2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R-CLASS MPV Owners Manual

Troubleshooting
278 Troubleshooting
Points to remember
G
Risk of accident and injury
The operating safety of your vehicle could be compromised if service work is carried out improperly. You could lose control of the vehicle,
thereby causing an accident. Safety systems may also not be able to protect you or others as intended.
Always have maintenance work carried out at a qualified specialist workshop which has the necessary specialist knowledge and tools to
carry out the work required.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this purpose.
In particular, work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at a qualified specialist workshop. Indicator and warning lamps in switches and buttons
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
One or all of the indicator lamps
in the seat ventilation* button are
flashing. There is insufficient voltage
because too many consumers are
switched on. The seat ventila-
tion* has switched itself off auto-
matically. X
Switch off consumers that are not required, e.g. reading lamps,
interior lighting, etc.
The seat ventilation* will automatically switch back on as soon as
there is sufficient voltage again. One or all of the indicator lamps
in the seat heating* button are
flashing. There is insufficient voltage
because too many consumers are
switched on. The seat heating*
has switched itself off automati-
cally. X
Switch off consumers that are not required, e.g. reading lamps,
interior lighting, etc.
The seat heating* will automatically switch back on as soon as
there is sufficient voltage again. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
279Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The steering wheel heating* indi-
cator lamp on the lower left lever
of the steering column is flashing. There is insufficient voltage
because too many consumers are
switched on. The steering wheel
heating* has switched itself off
automatically. X
Switch off consumers that are not required, e.g. reading lamps,
interior lighting, etc.
The steering wheel heating* will automatically switch back on as
soon as there is sufficient voltage again. The indicator lamp in the
9
button on the 2-zone Thermatic/
multi-zone Thermotronic* con-
trol panel is lit. The cooling sys-
tem cannot be switched on. Cooling has been deactivated
due to a malfunction. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. The indicator lamp in the
1
rear-window heating button is
flashing. The rear-window heat-
ing has switched itself off prema-
turely or cannot be switched on. There is insufficient voltage
because too many consumers are
switched on. X
Switch off consumers that are not required, e.g. reading lamps,
interior lighting, etc.
The rear-window heating will automatically switch back on as soon
as there is sufficient voltage again. Vehicles with automatic child
seat recognition on the front-
passenger seat:
The 5 PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF warning lamp on the centre
console is lit. A special Mercedes-Benz child
seat with automatic child seat
recognition has been fitted to the
front-passenger seat. The front-
passenger airbag has therefore
been disabled. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
280 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
Vehicles with automatic child
seat recognition on the front-
passenger seat:
The
5 PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF warning lamp on the centre
console is lit. G
Risk of injury
There is no child seat fitted to the
front-passenger seat. The auto-
matic child seat recognition is
malfunctioning. X
Remove electronic equipment from the front-passenger seat, e.g.:
R
notebook
R mobile phone
R cards with transponders, e.g. ski passes or access passes
If the 5 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning lamp is still lit:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
281Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
-
The yellow ABS warning
lamp comes on while the
engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ABS has been deactivated due to
a malfunction. Therefore, Brake
Assist, ESP ®
and PRE-SAFE ®
are,
for example, also deactivated.
The brake system continues to
function normally, but without
electronic support. The wheels
could therefore lock if you brake
hard, for example. X
Drive on carefully.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 255).
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop as soon as possible. -
The yellow ABS warning
lamp comes on while the
engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ABS has been deactivated due to
undervoltage. It is possible that
the battery is not being charged.
Therefore, the following systems
are, for example, also deactiva-
ted: Brake Assist, ESP ®
, BAS and
PRE-SAFE ®
.
The brake system continues to
function normally, but without
electronic support. The wheels
could therefore lock if you brake
hard, for example. X
Switch off consumers that are not required, e.g. reading lamps,
interior lighting, etc.
ABS will be available again as soon as the vehicle's electrical sys-
tem voltage increases. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
282 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
v
3
- The yellow ESP
®
warning
lamp, the red brake sys-
tem warning lamp and the
yellow ABS warning lamp
light up while the engine is
running. You will also hear
a warning tone. G
Risk of accident
The electronic brake force distri-
bution (EBV) is faulty. Therefore,
ABS, Brake Assist, ESP ®
and PRE-
SAFE ®
are, for example, no lon-
ger available. The brake system
continues to function normally,
but without electronic support.
The wheels could therefore lock
if you brake hard, for example. X
Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. v
The yellow ESP ®
warning
lamp flashes while the
vehicle is in motion. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
, ABS or traction control has
intervened because at least one
wheel has reached its grip limit
and is threatening to spin or lock.
Cruise control or Distronic* is
deactivated. X
Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when pull-
ing away.
X Release the accelerator pedal while you are driving.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: ( Ypage 61). v
The yellow ESP ®
warning
lamp is lit while the engine
is running. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
is deactivated. ESP ®
will
not stabilise the vehicle if it starts
to skid or if a wheel starts to spin. X
Reactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: ( Ypage 61).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
283Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
v
The yellow ESP ®
warning
lamp is lit while the engine
is running. In addition, a
message appears in the
multi-function display. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
is unavailable due to a mal-
function. ESP ®
will not stabilise
the vehicle if it starts to skid or if
a wheel starts to spin. X
Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 255).
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 1
The red SRS warning lamp
is lit while the engine is
running. G
Risk of injury
The restraint systems are faulty.
The airbags or belt tensioners
may either be triggered uninten-
tionally or, in the event of an acci-
dent, not be triggered at all. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 3
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while you are driving. You
will also hear a warning
tone. You are driving with the parking
brake applied. X
Release the parking brake.
The warning lamp goes out and the warning tone ceases. 3
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the engine is run-
ning. You will also hear a
warning tone. G
Risk of accident
There is insufficient brake fluid in
the fluid reservoir. X
Do not continue driving under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 255).
X Under no circumstances should you top up the brake fluid. This will
not rectify the fault. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
284 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
±
The yellow engine diagnos-
tics warning lamp comes
on while the engine is run-
ning. Vehicles with a diesel engine: the
fuel tank has run dry. X
Start the engine three to four times after refuelling.
Emergency running mode is cancelled. The vehicle need not be
checked. ±
The yellow engine diagnos-
tics warning lamp comes
on while the engine is run-
ning. There may be a malfunction:
R
in the fuel injection system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system (on vehi-
cles with a petrol engine)
The emission limit values may be
exceeded and the engine may be
running in emergency mode. X
Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. H
The yellow tyre pressure
monitor* warning lamp is
on. G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure monitor* has
detected a sudden or significant
pressure loss in at least one of
the tyres. X
Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 255).
The warning light will go out after the flat tyre has been changed
and you have been driving for a few minutes. <
The red seat belt warning
lamp lights up for 6 sec-
onds after the engine
starts up 34
. The seat belt warning lamp
reminds the driver and front
passenger to fasten their seat
belts. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 94).34
Only for certain vehicles. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
285Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
<
After the engine starts you
will hear a warning tone for
up to 6 seconds 34
. G
Risk of injury
The driver's seat belt is not fas-
tened. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 94).
The warning tone ceases. <
The red seat belt warning
lamp lights up after start-
ing the engine, as soon as
the driver's door or the
front-passenger door is
closed. G
Risk of injury
The driver or front passenger has
not fastened their seat belt. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 94).
The warning lamp goes out. G
Risk of injury
There are objects on the front-
passenger seat. X
Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow them
safely.
The warning lamp goes out. <
The red seat belt warning
lamp flashes and you hear
an intermittent warning
tone. G
Risk of injury
The driver or front passenger has
not fastened their seat belt. At
the same time, you are driving
faster than 25 km/h or have
briefly driven faster than
25 km/h. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 94).
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. G
Risk of injury
There are objects on the front-
passenger seat. At the same
time, you are driving faster than
25 km/h or have briefly driven
faster than 25 km/h. X
Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow them
safely.
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. 34
Only for certain vehicles. Practical advice
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