2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S600 Owner's Manual

608 Practical hints
What to do if …?
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
HUSA only:
Combination low tire pres-
sure/TPMS malfunction telltale
for the Advanced TPMS* illumi-
nates continuously.
Canada only:
Low tire pressure telltale for the
Advanced TPMS* illuminates
continuously.The Advanced TPMS* detects a loss of
pressure in at least one tire.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt,
avoiding abrupt steering and braking
maneuvers. Observe the traffic situation
around you.
Read and observe messages in the mul-
tifunction display (
page 612).
If the tire inflation pressure in the respec-
tive tire(s) has (have) been corrected, the
combination low tire pressure/TPMS mal-
function telltale goes out after few minutes
driving.
HUSA only:
Combination low tire pres-
sure/TPMS malfunction telltale
for the Advanced TPMS* flashes
for 60 seconds and then stays il-
luminated.There is a malfunction in the Advanced
TPMS*.Read and observe messages in the mul-
tifunction display (
page 612).
Have the Advanced TPMS* checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
After the malfunction has been remedied
the combination low tire pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale goes out after few
minutes driving.

609 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Warning!G
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or the tire inflation pressure
label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different
size than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or the tire inflation pressure label,
you should determine the proper tire infla-
tion pressure for those tires).
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitor-
ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly under-inflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu-
minates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a significant-
ly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehi-
cle’s handling and stopping ability. Please
note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-
er’s responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
USA only:
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-
bined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash for approximately
one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue
upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long
as the malfunction exists. When the mal-
function indicator is illuminated, the system
may not be able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended.TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation of
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on
the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing
one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle
to ensure that the replacement or alternate
tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue
to function properly.

610 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Air bag off indicator lamp
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
75
The front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp
illuminates and remains il-
luminated with the weight
of a typical adult or some-
one larger than a small in-
dividual on the front
passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.Have the system checked as soon as possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Also read and observe any messages in the multifunction display
and follow corrective steps (
page 612).
Warning!G
If the59indicator lamp
illuminates and remains illuminated with the
weight of a typical adult or someone larger
than a small individual on the front passen-
ger seat, do not have any passenger use the
front passenger seat until the system has
been repaired.

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.

612 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Vehicle status messages in the multi-
function display
Warning and malfunction messages ap-
pear in the multifunction display located in
the instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal.
High-priority messages are shown in red
on the multifunction display. Messages of
lower priority are also shown in yellow or
white.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in
this Operator’s Manual.Certain messages of high priority cannot
be cleared from the multifunction display
using# or L on the multifunction
steering wheel (
page 265).
Other messages of high priority and mes-
sages of less immediate priority can be
cleared from the multifunction display
using# or L. They are then stored
in the vehicle status message memory
(
page 280). Remember that clearing a
message will only make the message dis-
appear. Clearing a message will not cor-
rect the condition that caused the
message to appear.
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, please do so
with added caution. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

613 Practical hints
What to do if …?
On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may ap-
pear in the malfunction display.
For your convenience the messages are di-
vided into two sections:

Text messages (page 614)

Symbol messages (page 626)
Warning!G
All categories of messages contain impor-
tant information which should be taken note
of and, where a malfunction is indicated, ad-
dressed as soon as possible at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty, or result in property dam-
age or personal injury.
iSwitching on the ignition causes all instru-
ment cluster lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator lamps
unless activated) as well as the multifunction dis-
play to come on. Make sure the lamps and multi-
function display are in working order before
starting your journey.

614 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Text messages
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Apply brake
to shift
from 'P'You have tried to shift the auto-
matic transmission to D, R or N
without stepping on the brake.Step on brake.
Child seat
in wrong 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.
Cruise control
- - - mph
(USA only)
Cruise control
- - - km/h
(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 75).
The automatic transmission is in
position P, R or N.Shift the automatic transmission toD (page 399).
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 395).
Cruise control
inoperativeCruise control is malfunction-
ing.Have cruise control checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

615 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
DISTRONIC PLUS
currently unavailable
See Oper. ManualDISTRONIC Plus* is switched off and is
temporarily unavailable.
DISTRONIC Plus* is deactivated if:

the DISTRONIC Plus* cover in the radia-
tor 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 589).
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 sys-
tems, etc.Wait until the message in the multifunction display disappears.
DISTRONIC PLUS
inoperativeDISTRONIC Plus* is malfunctioning.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE® Brake* are also
not available.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as pos-
sible.