2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class sensor

644 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Text messagesDisplay
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Apply Brake
to Shift
from 'P'
You have tried to shift the auto-
matic transmission to drive po-
sition D, reverse gearR or
neutral positionN without step-
ping on the brake.

Step on brake.
Check
Child Seat Position
See Oper. Manual
(Canada only)
The child seat is not positioned
correctly.

Fasten the seat in the correct position.
The sensor for the child seat is
malfunctioning.

Have the sensor for child seat detection checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

646 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
DISTRONIC PLUS
Currently Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
DISTRONIC Plus* is switched off and is
temporarily unavailable.
DISTRONIC Plus* is deactivated if:

the DISTRONIC Plus* cover in the radi-
ator grille is dirty


the radar sensors* do not sense any
other vehicles or objects, i.e. road sign
or similar to this, for a long time


the system is overheated


its function is impaired as a result of
heavy precipitation or fog


the battery voltage is insufficient

Clean the DISTRONIC Plus* cover in the radiator grille
(page 619).

Restart the vehicle.

Try activating DISTRONIC Plus* again later.

Wait until the system cools down or the battery recovers.
DISTRONIC Plus* will be operational again without you needing to
restart the engine if:


the dirt (e.g. slush) loosens while you are driving


the system detects that the radar sensors* are fully available
again


the message in the multifunction display disappears
DISTRONIC Plus* is switched off because
the radar sensor system* is temporarily in-
operative due to electromagnetic interfer-
ence near television and radio transmitter
stations, toll stations, speed measuring
systems, etc.

Wait until the message in the multifunction display disappears.
DISTRONIC PLUS
Inoperative
DISTRONIC Plus* is malfunctioning.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.

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

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.

654 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Blind Spot Assist
Currently Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
Blind Spot 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).
Blind Spot Assist* is deactivated because
the battery voltage is insufficient.

Have the battery checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Blind Spot Assist* is switched off because
the radar sensor system* is temporarily in-
operative due to electromagnetic interfer-
ence near television and radio transmitter
stations, toll stations, speed measuring
systems, etc.

Wait until the message in the multifunction display disappears.
Blind Spot Assist
Inoperative
Blind Spot Assist* is unavailable due to a
malfunction.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.

655 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Parking Guidance
Currently Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
Advanced Parking Guidance* is deactivat-
ed 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).
Advanced Parking Guidance* is deactivat-
ed because the battery voltage is insuffi-
cient.

Have the battery checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Advanced Parking Guidance* is switched
off because the radar sensor system* is
temporarily inoperative due to electromag-
netic interference near television and radio
transmitter stations, toll stations, speed
measuring systems, etc.

Wait to see if the interference is temporary or do not use Ad-
vanced Parking Guidance*. Try in a location where the inter-
fering transmission might not be present.
Parking Guidance
Canceled
Advanced Parking Guidance* has been
canceled because:

the vehicle is sliding


the bumper became dirty in the area of
the sensors (
page 620)


there has been a malfunction

Use Advanced Parking Guidance* again later.
If the parking space symbol is not shown in the multi-function dis-
play at a speed below 10 mph (16 km/h):

Clean the bumpers (
page 620).
or

Restart the engine.
or

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

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.