right brake lamp is malfunctioning. A
substitute bulb is being used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
The display for the lamps or the system is
malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Front foglamp,
left
The left front fog lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Front foglamp,
right
The right front fog lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Active Hdlmp.
currently
unavailable
The Bi-Xenon cornering lamps system is
malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Active Hdlmp.
malfunction
Drive to workshop
The Bi-Xenon cornering lamps system is
malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.