check engine MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS SALOON 2011 Owner's Manual

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
!
Clean
the fuel fil‐
ter Vehicles with a diesel engine: there is water in the fuel filter. The
water mus
tbe drained off.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ¯
Refill AdBlue at
workshop See Own‐
er's Manual The AdBlue
®
level has fallen below the reserve range. Awarning
tone also sounds.
X Have AdBlue ®
refilled as soon as possible at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. ¯
Refill AdBlue at
workshop No start
in ..km The AdBlue
®
level is only sufficient for the indicated distance. A
warning tone also sounds.
X Have AdBlue ®
refilled as soon as possible at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. ¯
Refill AdBlue at
workshop Eng.
start not possible The AdBlue
®
tan kis empty. Awarning tone also sounds. You can
no longer start the engine.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. ¯
Check AdBlue See
Owner's Manual The AdBlue
®
system is malfunctioning. A warning tone also
sounds.
X Visi taqualified specialist workshop. ¯
AdBlue Eng. start
not possible
in ..km The AdBlue
®
system is malfunctioning. A warning tone also
sounds.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. ¯
AdBlue Eng. start
not possible The AdBlue
®
system is malfunctioning. A warning tone also
sounds. You can no longer start the engine.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. Display messages
265On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
DISTRONIC PLUS
currently unavail‐
able See Owner's
Manual DISTRONIC is deactivated and temporarily inoperative. Possible
causes:
R
the DISTRONIC PLUS cover in the radiator grille is dirty.
R function is impaired due to heavy rain or snow.
R the sensors in the bumpers are dirty.
R the rada rsensor 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.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
If the display message does no tdisappear:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Clean the DISTRONIC PLUS cover in the radiator grille
(Y page 330).
X Clean the bumpers (Y page 330).
X Restar tthe engine.
If the system detects that the sensors are fully operational, the
display message disappears.
DISTRONIC is operational again. DISTRONIC PLUS
inoperative DISTRONIC PLUS is faulty. BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE
®
Brake may
also have failed.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
X Visi taqualified specialist workshop. DISTRONIC PLUS
suspended 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
--- km/h An activation condition for DISTRONIC PLUS is not fulfilled.
X
Check the activation conditions for DISTRONIC PLUS
(Y page 185). DISTRONIC PLUS and
SPEEDTRONIC
inoperative DISTRONIC PLUS and SPEEDTRONIC are faulty. A warning tone
also sounds.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Display messages
271On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
_
Rear left seat
backrest not
locked or
Rear right seat back‐
rest not locked G
Risk of injury
Saloon with through-loading feature in the rear bench seat:
The backrest in the rear is no tengaged on the left-hand and/or
right-hand side .Awarning tone also sounds.
X Push the backres tback until it engages. j
Check trailer
hitch lock G
Ris
kofa ccident
The trailer tow hitch is no tcorrectly engaged.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attentio ntoroad and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Allow the trailer tow hitch ball coupling to engage in the end
position (Y page 223). D
Power
steering mal‐
function See Own‐
er's Manual G
Risk of accident
The power steering assistance is faulty.
You will need to use more force to steer.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
X Chec kwhether 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. &
inoperative Bat‐
tery low The on-board voltage is too low. The auxiliary heating has switched
itself off or cannot be switched on (Y page 145).
X Drive for a longer distance.
The battery is being charged. The auxiliary heating is operational
again as soon as the on-board electrical system voltage is suf-
ficient. &
inoperative
Refuel
vehicle The fuel level in the fuel tank is too low. The auxiliary heating can-
not be switched on (Y page 145).
X Refuel at the nearest filling station. Display messages
277On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
Jäå!
The red brake warning
lamp, the yellow ESP
®
and ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps and the yellow
ABS warning lamp are
lit while the engine is
running. G
Risk of accident
ABS and ESP ®
are malfunctioning. Therefore, BAS, BAS PLUS,
EBD, PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD function, hill start
assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, for
example, are not available either.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ä
The yellow ESP
®
warn-
ing lamp flashes while
the vehicle is in motion. G
Risk of accident
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 Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when
pulling away.
X Accelerate more gently while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 72).å
The yellow ESP
®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while
the engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are deactivated. ESP ®
will not
stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if awheel starts to spin.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 72).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
283On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
M
AMG vehicles only:
The yellow SPORT han-
dling mode warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
G
Risk of accident
SPORT handling mode is activated. ESP ®
only stabilises the vehi-
cle in extreme situations. ESP ®
intervention may not be able to
provide sufficient assistance in such situations, and the vehicle
may start to skid.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 72).
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. äå
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
, BAS, BAS PLUS, PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD
function, hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer
stabilisation are not available due to a malfunction .ESP ®
will not
stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if awheel starts to spin.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. J
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the vehicle is
moving. A warning tone
also sounds.
You are driving with the parking brake applied.
X
Release the parking brake.
The warning lamp goes out and the warning tone ceases. 6
The red SRS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
G
Risk of injury
The restraint systems are malfunctioning. The airbags or belt ten-
sioners may either be triggered unintentionally or, in the event of
an accident, may not be triggered at all.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 284
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Engine
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
;
The yellow engine diag-
nostics warning lamp
lights up while the
engine is running.
There may be a fault, for example:
R in the engine management
R in the fuel injection system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system (for vehicles with petrol engines)
R in the fuel system
The emission limit values may be exceeded and the engin emay
be running in emergency mode.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified
specialist workshop. Vehicles with a diesel engine: the fuel tan
khas been run dry
(Y page 175).
X Start the engine three to four times after refuelling.
If the yellow engine diagnostics warning lamp goes out, emer-
gency running mode is cancelled. The vehicle need no tbe
checked. 8
The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp lights up
while the engine is run-
ning.
The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
Operation of the auxiliary heating is deactivated when the fuel level
drops into the reserve range.
X
Refuel at the nearest filling station. ?
The red coolant warn-
ing lamp lights up while
the engine is running
and the coolant tem-
perature gauge is at the
star toft he scale. The temperature sensor for the coolant temperature gauge is
faulty.
The coolant temperature is no longer being monitored. There is a
risk of engine damage if the coolant temperature is too high.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine. Do not continue driving
under any circumstances.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
285On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
?
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 mal-
functioning.
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 Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Let the engine and coolant cool down.
X Check the coolant level and top up the coolant (Y page 324).
Observe the warning notes as you do so.
X If you have to top up the coolant frequently, have the engine
cooling system checked.
X Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not
blocked, e.g. by frozen slush.
X If the coolant temperature is less than 120 †, you can continue
driving to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving on
mountain roads and stop-start 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 120 †. The airflow to the
engine radiator may be blocked or the coolant level may be too
low.
The engine is not being cooled sufficiently and may be damaged.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Let the engine and coolant cool down.
X Check the coolant level and top up the coolant (Y page 324).
Observe the warning notes as you do so.
X If you have to top up the coolant frequently, have the engine
cooling system checked.
X Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not
blocked, e.g. by frozen slush.
X If the coolant temperature is less than 120 †, you can continue
driving to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving on
mountain roads and stop-start traffic. 286
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

If you push the lids back, you will notice a
resistance.
X Release bonnet :.
X Check whether the lids of bonnet lifter ;
are resting on housings =(arrow).
X The lids of bonnet lifter ; are resting
on the housings: close bonnet:
(Y page 322).
or
X The lids of bonnet lifter ; are not rest-
ing on the housings: first lift up bon-
net :on left-hand side ?and then on
right-hand side B. Lift up bonnet :until
the respective lid of bonnet lifter ;no lon-
ger moves.
The lids of bonnet lifter ;must rest on
housings =(arrow).
X Close bonnet :(Ypage 322).
If you cannot close the bonnet :or if the
L symbol appears in the multifunction
display, repeatt he steps. G
WARNING
If the bonnet can still not be engaged properly
or the Lsymbol appears in the multifunc-
tion display, do not continue driving. The bon-
net can then open when the vehicle is in
motion and obscure your field of vision. Con-
sult a qualified specialist workshop. Other-
wise, you may cause an accident and injure
yourself and others.
Opening the bonnet G
WARNING
Do not pull the release lever while the vehicle
is in motion. If you do so, the bonnet may open
up and block your view. G
WARNING
There is a risk of injury if the bonnet is open,
even if the engine is not running.
Some engine components can become very
hot. To avoid the risk of burns, only touch those
components described in the Owner's Manual
and observe the relevant safety notes.
G
WARNING
The radiator fan between the radiator and the
engine can start automatically, even if the key
has been removed from the ignition lock. For
this reason, you must not reach into the fan
rotation area. You could otherwise be injured.
Vehicles with apetrol engine: The elec-
tronic ignitio nsystem uses high voltage. For
this reason, you mus tnever touch ignition
system components (ignition coil, ignition
cables, spark plug connectors or test socket)
while:
R the engine is running
R the engine is being started
R the ignition is switched on and the engine
is being cranked by hand
You could otherwise suffer an electric shock
and be seriously or even fatally injured.
Vehicles with adiesel engine: The elec-
tronic injection control uses high voltage. For
this reason, you must never touch injection
system components while:
R the engine is running
R the engine is being started
R the ignition is switched on
You could otherwise suffer an electric shock
and be seriously or even fatally injured.
X Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off. G
WARNING
The windscreen wipers and wiper linkage
could be set in motion.
When the bonnet is open, you or others could
be injured by the wiper linkage.
Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off. Remove the key or make sure
that no ignition position has been selected
with KEYLESS-GO. All indicator lamps must be
off in the instrument panel. Engine compartment
321Maintenance and care Z

X
Pull release lever :on the bonnet.
The bonnet is released.
! Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
not folded away from the windscreen .Oth-
erwise, you could damage the windscreen
wipers or the bonnet. X
Reach into the gap, pull bonnet catch han-
dle ;up and lift the bonnet.
If you lift the bonnet by approximately
40 cm, the bonnet is opened and held open
automatically by the gas-filled strut.
Closing the bonnet G
WARNING
Make sure tha tnobody can become trapped
as you close the bonnet. X
Lower the bonnet and let it fall from a
height of approximately 20 cm.
X Check that the bonnet has engaged prop-
erly.
If the bonnet can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Open it again and close
it with a little more force. Radiator
i Vehicles with adiesel engine: do not
cover the radiator. Do not use thermal
mats, insect protection covers or anything
similar. Doing so can cause the Onboard
Diagnostics System to display inaccurate
values. Some of these values are legally
required and must be correct. Engine oil
Notes on oil level Depending on driving style, the vehicle con-
sumes up to 0.
8lof oil per 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 installed at 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. 322
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

Checking the oil level using the oil dip-
stick Example
:vehicles with a petrol engine Example: vehicles with a diesel engine
X
Pull oil dipstick :out of the oil dipstick
tube.
X Wipe off oil dipstick :.
X Slowly slide oil dipstick :into the guide
tube to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark =and
MAX mark ;, the oil level is correct.
X If the oil level has dropped to MIN mark
= or below, add 0.5to 1.0litre of engine
oil.
Adding engine oil G
WARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot
engine parts, it may ignite and you could burn
yourself. Do not spill any engine oil on hot
engine parts. H
Environmental note
When topping up the oil, take care not to spill
any. If oil enters the soil or waterways, it is
harmful to the environment.
! Only use engine oils and oil filters that
have been approved for vehicles with a
service system. You can obtain a list of the
engine oils and oil filters tested and
approved in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Service
Products at any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
Damage to the engine or exhaust system is
caused by the following:
R using engine oils and oil filters that have
not been specifically approved for the
service system
R changing the engine oil and oil filter after
missing the change interval required by
the service system
R using engine oil additives
! Do not add too much oil. Topping up with
too much engine oil can result in damage
to the engine or to the catalytic converter.
Have excess engine oil siphoned off. Example: engine oil cap
X
Turn cap :anti-clockwise and remove it.
X Top up the engine oil.
If the oil level is at or under the MIN mark
on the oil dipstick, add 0.5 to 1.0 litre of
engine oil. Engine compartment
323Maintenance and care Z