2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C55AMG engine

353 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
ú(USA only)
±(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
Your fuel tank is empty.After refuelling start, turn off and restart
the engine three or four times in succes-
sion.
The limp-home mode is canceled. You do not
need to have your vehicle checked.
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 293).
If it is not closed properly:
Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:
Have the fuel system checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

355 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
on and a warning chime sounds
for approximately 6 seconds af-
ter starting the engine with all
doors closed.The seat belt telltale reminds you and your
passengers to fasten your seat belts before
driving off.Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out.
The red seat belt telltale remains
illuminated after driving off. The
vehicle’s speed does not exceed
15 mph (25 km/h).You and/or your front passenger have for-
gotten to fasten your seat belts.
There are items placed on the front passen-
ger seat and therefore the system senses the
front passenger seat as being occupied.Fasten your seat belts.
Remove the items from the front pas-
senger seat and put them in a safe
place.
The red seat belt telltale flashes
and you additionally hear an in-
termittent warning signal with in-
creasing intensity for a maximum
of 60 seconds when the vehicle’s
speed exceeds 15 mph
(25 km/h).You and/or your front passenger have for-
gotten to fasten your seat belts.
There are items placed on the front passen-
ger seat and therefore the system senses the
front passenger seat as being occupied.Fasten your seat belts.
Remove the items from the front pas-
senger seat and put them in a safe
place.
i
After 60 seconds with an unfastened
seat belt the warning chime stops
sounding and the seat belt telltale illu-
minates continuously.
The seat belt telltale will only go out if
both, the driver and front passenger’s
seat belt are fastened, or the vehicle is
standing still and a front door is
opened.

365 Practical hints
What to do if …
Symbol messages
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
#Battery Alternator
Visit workshopThe battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

broken poly-V-belt

alternator malfunctioning
Stop immediately and check the
poly-V-belt in a safe location or as
soon as it is safe to do so.
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
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Low voltage
Charge batteryThe battery has insufficient voltage.Start the engine (page 45).
Low voltage
Consumers offThe battery has insufficient voltage.Turn off unnecessary electrical
consumers.

366 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
;(USA only)
!(Canada only)
Release
Parking brakeYou are driving with the parking brake
set.Release the parking brake
(
page 46).
2Brake wear
Visit workshopThe brake pads have reached their wear
limit.Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
;(USA only)
3(Canada only)
Brake fluid
Visit workshopThere 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 with the message Brake fluid
Visit workshop.
displayed can result in
an accident. Have your brake system
checked immediately. Do not add brake
fluid before checking the brake system.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can re-
sult 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 Mainte-
nance Booklet.

367 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
BCoolant
Check levelThe coolant level is too low.Add coolant (page 301).
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
engine damage.

368 Practical hints
What to do if …
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
•Coolant
Stop, engine off!The coolant is too hot. Stop the vehicle in a safe location and
turn off the engine.
Only start the engine again after the
message disappears. You could
otherwise damage the engine.
Warning!G
Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated 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 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
engine damage which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

369 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
•Coolant
Stop, engine off!The poly-V-belt could be broken.Stop the vehicle in a safe location and
immediately turn off the engine.
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:
Do not continue to drive the vehicle with this
message displayed. Doing so could result in seri-
ous engine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Observe the coolant temperature gauge in the in-
strument cluster (
page 24).
Drive immediately to the nearest authorized Mer-
cedes-Benz Center.
Coolant
Visit workshopThe cooling fan for the coolant is
malfunctioning.Observe the coolant temperature gauge in the in-
strument cluster (
page 24).
Have the fan replaced as soon as possible.

371 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagesPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
NUSA only:
At next gas station
add 1.0 qt engine oil
Canada only:
At next gas station
add 1.0 l engine oil
The engine oil level is too low.Add engine oil (page 300) and check
the engine oil level (
page 299).
Engine oil level
Stop, engine off!There is no oil in the engine. There is a
danger of engine damage.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt as
soon as possible.
Turn off the engine.
Add engine oil (page 300) and check
the engine oil level (
page 299).
Engine oil level
Reduce oil levelYou have added too much engine oil.
There is a risk of damaging the engine or
the catalytic converter.Have oil siphoned or drained off.
Observe all legal requirements with
respect to its disposal.
Change engine oil
Visit workshopIt may be that there is water in the engine
oil.Have the engine oil checked.