2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R500 check engine light

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).

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.

433 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
?
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
Engine Service
There may be a malfunction in
the

fuel injection system


ignition system


exhaust system


fuel system

Have the engine checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
B
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 351).

If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
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.

435 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off
The poly-V-belt could be broken.

Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so and immediately 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 wa-
ter pump which may result in damage to the
engine. Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
If it is intact:

Do not continue to drive the vehicle with this
message displayed. Doing so could result in
serious engine damage that is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

Observe the coolant temperature in the
multifunction display (
page 168).

Drive immediately to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

438 Practical hintsWhat to do if …When the message
Add 1 qt. engine oil
when next refueling
(Canada:
1 liter
)
appears while the engine is running and at
operating temperature, the engine oil level
has dropped to approximately the mini-
mum level.
When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.Visually check for oil leaks. If no obvious oil
leaks are noted, drive to the nearest
service station where the engine oil should
be topped to the required level with an ap-
proved oil specified in the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet.
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
N
Engine oil level
Visit workshop
The engine oil has dropped to a
critical level.

Check the engine oil level (
page 346)
and add oil as required (
page 349).

If you must add engine oil frequently, have
the engine checked for possible leaks.
Oil sensor malfunction
Visit workshop
The measuring system is
malfunctioning.

Have the measuring system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
!The engine oil level warnings should
not be ignored. Extended driving with
the symbol displayed could result in
serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

441 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
F
Key
still in vehicle
A SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
left in the vehicle was recog-
nized while trying to lock the ve-
hicle from the outside.

Take the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
out of the vehicle.
Remove key
You have forgotten to remove
the SmartKey.

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Replace key
Drive to workshop
There is no additional code avail-
able for SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO*.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible.
Key
Check battery
The batteries in the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* are dis-
charged.

Replace the batteries (
page 464).
Do not
forget key
This message appears for a
maximum of 60 seconds if the
driver’s door is opened with the
engine shut off and no SmartKey
in the starter switch.
This message is only a reminder.

Insert SmartKey in the starter switch.
or

Take the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
with you when leaving the vehicle.

488 Practical hintsBattery
!
The battery is a valve-regulated lead
acid (VRLA) battery, also referred to as
“fleece” battery. Such batteries do not
require topping-up of the electrolyte
level. VRLA batteries therefore do not
have cell caps and the battery cover is
non-removable. Do not attempt to
open the battery as otherwise the bat-
tery will be damaged.
Even though VRLA batteries do not
require topping-up of the electrolyte
level and cannot be opened to check
the electrolyte level, the battery condi-
tion must be checked periodically by
performing a battery conductance test.
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for bat-
tery condition testing intervals.
As with any other battery, the battery
may discharge if the vehicle is not
operated for an extended period of
time. You can connect a battery
maintenance charge unit tested and
approved for use on your vehicle model
or disconnected the battery to prevent
battery discharge. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center for more information.
!The factory-equipped VRLA battery is
leak-proofed. Only use a battery as re-
placement that has the same security
features and is of identical size,
voltage, and capacity as the
factory-equipped battery.
The battery, the battery ventilation and
the lateral plug must always be
securely installed when the vehicle is in
operation.Warning!
G
Jump starting must only be done using the
jump-start contacts located in the engine
compartment (
page 496).