2007 MERCEDES-BENZ C230 message center

345 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
BTop up
coolant
See
Operator’s
ManualThe coolant level is too low.Add coolant (page 278).
If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz 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 could 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 Lim-
ited Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount of coolant
in the cooling system. The engine will overheat
causing major engine damage.

346 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
•Coolant
Stop, turn
engine offThe coolant is too hot.
Among other possible causes, the
poly-V-belt could be broken.Stop the vehicle in a safe location or
as soon as it is safe to do so.
Apply the parking brake (page 54).
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 in-
operative water pump which may re-
sult in damage to the engine. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:
Wait for the message to disappear be-
fore restarting the engine.
Doing otherwise could result in seri-
ous engine damage that is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited War-
ranty.
(Continued on next page)

347 Practical hints
What to do if …
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
Observe the coolant temperature gauge in
the instrument cluster (
page 24).
If the temperature rises again:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center immediately.
•The cooling fan for the coolant is mal-
functioning.Observe the coolant temperature gauge in the in-
strument cluster (
page 24).
Have the fan replaced as soon as possible.
Warning!G
Driving when your engine is overheated 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). Do-
ing so may cause serious engine damage which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

348 Practical hints
What to do if …
When the message Check oil level at
next gas station
appears while the en-
gine is running and at operating tempera-
ture, the engine 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
service station where the engine oil should
be topped to the required level with an
approved oil specified in the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet.
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
±Certain electronic systems are unable to
relay information to the control 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.
:Check oil level
at next gas stationThe engine oil has dropped to a critical
level.Check the engine oil level
(
page 276) and add oil as required
(
page 277).
If you must add engine oil frequently,
have the engine checked for possible
leaks.
!The engine oil level warnings should not be
ignored. Extended driving with the symbol dis-
played could result in serious engine damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limit-
ed Warranty.

349 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
4Gas cap
is openA 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 271).
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.
IRemove keyYou have forgotten to remove the
SmartKey.Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Get a new
keyNo additional code available for
SmartKey.Change the SmartKey.
.3rd brake
lampThe high mounted brake lamp is
malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
AUTO-Light
inoperativeThe light sensor is malfunctioning.
The headlamps switch on automatically.In the control system, set lamp opera-
tion to manual mode (
page 139).
Switch on the headlamps using the
exterior lamp switch.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

350 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
.Brake lamp
leftThe left brake lamp is malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 373).
Brake lamp
rightThe right brake lamp is malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 373).
Front
foglamp
leftThe left front fog lamp is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Front
foglamp
rightThe right front fog lamp is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Front left
side marker
lampThe left front side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Front right
side marker
lampThe right front side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
High beam
leftThe left high beam lamp is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 371).
High beam
rightThe right high beam lamp is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 371).

351 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
.License plate
lamp, leftThe left license plate lamp is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 374).
License plate
lamp, rightThe right license plate lamp is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 374).
Low beam
leftThe left low beam lamp is malfunctioning.Halogen headlamp:
Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 370).
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Low beam
rightThe right low beam lamp is
malfunctioning.Halogen headlamp:
Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 370).
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Parking lamp
front leftThe left front parking lamp is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 371).
Parking lamp
front rightThe right front parking lamp is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 371).

353 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
.Turn signal
front leftThe left front turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 371).
Turn signal
front rightThe right front turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 371).
Turn signal
left side
mirrorThe turn signal in the left exterior rear
view mirror is malfunctioning. This mes-
sage will only appear if a critical number
of LEDs have stopped working.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Turn signal
right side
mirrorThe turn signal in the right exterior rear
view mirror is malfunctioning. This mes-
sage will only appear if a critical number
of LEDs have stopped working.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Turn signal
rear left
Auxiliary bulb
onThe left rear turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A substitute bulb is being usedReplace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 373).
Turn signal
rear right
Auxiliary bulb
onThe right rear turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A substitute bulb is being used.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 373).