Page 376 of 498
375 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
!
Release parking
brake
You are driving with the parking brake
set.
Release the parking brake
(page 51).
T
Reduced braking power
Depress brake
pedal fully
The electro-hydraulic brake system is in
emergency operation mode. Consider-
ably 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 in a safe location and
notify an authorized 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
electro-hydraulic brake system.
Start the engine.
The message disappears when suffi-
cient voltage is available.
Page 377 of 498
376 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
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Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
(USA only);(Canada only)3
Reduced braking power
Visit workshop
The electro-hydraulic brake system is in
emergency operation mode. Consider-
able brake pedal force is required and the
stopping distance 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
electro-hydraulic brake system is operat-
ing normally.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Brake overheated
Drive on, but with
even greater care
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 183).
Cautiously continue driving so that
the air stream will cool down the
brakes.
Page 378 of 498
377 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
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 in a
safe location and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Do not add
brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with the messages “Brake fluid Visit
workshop” displayed can result in an acci-
dent. Have your brake system checked im-
mediately.
If there is a malfunction in the
electro-hydraulic brake system, we recom-
mend that the vehicle be transported with
all wheels off the ground using flatbed or ap-
propriate 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
up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). For more infor-
mation, refer to “Towing the vehicle”
(page 437).
If the electro-hydraulic brake system enters
its emergency operation mode, the driver
must apply significantly greater brake pedal
pressure and depress the pedal much fur-
ther than normal to obtain braking effect. If
necessary, apply full pressure to the brake
pedal. Brakes may only be applied to the
front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased!
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.
Page 379 of 498
378 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
(USA only)ú(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
Center.
B
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.
Add coolant (
page 297).
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.
Page 380 of 498
379 Practical hints
What to do if …
During severe operation conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off
The coolant is too hot.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
Only start the engine again after the
message disappears. You could other-
wise damage the engine.
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 engine 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
damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Page 381 of 498
380 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
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Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off
The poly-V-belt could be broken.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location and immedi-
ately 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 Warranty.
Observe the coolant temperature indicator in the
instrument cluster (
page 24).
Drive immediately to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Coolant
Visit workshop
The cooling fan for the coolant is
malfunctioning.
Observe the coolant temperature indicator in the
instrument cluster (
page 24).
Have the fan replaced as soon as possible.
Page 382 of 498
381 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
G
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
The displays for several systems have
malfunctioned. Some systems them-
selves may also have malfunctioned.
Continue driving with added caution.
When the multifunction display is mal-
functioning, warnings and malfunc-
tion messages might not be
displayed.
Have the electronic systems checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
±
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
Certain electronic systems are unable to
relay information to the control system.
The following systems may have failed:
Coolant temperature display
Tachometer
Cruise control display
Have the electronic systems checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Engine
Service
There may be a malfunction in:
the fuel injection system
the ignition system
the exhaust system
Have the engine checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Page 383 of 498
382 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
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Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
J
Doors open
You are attempting to drive with one or
more doors open.
Close the doors.
:
USA only:Add 1 Qt. engine oil
at next refuelingCanada only:Add 1 Liter engine oil
at next refueling
The engine oil level is too low.
Add engine oil (
page 296) and
check the engine oil level
(
page 295).
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 296) and
check the engine oil level
(
page 295).
Engine oil level
Reduce oil level
You have added too much engine oil.
There is a risk of damaging:
the engine
the catalytic converter
Have oil siphoned or drained off.
Observe all legal requirements with
respect to its disposal.
