2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 brake

398 Practical hints
What to do if …?
-ABS and ESP
Inoperative
See Operator’s ManualABS and ESP® are switched off due to a
malfunction. BAS and the hill start assist
are 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, re-
ducing steering capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possi-
ble.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution

399 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
#The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning

broken poly-V-belt
Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe loca-
tion and check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the en-
gine will overheat due to an inoperative water
pump which may result in damage to the en-
gine.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:
Drive immediately to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
There is a malfunction in the electronic sys-
tem.Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
2Check
Brake Pad WearThe brake pads have reached their wear
limit.Have the brake pads replaced as soon as
possible.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.

400 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
;Check
Brake Fluid LevelThere is insufficient brake fluid in the reser-
voir.Risk of accident!
Carefully stop the vehicle in a safe location or
as soon as it is safe to do so.
Depress the parking brake (page 134).
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
Warning!G
Driving with the message Check Brake
Fluid Level
displayed can result in an ac-
cident. Have your brake system checked im-
mediately. Do not add brake fluid before
checking the brake system. Overfilling the
brake fluid reservoir can result in spilling
brake fluid on hot engine parts and the
brake fluid catching fire. You can be serious-
ly burned.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks.

401 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
;ReleaseYou are driving with the parking brake set.Release the parking brake (page 130).
(USA only)Parking Brake
!
(Canada only)
;
(USA only)
3
EBR, ABS, and ESP
Inoperative
See Operator’s Manu-
alEBP, ABS and ESP® are switched off due to
a malfunction. BAS and the hill start assist
are also switched off.
The brake system still functions normally
but without the ABS and ESP
® available.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking, re-
ducing 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.
(Canada only)

409 Practical hints
What to do if …?
ITake Your Key
From IgnitionYou have forgotten to remove the
SmartKey.Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
.AUTO Lamp Function
InoperativeThe light sensor is malfunctioning. Daytime
driving lamps are switched on.In the instrument cluster control system, set
lamp operation to manual mode.
Switch on headlamps using the exterior lamp
switch.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Center Brake LampThe high mounted brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning. This message will only appear if all
light emitting diodes have stopped working.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Left Brake LampThe left brake lamp is malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 436).
Check
Right Brake LampThe right brake lamp is malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 436).
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution

412 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
.Check
Front Left
Side Marker LampThe front left side marker lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Front Right
Side Marker LampThe front right side marker lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Rear Left
Side Marker LampThe rear left side marker lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check
Rear Right
Side Marker LampThe rear right side marker lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check Left
Tail and Brake
LampsThe left tail lamp/brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Check Right
Tail and Brake
LampsThe right tail lamp/brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.

418 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
LTele Aid
InoperativeOne or more main functions of the Tele Aid*
system are malfunctioning.Have the Tele Aid* system checked at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
HCorrect
Tire Pressure
(USA only)
The tire pressure is too low in one or more
tires.Check and correct tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 339).
Tire Press. Warning
Caution
Tire Malfunction
(USA only)
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 440).
Check
Tire Pressure
(USA only)
The tire pressure in one or more tires is al-
ready below the minimum value.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Check and adjust tire pressure as required
(
page 339).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 440).
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.

421 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
1Tab
2Removing
3Vehicle tool kit, jack and collapsible
wheel chock
4 Opening
5Tab
6Luggage bowl
Removing: Lift up trunk floor cover
and engage trunk floor handle in upper
edge of trunk.
Pull tab1 in direction of arrow2 and
lift up vehicle tool kit3.
You can now remove the vehicle tool
kit3 from luggage bowl6.
Opening: Pull tab5 in direction of
arrow4 and open the vehicle tool kit
cover.
You can now remove the tools and
accessories from vehicle tool kit3.
Closing: Store the tools and
accessories in vehicle tool kit3.
Press the vehicle tool kit cover down
until it engage.
Installing: Slide the vehicle tool kit3
into the recess in luggage bowl6.
Press vehicle tool kit3 down until
tab1 engage in luggage bowl6.
Disengage trunk floor handle from up-
per edge of trunk and lower trunk floor.Vehicle jack
!To prevent damage, always disengage trunk
floor handle from trunk lid and lower trunk floor
before closing the trunk.
Warning!G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly depress the parking brake and block
wheels before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not release the parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use,
especially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Make sure the jack arm is
fully seated in the jack take-up bracket.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.