Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions DISTRONIC
DISTRONIC
PLUS
PLUSCur‐
Cur‐
rently
rently Unavailable
Unavailable
See
See Operator's
Operator's Man‐
Man‐
ual
ual DISTRONIC PLUS is temporarily inoperative.
Possible causes are:
R 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 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.
When the causes stated above no longer apply, the display mes-
sage disappears.
DISTRONIC PLUS 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 160).
X Restart the engine. DISTRONIC PLUS DISTRONIC PLUS
Inoperative Inoperative DISTRONIC PLUS is defective. Adaptive Brake Assist may also
have failed.
A warning tone also sounds.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. DISTRONIC DISTRONIC
PLUS
PLUSsus‐
sus‐
pended
pended 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. DISTRONIC PLUS
DISTRONIC PLUS
- - - mph - - - mph An activation condition for DISTRONIC PLUS is not fulfilled.
X Check the activation conditions for DISTRONIC PLUS
(Y page 171). Cruise Control
Cruise Control
Inoperative Inoperative Cruise control is malfunctioning.
A warning tone also sounds.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Cruise Control Cruise Control
- - - mph - - - mph A condition for activating cruise control has not been fulfilled.
You have tried to store a speed below 20 mph
(30 km/h), for
example.
X If conditions permit, drive faster than 20 mph (30 km/ h)and
store the speed.
X Check the activation conditions for cruise control (Y page 170).238
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Ð
Power Power
Steering
Steering Mal‐
Mal‐
function See Oper‐
function See Oper‐
ator's Manual ator's Manual The power steering is malfunctioning.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
You will need to use more force to steer.
There is a risk of an accident. X Check whether you are able to apply the extra force required.
X If you are able to steer safely: carefully drive on to a qualified
specialist workshop.
X If you are unable to steer safely: do not drive on. Contact the
nearest qualified specialist workshop. Ð
Steering Malfunc‐ Steering Malfunc‐
tion See Opera‐ tion See Opera‐
tor's Manual tor's Manual The electric steering lock is malfunctioning.
G WARNING
The steering may be locked by the electric steering lock.
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 Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 160).
X Do not drive on and consult the nearest qualified specialist
workshop. _
Before Starting Before Starting
the Engine, Turn the Engine, Turn
Steering Wheel Steering Wheel The electric steering lock was unable to unlock the steering.
X Remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
X To unlock the steering, move the steering wheel slightly.
X Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock again. Phone No Service
Phone No Service Your vehicle is outside the network provider's transmitter/
receiver range.
X Wait until the mobile phone operational readiness symbol
appears in the multifunction display. ¥
Check Washer Fluid Check Washer Fluid The washer fluid level in the washer fluid reservoir has dropped
below the minimum.
X Add washer fluid (Y page 290). Wiper Malfunction‐ Wiper Malfunction‐
ing ing The windshield wipers are malfunctioning.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Hazard Warning
Hazard Warning
Flashers Malfunc‐ Flashers Malfunc‐
tioning tioning The hazard warning lamps are faulty.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Display
messages
245On-board computer and displays Z
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ÷
The yellow ESP
®
warn-
ing lamp flashes while
the vehicle is in motion. 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 When pulling away, only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
In rare cases (Y page 68) , it may be best to deactivate ESP ®
.
Observe the important safety notes on ESP ®
(Y page 67). å
The yellow ESP
®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while the engine is running. ESP
®
is deactivated. ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle if it starts to
skid or if a wheel starts to spin.
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is switched off, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
In rare cases (Y page 68) , it may be best to deactivate ESP ®
.
Observe the important safety notes on ESP ®
(Y page 67).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Drive on carefully.
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. M
AMG vehicles only:
The yellow SPORT han-
dling mode warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
SPORT handling mode is activated.
G WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is switched on, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Only switch to SPORT handling mode in accordance with the
conditions described in the "Activating/deactivating SPORT
handling mode" section (Y page 68). Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
253On-board computer and displays Z
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions F
(USA only)
! (Canada only)
The red indicator lamp
for the electric parking
brake flashes or lights
up and/or the yellow
warning lamp for the
electric parking brake
lights up. X
Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display. 6
The red restraint sys-
tem warning lamp is lit
while the engine is run-
ning.
The restraint system is faulty.
G WARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be trig- gered unintentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not be
triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Have the restraint system checked at a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.
For further information about the restraint system, see
(Y page 40). Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
255On-board computer and displays Z
Engine
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ;
The yellow Check
Engine warning lamp
lights up while the
engine is running.
There may be a malfunction, for example:
R in the engine management
R in the fuel injection system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system
R in the fuel system
The emission limit values may be exceeded and the engine may be
in emergency mode.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified
specialist workshop.
i In some states, you must immediately visit a qualified special-
ist workshop as soon as the yellow Check Engine warning lamp
lights up. This is due to the legal requirements in effect in these
states. If in doubt, check whether such legal regulations apply in the state in which you are currently driving. æ
The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp lights up
while the engine is run-
ning.
The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
X Refuel at the nearest gas station. æ
The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp flashes
while the vehicle is in
motion.
In addition, the
;
Check Engine warning
lamp may light up. The fuel system pressure is too low. The fuel filler cap is not closed
correctly or the fuel system is leaking.
X Check that the fuel filler cap is correctly closed.
X If the fuel filler cap is not correctly closed: close the fuel filler
cap.
X If the fuel filler cap is closed: visit a qualified specialist work-
shop. ?
The red coolant warn-
ing lamp lights up while
the engine is running
and the coolant tem-
perature gauge is at the start of the scale. The temperature sensor for the coolant temperature gauge is
defective.
The coolant temperature is no longer being monitored. There is a risk of engine damage if the coolant temperature is too high.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions. Do not continue
driving under any circumstances.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 160).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. 256
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ?
The red coolant warn-
ing lamp comes on
while the engine is run-
ning.
The coolant level is too low.
If the coolant level is correct, the airflow to the engine radiator may
be blocked or the electric engine radiator fan may be malfunc-
tioning.
The coolant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled
sufficiently.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 160).
X Leave the vehicle and keep a safe distance from the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.
X Check the coolant level and add coolant, observing the warning
notes (Y page 289).
X If you need to add coolant more often than usual, have the
engine coolant system checked.
X Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not
blocked, e.g. by snow, slush or ice.
X Do not start the engine again until the coolant temperature is
below 248 ‡(120 †). Otherwise, the engine could be damaged.
X Drive to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid subjecting the engine to heavy loads, e.g. driving in moun-
tainous terrain, and stop-and-go traffic. ?
The red coolant warn-
ing lamp comes on
while the engine is run-
ning. A warning tone
also sounds.
The coolant temperature has exceeded 248 ‡ (120 †). The air-
flow to the engine radiator may be blocked or the coolant level may
be too low.
G WARNING
The engine is not being cooled sufficiently and may be damaged.
Do not drive when your engine is overheated. This can cause some
fluids which may have leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire.
Steam from the overheated engine can also cause serious burns
which can occur just by opening the hood.
There is a risk of injury.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 160).Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
257On-board computer and displays Z
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions X
Leave the vehicle and keep a safe distance from the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.
X Check the coolant level and add coolant, observing the warning
notes (Y page 289).
X If you need to add coolant more often than usual, have the
engine coolant system checked.
X Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not
blocked, e.g. by snow, slush or ice.
X At coolant temperatures below 248 ‡ (120 †), drive to the
nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid subjecting the engine to heavy loads, e.g. driving in moun-
tainous terrain, and stop-and-go traffic. Driving systems
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M MSolutions ·
The red distance warn-
ing lamp lights up while
the vehicle is in motion. A warning tone also
sounds. You are approaching a vehicle or a stationary obstacle in your line
of travel 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.
For further information about the distance warning function of
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, see (Y page 64).258
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays
!
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
not folded away from the windshield. You
could otherwise damage the windshield
wipers or the hood. X
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
switched off.
X Pull release lever :on the hood.
The hood is released. X
Reach into the gap between the hood and
the radiator trim and press hood catch
lever ;to the left.
X Raise the hood. X
Pull support strut ?out of bracket A.
X Lift up support strut ?and insert it into
yellow retaining clip =.
Closing the hood X
Raise the hood slightly and, at the same
time, remove support strut ?from yellow
retaining clip =.
X Swing support strut ?down and press it
into bracket Auntil it engages.
X Lower the hood and let it fall from a height
of approximately 8 in (20 cm).
X Check that the hood has engaged properly.
If the hood can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Do not press the hood
closed. Open the hood again and close it
with a little more force. Engine oil
General notes Depending on your driving style, the vehicle
consumes up to 0.9 US qt (0.8 liters) of oil per 600 miles (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.
Depending on the engine, the oil dipstick may be in a different location.
When checking the oil level:
R park the vehicle on a level surface.
R the engine should be switched off for
approximately five minutes if the engine is
at normal operating temperature.
R if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature, e.g. if the engine was only
started briefly, wait about 30 minutes
before carrying out the measurement. Engine compartment
287Maintenance and care Z