MERCEDES-BENZ E350 4MATIC WAGON 2007 S211 Owner's Manual

410 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
#
Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicle
The battery is malfunctioning.
The brake system requires electrical en-
ergy and therefore has only limited oper-
ation. Considerably greater brake pedal
force is required and the stopping dis-
tance is increased.

Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as it is safe to do so. Adjust driv-
ing to be consistent with reduced
braking responsiveness.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Low voltage
Start engine
The battery has insufficient voltage.

Start the engine (
page 52).
(
Right rear backrest
not locked
The rear seat backrest is not engaged.

Adjust the rear seat backrest until it is
fully engaged in position.
Left rear backrest
not locked
The rear seat backrest is not engaged.

Adjust the rear seat backrest until it is
fully engaged in position.
2
Brakepad wear
The brake pads have reached their wear
limit.

Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
!
Brake pad thickness must be visually in-
spected by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.

411 Practical hints
What to do if …
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Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
(USA only);(Canada only)3
EBV, ABS, ESP
inoperative
See Operator’s Man.
ABS, ESP
®, EBP as well as PRE-SAFE
®
have switched off due to a malfunction.
BAS is also switched off.
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS, BAS, ESP
® and
PRE-SAFE
® available.

Continue driving with added caution.

Adjust driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Release parking
brake
You are driving with the parking brake
set.

Release the parking brake
(page 62).
Check
brake fluid level
There is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.

Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle in a
safe location as soon as it is safe to do
so and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Do not add
brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with the message
Check brake
fluid level
displayed can result in an ac-
cident. Have your brake system checked im-
mediately.
Do not 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.
!
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.

412 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ú
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
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 Center.
H
Top up coolant
See Operator’s Manual
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 329).

If you have to add coolant frequent-
ly, 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
Limited Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount of coolant
in the cooling system. The engine will overheat
causing major engine damage.

413 Practical hints
What 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 message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
•
Coolant
Stop, 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.

Only start the engine again after the mes-
sage disappears. You could otherwise dam-
age the engine.

Apply the parking brake (
page 62).

Observe the coolant temperature indicator
in the instrument cluster (
page 27).
If the temperature rises again:

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center immediately.
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 damage which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

414 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
•
Coolant
Stop, turn engine off
The poly-V-belt could be broken.

Stop the vehicle in a safe location and im-
mediately turn off the engine.

Check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:

Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the en-
gine will overheat due to an inoperative wa-
ter 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 re-
sult in serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

Observe the coolant temperature indicator
in the instrument cluster (
page 27).

Drive immediately to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

415 Practical hints
What to do if …
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Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
•
The cooling fan for the coolant is malfunc-
tioning.

Observe the coolant temperature indicator
in the instrument cluster (
page 27).
If the coolant temperature is under 248°F
(120°C), you may continue driving to an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Avoid placing heavy loads on the engine
(e.g. by driving uphill) as well as
stop-and-go traffic.

Have the fan replaced as soon as possible.
±
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
Certain electronic systems are unable to
relay information to the control system.
The following systems may have failed:

Coolant temperature display


Tachometer


Cruise control display

Have the electronic systems checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Engine
Service
There may be a malfunction in:

the fuel injection system


the ignition system


the exhaust system

Have the engine checked as soon as possi-
ble by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.

416 Practical hintsWhat to do if …When the message
Check oil level at
next refueling
appears while the engine
is running and at operating temperature,
the engine oil level has dropped to approx-
imately the minimum level.
When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.
Visually check for oil leaks. If no obvious oil
leaks are noted, drive to the nearest ser-
vice station where the engine oil should be
topped to the required level with an ap-
proved engine oil.For information on approved engine oils,
refer to the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet (USA only) or contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
:
Check oil level
at next refueling
The engine oil has dropped to a critical
level.

Check the engine oil level
(page 326) and add oil as required
(page 327).

If you must add engine oil frequently,
have the engine checked for possible
leaks.
!
The engine oil level warnings should not be
ignored. Extended driving with the symbol dis-
played could result in serious engine damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

417 Practical hints
What to do if …
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Possible cause/consequence
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A
Reserve fuel
The fuel level has dropped below the re-
serve mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 321).
Gas cap is open
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 321).
If it is not closed properly:

Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:

Have the fuel system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
»
Replace air cleaner
The air cleaner is clogged.

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

418 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
F
Key
still in vehicle
A SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* left in the
vehicle was recognized while locking the
vehicle from the outside.

Take the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* out of the vehicle.
Please don't
forget your key
This display appears (for a maximum of
60 seconds) if the driver’s door is opened
with the engine shut off and no SmartKey
in the starter switch.
This message is only a reminder.

Take the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you when leaving
the vehicle.
Remove key
You have forgotten to remove the
SmartKey.

Remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch.
Get a new key
The SmartKey is malfunctioning.

Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

419 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
F
Change
key batteries
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* batter-
ies are discharged.

Replace the batteries (
page 440).
Key
not recognized
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is not
recognized while the engine is running
because

the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is
not in the vehicle


there is strong radio-frequency inter-
ference

Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe
to do so.

Search for the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
Otherwise the vehicle cannot be cen-
trally locked nor can the engine be
started again after the engine is
stopped.
Key
not recognized
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is mo-
mentarily not recognized.

Change the position of the SmartKey
in the vehicle.

Operate the vehicle with the
SmartKey in the starter switch if nec-
essary.