check engine MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2015 Owner's Guide

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions #
See Owner's Manual See Owner's Manual The battery is not being charged.
A warning tone also sounds.
Possible causes:
R faulty alternator
R torn poly-V-belt
R a malfunction in the electronics
! Do not continue driving. The engine could otherwise overheat.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 184).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. #
Stop vehicle See Stop vehicle See
Owner's Manual Owner's Manual The battery is no longer being charged and the battery charge level
is too low.
A warning tone also sounds.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 184).
X Observe the instructions in the #See Owner's Manual See Owner's Manual
display message.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. 4
Check eng. oil Check eng. oil
lev. when next lev. when next
refuelling refuelling The engine oil level has dropped to the minimum level.
A warning tone also sounds.
! Avoid long journeys when there is too little coolant in the cool-
ing system. Otherwise the engine will be damaged.
X Check the oil level when next refuelling, at the latest
(Y page 324).
X If necessary, top up the engine oil (Y page 325).
If the engine oil needs topping up more often:
X Contact a qualified specialist workshop and have the engine
checked.
Information on approved engine oils can be obtained from any
qualified specialist workshop or on the Internet at http://
bevo.mercedes-benz.com. 276
Display
messagesOn-board computer/Displays

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions 4
Add Add
1
1litre
litre engine
engine
oil
oil when
when next
next refu‐
refu‐
elling
elling The engine oil level has dropped to the minimum level.
! Avoid long journeys when there is too little coolant in the cool-
ing system. Otherwise the engine will be damaged.
X Check the oil level when next refuelling, at the latest
(Y page 324).
X If necessary, top up the engine oil (Y page 325).
If the engine oil needs topping up more often:
X Contact a qualified specialist workshop and have the engine
checked.
Information on approved engine oils can be obtained from any
qualified specialist workshop or on the Internet at http://
bevo.mercedes-benz.co m.4
Engine oil level Engine oil level
Stop vehicle Stop vehicle
Switch engine off Switch engine off The engine oil level is too low. There is a risk of engine damage.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 184).
X Check the engine oil level (Y page 324).
X If necessary, top up the engine oil (Y page 325).æ
Reserve fuel level Reserve fuel level The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
Operation of the auxiliary heating is deactivated if the fuel level
drops into the reserve range.
X Refuel at the nearest filling station. ç There is very little fuel in the fuel tank.
The auxiliary heating cannot be operated.
X Refuel at the nearest filling station without fail. ¸
Replace Replace
air
aircleaner
cleaner Vehicles with a diesel engine: the engine air filter is dirty and must
be replaced.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. !
Clean Clean
the
thefuel
fuel fil‐
fil‐
ter
ter Vehicles with a diesel engine: there is water in the fuel filter. The
water must be drained off.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Display messages
277On-board computer/Displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions DISTRONIC
DISTRONIC
PLUS
PLUScur‐
cur‐
rently
rently unavailable
unavailable
See Owner's Manual
See Owner's Manual DISTRONIC PLUS is temporarily inoperative.
Possible causes:
R the radar sensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due to
electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio sta-
tions or other sources of electromagnetic radiation
R the system is outside the operating temperature range
R the on-board voltage is too low.
A warning tone also sounds.
Once the causes listed above no longer apply, the display message goes out.
DISTRONIC PLUS is operational again.
If the display message does not disappear:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 184).
X Restart the engine. DISTRONIC PLUS DISTRONIC PLUS
inoperative inoperative DISTRONIC PLUS is faulty. Adaptive Brake Assist may also have
failed.
A warning tone also sounds.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. DISTRONIC DISTRONIC
PLUS
PLUSsus‐
sus‐
pended
pended You have depressed the accelerator pedal. DISTRONIC PLUS is no
longer controlling the speed of the vehicle.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. DISTRONIC PLUS
DISTRONIC PLUS
- - - km/h - - - km/h An activation condition for DISTRONIC PLUS is not fulfilled.
X Check the activation conditions for DISTRONIC PLUS
(Y page 196). DISTRONIC
DISTRONIC
PLUS
PLUSand
and
SPEEDTRONIC inop‐
SPEEDTRONIC inop‐
erative erative DISTRONIC PLUS and SPEEDTRONIC are faulty. A warning tone
also sounds.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Cruise Cruise
control
control and
and
SPEEDTRONIC inop‐
SPEEDTRONIC inop‐
erative erative SPEEDTRONIC and cruise control are malfunctioning.
A warning tone also sounds.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Display
messages
281On-board computer/Displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Active bonnet mal‐
Active bonnet mal‐
function See Own‐ function See Own‐
er's Manual er's Manual The active bonnet (pedestrian protection) is not active due to a
malfunction or because it has already been triggered.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. C At least one door is open. A warning tone also sounds.
X Close all doors. j
Check trailer Check trailer
hitch lock hitch lock The trailer tow hitch is not correctly engaged.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
If the ball coupling is not engaged, the trailer may come loose.
There is a risk of an accident. X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 184).
X Engage the trailer coupling's ball coupling in the end position
(Y page 232). &
inoperative Bat‐ inoperative Bat‐
tery Low tery Low The on-board voltage is too low. The auxiliary heating has switched
itself off or cannot be switched on (Y page 148).
X Drive for a considerable distance.
The battery charges. The auxiliary heating is operational again as
soon as the on-board electrical system voltage is sufficient. &
inoperative inoperative
Refuel
Refuel
vehicle
vehicle There is too little fuel in the fuel tank. The auxiliary heating cannot
be switched on (Y page 148).
X Refuel at the nearest filling station. &
inoperative See inoperative See
Owner's Manual Owner's Manual The auxiliary heating is temporarily malfunctioning or faulty.
If the vehicle is on a level surface and the engine has cooled down:
X Make up to four attempts to switch on the auxiliary heating,
waiting several minutes between each attempt (Y page 148).
If the auxiliary heating does not switch on:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Display
messages
289On-board computer/Displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Ð
Power Power
steering
steering mal‐
mal‐
function See Own‐
function See Own‐
er's Manual er's Manual The power steering assistance is faulty.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
You will need to use more force to steer.
There is a risk of an accident. X Check whether you are able to apply the extra force required.
If you are able to steer safely: X Drive on carefully.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
If you are unable to steer safely:
X Do not drive on.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Ð
Steering malfunc‐ Steering malfunc‐
tion See Owner's tion See Owner's
Manual Manual The electric steering lock is malfunctioning.
G WARNING
The steering may be locked by the electric steering lock.
There is a risk of an accident. X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 184).
X Do not drive on.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. _
Before starting Before starting
the engine, turn the engine, turn
the the
steering
steering wheel.
wheel. The electric steering lock was unable to unlock the steering.
X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X To unlock the steering, move the steering wheel slightly.
X Insert the key into the ignition lock again. Telephone No ser‐
Telephone No ser‐
vice vice Your vehicle is outside the network provider's transmitter/
receiver range.
X Wait until the mobile phone operational readiness symbol
appears in the multifunction display. ¥
Top Top
up
upwasher
washer fluid
fluid The washer fluid level in the washer fluid reservoir has dropped
below the minimum.
X Top up the washer fluid (Y page 327).290
Display
messagesOn-board computer/Displays

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ÷
The yellow ESP
®
warn-
ing lamp flashes while
the vehicle is in motion. ESP
®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of
skidding or at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when
pulling away.
X Accelerate more gently while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
In rare cases (Y page 75) it may be best to deactivate ESP ®
.
Observe the important safety notes on ESP ®
(Y page 73). å
The yellow ESP
®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while the engine is running. ESP
®
is deactivated. ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehicle if it starts
to skid or if a wheel starts to spin.
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is deactivated, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
Further driving systems or driving safety systems are thus restric- ted.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
In rare cases (Y page 75) it may be best to deactivate ESP ®
.
Observe the important safety notes on ESP ®
(Y page 73).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Drive on carefully.
X Contact a qualified specialist workshop and have ESP ®
checked. M
Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles only:
The yellow SPORT han-
dling mode warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. SPORT handling mode is activated.
G WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated, ESP ®
is unable to sta-
bilise the vehicle.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
X Only switch to SPORT handling mode in accordance with the
conditions described in the "Activating/deactivating ESP ®
" sec-
tion (Y page 75). 298
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer/Displays

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions !
The red indicator lamp
for the electric parking
brake flashes or is lit
and/or the yellow
warning lamp for the
electric parking brake
is lit. X
Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display. 6
The red restraint sys-
tem warning lamp is lit
while the engine is run-
ning.
The restraint system is faulty.
G WARNING
The airbags or belt tensioners may either be triggered uninten-
tionally or, in the event of an accident, may not be triggered.
This poses an increased risk of injury. X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Contact a qualified specialist workshop and have the restraint
system checked.
For further information about the restraint system, see
(Y page 40). 300
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer/Displays

Engine
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ;
The yellow engine diag-
nostics warning lamp
lights up while the
engine is running. There may be a fault, for example:
R in the engine management
R in the fuel injection system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system (for vehicles with petrol engines)
R in the fuel system
The emission limit values may be exceeded and the engine may be running in emergency mode.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. Vehicles with a diesel engine: the fuel tank has been run dry
(Y
page 183).
X Start the engine three to four times after refuelling.
If the yellow engine diagnostics warning lamp goes out, emer-
gency running mode is cancelled. The vehicle need not be
checked. æ
The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp is on
while the engine is run-
ning.
The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
Operation of the auxiliary heating is deactivated if the fuel level
drops into the reserve range.
X Refuel at the nearest filling station. ?
The red coolant warn-
ing lamp lights up while
the engine is running
and the coolant tem-
perature gauge is at the start of the scale. The temperature sensor for the coolant temperature gauge is
faulty.
The coolant temperature is no longer being monitored. There is a risk of engine damage if the coolant temperature is too high.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine. Do not continue driving
under any circumstances.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 184).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
301On-board computer/Displays Z

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ?
The red coolant warn-
ing lamp comes on
while the engine is run-
ning.
The coolant level is too low.
If the coolant level is correct, the airflow to the engine radiator may
be blocked or the electric engine radiator fan may be malfunc-
tioning.
The coolant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled
sufficiently.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 184).
X Leave the vehicle and keep a safe distance from the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.
X Check the coolant level and top up the coolant, observing the
warning notes (Y page 326).
X If you have to top up the coolant frequently, have the engine
cooling system checked.
X Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not
blocked, e.g. by frozen slush.
X Do not start the engine again until the coolant temperature is
below 120 †. The engine may otherwise be damaged.
X Drive to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid putting the engine under heavy load as you do so, e.g.
driving in mountainous terrain and stop-start traffic. ?
The red coolant warn-
ing lamp comes on
while the engine is run-
ning. A warning tone
also sounds.
The coolant temperature has exceeded 120 †. The airflow to the
engine radiator may be blocked or the coolant level may be too
low.
G WARNING
The engine is not being cooled sufficiently and may be damaged.
Never drive with an overheated engine. Driving when your engine is overheated can cause some fluids which may have leaked into
the engine compartment to catch fire.
In addition, steam from an overheated engine can cause serious
burns, which can occur just by opening the bonnet.
There is a risk of injury.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 184).302
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer/Displays

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions X
Leave the vehicle and keep a safe distance from the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.
X Check the coolant level and top up the coolant, observing the
warning notes (Y page 326).
X If you have to top up the coolant frequently, have the engine
cooling system checked.
X Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not
blocked, e.g. by frozen slush.
X If the coolant temperature is below 120 †, you can continue
driving to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid putting the engine under heavy load as you do so, e.g.
driving in mountainous terrain and stop-start traffic. Driving systems
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M MSolutions ·
The red distance warn-
ing lamp lights up while
the vehicle is in motion. The distance to the vehicle in front is too small for the speed
selected.
X Increase the distance. ·
The red distance warn-
ing lamp lights up while
the vehicle is in motion. A warning tone also
sounds. You are approaching a vehicle or a stationary obstacle in your line
of travel at too high a speed.
X Be prepared to brake immediately.
X Pay careful attention to the traffic situation. You may have to
brake or take evasive action.
For further information on the distance warning function of COL-
LISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, see (Y page 70).Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
303On-board computer/Displays Z