Page 385 of 521
384 Practical hintsWhat to do if …On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may
appear in the multifunction display.
For your convenience the messages are di-
vided into two sections:
Text messages (
page 385)
Symbol messages (
page 395)
iSwitching on the ignition causes all in-
strument cluster lamps (except low
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) as well as the multifunction dis-
play to come on. Make sure the lamps
and multifunction display are in work-
ing order before starting your journey.
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 392 of 521
391 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messages
Possible cause/conse-
quence
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag
activated
See Operator’s Manual
Monitor the 75 indicator lamp on the center console (
page 27) and
the multifunction display in the instrument cluster (
page 26) for the following:
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition turned on,
the 75 indicator lamp on the center console should illuminate and
remain illuminated, indicating that the OCS (
page 81) has deactivated the
front passenger front air bag.
the message
Front passenger airbag activated See Operator’s Manual
or
the message
Front passenger airbag deactivated See Operator’s Manual
should not appear in the multifunction display at any time the seat is unoccu-
pied. Wait at last 60 seconds for the system to complete the necessary check
cycles and to make sure neither message appears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the front passenger seat again. De-
pending on the front passenger classification sensed by the OCS (
page 81), the
75 indicator lamp will remain illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working properly. Have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the
75
indicator lamp remains
out even after performing the above correc-
tive steps, do not have any children 12 years
old and under and other small individuals
use the front passenger seat until the sys-
tem has been repaired.
Page 394 of 521
393 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messages
Possible cause/con-
sequence
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag
deactivated
See Operator’s Manual
Monitor the 75 indicator lamp on the center console (
page 27) and the
multifunction display in the instrument cluster (
page 26) for the following:
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition turned on,
the 75 indicator lamp on the center console should illuminate and re-
main illuminated, indicating that the OCS (
page 81) has deactivated the front
passenger front air bag.
the message
Front passenger airbag activated See Operator’s Manual
or
the message
Front passenger airbag deactivated See Operator’s Manual
should not appear in the multifunction display at any time the seat is unoccu-
pied. Wait at last 60 seconds for the system to complete the necessary check
cycles and to make sure neither message appears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the front passenger seat again. De-
pending on the front passenger classification sensed by the OCS (
page 81), the
75 indicator lamp will remain illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working properly. Have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the 75 indicator lamp remains
illuminated with an adult occupant on the
front passenger seat even after performing
the above corrective steps, do not have any
passenger use the front passenger seat until
the system has been repaired.
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.
Page 401 of 521
400 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ú
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
Engine
Service
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 321).
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 en-
gine damage.
Page 402 of 521
401 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 as
soon as it is safe to do so.
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 404 of 521
403 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 display is malfunctioning,
warnings and malfunction 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.
J
Doors open
You are attempting to drive with one or
more doors open.
Close the doors.
