2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS CABRIOLET service

Problems with the engine
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
The engine does not
start. The HOLD function or DISTRONIC PLUS is activated.
X
Deactivat ethe HOLD function (Y page 184) or DISTRONIC
PLUS (Y page 171).
X Try to start the engine again. The engine does not
start. The starter motor
can be heard. R
There is amalfunction in the engine electronics.
R There is amalfunction in the fuel supply.
X Before attempting to start the engine again, turn the key in the
ignition back to position 0or press the Start/Stop button
repeatedly until all indicator lamps in the instrumen tcluster go
out.
X Try to start the engine again (Y page 148). Avoid excessively
long and frequent attempt stostart the engine, as this will drain
the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
X Consult aqualified specialist workshop, e.g. aMercedes-Benz
Servic eCentre. The engine does not
start
.The starter motor
can be heard. The
reserve fuel warning
lamp is lit and the fuel
gauge displays hows0. The fuel tank is empty.
X
Refuel the vehicle. The engine does not
start. You cannot hear
the starter motor. The on-board voltage is too low because the battery is too weak
or discharged.
X
Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 309).
If the engine does not start despite attemptstoj ump-start it:
X Consult aqualified specialist workshop, e.g. aMercedes-Benz
Service Centre. The starter motor was exposed to
athermal 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 aqualified specialist workshop, e.g. aMercedes-Benz
Service Centre. 152
DrivingDriving and parking

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
Vehicles with
apetrol
engine:
The engine is not run-
ning smoothly and is
misfiring. There is
amalfunction in the engine electronics or in amechanical
componentoft he engine management system.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
X Have the cause rectified immediately at aqualified specialist
workshop, e.g. aMercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic con-
verter and damage it. The coolant tempera-
ture display is showing
more than 120 †. The
coolant warning lamp
may also be lit and a
warning tone may
sound. 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 283). Observe the warning
notes as you do so and top up the coolant if necessary. If the coolant level is correct, the engine radiator fan may be faulty.
The coolant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled
sufficiently.
X
At coolant temperatures under 120 †, drive on to the nearest
qualified specialist workshop, e.g. to aMercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving on
mountain roads and stop/start driving. Manual transmission
Gear lever
Gear lever
!
Only engage gear when the clutch pedal
is depressed.
! When shifting between 5thand 6thgear,
you should always push the gear lever all the way to the right. Otherwise, you could
shift unintentionally into
3rdor4th gear
and damage the transmission.
If you shift down at too high aspeed (trans-
mission braking), this can cause the engine
to overrev, leading to engine damage.
Do not use the clutch bite point to keep the
vehicle stationary on uphill gradients.
There is otherwise arisk of damaging the
clutch.
! On long and steep downhill gradients,
especially if the vehicle is laden or towing
at railer, you must shift into gear 1, 2or3
in good time. This uses the engine's braking
effect.T his relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from over-
heating and wearing too quickly. Manual transmission
153Driving and parking Z

Problems with the transmission
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X
Have the transmission checked at aqualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. aMercedes-Benz Service Centre, 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 Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least 10 seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift 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 aqualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. aMercedes-Benz Service Centre, immediately. Releasing the parking lock manually
In the event of an electrical fault, it is possible
to release the selector lever lock manually to
move it out of position P,e.g. if you wish to
tow the vehicle away. !
Do not use any sharp-edged objectstol ift
up the selector lever cover in the centre
console. Otherwise, the selector lever
cover could be damaged.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Prise out selector lever gaiter :with aflat,
blunt object,( e.g.ascrewdriver wrappe dincloth
)from the right-hand edge, pulling it
up and out.
X Press release button ;dow nand simul-
taneousl ymovet he selecto rlever out of
position P.
The selector lever can now be moved freely
until it is returned to position P. Refuelling
Important safet
ynotes G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. Fire, naked flames
and smoking are therefore prohibited when
handling fuels.
Switc hoff the engin eand the auxiliary heating
before refuelling. G
WARNING
Do not come into contact with fuels.
It is hazardous to your health if your skin
comes into direct contact with fuels or you
breathe in fuel vapours. 160
RefuellingDriving and parking

G
WARNING
Do not use petrol to refue lvehicles with adie-
sel engine. Do not mix diesel with petrol. This
would result in damage to the fuel system and
engine, which coul dleadtoav ehiclefire.
! Do not use petrol to refue lvehicles with a
diesel engine. Do not use diesel to refuel
vehicles with apetrol engine. Even small
amounts of the wrong fuel result in damage
to the fuel system and the engine.
! Do not switch on the ignitio nifyou acci-
dentally refue lwith the wrong fuel .Other-
wise ,the fuel will ente rthe fuel lines. Notify
aq ualified specialist workshop and have
the fuel tank and fuel lines drained com-
pletely. Petrol (EN 228, DIN 51626)
Fuel grade !
Only refuel using unleaded premium-
grade petrol with at least
95 RON/85 MON, which conforms to Euro-
pean standard EN 228 or an equivalent
specification.
! Do not use the following:
R E85 (petrol with 85% ethanol)
R E100 (100% ethanol)
R M15 (petrol with 15% methanol)
R M85 (petrol with 85% methanol)
R M100 (100% methanol)
R Diesel
Do not mix these fuels with petrol, and do
not use any additives. Otherwise, this can
lead to damage to the engine. This does not
include additives for the removal and pre-
vention of residue build-up. Only additives
recommended by Mercedes-Ben zmay be
added to petrol. Mor einformatio nabout
recommended additives can be obtained
from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. !
Use afilter when adding fuel from afuel
can. The fuel lines and/or the diesel injec-
tion system could otherwise be blocked by
particles from the fuel can.
i If the recommended fuel is not available,
but only as atemporary measure, you may
also use regular unleaded petrol,
91 RON/82.5 MON. This may reduce
engin eperformanc eand increase fuel con-
sumption .Avoid driving at full throttle.
In some countries, the fuel grad eavailable
may not be adequate and coul dcause
deposits to build up. In such cases, and in
consultation with aMercedes-Benz Service
Centre, the petrol may be mixed with the
additive recommende dbyMercedes-Benz
(part number A000989254510). You must
observe the notes and mixing ratios speci-
fied on the container.
For further information on "Fuel", see
(Y page3 34).
E3 00 BlueEFFICIENCY and E350 Blue-
EFFICIENCY !
Only refue lusing unleaded, sulphur-free
premium-grade petrol with at least
95 RON/85 MON, which conforms to Euro-
peans tandard EN 228 or an equivalent
specification.
You can otherwise impair engine outpu tor
damage the emission contro lsystem.
i In some countries, the available petrol
may not be sufficiently low in sulphur. This
fuel can temporarily produce unpleasant
odours, especially on short journeys. As
soon as sulphur-free fuel (sulphur content
<10p pm) is used for refuelling, the odours
are reduced. Refuelling
161Driving and parking Z

Diesel (EN 590)
Fuel grade !
Whe nrefuelling, only use diesel fuel that
conforms to the European standard EN 590
or is of equivalent quality. You can other-
wise impair engin eoutput or damage the
engine.
! Vehicles with diesel particle filters: in
countries outside the EU, only use low sul-
phur Euro diesel with asulphur contentof
under 50 ppm .Otherwise, the emission
control syste mcould be damaged.
! Vehicles without adiesel particle fil-
ter: in countries where only diesel fuels
with ahigher sulphur conten tare available,
the vehicle's oil change interval sare
shorter. More information about intervals
for changing the oil can be obtained from
any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
! Only use fuel that complies with the EN
590 European standard .Fuel that does not
comply wit hEN590can lead to increased
wear, engin edamag eand damag etothe
exhaust system.
Do not use the following:
R marine diesel
R heating oil
R bio-diesel
R vegetable oil
R petrol
R paraffin
R kerosene
Do not mix these fuels with diesel fuels and
do not use any special additives. Other-
wise, this can lead to damage to the engine.
This excludes flow improver; see "Low out-
side temperatures".
! Use afilter when adding fuel from afuel
can. Otherwise, the fuel lines and/or the
diesel injection system could be blocked by
particles from the fuel can. For further information on "Fuel", see
(Y
page 334).
Low outside temperatures Diesel fuel with improved cold flow qualities
is available during the winter months. In
Europe, various climate-dependent low-tem-
perature classes are defined in EN 590. Refu-
elling with diesel fuel which complies with the
climatic specification sofstandard EN 590
can help to prevent operating problems. At
exceptionally low temperatures, it is possible
that the flow properties of the fuel may be
inadequate. This also applies to fuel that has
not been adapted to suit the climatic condi-
tions, e.g. diesel fuel from warmer regions.
i Further information about country-spe-
cific fuel properties can be obtained from
oil companies, e.g. at filling stations.
Flow improver Flow improvers can be added to improve the
cold resistanc
eofdiesel fuel. The effective-
ness of aflow improver is not guaranteed with
every fuel.
Correct dosage and thorough mixing are deci-
sive factor sinensuring improvement in low-
temperature resistance. Under certain cir-
cumstances, an excessive dosage may
actually decrease low-temperature resist-
ance and should therefor ebeavoided. Follow
the manufacturer's dosing instructions.
Mix the additive with the diesel in good time,
before the flow properties of the diesel
become inadequate. Malfunction scan other-
wise 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 aflow improver. Only
use flow improvers that have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. You can obtain
further information from any Mercedes-Benz
Servic eCentre. 162
RefuellingDriving and parking

Vehicles with automatic transmission
X
Apply the parking brake firmly.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
Usin gthe key
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock and remove it.
The immobiliser is activated.
i The key can onl yberemove difthe trans-
mission is in position P.
Usin gKEYLESS -GO
X Press the Start/Sto pbutton (Y page 147).
The engine stop sand al lthe indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster go out.
i Whe nthe driver's door is closed, this cor-
responds to key position 1.When the driv-
er's door is open, this corresponds to key
position 0,i.e. key removed.
i The engine can be turned off while the
vehicle is in motion by pressing and holding
the Start/Stop button for three seconds.
This function operates independently of the
ECO start/stop automatic engine switch-
off function. Parking brake X
To apply: depress parking brake ;firmly.
The J indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up if the engine is running.
X To release: depress the brake pedal and
keep it depressed.
X Pull release handle :.
The J indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out. Parking up the vehicle
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than four weeks, the battery may be damaged
by exhaustive discharge.
X Disconnect the battery (Y page 307) or
connect it to atrickle charger.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from aqualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. aMercedes-Ben zService
Centre.
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than six weeks, the vehicle may suffer dam-
age as aresult of lack of use.
X Visit aqualified specialist worksho pand
seek advice. Driving tips
General driving tips
Rolling with the engine switched off G
WARNING
Never switch the engin eoff while the vehicle
is in motion.
There is no power assistanc efor the steering
and the service brake when the engine is not
running.
You will require considerably more effort to
steer and brake, and you could therefor elose
control of the vehicle and cause an accident. 166
Driving tipsDriving and parking

sonous carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the
vehicle, resulting in loss of consciousness and
even death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open
aw indow slightly on the side of the vehicle
not facing the wind.
At the onset of winter, have your vehicle win-
terproofed at aqualified specialist workshop,
e.g. at aMercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y page 319).
Driving with summer tyres Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y
page 319).
Slippery road surfaces G
WARNING
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on aslippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid.
You should drive particularlyc arefully on slip-
pery road surfaces. Avoid sudden accelera-
tion, steering and braking manoeuvres.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Vehicles with manual transmission: engage
neutral.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission: shift
the transmission to position N.
X Try to bring the vehicle under control by
using corrective steering.
i For more information on driving with
snow chains, see (Y page 320). Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes Cruise control maintains
aconstant road
speed for you. It brakes automaticallyino rder
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden or towing atrailer, you must
shift to alower gear in good time or select
shift range 1,2or 3on vehicles with auto-
matic transmission. By doing so, you will
make use of the braking effect of the engine,
which relieves the load on the brake system
and prevents the brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly. G
WARNING
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on aslippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for aprolonged period. You can
store any road speed above 30 km/h. G
WARNING
Cruise control cannot take account of road
and traffic conditions.
Always pay attention to traffic conditions
even when cruise control is activated.
Cruise control is only an aid designed to assist
driving. You are responsible for the vehicle's
speed and for braking in good time. G
WARNING
Do not use cruise control
R in traffic conditions that do not allow you to
drive at aconstant speed (e.g. heavy traffic Driving systems
169Driving and parking
Z

manoeuvring. This appliestot
he areas
behind, in front of and next to the vehicle. You
could otherwise endange ryourself and oth-
ers. G
WARNING
Under the following circumstances, the
reversing camera will not function, or will
function in alimited manner:
R if the boot lid is open
R in heavy rain, snow or fog
R at night or in very dark places
R if the camera is exposed to very bright light
R if the area is lit by fluorescent light (the dis-
play may flicker)
R if there is asudden change in temperature,
e.g. when driving into aheated garage in
winter
R if the camera lens is dirty or obstructed
R if the rear of your vehicle is damaged. In this
event,h ave the camera position and setting
checked at aqualified specialist workshop.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
aM ercedes-Benz Service Centre for this
purpose.
Do not use the reversing camera in these
types of situation. You could otherwise injure
others or damage object sand your vehicle
while you are parking.
Activating the reversing camera X
Make sure that the key is in position 2in
the ignition lock.
X Make sure that the "Reversing camera"
function is selected in COMAND APS (see
the separate operating instructions for
COMAND APS).
X Engage reverse gear.
The area behind the vehicle is shown in the
COMAND APS display. Guide lines in the COMAND APS display Depending on the date of manufacture of the
vehicle, the guide lines are shown in the
COMAND APS display.
G
WARNING
Using the reversing camera can be dangerous
if you are colour blind or if your ability to dis-
tinguish colours is impaired.
Only use the reversing camera if you can see
and distinguish between all the coloured
guide lines that are displayed by the reversing
camera in the COMAND APS display. G
WARNING
Please note that object snot at ground level
may appear to be further away than they
actually are. These include:
R the bumper of avehicle that is parked
behind your vehicle
R at railer drawbar
R the ball coupling of atrailer tow hitch
R the tail-end of alorry
R slanted posts
The lines are only guides, not accurate meas-
urements of the distance to an obstacle.
Therefore, you should never pass the red line
when approaching an obstacle. You could oth-
erwise cause an accident and injure yourself
and others. Information in the COMAND APS display (example)
Guide lines
;and =show the approximate
distance to the rear area. Yellow guide
line ;indicates adistance of approximately Driving systems
193Driving and parking Z