Page 343 of 481

342 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during thebulb self-check when switching on the igni-
tion, have the respective bulb checked and
replaced if necessary.Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
-
The yellow ABS indicator lamp
comes on while the engine is
running.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and has
switched off. The BAS, EBP, ESP
® and
PRE-SAFE
® are also switched off (see messages
in multifunction display).
The brake system is still functioning normally
but without the ABS available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning, other
systems such as the Parktronic system*, Dis-
tronic*, navigation system*, or the automatic
transmission may also be malfunctioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.
Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display (
page 356).
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below 10 volts.
The ABS has switched off.
The battery may not be sufficiently charged.
When the voltage is above this value
again, the ABS is operational again and
the ABS indicator lamp should go out.
If the ABS indicator lamp does not go out:
Have the generator (alternator) and
battery checked.
Page 344 of 481

343 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!
When the ESP
® is switched off it will not sta-
bilize the vehicle if the system recognizes
that the vehicle starts to skid or that a wheel
is spinning.
Switch the ESP
® back on (
page 98)
Exceptions: (
page 95).
If the ESP
® cannot be switched back on,
have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz 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
in at least one tire.
The cruise control or Distronic* is deactivat-
ed.
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 95).
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of accidents.
Page 353 of 481

352 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Warning!
G
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or the tire inflation pressure
label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different
size than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or the tire inflation pressure label,
you should determine the proper tire infla-
tion pressure for those tires).
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitor-
ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly under-inflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu-
minates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a significant-
ly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehi-
cle’s handling and stopping ability. Please
note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-
er’s responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-
bined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash for approximately
one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue
upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long
as the malfunction exists. When the mal-
function indicator is illuminated, the system
may not be able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation of in-
compatible replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS
from functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing
one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle
to ensure that the replacement or alternate
tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue
to function properly.
Page 357 of 481

356 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Vehicle status messages in the multi-function display
Warning and malfunction messages ap-
pear in the multifunction display located in
the instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in
this Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the vehicle status message
memory menu in the control system
(page 141) displays both cleared and
uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the
multifunction display in red color.Certain messages of high priority cannot
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (
page 26) or
buttonj, k, è orÿ on the
multifunction steering wheel.
Other messages of high priority and mes-
sages of less immediate priority can be
cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button or buttonj,
k, è orÿ on the multifunction
steering wheel. They are then stored in the
vehicle status message memory
(
page 153). Remember that clearing a
message will only make the message
disappear. Clearing a message will not
correct the condition that caused the mes-
sage to appear.
Warning!
G
All categories of messages contain impor-
tant information which should be taken note
of and, where a malfunction is indicated,
addressed as soon as possible at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty, or result in property dam-
age or personal injury.
Page 359 of 481

358 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Text messagesDisplay message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ABS
ABS, ESP
inoperative
See Operator’s Man.
ABS, ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® have
switched off due to a malfunction.
BAS is also switched off.
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS, BAS, ESP
® and
PRE-SAFE
® available.
Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
will lock during hard braking, reducing steering
capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.
ABS
ABS, ESP
unavailable
See Operator’s Man.
ABS, ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® are not
available due to a malfunction. BAS is also
switched off. The system’s self-diagnosis
may not be completed yet.
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without ABS, BAS, ESP® and
PRE-SAFE
® available.
Drive a short distance with gentle turns above
a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h).
The message disappears when ABS, BAS, ESP
®
and PRE-SAFE
® are again available.
If the message does not disappear:
Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
will lock during hard braking, reducing steering
capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.
Page 362 of 481

361 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Distronic
currently unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
Distronic* is deactivated because the
functionality is impaired by external in-
terferences, e.g. high-frequency sources
such as too stations, speed measuring
systems etc.
Leave the area of the external interference.
Activate Distronic* again (
page 223) when
the message
DISTRONIC available
again ap-
pears.
Distronic* is deactivated because the
Distronic* sensor has not sensed any
other vehicles or objects, e.g. road sign
or such, for a long time.
Activate Distronic* again (
page 223) when
the message
DISTRONIC available
again ap-
pears.
ESP
inoperative
See Operator’s Man.
The ESP
® as well as BAS and PRE-SAFE
®
have detected a malfunction and
switched off.
The ABS may not be operational.
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS, BAS, ESP
®
and PRE-SAFE
® available.
Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.
!
When synchronizing the ESP
®, make sure
you can turn the steering wheel in both direc-
tions as far as it will go without the wheels hitting
any objects, e.g. a road curb.
Page 368 of 481

367 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Run Flat Indicator
inactive
Canada only:
Run Flat Indicator is malfunctioning.
Have the Run Flat Indicator checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Check tires
Then reactivate
Run Flat Indicator
Canada only:
There was a warning message about
a loss in the tire inflation pressure
and the Run Flat Indicator has not
been reactivated yet.
Make sure that the correct tire inflation pres-
sure is set for each tire.
Then reactivate the Run Flat Indicator.
Run Flat Indicator
unavailable
Canada only:
The Run Flat Indicator* has been
switched off due to an error.
Have the Run Flat Indicator checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure
Check tires
Canada only:
The Run Flat Indicator indicates that
the pressure is too low in one or
more tires.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers. Ob-
serve the traffic situation around you.
Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 302).
If necessary, change the wheel (
page 412).
Reactivate the Run Flat Indicator after adjust-
ing the tire inflation pressure values
(page 305).
Page 369 of 481
368 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Tire pressure
displayed only
after driving a
few minutes
Vehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The tire inflation pressure is being
checked.
Drive the vehicle for a few minutes.
Tire pres. monitor
currently unavailable
The TPMS or Advanced TPMS* is un-
able to monitor the tire pressure due
to
a nearby radio interference
source
excessive wheel sensor temper-
atures
As soon as the causes for the malfunction are
no longer present, the Advanced TPMS* auto-
matically becomes active again after a few
minutes driving.
Tire pres. monitor
inoperative
The TPMS or Advanced TPMS* is
malfunctioning.
Have the TPMS or Advanced TPMS* checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.