2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class brake

653 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Next Service X
Due in ... days
Due in ... mls (km)
Service X must be carried out in ... days or
after ... miles (kilometers) (
page 612).

Have the maintenance service carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Only Shift to
Position 'P' When
Vehicle Is Stationary
You have tried to shift the automatic trans-
mission to park positionP using the gear
selector lever although the vehicle is still in
motion.

Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

Shift the automatic transmission to park positionP.

Engage the electronic parking brake (
page 422).
Park Assist
Currently Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
Park Assist* is deactivated because the
area around the sensors* in the front or the
rear bumper (
page 620) is dirty.

Clean the front and rear bumper (
page 620).
Park Assist* is deactivated because the
battery voltage is insufficient.

Have the battery checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Park Assist* is switched off because the ra-
dar sensor system* is temporarily inopera-
tive due to electromagnetic interference
near television and radio transmitter sta-
tions, toll stations, speed measuring sys-
tems, etc.

Wait until the message in the multifunction display disappears.
Park Assist
Inoperative
Park Assist* is unavailable due to a mal-
function.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as pos-
sible.

656 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Parking Guidance
Finished
Advanced Parking Guidance* The vehicle is
in the end position.
The display message disappears automatically.
PRE-SAFE
Inoperative
See Oper. Manual
PRE-SAFE
® itself has failed. All other occu-
pant safety systems, such as the air bags,
are still available.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as pos-
sible.
Radar Sensors
Deactivated
See Oper. Manual
You attempt to activate DISTRONIC Plus*,
Park Assist* or PRE-SAFE
® Brake* even
though you have switched off the radar sen-
sors* on the vehicle.

Check if the radar sensors* may be switched on (
page 307).

Switch on the radar sensors* using the instrument cluster
control system.
Service X
Due
Service X must be carried out (
page 612).

Have the maintenance service carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Service X Exceeded
by X days
by XXX mls (km)
Service X must be carried within the next ...
or before you have driven ... miles (kilome-
ters) (
page 612).

Have the maintenance service carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

657 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Shift to P or N
to Start Engine
You have attempted to start the engine
while the automatic transmission was set to
reverse gearR or drive positionD.

Shift the automatic transmission to park positionP or neutral
positionN (
page 426).
Tire Pressure Monitor
Inoperative
The Advanced TPMS or a wheel sensor is
malfunctioning.

Have the Advanced TPMS checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Follow recommended tire inflation pres-
sures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adverse-
ly affect handling and fuel economy, and are
more likely to fail from being overheated. Do
not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can
adversely affect handling and ride comfort,
wear unevenly, increase stopping distance,
and result in sudden deflation (blowout) be-
cause they are more likely to become punc-
tured or damaged by road debris, potholes
etc.

660 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Symbol messagesDisplay
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Malfunction
Stop Vehicle!
You have started driving although the vehi-
cle level is still too low.
The vehicle is raised. The ABC* message
goes out after a few seconds.

Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Wait until the message disappears from the
multifunction display.
You may then drive off.
The vehicle is losing oil.
The ABC* message is continuously shown.

Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Call Roadside Assistance.
Or

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

662 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Malfunction
The capability of the ABC* system is re-
stricted. This can impair the handling.

Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Vehicle rising
Please wait a moment
The vehicle’s level is too low while at a
standstill. The vehicle will be raised.

Do not drive off.

Wait until the message disappears from the
multifunction display.
You may then drive off.
ABS and ESP
Inoperative
See Oper. Manual
ABS, ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® are
switched off due to a malfunction. BAS is
also switched off.
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS available.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.

Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing steer-
ing capability.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.

663 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ABS and ESP
Currently Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
ABS, ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® are not
available due to a malfunction. BAS is also
switched off. It is possible that the self-diag-
nostics have not yet been completed.
The brake system still functions normally.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.

Drive a short distance with gentle turns
above a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h).
The message disappears when ABS and ESP
®
are again available.
The ABS, ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® were
deactivated because of insufficient power
supply. The charging voltage has fallen be-
low 10 volts.
The brake system still functions normally
but without the ABS, ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
®
available.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
When the voltage is above this value again, the
ABS, ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
® are operational again
and the message in the multifunction display
should disappear.
If the message in the multifunction display does
not disappear:

Have the generator (alternator) and the bat-
tery checked.

664 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Check
Brake Fluid Level
There is insufficient brake fluid in the reser-
voir.
Risk of accident!
Carefully stop the vehicle in a safe location or
as soon as it is safe to do so.

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.

Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
(USA only)(Canada only)Warning!
G
Driving with the message “Check Brake Fluid
Level ” displayed can result in an accident.
Have your brake system checked immedi-
ately. Do not add brake fluid before check-
ing the brake system. Overfilling the brake
fluid reservoir can result in spilling brake flu-
id 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.

665 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Brake Immediately
A malfunction has occurred while
DISTRONIC Plus* was switched on.

While observing surrounding traffic condi-
tions and when it is safe, immediately de-
press the brake pedal firmly until the warning
message disappears.

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).
(USA only)(Canada only)
EBR, ABS and ESP
Inoperative
See Oper. Manual
ESP
®, EBP and ABS are switched off due to
a malfunction. BAS is also switched off. As
a result, PRE-SAFE
® is also inoperative.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.
(USA only)(Canada only)