2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class display

672 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Please Release
Parking Brake
The red indicator lamp for the electronic
parking brake flashes and you also hear a
warning signal.
You are driving with the electronic parking
brake activated, or you are carrying out an
emergency brake application with the elec-
tronic parking brake (
page 422).

Release electronic parking brake.
or

Carefully drive off (
page 422).
or

Release the handle for electronic parking
brake.
(USA only)(Canada only)
Please Release
Parking Brake
The red indicator lamp for the electronic
parking brake flashes and the yellow warn-
ing lamp for the electronic parking brake
comes on. You also hear a warning tone.
The electronic parking brake is malfunction-
ing; braking action is restricted.
While driving:
Release the handle for electronic parking
brake.
While at a standstill:

Switch off ignition and press handle for elec-
tronic parking brake until the warning mes-
sage disappears from the multifunction
display.

673 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Turn On the Ignition
to Release the
Parking Brake
The yellow indicator lamp for the electronic
parking brake comes on.
You have tried to release the electronic
parking brake, but the ignition was not
switched on.

Switch on the ignition (
page 370).
(USA only)(Canada only)
Inoperative
See Oper. Manual
ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® are switched off
due to a malfunction. In addition, the v
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
comes on.
The ABS may not be operational and the fol-
lowing systems are not available:


BAS and BAS Plus*


PRE-SAFE
® Brake*


Distronic Plus*


Cruise control


Hill start assist system

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.

674 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Inoperative
See Oper. Manual
S 600 and S 65 AMG only:
ESP
® a s w e l l a s P R E - S A F E
® are switched off
due to a malfunction. In addition, the v
and ; (USA only) or 3(Canada only)
warning lamps come on in the instrument
cluster.
Brake force assistance is impaired and is
sustained through an electric substitute
function as long as the engine is running.
The brake system continues to function
normally. You will feel a pulsating effect at
the brake pedal while braking.
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.

675 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Currently Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
® are temporarily un-
available. It is possible that the self-diag-
nostics have not yet completed.
In addition, the yellow ESP
® warning
lampv comes on.
The brake system functions normally.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
Synchronize the ESP
®:

Drive a short distance with gentle turns at a
speed above 12 mph (20 km/h).
The message disappears when ESP
® is again
available.
Currently Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
® are switched off due
to undervoltage. It is possible that the bat-
tery is not charged.
The brake system functions normally.
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.
Currently Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
If the yellow ESP
® warning lampv flash-
es while driving and this message appears,
the electronic traction system has switched
off to prevent overheating of the drive
wheel brakes.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
As soon as the brakes have cooled off, the elec-
tronic traction system switches on again.
The message in the multifunction display disap-
pears and the ESP
® warning lampv goes
out.

676 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
STOP,
Car Too Low
You have started driving although the vehi-
cle level was too low.
The vehicle will be raised. The Airmatic
warning lamp goes out after several sec-
onds.

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.
STOP,
Car Too Low
The Airmatic is malfunctioning.
The Airmatic warning lamp lights up contin-
uously.

Stop and press the vehicle level control but-
ton to select a higher vehicle level
(page 468).

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
Center as soon as possible.
There is otherwise danger of an accident.

677 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Malfunction
The capability of the Airmatic 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
Vehicles with Airmatic:
The vehicle level is too low while at a stand-
still. The vehicle will be raised.

Do not drive off.

Wait until the message disappears from the
multifunction display.
You may then drive off.

678 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning


broken poly-V-belt

Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe loca-
tion.

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:

Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the en-
gine will overheat due to an inoperative water
pump which may result in damage to the en-
gine.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:

Drive immediately to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
There is a malfunction in the electronic
system.

Have the system checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

679 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Check
Coolant Level
See Oper. Manual
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 579).

If you have to add coolant frequently, have
the cooling system checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You could be seriously burned.
!
Do not ignore the low engine coolant level
warning. Extended driving with the message and
symbol displayed may cause serious engine
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Lim-
ited Warranty.
Do not drive without a sufficient amount of cool-
ant in the cooling system. The engine will over-
heat, causing major engine damage.