Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsF (USA
only) ! (Canada only)
Release Park. Brake The red
F (USA only)/ ! (Canada only) indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up and a warning tone also sounds.
You are driving with the parking brake applied or are making an
emergency stop using the parking brake.
X Release the parking brake (Y page 138).6
Malfunction Ser‐
vice Req. The restraint system is faulty. In addition, the
6 warning lamp
lights up in the instrument cluster.
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 Have the restraint system and its components checked immedi-
ately at a qualified specialist workshop.
Further information on the restraint system and its components can
be found under "Occupant safety"
(Y page 46). 6
Fr. Left Malf. Ser‐
vice Req.
or Fr.
Right Malf. Ser‐
vice Req. The front left or right restraint system is malfunctioning. In addition,
the 6 warning lamp lights up in the instrument cluster.
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 Have the restraint system and its components checked immedi-
ately at a qualified specialist workshop. Left Curtain Air‐
bag Service
Required
or Rt.
Curtain Airbag Ser‐
vice Required There is a malfunction in the left or right window curtain air bag. In
addition, the 6 warning lamp lights up in the instrument cluster.
G WARNING
The left or right window curtain air bag may either be triggered unin-
tentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Have the restraint system checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop. Display messages (vehicles without steering wheel buttons)
201
On-board computer and displays Z
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions÷
Inoperative See
Operator's Manual ESP
®
, BAS and hill start assist are unavailable due to a malfunction.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated and other driving systems could
be automatically deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can thus
increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and accidents.
X Drive on with care.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. ÷
Currently Unavail.
See Operator's Man‐
ual ESP
®
, BAS and hill start assist are unavailable due to a malfunction.
The self-diagnosis function, for example, may not be complete.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated and other driving systems could
be automatically deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you brake
hard, for example.
The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can thus
increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and accidents.
X Drive on with care on a suitable stretch of road, making slight
steering movements at a speed above 12 mph (20 km/h
).
If the display message disappears, the functions mentioned
above are available again.
If the display message continues to be displayed: X Drive on with care.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. F (USA
only) ! (Canada only)
Release Parking
Brake The red
F (USA only)/ ! (Canada only) indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up and a warning tone also sounds.
You are driving with the parking brake applied or are making an
emergency stop using the parking brake.
X Release the parking brake (Y page
138).214
Display messages (vehicles with steering wheel buttons)
On-board computer and displays
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutionsb
Check Left Tail
and Brake Lamps
or
Check Right Tail
and Brake Lamps The left or right-hand tail lamp/brake lamp is faulty.
X Change the bulb (Y page 105).b
Check Left High
Beam
or Check
Right High Beam The left or right-hand high-beam headlamp is faulty.
X
Change the bulb ( Y page 105).b
License Plate Lamp The left or right-hand license plate lamp is faulty.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. b
Switch Off Lights The lights are still switched on when you leave the vehicle. An addi-
tional warning tone sounds.
X Turn the light switch to à or $.b
Check Left Fog Lamp
or
Check Right Fog
Lamp The left-hand or right-hand front fog lamp is faulty.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. b
Rear Fog Lamp The rear fog lamp is faulty.
X Change the bulb (Y page
105).b
Check Front Left
Parking Lamp or
Check Front Right
Parking Lamp The front left or front right parking lamp or standing lamp is faulty.
X Change the bulb ( Y page
105).b
Backup Light The left or right-hand back-up lamp is faulty.
X Change the bulb (Y page
105).b
Check Left Tail
Lamp
or Check
Right Tail Lamp The left or right-hand tail lamp is faulty.
X Change the bulb (Y page 105).b
Malfunction See
Operator's Manual The exterior lighting is faulty.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Display messages (vehicles with steering wheel buttons)
217
On-board computer and displays Z
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutionsæ
Fuel Level Low The fuel level has dropped to the reserve range.
X Refuel at the nearest gas station. Ï There is very little fuel in the fuel tank.
X Refuel at the nearest gas station without fail. Driving systems
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions120 km/h!
Maximum Speed
Exceeded Only for certain countries: the maximum speed has been exceeded.
X Drive more slowly. À
Attention Assist
Inoperative ATTENTION ASSIST has failed.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Attention Assist:
Take a Break! Based on certain criteria, ATTENTION ASSIST has detected fatigue
or a lack of concentration on the part of the driver. An additional
warning tone sounds.
X If necessary, take a break.
During long journeys, take regular breaks in good time so that you
get enough rest. Park Assist Can‐
celed Additionally, a warning tone sounds. The active parking assistance
has been canceled and the Active Parking Assist will end automati-
cally. For example, you have touched the steering wheel or driven
too fast.
X Steer and brake yourself.
X If necessary, repeat the parking procedure. Observe the deactiva-
tion conditions as you do so ( Y page
163).Park Assist Inoper‐
ative PARKTRONIC is malfunctioning or faulty.
X Follow the instructions and helpful hints in the "Problems with
PARKTRONIC" section
(Y page 159).
X If the display message continues to be shown, consult a qualified
specialist workshop. Active Parking Assist is unavailable or faulty.
X Switch off the ignition.
X Start the engine again.
X If the display message continues to be shown or symbol j is not
shown in the display, consult a qualified specialist workshop. Display messages (vehicles with steering wheel buttons)
221
On-board computer and displays Z
X
Hold support strut ? and lift the hood
slightly.
X Guide support strut ? towards retainer =
and apply slight pressure to make it engage.
X Lower the hood and allow it to fall with
momentum from a height of approximately
1 ft (30 cm
).
The hood locks audibly.
X Check that the hood is correctly locked.
If the hood can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. If the hood is not cor-
rectly engaged, open the hood again. Let
the hood fall with a little more momentum. Overview of the engine compart-
ment
Engine compartment (example)
:
Engine oil filler neck cap (Y page
252)
; Brake fluid reservoir cap (Y page
255)
= Coolant expansion tank cap ( Y page
253)
? Washer fluid reservoir cap (Y page
256)
Regularly check the fluid level and the assem-
bly for leaks. If you detect fluid loss, e.g. oil
stains on the vehicle parking space, consult a
qualified specialist workshop immediately. Engine oil
General notes !
Engine oil gets dirty in the course of opera-
tion and its quality and volume are gradually
diminished. Regularly check the oil level,
and top up or have it replaced as needed.
Observe the information on approved engine
oils and oil consumption under "Service prod-
ucts and capacities" ( Y page
308).You can check the oil level in the engine:
R with the oil dipstick
Checking the oil level using the oil dip-
stick G
WARNING
Opening the hood when the engine is over-
heated or when there is a fire in the engine
compartment could expose you to hot gases
or other service products. There is a risk of
injury.
Let an overheated engine cool down before
opening the hood. If there is a fire in the
engine compartment, keep the hood closed
and contact the fire department. G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very
hot. Working in the engine compartment
poses a risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down
and touch only the components described in
the following. Oil dipstick and engine oil filler neck
Only check the oil level when the engine is at
normal operating temperature. X Stop your vehicle as far away from traffic as
possible on level ground.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait for five minutes.252
Engine compartment
Maintenance and care
Disconnecting and removing
G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery pro-
duces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit occurs
or sparks are created, the hydrogen gas can
ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.
R Make sure that the positive terminal of a
connected battery does not come into
contact with vehicle parts.
R Never place metal objects or tools on a
battery.
R It is important that you observe the
described order of the battery terminals
when connecting and disconnecting a bat-
tery.
R When jump-starting, make sure that the
battery poles with identical polarity are
connected.
R It is particularly important to observe the
described order when connecting and dis-
connecting the jumper cables.
R Never connect or disconnect the battery
terminals while the engine is running. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of
injury.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do
not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean
over the battery. Keep children away from
batteries. Wash away battery acid immedi-
ately with plenty of clean water and seek
medical attention.
! You should have all work involving the bat-
tery carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
If, in exceptional circumstances, you need
to disconnect the battery yourself, please
make sure that:
R Secure the vehicle to prevent it from roll-
ing away.
R You have switched off the engine and
removed the key. Make sure the ignition
is switched off. Check to see that there
are no indicator lamps lighting in the instrument cluster. Electronic compo-
nents such as the alternator may other-
wise be damaged.
R After the battery has been disconnected,
the parking brake is automatically
engaged. You can then no longer move
the vehicle.
R For vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission is locked in position P
after disconnecting the battery. You can
then no longer move the vehicle.
R You have first removed the negative ter-
minal and then the positive terminal.
Never mix up the terminal clamp discon-
nection/connection order and never mix
up the terminal clamps. The vehicle's
electronics may otherwise be damaged.
The battery and the cover of the positive ter-
minal clamp must be installed securely dur-
ing operation. Seat base (example: right-hand front seat)
The following description on disconnecting
and removing the battery is based upon the
example of the starter battery in the seat base
of the driver's seat. The additional battery is
disconnected and removed in the same way as
the starter battery. The auxiliary battery is
located in the seat base of the left-hand front
seat.
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Switch off the engine and remove the key
from the ignition lock.
X Open the front door on the right-hand side.
i To disconnect or remove the additional
battery, open the left-hand front door. The
auxiliary battery is located in the seat base
of the left-hand front seat. 260
BatteryMaintenance and care
G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of
injury.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do
not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean
over the battery. Keep children away from
batteries. Wash away battery acid immedi-
ately with plenty of clean water and seek
medical attention. G
WARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at tempera-
tures below freezing point. When jump-start-
ing the vehicle or charging the battery,
gases can escape from the battery. There is
a risk of an explosion.
Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before
charging it or jump-starting.
! Vehicles with a gasoline engine:
avoid
repeated and lengthy starting attempts. Oth-
erwise, the catalytic converter could be
damaged by non-combusted fuel.
If the indicator and warning lamps in the
instrument cluster do not light up at low tem-
peratures, the discharged battery may have
frozen. In this case you may neither charge the
battery nor jump-start the vehicle. The service
life of a thawed battery may be shorter. Start-
up behavior may deteriorate, in particular at
low temperatures. Have the thawed battery
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not use a rapid charging device to start the
vehicle. If your vehicle's battery is discharged,
the engine can be jump-started from another
vehicle or from a donor battery using jumper
cables. For this purpose, the vehicle has a
jump-starting connection point in the engine
compartment.
When jump-starting, observe the following
points:
R The battery is not accessible in all vehicles.
If the other vehicle's battery is not accessi-
ble, jump-start the vehicle using a donor
battery or a jump-starting device.
R You may only jump-start the vehicle when
the engine and exhaust system are cold.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is fro-
zen. Let the battery thaw first. R
Jump-starting may only be performed from
batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
R Only use jumper cables that have a suffi-
cient cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.
R If the battery is fully discharged, attach the
battery of another vehicle for a few minutes
before attempting to start. This charges the
empty battery a little.
R Make sure that the two vehicles do not
touch.
Make sure that:
R The jumper cables are not damaged.
R Bare parts of the terminal clamps do not
come into contact with other metal parts
while the jumper cables are connected to
the battery.
R The jumper cables cannot come into contact
with parts such as the V-belt pulley or the
fan. These parts move when the engine is
started and while it is running.
Jumper cables and further information regard-
ing jump starting can be obtained at any quali-
fied specialist workshop. Before connecting the jumper cables
X Apply the parking brake.
X Shift the transmission to position j.
X Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g.
audio equipment, blower.
X Turn the key to position u in the ignition
lock and remove it .
X Open the hood (Y page 251). Connecting the jumper cable Jump-starting
273
Breakdown assistance Z
X
Unscrew the towing eye.
X Insert cover : with the lug at the top and
press it in at the bottom until it engages.
X Stow the towing eye and the screwdriver
with the vehicle tool kit (Y page
270).Towing with the rear axle raised
! Vehicles with automatic transmission must
not be towed with the rear axle raised. The
vehicle/trailer combination may otherwise
swerve or even roll over.
! The ignition must be switched off if the
vehicle is being towed with the front or rear
axle raised. Otherwise, ESP ®
may intervene
and damage the brake system.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page
101).
X Turn the front wheels to the straight-ahead
position.
X Release the parking brake.
X If necessary, turn the key in the ignition lock
to position g and remove the key from the
ignition lock.
X Take the key with you when leaving the vehi-
cle.
X Do not exceed the towing speed of 30 mph
(50 km/h
).
Please observe the important safety instruc-
tions when towing your vehicle with the rear
axle raised
(Y page 274). Towing the vehicle with both axles
on the ground
Important safety notes G
WARNING
You can no longer steer the vehicle if the
steering wheel lock has been engaged.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always switch off the ignition when towing
the vehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar.
! Do not exceed the towing speed of
30 mph
(50 km/h). You could otherwise
damage the transmission. Please observe the important safety notes
before towing your vehicle
(Y page 274).
Towing vehicles with automatic trans-
mission X
Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
i.
X Leave the key in position 2 in the ignition
lock.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page
101).
X Release the parking brake.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Do not exceed the towing speed of 30 mph
(50 km/h
). Recovering a vehicle that is stuck
! When recovering a vehicle that has
become stuck, pull it as smoothly and
evenly as possible. If the tractive power is
too high, the vehicles could be damaged.
If the drive wheels get trapped on loose or
muddy ground, recover the vehicle with the
utmost care. This is especially the case if the
vehicle is laden.
Never attempt to recover a vehicle with a
trailer attached.
Pull out the vehicle backwards, if possible,
using the tracks it made when it became
stuck. Transporting the vehicle
! You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as
axle or steering components. Otherwise, the
vehicle could be damaged.
The towing eye or trailer tow hitch can be used
to pull the vehicle onto a trailer or transporter
if you wish to transport it. 276
Tow-starting and towing away
Breakdown assistance