2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320CDI Brake visit workshop

369 Practical hints
What to do if …
Text messagesDisplay
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABS
Malfunction
Visit workshop
The ABS has detected a malfunction
and has switched off.
The ESP and the BAS are also deac-
tivated.
The SBC brake system is still func-
tioning normally but without the ABS
available.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels will lock during hard braking, reduc-
ing steering capability.

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.
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
The ABS or the ABS display is mal-
functioning.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels will lock during hard braking, reduc-
ing steering capability.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.