2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS ESTATE warning light

Safety systems
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
J
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the engine is run-
ning. 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 Apply the parking brake.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
Do not top up the brake fluid. This does not correct the error. !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) has been deactivated due to a fault.
For this reason, BAS (Brake Assist), BAS PLUS, ESP ®
(Electronic
Stability Program), PRE-SAFE ®
,P RE-SAFE ®
Brake ,the HOLD func-
tion, hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer
stabilisation are also deactivated, for example.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
If the ABS control unit is faulty, there is also a possibility that other
systems, such as the navigation system or the automatic trans-
mission, will not be available. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
293On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
!
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ABS is temporarily unavailable. Therefore, BAS, BAS PLUS, ESP ®
,
EBD (electronic brake force distribution), PRE-SAFE ®
,
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD function, hill start assist, the adaptive
brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, for example, are also
deactivated.
Self-diagnosis is not yet complete or the on-board voltage may be
insufficient, for example.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Carefully drive on a suitable stretch of road, making slight steer-
ing movements, at a speed above 20 km/h.
The functions mentioned above are available again when the
warning lamp goes out.
If the warning lamp is still on:
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. A
warning tone also
sounds. G
Risk of accident
EBD is faulty. Therefore, ABS,B AS, BAS PLUS, ESP®
, PRE-SAFE ®
,
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD function, hill start assist, the adaptive
brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, for example, are not
available either.
The brake system continue sto function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 294
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
J֌!
The red brake warning
lamp, 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 malfunctioning. Therefore, BAS, BAS PLUS,
EBD, PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD function, hill start
assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, for
example, are not available either.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ÷
The yellow ESP
®
warn-
ing 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 Accelerate more gently during the journey.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Vehicles with a 12-button multifunction steering wheel only: do
not deactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: (Y page 75). å
Vehicles with a 12-but-
ton multifunction steer-
ing wheel only:
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 awheel starts to spin.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 75).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
295On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
M
AMG vehicles only:
The yellow SPORT han-
dling mode warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
G
Risk of accident
SPORT handling mode is activated. ESP ®
only stabilises the vehi-
cle 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 ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 75).
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. ֌
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. 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 not available due to a malfunction .ESP ®
will not
stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if awheel starts to spin.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 296
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
֌
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
, BAS, PRE-SAFE ®
, the HOLD function, hill start assist and
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are temporarily not available.
The adaptive brake lights, BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may
also have failed.
ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if a wheel
starts to spin.
Self-diagnosis is not yet complete.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Carefully drive on a suitable stretch of road, making slight steer-
ing movements, at a speed above 20 km/h.
The functions mentioned above are available again when the
warning lamp goes out.
If the warning lamp is still on:
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. J
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the vehicle is
moving. A warning tone
also sounds.
You are driving with the parking brake applied.
X
Release the parking brake.
The warning lamp goes out and the warning tone ceases. 6
The red SRS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
G
Risk of injury
The restraint systems are malfunctioning. The airbags or belt ten-
sioners may either be triggered unintentionally or, in the event of
an accident, may not be triggered at all.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
297On-board computer and displays Z

Engine
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
;
The yellow engine diag-
nostics warning lamp
lights up while the
engine is running. There may be a fault, for example:
R
in the engine management
R in the fuel injection system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system (for vehicles with petrol engines)
R in the fuel system
The emission limit values may be exceeded and the engin emay
be running in emergency mode.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified
specialist workshop. Vehicles with a diesel engine: the fuel tan
khas been run dry
(Y page 173).
X Start the engine three to four times after refuelling.
If the yellow engine diagnostics warning lamp goes out, emer-
gency running mode is cancelled. The vehicle need no tbe
checked. 8
The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp lights up
while the engine is run-
ning.
The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
Operation of the auxiliary heating is deactivated when the fuel level
drops into the reserve range.
X
Refuel at the nearest filling station. ?
The red coolant warn-
ing lamp lights up while
the engine is running
and the coolant tem-
perature gauge is at the
star
toft he scale. The temperature sensor for the coolant temperature gauge is
faulty.
The coolant temperature is no longer being monitored. There is a
risk of engine damage if the coolant temperature is too high.
X
Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine. Do not continue driving
under any circumstances.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. 298
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Driving systems
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
·
The red distance warn-
ing lamp lights up while
the vehicle is in motion. G
Risk of accident
The distance to the vehicle in fron tis too small for the speed
selected.
X Increase the distance. ·
The red distance warn-
ing lamp lights up while
the vehicle is in motion.
Aw arning tone also
sounds. G
Ris
kofa ccident
The warning is issued if you approach a stationary vehicle or a
vehicle driving ahead of you at too high 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.
More information about DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page 183) and
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake (Y page 78). Tyres
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
h
The yellow tyre pres-
sure monitor warning
lamp is on. G
Ris
kofa ccident
The tyre pressure monito rhas detected a loss of pressure in at
least one of the tyres.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudde nsteering or braking
manoeuvres .Pay attentio nto the traffic conditions as you do
so.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Check the tyre pressure. If necessary, correc tthe tyre pressure
(Y page 363).
X If necessary, change a wheel (Y page 365).300
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

X
To open: press left-hand button ;or right-
hand button :.
The stowage compartment opens.
Stowage compartment under the front
seats G
WARNING
Only load the stowage compartment with the
maximu mpermissible load of 1.5 kg. Other-
wise, the transported load could, for example,
be thrown out of the stowage compartment if
you change direction suddenly or brake
sharply and could injure you or others.
i On vehicles with a fire extinguisher
instead of a stowage compartment, the fire
extinguisher is installed under the driver's
seat. X
To open: pull handle :up and fold
cover ;forwards. Rear stowage compartments Stowage compartment in the rear com-
partment
X
To open: fold down seat armrest ;.
X Fold cover :of the armrest upwards. Luggage nets
G
WARNING
Only place lightweight objects in the luggage
net. Do not use it to transport heavy, sharp-
edged or fragile objects. The luggage net can-
not secure the objects sufficiently in the event
of an accident.
Luggage nets are located in the front-
passenger footwell, on the rear of the driver's
and front-passenger seat backrests and on
the left-hand side in the boot (Saloon) or on
the left and right-hand side of the luggage
compartment (Estate). Through-loading facility in the rear
bench seat
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside the
vehicle or in the boot unless they are secured.
Otherwise, you and other vehicle occupants
could be injured by objects being thrown
around the vehicle in the event of sharp brak- 304
Stowage areasStowing and features