2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 Owner's Manual

416 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/conse-
quenceSuggested solution
;(USA only)
3(Canada only)
-
v
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving. In
addition, the yellow ABS mal-
function indicator lamp, and
the yellow ESP
® warning lamp
come on and an acoustic warn-
ing sounds.
The Electronic Brake Propor-
tioning (EBP) has switched off
due to a malfunction.
The ABS, the BAS, and the
ESP
® are also switched off.
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.

417 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/conse-
quenceSuggested solution
?(USA only)
±(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.There is a malfunction in:

The fuel management
system

The ignition system

The emission control
system

Systems which affect
emissions
Such malfunctions may result
in excessive emissions values
and may switch the engine to
its limp-home (emergency
operation) mode.
Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics
system. It allows the accurate identifi-
cation of system malfunctions through
the readout of diagnostic trouble
codes. It is located in the front left area
of the footwell next to the parking
brake pedal.
iSome states may by law require you to visit
a workshop as soon as the engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on. Check local
requirements.

418 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/conse-
quenceSuggested solution
?(USA only)
±(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.A loss of pressure has been
detected in the fuel system.
The fuel cap may not be closed
properly or the fuel system
may be leaky.Check the fuel cap (page 352).
If it is not closed properly:
Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:
Have the fuel system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Vehicles with diesel engine
only:
Your fuel tank is empty.After refueling start, turn off and
restart the engine three or four times in
succession.
The limp-home mode is canceled. You do
not need to have your vehicle checked.
lThe red distance warning lamp comes on
while driving and you hear a warning sound.You are gaining too rapidly on
the vehicle ahead of you.Apply the brakes immediately.
Carefully observe the traffic situation.
You may need to brake or maneuver to
avoid hitting an obstacle.
The Distronic* has recognized
a stationary obstacle on your
probable line of travel.

419 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
vThe yellow ESP® warning lamp
comes on while the engine is
running.The ESP® has been switched off with the
ESP® switch or has switched off due to a
malfunction.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road, weather, and traffic conditions.
Switch the ESP® back on (page 105).
Exceptions: (
page 104)
If the ESP
® cannot be switched back on:
Continue driving with added caution.
Observe additional messages in the
multifunction display that may appear.
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
vThe yellow ESP® warning lamp
flashes while driving.The ESP® or the Electronic Traction System
has come into operation because of de-
tected traction loss of at least one tire.When driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.
While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor.
Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.
Do not deactivate the ESP®.
Exceptions: (
page 104)
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.

420 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
on for a maximum of 6 seconds
after starting the engine.The seat belt telltale reminds you and your
passengers to fasten your seat belts before
driving off.Fasten your seat belts.
Regardless of whether the seat belts
are fastened or not, the seat belt tell-
tale always comes on and remains lit
for 6 seconds after starting the
engine.
maximum of 6 seconds after
starting the engine.You have forgotten to fasten your seat belt.Fasten your seat belt.
The warning chime stops sounding.
on while the vehicle is standing
still and the engine is running or
during driving.You and/or your front passenger have for-
gotten to fasten your seat belts.Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out.
There are items placed on the front passen-
ger seat and therefore the system senses the
front passenger seat as being occupied.Remove the items from the front pas-
senger seat and put them in a safe
place.
The seat belt telltale goes out.

421 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
telltale flashes and you addition-
ally hear an intermittent warning
chime with increasing intensity.The vehicle’s speed once exceeded
15 mph (25 km/h) and you and/or your
front passenger have forgotten to fasten your
seat belts.Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out and the
warning chime stops sounding.
There are items placed on the front passen-
ger seat and therefore the system senses the
front passenger seat as being occupied.Remove the items from the front
passenger seat and put them in a safe
place.
The seat belt telltale goes out and the
warning chime stops sounding.
iAfter 60 seconds with an unfastened seat
belt on one of the front seats, the warning chime
stops sounding and the seat belt telltale illumi-
nates continuously. The seat belt telltale will only
go out if both the driver and front passenger’s
seat belt are fastened, or the vehicle is standing
still and a front door is opened.

422 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
HUSA only:
Combination low tire
pressure/TPMS malfunction
telltale for the TPMS illuminates
continuously.
Canada only:
Low tire pressure telltale for the
Advanced TPMS* illuminates
continuously.The TPMS (USA only) or Advanced TPMS*
(Canada only) detects a loss of pressure in at
least one tire.Carefully bring the vehicle to a
halt, avoiding abrupt steering and
braking maneuvers. Observe the
traffic situation around you.
Read and observe messages in
the multifunction display.
If the tire inflation pressure in the
respective tire(s) has (have) been
corrected, the combination low tire
pressure/TPMS malfunction telltale
goes out after few minutes driving.
HUSA only:
Combination low tire
pressure/TPMS malfunction
telltale for the TPMS flashes
60 seconds and then stays
illuminated.There is a malfunction in the TPMS.Read and observe messages in
the multifunction display.
Have the TPMS checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
After the malfunction has been
remedied the combination low tire
pressure/TPMS malfunction telltale
goes out after few minutes driving.

423 Practical hints
What to do if …
Warning!G
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the
Tire and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar (
page 366) or, if
available, the tire inflation pressure label on
the inside of the fuel filler flap (
page 352).
If your vehicle has tires of a different size
than the size indicated on the Tire and
Loading Information placard or the tire
inflation pressure label, you should deter-
mine the proper tire inflation pressure for
those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitor-
ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly underinflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu-
minates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a signifi-
cantly underinflated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehi-
cle’s handling and stopping ability. Please
note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-
er’s responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.USA only:
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-
bined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash for approximately 1 minute
and then remain continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal-
function exists. When the malfunction
indicator is illuminated, the system may not
be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation of
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on
the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing
one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle
to ensure that the replacement or alternate
tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue
to function properly.