2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320CDI Center

370 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Low
Battery
Conven. functions
temporarily
unavailable
The battery has insufficient voltage
and can no longer supply conve-
nience functions such as the rear
window defroster.
As soon as the on-board voltage is sufficient,
the consumers will switch on again.
Please note:
Conven. functions
available again

On-board voltage is sufficient; the
consumers will switch on again.
Cruise control
Drive to workshop
Cruise control or Distronic* is mal-
functioning.

Have the cruise control or Distronic*
checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Distronic
External interference
Reactivate
The Distronic* is switched off and is
temporarily unavailable.

Try activating the Distronic* again later.
Drive to workshop
The Distronic* is malfunctioning or
the display is malfunctioning.

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

372 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
Malfunction
Visit workshop
The ESP has detected a malfunction
and switched off.
The ABS may not be operational.
The SBC brake system is still func-
tioning normally but without the ESP
available.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
The ESP is deactivated because the
power supply was interrupted.
The SBC brake system is still func-
tioning normally but without the ESP
available.

Synchronize the ESP. With the vehicle sta-
tionary, turn the steering wheel completely
to the left and then to the right to synchro-
nize the ESP.
If the ESP message does not go out:

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
!When synchronizing the ESP, make
sure you can turn the steering wheel in
both directions as far as it will go with-
out the wheels hitting any objects, e.g.
a road curb.

373 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
The ESP or the ESP display is mal-
functioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
P
Gear selector lever
in Park
You have attempted to turn off the
engine with the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button with the gear se-
lector lever not inP. You have
opened the driver's door with the
gear selector lever not inP.

Place the gear selector lever in positionP.
P/N
Shift to Neutral or Park
You have attempted to start the en-
gine with the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button while the gear se-
lector lever was in positionR orD.

Place the gear selector lever in positionP
orN. Make sure the brake pedal is de-
pressed.

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.

378 Practical hintsWhat 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 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 au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Ad-
just driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.

379 Practical hints
What 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 46).
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.

380 Practical hintsWhat 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.

Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking the wheels with wheel
chocks or other sizable objects.

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.