Page 378 of 521
377 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
l
Only vehicles with Distronic*:
The red distance warning lamp
comes on while driving.
You are too close to the vehicle in front of you
to maintain selected speed.
Apply the brakes immediately to in-
crease the following distance.
Only vehicles with Distronic*:
The red distance warning lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning chime sound.
You are gaining too rapidly on the vehicle
ahead of you.
The distance warning system has recog-
nized a stationary obstacle on your prob-
able line of travel.
Apply the brakes immediately.
Carefully observe the traffic situation.
You may need to brake or maneuver
to avoid hitting an obstacle.
W
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 312).
<
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
increasing intensity for a maxi-
mum 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 388 of 521
387 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Distronic
Currently unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
Distronic* is switched off if:
the Distronic* cover in the area
of the radiator grille is dirty
the functionality is impaired by
heavy rain or thick fog
If necessary, clean the Distronic* cover in the area of
the radiator grille.
Restart the vehicle.
or
Distronic* becomes operational again without the engine
being restarted when:
dirt on the grille falls off while driving (e.g. slush or
snow)
the system recognizes full sensor availability (due to
lessening rain or the road surface drying)
the message in the multifunction display disappears
the speed last stored flashes in the multifunction dis-
play for 5 seconds.
You can operate Distronic* as usual again.
Warning!
G
Distronic* cannot take weather conditions
into account. Switch off Distronic* or do not
turn it on if the sensor is dirty or visibility is
diminished as a result of snow, rain or fog.
The distance control may be impaired even
before the system is able to detect a dirty
sensor. The message
Distronic
Currently unavailable
See Operator’s Manualwill be displayed in the multifunction display
and Distronic* will be turned off.
Page 390 of 521
389 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ESP
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
The ESP
® or the ESP
® display is
malfunctioning.
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.
Page 396 of 521
395 Practical hints
What to do if …
Symbol messagesDisplay symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
#
Low voltage
Switch off
consumers
The battery has insufficient voltage.
Turn off unnecessary electrical con-
sumers.
Visit workshop
The battery was charged with a battery
charger or jump started.
Have the battery checked at a service
station.
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 in a safe location or
as soon as it is safe to do so 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
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Adjust driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.
Page 397 of 521
396 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
#
Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicle
The battery is malfunctioning.
The electrohydraulic brake system re-
quires electrical energy and therefore has
only limited operation. Considerably
greater brake pedal force is required and
the stopping distance is increased.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as it is safe to do so. Adjust driv-
ing to be consistent with reduced
braking responsiveness.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Low voltage
Start engine
The battery has insufficient voltage.
Start the engine (
page 50).
Malfunction
Electrical consumers
switched off
The consumer battery has insufficient
voltage and can no longer supply the con-
venience functions such as seat ventila-
tion*.
The electrical consumers will come back
online as soon as on-board voltage is suf-
ficient.
(
Backrest, right rear
not locked
The rear seat backrest is not engaged.
Adjust the rear seat backrest until it is
fully engaged in position.
Backrest, left rear
not locked
The rear seat backrest is not engaged.
Adjust the rear seat backrest until it is
fully engaged in position.
Page 398 of 521
397 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
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 electrohydraulic 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 as
soon as it is safe to do so 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
electrohydraulic brake system.
Start the engine (
page 50).
The message disappears when suffi-
cient voltage is available.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
inspected by a qualified technician at
the intervals specified in the
Maintenance Booklet.
Page 399 of 521
398 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
(USA only);(Canada only)3
Reduced braking power
Visit workshop
The electrohydraulic 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 operating nor-
mally.
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 191).
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 52).
Page 400 of 521
399 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 as soon as it is safe to do
so 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.
If there is a malfunction in the electrohy-
draulic 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 458).
If the electrohydraulic 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.
