2009 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS SALOON instrument cluster

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions J Check
brake
fluid
level
G
Risk of accident
There is insufficient brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir. In
addition, the Jwarning lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up and a warning tone sounds.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions. Do not con-
tinue driving under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not top up the brake fluid. This will not rectify the fault. J Release
parking
brake You are driving with the parking brake applied. A warning tone
also sounds.
X
Release the parking brake. J EBD, ABS
and ESP
inopera‐
tive See
Owner's
Manual
G
Risk of accident
EBV (electronic brake force distribution), ABS, ESP ®
, BAS,
PRE-SAFE ®
, the HOLD function, hill start assist and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are unavailable due to a malfunction. In
addition, the ä,åand! warning lamps in the
instrument cluster light up and a warning tone sounds.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without
the functions listed above. ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 266
Display
messagesPractical advice
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions J Brake
immedi‐
ately A malfunction has occurred while the HOLD function or Dis-
tronic Plus* is active.
or
Vehicles with manual transmission: with the HOLD function
activated, you have either:
R
opened the driver's door and released the seat belt or
R switched off the engine or
R opened the bonnet
A tone may also sound at regular intervals. The tone becomes
louder if you attempt to lock the vehicle.
You cannot start the engine.
X Paying attention to the traffic situation, immediately
depress the brake pedal firmly and hold until the display
message disappears.
X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away before you leave it
(Y page 107).
You can restart the engine. ? Coolant
Stop vehi‐
cle
Switch
engine off The coolant is too hot. In addition, the
?warning lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up and a warning tone sounds.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the
engine, paying attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Make sure that the air supply to the radiator is not blocked,
e.g. by slush.
X Wait until the display message disappears before restarting
the engine. Otherwise, there is a risk of engine damage.
X Observe the coolant temperature gauge.
X If the coolant temperature increases again, visit a qualified
specialist workshop immediately. The poly-V-belt may have torn. A warning tone also sounds.
X
Pull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the
engine, paying attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Check the poly-V-belt.
X If the poly-V-belt is not damaged: do not start the engine
again until the display message goes out. Otherwise, there
is a risk of engine damage.
X If the poly-V-belt is torn: do not continue driving. Consult
a qualified specialist workshop. Display
messages
267Practical advice
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions _ Rear left
seat back‐
rest not
locked
or
Rear
right
seat back‐
rest not
locked
G
Risk of injury
Saloon with through-loading feature* in the rear bench seat:
The backrest in the rear is not engaged on the left-hand or
right-hand side. A warning tone also sounds.
X Push the backrest back until it engages (Y page 195).6 Restraint
sys. mal‐
function
Consult
workshop
G
Risk of injury
There is a malfunction in the SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System). The 6warning lamp also lights up in the instru-
ment cluster.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 6 Front
left mal‐
function
Consult
workshop
or
Front
right mal‐
function
Consult
workshop
G
Risk of injury
SRS has malfunctioned at the front on the left or right. The
6 warning lamp also lights up in the instrument cluster.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 6 Rear left
malfunc‐
tion Con‐
sult work‐
shop
or
Rear
right mal‐
function
Consult
workshop
G
Risk of injury
SRS has malfunctioned at the rear* on the left or right. The
6 warning lamp also lights up in the instrument cluster.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Display
messages
277Practical advice
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions 6 Rear
centre
malfunc‐
tion Con‐
sult work‐
shop
G
Risk of injury
SRS has malfunctioned at the rear centre*. The 6warning
lamp also lights up in the instrument cluster.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 6 Left
windowbag
malfunc‐
tion Con‐
sult work‐
shop
or
Right
windowbag
malfunc‐
tion Con‐
sult work‐
shop
G
Risk of injury
There is a malfunction in the left-hand or right-hand window-
bag. The 6warning lamp also lights up in the instrument
cluster.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. C There is only a small amount of fuel in the fuel tank.
X
Refuel at the nearest filling station. 8 Reserve
fuel level The fuel level has fallen below the reserve range. The opera-
tion of the auxiliary heating* can no longer be guaranteed.
X
Refuel at the nearest filling station. ¥ Top up
washer
fluid The washer fluid level in the washer fluid reservoir has drop-
ped below the minimum.
X
Top up the windscreen washer fluid (Y page 222).Troubleshooting
Points to remember
G
Risk of accident and injury
The operating safety of the vehicle can be compromised if maintenance work is carried out
incorrectly. This could cause you to lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident. The safety
systems may also not be able to protect you or others as they are designed to do.
Always have maintenance work carried out at a qualified specialist workshop. The qualified spe-
cialist workshop must have the necessary specialist knowledge and tools to carry out the work
required. Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this
purpose. In particular, work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop. 278
TroubleshootingPractical 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
281Practical advice
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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
291Practical advice
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Automatic transmission*
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately. The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no
longer changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into
secondgear and reverse gear.
X Stop the vehicle.
X Move the transmission to position P.
X Turn the key in the ignition to position 0(Y page 75) or press
the Start/Stop button* repeatedly until all indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster go out.
X Wait at least 10 seconds before restarting the engine.
X Move the transmission to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately. PARKTRONIC*
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions Only the red segments
in the PARKTRONIC
warning display are lit.
You also hear a warning
tone for approximately
two seconds.
PARKTRONIC is deacti-
vated after approx-
imately 20 seconds and
the indicator lamp in
the PARKTRONIC but-
ton lights up. PARKTRONIC has malfunctioned and has switched itself off.
X
If problems persist, have PARKTRONIC checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. Only the red segments
in the PARKTRONIC
warning display are lit.
PARKTRONIC is deacti-
vated after approx-
imately 20 seconds. The PARKTRONIC sensors are dirty or there is interference.
X
Clean the PARKTRONIC sensors (Y page 243).
X Switch the ignition back on. Troubleshooting
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Battery acid is caustic.
Avoid contact with the skin,
eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective
clothing, in particular
gloves, an apron and a face
mask.
Immediately rinse acid
splashes off with clean
water. Consult a doctor if
necessary.
Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Owner's Man-
ual.
H
Environmental note
Do not dispose of batteries in the household
rubbish. Dispose of defective batteries in an
environmentally responsible manner. Take
them to a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre or
to a special collection point for old batteries. G
Risk of injury
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use batteries which have
been tested and approved for your vehicle by
Mercedes-Benz. These batteries provide
increased impact protection to prevent vehi-
cle occupants from suffering acid burns
should the battery be damaged in the event
of an accident.
To prevent acid burns, observe the following
safety notes when handling batteries:
R do not lean over the battery.
R do not place any metal objects on a battery.
Otherwise, you could cause a short circuit
and the battery's gas mixture could ignite. R
make sure that you do not create an elec-
trostatic charge, e.g. by wearing synthetic
clothing or as a result of friction on fabrics.
Therefore, you should not pull or slide the
battery over carpets or other synthetic
materials.
R never touch the battery first. To discharge
a possible electrostatic charge, step out of
the vehicle first and touch the bodywork.
R do not wipe the battery using a cloth. The
battery may explode as a result of electro-
static charge or due to flying sparks.
! Before loosening the terminal clamps of
the battery, switch off the engine and
remove the key or, on vehicles with KEY-
LESS GO*, make sure that the ignition is
not switched on. In the instrument cluster,
all of the indicator lamps must be out. Oth-
erwise, you may destroy electronic compo-
nents, such as the alternator.
i Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
have work involving the battery, e.g.
removal, charging and replacement, car-
ried out at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Installation location of the battery Saloon
Depending on its engine type, your vehicle is
equipped with a battery in the engine com-
partment or boot/luggage compartment. It is
located in front of the bulkhead on the right-
hand side or in the spare wheel well on the320
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