MERCEDES-BENZ E320 2004 W211 Owner's Manual

321 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Distronic
Currently unavailable
see oper. manual
DISTRONIC* is switched off if:

the DISTRONIC cover in the area
of the radiator grille is dirty


the functionality is impaired by
heavy rain or thick fog

If necessary, clean the DISTRONIC cover in
the area of the radiator grille.

Restart the vehicle.
or
DISTRONIC* becomes operational again with-
out the engine being restarted when:


dirt on the grille falls off while driving (e.g.
slush or snow)


the system recognizes full sensor availabili-
ty (due to lessening rain or the road surface
drying)


the message in the multifunction display
disappears


the speed last stored flashes in the display
for five seconds.
You can operate DISTRONIC* as usual again.

322 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
Malfunction!
Visit workshop!
The ESP has detected a malfunction
and switched off.
The SBC brake system is still func-
tioning normally. The ABS may still
be operational.

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.
Display malfunction
Visit workshop!
The ESP or the ESP display is mal-
functioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of accident.

323 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
not available!
See Operator’s Manual
The ESP is deactivated because of a
malfunction or interrupted power
supply.
The SBC brake system is still func-
tioning normally.

Synchronize the ESP. With the vehicle sta-
tionary, turn the steering wheel completely
to the left and then to the right to synchro-
nize the ESP.
If the ESP message does not go out:

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of accident.
P
Gear selector lever in P
You have turned off the engine with
the KEYLESS-GO* start / stop but-
ton* and opened the driver’s door.

Place the gear selector lever in positionP.
P/N
Shift to N or P
You have attempted to start the en-
gine with the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button while the gear se-
lector lever was in positionR orD.

Place the gear selector lever in positionP or
N.

324 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Symbol messagesDisplay symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Undervoltage
Switch off
consumers
The battery has insufficient voltage.

Turn off unnecessary electrical con-
sumers.
Visit workshop!
The battery was charged with a battery
charger or jump started.

Have the battery checked at a service
station.
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning


broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake system re-
quires electrical energy and may be oper-
ating with restricted capability.
Considerably greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping distance is in-
creased.

Stop immediately and check the
poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:

Do not continue to drive. Otherwise
the engine will overheat due to an in-
operative water pump which may re-
sult in damage to the engine. Notify
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:

Drive immediately to the nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Ad-
just driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.

325 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicle!
The battery is malfunctioning.
The SBC brake system requires electrical
energy and therefore has only limited op-
eration. Considerably greater brake pedal
force is required and the stopping dis-
tance is increased.

Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe
to do so. Adjust driving to be consis-
tent with reduced braking responsive-
ness.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Undervoltage
Charge battery
The battery has insufficient voltage.

Start the engine (
page 43).
Malfunction
Electrical consumers
switched off
The consumer battery has insufficient
voltage and can no longer supply the con-
venience functions such as seat ventila-
tion*.
The electrical consumers will come back
online as soon as on-board voltage is suf-
ficient.
(
Backrest, rear right
not locked
The rear seat backrest is not engaged.

A d j u s t t h e r e a r s e a t b a c k r e s t u n t i l i t i s
fully engaged in position.
Backrest rear left
not locked
The rear seat backrest is not engaged.

A d j u s t t h e r e a r s e a t b a c k r e s t u n t i l i t i s
fully engaged in position.

326 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
2
Brake wear
Visit workshop!
The brake pads have reached their wear
limit.

Brake pad thickness must be visually
inspected at the intervals specified in
the Service Booklet.

Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
T
Brake malfunction
Stop vehicle
The SBC brake system is in the emergen-
cy operation mode. Considerably greater
brake pedal force is required and the
stopping distance is increased.
Do not exceed a speed of 55 mph
(90 km / h).

Do not drive any further.

Stop the vehicle and notify an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Significantly greater force must be ap-
plied to the brake pedal.

Call for Roadside Assistance.
Except Canada:;Canada only:3
Reduced
braking effect
Start engine!
Longer
stopping dist.
Start engine!
The battery has insufficient voltage and
cannot supply sufficient power to the
SBC brake system.

Start the engine.
The message disappears when suffi-
cient voltage is available

327 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Except Canada:;Canada only:3
Reduced
braking effect
Visit workshop!
Longer
stopping dist.
Visit workshop!
The SBC brake system is in emergency
operation mode. Considerable brake ped-
al force is required and the stopping dis-
tance is increased.

Continue driving with added caution.

Adjust driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.
Service brake
!
Visit workshop!
There are malfunctions, but the SBC
brake system is operating normally.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Brake overheated!
Drive carefully!
The brake system is overheated due to an
excessive load on the brakes.

Relieve the load on the brake system.

Drive more smoothly and think ahead
to avoid unnecessary braking.

When driving down slopes, shift into a
lower gear to use the engine’s braking
power (
page 159).

Cautiously continue driving so that
the air stream will cool down the
brakes.
Release
park. brake!
You are driving with the parking brake
set.

Release the parking brake
(page 45).

328 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Except Canada:;Canada only:3
Brake fluid
Visit workshop!
There 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 while these messages are displayed
can result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately.
If there is a malfunction in the SBC brake
system, we recommend that the vehicle be
transported with all wheels off the ground
using flatbed or appropriate wheel lift / dolly
equipment.
A tow bar must be used if circumstances do
not permit the use of the recommended
towing methods and the vehicle requires
towing with all four wheels on the ground.
Towing the vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is only permissible for distances
up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km / h). For more infor-
mation, refer to “Towing the vehicle”
(page 381).
If the SBC brake system enters its emergen-
cy operation mode, the driver must apply
significantly greater brake pedal pressure
and depress the pedal much further than
normal to obtain braking effect. If neces-
sary, apply full pressure to the brake pedal.
Brakes may only be applied to the front
wheels. Stopping distance is increased!
Low brake fluid in the reservoir may cause
the braking system to fail!
Don’t add brake fluid before checking the
brake system. Overfilling the brake fluid res-
ervoir can result in spilling brake fluid on hot
engine parts and the brake fluid catching
fire. You can be seriously burned.iIf 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 Service
Booklet.

329 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
?
Visit workshop!
There may be a malfunction in the:

fuel injection system


ignition system


exhaust system


fuel system

Have the measuring system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
B
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 285).

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 en-
gine damage.

330 Practical hintsWhat to do if …
During severe operation conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off!
The coolant is too hot.

Stop the vehicle.

Only start the engine again after the
message disappears. You could other-
wise damage the engine.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly overheat-
ed 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 engine 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
damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.