2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 engine

405 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/conse-
quence
Suggested solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving and
you hear a warning sound.
You are driving with the
parking brake set.

Release the parking brake
(page 56).
The ESP
® control unit may be
malfunctioning.
The driving safety systems
may not be available.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.

Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display (
page 416).
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving.
There is insufficient brake fluid
in the reservoir.

Risk of accident! Carefully stop the
vehicle in a safe location or as soon as
it is safe to do so and notify an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Cen-
ter. Do not add brake fluid! This will
not solve the problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with the brake warning lamp illumi-
nated can result in an accident. Have your
brake system checked immediately if the
brake warning lamp stays on.
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.

407 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/conse-
quence
Suggested solution
?
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator 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 excessive emissions values
and may switch the engine to
its limp-home (emergency
operation) mode.

Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics
system. It allows the accurate identifi-
cation 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.
iSome states may by law require you to
visit a workshop immediately as soon
as the engine malfunction indicator
lamp comes on. Check local require-
ments.

408 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause/conse-
quence
Suggested solution
?
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
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 342).
If it is not closed properly:

Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:

Have the fuel system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Your fuel tank is empty.

After refueling 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.

409 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
v
The yellow ESP
® warning lamp
comes on while the engine is
running.
The ESP
® is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road, weather, and traffic conditions.

Switch the ESP
® back on
(
page 102).
If the ESP
® cannot be switched back on:

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
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
of 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 101)
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
The yellow fuel tank reserve warning lamp
in the fuel gauge comes on while driving.
The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 342).

410 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
<
The red seat belt telltale comes
on and a warning chime sounds
for approximately 6 seconds
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 seat belt telltale goes out.
<
The red seat belt telltale remains
illuminated after driving off. The
vehicle’s speed does not exceed
15 mph (25 km/h).
You and/or your front passenger have
forgotten to fasten your seat belts.

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.

Remove the items from the front
passenger seat and put them in a safe
place.
<
The red seat belt telltale flashes
and you additionally hear an in-
termittent warning chime with in-
creasing intensity for a maximum
of 60 seconds from the time the
vehicle’s speed exceeds 15 mph
(25 km/h).
You and/or your front passenger have
forgotten to fasten your seat belts.

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.

Remove the items from the front
passenger seat and put them in a safe
place.
iAfter 60 seconds with an unfastened
seat belt on one of the front seats, the
warning chime stops sounding and the
seat belt telltale illuminates continu-
ously. The seat belt telltale will only go
out if both the driver and front passen-
ger’s seat belt are fastened, or the ve-
hicle is standing still and a front door is
opened.

421 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
P
Gear selector lever
in Park
You have started the engine or
switched on the ignition with
KEYLESS-GO* and opened the
driver’s door with the automatic
transmission not set to positionP.

Set the automatic transmission to
positionP.
or

Close the driver’s door
Gear selector lever
in Neutral or Park
You have attempted to start the
engine with the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button while the auto-
matic transmission was set to
positionR orD.

Set the automatic transmission to
positionP orN.
Make sure the brake pedal is depressed
when attempting to start the engine with
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button.
PRE-SAFE
unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
If ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
®* malfunc-
tion messages are displayed simul-
taneously, PRE-SAFE®* has been
deactivated as a result of these mal-
functions. All other occupant safety
systems, such as the air bags are
still available.

Visit an authorizes Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible.
PRE-SAFE
®* itself has failed. All oth-
er occupant safety systems, such as
the air bags are still available.

Visit an authorizes Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible.

429 Practical hints
What to do if …
Symbol messagesDisplay symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
#
malfunction
Visit workshop
The battery is no longer charg-
ing.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning


broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake sys-
tem requires electrical energy
and may be operating with re-
stricted capability. Considerably
greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping dis-
tance is increased.

Stop 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 inoperative
water pump which may result in damage
to the engine. Notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
If it is intact:

Drive immediately to the nearest autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Adjust driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.

432 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
Brake fluid too low
Visit workshop
There is insufficient brake fluid
in the reservoir.

Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle in a
safe location or as soon as it is safe to do
so and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. Do
not add brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with the message
Brake fluid
too low Visit workshop
displayed can
result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately. Do not add
brake fluid before checking the brake
system. Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir
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.