2009 MERCEDES-BENZ GL SUV check engine

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions ? Coolant
Stop car,
turn
engine off The coolant is too hot.
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 Pay attention to the coolant temperature display
(Y page 100).
X If the temperature increases again, visit a qualified special-
ist workshop immediately. The poly-V-belt may have torn.
X
Pull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the
engine, paying attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Open the bonnet.
X Check whether the poly-V-belt is torn.
If the poly-V-belt is torn:
! Do not continue driving. The engine could otherwise over-
heat.
X Switch off the engine.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the poly-V-belt is OK:
X Wait until the display message disappears before restarting
the engine. Otherwise, there is a risk of engine damage.
X Pay attention to the coolant temperature display
(Y page 100).
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. + Top up
coolant
See Own‐
er's Man‐
ual The coolant level is too low.
X
Top up the coolant, observing the warning notes before
doing so (Y page 177).
X Have the engine cooling system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop if the coolant needs topping up more often
than usual. 224
Display
messagesPractical advice
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions b Reversing
lamp, left
or
Reversing
lamp,
right The left-hand or right-hand reversing lamp is faulty.
X
Change the bulb ( Ypage 254). b Left-hand
tail lamp
or
Right-
hand tail
lamp The left-hand or right-hand tail lamp is faulty.
X
Change the bulb ( Ypage 254). b Left day‐
time driv‐
ing lamp
or
Right
daytime
driving
lamp The left or right daytime driving lamp is faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ¸ Replace
air
cleaner
element
The engine air filter is dirty and must be replaced.
33
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 4 Check
engine
oil level
when next
refuelling The engine oil level has dropped to a critical level.
X
Check the engine oil level ( Ypage 176).
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. 4 Add
1 litre
engine
oil when
next refu‐
elling
The oil level is too low
33
.
X Check the engine oil level ( Ypage 176).
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. 33
Only for certain countries. 228
Display
messagesPractical advice
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions 4 Engine
oil level
Stop car,
turn
engine off The oil level is too low. There is a risk of engine damage.
X
Pull over and stop the vehicle safely, paying attention to
road and traffic conditions.
X Switch off the engine.
X Top up the engine oil and check the level (Y page 176).4 Engine
oil level
Reduce
oil level
You have added too much engine oil
33
. There is a risk of dam-
age to the engine or to the catalytic converter.
X Siphon off excess engine oil until it is at the specified level.
Observe the legal requirements. 4 Engine
oil level
Consult
workshop The engine oil level has dropped to a critical level or the
measuring system is malfunctioning.
33
X Check the engine oil level ( Ypage 176).
If the engine oil level is OK:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
If the engine oil level is not OK:
X Top up the engine oil.
X If the warning message disappears: consult a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
X If the warning message does not disappear: keep the vehi-
cle at a standstill and notify a qualified specialist workshop. 4 Engine
oil level
cannot be
measured
The measuring system is malfunctioning
33
.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. h Tyre pres‐
sure Cau‐
tion,
tyre
defect
G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure in one or more tyres has dropped suddenly.
The affected wheel is highlighted in the tyre pressure display
of the tyre pressure monitor*.
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 262). 33
Only for certain countries. Display
messages
229Practical advice
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Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions J
The red brake
system warning
lamp comes on
while the engine
is running. A
warning tone
also sounds. G
Risk of accident
There is insufficient brake fluid in the fluid reservoir.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving
under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 211).
Do not top up the brake fluid. This will not rectify the fault. ;
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. h
The yellow tyre
pressure moni-
tor* warning
lamp is on. G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure monitor* has detected a sudden or significant
pressure loss in at least one of the tyres.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to traffic conditions as you do so.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 211).
The warning light will go out after the flat tyre has been changed
and you have been driving for a few minutes. Troubleshooting
237Practical advice
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Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions 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 †.
You also hear a warning
tone. 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 177). 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. The engine does not
switch off. The ignition lock is faulty.
X
Open the fuse box in the engine compartment (Y page 281).
X Remove fuse 120 using the fuse extractor.
The engine stops.
If you wish to start the engine again:
X Replace the fuse. Troubleshooting
243Practical advice
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Automatic transmission
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X XSolutions 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 Turn the key in the ignition to position 0(Y page 63) 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 Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately. PARKTRONIC*
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X XSolutions 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 203).
X Switch the ignition back on. 244
TroubleshootingPractical advice
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Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X XSolutions The engine cannot be
started using the key. The on-board voltage is too low.
X
Switch off non-essential consumers, e.g. seat heating* or inte-
rior lighting, and try to start the engine again.
If this does not work:
X Check the starter battery and charge it if necessary
(Y page 272).
or
X Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 276).
or
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine cannot be
started using KEYLESS
GO*. The key is in the
vehicle. A door is open. Therefore, the key cannot be detected as easily.
X
Close the door and try to start the vehicle again. There is interference from a powerful source of radio waves.
X
Start your vehicle using the key in the ignition lock. Trailer towing*
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X XSolutions The ball coupling can-
not be locked.
The key cannot be
removed from the ball
coupling.
G
Risk of accident
The ball coupling is dirty.
The trailer coupling is damaged.
X Remove the ball coupling and clean it (Y page 203). If the ball
coupling still cannot be locked, remove the ball coupling. It must
no longer be used to tow a trailer, as safe operation is not guar-
anteed.
X Have the entire trailer coupling checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. 248
TroubleshootingPractical advice
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X
Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off all electrical consumers (e.g.
radio, blower, etc.).
X Open the bonnet (Y page 174). X
Open cover :of positive terminal ;.
X Connect positive terminal ;on your vehi-
cle to positive terminal =of donor battery
C using the jump lead, beginning with your
own battery.
X Start the engine of the donor vehicle and
run it at idling speed.
X Remove cover Afrom earth point B.
X Connect negative terminal ?of donor bat-
tery Cto earth point Bof your vehicle
using the jump lead, connecting the jump
lead to donor battery Cfirst.
X Start the engine.
X First remove the jump lead from earth
point Band negative terminal ?, then
from positive terminal ;and positive ter-
minal =, each time disconnecting from the
battery on your own vehicle first.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Towing and tow-starting
Points to remember
G
Risk of accident
If you have the vehicle towed, you must use a
rigid towing bar if:
R the engine is not running.
R there is a brake system malfunction.
R there is a malfunction in the power supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
The power steering and the brake force boos-
ter do not work when the engine is not run-
ning. Greater braking force will then be
required and brake pedal travel will be longer.
If necessary, depress the brake pedal with full
force.
Before towing away, make sure that the steer-
ing can be moved and is not locked.
If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehicle. Towing and tow-starting
277Practical advice
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