2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS63AMG ESP inoperative

360 Practical hints
What to do if …
Text messages
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABSABS, ESP
Inoperative
See Operator’s Man.The ABS, ESP® 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. Wheels
w i l l l o c k d u r i n g h a r d b raking, reducing 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.
ABSABS, ESP
Unavailable
See Operator’s Man.The ABS, ESP® as well as PRE-SAFE® were
deactivated because of insufficient power
supply. The charging voltage has fallen be-
low 10 volts.
BAS is also switched off.
The brake system still functions normally
but without ABS, BAS, 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 should disappear.
If the message does not disappear:
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

363 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
DISTRONICCurrently Unavailable
See Operator’s ManualDistronic* is deactivated because the
functionality is impaired by external in-
terferences, e.g. high-frequency sources
such as too stations, speed measuring
systems etc.Leave the area of the external interference.
Activate Distronic* again (page 222) when
the message
DISTRONIC available again ap-
pears.
Distronic* is deactivated because the
Distronic* sensor has not sensed any
other vehicles or objects, e.g. road sign
or such, for a long time.Activate Distronic* again (page 222) when
the message
DISTRONIC available again ap-
pears.
ESPInoperative
See Operator’s Man.The ESP® as well as BAS and PRE-SAFE®
have detected a malfunction and
switched off.
The ABS may not be operational.
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS, BAS, ESP
®
and PRE-SAFE® available.
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.
Warning!G
Distronic cannot take weather conditions
into account. Switch off Distronic* or do not
turn it on if the sensor is dirty or visibility is
diminished as a result of snow, rain or fog.
The distance control may be impaired even
before the system is able to detect a dirty
sensor. The messageDISTRONIC
Currently Unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
will be displayed in the multifunction display
and Distronic* will be turned off.

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.

371 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
Tire Pressure
Monitor
Inoperative
No Wheel SensorsThere are wheels without appropri-
ate wheel sensors mounted (e.g.
winter tires).Have the TPMS or Advanced TPMS* checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the appropriate wheel sensors installed
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire Pres. Monitor
Wheel Sensor MissingVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
One or more sensors malfunction
(e.g. battery in one or more wheel
sensors is empty).
One or more wheels without appro-
priate wheel sensors mounted (e.g.
spare tire).Have the Advanced TPMS* checked at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the wheel sensors installed at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The tire pressure for the respective tire is
shown in the multifunction display.
One or more wheels without appro-
priate wheel sensors mounted (e.g.
spare tire).
The respective tire is indicated by ---
instead of the tire inflation pressure
in the multifunction display.Have the Advanced TPMS* checked at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the appropriate wheel sensors installed
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
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. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

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.

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.