2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class open hood

683 Practical hints
What to do if …?
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Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Gas Cap Loose
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 570).
If it is not closed properly:

Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:

Have the fuel system checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Reserve Fuel
The fuel level has dropped below the re-
serve mark.

Refuel at the next gas station (
page 570).
You are driving with the hood open.

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

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Close the hood (
page 574).
There is otherwise danger of an accident.

717 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Replacing bulbs for front lamps
Before you start to replace a bulb for a
front lamp, do the following first:
Turn the exterior lamp switch to M
(page 399).

Open the hood (
page 573).
1Cover 1
2Cover 2
3Cover 3Removing and installing washer fluid
reservoir on left-hand side
Vehicles with Airmatic*
You must remove the washer fluid reser-
voir in order to change the bulbs of the
front headlamp on the left-hand side. The
washer fluid reservoir is on the front
left-hand side of the engine compartment.
Washer fluid reservoir (example illustration
from S 550)1Retaining screwRemoving

Turn retaining screw1 counterclock-
wise.

Take washer fluid reservoir out of
mounting.

Place washer fluid reservoir to the side
and do not disconnect any wires or ca-
bles.
Installing

Guide washer fluid reservoir into
mounting so that the bottom retaining
lug slides into the rubber sleeve on the
longitudinal member.

Turn retaining screw1 clockwise.

721 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Replacing wiper blades
Placing wiper arms in vertical positionWiper blades in vertical position
Make sure the hood is fully closed.
Vehicles with SmartKey

Turn SmartKey in starter switch
position1.

Turn combination switch to wiper
settingu (
page 408).

With wiper arm in vertical position, turn
the SmartKey in starter switch to
position0.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status0) before replacing a wiper blade.
Otherwise, the wiper motor could suddenly
turn on and cause injury. Warning!
G
Wiper blades are components that are sub-
ject to wear and tear. Replace the wiper
blades twice a year, preferably in the spring
and fall. Otherwise the front window will not
be properly wiped. As a result, you may not
be able to observe surrounding traffic condi-
tions and could cause an accident.
!
To avoid damage to the hood:


The wiper arms should only be folded for-
ward when in the vertical position.


Never open the hood when the wiper arm is
folded forward.
!
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper
arm back. If released, the force of the impact
from the tensioning spring could crack the wind-
shield.
Do not allow the wiper arms to contact the wind-
shield glass without a wiper blade inserted.
For your convenience, we recommend that you
have this work carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

732 Practical hintsBatteriesSwitching off vehicle’s internal
electrical functions
Turn off all electrical consumers.

Turn SmartKey in starter switch to po-
sition 0.

Turn SmartKey in starter switch to po-
sition 1.

Wait for 30 seconds.
The vehicle’s internal electrical func-
tions are switched off.

Turn SmartKey in starter switch to po-
sition 0.Disconnecting starter battery

Open the hood (
page 573).

Use a 10-mm open-end wrench to dis-
connect the battery negative lead.

Remove cover2 (
page 731) from
the positive terminal.

Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing starter battery
Pull out the battery ventilation hose
from the battery (depending on battery
arrangement in your vehicle model, the
ventilation hose is located either on the
left or right side of the battery).

Fold bar on starter battery up.

Take out the starter battery.
Charging battery
i
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
KEYLESS-GO button (
page 371) and use the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO like a normal
SmartKey.
!
Do not remove the SmartKey!
i
For your convenience, have the starter bat-
tery removed by a Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle unless the accessory battery
charge unit approved by Mercedes-Benz is
being used. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury.
An accessory battery charge unit specially
adapted for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz is
available, permitting the charging of the bat-
tery in its installed position. Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
information and availability. Charge battery
in accordance with the separate instruc-
tions for the accessory battery charger.i
Have the batteries charged by a
Mercedes-Benz Center. If you charge the batter-
ies yourself, follow the operating instructions for
your charging device.

735 Practical hints
Jump starting
Jump starting should only be performed on
the starter battery. The starter battery is
located in the engine compartment on the
passenger side (
page 731).

Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.

Secure vehicle in place with electronic
parking brake (
page 422).

Shift the automatic transmission to
park positionP (
page 426).

Turn off all electrical consumers, ex-
cept hazard warning flashers or work
lights.

Open the hood (
page 573).

Start the engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.1Positive terminal of your vehicle’s
battery
2Positive terminal of other vehicle’s
battery
3Negative terminal of other vehicle’s
battery
4Negative clamp
Warning!
G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 729).
i
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: remove the
KEYLESS-GO button (
page 371) and use the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO like a normal
SmartKey.


742 Practical hintsFusesBefore replacing fuses:
Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Make sure the automatic transmission
is set to park positionP (
page 426).
The gear position indicator in the multi-
function display should be on park po-
sition P.

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Turn off the engine (
page 424).

Switch off the vehicle’s internal electri-
cal functions (
page 732).
Fuse boxes in engine compartment
Open the hood (
page 573).
Box on the driver’s side
Example illustration from S 55014 screws
2Cover
3JumperOpening

Take the crank from the Operator’s
Manual pouch.

Loosen screws1 with crank.

Remove jumper3.

Remove cover2.
Closing

Attach cover2.

Attach jumper3.

Tighten screws1 with crank.
!
The cover must fit properly, as otherwise
moisture or dirt may impair the functionality of
the fuses.

784 IndexHeated steering wheel* 387
Height adjustments
Vehicle level (ABC*) 471
High beam
Replacing bulbs 715
High beam flasher 403
High beam headlamp
Indicator lamp 29
High mounted brake lamp 715
High-performance brake system
(AMG vehicles only) 561
Hood 573
Message in display 683
Opening 573
Horn 27
Hydroplaning 563I
Identification labels 748
Identification Number, Vehicle (VIN) 749
Ignition 370, 372
Switching on 370
Switching on, KEYLESS-GO* 372
Immobilizer 82
Indicator lamps see Lamps,
indicator and warning
Individualization
Voice Control 355
Infant and child restraint systems see
Children in the vehicle
Infrared reflecting windshield 556
Inside door handle 367
Instrument cluster 28, 444
Coolant temperature gauge 29, 444
Fuel gauge 29
Illumination 444, 492
Lamps 628
Multifunction display 287
Outside temperature indicator 445
Selecting the language
(COMAND) 262Interior lighting 406
Activating automatic control 406
Ambient lighting (COMAND) 269
Deactivating automatic control 406
Delayed switch-off (COMAND) 270
In the rear 407
Reading lamps in the front 407
Reading lamps in the rear 407
Interior rear view mirror
Adjusting 388
Auto-dimming 390
Interior storage spaces see
Storage compartments
J
Jack 706, 724
Jacking up the vehicle 724
Jump starting 734