Page 630 of 761

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.
Page 631 of 761
630 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Check brake
fluid levelThere is insufficient brake fluid in the reser-
voir.Risk of accident!
Carefully stop the vehicle in a safe location or
as soon as it is safe to do so.
Engage the electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
(USA only)
(Canada only)
Warning!G
Driving with the message “Check brake fluid
level ” displayed can result in an accident.
Have your brake system checked immedi-
ately. Do not add brake fluid before check-
ing the brake system. Overfilling the brake
fluid reservoir can result in spilling brake flu-
id on hot engine parts and the brake fluid
catching fire. You can be seriously burned.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks.
Page 632 of 761
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)
Page 633 of 761
632 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Service
See Oper. ManualS 600 and S 65 AMG only:
The brake system sensors are malfunction-
ing. The brake system continues to function
normally with full brake force boost.Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
(USA only)
(Canada only)
Brake wearThe brake pads have reached their wear
limit.Have the brake pads replaced as soon as
possible.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.
Page 634 of 761
633 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Parking brake
See Oper. ManualThe red indicator lamp for the electronic
parking brake is either on or off and the yel-
low warning lamp for the electronic parking
brake comes on.
The electronic parking brake is malfunction-
ing.To release:
Pull handle of electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
or
Drive off carefully (page 395).
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
or
Release electronic parking brake mechani-
cally (
page 673).
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
To engage:
Switch off ignition and press handle for elec-
tronic parking brake until the warning mes-
sage on the multifunction display disappears.
(USA only)
(Canada only)
Page 635 of 761
634 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Parking brake
See Oper. ManualThe red indicator lamp for the electronic
parking brake flashes.
The power supply for the electronic parking
brake was malfunctioning or the electronic
parking brake was previously mechanically
released.Pull handle for electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
or
Carefully drive off (page 395).
or
Press handle for electronic parking brake un-
til the warning message disappears from the
multifunction display.
(USA only)
(Canada only)
Page 636 of 761
635 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Parking brake
See Oper. ManualThe red indicator lamp for the electronic
parking brake flashes and the yellow warn-
ing lamp for the electronic parking brake
lights up.
The electronic parking brake is malfunction-
ing.Switch ignition off and back on again, and en-
gage or release electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
or
Carefully drive off (page 395).
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
or
Release electronic parking brake mechani-
cally (
page 673).
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
(USA only)
(Canada only)
Page 637 of 761

636 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Parking brake
See Oper. ManualWhen you engage or release the electronic
parking brake, the red indicator lamp for
the electronic parking brake flashes for
approx.10 seconds. Afterward, it goes out
or lights up continuously. The yellow warn-
ing lamp for the electronic parking brake
lights up.
The electronic parking brake is malfunction-
ing or overheated for example due to over-
or undervoltage.Carefully drive off (page 395).
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
In the event of overvoltage or undervoltage:
Remove the cause of the overvoltage or und-
ervoltage, e.g. charge the battery or restart
the engine.
Switch ignition off and back on again, and en-
gage or release electronic parking brake
(
page 395).
If the electronic parking brake still cannot be re-
leased:
Release electronic parking brake mechani-
cally (
page 673).
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
(Continued on next page)
(USA only)
(Canada only)