2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S600 hood open

649 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Gas cap openA loss of pressure has been detected in the
fuel system. The fuel cap may not be closed
properly or the fuel system may be leaky.Check the fuel cap (page 538).
If it is not closed properly:
Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:
Have the fuel system checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
You are driving with the hood open.Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
Close the hood (page 542).
There is otherwise danger of an accident.

680 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Notes on bulb replacement
Only use 12-volt-bulbs of the same
type and with the specified watt rating.

Switch lights off before changing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.

Always use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.

Your hands should be dry and free of oil
and grease.

If the newly installed bulb does not
come on, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the LEDs and bulbs for the following
lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center:

the Bi-Xenon lamps

the front turn signal lamps

the front fog lamps

the additional turn signal lamps in the
exterior rear view mirrors

the parking and standing lamps

the front side marker lamps

the high mounted brake lamps

the brake, tail and rear standing lamps

the rear side marker lamps

the rear fog lamp

the rear turn signal lamps

the rear side marker lamps

the license plate lamps
Replacing bulbs for front lamps
Before you start to replace a bulb for a
front lamp, do the following first:
Turn the exterior lamp switch to M
(
page 371).
Open the hood (page 541).
Warning!G
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing
a bulb.
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A
bulb can explode if you:

touch or move it when hot

drop the bulb

scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.
!Do not replace the LEDs yourself. You could
otherwise damage the LEDs or parts of the vehi-
cle. Only have the LEDs replaced by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iHave the headlamp adjustment checked
regularly.

684 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Placing wiper arms in vertical position
Wiper blades in vertical position
Make sure the hood is fully closed.
Vehicles with SmartKey
Turn SmartKey in starter switch
position1.
Turn combination switch to wiper
settingu (
page 381).
With wiper arm in vertical position, turn
the SmartKey in starter switch to
position0.
Warning!G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status0) before replacing a wiper blade.
Otherwise, the wiper motor could suddenly
turn on and cause injury.
Warning!G
Wiper blades are components that are sub-
ject to wear and tear. Replace the wiper
blades twice a year, preferably in the spring
and fall. Otherwise the front window will not
be properly wiped. As a result, you may not
be able to observe surrounding traffic condi-
tions and could cause an accident.
!To avoid damage to the hood:

The wiper arms should only be folded for-
ward when in the vertical position.

Never open the hood when the wiper arm is
folded forward.
!Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper
arm back. If released, the force of the impact
from the tensioning spring could crack the wind-
shield.
Do not allow the wiper arms to contact the wind-
shield glass without a wiper blade inserted.
For your convenience, we recommend that you
have this work carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

695 Practical hints
Batteries
Switching off vehicle’s internal
electrical functions
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Turn SmartKey in starter switch to po-
sition 0.
Turn SmartKey in starter switch to po-
sition 1.
Wait for 30 seconds.
The vehicle’s internal electrical func-
tions are switched off.
Turn SmartKey in starter switch to po-
sition 0.Disconnecting starter battery
Open the hood (page 541).
Use a 10-mm open-end wrench to dis-
connect the battery negative lead.
Remove cover2 (page 694) from
the positive terminal.
Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing starter battery
Pull out the battery ventilation hose
from the battery (depending on battery
arrangement in your vehicle model, the
ventilation hose is located either on the
left or right side of the battery).
Fold bar on starter battery up.
Take out the starter battery.
Charging battery
iVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
KEYLESS-GO button (
page 345) and use the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO like a normal
SmartKey.
!Do not remove the SmartKey!
iFor your convenience, have the starter bat-
tery removed by a Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle unless the accessory battery
charge unit approved by Mercedes-Benz is
being used. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury.
An accessory battery charge unit specially
adapted for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz is
available, permitting the charging of the bat-
tery in its installed position. Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
information and availability. Charge battery
in accordance with the separate instruc-
tions for the accessory battery charger.
iHave the batteries charged by a
Mercedes-Benz Center. If you charge the batter-
ies yourself, follow the operating instructions for
your charging device.

698 Practical hints
Jump starting
Jump starting should only be performed on
the starter battery. The starter battery is
located in the engine compartment on the
passenger side (
page 694).
Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.
Secure vehicle in place with electronic
parking brake (
page 395).
Shift the automatic transmission toP
(
page 399).
Turn off all electrical consumers, ex-
cept hazard warning flashers or work
lights.
Open the hood (page 541).
Start the engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.1Positive terminal of your vehicle’s
battery
2Positive terminal of other vehicle’s
battery
3Negative terminal of other vehicle’s
battery
4Negative clamp
Warning!G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(
page 692).
iVehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: remove the
KEYLESS-GO button (
page 345) and use the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO like a normal
SmartKey.

705 Practical hints
Fuses
Before replacing fuses:
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
Make sure the automatic transmission
is set to P (
page 399).
The gear position indicator in the multi-
function display should be on P.
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Turn off the engine (page 397).
Switch off the vehicle’s internal electri-
cal functions (
page 695).
Fuse boxes in engine compartment
Open the hood (page 541).
Box on the driver’s side
Example illustration from S 550
14 screws
2Cover
3JumperOpening
Take the crank from the Operator’s
Manual pouch.
Loosen screws1 with crank.
Remove jumper3.
Remove cover2.
Closing
Attach cover2.
Attach jumper3.
Tighten screws1 with crank.
!The cover must fit properly, as otherwise
moisture or dirt may impair the functionality of
the fuses.

744 Index
Headlamp cleaning system 375, 548
Washer fluid 727, 733
Headlamps
Automatic control 372
Automatic headlamp mode 282
Cleaning lenses 589
Cleaning system 548
Manual headlamp mode 282
Messages in display 653
Refilling washer fluid 549
Headliner and shelf below rear window,
Cleaning and care of 594
Heated steering wheel* 360
Height adjustments
Vehicle level (ABC*) 443
High beam
Replacing bulbs 679
High beam flasher 375
High beam headlamp
Indicator lamp 29High mounted brake lamp 679
High-performance brake system
(AMG vehicles only) 529
Hood 541
Message in display 649
Opening 541
Horn 27
Hydroplaning 531
I
Identification labels 712
Identification Number, Vehicle (VIN) 713
Ignition 344, 346
Switching on 344
Switching on, KEYLESS-GO* 346
Immobilizer 81
Indicator lamps see Lamps, indicator and
warning
Individualization
Voice Control* 330
Infant and child restraint systems see Chil-
dren in the vehicle
Inflation pressure see Tires
Infrared reflecting windshield 524
Inside door handle 341Instrument cluster 28, 417
Coolant temperature gauge 29, 417
Fuel gauge 29
Illumination 417, 463
Lamps 598
Multifunction display 264
Outside temperature indicator 418
Selecting the language
(COMAND) 238
Interior lighting 378
Activating automatic control 378
Ambient lighting (COMAND) 247
Deactivating automatic control 378
Delayed switch-off (COMAND) 248
In the rear 379
Reading lamps in the front 379
Reading lamps in the rear 379
Interior rear view mirror
Adjusting 361
Auto-dimming 363
Interior storage spaces see Storage com-
partments