Page 377 of 514

376 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
ú
±
(USA only)
(Canada only)
The yellow engine
malfunction indi-
cator lamp comes
on while driving.
There is a malfunction in:
The fuel management system
The ignition system
The emission control system
Systems which affect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in ex-
cessive emissions values and may
switch the engine to its Limp-Home
Mode (emergency operation).
Have the vehicle checked as soon as possi-
ble by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is used by
the service station to link the vehicle to the
shop diagnostics system. It allows the accu-
rate identification of system malfunctions
through the readout of diagnostic trouble
codes. It is located in the front left area of the
footwell next to the parking brake pedal.
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 318).
If it is not closed properly:
Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:
Have the fuel system checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Your fuel tank is empty.
After refuelling, start turn off and restart the
engine three or four times in succession.
The Limp-Home mode is canceled. You do not
need to have your vehicle checked.
Page 378 of 514

377 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
•
The red coolant warning lamp
comes on when the engine is
running.
There is insufficient coolant in the reservoir.
Add coolant to prevent engine from
overheating (
page 327).
If this warning lamp comes on frequently,
there is a leak in the cooling system.
Have the cooling system checked.
If the coolant level is correct, the electric ra-
diator fan may be broken.
If the coolant temperature is below
257 °F (125 °C), you can continue
driving to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Avoid high engine loads (e.g. driving
uphill) and stop-and-go driving.
•
The red coolant warning lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning sound.
The coolant temperature has exceeded
257 °F (125 °C).
Stop as soon as possible and allow
the engine and coolant to cool down.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly overheat-
ed 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.
Page 379 of 514
378 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
v
The yellow ESP
® warning lamp
comes on while driving.
The ESP
® is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions.
Switch the ESP
® back on (
page 91).
If the ESP
® cannot be switched back on,
have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
v
The yellow ESP
® warning lamp
flashes while driving.
The ESP
® or traction control has come into
operation because of detected traction loss
in at least one tire.
When driving off, apply as little throt-
tle as possible.
While driving, ease up on the acceler-
ator.
Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.
Do not deactivate the ESP
®.
Exceptions: (
page 90).
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of accidents.
Page 380 of 514

379 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
A
The yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp comes on while
driving.
The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.
Refuel at the next gas station
(page 318).
C
The yellow roll bar warning lamp
comes on or flickers when the
engine is running.
The roll bar system is malfunctioning.
Release the roll bars manually.
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
<
The red seat belt telltale comes
on after 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 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.
Page 381 of 514
380 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
1
The red SRS indicator lamp
comes on while driving.
There is a malfunction in the restraint sys-
tems. The air bags or emergency tensioning
devices (ETDs) could deploy unexpectedly or
fail to deploy in an accident.
Drive with added caution to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Warning!
G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is indi-
cated as outlined above, the SRS may not be
operational. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have
the system checked; otherwise the SRS may
not be deployed when needed in an acci-
dent, which could result in serious or fatal
injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly and
unnecessarily which could also result in an
accident and / or injury to you or to others.
Page 382 of 514
381 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Lamp in center consoleProblem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
56
The front passenger front air bag
off indicator lamp illuminates
and remains illuminated with the
weight of a typical adult or some-
one larger than a small individual
on the front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.
Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display and follow cor-
rective steps (
page 389).
Warning!
G
If the 56 indicator lamp illuminates
and remains illuminated with the weight of a
typical adult or someone larger than a small
individual on the front passenger seat, do
not have any passenger use the front
passenger seat until the system has been
repaired.
Page 383 of 514

382 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
56
The front passenger front air bag
off indicator lamp does not illu-
minate and/or does not remain
illuminated with the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child in a
standard child restraint or less
on the front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.
Make sure that there is nothing be-
tween seat cushion and child seat and
check installation of the child seat.
Make sure that no objects applying
supplemental weight onto the seat
are present.
If the front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp remains out, have the
system checked as soon as possible
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Do not transport a child on
the front passenger seat until the sys-
tem has been repaired.
Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display and follow cor-
rective steps (
page 389).
Warning!
G
If the 56 indicator lamp does not il-
luminate or remains out with the
weight of a typical 12-month-old child in a
standard child restraint or less on the front
passenger seat, do not transport a child on
the front passenger seat until the system
has been repaired.
Page 384 of 514

383 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
Warning and malfunction messages
appear in the multifunction display located
in the instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in
this Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the vehicle status message
memory menu in the control system
(page 146) displays both cleared and
uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the
multifunction display in red color.Certain messages of high priority cannot
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (
page 136) or
button k,j, è, orÿ on the
steering wheel.
Other messages of high priority and
messages of less immediate priority can
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (page 136) or
button k,j, è, orÿ on the
steering wheel. They are then stored in the
vehicle status message memory
(
page 146). Remember that clearing a
message will only make the message dis-
appear. Clearing a message will not
correct the condition that caused the
message to appear.
Warning!
G
All categories of messages contain
important information which should be
taken note of and, where a malfunction is
indicated, addressed as soon as possible at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty, or result in property
damage or personal injury.Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
Contact your nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.