2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S63AMG ESP

629 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABS and ESP
currently unavailable
See Oper. ManualABS, ESP® as well as PRE-SAFE® are not
available due to a malfunction. BAS is also
switched off. It is possible that the self-diag-
nostics have not yet been completed.
The brake system still functions normally.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
Drive a short distance with gentle turns
above a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h).
The message disappears when ABS and ESP
®
are again available.
The ABS, ESP® as well as PRE-SAFE® were
deactivated because of insufficient power
supply. The charging voltage has fallen be-
low 10 volts.
The brake system still functions normally
but without the ABS, ESP
® and PRE-SAFE®
available.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
When the voltage is above this value again, the
ABS, ESP® and PRE-SAFE® are operational again
and the message in the multifunction display
should disappear.
If the message in the multifunction display does
not disappear:
Have the generator (alternator) and the bat-
tery checked.

631 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Brake immediatelyA malfunction has occurred while
DISTRONIC Plus* was switched on.While observing surrounding traffic condi-
tions and when it is safe, immediately de-
press the brake pedal firmly until the warning
message disappears.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
(USA only)
(Canada only)
EBV, ABS, ESP
inoperative
See Oper. ManualESP®, EBP and ABS are switched off due to
a malfunction. BAS is also switched off. As
a result, PRE-SAFE
® is also inoperative.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
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.
(USA only)
(Canada only)

639 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Turn on the ignition
to release the
parking brakeThe 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 344).
(USA only)
(Canada only)
Inoperative
See Oper. ManualESP® a s w e l l a s P R E - S A F E® 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.

640 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Inoperative
See Oper. ManualS 600 and S 65 AMG only:
ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE® are switched off
due to a malfunction. In addition, the v
and ; (USA only) or 3(Canada only)
warning lamps come on in the instrument
cluster.
Brake force assistance is impaired and is
sustained through an electric substitute
function as long as the engine is running.
The brake system continues to function
normally. You will feel a pulsating effect at
the brake pedal while braking.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
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.

641 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Currently unavailable
See Oper. ManualESP® and PRE-SAFE® are temporarily un-
available. It is possible that the self-diag-
nostics have not yet completed.
In addition, the yellow ESP
® warning
lampv comes on.
The brake system functions normally.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
Synchronize the ESP®:
Drive a short distance with gentle turns at a
speed above 12 mph (20 km/h).
The message disappears when ESP
® is again
available.
Currently unavailable
See Oper. ManualESP® and PRE-SAFE® are switched off due
to undervoltage. It is possible that the bat-
tery is not charged.
The brake system functions normally.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
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.
Currently unavailable
See Oper. ManualIf the yellow ESP® warning lampv flash-
es while driving and this message appears,
the electronic traction system has switched
off to prevent overheating of the drive
wheel brakes.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
As soon as the brakes have cooled off, the elec-
tronic traction system switches on again.
The message in the multifunction display disap-
pears and the ESP
® warning lampv goes
out.

664 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Tele Aid
inoperativeOne or more main functions of the Tele Aid
system are malfunctioning.Have the Tele Aid system checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure
Caution, tire defectVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
One or more tires are deflating.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 686).
Caution
Tire defectVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
One or more tires are deflating. The respec-
tive tire is shown in the multifunction dis-
play.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 686).
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.

665 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Tire pressure
Check tiresVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The pressure is too low in one or more tires.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 561).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 686).
Check tiresVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The pressure is too low in one or more tires.
The respective tire is shown in the multi-
function display.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 561).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 686).
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.

666 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Wheel sensor(s)
missingOne or more sensors malfunction (e.g. bat-
tery in one or more wheel sensor is empty).
One or more wheels without wheel sensors
mounted (e.g. spare tire).
No pressure value is shown on the multi-
function display for the tire in question.Have the Advanced TPMS* checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the wheel sensors installed by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The tire pressure for the respective tire is
shown in the multifunction display after a few
minutes driving.
Tire pressure
Please rectifyVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The pressure is too low in one or more tires.
Or the tire pressures of the individual
wheels differ too radically from one anoth-
er.Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 561).