MERCEDES-BENZ C55AMG 2006 W203 Owner's Manual

360 Practical hints
What to do if …
Text messages
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABSmalfunction
Visit workshopThe ABS has detected a malfunction and
has switched off. The ESP®, BAS and the
Run Flat Indicator* are also deactivated.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the systems speci-
fied above.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Display malfunction
Visit workshopThe ABS or the ABS display is
malfunctioning.Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.

361 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ESPunavailable
See Operator’s ManualThe ESP® was deactivated because of a
malfunction or interrupted power supply.
The BAS and the Run Flat Indicator* are also
deactivated.
The ABS might not be operational.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the systems specified
above.Continue driving with added caution.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
If the yellow ESP® warning lampv flash-
es while driving and this message appears,
the electronic traction system has switched
off to prevent overheating of the drive wheel
brakes.As soon as the brakes have cooled off, the
electronic traction system switches on
again.
The self-diagnosis has not been completed
yet.
The ESP
®, BAS and the Run Flat Indicator*
are temporarily deactivated.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the systems specified
above.
The display will clear after driving a short dis-
tance at more than 12 mph (20 km/h).

362 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ESPunavailable
See Operator’s ManualThe charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts. The battery might not be charged
sufficiently.
The ESP
®, BAS and the Run Flat Indicator*
are deactivated.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the systems specified
above.
Continue driving with added caution.
If necessary, have the generator and bat-
tery checked.
When the voltage is above this value again,
the ESP
® is operational again.
malfunction
Visit workshop.The ESP® is deactivated because of a
malfunction.
The ESP
®, BAS and the Run Flat Indicator*
are deactivated.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the systems specified
above.
Continue driving with added caution.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Display malfunction
Visit workshopThe ESP® or the ESP® display is
malfunctioning.Continue driving with added caution.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.

363 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
SRSRestraint system
malfunction
Drive to workshopThe system is malfunctioning.Drive with added caution to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is
indicated as outlined above, the SRS may
not be operational.
For your safety, we strongly recommend
that you visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center immediately to have the system
checked; otherwise the SRS may not be
deployed when needed in an accident,
which could result in serious or fatal injury,
or it might deploy unexpectedly and
unnecessarily which could also result in
injury.

364 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
Run Flat Indicator
inactive

The Run Flat Indicator* is malfunc-
tioning.Have the Run Flat Indicator* checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Check tires
Then reactivate
Run Flat Indicator

There was a warning message about
a loss in tire inflation pressure and
the Run Flat Indicator* has not been
reactivated yet.Make sure that the correct tire inflation pressure
is set for each tire.
Then reactivate the Run Flat Indicator*.
Run Flat Indicator
unavailable

The Run Flat Indicator* has been
switched off due to an error.Have the Run Flat Indicator* checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure
Check tires

The Run Flat Indicator* indicates
that the pressure is too low in one or
more tires.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers. Observe
the traffic situation around you.
Check and adjust the tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 317).
If necessary, change the wheel (page 404).
Reactivate the Run Flat Indicator* after adjusting
the tire inflation pressure values (
page 319).
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

365 Practical hints
What to do if …
Symbol messages
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
#Battery Alternator
Visit workshopThe battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

broken poly-V-belt

alternator malfunctioning
Stop immediately and check the
poly-V-belt in a safe location or as
soon as it is safe to do so.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise
the engine will overheat due to an
inoperative water pump which may
result in damage to the engine. Notify
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:
Drive immediately to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Low voltage
Charge batteryThe battery has insufficient voltage.Start the engine (page 45).
Low voltage
Consumers offThe battery has insufficient voltage.Turn off unnecessary electrical
consumers.

366 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
;(USA only)
!(Canada only)
Release
Parking brakeYou are driving with the parking brake
set.Release the parking brake
(
page 46).
2Brake wear
Visit workshopThe brake pads have reached their wear
limit.Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
;(USA only)
3(Canada only)
Brake fluid
Visit workshopThere is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle and
notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Do not add brake fluid! This
will not solve the problem.
Warning!G
Driving with the message Brake fluid
Visit workshop.
displayed can result in
an accident. Have your brake system
checked immediately. Do not add brake
fluid before checking the brake system.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can re-
sult in spilling brake fluid on hot engine
parts and the brake fluid catching fire. You
can be seriously burned.
!
If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.
!
Brake pad thickness must be visually
inspected by a qualified technician at
the intervals specified in the Mainte-
nance Booklet.

367 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
BCoolant
Check levelThe coolant level is too low.Add coolant (page 301).
If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You can be seriously burned.
!
Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning. Extended driving with
the message and symbol displayed
may cause serious engine damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount
of coolant in the cooling system. The
engine will overheat causing major
engine damage.

368 Practical hints
What to do if …
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
•Coolant
Stop, engine off!The coolant is too hot. Stop the vehicle in a safe location and
turn off the engine.
Only start the engine again after the
message disappears. You could
otherwise damage the engine.
Warning!G
Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids which may
have leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns and can occur just by opening
the hood. Stay away from the engine if you
see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
!
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

369 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
•Coolant
Stop, engine off!The poly-V-belt could be broken.Stop the vehicle in a safe location and
immediately turn off the engine.
Check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the engine
will overheat due to an inoperative water pump
which may result in damage to the engine. Notify
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:
Do not continue to drive the vehicle with this
message displayed. Doing so could result in seri-
ous engine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Observe the coolant temperature gauge in the in-
strument cluster (
page 24).
Drive immediately to the nearest authorized Mer-
cedes-Benz Center.
Coolant
Visit workshopThe cooling fan for the coolant is
malfunctioning.Observe the coolant temperature gauge in the in-
strument cluster (
page 24).
Have the fan replaced as soon as possible.