2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS63AMG engine

351 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
lThe red distance warning lamp
comes on while driving.You are too close to the vehicle in front
of you to maintain selected speed.Apply the brakes immediately to increase
the following distance.
lThe red distance warning lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning chime sound.
You are gaining too rapidly on the ve-
hicle ahead of you.

The distance warning system has
recognized a stationary obstacle on
your probable line of travel.
Apply the brakes immediately.
Carefully observe the traffic situation. You
may need to brake or maneuver to avoid
hitting an obstacle.
WThe yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp comes on while
driving.The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.Refuel at the next gas station
(
page 283).
on for a maximum of 6 seconds
after starting the engine.The seat belt telltale reminds you and
your passengers to fasten your seat
belts before driving off.Fasten your seat belts.
Regardless of whether the seat belts are
fastened or not, the seat belt telltale al-
ways comes on and remains lit for
6 seconds after starting the engine.
maximum of 6 seconds after
starting the engine.You have forgotten to fasten your seat
belt.Fasten your seat belt.
The warning chime stops sounding.

352 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
on while the vehicle is standing
still and the engine is running or
during driving.You and/or your front passenger have for-
gotten to fasten your seat belts.Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out.
There are items placed on the front passen-
ger seat and therefore the system senses the
front passenger seat as being occupied.Remove the items from the front pas-
senger seat and put them in a safe
place.
The seat belt telltale goes out.
telltale flashes and you addition-
ally hear an intermittent warning
chime with increasing intensity.The vehicle’s speed once exceeded 15 mph
(25 km/h) and you and/or your front pas-
senger have forgotten to fasten your seat
belts.Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out and the
warning chime stops sounding.
There are items placed on the front passen-
ger seat and therefore the system senses the
front passenger seat as being occupied.Remove the items from the front pas-
senger seat and put them in a safe
place.
The seat belt telltale goes out and the
warning chime stops sounding.
iAfter 60 seconds with an unfastened seat
belt the warning chime stops sounding and the
seat belt telltale illuminates continuously. The
seat belt telltale will only go out if both, thedriver’s and the front passenger’s seat belt are
fastened, or the vehicle is standing still and a
front door is opened.

362 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
DISTRONICCurrently Unavailable
See Operator’s ManualDistronic* is switched off and is tempo-
rarily unavailable.
Distronic* is deactivated if:

the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille is dirty

its function is impaired by heavy pre-
cipitation or fog
If necessary, clean the Distronic* cover in the
area of the radiator grille (
page 337).
Restart the vehicle.
or
Distronic* becomes operational again without the
engine being restarted when:

dirt on the radiator grille has fallen off while
driving (e.g. slush or snow)

the system recognizes full sensor availability
(due to lessening rain or the road surface dry-
ing)

the message in the multifunction display disap-
pears

the speed last stored flashes in the display for
5 seconds.
You can operate Distronic* as usual again.

368 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
PGear Selector Lever
In P PositionYou have tried to start the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button with the gear selector lever
not in positionP.Place the gear selector lever in positionP.
You have tried to turn off the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button with the gear selector lever
not in positionP.
P/NPlease Shift To
N or PYou have tried to start the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button while the gear selector lever
was in positionR orD.Place the gear selector lever in positionP
orN. Make sure the brake pedal is depressed.
PRE-SAFEInoperative
See Operator’s ManualPRE-SAFE® itself has failed. All other
occupant safety systems, such as
the air bags, are still available.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
If ESP® and PRE-SAFE® malfunction
messages are displayed simulta-
neously, PRE-SAFE
® has been deac-
tivated as a result of these
malfunctions. All other occupant
safety systems, such as the air bags,
are still available.

372 Practical hints
What to do if …
Symbol messages
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
V You are driving with one or more doors
open.Close the doors.
YYou are driving with the hood open.Close the hood (page 286).
Ê This message will appear whenever the
trunk is open.Close the trunk.
#The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning

broken poly-V-belt
Considerably greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping distance is
increased.
Stop immediately in a safe location or
as soon as it is safe to do so and
check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise
the engine will overheat due to an
inoperative water pump which may re-
sult in damage to the engine. Notify
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:
Drive immediately to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Adjust driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.

373 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
#There is a malfunction in the electronic
system.Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
#Battery/Alternator
Stop VehicleThe battery is malfunctioning.
Considerably greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping distance is in-
creased.Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe
to do so. Adjust driving to be consis-
tent with reduced braking responsive-
ness.
Call Roadside Assistance.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
#Low Voltage
Start EngineThe battery has insufficient voltage.Start the engine (page 51).
2Brake WearThe brake pads have reached their wear
limit.Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually in-
spected by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.

374 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
(USA only)
;
(Canada only)
!
Release
Parking BrakeYou are driving with the parking brake
set.Release the parking brake
(
page 53).
(USA only)
;
(Canada only)
3
EBV, ABS, ESP
Inoperative
See Operator’s Man.ABS, ESP®, EBP 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.
Adjust driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.
Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
(USA only)
;
(Canada only)
3
Check
Brake Fluid
LevelThere is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle in a
safe location and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Do not add
brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
Warning!G
Driving with the messages 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 res-
ervoir can result in spilling brake fluid on hot
engine parts and the brake fluid catching
fire. You can be seriously 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.

375 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
(USA only)
ú
(Canada only)
±
Service RequiredThere may be a malfunction in the:

fuel injection system

ignition system

exhaust system

fuel system
Have the measuring system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
H Top Up
Coolant
See Operator’s Man.The coolant level is too low.Add coolant (page 290).
If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You could be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant level
warning. Extended driving with the message and
symbol displayed may cause serious engine
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Lim-
ited Warranty.Do not drive without sufficient amount of coolant
in the cooling system. The engine will overheat
causing major engine damage.