2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class transmission

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.

645 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Cruise Control
- - - mph
(USA only)
Cruise Control
- - - kmh
(Canada only)
You have tried to switch on
cruise control below a speed of
20 mph (30 km/h).

Drive faster than 20 mph (30 km/h) and save the speed.
ESP
® is switched off.

Switch on ESP
® (page 76).
The automatic transmission is in
park position P, reverse gearR
or neutral positionN.

Shift the automatic transmission to drive positionD (
page 426).
The system is overheated.

Wait until the system cools down.
The vehicle is secured in place
by the electronic parking brake.

Release electronic parking brake (
page 422).
Cruise Control
Inoperative
Cruise control is malfunction-
ing.

Have cruise control checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

647 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
DISTRONIC PLUS
Override
You have depressed the accelerator pedal,
DISTRONIC Plus* is no longer controlling
the speed of the vehicle.

Release the accelerator pedal.
DISTRONIC PLUS
- - - mph
(USA only)
Canada only:
DISTRONIC PLUS
- - - kmh
(Canada only)
You have attempted to activate DISTRONIC
Plus* at a speed below 20 mph (30 km/h)
without the vehicle in front being displayed
in the multifunction display (
page 454).

Drive faster than 20 mph (30 km/h) and activate DISTRONIC
Plus* again.
ESP
® is switched off.

Switch on ESP
® (page 76).
The automatic transmission is in park posi-
tion P, reverse gearR or neutral positionN.

Shift the automatic transmission to drive positionD
(page 426).
The system is overheated.

Wait until the system cools down.
The vehicle is secured in place by the elec-
tronic parking brake.

Release electronic parking brake (
page 422).
The driver’s door is open and the drivers
seat belt is unbuckled.

Close the driver’s door and fasten your seat belt.
The hood is open.

Close the hood (
page 574).

648 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Door Open
Vehicle Not in Park
You have opened the driver’s
door and the automatic trans-
mission is still in drive position
D, reverse gearR or neutral
positionN.

Before you leave the vehicle, make sure that the automatic transmission
is shift to park position P (
page 426) and that the electronic parking
brake is engaged (
page 422).

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.

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.

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.

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.