MERCEDES-BENZ S65AMG 2006 W221 Owner's Manual

350 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?
On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may ap-
pear in the malfunction display.
For your convenience the messages are di-
vided into two sections:

Text messages (
page 351)


Symbol messages (
page 358)
iSwitching on the ignition causes all in-
strument cluster lamps (except high
beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) as well as the multifunction dis-
play to come on. Make sure the lamps
and multifunction display are in work-
ing order before starting your journey.

351 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Text messagesDisplay
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABC
ACTIVE BODY CONTROL
DRIVE CAREFULLY
The capability of the ABC system is restrict-
ed. This can impair the handling.

Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
The vehicle is losing oil.

Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.
ACTIVE BODY CONTROL
STOP, CAR TOO LOW
The vehicle is parked on an extremely
uneven surface and/or is heavily laden.

Press the vehicle level control button to se-
lect level 2 (
page 233).
You can continue to drive, if the vehicle
raised and the message disappears.

Set the desired vehicle level using the vehicle
level control button.

352 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABC
ACTIVE BODY CONTROL
STOP, CAR TOO LOW
ABC is malfunctioning.

Stop and press the vehicle level control but-
ton to select a higher vehicle level
(page 233).
If the vehicle is not raised, observe the fol-
lowing when you continue to drive:

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).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
ABC
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
VISIT WORKSHOP
The display for ABC or the ABC system itself
is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
ACTIVE BODY CONTROL
VISIT WORKSHOP
The capability of the ABC system is restrict-
ed.

Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.

353 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABS
MALFUNCTION
VISIT WORKSHOP
The ABS has detected a malfunction and
has switched off. The ESP
® and the BAS are
also deactivated.
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS available.

Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing steer-
ing capability.

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.
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
VISIT WORKSHOP
The ABS or the ABS display is malfunction-
ing.

Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing steer-
ing capability.

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.

354 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
AIR CLEANER
CHANGE CARTRIDGE
VISIT WORKSHOP
The air filter is clogged.

Have the air filter checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
DISTRONIC
EXTERNAL MALFUNCTION
REACTIVATE
Distronic* is switched off and is temporarily
unavailable.

Try activating Distronic* again later.
DISTRONIC
CURRENTLY
UNAVAILABLE
SEE OPERATORS MANUAL
Distronic* is switched off because the Dis-
tronic* cover in the radiator grille is dirty.

Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille (
page 335).

Restart the vehicle.
DISTRONIC
DRIVE TO WORKSHOP
Distronic* is malfunctioning or the display
is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.

355 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
MALFUNCTION
VISIT WORKSHOP
The ESP
® has detected a malfunction and
switched off.
The ABS may still be operational.

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.
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
VISIT WORKSHOP
The ESP
® or the ESP
® display is malfunc-
tioning.

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.

356 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
UNAVAILABLE
SEE OPERATORS
MANUAL
The ESP
® was deactivated because the
power supply has been interrupted.
The ABS is still operational.

Synchronize the ESP
®. With the vehicle sta-
tionary and the engine running, turn the
steering wheel completely to the left and
then to the right to synchronize the ESP
®.
If the ESP
® message does not go out:

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.
!When synchronizing the ESP
®, make
sure you can turn the steering wheel in
both directions as far as it will go with-
out the wheel hitting any objects, e.g.
aroad curb.

357 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
MOVE SELECTOR LEVER
TO PARK
You have tried to turn off the engine with
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(page 35) with the gear selector lever not
inP.

Place the gear selector lever in positionP.
PRE-SAFE INACTIVE
SEE OPERATORS MANUAL
If BAS or ESP
® malfunction messages are
displayed simultaneously, PRE-SAFE
® has
been deactivated as a result of these mal-
functions. All other occupant safety sys-
tems, such as the air bags, are still
available.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
PRE-SAFE
® itself has failed. All other occu-
pant safety systems, such as the air bags,
are still available.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.

358 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Symbol messagesDisplay
Possible cause
Possible solution
@
AIRMATIC
STOP, CAR TOO LOW
The vehicle is parked on an extremely
uneven surface.

Press the vehicle level control button to
select the raised vehicle level
(page 230).
The vehicle level control is malfunction-
ing.

Stop and press the vehicle level control
button to select a higher vehicle level
(page 230).

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).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
AIRMATIC
DRIVE CAREFULLY
The capability of the Airmatic system is
restricted.

Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

359 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
@
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
VISIT WORKSHOP
The display for Airmatic or the Airmatic
system itself is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
AIRMATIC
LEVELING CANCELLED


You have exceeded a speed of
75 mph (120 km/h).
or


You have maintained a speed of be-
tween 50 mph (80 km/h) and 75 mph
(120 km/h) for more than
five minutes.

Press the vehicle level control button to
adjust the vehicle level (
page 230).