2009 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS SALOON ESP

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions D inopera‐
tive See
Owner's
Manual
G
Risk of accident
The power steering assistance is reduced. You will need to
use more force to steer. A warning tone also sounds.
X Check whether you are able to apply the extra force
required.
X If you are able to steer safely: carefully drive on to a
qualified specialist workshop.
X If you are unable to steer safely: do not drive on. Contact
the nearest qualified specialist workshop. b Left cor‐
nering
light
or
Right cor‐
nering
light
The left-hand or right-hand cornering lamp* is faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. b Left
dipped
beam
or
Right
dipped
beam The left-hand or right-hand dipped-beam headlamp is faulty.
X
Halogen headlamps: replace the bulb (Ypage 304).
X Bi-xenon headlamp*: visit a qualified specialist workshop.b Active
Light Sys‐
tem inop‐
erative
The active light function* is faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. b Trailer
left indi‐
cator
or
Trailer
right
indic. The left-hand or right-hand trailer turn signal lamp is faulty.
X
Change the bulb. b Trailer
brake lamp The trailer brake lamp is faulty.
X
Change the bulb. 270
Display
messagesPractical advice
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions b Left-hand
tail lamp/
brake lamp
or
Right-
hand tail
lamp/
brake lamp The left-hand or right-hand tail lamp/brake lamp is faulty. The
display message will only be shown if several LEDs have
failed.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. b Left main
beam
or
Right
main beam The left-hand or right-hand main beam headlamp is faulty.
X
Halogen headlamps: replace the bulb (Ypage 304).
X Bi-xenon headlamp*: visit a qualified specialist workshop.b Intell.
Light Sys‐
tem inop‐
erative
The Intelligent Light System* is faulty. The lights remain avail-
able without the Intelligent Light System*.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. b Left
licence
plate lamp
or
Right
licence
plate lamp The left-hand or right-hand licence plate lamp is faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. b Left fog
lamp
or
Right fog
lamp
The front left-hand or right-hand foglamp* is faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. b Rear left
fog lamp
or
Rear
right fog
lamp The left-hand or right-hand rear foglamp is faulty. The display
message will only be shown if several LEDs have failed.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 272
Display
messagesPractical advice
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions b Malfunc‐
tion See
Owner's
Manual The exterior lighting is faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Vehicles with trailer coupling*: a fuse may have blown.
X
Check the fuses (Y page 328).
X If necessary, replace the blown fuse. Observe the warning
notes.
If the display message continues to be shown:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ¸ Replace
air
cleaner
The engine air filter is dirty and must be replaced
42
.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 4 Check
eng. oil
lev. when
next refu‐
elling The engine oil level has dropped to a critical level. A warning
tone also sounds.
X
Check the engine oil level ( Ypage 220).
X If necessary, top up the engine oil.
X Have the engine checked for leaks if the engine oil needs
topping up more often than usual. + Change
key bat‐
teries The key batteries are discharged.
X
Change the batteries ( Ypage 304). + Key not
detected
(red display
message)
The KEYLESS GO key* is not in the vehicle. A warning tone
also sounds.
If you switch off the engine, you can no longer centrally lock
the vehicle and no longer start the engine.
X
Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Locate the KEYLESS GO key*. The KEYLESS GO key* is not detected while driving because
a powerful radio transmitter is causing interference. A warn-
ing tone also sounds.
X
Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Remove the Start/Stop button* from the ignition
lock (Y page 75).
X Insert the key into the ignition lock and turn it to the desired
position. 42
Only for certain vehicles. 274
Display
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions h Tyre pres‐
sure Cau‐
tion,
tyre malf.
G
Risk of accident
Vehicles with the tyre pressure monitor*: the pressure is
dropping rapidly in one or more of the tyres. A warning tone
also sounds.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or
braking manoeuvres. Pay attention to traffic conditions as
you do so.
X Repair the faulty tyre or replace the wheel ( Ypage 309). h Tyre pres‐
sure
Check
tyre(s)
G
Risk of accident
Vehicles with tyre pressure monitor*: the tyre pressure has
dropped significantly in one or more of the tyres. A warning
tone also sounds.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or
braking manoeuvres. Pay attention to traffic conditions as
you do so.
X Correct the tyre pressure (Y page 225).
X If necessary, repair any defective tyres or change the wheel
(Y page 309). & inopera‐
tive Bat‐
tery low The on-board voltage is too low. The auxiliary heating/venti-
lation* has switched off or cannot be switched on.
X
Drive for a longer distance.
The battery is being charged. The auxiliary heating/venti-
lation *can be reactivated as soon as there is sufficient on-
board voltage. & inopera‐
tive
Refuel
vehicle The fuel level in the fuel tank is too low. The auxiliary heat-
ing* cannot be switched on.
X
Refuel at the nearest filling station. & inopera‐
tive See
Owner's
Man.
The auxiliary heating
*is temporarily malfunctioning or is
defective.
X When the vehicle is on a level surface and the engine has
cooled down, make up to four attempts to switch on the
auxiliary heating*, waiting several minutes between each
attempt.
X If the auxiliary heating* does not switch on, visit a qualified
specialist workshop. 276
Display messagesPractical advice
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Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions Vehicles with the ECO
Start/Stop function:
you have started the
engine using the key.
The indicator lamp in
the ECO Start/Stop
function button does
not light up or goes out
again after a short time. You have deactivated the ECO Start/Stop function.
X
Activate the ECO Start/Stop function again (Y page 109). The ECO Start/Stop function is not available due to a fault.
X If the indicator lamp fails persistently, consult a qualified work-
shop. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions !
The yellow ABS
warning lamp is
lit while the
engine is run-
ning. G
Risk of accident
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) is deactivated due to a fault. For this
reason, ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program), BAS (Brake Assist),
BAS PLUS* (Brake Assist PLUS), PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake*,
the HOLD function, hill start assist and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation
are also deactivated, for example.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. Therefore, the wheels could lock if you
brake hard.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 251).
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ·
The red distance
warning lamp*
lights up while
the vehicle is in
motion. G
Risk of accident
The distance to the vehicle in front is too small for the speed
selected.
X Increase the distance. ·
The red distance
warning lamp*
lights up while
the vehicle is in
motion. A warn-
ing tone also
sounds. G
Risk of accident
You are approaching a vehicle in front at too great a speed
X Be prepared to brake immediately.
X Pay careful attention to the traffic situation. You may have to
brake or take evasive action. Troubleshooting
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Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X XSolutions ·
The red distance
warning lamp*
lights up while
the vehicle is in
motion. A warn-
ing tone also
sounds. G
Risk of accident
Distronic Plus* has detected a stationary obstacle in your line of
travel. The vehicle will not be braked automatically.
X Be prepared to brake immediately.
X Pay careful attention to the traffic situation. You may have to
brake or take evasive action. ä
å
!
The yellow ESP
®
and ESP ®
OFF
warning lamps
and the yellow
ABS warning
lamp are lit while
the engine is
running. G
Risk of accident
ABS and ESP ®
are faulty. Other systems, e.g. BAS, BAS PLUS*,
PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake*, the HOLD function, hill start
assist and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, are also unavailable due to a
malfunction. The brake system continues to function normally, but
without the functions listed above. Therefore, the wheels could
lock if you brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 251).
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ä
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp
flashes while the
vehicle is in
motion. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of
skidding or at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or Distronic Plus* is deactivated.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when
pulling away.
X Release the accelerator pedal while you are driving.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: all models, except E 63 AMG (Y page 61), E 63 AMG
(Y page 62). å
The yellow ESP ®
OFF warning
lamp is lit while
the engine is
running. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are deactivated. ESP ®
will not
stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if a wheel starts to spin.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: all models, except E 63 AMG (Y page 61), E 63 AMG
(Y page 62).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions. 282
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Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions ì
E 63 AMG:
The yellow ESP ®
Sport warning
lamp lights up
while the engine
is running. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
Sport is activated. ESP ®
only stabilises the vehicle in
extreme situations. ESP ®
intervention may not be able to provide
sufficient assistance in such situations and the vehicle may start
to skid.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: (Y page 62) ä
å
The yellow ESP
®
and ESP ®
OFF
warning lamps
are lit while the
engine is run-
ning. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
, BAS, BAS PLUS*, PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake*, the
HOLD function, hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights and
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are unavailable due to a malfunction.
ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if a wheel
starts to spin.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 251).
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 6
The red SRS
warning lamp is
lit while the
engine is run-
ning. G
Risk of injury
There is a malfunction in the restraint system. The airbags or belt
tensioners may either be triggered unintentionally or, in the event
of an accident, not be triggered at all.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. J
The yellow
reserve fuel
warning lamp
lights up while
the engine is
running. G
Risk of accident
The brake system is malfunctioning and the braking characteris-
tics may be affected.
X If the multi-function display shows a display message, please
observe this (Y page 251).
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Troubleshooting
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Engine
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions The engine will not
start.
The HOLD function or Distronic Plus* is activated.
X
Switch off HOLD (Y page 151) or Distronic Plus (Y page 146).
X Try to start the engine again. The engine will not
start. You can hear the
starter motor operat-
ing. R
There is a malfunction in the engine electronics.
R There is a malfunction in the fuel supply.
R The on-board voltage is too low because the starter battery is
too weak or discharged.
X Before the next start attempt, turn the key back to position 0
(Y page 75) in the ignition lock or press the Start/Stop but-
ton* until all the indicator lights in the instrument cluster have
gone out.
X Try to start the engine again (Y page 103). When doing so,
remember that excessively long and frequent attempts to start
the engine will drain the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine will not
start. You can hear the
starter motor operat-
ing. The reserve fuel
warning lamp is on and
the fuel gauge
shows
0. The fuel tank has been run dry.
X
Refuel the vehicle. The engine will not
start. You cannot hear
the starter motor. The on-board voltage is too low because the starter battery is too
weak or discharged.
X
Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 323).
If the engine does not start despite attempting to jump-start it:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The starter motor was exposed to a thermal load that was too high.
X
Allow the starter motor to cool down for approximately two
minutes.
X Try to start the engine again.
If the engine still does not start:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Troubleshooting
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