Page 374 of 481

373 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Run Flat Indicator
inactive
The Run Flat Indicator* is malfunc-
tioning.
Have the Run Flat Indicator* checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure
Check tires
The pressure is too low in one or
more tires.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers. Observe
the traffic situation around you.
Check and adjust the tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 329).
If necessary, change the wheel (
page 408).
Reactivate the Run Flat Indicator* after adjusting
the tire inflation pressure values (
page 304).
Check tires
Then reactivate
Run Flat Indicator
There was a warning message about
a loss in tire inflation pressure and
the Run Flat Indicator* has not been
reactivated yet.
Make sure that the correct tire inflation pressure
is set for each tire.
Then reactivate the Run Flat Indicator*.
Run Flat Indicator
unavailable
The Run Flat Indicator* has been
switched off due to an error.
Have the Run Flat Indicator* checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Page 376 of 481

375 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
USA only:;Canada only:!
Release
parking brake
You are driving with the parking
brake set.
Release parking brake (
page 52).
USA only:;Canada only:3
Brake fluid
Visit workshop
There is insufficient brake fluid in
the reservoir.
Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle and notify
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Do
not add brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
2
Brake wear
Visit workshop
The brake pads have reached their
wear limit.
Have the brake pads replaced as soon as
possible.
Warning!
G
Driving with the message
Brake fluid
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 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.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Maintenance
Booklet.
Page 378 of 481

377 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off
The coolant is too hot.
Stop the vehicle and turn off the engine.
Only start the engine again after the mes-
sage disappears. You could otherwise dam-
age the engine.
/
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.
Add coolant (
page 313).
If you have to add coolant frequently, have
the cooling system checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
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 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 engine damage
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.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
this 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 379 of 481

378 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
±
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
Certain electronic systems are un-
able to relay information to the con-
trol 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.
G
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
The instrument cluster display is
malfunctioning.
When the display is malfunctioning, warnings
and malfunction messages might not be dis-
played.
Continue driving with added caution.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
The displays for several systems
have malfunctioned. Some systems
themselves may also have malfunc-
tioned.
Continue driving with added caution.
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 all doors.
Page 380 of 481

379 Practical hints
What to do if …
When the message
Add 1 qt.
(Canada:
1 liter
) engine oil when next
refueling (SLK 55 AMG) or
Check oil
level when next refueling (SLK 280,
SLK 350) appears while the engine is run-
ning and at operating temperature, the en-
gine oil level has dropped to approximately
the minimum 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 ser-
vice 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 message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
N
Check oil level
when next refueling
SLK 280 and SLK 350 only:
The engine oil level has dropped to
a critical level.
Check the engine oil level (
page 308) and
add engine oil as required (page 312).
If you must add engine oil frequently, have
the engine checked for possible leaks.
USA only:Add 1 qt. engine oil
when next refuelingCanada only:Add 1 liter engine oil
when next refueling
SLK 55 AMG only:
The engine oil level is too low.
Add engine oil (
page 312) and check the
engine oil level (page 308).
!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.
Page 390 of 481

389 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
Vehicles with TIREFIT*
1TIREFIT kit
2Vehicle jack
3Collapsible wheel chock
4Towing eye bolt
5Alignment bolt
6Wheel wrench
7Spare fuses, fuse extractor and valve
extractor
8Electric air pump
Open the trunk (
page 98).
Lift up trunk floor.Vehicle jackThe vehicle jack is located in the storage
compartment underneath the trunk floor.
Storage position
Remove vehicle jack from its
compartment.
Turn crank handle in the direction of
arrow as far as it will go.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use,
especially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Make sure the jack arm is
fully seated in the jack take-up bracket. Al-
ways lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.
Page 393 of 481

392 Practical hintsWhere will I find...?
In case of a flat tire, you may temporarily
use the spare wheel with collapsible tire
when observing the following restrictions:
Do not exceed a vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest tire repair facility
to have the flat tire repaired or
replaced as appropriate.
Do not operate vehicle with more than
one spare wheel with collapsible tire
mounted.
For more information, see “Rims and tires”
(
page 439).
Spare wheel bolts
1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2Wheel bolt for spare wheel with
collapsible tire (located under plastic
cover on the outside of spare wheel
rim)
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the spare wheel with col-
lapsible tire are different from those of the
road wheels. As a result, the vehicle han-
dling characteristics change when driving
with a spare wheel with collapsible tire
mounted.
The spare wheel with collapsible tire should
only be used temporarily, and should be re-
placed with a regular road wheel as quickly
as possible.
Page 394 of 481
393 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
!
Wheel bolts2 must be used when
mounting the spare wheel with
collapsible tire. The use of any wheel
bolts other than wheel bolts2 for the
spare wheel with collapsible tire will
physically damage the vehicle’s
brakes. Warning!
G
Make sure to use the original length wheel
bolts when remounting the original wheel
after it has been repaired.