Page 390 of 521
389 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Low
Battery
Conven. functions
temporarily
unavailable
The battery has insufficient voltage
and can no longer supply conve-
nience functions such as the rear
window defroster.
As soon as the on-board voltage is sufficient,
the consumers will switch on again.
Please note:
Conven. functions
available again
On-board voltage is sufficient; the
consumers will switch on again.
Cruise control
Drive to workshop
Cruise control or Distronic* is
malfunctioning.
Have the cruise control or Distronic*
checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Distronic
External interference
Reactivate
The Distronic* is switched off and is
temporarily unavailable.
Try activating the Distronic* again later.
Drive to workshop
The Distronic* is malfunctioning or
the display is malfunctioning.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Page 399 of 521

398 Practical hintsWhat 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 au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Ad-
just driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.
Page 400 of 521

399 Practical hints
What 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 401 of 521

400 Practical hintsWhat 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 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 411 of 521

410 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Y
Hood open
You are driving with the hood open.
Close the hood (
page 319).
F
Key
Check battery
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* batter-
ies are discharged.
Change the batteries (
page 431).
Key
not recognized
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is not
recognized while the engine is running
because
the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is
not in the vehicle
there is strong radio-frequency inter-
ference
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as it is safe to do so.
Search for the SmartKey.
Otherwise the vehicle cannot be cen-
trally locked nor can the engine be
started again after the engine is
stopped.
Key
not recognized
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is mo-
mentarily not recognized.
Change the position of the SmartKey
in the vehicle.
Operate the vehicle with the
SmartKey in the starter switch if nec-
essary.
Key
still in vehicle
A SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* left in the
vehicle was recognized while locking the
vehicle from the outside.
Take the SmartKey out of the vehicle.
Keyless Go
Check system
The KEYLESS-GO* system is malfunction-
ing.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Page 432 of 521

431 Practical hints
Replacing SmartKey batteries
Replacing SmartKey batteries
If the batteries in the SmartKey are dis-
charged, the vehicle can no longer be
locked or unlocked. It is recommended to
have the batteries replaced at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
SmartKey
Replacement batteries: Lithium, type
CR 2025 or equivalent.
Remove the mechanical key1
(page 426).
1Mechanical key
2Slide
3Battery compartment
Insert the mechanical key1 in direc-
tion of arrow in side opening.
Using mechanical key1,push gray
slide 2 to unlatch battery compart-
ment 3.
Warning!
G
Keep the batteries out of reach of children.
If a battery is swallowed, seek medical help
immediately.
iWhen inserting the batteries, make
sure they are clean and free of lint.iWhen replacing batteries, always re-
place both batteries.
The required replacement batteries are
available at any Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
Page 433 of 521

432 Practical hintsReplacing SmartKey batteries
Pull battery compartment3
(page 431) out of the housing in di-
rection of arrow.
Remove the batteries4 in direction of
arrow.
4Battery
5Contact spring
Using a lint-free cloth, insert new
batteries4 under the contact spring
5 with the positive terminal (+) side
facing up.
Return battery compartment 3
(page 431) into housing until it locks
into place.
Slide mechanical key 1 (
page 431)
back into the SmartKey.
Check the operation of the SmartKey.
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Replacement batteries: Lithium, type
CR 2025 or equivalent.
Remove the mechanical key
(page 426).
Insert the mechanical key1
(page 431) in side opening and push
grey slide2 (
page 431).
Battery compartment3 (
page 431)
is unlatched.
Pull battery compartment3
(page 431) out of the housing in di-
rection of arrow.1Battery
2Tilt battery up
3Mechanical key
Using mechanical key3 apply pres-
sure to position2.
Battery1 tilts up slightly.
Pull out batteries1 in direction of ar-
row.
Using a lint-free cloth, insert new bat-
teries with the positive terminal (+) side
facing up.
Return battery compartment3
(page 431) into housing until it locks
into place.
Page 451 of 521

450 Practical hintsBatteriesYour vehicle is equipped with two batter-
ies:
Main battery (battery for starter and
electrical consumers; located in the
trunk)
Auxiliary battery (back-up battery; sta-
bilizes the electrical system if the main
battery is discharged; located in the en-
gine compartment)
The main battery is in the trunk under the
luggage box. Remove the luggage box
(
page 423).
Vehicles with spare wheel1Negative terminal
2Positive terminalWarning!
G
Jump starting must only be done using the
main battery in the trunk.
Warning!
G
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injury or death.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 326).
Never lean over batteries while connecting,
you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking etc.