2009 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS SALOON radiator

with the climatic specifications of standard
EN 590 can help to prevent operating prob-
lems. If the ambient temperature is unusually
low or if you use fuel that has not been adap-
ted to the climatic specifications (e.g. diesel
fuel from the Mediterranean area), the flow
properties of the fuel may be inadequate.
Flow improver
Flow improvers can be added to improve the
cold resistance of diesel fuel. The effective-
ness of a flow improver is not guaranteed with
every fuel.
Correct dosage and thorough mixing are deci-
sive factors in ensuring improvement in low-
temperature resistance. Under certain cir-
cumstances, an excessive dosage may
actually decrease low-temperature resist-
ance and should therefore be avoided (follow
the manufacturer's dosing instructions).
Mix the additive with the diesel in good time,
before the flow properties of the diesel
become inadequate. Otherwise, malfunctions
can only be rectified by heating the entire fuel
system, e.g. by parking the vehicle in a heated
garage.
Observe the information provided by the man-
ufacturer when using a flow improver. Only
use flow improvers that have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. You can obtain
further information from any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Engine compartment
Bonnet
G
Risk of accident
Do not pull the release lever while the vehicle
is in motion. The bonnet may otherwise open
and block your view.
Active bonnet (pedestrian protection) The active bonnet can reduce the risk of injury
to pedestrians in certain accident situations.
Raising the bonnet increases the clearance to hard components, such as the engine. Fur-
ther information about the active bonnet
(Y
page 302).
Opening G
Risk of injury
There is a risk of injury if the bonnet is open,
even if the engine is not running.
Some engine components can become very
hot.
To avoid the risk of burns, only touch those
components described in the Operating
Instructions and observe the relevant safety
notes. G
Risk of injury
The radiator fan between the radiator and the
engine can start automatically, even if the key
has been removed from the ignition lock.
Keep away from the area of rotation of the fan
blades. Otherwise you could be injured.
Vehicles with a petrol engine:
The electronic ignition system uses high volt-
age. For this reason, you must never touch the
ignition system components (ignition coil,
ignition cable, spark plug connector or test
socket) while:
R the engine is running
R the engine is being started
R the ignition is switched on and the engine
is being cranked by hand
You could otherwise receive an electric shock
and be severely or fatally injured.
Vehicles with a diesel engine:
the electronic injector control operates at
high voltage. For this reason, you must never
touch injection system components while:
R the engine is running
R the engine is being started
R the ignition is switched on
You could otherwise receive an electric shock
and be severely or fatally injured. Engine compartment
219Operation
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X
Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off. G
Risk of injury
The windscreen wipers and wiper linkage
could be set in motion.
When the bonnet is open, you or others could
be injured by the wiper linkage.
Make sure that the windscreen wiper is
switched off. Remove the key or make sure
that no ignition level has been selected on
KEYLESS GO*. In the instrument cluster, all of
the indicator lamps must be out.
The bonnet release lever is located in the
driver's footwell. X
Pull bonnet release lever :.
The bonnet is released.
! Make sure that the windscreen wipers
are not folded out from the windscreen.
You could otherwise damage the wind-
screen wipers or the bonnet.
The handle for opening the bonnet is located
above the radiator grille. X
Reach into the gap, pull bonnet catch han-
dle ;up and lift the bonnet.
Closing G
Risk of injury
Make sure that nobody can become trapped
as you close the bonnet.
X Lower the bonnet and let it fall from a
height of approximately 20 cm.
X Check that the bonnet has engaged prop-
erly.
i If the bonnet can be raised slightly, it is
not properly engaged. Open it again and
close it with a little more force. Engine oil
Depending on driving style, the vehicle con-
sumes up to 0.8 l oil per 1,000 km. The oil
consumption may be higher than this when
the vehicle is new or if you frequently drive at
high engine speeds.
Checking the engine oil level Before checking the engine oil level the fol-
lowing conditions for the vehicle should be
met:
R the vehicle should be parked on level
ground.
R the engine should be switched off for at
least five minutes if the engine is at normal
operating temperature.
R the engine should be switched off for at
least 30 minutes if the engine is not at
operating temperature (i.e. if you only start
the engine briefly).
Depending on the engine, the oil dipstick may
be installed at a different location. 220
Engine compartmentOperation
* optional
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions DISTRONIC
PLUS currently
unavaila‐
ble See
Owner's
Manual
Distronic Plus* is deactivated and is temporarily inoperative
if:
R
the Distronic Plus* cover in the radiator grille is dirty.
R the sensors in the bumpers are dirty.
R the radar sensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due
to electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio
stations or other sources of electromagnetic radiation.
R its function is impaired due to heavy rain or snow.
R the system is outside the operating temperature range.
R the on-board voltage is too low.
A warning tone also sounds.
Distronic Plus *is operational again and the display message
disappears when:
R the dirt (e.g. slush) drops away while you are driving.
R the system detects that the sensors are fully available
again.
R the system is within the operating temperature range.
If the display message continues to be shown:
X Clean the Distronic Plus* cover in the radiator grille
(Y page 243).
X Clean the bumpers (Y page 243).
X Restart the engine. DISTRONIC
PLUS inopera‐
tive
Distronic Plus* is faulty. BAS PLUS* and PRE-SAFE
®
Brake*
may also have failed. A warning tone also sounds.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. DISTRONIC
PLUS suspended
You have depressed the accelerator pedal. Distronic Plus* is
no longer controlling the speed of the vehicle.
X
Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Display messages
255Practical advice
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions Wheel sen‐
sor(s) missing
Vehicles with tyre pressure monitor*: the tyre pressure sen-
sor signal for one or more of the tyres is missing. The pressure
of the affected tyre is not displayed in the instrument cluster.
X
Have the faulty tyre pressure sensor replaced at a qualified
specialist workshop. PRE-SAFE inopera‐
tive See
Owner's
Manual
G
Risk of injury
Important functions of PRE-SAFE ®
have failed. All other occu-
pant safety systems, e.g. airbags, remain available.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. PRE-SAFE Functions
currently
limited
See Own‐
er's Man‐
ual
G
Risk of accident
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake* is temporarily inoperative if:
R the Distronic Plus* cover in the radiator grille is dirty.
R the sensors in the bumpers are dirty.
R its function is impaired due to heavy rain or snow.
R the radar sensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due
to electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio
stations or other sources of electromagnetic radiation.
R the system is outside the operating temperature range.
R the on-board voltage is insufficient.
R E 63 AMG: you deactivate ESP ®
.
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake *is operational again and the display mes-
sage disappears when:
R the dirt (e.g. slush) drops away while you are driving.
R the system detects that the sensors are fully available
again.
R the system is within the operating temperature range.
R E 63 AMG: you reactivate ESP ®
.
If the display message continues to be shown:
X Clean the Distronic Plus* cover in the radiator grille
(Y page 243).
X Clean the bumpers (Y page 243).
X Restart the engine.
X Wait until the battery is charged sufficiently. 260
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
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Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions ?
The red coolant
warning lamp
comes on while
the engine is
running. A warn-
ing tone also
sounds. The coolant temperature has exceeded 130 †. The airflow to the
radiator may be blocked or the coolant level may be too low.
The engine is not being cooled sufficiently and may be damaged.
X
Pull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Allow the engine and coolant to cool.
X Make sure that the air supply to the radiator is not blocked, e.g.
by slush.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 221). Observe the warning
notes.
X If necessary, top up the coolant.
X Have the engine cooling system checked at a qualified specialist
workshop if the coolant needs topping up more often than usual.
If the coolant level is correct, the electric radiator fan may be
faulty.
X Do not continue driving under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. ;
The yellow
engine diagnos-
tics warning
lamp lights up
while the engine
is running. Vehicles with a diesel engine: the fuel tank has been run dry.
X
Start the engine three to four times after refuelling.
Emergency running mode is cancelled. The vehicle need not be
checked. ;
The yellow
engine diagnos-
tics warning
lamp lights up
while the engine
is running. There may be a fault, for example:
R
in the engine management
R in the ignition system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system (for vehicles with petrol engines)
The emission limit values may be exceeded and the engine can
run in emergency mode.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified
specialist workshop. Troubleshooting
285Practical advice
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Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X XSolutions Vehicles with a petrol
engine:
The engine is not run-
ning smoothly and is
misfiring. There is a malfunction in the engine electronics or a mechanical
component of the engine control unit.
X
Only depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
X Have the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic con-
verter and damage it. The coolant tempera-
ture gauge shows a
value above 120 †.
The coolant warning
lamp may also light up
and a warning tone may
sound (Y
page 117). The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled sufficiently.
X
Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant
to cool down.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 221). Observe the warning
notes as you do so and top up the coolant if necessary. If the coolant level is correct, the radiator fan may be faulty. The
coolant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled suffi-
ciently.
X
If the coolant temperature is less than 120 †, you can continue
driving to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving on
mountain roads and stop/start driving. 292
TroubleshootingPractical advice
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