check engine MERCEDES-BENZ S550 2007 W221 Owner's Manual

ContentsOperation......................................... 477
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 478
Driving instructions ............................ 479
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 479
Drinking and driving ..................... 479
Pedals .......................................... 479
Power assistance ......................... 479
Brakes .......................................... 480
Driving off..................................... 481
Parking ......................................... 481
Tires ............................................. 482
Hydroplaning ................................ 483
Tire traction .................................. 483
Tire speed rating .......................... 484
Winter driving instructions ........... 484
Standing water ............................. 485
Passenger compartment .............. 486
Driving abroad .............................. 486
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 486
Catalytic converter ....................... 487
Emission control........................... 488
Coolant temperature .................... 488At the gas station .............................. 489
Refueling ...................................... 489
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 490
Engine compartment ......................... 492
Hood ............................................ 492
Engine oil ..................................... 494
Transmission fluid level ................ 497
Active Body Control* (ABC*)
fluid level...................................... 497
Coolant level ................................ 497
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 498
Tires and wheels ................................ 500
Important guidelines .................... 500
Tire care and maintenance ........... 501
Direction of rotation ..................... 503
Loading the vehicle ...................... 503
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 509
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 511
Tire labeling.................................. 518
Load identification ....................... 521DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 522
Maximum tire load ....................... 523
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 523
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 524
Tire ply material ........................... 525
Tire and loading terminology........ 526
Rotating tires ............................... 529
Winter driving .................................... 530
Winter tires .................................. 530
Snow chains................................. 531
Maintenance...................................... 532
Maintenance service indicator
message ...................................... 532
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display .............. 533
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 533
Vehicle care....................................... 534
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 534

25 At a glance
Exterior view
Item
Page
1
Trunk

Unlocking


Opening and closing


Minispare wheel


Vehicle tool kit
436
436
629
611
2
Rear lamps
622
3
Rear window, defrosting
430
4
Fuel filler flap
Gasoline
489
664
5
Doors

Locking and unlocking


Opening and closing
304
312
Item
Page
6
Exterior rear view mirror
Parking position
334
335
7
Towing eye bolt
General information
644
642
8
Rims and tires

Checking tire inflation
pressure


Minispare wheel


Flat tire
655
511
613
629
9
Hood, opening
Engine oil
Coolant
492
494
497
Item
Page
a
Headlamp cleaning system
346
b
Front lamps
622
c
Windshield wipers
Wiper blades, replacing
Wiper blades, cleaning
351
627
540
d
Window, cleaning
540
e
Roofs

Power tilt/sliding sunroof


Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*
441
443

51 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Both driver and the front passenger should
always use the 59indicator
lamp as an indication of whether or not the
front passenger is properly positioned.Warning!
G
If the 59indicator lamp illumi-
nates when an adult or someone larger than
a small individual is in the front passenger
seat, have the front passenger re-position
himself or herself in the seat until the
59indicator lamp goes out, or
check whether objects are caught under or
around the seat.
More information about air bag display mes-
sages (
page 562).
In the event of a collision, the air bag control
unit will not allow front passenger front air
bag deployment when the OCS classified
the front passenger seat occupant as being
up to or less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child re-
straint or if the front passenger seat is
sensed as being empty.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat occupant is classified as being up
to or less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child
restraint, the 59indicator
lamp will illuminate when the engine is start-
ed and remain illuminated, indicating that
the front passenger front air bag is deacti-
vated.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat is classified as being empty, the
59indicator lamp will illumi-
nate when the engine is started and remain
illuminated, indicating that the front
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat occupant is classified as being
heavier than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child seated in a standard
child restraint or as being a small individual
(such as a young teenager or a small adult),
the 59indicator lamp will illu-
minate for approximately 6 seconds when
the engine is started and then, depending on
occupant weight sensor readings from
the seat, remain illuminated or go out. With
the 59indicator lamp illumi-
nated, the front passenger front air bag is
deactivated. With the 59 indi-
cator lamp out, the front passenger front air
bag is activated.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat occupant is classified as an adult or
someone larger than a small individual, the
59indicator lamp will illumi-
nate for approximately 6 seconds when the
engine is started and then go out, indicating
that the front passenger front air bag is
activated.
If the 59indicator lamp is illu-
minated, the front passenger front air bag is
deactivated and will not be deployed.
If the 59indicator lamp is not
illuminated, the front passenger front air
bag is activated and will be deployed:

in the event of certain frontal impacts


if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold


244 Control systemsInstrument cluster control system
Assistance* (
page 252)
Service (
page 253)
Settings (
page 254)
Commands/submenusDisplaying the distance graphic*
(DISTRONIC Plus*)
Call up vehicle malfunction, warning
and system status messages stored in
memory
Set daytime running lamp mode (USA only)
Distance warning function*
activating/deactivating
Check tire inflation pressure
Switch additional speedometer on or off
Switch on the Dynamic Rear View Moni-
tor* automatically
Call up maintenance service display
Switch radar sensors* on or off
Check engine oil level*
i
The headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within the sys-
tem and are not necessarily identical to those
shown in the control system displays. The first function displayed in each menu will au-
tomatically show you which part of the system
you are in.

253 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Switching on the Dynamic Rear View
Monitor* automatically
Press ( or & to select the
“Assistance” menu.

Press % or $ to select the
“Rearview camera” function.

Press #.

Press # again if you would like to
change the current status.The following settings are available:
Service menu
The “Service” menu is used for

calling up messages


checking tire inflation pressure elec-
tronically with the Advanced TPMS*
(standard on U.S. vehicles)


activating Run Flat Indicator
(Canada only)


calling up the maintenance service in-
dicator display


check engine oil level*Calling up vehicle malfunction, warning
and system status messages stored in
memory
Use the vehicle status message memory
menu to scan malfunction and warning
messages that may be stored in the sys-
tem. Such messages appear in the multi-
function display and are based on
conditions or system status the vehicle’s
system has recorded.
The vehicle status message memory menu
only appears if there are any messages
stored.
i
The image from the Dynamic Rear View
Monitor is shown on the COMAND display.
“On when in
Reverse”
The Dynamic Rear View
Monitor automatically
switches on when reverse
gear is engaged.
“OFF”
The Dynamic Rear View
Monitor is not switched on.
i
The menu overview can be found on
(
page 243).
Warning!
G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks


254 Control systemsInstrument cluster control system
Press ( or & to select the
“Service” menu.
If conditions have occurred causing
status messages to be recorded, the
number of messages appears in the
multifunction display: “2 Messages”.

Press % or $ to select the mes-
sage.

Press # to confirm.Checking tire inflation pressure
For information about checking tire infla-
tion pressure (
page 511).
Activating Run Flat Indicator*
For information about activating Run Flat
Indicator (
page 515).
Calling up the maintenance service in-
dicator display
For information about maintenance
(
page 532).
Checking engine oil level (S 600)*
For information about checking engine oil
level (
page 494).
Settings menu
In the “Settings” menu, you can:

switch the daytime driving lamps on or
off


switch the additional speedometer on
or off


switch the radar sensors* on or off.
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to address the malfunction and
warning messages (
page 557).
i
See the “Practical hints” section for mal-
function and warning messages (
page 557).
i
If you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and then back to position2,
all messages will be deleted from the message
memory.
i
The menu overview can be found on
(
page 243).


315 Controls in detail
Starter switch positions
Starter switch positions
SmartKeyStarter switch
0For removing SmartKey
1Power supply for some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary.
If a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 544).
3Starting positionFor information on starting the engine us-
ing the SmartKey, see “Starting with the
SmartKey” (
page 359).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
i
When you switch on the ignition, the indica-
tor and warning lamps (except high beam head-
lamp indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instrument cluster
come on. The indicator and warning lamps (ex-
cept high beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps if activated) should go
out when the engine is running. This indicates
that the respective systems are operational.
i
When the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch and the automatic transmission is
in a position other thanP, the automatic trans-
mission automatically shifts to P.
!
If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the battery may not be sufficient-
ly charged.


Check the battery and charge it if necessary
(page 634).


Get a jump start (
page 639).
To prevent accelerated battery discharge or a
completely discharged battery, always remove
the SmartKey from the starter switch when the
engine is not in operation.

317 Controls in detail
Starter switch positions
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.
Make sure the automatic transmission
is set toP.

Do not depress the brake pedal.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada only
Position 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status 0 (as with
SmartKey removed).Position 1

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton once.
This supplies power for some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment.
Ignition (or position 2)

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton twice.
This supplies power for all electrical
consumers.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 544).
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button,
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*”
(
page 360).
i
If you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button


once again, the ignition (position2) is
switched on


twice, the power supply is again switched off
i
If you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button once, the power supply is
again switched off.
i
When you switch on the ignition, the indica-
tor and warning lamps (except high beam head-
lamp indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instrument cluster
come on. The indicator and warning lamps (ex-
cept high beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps if activated) should go
out when the engine is running. This indicates
that the respective systems are operational.

351 Controls in detail
Windshield wipers
Windshield wipers
Combination switch1Switching on windshield wipers
2Single wipe
Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Switch on the ignition (
page 315).
Switching on/off windshield wipers
Turn the combination switch to the de-
sired position depending on the inten-
sity of the rain.
MWindshield wipers off
USlow intermittent wiping
(rain sensor operation low sen-
sitivity)
VFast intermittent wiping
(rain sensor operation low sen-
sitivity)
uSlow continuous wiping
tFast continuous wiping
!
If the windshield wipers leave smears on the
windshield after the car has been driven through
an automatic car wash, then wax or other resi-
due is on the windshield. Shortly after washing
the car in an automatic car wash, clean the wind-
shield with windshield washer fluid
(
page 352).
!
Do not operate the wipers when the wind-
shield is dry. Dust that accumulates on a wind-
shield might scratch the glass and/or damage
the wiper blades when wiping occurs on a dry
windshield. If it is necessary to operate the wip-
ers in dry weather conditions, always operate
the wipers with windshield washer fluid
(
page 352).
!
If anything blocks the windshield wipers
(leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off immediate-
ly.


For safety reasons, stop the vehicle in a safe
location,

turn off the engine by turning the
SmartKey to position0 and withdraw
SmartKey from starter switch
or


turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(page 317) and open the driver’s door
(with the driver’s door open, starter
switch is in position0, same as with
SmartKey removed from starter switch)
before attempting to remove any blockage.


Remove blockage.


Turn the windshield wipers on again.If the windshield wipers fail to function at all in
combination switch position u,


set the combination switch to the next high-
er wiper speed


have the windshield wipers checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center

363 Controls in detail
Driving and parking

Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
The coolant temperature is above
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.

Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as possible and turn off the en-
gine. Allow engine and coolant to cool.

Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 497).
In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:

Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.

Move away from vehicle.

Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the


major assemblies


fuel system


engine mount:

Start the engine in the usual manner.
Parking
i
Excessive coolant temperatures trigger a
warning message in the multifunction display
(
page 588).
Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and the
steering systems. In this case, it is impor-
tant to keep in mind that a considerably
higher degree of effort is necessary to brake
and steer the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay, or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re-
sult of vehicle movement, before turning off
the engine and leaving the vehicle always:

Press the parking brake handle.


Shift the automatic transmission to P.


When parked on an incline, turn front
wheels towards the road curb.


Turn the SmartKey to starter switch
position0 and remove, or press
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(page 317).


Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you and lock vehicle
when leaving.