MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class 2008 C216 Comand Manual
Page 651 of 769
650 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display 
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Parking Brake
See Oper. Manual
If overheated:
Let vehicle cool down, and do not engage 
electronic parking brake during this time.
or
Switch ignition off and back on again, and en-
gage or release electronic parking brake.
(USA only)(Canada only)
Parking Brake
Inoperative
When you engage or release the electronic 
parking brake, the red indicator lamp for 
the electronic parking brake flashes and 
goes out after approx. 10 seconds. The yel-
low warning lamp for the electronic parking 
brake comes on.
The electronic parking brake is 
malfunctioning.
Switch ignition off and back on again, and en-
gage electronic parking brake (
page 412).
If the electronic parking brake cannot be en-
gaged:
Shift the automatic transmission to park 
positionP (
page 417).
Protect vehicle from rolling away while 
parked by using a chock from the vehicle tool 
kit (
page 683).
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center as soon as possible. 
Page 652 of 769
651 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display 
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Please Release
Parking Brake
The red indicator lamp for the electronic 
parking brake flashes and you also hear a 
warning signal.
You are driving with the electronic parking 
brake activated, or you are carrying out an 
emergency brake application with the elec-
tronic parking brake (
page 412).
Release electronic parking brake.
or
Carefully drive off (
page 412).
or
Release the handle for electronic parking 
brake.
(USA only)(Canada only)
Please Release
Parking Brake
The red indicator lamp for the electronic 
parking brake flashes and the yellow warn-
ing lamp for the electronic parking brake 
comes on. You also hear a warning tone.
The electronic parking brake is malfunction-
ing; braking action is restricted.
While driving:
Release the handle for electronic parking 
brake.
While at a standstill:
Switch off ignition and press handle for elec-
tronic parking brake until the warning mes-
sage disappears from the multifunction 
display. 
Page 653 of 769
652 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display 
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Turn On the Ignition
to Release the
Parking Brake
The yellow indicator lamp for the electronic 
parking brake comes on.
You have tried to release the electronic 
parking brake, but the ignition was not 
switched on.
Switch on the ignition (
page 365).
(USA only)(Canada only)
Inoperative
See Oper. Manual
ESP
® a s  w e l l  a s  P R E - S A F E
® are switched off 
due to a malfunction. In addition, the v 
warning lamp in the instrument cluster 
comes on.
The ABS may not be operational and the fol-
lowing systems are not available:
BAS and BAS Plus*
PRE-SAFE
® Brake*
Distronic Plus*
Cruise control
Hill start assist system
Continue driving with added caution.
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. 
Page 654 of 769
653 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display 
Possible cause/consequence
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Inoperative
See Oper. Manual
CL 600 and CL 65 AMG only:
ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® are switched off 
due to a malfunction. In addition, the v 
and ; (USA only) or 3(Canada only) 
warning lamps come on in the instrument 
cluster.
Brake force assistance is impaired and is 
sustained through an electric substitute 
function as long as the engine is running.
The brake system continues to function 
normally. You will feel a pulsating effect at 
the brake pedal while braking.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE® Brake* are also 
not available.
Continue driving with added caution.
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. 
Page 655 of 769
654 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display 
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Currently Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
® are temporarily un-
available. It is possible that the self-diag-
nostics have not yet completed.
In addition, the yellow ESP
® warning 
lampv comes on.
The brake system functions normally.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also 
not available.
Synchronize the ESP
®: 
Drive a short distance with gentle turns at a 
speed above 12 mph (20 km/h).
The message disappears when ESP
® is again 
available.
Currently Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
® are switched off due 
to undervoltage. It is possible that the bat-
tery is not charged.
The brake system functions normally.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also 
not available.
Continue driving with added caution.
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.
Currently Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
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.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also 
not available.
As soon as the brakes have cooled off, the elec-
tronic traction system switches on again.
The message in the multifunction display disap-
pears and the ESP
® warning lampv goes 
out. 
Page 656 of 769
655 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display 
Possible cause/consequence
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The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:
alternator malfunctioning
broken poly-V-belt
Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe loca-
tion and check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the en-
gine will overheat due to an inoperative water 
pump which may result in damage to the en-
gine. 
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:
Drive immediately to the nearest authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center.
There is a malfunction in the electronic 
system.
Have the system checked by an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible. 
Page 657 of 769
656 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display 
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Check
Coolant Level
See Oper. Manual
The coolant level is too low.
Add coolant (
page 559).
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 could 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 Lim-
ited Warranty.
Do not drive without a sufficient amount of cool-
ant in the cooling system. The engine will over-
heat, causing major engine damage. 
Page 658 of 769
657 Practical hints
What to do if …?
During severe operating conditions, 
e.g. stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display 
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Coolant Low
Stop Vehicle
Turn Engine Off
The coolant is too hot. 
Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon 
as it is safe to do so and immediately turn off 
the engine.
Engage the electronic parking brake 
(page 412).
Only start the engine again after the message 
disappears. You could otherwise damage the 
engine.
Observe the coolant temperature gauge in 
the instrument cluster (
page 30).
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is overheated 
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 which can occur 
just by opening the engine hood. Stay 
away from the engine if you see or hear 
steam coming from it. 
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from 
other traffic. 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). Do-
ing so may cause serious engine damage which 
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited 
Warranty. 
Page 659 of 769
658 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display 
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Coolant Low
Stop Vehicle
Turn Engine Off
The poly-V-belt could be broken.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon 
as it is safe to do so and immediately turn off 
the engine.
Engage the electronic parking brake 
(page 412).
Check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the en-
gine will overheat due to an inoperative water 
pump which may result in damage to the en-
gine. 
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 
serious engine damage that is not covered by 
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Observe the coolant temperature gauge in 
the instrument cluster (
page 30).
(Continued on next page) 
Page 660 of 769
659 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display 
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Coolant Low
Stop Vehicle
Turn Engine Off
Restart the engine.
If this message disappears from the multi-
function display:
Drive immediately to the nearest autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If this message does not disappear from the 
multifunction display:
Call Roadside Assistance.
The cooling fan for the coolant is malfunc-
tioning.
Observe the coolant temperature gauge in 
the instrument cluster (
page 30).
Have the fan replaced as soon as possible.
You are driving with one or both doors 
open.
The display symbol shows you which doors 
are open.
Close the doors.