Page 327 of 480
326 OperationVehicle care
Restart the engine after cleaning sen-
sor cover1.Cleaning the Parktronic system*
sensors
1Parktronic system* sensors in front
bumper
Use a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Sham-
poo, with plenty of water and a soft,
non-scratching cloth to clean
sensors1 on the bumpers.
!To prevent scratches or damage, never
apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the
sensor cover1. Do not attempt to
wipe dirty sensors with a dry cloth or
sponge.
!Do not apply strong pressure to the
sensor covers. Applying strong pres-
sure may damage the sensor covers.
Follow the instructions provided by the
power washer manufacturer on main-
taining a distance between the vehicle
and the nozzle of the power washer.!To prevent scratches, never apply
strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the
sensors. Do not attempt to wipe dirty
sensors with a dry cloth or sponge.
Page 335 of 480
334 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause/consequence
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 51).
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
The red brake warning lamp
comes on when the engine is
running and you hear a warn-
ing sound.
There is a malfunction in the
electro-hydraulic brake system.
There is insufficient brake fluid in the reser-
voir.
Read and observe messages in the
display (
page 345).
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 Center. 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 sys-
tem.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can re-
sult 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 336 of 480
335 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
ú
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
There is a malfunction in:
The fuel injection system
The ignition system
The emission control system
Systems which effect 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 Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics sys-
tem. It allows the accurate identifica-
tion of system malfunctions through
the readout of diagnostic trouble
codes. It is located in the front left
area of the footwell next to the park-
ing brake pedal.
The fuel cap is not closed tightly.
Check the fuel cap (
page 269).
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 Center.
Page 337 of 480
336 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
ú
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
Your fuel tank is empty.
After refuelling, start, turn off, and re-
start the engine three or four times in
succession.
The limp-home mode is canceled. You
do not need to have your vehicle
checked.
D
The red coolant warning lamp
comes on when the engine is
running.
There is insufficient coolant in the reservoir.
If this warning lamp comes on frequently,
there is a leak in the cooling system.
If the coolant level is correct, the electric ra-
diator fan may be broken.
Immediately add coolant to prevent
engine from overheating
(page 278).
Have the cooling system checked.
If the coolant temperature is below
248 °F (120 °C), you can continue
driving to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Avoid high engine loads (e.g. driving
uphill) and stop-and-go driving.
D
The red coolant warning lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning sound.
The coolant temperature has exceeded
248 °F (120 °C).
Stop in a safe location as soon as pos-
sible and allow the engine and coolant
to cool down.
Page 338 of 480
337 Practical hints
What to do if …
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.
Page 340 of 480
339 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
C
The yellow roll bar warning lamp
comes on or flickers when the
engine is running.
The roll bar is not operational.
For safety reasons, always have the roll
bar raised when driving with the retract-
able hardtop open.
Attempt to raise the roll bar manually
(page 75).
Have the roll bar checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the roll bar warning lamp does not come
on, does not go out after a long time, flickers
or comes on while driving as described
above, then the roll bar system is not oper-
ating properly and may not activate in an
accident. In this case, raise the roll bar man-
ually (
page 75) before continuing to drive.
Page 341 of 480
340 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.
Page 352 of 480
351 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Distronic
Currently
unavailable.
See Oper. Manual
Distronic* is switched off because
the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille is dirty
functionality is impaired by heavy
rain or thick fog
Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille (
page 325).
Restart the vehicle.
or
Distronic* becomes operational again with-
out the engine being started again when the
conditions that had impaired the functionality
no longer prevail, e.g. lessening rain or slush
or snow has fallen off the Distronic* cover
while driving. You can then operate Distronic*
as usual again.
