2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class display

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.

658 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Tire Pressure Monitor
Inoperative
No Wheel Sensors
The Advanced TPMS is deactivated be-
cause wheels without proper sensors were
installed.

Have the wheel sensors installed by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
As soon as all wheels with sensors have been mounted, the
Advanced TPMS is switched back on after driving for several
minutes.
Tire Pressure Monitor
Currently Unavailable
The Advanced TPMS is unable to monitor
the tire inflation pressure due to:

a nearby radio interference source


the on-board voltage is too low


excessive wheel sensor temperatures
As soon as the causes for the malfunction are no longer present,
the Advanced TPMS automatically becomes active again after a
few minutes of driving.

659 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Tire Pressures
Displayed After Driving
a Few Minutes
The tire inflation pressure is being
checked.

Drive the vehicle for a few minutes.
Service Required
Do Not Shift Gears
The automatic transmission cannot be
shifted out of the set position because of a
malfunction.
If the automatic transmission is shift to drive positionD
(page 426):

Without changing the automatic transmission from drive
positionD, contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If the automatic transmission is shift to neutral positionN, re-
verse gearR or park positionP:

Do not drive.

Consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

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.

661 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Malfunction
Stop Vehicle!
ABC* is malfunctioning.
The ABC* message is continuously shown.

Do not turn steering wheel too far to avoid
damaging the front fenders.

Listen for scraping noises.

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

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.

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.