Page 383 of 506
381 Practical hints
What 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 176).
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 48).
Page 384 of 506
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.
Page 385 of 506
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.
Page 387 of 506
385 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off
The poly-V-belt could be broken.
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:
Do not continue to drive the vehicle
with this message displayed. Doing so
could result in serious engine damage
that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Warranty.
Drive immediately to the nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Coolant
Visit workshop
The cooling fan for the coolant is malfunc-
tioning.
Observe the coolant temperature dis-
play.
Have the fan replaced as soon as pos-
sible.
Page 390 of 506
388 Practical hintsWhat 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 305) and add oil as required
(page 306).
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 391 of 506
389 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
A
Reserve fuel
The fuel level has dropped below the re-
serve mark.
Refuel at the next gas station
(page 299).
Check gas cap
See Operator’s Manual
A loss of pressure has been detected in
the fuel system. The fuel cap may not be
closed properly or the fuel system may be
leaky.
Check the fuel cap (
page 299).
If it is not closed properly:
Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:
Have the fuel system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Y
Hood open
You are driving with the hood open.
Close the hood (
page 303).
Page 392 of 506
390 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
F
Key
still in vehicle
A SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* left in the
vehicle was recognized while locking the
vehicle from the outside.
Take the SmartKey out of the vehicle.
Keyless Go
Check system
The KEYLESS-GO* system is malfunction-
ing.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Do not
forget key
This display appears (for a maximum of
60 seconds) if the driver’s door is opened
with the engine shut off and no SmartKey
in the starter switch.
This message is only a reminder.
Insert SmartKey in the starter switch.
Take the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you when leaving
the vehicle.
Remove key
You have forgotten to remove the
SmartKey.
Remove the SmartKey from the start-
er switch.
Replace key
There is no additional code available for
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Page 394 of 506
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.
