2008 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 Owner's Manual

344 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
3Check brake
fluid levelThere is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.Risk of accident!
Carefully stop the vehicle in a safe location or
as soon as it is safe to do so.
Apply the parking brake (page 62).
Do not drive any further.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
Warning!G
Driving with the message Check brake
fluid level
displayed can result in an
accident. Have your brake system checked
immediately.
Do not add brake fluid before checking the
brake system. Overfilling the brake fluid res-
ervoir can result in sp illing 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.
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345
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 55).
2Brake
wearThe brake pads have reached their wear
limit.Have the brake pads replaced as
soon as possible.
BTop up
coolant
See
Operator’s
ManualThe coolant level is too low.Add coolant (page 274).
If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.
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 this message and
symbol displayed may cause serious engine
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount of coolant
in the cooling system. The engine will overheat,
causing major engine damage.
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346 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
•Coolant
Stop, turn
engine offThe coolant is too hot.
Among other possible causes, the
poly-V-belt could be broken.Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so.
Apply the parking brake (page 62).
Turn off the engine.
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 result in
damage to the engine.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
If it is in order:
Wait for the message to disappear before
restarting the engine.
Doing otherwise could result in serious engine
damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
(Continued on next page)
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347
Practical hints
What to do if …
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
Observe the coolant temperature gauge in the
instrument cluster (
page 26).
If the temperature rises again:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center immediately.
Warning!G
Driving when your engine is overheated can
cause some fluids which may have leaked
into the engine compartment to catch fire.
You could be se riously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns and can oc cur just by opening
the hood. Stay away from the engine if you
see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
!The engine should not be operated with the
coolant temperature above 248°F (120°C).
Doing so may cause serious engine damage
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
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348 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
•The cooling fan for the coolant is
malfunctioning.Observe the coolant temperature
gauge in the multifunction display
(
page 26).
If the coolant temperature is
below 120°C, you may continue
driving to the nearest specialist
workshop.
Avoid placing heavy loads on the
engine (e.g. by driving uphill) as well as
stop-and-go traffic.
Have the fan replaced as soon as
possible.
ÑCr. control
and SPEED-
TRONIC
inoperativeThe cruise control is malfunctioning.Have the cruise control checked at an
authorized Mercedes -Benz Light Truck
Center.
JYou are attempting to drive with one or
more doors open.Close the doors.
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349
Practical hints
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When the message At next gas station
add 1.0 qt engine oil

(Canada:
1.0 liter) appears while the
engine is running and at operating
temperature, the engine oil level has
dropped to approximately the minimum
level.
When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further. Visually check for oil leaks. If no oil leaks
are noted, continue to drive to the nearest
service station where the engine oil should
be topped to the required level with an
approved engine oil. For information on
approved engine oils, refer to the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet
(USA only) or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
:USA only:
At next
gas station
add
1.0 qt
engine oil
Canada only:
At next
gas station
add
1.0 liter
engine oil
The engine oil level is too low.Add engine oil (page 273) and check
the engine oil level (
page 270).
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350 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
:Engine oil
level
Stop, turn
engine offThere is no oil in the engine. There is
a danger of engine damage.Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon as
it is safe to do so.
Turn off the engine.
Add engine oil (page 273) and check the
engine oil level (
page 270).
Engine oil
level
Visit
workshopThe engine oil has dropped to a
critical level.Check the engine oil level (page 270) and add
engine oil as required (
page 273).
If you must add engine oil frequently, have the
engine checked for possible leaks.
You have added too much engine oil.
There is a risk of damaging the engine
and/or the catalytic converter.Have excess oil siphoned or drained off.
Observe all legal requirements with respect to
its disposal.
It may be that there is water in the
engine oil.Have the engine oil checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
The measuring system is malfunction-
ing.Have the measuring system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
!The engine oil level warnings should not be
ignored. Extended driving with the symbol
displayed could result in serious engine damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
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351
Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
AReserve fuel
levelThe fuel level has dropped below the
reserve mark.Refuel at the next gas station
(
page 264).
4Gas cap
is openA loss of pressure has been detected in
the fuel system. The fuel filler cap may
not be closed properly or the fuel system
may be leaky.Check the fuel filler cap (page 264).
If it is not closed properly:
Close the fuel filler cap.
If it is closed properly:
Have the fuel system checked at an
authorized Mercedes -Benz Light Truck
Center.
YYou are driving with the hood open.Risk of accident!
Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as
soon as it is safe to do so.
Close the hood (page 269).
IRemove
keyYou have forgotten to remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch.Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Get a new
keyThe SmartKey is no longer functional.Contact an authoriz ed Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
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