MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC 2008 W221 Owner's Manual

650 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Key
not recognizedThe 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 395).
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 395).
Remove KEYLESS-GO* button from the
starter switch (
page 345).
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 345).

651 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Close doors
to lock themYou wanted to lock the vehicle but not all
doors were closed.Close doors and lock vehicle again.
Do not
forget keyThis display appears (for a maximum of
60 seconds) if the driver’s door is opened
with the engine turned off and no SmartKey
in the starter switch.
This message is only a reminder.Take the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you when leaving the ve-
hicle.
Please
remove keyYou have forgotten to remove the
SmartKey.Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Change
key batteriesThe batteries in the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* are discharged.Replace the batteries (page 676).
Key
still in vehicleA SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* left in the
vehicle was recognized while locking the ve-
hicle from the outside.Take the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* out of
the vehicle.

652 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Key
not recognizedThe 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 345).
Key being
initialized…
Please waitThe SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is being
initialized in the vehicle.Wait until the message disappears from the
multifunction display.
Remove starting
button, then
insert keyThe KEYLESS-GO* system is malfunction-
ing.Remove KEYLESS-GO* button from the
starter switch (
page 345).
Operate the vehicle with the SmartKey in the
starter switch.
Replace keyThe SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* must be
replaced.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.

653 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Third brake lampThe high mounted brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning. This message will only appear if a
critical number of light emitting diodes have
stopped working.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Corner. lamp,
LeftThe left-hand corner-illuminating lamp is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 678).
Corner. lamp,
RightThe right-hand corner-illuminating lamp is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 678).
Low beam,
LeftThe left low beam lamp is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Low beam,
RightThe right low beam lamp is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Active headlamps
inoperativeThe active headlamps are malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.

654 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
AUTO lamps
inoperativeThe light sensor is malfunctioning. Daytime
driving lamps are switched on.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
To switch off the headlamps (U.S. vehicles only):
Switch off daytime running lamps in the in-
strument cluster control system
(
page 281).
Turn the exterior lamp switch to position0.
Turn signal,
Rear LeftThe left rear turn signal lamp is malfunction-
ing. A substitute bulb is being used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Turn signal,
Rear RightThe right rear turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A substitute bulb is being used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Turn signal,
Left mirrorThe turn signal in the left exterior rear view
mirror is malfunctioning. This message will
only appear if a critical number of light emit-
ting diodes have stopped working.Have the LEDs replaced as soon as possible.

655 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Turn signal,
Right mirrorThe turn signal in the right exterior rear view
mirror is malfunctioning. This message will
only appear if a critical number of light emit-
ting diodes have stopped working.Have the LEDs replaced as soon as possible.
Turn signal,
Front LeftThe left front turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Turn signal,
Front RightThe right front turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
High beam, LeftThe left high beam lamp is malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 678).
High beam, RightThe right high beam lamp is malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 678).
License plate lamp,
LeftThe left license plate lamp is malfunction-
ing.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
License plate lamp,
RightThe right license plate lamp is malfunction-
ing.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Please
switch off lightsYou are getting out of the vehicle and the
lights are still switched on.Switch off the headlamps (page 371).

656 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Switch off lights
or
remove keyThe exterior lamp switch is set to * and
you have forgotten to take out the
SmartKey. The parking lamps remain
switched on.Switch off the headlamps (page 371).
or
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Front foglamp,
LeftThe left front fog lamp is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Front foglamp,
RightThe right front fog lamp is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Rear foglamp,
LeftThe left rear fog lamp is malfunctioning.
A substitute bulb is being used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Rear foglamp,
RightThe right rear fog lamp is malfunctioning.
A substitute bulb is being used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Parking lamp,
Front LeftThe left front parking lamp is malfunction-
ing. A substitute bulb is being used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Parking lamp,
Right frontThe right front parking lamp is malfunction-
ing. A substitute bulb is being used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Reverse lamp,
LeftThe left reverse lamp is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Reverse lamp,
RightThe right reverse lamp is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.

657 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Side marker lamp,
Left FrontThe front left side marker lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Side marker lamp,
Right FrontThe front right side marker lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Side marker lamp,
Rear LeftThe rear left side marker lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Side marker lamp,
Rear RightThe rear right side marker lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Tail lamp/
brake lamp, LeftThe left tail lamp/brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning.
This message will only appear if a critical
number of light emitting diodes have
stopped working. A substitute bulb is being
used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Tail lamp/
brake lamp, RightThe right tail lamp/brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning.
This message will only appear if a critical
number of light emitting diodes have
stopped working. A substitute bulb is being
used.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.

658 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Night View Assist
inoperativeNight View Assist* is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Night View Assist
currently unavailableThe temperature of the camera* is too high
(
page 461).
Wait until the message “Night View Assist
available again” appears.
In addition you can:
Swing the camera* cover down
(
page 591).
Adjust the air distribution of the automatic
climate control so that air flows upward
(
page 253).
Night View Assist
Lights must be set
to AUTO or ONYou have tried to switch on Night View As-
sist*, but the light switch is not set to *
or B.Turn the exterior lamp switch to * or
B (
page 371).
Night View Assist
Not in Reverse gearYou have tried to switch on Night View As-
sist* while the automatic transmission was
in position R.Shift the automatic transmission to P, N or D
(
page 399).

659 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Night View Assist
Lights ON or AUTO,
not in R gearYou 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
positionR.Turn the exterior lamp switch to * or
B (
page 371).
Shift the automatic transmission to P, N or D
(
page 399).
Night View Assist
only when
it is darkYou 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
Stop vehicle!
Switch engine offS 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 395).
Turn off the engine.
Add engine oil (page 546) and check the
engine oil level (
page 543).