2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 Limp home

ContentsStarter switch positions ..................... 315
SmartKey ..................................... 315
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*....... 316
Seats.................................................. 318
Seat adjustment ........................... 318
Seat heating* ............................... 322
Seat ventilation* .......................... 323
Head restraints............................. 324
Multicontour seats*, rear ............. 327
Easy-entry/exit feature ................ 328
Steering wheel ................................... 330
Steering wheel adjustment........... 330
Heated steering wheel* ............... 331
Mirrors ............................................... 332
Interior rear view mirror ............... 332
Exterior rear view mirrors ............. 332
Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors ......................................... 333
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors ... 334
Activating exterior rear view
mirror parking position ................. 335
Memory function................................ 336
Storing positions into memory ..... 337
Recalling positions from memory . 337
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 338Fastening the seat belts .................... 339
Proper use of seat belts ............... 341
Seat belt height adjustment ......... 341
Lighting.............................................. 342
Exterior lamp switch..................... 342
Combination switch ..................... 346
Corner-illuminating lamps ............ 347
Hazard warning flasher ................ 348
Interior lighting............................. 348
Courtesy lighting .......................... 350
Door entry lamps ......................... 350
Trunk lamp ................................... 350
Windshield wipers.............................. 351
Switching on/off windshield
wipers .......................................... 351
Intermittent wiping....................... 352
Single wipe................................... 352
Wiping with windshield washer
fluid .............................................. 352
Power windows.................................. 353
Opening and closing power
windows ....................................... 353
Rear side window sunshades* ..... 355
Summer opening feature.............. 355
Convenience closing feature ........ 356Driving and parking ........................... 359
Starting the engine ...................... 359
Driving off .................................... 361
Turn signals.................................. 362
Problems while driving ................. 362
Parking......................................... 363
Turning off the engine .................. 365
Releasing seat belts ..................... 366
Automatic transmission..................... 367
Gear selector lever....................... 367
Shifting procedure ....................... 369
Automatic transmission positions 370
Gear ranges ................................. 372
Driving tips................................... 373
Automatic shift program .............. 374
Steering wheel gearshift control .. 375
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 377
Instrument cluster ............................. 378
Adjusting instrument cluster and
COMAND display illumination ...... 378
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 378
Tachometer.................................. 379
Outside temperature indicator ..... 379
Fuel gauge ................................... 379

377 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Emergency operation (Limp-Home Mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less re-
sponsive or sluggish or the automatic
transmission no longer shifts, the automat-
ic transmission is most likely operating in
limp-home (emergency operation) mode.
In this mode only second gear and reverse
gear can be selected.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.

Shift to park positionP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.

Restart the engine.

Shift to drive positionD (for second
gear) or reverse gearR.

Have the automatic transmission
checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as pos-
sible.

547 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
±
The yellow engine malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes
on while driving.
There is a malfunction in:

The fuel management system


The ignition system


The emission control system


Systems which affect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive
emissions values and may switch the en-
gine to its limp-home (emergency opera-
tion) 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 system.
It allows the accurate identification of
system malfunctions through the read-
out of diagnostic trouble codes. It is lo-
cated in the front left area of the
footwell.
i
Some states may by law require you to visit
a workshop immediately as soon as the engine
malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Check lo-
cal requirements.

548 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
±
The yellow engine malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes
on while driving.
A 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.
If it is not closed properly:

Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:

Have the fuel system checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Your fuel tank is empty.

After refueling, 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.

680 IndexAquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest 448, 450
Ashtrays 456
Aspect ratio 526
Audio (COMAND) 104
CD mode 111
DVD mode 111
MP3 mode 111
Audio (Control system instrument
cluster) 248
CD changer 249
DVD changer 249
Audio DVD
Fast forward/rewind (COMAND) 113
Menu overview (COMAND) 110
Pause function (COMAND) 112
Stop function (COMAND) 112
Auto-dimming, Rear view mirrors 334
Automatic climate control 424
Adjusting air distribution
(COMAND) 230
Adjusting air flow from air vents
(COMAND) 233
Adjusting air volume (COMAND) 230
Adjusting the footwell temperature
(COMAND) 232Air recirculation mode 431
Central climate control menu
(COMAND) 231
Central menu for rear climate control*
(COMAND) 234
Defrosting 429
Operating the rear climate control*
from the front 234
Operating via COMAND 229
Rear window defroster 430
Selecting Mono mode
(COMAND) 232
Setting temperature (COMAND) 230
Setting the temperature 429
Setting the temperature in the rear
passenger compartment 435
Switching cooling on or off
(COMAND) 231
Automatic headlamp mode 255, 343
Automatic lighting control, Interior
lighting 349
Automatic locking when driving 313
Automatic shift program 374
Automatic transmission
Accelerator position 373
Automatic shift program 374Emergency operation (limp-home
mode) 377
Fluid 661
Fluid level 497
Gear ranges 372
Gear selector lever 367
Gear shifting malfunctions 377
Hill start assist system 374
Kickdown 373
Program mode selector switch 374
Shifting procedure 369
Starting the engine 359
Steering wheel gearshift control 375
Transmission fluid 497
Transmission positions 370
B
Backup lamps
Replacing bulbs 622
Bar 526
BAS 71
Batteries, SmartKey
Checking battery condition 311
Replacing 619
Batteries, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Checking battery condition 311
Replacing 619

685 Index
Dynamic Rear View Monitor* 413
Parallel parking 417
Reverse parking (back-in
parking) 415
Switching on 415
View through the camera 413
E
Easy-entry/exit feature 328
COMAND menu 224
EBP 71
ELCODE 672
Electric parking brake 364
Electrical fuses see Fuses
Electrical outlet see Power outlet
Electrical system, Technical Data 659
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Emergency call system 462
Emergency calls, Tele Aid 463
Emergency engine shut-down 648
Emergency operation (Limp-Home
Mode) 377
Emergency operations
Locking the vehicle 614
mechanically releasing the parking
brake 616Releasing from inside 440
Remote door lock 469
Remote door unlock 468
Tilt/sliding sunroof or tilt/sliding
panel* 617
Unlocking the trunk 615
Unlocking the vehicle 614
Emergency tensioning device see ETD
Emergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 639
First aid kit 611
Flat tire 629
Fuses 645
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 544
Roadside Assistance 16
Roadside Assistance (Tele Aid) 465
Towing the vehicle 642
Emission control 488
Emission control information label 652
Emission control system warranties 14
Engine
Belt layout 653
Cleaning 536
Compartment 492
Coolant 497, 662, 665Malfunction indicator lamp 547
Number 652, 672
Oil 496, 661, 663
Oils 494
Residual heat and ventilation 433
Starting 359
Technical data 654
Turning off 365
Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 494
Adding 496
Additives 663
Checking level 494
Checking level (Dipstick) 495
Checking level (Instrument cluster con-
trol system) 494
Consumption 494
Dipstick 495
Filler neck 496, 497
Messages in display 495, 602
Recommended engine oils and oil
filters 661
Viscosity 672
ESP
®
72
Messages in display 572, 582
Warning lamp 549

689 Index
L
Labels 652
Certification 652
Emission control information 652
Supplemental tire inflation pressure
information 489
Tire and Loading Information 504
Vacuum line routing diagram 652
Lamp bulbs, exterior 621
Lamps, exterior
Front 622
Light sensor 596
Rear 622
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 29, 69, 544
Air bag Off 49
Battery (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 310
Battery check lamp (SmartKey) 305
Brakes 545
DISTRONIC Plus* 29, 388, 397, 549
Engine diagnostics 547
Engine malfunction 547
ESP
®
549
Front passenger front air bag off 53,
555Fuel reserve 550
Instrument cluster 544
Maintenance service indicator 532
Seat belts telltale 550
SRS 552
Language (COMAND) 216
LATCH-type child seat anchors see Chil-
dren in the vehicle
Leather upholstery, Cleaning and care
of 542
Lever
For automatic transmission (gear se-
lector lever) 367
For cruise control 381
For DISTRONIC Plus* 390
License plate lamps
Messages in display 597
Replacing bulbs 622
Light alloy wheels, Cleaning 541
Light sensor
Message in display 596
Lighter see Cigarette lighter
Lighting 342
Automatic headlamp mode 343
Combination switch 346
Corner-illuminating lamps 347Courtesy lighting 350
Daytime running lamp mode 344
Door entry lamps 350
High beam flasher 347
High beams 346
Instrument cluster illumination 81,
378
Interior 348
Manual headlamp mode 343
Trunk 350
Limp-home mode 377
Line of fall 674
Loading see Vehicle loading
Locator lighting (COMAND) 221
Lock button
Door handle (KEYLESS-GO*) 309,
358
Key, SmartKey 304
Key, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 306
Trunk lid (KEYLESS-GO*) 310
Locking 363
Automatic central locking
(COMAND) 223
Vehicle in an emergency 615
Locking knob 312, 674