356 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display 
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
BATTERY CHARGE
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 
longer.
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 inoperative 
water pump which may result in damage 
to the engine. Notify an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:
Drive immediately to the nearest autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center. Adjust driv-
ing to be consistent with reduced braking 
responsiveness.
;(USA only)!(Canada only)
 RELEASE
 PARKING BRAKE
You are driving with the parking brake en-
gaged.
Release the parking brake (
page 48).  
419 Technical data
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
S 430/S 500 (all models)
1Automatic belt tensioner
2ABC tandem pump (pump for 
power-steering assistance and ABC 
chassis)
3Air conditioning compressor
4Crankshaft
5Coolant pump
6Generator (alternator)
7Idler pulley
S55AMGThe S 55 AMG has two poly-V-belts (belt one 
shown in purple/belt two shown in black). 1Idler pulley
2Automatic belt tensioner
3ABC tandem pump (pump for 
power-steering assistance and ABC 
chassis)
4Air conditioning compressor
5Crankshaft
6Coolant pump
7Generator (alternator)
8Idler pulley
9Automatic belt tensioner
aSupercharger
S600
1Automatic belt tensioner
2ABC tandem pump (pump for 
power-steering assistance and ABC 
chassis)
3Air conditioning compressor
4Crankshaft
5Coolant pump
6Generator (alternator)
7Idler pulley
8Idler pulley
9Idler pulley 
440 Technical termsLine of fall
The direct line that an object moves 
downhill when influenced by the force 
of gravity alone. 
Lock button
Button on the door which indicates 
whether the door is locked or un-
locked. Pushing the lock button down 
on an individual door from inside will 
lock that door.
Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles)
Maintenance service indicator in the 
multifunction display that informs the 
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. The Maintenance 
System in your vehicle tracks distance 
driven and the time elapsed since your 
last maintenance service, and calls for 
the next maintenance service accord-
ingly.
Memory function
Used to store three individual seat, 
steering wheel and exterior mirror posi-
tions for each SmartKey or SmartKey 
with KEYLESS-GO*.MON
(M
otor O
ctane N
umber)
The Motor Octane Number for gasoline 
as determined by a standardized meth-
od. It is an indication of a gasoline's 
ability to resist undesired detonation 
(knocking). The average of both the 
MON (Motor Octane Number) and 
->RON (Research Octane Number) is 
posted at the pump, also known as 
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Multifunction display
Display field in the speedometer used 
to present information provided by the 
control system.
Multifunction steering wheel
Steering wheel with buttons for operat-
ing the control system.Overspeed range
Engine speeds within the red marking 
of the tachometer dial. Avoid this en-
gine  sp ee d ra nge , a s  i t m ay  re sul t in s e-
rious engine damage that is not 
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited 
Warranty.
Parktronic system (Parking assist)*
System which uses visual and acoustic 
signals to assist the driver during park-
ing maneuvers.
Poly-V-belt drive
Drives engine components (alternator, 
AC compressor, etc.) from the engine.