2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class parking brake

667 Practical hints
What to do if …?
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Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Parking Brake
See Oper. Manual
The red indicator lamp for the electronic
parking brake is either on or off and the yel-
low warning lamp for the electronic parking
brake comes on.
The electronic parking brake is malfunction-
ing.
To release:
Pull handle of electronic parking brake
(page 422).
or

Carefully drive off (
page 422).

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

Switch off ignition and press handle for elec-
tronic parking brake until the warning mes-
sage on the multifunction display disappears.
(USA only)(Canada only)

668 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Parking Brake
See Oper. Manual
The red indicator lamp for the electronic
parking brake flashes.
The power supply for the electronic parking
brake was malfunctioning or the electronic
parking brake was previously mechanically
released.

Pull handle for electronic parking brake
(page 422).
or

Carefully drive off (
page 422).
or

Press handle for electronic parking brake un-
til the warning message disappears from the
multifunction display.
(USA only)(Canada only)

669 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Parking Brake
See Oper. Manual
The red indicator lamp for the electronic
parking brake flashes and the yellow warn-
ing lamp for the electronic parking brake
lights up.
The electronic parking brake is malfunction-
ing.

Switch ignition off and back on again, and en-
gage or release electronic parking brake
(page 422).
or

Carefully drive off (
page 422).

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
(USA only)(Canada only)

670 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Parking Brake
See Oper. Manual
When you engage or release the electronic
parking brake, the red indicator lamp for
the electronic parking brake flashes for
approx.10 seconds. Afterward, it goes out
or lights up continuously. The yellow warn-
ing lamp for the electronic parking brake
lights up.
The electronic parking brake is malfunction-
ing or overheated for example due to over-
or undervoltage.

Carefully drive off (
page 422).

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
In the event of overvoltage or undervoltage:

Remove the cause of the overvoltage or und-
ervoltage, e.g. charge the battery or restart
the engine.

Switch ignition off and back on again, and en-
gage or release electronic parking brake
(page 422).
If the electronic parking brake still cannot be re-
leased:

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
(Continued on next page)
(USA only)(Canada only)

671 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Parking Brake
See Oper. Manual
If overheated:
Let vehicle cool down, and do not engage
electronic parking brake during this time.
or

Switch ignition off and back on again, and en-
gage or release electronic parking brake.
(USA only)(Canada only)
Parking Brake
Inoperative
When you engage or release the electronic
parking brake, the red indicator lamp for
the electronic parking brake flashes and
goes out after approx. 10 seconds. The yel-
low warning lamp for the electronic parking
brake lights up.
The electronic parking brake is malfunction-
ing.

Switch ignition off and back on again, and en-
gage electronic parking brake (
page 422).
If the electronic parking brake cannot be en-
gaged:

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

Protect vehicle from rolling away while
parked by using a chock from the vehicle tool
kit (
page 707).

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

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.

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.