warning MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS COUPE 2005 Owners Manual

348 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
appear in the display. High priority
messages appear in red color.For your convenience the messages are
divided into two sections:


Text messages (
page 349)


Symbol messages (
page 357)
iSwitching on the ignition causes all
instrument cluster lamps (except low
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and
turn signal indicator lamps unless
activated) as well as the multifunction
display to come on. Make sure the
lamps and multifunction display are in
working order before starting your
journey.

350 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front-pass
airbag activated
See Operator’s Manual
If performing any of the above corrective steps is
successful, the message
Front-pass airbag
deactivated See Operator’s Manual
will appear
in the multifunction display, confirming the situa-
tion has been remedied. Note that after perform-
ing the corrective steps, it may take up to
60 seconds for the message
Front-pass airbag
deactivated See Operator’s Manual
to appear.
If the message
Front-pass airbag activated
See Operator’s Manual
remains on in the multi-
function display and/or the 56indicator
lamp remains out even after performing the
above corrective steps, have the system checked
as soon as possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the message
Front-pass airbag
activated See Operator’s Manual
re-
mains on in the multifunction display and/or
the 56 indicator lamp remains out
even after performing the above corrective
steps, do not have any children12 years old
and under and other small individuals use
the front passenger seat until the system
has been repaired.

352 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front-pass
airbag deactivated
See Operator’s Manual
Note that after performing the corrective steps, it
may take up to 60 seconds for the message Front-pass airbag activated See Operator’s
Manual
to appear.
If the message
Front-pass airbag deactivated See
Operator’s Manual
remains on in the multifunction
display and/or the 56indicator lamp re-
mains on even after performing the above corrective
steps, have the system checked as soon as possible
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not have any passenger use the front passenger
seat until the system has been repaired.
Warning!
G
If the message
Front-pass airbag
deactivated See Operator’s Manual
remains on in the multifunction display
and/or the 56indicator lamp re-
mains illuminated even after performing the
above corrective steps, do not have any pas-
senger use the front passenger seat until
the system has been repaired.

355
Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
The ESP was deactivated because of a
malfunction or interrupted power supply.
The ABS might not be operational.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ESP available.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
If the yellow ESP warning lamp v
flashes while driving and this message
appears, the electronic traction system
has switched off to prevent overheating
of the drive wheel brakes.
As soon as the brakes have cooled off, the
electronic traction system switches on
again.
The self-diagnosis has not been
completed yet.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ESP available.
The display will clear after driving a short
distance at more than 12 mph (20 km/h).
The charging voltage has fallen below ten
volts. The ESP has switched off.
The battery might not be charged
sufficiently.

Continue driving with added caution.

If necessary, have the generator and
battery checked.
When the voltage is above this value
again, the ESP is operational again.

356 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
malfunction.
Visit workshop.
The ESP is deactivated because of a
malfunction.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ESP available.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
Display malfunction.
Visit workshop.
The ESP or the ESP display is
malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
SRS
Restraint system
malfunction
Drive to workshop
The system is malfunctioning.

Drive with added caution to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Warning!
G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is indi-
cated as outlined above, the SRS may not be
operational. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have
the system checked; otherwise the SRS may
not be activated when needed in an
accident, which could result in serious or
fatal injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly
and unnecessarily which could also result in
injury.

358 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
!
(Canada only)
;
(USA only)
Parking brake
Release brake.
You are driving with the parking brake
set.

Release the parking brake
(page 50).
2
Brake wear
Visit workshop.
The brake pads have reached their wear
limit.

Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
Brake fluid
Visit workshop.
There is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.

Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle and
notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Do not add brake fluid! This
will not solve the problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with this message displayed can
result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately. Do not add
brake fluid before checking the brake
system. Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir
can result in spilling brake fluid on hot
engine parts and the brake fluid catching
fire. You can be seriously burned.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Maintenance
Booklet.

359
Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
B
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 296).

If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You can be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning. Extended driving with
the message and symbol displayed
may cause serious engine damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount
of coolant in the cooling system. The
engine will overheat causing major
engine damage.

360 Practical hintsWhat to do if …
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
•
Coolant
Stop, engine off!
The coolant is too hot.

Stop the vehicle and turn off the
engine.

Only start the engine again after the
message disappears. You could
otherwise damage the engine.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated 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 and can occur just by opening
the hood. Stay away from the engine if you
see or hear steam coming from it.
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). Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

364 Practical hintsWhat to do if …When the message
At next gas station
add 1.0 qt engine oil
(Canada:
1.0 l
)
appears while the engine is running and at
operating temperature, the engine oil level
has dropped to approximately the mini-
mum level. When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.
Visually check for oil leaks. If no obvious oil
leaks are noted, drive to the nearest
service station where the engine oil should
be topped to the required level with an
approved oil specified in the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet.
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
:
Engine oil level
Visit workshop.
The engine oil has dropped to a critical
level.

Check the engine oil level
(page 294) and add oil as required
(page 293).

If you must add engine oil frequently,
have the engine checked for possible
leaks.
Oil sensor malfunction
Visit workshop.
The measuring system is malfunctioning.

Have the measuring system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.!The engine oil level warnings should
not be ignored. Extended driving with
the symbol displayed could result in
serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

371
Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
<
Belt system
Drive to workshop
The seat belt system is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
_
Steering oil
Visit workshop.
The steering gear oil level is too low.
There is a danger of steering gear
damage.

Have the system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the level of steering gear oil in reservoir is
too low, the steering power assistance could
fail. Much greater effort will then be needed
to turn the steering wheel.
Do not add steering oil without checking the
steering system.
Do not drive the vehicle. Have the system
checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.