2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 Warning messages

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.

367 Practical hints
What to do if …
Vehicle status messages in the multi-function display
Warning and malfunction messages ap-
pear in the multifunction display located in
the instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in
this Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the vehicle status message
memory menu in the control system
(page 145) displays both cleared and
uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the mul-
tifunction display in red color.Certain messages of high priority cannot
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (
page 24) or
buttonj, k, è orÿ on the
multifunction steering wheel.
Other messages of high priority and mes-
sages of less immediate priority can be
cleared from the multifunction display us-
ing the reset button or buttonj, k,
è orÿ on the multifunction steer-
ing wheel. They are then stored in the vehi-
cle status message memory (
page 153).
Remember that clearing a message will
only make the message disappear. Clear-
ing a message will not correct the condi-
tion that caused the message to appear.
Warning!
G
All categories of messages contain impor-
tant information which should be taken note
of and, where a malfunction is indicated, ad-
dressed as soon as possible at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty, or result in property dam-
age or personal injury.Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative.
Contact the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

368 Practical hintsWhat to do if …On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may ap-
pear in the multifunction display.
For your convenience the messages are di-
vided into two sections:

Text messages (
page 369)


Symbol messages (
page 378)
iSwitching on the ignition causes all in-
strument cluster lamps (except low
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) as well as the multifunction dis-
play to come on. Make sure the lamps
and multifunction display are in work-
ing order before starting your journey.

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.

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.

383 Practical hints
What 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 Cen-
ter.
B
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 308).

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.

384 Practical hintsWhat 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.