2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS ESP

561 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
DISTRONIC PLUS
inoperative
DISTRONIC Plus* is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
DISTRONIC PLUS
passive
You have depressed the accelerator pedal,
DISTRONIC Plus* is no longer controlling
the speed of the vehicle.

Release the accelerator pedal.
USA only:
DISTRONIC PLUS
- - - mph
Canada only:
DISTRONIC PLUS
- - - km/h
You have attempted to activate DISTRONIC
Plus* at a speed below 20 mph (30 km / h)
without the vehicle in front being displayed
in the multifunction display (
page 385).

Drive faster than 20 mph (30 km / h) and activate DISTRONIC
Plus* again.
ESP
® is deactivated.

Activate ESP
® (page 72).
The automatic transmission is in position P,
R or N.

Shift the automatic transmission toD (
page 367).
The system is overheated.

Wait until the system cools down.
The vehicle is secured in place by the elec-
tric parking brake.

Release electric parking brake (
page 364).
The driver’s door is open and the drivers
seat belt is unbuckled.

Close the driver’s door and fasten your seat belt.
The hood is open.

Close the hood (
page 493).

572 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ABS and ESP
inoperative
See Oper. Manual
ABS, ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® are
switched off due to a malfunction. BAS is
also switched off.
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS available.

Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing steer-
ing 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 and ESP
currently unavailable
See Oper. Manual
ABS, ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® are not
available due to a malfunction. BAS is also
switched off. It is possible that the self-diag-
nostics have not yet been completed.
The brake system still functions normally.

Drive a short distance with gentle turns
above a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h).
The message disappears when ABS and ESP
®
are again available.
The ABS, ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® were
deactivated because of insufficient power
supply. The charging voltage has fallen be-
low 10 volts.
The brake system still functions normally
but without the ABS, ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
®
available.When the voltage is above this value again, the
ABS, ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
® are operational again
and the message in the multifunction display
should disappear.
If the message in the multifunction display does
not disappear:

Have the generator (alternator) and the bat-
tery checked.

574 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Brake immediately
A malfunction has occurred while DISTRON-
IC Plus* was switched on.

While observing surrounding traffic condi-
tions and when it is safe, immediately de-
press the brake pedal firmly until the warning
message disappears.

Secure vehicle from rolling away before get-
ting out of it (
page 363).
(USA only)(Canada only)
EBV, ABS, ESP
inoperative
See Oper. Manual
ESP
®, EBP and ABS are switched off due to
a malfunction. BAS is also switched off. As
a result, PRE-SAFE
® is also inoperative.

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.
(USA only)(Canada only)

582 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Turn on the ignition
to release the
parking brake
The yellow indicator lamp for the electric
parking brake comes on.
You have tried to release the electric park-
ing brake, but the ignition was not switched
on.

Switch on the ignition (
page 315).
(USA only)(Canada only)
Inoperative
See Oper. Manual
ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® are switched off
due to a malfunction. In addition, the v
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
comes on.
The ABS is still operational.

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.

583 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Inoperative
See Oper. Manual
S 600 only:
ESP
® a s w e l l a s P R E - S A F E
® are switched off
due to a malfunction. In addition, the v
and ; (USA only) or 3(Canada only)
warning lamps come on in the instrument
cluster.
Brake force assistance is impaired and is
sustained through an electric substitute
function as long as the engine is running.
The brake system continues to function
normally. You will feel a pulsating effect at
the brake pedal while braking.

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.

584 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Currently unavailable
See Oper. Manual
ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
® are temporarily un-
available. It is possible that the self-diag-
nostics have not yet completed.
In addition, the yellow ESP
® warning
lampv comes on.
The brake system functions normally.

Synchronize the ESP
®:
Drive a short distance with gentle turns at a
speed above 12 mph (20 km/h).
The message disappears when ESP
® is again
available.
Currently unavailable
See Oper. Manual
ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
® are switched off due
to undervoltage. It is possible that the bat-
tery is not charged.
The brake system functions normally.

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.
Currently unavailable
See Oper. Manual
If the yellow ESP
® warning lampv flash-
es while driving and this message appears,
the ETS has switched off to prevent over-
heating of the drive wheel brakes.
As soon as the brakes have cooled off, the ETS
switches on again.
The message in the multifunction display disap-
pears and the ESP
® warning lampv goes
out.

607 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Tele Aid
inoperative
One or more main functions of the Tele Aid
system are malfunctioning.

Have the Tele Aid system checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure
Caution, tire defect
Vehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
One or more tires are deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

If necessary, change the wheel (
page 629).
Caution
Tire defect
Vehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
One or more tires are deflating. The respec-
tive tire is shown in the multifunction dis-
play.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

If necessary, change the wheel (
page 629).
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. Continued
driving with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.

608 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Tire pressure
Check tires
Vehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The pressure is too low in one or more tires.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 514).

If necessary, change the wheel (
page 514).
Check tires
Vehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The pressure is too low in one or more tires.
The respective tire is shown in the multi-
function display.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 514).

If necessary, change the wheel (
page 514).
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. Continued
driving with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.