2012 MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK engine

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Adaptive
Adaptive
Main-beam
Main-beam
Assist inoperative
Assist inoperative Adaptive Highbeam Assist is faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Adaptive Adaptive
Main-beam
Main-beam
Assist currently
Assist currently
unavailable See unavailable See
Owner's Manual Owner's Manual Adaptive Highbeam Assist is deactivated and temporarily inoper-
ative. Possible causes:
R the windscreen is dirty in the camera's field of vision.
R visibility is impaired due to heavy rain, snow or fog.
X Clean the windscreen.
If the system detects that the camera is fully operational again, the
Adaptive Main-beam Assist available again
Adaptive Main-beam Assist available again message is
displayed.
Adaptive Highbeam Assist is operational again. Engine
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M MSolutions +
Top Top
up
upcoolant
coolant See
See
Owner's Manual
Owner's Manual The coolant level is too low.
! Avoid making long journeys with too little coolant in the engine
cooling system. The engine will otherwise be damaged.
X Top up the coolant, observing the warning notes before doing so
(Y page 288).
X If the coolant needs topping up more often than usual, have the
engine coolant system checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop. ? The fan motor is faulty.
X If the coolant temperature is below 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 in
mountainous terrain and stop-start traffic. Display
messages
243On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ?
Coolant Stop vehi‐ Coolant Stop vehi‐
cle Switch engine cle Switch engine
off off The coolant is too hot.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
Never drive with an overheated engine. Driving when your engine is overheated can cause some fluids which may have leaked into
the engine compartment to catch fire.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause serious burns, which
can occur just by opening the bonnet.
There is a risk of injury.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 162).
X Wait until the engine has cooled down.
X Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not
blocked, e.g. by frozen slush.
X Do not start the engine again until the display message goes out
and the coolant temperature is below 120 †. The engine may
otherwise be damaged.
X Pay attention to the coolant temperature display.
X If the temperature increases again, visit a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.
Under normal operating conditions and with the specified coolant level, the coolant temperature may rise to 120 †. # The battery is not being charged.
A warning tone also sounds.
Possible causes:
R faulty alternator
R torn poly-V-belt
R a malfunction in the electronics
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
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 overheat.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the poly-V-belt is OK: X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 244
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions 4
Check eng. oil Check eng. oil
lev. when next lev. when next
refuelling refuelling The engine oil level has dropped to the minimum level.
A warning tone also sounds.
X Check the oil level when next refuelling, at the latest
(Y page 286).
X If necessary, top up the engine oil (Y page 287).
X Have the engine checked at a qualified specialist workshop if the
engine oil needs topping up more often than usual. æ
Reserve fuel level Reserve fuel level The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
The auxiliary heating cannot be operated.
X Refuel at the nearest filling station. ç There is very little fuel in the fuel tank.
The auxiliary heating cannot be operated.
X Refuel at the nearest filling station without fail. ¸
Replace Replace
air
aircleaner
cleaner Vehicles with a diesel engine: the engine air filter is dirty and must
be replaced.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
i This message does not appear for the 180 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY, manual transmission model A. !
Clean Clean
the
thefuel
fuel fil‐
fil‐
ter
ter Vehicles with a diesel engine: there is water in the fuel filter. The
water must be drained off.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Driving systems
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M MSolutions À
Attention Assist: Attention Assist:
Drowsiness detec‐ Drowsiness detec‐
ted ted Based on certain criteria, ATTENTION ASSIST has detected fatigue
or a lack of concentration on the part of the driver. A warning tone also sounds.
X If necessary, take a break.
During long journeys, take regular breaks in good time so that you get enough rest. À
Attention Assist Attention Assist
inoperative inoperative ATTENTION ASSIST is inoperative.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Display
messages
245On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Blind Spot Assist is temporarily inoperative. Possible causes:
R the sensors are dirty.
R the function is impaired due to heavy rain or snow.
R the radar sensor system is outside the operating temperature
range.
R the radar sensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due to
electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio sta-
tions or other sources of electromagnetic radiation.
The yellow 9indicator lamps also light up in the exterior mir-
rors.
Once the causes listed above no longer apply, the display message goes out.
Blind Spot Assist is operational again.
If the display message does not disappear:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 162).
X Clean the sensors (Y page 294).
X Restart the engine. Blind Spot Assist Blind Spot Assist
inoperative inoperative Blind Spot Assist is faulty.
The yellow
9indicator lamps also light up in the exterior mir-
rors.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Park Park
Assist
Assist cancel‐
cancel‐
led
led The driver's door is open and the driver's seat belt has not been
fastened.
X Repeat the parking process with the seat belt fastened and the
driver's door closed. You inadvertently touched the multifunction steering wheel while
steering intervention was active.
X While steering intervention is active, make sure not to touch the
multifunction steering wheel. The vehicle has started to skid and ESP
®
has intervened.
X Use Active Parking Assist again later (Y page 186).248
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Park
Park
Assist
Assist inoper‐
inoper‐
ative
ative You have just carried out a large number of turning or parking
manoeuvres.
Active Parking Assist will become available again after approx-
imately ten minutes (Y
page 186).
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Switch off and restart the engine.
If the display message continues to be displayed: X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. PARKTRONIC is faulty.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. DISTRONIC PLUS off DISTRONIC PLUS off DISTRONIC PLUS has been deactivated (Y
page 173). If it was
deactivated automatically, a warning tone also sounds. DISTRONIC PLUS
DISTRONIC PLUS
available again available again DISTRONIC PLUS is operational again after having been tempo-
rarily unavailable. You can now reactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
(Y
page 173). DISTRONIC DISTRONIC
PLUS
PLUScur‐
cur‐
rently
rently unavailable
unavailable
See Owner's Manual
See Owner's Manual DISTRONIC PLUS is temporarily inoperative. Possible causes:
R the function is impaired due to heavy rain or snow.
R the sensors in the radiator trim are dirty
R the radar sensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due to
electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio sta-
tions or other sources of electromagnetic radiation.
R the system is outside the operating temperature range.
R the on-board voltage is too low.
A warning tone also sounds.
Once the causes listed above no longer apply, the display message goes out.
DISTRONIC is operational again.
If the display message does not disappear:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 162).
X Clean the sensors in the radiator trim (Y page 294).
X Restart the engine. Display
messages
249On-board computer and displays Z

Vehicle
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions To start engine,
To start engine,
shift to either P shift to either P
or N or N You have attempted to start the engine with the transmission in
position Ror D.
X Shift the transmission to position Por N. Auxiliary battery
Auxiliary battery
malfunction malfunction The auxiliary battery for the automatic transmission is no longer
being charged.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop at the next opportunity.
X Until then, set the automatic transmission to position Pbefore
you switch off the engine.
X Before leaving the vehicle, apply the electric parking brake. Depress brake to
Depress brake to
start engine start engine You have attempted to start the engine with the transmission in
position Nwithout depressing the brake pedal.
X Depress the brake pedal. To shift out of P
To shift out of P
or N or N
depress brake and depress brake and
start engine start engine You have attempted to shift the transmission to position
Ror D
without starting the engine.
X Start the engine.
X Depress the brake pedal.
i It is only possible to shift the transmission from position
Pto
the desired position if you depress the brake pedal. Only then
can the parking lock be deactivated. If you do not depress the
brake pedal, the DIRECT SELECT lever can still be moved but the parking lock remains engaged.
i At transmission fluid temperatures below
Ò20 † you can only
shift out of position Pinto another transmission position when
the engine is running. Apply brake to Apply brake to
deselect Park (P) deselect Park (P)
position position You have attempted to move the transmission selector lever to
position
R,Nor Dwithout depressing the brake pedal.
X Depress the brake pedal. Risk of vehicle Risk of vehicle
rolling rolling
Transmission not Transmission not
in P in P The driver's door is open and the transmission is in position
R,N or
D.
A warning tone also sounds. X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 162).252
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Without changing
Without changing
gear, gear,
consult workshop consult workshop You cannot change the transmission position due to a malfunction.
A warning tone also sounds.
If transmission position Dis selected:
X Drive to a qualified specialist workshop without shifting the
transmission from position D.
If transmission position R,Nor Pis selected:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Only select Park Only select Park
(P) when (P) when
vehicle vehicle
is
isstation‐
station‐
ary
ary The vehicle is moving.
X
Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Shift the transmission to position P.Reversing not Reversing not
poss. poss.
Consult
Consult work‐
work‐
shop
shop The automatic transmission is malfunctioning. You cannot drive in
reverse.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Transmission Mal‐
Transmission Mal‐
function function The automatic transmission is malfunctioning.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Transmission mal‐
Transmission mal‐
function Stop function Stop The automatic transmission is malfunctioning.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 162).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Stop
Stop
vehicle
vehicle Shift
Shift
to P Leave engine
to P Leave engine
running running The automatic transmission has overheated.
X Drive on carefully.
If the display message disappears, the automatic transmission
is available again.
If the display message continues to be displayed:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 162).
X Wait until the automatic transmission has cooled off and the
display message goes out. Display
messages
253On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Trans.
Trans.
oil
oiloverhea‐
overhea‐
ted Drive on with
ted Drive on with
care care AMG vehicles: the transmission oil has overheated.
Manual drive program
Mand the temporarily active manual drive
program are no longer available. The engine power output is
reduced.
X Allow the vehicle to cool down. 4matic currently 4matic currently
unavailable unavailable 4MATIC (permanent all-wheel drive) has overheated. The vehicle is
only driven by the front wheels.
X Drive on.
The airflow cools 4MATIC more quickly.
When the display message goes out, 4MATIC is available again and the vehicle is driven by all four wheels. 4matic inoperative
4matic inoperative 4MATIC is malfunctioning. The vehicle is only driven by the front
wheels.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. A The tailgate is open.
G WARNING
When the engine is running, exhaust gases can enter the vehicle
interior if the tailgate is open.
There is a risk of poisoning.
X Close the tailgate. ? The bonnet is open.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
The open bonnet may then block your view when the vehicle is in
motion.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Apply the electric parking brake.
X Close the bonnet. Active bonnet mal‐ Active bonnet mal‐
function See Own‐ function See Own‐
er's Manual er's Manual The active bonnet (pedestrian protection) is not active due to a
malfunction or because it has already been triggered.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. C At least one door is open. A warning tone also sounds.
X Close all doors. 254
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays