2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R320 automatic transmission

414 Practical hints
What to do if …
Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during the bulb self-check when switching on the
ignition, have the respective bulb checked
and replaced if necessary.
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
-The yellow ABS indicator lamp
comes on while the engine is
running.ABS has detected a malfunction and has
switched off. The BAS and the ESP® are also
switched off (see messages in multifunction
display).
The brake system is still functioning normally
but without the ABS available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning,
other systems such as the navigation
system* or the automatic transmission may
also be malfunctioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.
Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display (
page 427).
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.
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts. The ABS has switched off.
The battery might not be charged sufficiently.When the voltage is above this value
again, the ABS is operational again and
the ABS indicator lamp should go out.
If the ABS indicator lamp does not go out:
Have the generator (alternator) and
the battery checked.

430 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
SPEEDTRONIC

InoperativeThe 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 257).
The ESP® is switched off.Switch on the ESP® (page 105).
The automatic transmission is set to
position P, R, or N.Set the automatic transmission to
positionD (
page 190).
The vehicle is secured with the
parking brake.Release the parking brake (page 56).

431 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 257).
The ESP® is switched off.Switch on the ESP® (page 105).
The automatic transmission is set to
position P, R, or N.Set the automatic transmission to posi-
tion D (
page 190).
The vehicle is secured with the
parking brake.Release the parking brake (page 56).
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.

434 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
Depress brake
to shift out of P.You have tried to shift the automatic
transmission into position D, R or N
using the gear selector lever without
depressing the brake pedal.Depress the brake pedal.
Door Open
Vehicle Not In ParkYou have opened the driver’s door
and the automatic transmission is
still in position D, R or N.Before you leave the vehicle, make sure
that the automatic transmission is set to
position P and that the parking brake is
engaged.
Drive to workshop
without
shifting gears
.
The automatic transmission cannot
be shifted out of the set position be-
cause of a malfunction.If the automatic transmission is set to
positionD:
Without changing the automatic transmis-
sion from position D, drive to an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
If the automatic transmission is set to
positionN, R or P:
Do not drive.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.

437 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
PShift to P or N
to start engine
.
You have attempted to start the
engine with the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button while the
automatic transmission was set
to positionR orD.Set the automatic transmission to
positionP orN.
Make sure the brake pedal is
depressed when attempting to start
the engine with the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button.
Only shift to P
when vehicle
is at a standstill.You have tried to shift the
automatic transmission into
position P using the gear selec-
tor lever although the vehicle
was still in motion.Stop the vehicle.
SRSRestraint Sys. Malfunction
Service RequiredThe system is malfunctioning.Drive with added caution to the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Warning!G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is indi-
cated as outlined above, the SRS may not be
operational. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
immediately to have the system checked;
otherwise the SRS may not be activated
when needed in an accident, which could re-
sult in serious or fatal injury, or it might de-
ploy unexpectedly and unnecessarily which
could also result in injury.

492 Practical hints
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Vehicles with AIRMATIC*:
Make sure the vehicle level is set to
highway level (
page 276).
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.
Turn on the hazard warning flasher
(
page 150).
Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight-ahead
position.
Set the parking brake (page 65).
Set the automatic transmission to
position P (
page 190).
Turn off the engine (page 66).
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* button once
(
page 66).
Open the driver’s door (this puts
the starter switch in position 0,
same as with the SmartKey re-
moved from the starter switch). The
driver’s door then can be closed
again.
Remove the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button from the starter
switch.
Warning!G
The dimensions of the spare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a spare wheel
mounted. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with spare wheel mounted,
ensure proper tire inflation pressure and do
not exceed a vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km/ h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible to have the
spare wheel replaced with a regular road
wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® with a spare
wheel mounted.
iOpen doors only when conditions are safe to
do so.

502 Practical hints
Bleeding the fuel system (diesel engine only)
Driving the vehicle until the fuel tank is
empty is not recommended. Otherwise, air
may be sucked into the fuel system. If this
happens, the? malfunction indicator
lamp (USA only) or the ± malfunction
indicator lamp (Canada only) comes on
and the engine may not start immediately
after refueling the vehicle.
After refueling:
Make sure the automatic transmission
is set toP.
The gear position indicator in the multi-
function display should be on
P.
Do not depress the accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position 2 for at least 10 seconds
(
page 40).
Return the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position 0 (
page 40).
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position 3 (
page 41) and hold it
there for a maximum of 40 seconds or
until the engine runs surge-free.
If the engine does not start:
Wait for approximately 2 minutes.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position 3 (
page 41) and hold it
there for a maximum of 40 seconds or
until the engine runs surge-free.
If the engine still does not start, do not
make any further attempts to start the
engine. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center or call
Roadside Assistance (
page 325).iVehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: If necessary,
remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button from
the starter switch (
page 41).iWhen the? malfunction indicator lamp
(USA only) or the ± malfunction indicator
lamp (Canada only) has been illuminated for the
above condition, it will remain illuminated until
the engine was cycled on and off four times in a
row.

505 Practical hints
Battery
Disconnecting, removing, reinstalling
and reconnecting the battery
Step 1 (Disconnecting)
Set the automatic transmission to
positionP (
page 192).
Firmly depress the parking brake
(
page 65).
Turn off the engine (page 66).
Leave the ignition switched on
(
page 39).
!Never loosen or detach battery terminal
clamps while the engine is running or the
SmartKey is in the starter switch. Otherwise the
alternator and other electronic components
could be severely damaged.
Have the battery checked regularly by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Contact your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center for further information.
Warning!G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof battery only to avoid the risk
of acid burns in the event of an accident.
Warning!G
Disconnecting, removing, reinstalling and
reconnecting the battery is a complicated
and technically demanding procedure that
also requires safety precautions to avoid the
risk of injury. We strongly recommend that it
be performed by a qualified technician or an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center only. Please read the instructions
fully before beginning operation and only
undertake it if you feel fully capable of
performing all of the tasks involved as
described in these instructions. Observe all
safety instructions and precautions when
handling automotive batteries
(
page 503). Performing the tasks involved
incorrectly can cause damage to the vehicle
and impair the operating safety of the
vehicle, and/or cause severe injury to you
or others.
iWith a disconnected battery you will no
longer be able to turn the SmartKey in the
starter switch and pressing the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button will have no effect.
iIf your battery is discharged, the vehicle
must be jump started (
page 511) using the
jump start contacts in the engine compartment,
or an accessory battery charge unit* approved
by Mercedes-Benz must be connected using the
jump start contacts in the engine compartment
(see separate instructions for the accessory
battery charge unit*) before any of the following
steps can be performed. If the battery cannot be
jumped or charged, please contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.