MERCEDES-BENZ G55AMG 2003 W463 Owner's Manual

241 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
3
(Canada only)
;
(USA only)The red brake warning lamp
lights up while driving and you
hear a warning sound.
You are driving with the parking brake set.

Release the parking brake
(page 44).

Also note the messages in the multi-
function display (
page 246).
The red brake warning lamp
lights up while driving.
There is insufficient brake fluid in the reser-
voir.

Risk of accident! Carefully stop the
vehicle and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not
solve the problem.

Also note the messages in the multi-
function display (
page 246).
Warning!
G
Driving with the brake warning lamp illumi-
nated can result in an accident. Have your
brake system checked immediately if the
brake warning lamp stays on.
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.
!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.

242 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
3
(Canada only)
;
(USA only)
-
The red brake warning lamp and
the yellow ABS malfunction indi-
cator lamp come on when the
engine is running and you hear a
warning sound for approximately
five seconds.
The EBB has detected a malfunction and has
switched off. You should be prepared for your
vehicle to perform differently than normal
when braking.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Cen-
ter as soon as possible.

Also note the messages in the multi-
function display (
page 246).
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of accidents.
1
The red SRS indicator lamp lights
up while driving.
There is a malfunction in the restraint sys-
tems. The airbags or emergency tensioning
device (ETDs) could deploy unexpectedly or
fail to activate in an accident.

Drive with added caution to the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck 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
Light Truck Center immediately to have the
system checked; otherwise the SRS may not
be activated when needed in an accident.
This could result in serious or fatal injury, or
it might deploy unexpectedly and unneces-
sarily which could also result in an accident
and/or injury to you or others.

243 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
?
The yellow “CHECK ENGINE”
malfunction indicator lamp
comes on while driving.
There is a malfunction of:

The fuel management system


The ignition system


The emission control system


Systems which impact emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive
emissions values and may switch the engine
to its limp-home (emergency operation)
mode. Serious damage can occur to the
emission system.

Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics sys-
tem. It allows the accurate identifica-
tion of system malfunctions through
the readout of diagnostic trouble
c o d e s . I t i s l o c a t e d n e a r t h e h o o d l o c k
release on the upper left of footwell.
The fuel cap is not closed tightly.

Check the fuel cap.
Your gas tank is empty.

After refuelling, start the engine three
or four times in succession. The
limp-home mode is canceled.
<
The red seat belt warning lamp
blinks for a brief period after
starting the engine.
The warning lamp reminds you to fasten seat
belts.

Fasten your seat belt.
The yellow fuel tank reserve warning lamp
illuminates while driving.
The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.

Refuel at the next gas station.

Also note the messages in the multi-
function display (
page 246).

244 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Lamp in center consoleProblem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
The yellow fuel tank reserve warning lamp is
blinking.
The fuel cap is not closed tight.

Check the fuel cap.
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
7
The indicator lamp lights up.
A BabySmart
TM child seat is installed on the
front passenger seat. Therefore the front
passenger airbag is switched off.
The system is malfunctioning when there is
no BabySmart
TM child seat installed on the
front passenger seat.

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

245 Practical hints
What to do if …
7
The indicator lamp does not light
up with a BabySmart
TM child
seat properly installed on the
front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Make sure that there is nothing be-
tween seat cushion and child seat and
check installation of the child seat.

If the light remains out, have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint
to transport children on the front pas-
senger seat until the system has been
repaired.
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution

246 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Messages in the display
The control system shows warning and
malfunction messages in the multifunction
display.
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.The messages are divided into different
categories:
Selecting the malfunction memory menu in
the control system (
page 118) displays
both cleared and uncleared messages.
Category
Meaning
1
Highest priority messages.
Certain highest priority mes-
sages cannot be cleared.
2 and 3
Other high priority messag-
es and messages of medium
and low priority can be
cleared.
These messages can be
cleared. To clear, press:

button
è
, ÿ
, j

or
k
on the multi-
function steering wheel
(
page 112)


the reset button on the
left side of the instru-
ment cluster (
page 24)
The messages are then
stored in the malfunction
memory.
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 Light Truck 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.

247 Practical hints
What to do if …
On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of all the messages that may
appear in the display.
Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative. Systems that have a sig-
nificant influence on handling performance
may not be functioning.
Contact your nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iTurning the key in starter switch to
position2 causes all lamps as well as
the multifunction display to come on.
Ensure that they are all in working or-
der before starting your journey.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
Category
-
ABS SYSTEM
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The ABS has detected a malfunction
and has switched off. The ESP, BAS,
EBB and 4-ETS are also deactivated.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ABS avail-
able. Wheels will lock during hard
braking, reducing steering capabili-
ty.

Continue driving with added
caution.

Have the system checked at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as
possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of accident.
2

248 Practical hintsWhat to do if …-
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The ABS or the ABS display is mal-
functioning.
Wheels will lock in hard braking re-
ducing steering capability.

Continue driving with added
caution.

Have the system checked at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as
possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of accident.
2
ABS NOT AVAILABLE
DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED
You have engaged the differential
locks.

The ABS switches on again af-
ter the differential locks have
been disengaged.
1
BAS
BRAKE ASSIST
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The BAS has detected a malfunction
and switched off.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the BAS avail-
able. Wheels will lock in hard braking
reducing steering capability.

Continue driving with added
caution.

Have the system checked at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as
possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of accident.
2
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
Category

249 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
Category
#
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The battery was charged with a bat-
tery charger or jump started.

Have the battery checked at a
service station.
2
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning


broken poly-V-belt

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

Do not continue to drive. Oth-
erwise the engine will overheat
due to an inoperative water
pump which may result in seri-
ous engine damage not cov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty. Notify an
authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
If it is intact:

Turn off unnecessary electric
consumers.

Drive immediately to the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.

250 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
Category
3
(Canada only)
;
(USA only)
BRAKE PAD WEAR
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The brake pads have reached their
wear limit.

Have the brake pads replaced
as soon as possible.
2
BRAKE FLUID
VISIT WORKSHOP!
There is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.

Risk of accident! Stop the vehi-
cle and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center. Do not add brake fluid!
This will not solve the problem.
2
Warning!
G
Driving with the last message displayed can
result in an accident. Have your brake sys-
tem checked immediately.
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.
!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. !Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Service book-
let.