2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550 Owner's Manual

448 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible
cause/consequenceSuggested solution
59The front passenger
front air bag off indica-
tor lamp does not illu-
minate and/or does
not remain illuminated
with the weight of a
typical 12-month-old
child in a standard
child restraint or less
on the front passenger
seat.The system is malfunction-
ing.Make sure there is nothing between seat cushion and
child seat and check installation of the child seat.
Make sure no objects applying supplemental weight
onto the seat are present.
Make sure no objects which apply forces to the seat
are present (e.g. objects such as books, briefcases
etc. lodged behind or around the seat, head restraints
pushing against roof etc.). The system may recognize
such forces as supplemental weight.
If the front passenger front air bag off indicator lamp
remains out, have the system checked as soon as pos-
sible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center. Do not transport a child on the front passen-
ger seat until the system has been repaired.
Also note any messages in the multifunction display
and follow corrective steps (
page 460).
Warning!G
If the59indicator lamp does
not illuminate or remains out with the
weight of a typical 12-month-old child in a
standard child restraint or less on the front
passenger seat, do not transport a child onthe front passenger seat until the system
has been repaired.
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449 Practical hints
What to do if …
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display
Warning and malfunction messages
appear in the multifunction display located
in the instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in
this Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the vehicle status message
memory menu in the control system
(
page 167) displays both cleared and
uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the
multifunction display in red color.Certain messages of high priority cannot
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (
page 152) or
buttonj,k,ÿ, orè on the
multifunction steering wheel.
Other messages of high priority and mes-
sages of less immediate priority can be
cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (
page 152) or
buttonj,k,ÿ, orè on the
multifunction steering wheel. They are
then stored in the vehicle status message
memory (
page 167). Remember that
clearing a message will only make the mes-
sage disappear. Clearing a message will
not correct the condition that caused the
message to appear.
Warning!G
All categories of messages contain
important information which should be
taken note of and, where a malfunction is
indicated, addressed as soon as possible at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty, or result in property dam-
age or personal injury.
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450 Practical hints
What to do if …
On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may
appear in the multifunction display.
For your convenience the messages are
divided into two sections:

Text messages (page 451)

Symbol messages (page 466)
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, please do so
with added caution. Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.
iSwitching on the ignition causes all
instrument cluster lamps (except high beam
headlamp indicator lamp, and turn signal
indicator lamps unless activated) as well as the
multifunction display to come on. Make sure the
lamps and multifunction display are in working
order before starting your journey.
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451 Practical hints
What to do if …
Text messages
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABSABS, ESP Inoperative
See Operator’s ManualThe ABS and the ESP® have been
switched off due to a malfunction.
The BAS is also switched off.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ABS avail-
able.Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
ABS, ESP Unavailable
See Operator’s ManualThe ABS and the ESP® have been
switched off because of insufficient
power supply. The charging voltage
has fallen below 10 volts.
The BAS is also switched off.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ABS
available.When the voltage is above this value again, the
ABS is operational again and the message in
the multifunction display should disappear.
If the message in the multifunction display
does not disappear:
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.
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452 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABSUnavailable
See Operator’s ManualThe self-diagnosis has not yet been
completed yet.The display will clear after driving a
short distance at a vehicle speed of
above 12 mph (20 km/h).
Cruise Control And
SPEEDTRONICInoperativeThe cruise control is malfunctioning.Have cruise control checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Cruise Control––– MPHYou have attempted to set a speed
while driving below 20 mph
(30 km/h).Accelerate to a speed exceeding
20 mph (30 km/h) and set the
speed (
page 255).
The ESP® is switched off.Switch on the ESP® (page 103).
The automatic transmission is set to
positionP, R, orN.Set the automatic transmission to
positionD (
page 191).
The vehicle is secured with the
parking brake.Release the parking brake
(
page 59).
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453 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
DISTRONIC––– MPHYou have attempted to set a speed
while driving below 20 mph
(30 km/h).Accelerate to a speed exceeding 20 mph
(30 km/h) and set the speed (
page 260).
The ESP® is switched off.Switch on the ESP® (page 106).
The automatic transmission is set to
positionP, R, orN.Set the automatic transmission to
positionD (
page 191).
The vehicle is secured with the
parking brake.Release the parking brake (page 59).
InoperativeThe Distronic* or the Distronic*
display are malfunctioning.Have the system checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
OverrideYou have accelerated. The
Distronic* has switched off.Stop accelerating.
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454 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
DISTRONICAvailable AgainDistronic* had been deactivated and
is available again.Activate Distronic* (page 266).
Currently Unavailable
See Operator’s ManualDistronic* is deactivated because
the functionality is impaired by
external interferences, e.g.
high-frequency sources such as toll
stations, speed measuring systems
etc.Leave the area of the external interference.
Activate Distronic* again (page 266),
when the message
DISTRONIC Available
Again
appears.
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.Try to activate Distronic* again
(
page 266), when the message
DISTRONIC Available Again appears.
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455 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
DISTRONICCurrently Unavailable
See Operator’s ManualDistronic* is deactivated because

the Distronic* cover in the
radiator grille is dirty

the functionality is impaired by
heavy precipitation or fog
Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille (
page 430).
Restart the vehicle.
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 because
the road is drying, for example

the message in the multifunction display
disappears
You can then operate Distronic* as usual again.
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