parking brake MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class 2008 W221 Comand Manual

671 Practical hints
What to do if …?
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Possible cause/consequence
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Parking Brake
See Oper. Manual
If overheated:
Let vehicle cool down, and do not engage
electronic parking brake during this time.
or

Switch ignition off and back on again, and en-
gage or release electronic parking brake.
(USA only)(Canada only)
Parking Brake
Inoperative
When you engage or release the electronic
parking brake, the red indicator lamp for
the electronic parking brake flashes and
goes out after approx. 10 seconds. The yel-
low warning lamp for the electronic parking
brake lights up.
The electronic parking brake is malfunction-
ing.

Switch ignition off and back on again, and en-
gage electronic parking brake (
page 422).
If the electronic parking brake cannot be en-
gaged:

Shift the automatic transmission to park
positionP (
page 426).

Protect vehicle from rolling away while
parked by using a chock from the vehicle tool
kit (
page 707).

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.

672 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Please Release
Parking Brake
The red indicator lamp for the electronic
parking brake flashes and you also hear a
warning signal.
You are driving with the electronic parking
brake activated, or you are carrying out an
emergency brake application with the elec-
tronic parking brake (
page 422).

Release electronic parking brake.
or

Carefully drive off (
page 422).
or

Release the handle for electronic parking
brake.
(USA only)(Canada only)
Please Release
Parking Brake
The red indicator lamp for the electronic
parking brake flashes and the yellow warn-
ing lamp for the electronic parking brake
comes on. You also hear a warning tone.
The electronic parking brake is malfunction-
ing; braking action is restricted.
While driving:
Release the handle for electronic parking
brake.
While at a standstill:

Switch off ignition and press handle for elec-
tronic parking brake until the warning mes-
sage disappears from the multifunction
display.

673 Practical hints
What to do if …?
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Possible cause/consequence
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Turn On the Ignition
to Release the
Parking Brake
The yellow indicator lamp for the electronic
parking brake comes on.
You have tried to release the electronic
parking brake, but the ignition was not
switched on.

Switch on the ignition (
page 370).
(USA only)(Canada only)
Inoperative
See Oper. Manual
ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® are switched off
due to a malfunction. In addition, the v
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
comes on.
The ABS may not be operational and the fol-
lowing systems are not available:


BAS and BAS Plus*


PRE-SAFE
® Brake*


Distronic Plus*


Cruise control


Hill start assist system

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.

676 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
STOP,
Car Too Low
You have started driving although the vehi-
cle level was too low.
The vehicle will be raised. The Airmatic
warning lamp goes out after several sec-
onds.

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

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Wait until the message disappears from the
multifunction display.
You may then drive off.
STOP,
Car Too Low
The Airmatic is malfunctioning.
The Airmatic warning lamp lights up contin-
uously.

Stop and press the vehicle level control but-
ton to select a higher vehicle level
(page 468).

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).

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
There is otherwise danger of an accident.

678 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning


broken poly-V-belt

Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe loca-
tion.

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

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

Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the en-
gine will overheat due to an inoperative water
pump which may result in damage to the en-
gine.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:

Drive immediately to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
There is a malfunction in the electronic
system.

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

680 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?
During severe operating conditions,
e.g. stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Coolant Low
Stop Vehicle
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.

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Only start the engine again after the message
disappears. You could otherwise damage the
engine.

Observe the coolant temperature gauge in
the instrument cluster (
page 28).
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 engine damage which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

681 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Coolant Low
Stop Vehicle
Turn Engine Off
The poly-V-belt could be broken.

Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so and immediately turn off
the engine.

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

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

Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the en-
gine will overheat due to an inoperative water
pump which may result in damage to the en-
gine.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:

Do not continue to drive the vehicle with this
message displayed. Doing so could result in
serious engine damage that is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

Observe the coolant temperature gauge in
the instrument cluster (
page 28).
(Continued on next page)

683 Practical hints
What to do if …?
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Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Gas Cap Loose
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 570).
If it is not closed properly:

Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:

Have the fuel system checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Reserve Fuel
The fuel level has dropped below the re-
serve mark.

Refuel at the next gas station (
page 570).
You are driving with the hood open.

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

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Close the hood (
page 574).
There is otherwise danger of an accident.

684 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Key Not
Detected
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is not
recognized while the engine is running be-
cause the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is
not in the vehicle.

Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do.

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Search for the SmartKey.
Otherwise the vehicle cannot be centrally
locked nor can the engine be started again
after the engine is stopped.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is not
recognized while the engine is running be-
cause there is strong radio-frequency inter-
ference.

Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do.

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Remove KEYLESS-GO* button from the
starter switch (
page 371).

Operate the vehicle with the SmartKey in the
starter switch.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is mo-
mentarily not recognized.

Change the position of the SmartKey in the
vehicle.

If necessary, operate vehicle using SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* in starter switch under
KEYLESS-GO* button (
page 371).

694 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Night View Assist
Lights ON or AUTO,
Not in R Gear
You have tried to switch on Night View As-
sist* but the light switch is not set to *
or B.
In addition, the automatic transmission is in
reverse gearR.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to * or
B (
page 399).

Shift the automatic transmission to park
positionP, neutral positionN or drive
positionD (
page 426).
Night View Assist
Only When
It Is Dark
You have tried to switch on Night View As-
sist* by daylight.
You can only switch on Night View Assist* when
it is dark.
Engine Oil Level Low
Stop Vehicle
Turn Engine Off
S 600 and S 65 AMG only:
There is no oil in the engine. There is a dan-
ger of engine damage.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt as soon
as it is safe to do so in a safe location.

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Turn off the engine.

Add engine oil (
page 578) and check the
engine oil level (page 575).