2008 MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK engine

Troubleshooting
226 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
v
Theyellow ESP ®
warning
lamp flashes while the
vehicle is in motion. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
or traction control has
intervened because there is a risk
of skidding or at least one wheel
has started to spin. X
Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when pull-
ing away.
X Release the accelerator pedal while you are driving.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
. 1
The red SRS warning lamp
is lit while the engine is
running. G
Risk of injury
There is a malfunction in the
restraint system. The airbags or
belt tensioners may either be trig-
gered unintentionally or, in the
event of an accident, not be trig-
gered at all. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 1
The red SRS warning lamp
is lit while the engine is
running. In addition, the
indicator lamp 5
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
flashes in the centre con-
sole and a warning tone
sounds. The connector on the removable
front-passenger seat* is
detached. X
Attach the connector to the coupling on the seat (Y page 156).H
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while you are driving. A
warning tone also sounds. You are driving with the parking
brake applied. X
Release the parking brake.
The warning lamp goes out and the warning tone ceases. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
227Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
H
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the engine is run-
ning. G
Risk of accident
There is insufficient brake fluid in
the fluid reservoir. X
Pull over and stop the vehicle safely, pa ying attention to road and
traffic conditions. Do not continue driving under any circumstan-
ces.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 202).
Do not top up the brake fluid. This will not rectify the fault. ±
The yellow engine diagnos-
tics warning lamp lights up
while the engine is run-
ning. Vehicles with a diesel engine: the
fuel tank has been run dry. X
Start the engine three to four times after refuelling.
Emergency running mode is cancelled. The vehicle need not be
checked. ±
The yellow engine diagnos-
tics warning lamp lights up
while the engine is run-
ning. There may be a fault, for example
R
in the engine management
R in the ignition system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system (for vehi-
cles with petrol engines)
The emission limit values may be
exceeded and the engine can run
in emergency mode. X
Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
228 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
<
The red seat belt warning
lamp lights up for 6 sec-
onds after the engine
starts up 28
. The seat belt warning lamp
reminds the driver and front
passenger to fasten their seat
belts. X
Fasten your seat belt ( Ypage 73). <
After the engine starts, a
warning tone sounds for
up to 6 seconds 28
. G
Risk of injury
The driver's seat belt is not fas-
tened. X
Fasten your seat belt ( Ypage 73).
The warning tone ceases. <
The red seat belt warning
lamp lights up after the
engine starts, as soon as
the driver's door or the
front-passenger door is
closed. G
Risk of injury
The driver or front passenger has
not fastened their seat belt X
Fasten your seat belt ( Ypage 73).
The warning lamp goes out. G
Risk of injury
There are objects on the front-
passenger seat X
Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow them
safely.
The warning lamp goes out. 28
Only for certain countries. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
229Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
<
The red warning lamp
flashes and an intermit-
tent audible warning
sounds. G
Risk of injury
The driver or front passenger has
not fastened their seat belt and
you are driving faster than
25 km/h or have briefly driven
faster than 25 km/h. X
Fasten your seat belt ( Ypage 73).
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent audible warning
ceases. G
Risk of injury
There are objects on the front-
passenger seat and you are driv-
ing faster than 25 km/h or have
briefly driven faster than
25 km/h. X
Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow them
safely.
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent audible warning
ceases. The yellow engine diagnostics
warning lamp lights up while the
engine is running. The fuel level has fallen below the
reserve range. X
Refuel at the nearest filling station. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
231Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
You hear a warning tone.
Vehicles with AUTOTRONIC*:
You have:
R
switched off the engine
R opened the driver's door
R not moved the selector lever to
position P X
Move the selector lever to P.Accident
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
Fuel is leaking from the vehicle.
G
Risk of fire
The fuel line or the fuel tank has
been damaged. The leaking fuel
creates a risk of fire or explosion. X
Switch off the ignition immediatel y.
X Remove the ignition key.
Do not restart the engine under any circumstances. The leaking fuel
creates a risk of fire or explosion.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. You are unable to determine the
extent of the damage. X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop. You cannot detect any damage. X
Start the engine as normal. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
232 Fuel and fuel tank
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
Fuel is leaking from the vehicle.
G
Risk of explosion or fire
The fuel line or the fuel tank is
defective. X
Turn the key to position 0(Y page 62) in the ignition lock immedi-
atel y and remove it.
X Do not restart the engine under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The fuel filler flap cannot be
opened. The fuel filler flap is not released. X
Unlock the vehicle (Y page 241).
or
X Unlock the vehicle manually (Y page 242). The opening mechanism is jam-
med. X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The fuel tank in a diesel engine
vehicle has been run completely
dry and the engine will not start. There is air in the fuel system. X
Refuel the vehicle.
X Switch on the ignition for approximately 10 seconds (key in posi-
tion 2(Y page 62) in the ignition lock).
X Start the engine continuously for up to 40 seconds until it runs
smoothly.
The fuel system is now free of air.
If the engine does not start:
X Wait two minutes.
X Repeat the starting procedure for up to 40 seconds.
If the engine still does not start:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
233Engine
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The engine will not start. You can
hear the starter motor operating. R
The engine electronics system
is malfunctioning.
R There is a malfunction in the
fuel supply.
R The on-board voltage is too low
because the starter batter y is
too weak or discharged. X
Turn the key back to position 0(Y page 62) in the ignition lock
before the next starting attempt.
X Try to start the engine again (Y page 87). When doing so, remember
that excessively long and frequent attempts to start the engine will
drain the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine will not start. You can
hear the starter motor operating.
The reserve fuel warning lamp is
on and the fuel gauge shows 0. The fuel tank has been run dry. X
Refuel the vehicle.
X Bleed the fuel system (Y page 232).The engine will not start. You can-
not hear the starter motor oper-
ating. The on-board voltage is too low
because the starter battery is too
weak or discharged. X
Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 266).
If the engine does not start despite attempting to jump-start it:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The starter motor was exposed to
a thermal load that was too high. X
Allow the starter motor to cool down for approximately two
minutes.
X Try to start the engine again.
If the engine still does not start:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
234 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
Vehicles with a petrol engine:
The engine is not running
smoothly and is misfiring. There is a malfunction in the
engine electronics or a mechani-
cal component of the engine con-
trol unit. X
Onl y depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
X Have the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic converter
and damage it. A coolant temperature of over
120 °C is displayed. The coolant
warning lamp may also be on and
a warning tone may sound
(Y page 97). The coolant level is too low. The
coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled suffi-
ciently. X
Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant to
cool down.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 175). Observe the warning notes
as you do so and top up the coolant if necessary. If the coolant level is correct, the
radiator fan may be faulty. The
coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled suffi-
ciently. X
If the coolant temperature is less than 120 °C, you can continue
driving to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving on
mountain roads and stop/start driving. Practical advice
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