2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC Passenger bag OFF

611 Practical hints
What to do if …?
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
75
The front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp
does not illuminate and/or
does not remain illuminat-
ed with the weight of a typ-
ical 12-month-old child in a
standard child restraint or
less on the front passen-
ger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.Make sure there is nothing between seat cushion and child seat and
check installation of the child seat.
Make sure no objects applying supplemental weight onto the seat
are present.
Make sure no objects which apply forces to the seat are present
(e.g. objects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged behind or around
the seat, head restraints pushing against roof etc.). The system may
recognize such forces as supplemental weight.
If the front passenger front air bag off indicator lamp remains out,
have the system checked as soon as possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Do not transport a child on the front pas-
senger seat until the system has been repaired.
Also read and observe any messages in the multifunction display
and follow corrective steps (
page 612).
Warning!G
If the59indicator lamp does
not illuminate or remains out with the
weight of a typical 12-month-old child in a
standard child restraint or less on the front
passenger seat, do not transport a child on
the front passenger seat until the system
has been repaired.

618 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Front pass. airbag
disabled
See Oper. ManualFront passenger front air bag is
deactivated while driving even
though an adult or someone
larger than a small individual is
occupying the front passenger
seat. Forces acting on the seat
may make the system sense a
decrease in weight.Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and check the front
passenger seat for the following:
Engage the electronic parking brake (page 395).
Switch off the ignition (page 344).
Have the front passenger vacate the seat and exit the vehicle.
Adjust the seat in a height position (page 347).
Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the seat are present (e.g.
objects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged underneath, behind or
around the seat). Such forces may cause the system to sense that an oc-
cupant of a lesser weight than actually present is on the front passenger
seat.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door and switch on
the ignition (
page 344).
Monitor the 59indicator lamp right of the instrument cluster
(
page 50) and the multifunction display in the instrument cluster
(
page 264) for the following:
(Continued on next page)
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution

620 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Front pass. airbag
enabled
See Oper. ManualFront passenger front air bag is
activated while driving even
though a child, small individual,
or object below the system’s
weight threshold is on the front
passenger seat, or the front pas-
senger seat is empty. Objects
on the seat or forces acting on
the seat may make the system
sense supplemental weight.Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and check the front
passenger seat for the following:
Engage the electronic parking brake (page 395).
Switch off the ignition (page 344).
Remove child and child restraint from front passenger seat and properly
secure the child in rear seat employing the child restraint if necessary.
Remove any other items from on and around the front passenger seat and
make sure the storage bag on the back of the front passenger seat is emp-
ty.
Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the seat are present (e.g.
objects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged behind or around the seat,
head restraints pushing against roof etc.). The system may recognize such
forces as supplemental weight and sense that an occupant on the front
passenger seat is of a greater weight than actually present.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door and switch on
the ignition (
page 344).
Monitor the 59indicator lamp right of the instrument cluster
(
page 50) and the multifunction display in the instrument cluster
(
page 264) for the following:
(Continued on next page)

738 Index
Children in the vehicle 57
Air bags 57
Indicator lamp front passenger front
air bag off 50, 610
Infant and child restraint systems 58
LATCH-type child seat anchors 62
Override switch for rear passenger
compartment 63
Tether attachment points 61
Cigarette lighter 504
Cockpit 26
COMAND
Adjusting volume 96
Components 85
Controller 88
Display 86
Display illumination 87
Function buttons 86
Main menus 96
Menu overview 90
Navigation system 159
Operating 90
Operating safety 84
Operating seats 259Phone book* 147
Radio, FM/AM 100
Selecting sound settings 97
SMS messages 155
Surround sound 98
Switching off/on the audio
source 99
Switching on or off 85
Swiveling display 87
system settings 235
Telephone keypad* 88
Telephone menu* 132
Vehicle menu 242
Voice Control* settings 237
Combination switch 375
Corner-illuminating lamps 376
High beam flasher 375
Turn signals 393
Windshield wipers 381
Command list (Voice Control*) 315
Address book commands 320
Audio commands 322
General commands 315
Navigation commands 318
Telephone* commands 316Control system instrument cluster 264
Multifunction display 264
Multifunction steering wheel 265
Control system instrument cluster menus
AMG 273
Assistance* 279
Audio 271
Navi 269
Service 280
Settings 281
Telephone* 276
Trip 268
Vehicle status message memory 280
Coolant 547
Adding 548
Anticorrosion/antifreeze mixing ratio
and quantity 730
Checking level 547
Messages in display 645
Temperature 537
Temperature gauge 29, 417
Coolant level
Checking 547
Corner-illuminating lamps 376
Courtesy lighting 380

742 Index
Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 543
Adding 546
Additives 728
Checking level 543
Checking level (Dipstick) 545
Checking level (Instrument cluster con-
trol system) 543
Consumption 543
Dipstick 545
Filler neck 545, 546
Messages in display 544, 659
Recommended engine oils and oil
filters 724
ESP
®
Four wheel electronic traction system
with ESP®75
ESP®71
Messages in display 628, 639
Warning lamp 29, 599, 604ETD 55
Safety guidelines 44
Exterior lighting
Delayed switch-off (COMAND) 242
Locator lighting (COMAND) 243
Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting 361
Auto-dimming on the driver’s
side 363
Fold in automatically when locking
(COMAND) 244
Lower mirror when reversing
(COMAND) 244
Power folding 362
F
Favorite button 238
First aid kit 668
Flat tire 686
Jacking up the vehicle 687
Lowering the vehicle 690
Mounting the spare wheel 686
Preparing the vehicle 686
Floormats* 506Fluids
Automatic transmission fluid 724
Brake fluid 725, 728
Capacities 724
Engine coolant 547, 726, 730
Engine oil 546, 724, 728
Power steering fluid 725
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system 727, 733
Fog lamps
Messages in display 656
Replacing bulbs 679
Four wheel electronic traction system with
ESP
® see 4MATIC
4MATIC 75
Front air bags 45
Front lamps
Replacing bulbs 679, 680
Front lamps see headlamps
Front passenger front air bag 45
Messages in display 618
Front passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp 50, 610

746 Index
ESP®29, 599, 604
Front passenger front air bag off 50,
610
Fuel reserve 605
High beam headlamp 29
Maintenance service indicator 582
Park Assist* 29
Parktronic* 29
Seat belt telltale 29, 605
SRS 29, 607
TPMS* malfunction telltale 29, 608
Turn signals 29
Language (COMAND) 238
LATCH-type child seat anchors see
Children in the vehicle
Lever
For automatic transmission
(gear selector lever) 399
For cruise control 420
For DISTRONIC Plus* 430
License plate lamps
Messages in display 655
Replacing bulbs 679
Light alloy wheels, Cleaning 593Light sensor
Message in display 654
Lighter see Cigarette lighter
Lighting 371
Automatic headlamp mode 372
COMAND display illumination 87
Corner-illuminating lamps 376
Courtesy lighting 380
Daytime running lamp mode 373
Door entry lamps 379
High beam flasher 375
Instrument cluster illumination 417,
463
Interior 378
Manual headlamp mode 372
Trunk 380
Limp-home mode 416
Loading see Vehicle loading
Locator lighting (COMAND) 243
Lock button
Door handle (KEYLESS-GO*) 338,
388
Key, SmartKey 332
Key, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 335Locking 394
Automatic central locking
(COMAND) 245
Vehicle in an emergency 672
Locking knob 341
Loss of
Key, Mechanical 340
Key, SmartKey 340
Key, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 340
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet 711
Low beam headlamps
Replacing bulbs 679
Lowering
Vehicle 690
Lubricants 724
Lumbar support (COMAND) 260

748 Index
KEYLESS-GO* 650
Lamps, exterior 653
License plate lamps 655
Light sensor 654
Night View Assist* 658
Park Assist* 622
Parking lamps 656
PRE-SAFE
®623, 629
Restraint systems 662
Side marker lamps 657
SRS 662
Tail lamps 657
Tele Aid 664
Trunk 667
Windshield washer fluid 667
Multifunction steering wheel 265N
Navigation system
Menu overview (COMAND) 165
Navigation system (COMAND) 159
Basic settings 168
Destination entry 172
Destination memory 217
Detour function (COMAND) 216
Driving maneuver 207
Hiding/showing the menu
system 166
Last destinations 223
Map display 166
Operation 166
POI entry 196
Real-time traffic 204
Route guidance 207
Navigation system (Instrument cluster
control system) 269
Driving maneuver 270
Navigation system (Voice Control*) 296
Neutral gear position, Automatic
transmission 399, 403
New vehicle break-in 526Night View Assist* 461
Cleaning the windshield in front of the
camera 591
Dirty or fogged-up windshield 463
Image on multifunction display 462
Malfunction 465
Messages in display 658
Removing condensation 464
Switching on or off 462
Normal occupant weight 577
Number, Vehicle Identification (VIN) 713
O
Occupant Classification System see OCS
Occupant distribution 577
Occupant safety 40
Air bags 42
Children and air bags 57
Children in the vehicle 57
Fastening the seat belt 368
Front passenger front air bag off indica-
tor lamp 50
Infant and child restraint systems 58
LATCH-type child seat anchors 62
Seat belts 44, 368

749 Index
OCS 47
Self-test 51
Odometer 268
Oil
Filler neck 546
Oil level see Engine oil
One-touch gearshifting 411
Operating safety 19
Voice Control* 284
Ornamental moldings, Cleaning 588
Outside temperature indicator 29, 418
Overdue maintenance service 583
Overhead control panel 33
Override switch 63P
Paintwork, Cleaning 586
Panic alarm
Audible alarm and flashing exterior
lamps 65
Panic button 65
Panorama roof with power tilt/sliding
panel* 489
Opening/closing 490
Opening/closing in an
emergency 674
Synchronizing 492
Panorama roof with tilt/sliding panel*
Cleaning 593
Parcel net in front passenger
footwell 496
Park Assist* 448
Cleaning system sensors 590
Messages in display 622
System sensors 590
Warning indicators 29, 451
Parking 394, 530
Parking and standing lamps
Replacing bulbs 679Parking lamps
Messages in display 656
Parking position
Exterior rear view mirrors 364
Parktronic system* 444
Parktronic*
Cleaning system sensors 589
Malfunctioning 448
System sensors 589
Warning indicators 29, 446
Parts service 710
PASS AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp see
Front passenger front air bag off indica-
tor lamp
Passenger compartment 535
Passenger safety see Occupant safety
PCMCIA card
Ejecting (COMAND) 118
Loading (COMAND) 117
Pedals 527
Plastic parts, cleaning 593
POIs 196
Poly-V-belt drive 714
Layout 714
Potential problems associated with under-
inflated and overinflated tires 567