MERCEDES-BENZ CL600 2005 C215 Owner's Manual

329 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
?(USA only)±(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes
on while driving
A loss of pressure has been detected in the
fuel system. The fuel cap may not be closed
properly or the fuel system may be leaky.

Check the fuel cap (
page 270).
If it is not closed properly:

Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:

Have the fuel system checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The yellow fuel tank reserve warning lamp
comes on while driving.
The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 270).

330 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
l
Only vehicles with Distronic*:
The red distance warning lamp
comes on while driving.
You are too close to the vehicle in front of
you to maintain selected speed.

Apply the brakes immediately to in-
crease the following distance.
l
Only vehicles with Distronic*:
The red distance warning lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning sound.


You are gaining too rapidly on the vehi-
cle ahead of you.


The distance warning system has recog-
nized a stationary obstacle on your
probable line of travel.

Apply the brakes immediately.

Carefully observe the traffic situation.
You may need to brake or maneuver to
avoid hitting an obstacle.
v
The yellow ESP warning lamp
flashes while driving.
The ESP or traction control has come into
operation because of detected traction loss
in at least one tire.
Distronic* is deactivated.

When driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.

While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor.

Adapt your speed and driving to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.

Do not deactivate the ESP. Exceptions:
(page 83).
Failure to follow these instructions increas-
es the risk of an accident.

331 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
v
The yellow ESP warning lamp
comes on while driving.
The ESP is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Switch the ESP back on (
page 84).

Adapt your speed and driving to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
If the ESP cannot be switched back on, have
the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
<
The red seat belt telltale illumi-
nates briefly after starting the
engine.
The driver or the front passenger has not
fastened his or her seat belt.

Fasten your seat belt.
The warning lamp goes out.

332 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
H
The yellow warning lamp for the
tire inflation pressure monitor
comes on.
The tire inflation pressure monitor detects a
loss of pressure in at least one tire.

Bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Observe the traffic situation around you.

Take note of the messages in the multi-
function display.
The warning lamp goes out once the tire in-
flation pressure monitor has been reactivat-
ed after the tire inflation pressures have
been corrected.
Warning!
G
When the tire inflation pressure monitoring
system warning light is lit, one or more of
your tires is significantly under-inflated. You
should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper
pressure as indicated on the vehicle’s tire in-
formation placard. Driving on a significantly
under-inflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehi-
cle’s handling and stopping ability. Each tire,
including the spare, should be checked
monthly when cold and set to the recom-
mended inflation pressure as specified in
the vehicle placard and owner’s manual.
iThe recommended tire inflation pres-
sures for your vehicle can be found on
the tire placard on the driver's door
B-pillar or, if available, the inside of the
fuel filler flap, not in the owner’s
manual.

333 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
1
The red SRS indicator lamp
comes on while driving.
There is a malfunction in the restraint sys-
tems. The air bags or emergency tensioning
devices (ETDs) could deploy unexpectedly
or fail to activate in an accident.

Drive with added caution to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is indi-
cated 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 activated when needed in an acci-
dent, which could result in serious or fatal
injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly and
unnecessarily which could result in an acci-
dent and/or injury to you or to others.

334 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Lamp in center consoleLamp
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
5
8
The indicator lamp comes
on.
A BabySmart
TM1
child seat is installed
on the front passenger seat. Therefore
the passenger front air bag is switched
off.
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.
The indicator lamp comes
on if there is no
BabySmart
TM child seat
installed on the front pas-
senger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
The indicator lamp does
not come on with a
BabySmart
TM child seat
properly installed on the
front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Make sure there is nothing between seat
cushion and child seat and check
installation of the child seat.

If the front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp remains out, have the
system checked as soon as possible by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint to
transport children on the front passenger
seat until the system has been repaired.

335 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Vehicle status messages in the multi-function display
Warning and malfunction messages ap-
pear in the multifunction display located in
the instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in
this Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the vehicle status message
memory menu in the control system
(page 137) displays both cleared and
uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the mul-
tifunction display in red color.Certain messages of high priority cannot
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset buttonJ (
page 134) or
button j, k, ÿ, or è on the
multifunction steering wheel
(
page 138).
Other messages of high priority and mes-
sages of less immediate priority can be
cleared from the multifunction display us-
ing the reset buttonJ or button j,
k, ÿ, or è on the multifunction
steering wheel. They are then stored in the
vehicle status message memory
(page 153). Remember that clearing a
message will only make the message dis-
appear. Clearing a message will not cor-
rect the condition that caused the
message to appear.
Warning!
G
All categories of messages contain impor-
tant information which should be taken note
of and, where a malfunction is indicated, ad-
dressed as soon as possible at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty, or result in property dam-
age or personal injury.Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative. Contact your nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

336 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?
On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may ap-
pear in the malfunction display.
For your convenience the messages are di-
vided into two sections:

Text messages (
page 337)


Symbol messages (
page 342)
iSwitching on the ignition causes all in-
strument cluster lamps (except high
beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) as well as the multifunction dis-
play to come on. Make sure the lamps
and multifunction display are in work-
ing order before starting your journey.

337 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Text messagesDisplay
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABC
ACTIVE BODY CONTROL
DRIVE CAREFULLY!
The capability of the ABC system is restrict-
ed. This can impair the handling.

Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz center as
soon as possible.
The vehicle is losing oil.

Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.
ACTIVE BODY CONTROL
STOP, CAR TOO LOW
The vehicle is parked on an extremely
uneven surface.

Press the vehicle level control button to se-
lect level 2 (
page 223).
ABC is malfunctioning.

Stop and press the vehicle level control but-
ton to select a higher vehicle level
(page 223).

Do not turn steering wheel too far to avoid
damaging the front fenders.

Listen for scraping noises.

Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz center as
soon as possible.
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
VISIT WORKSHOP
The display for ABC or the ABC system itself
is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.

338 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABC
ACTIVE BODY CONTROL
VISIT WORKSHOP
The capability of the ABC system is restrict-
ed.

Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz center as
soon as possible.
ABS
MALFUNCTION
VISIT WORKSHOP
The ABS has detected a malfunction and
has switched off. The ESP and the BAS are
also deactivated.
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS available.

Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing steer-
ing 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 DEFECTIVE
VISIT WORKSHOP
The ABS or the ABS display is malfunction-
ing.

Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing steer-
ing 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.
AIR CLEANER
CHANGE CARTRIDGE
VISIT WORKSHOP
The air filter is clogged.

Have the air filter checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.