ABS MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS SALOON 2011 Owner's Manual

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
!
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ABS is temporarily unavailable. Therefore, BAS, BAS PLUS, ESP ®
,
EBD (electronic brake force distribution), PRE-SAFE ®
,
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD function, hill start assist, the adaptive
brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, for example, are also
deactivated.
Self-diagnosis is not yet complete or the on-board voltage may be
insufficient, for example.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Carefully drive on a suitable stretch of road, making slight steer-
ing movements, at a speed above 20 km/h.
The functions mentioned above are available again when the
warning lamp goes out.
If the warning lamp is still on:
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. A
warning tone also
sounds. G
Risk of accident
EBD is faulty. Therefore, ABS,B AS, BAS PLUS, ESP®
, PRE-SAFE ®
,
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD function, hill start assist, the adaptive
brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, for example, are not
available either.
The brake system continue sto function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 294
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
J֌!
The red brake warning
lamp, the yellow ESP
®
and ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps and the yellow
ABS warning lamp are
lit while the engine is
running. G
Risk of accident
ABS and ESP ®
are malfunctioning. Therefore, BAS, BAS PLUS,
EBD, PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD function, hill start
assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, for
example, are not available either.
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ÷
The yellow ESP
®
warn-
ing lamp flashes while
the vehicle is in motion. G
Risk of accident
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 during the journey.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Vehicles with a 12-button multifunction steering wheel only: do
not deactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: (Y page 75). å
Vehicles with a 12-but-
ton multifunction steer-
ing wheel only:
The yellow ESP
®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while
the engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are deactivated. ESP ®
will not
stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if awheel starts to spin.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 75).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
295On-board computer and displays Z

carry ou
tthe work required. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you use aMercedes-Benz
Service Centre for this purpose. In particular,
work relevant to safety or on safety-related
systems must be carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop.
X Correct the tyre pressure if it is still at least
130 kPa (1.3 bar/20 psi) (for the values,
see the fuel filler flap).
X To increase the tyre pressure: switch on
the tyre inflation compressor. Example: TIREFIT kit, version 2
X
To reduce the tyre pressure: press pres-
sure release button :next to pressure
gauge ;.
X TIREFIT kit version 1: pull the tyre sealant
bottle from the recess of the tyre inflation
compressor.
X TIREFIT kit version 1: unscrew the hose
from the tyre inflation compressor to the
flange of the tyre sealant bottle. TIREFIT kit version 2 X
TIREFIT kit version 2: to remove the tyre
sealant bottle from the tyre inflation com-
pressor, press together the locking tabs on
the yellow cap.
X TIREFIT kit version 2: pull the tyre sealant
bottle out of the tyre inflation compressor.
The filler hose stays on the tyre sealant
bottle.
X Stow the tyre sealant bottle, the tyre infla-
tion compressor and the warning triangle.
X Drive to the nearest workshop and have the
tyre changed there.
X Have the tyre sealant bottle and the filler
hose replaced as soon as possible at a
qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. H
Environmental note
Have the used tyre sealant bottle disposed of
professionally, e.g. at aMercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
X Have the tyre sealant bottle replaced every
four years at a qualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre. Changing
awheel and fitting the spare
wheel
Preparing the vehicle G
WARNING
The wheel and tyre size of the emergency
spare wheel/spare wheel may diffe rto that of
the damaged wheel. When using an emer-
gency spare wheel/spare wheel the handling
characteristics of the vehicle may change.
Adapt your style of driving accordingly.
Never operate the vehicle with more than one
emergency spare wheel/spare wheel that dif-
fers in size.
Only use an emergency spare wheel/spare
wheel of a differing size briefly and do not
switch off ESP ®
. Flat tyre
341Breakdown assistance
Z

M+S tyres
At temperatures below +7 †, use winter tyres
or all-seaso ntyres .Both types of tyre are
identified by the M+S marking.
Only winter tyres bearing the isnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking pro-
vide the best possible grip in wintry road con-
ditions. Only these tyres will allow driving
safety systems such as ABS and ESP ®
to
function optimally in winter. These tyres have
been developed specifically for driving in
snow.
Use M+S tyres of the same make and tread
on all wheels to maintain safe handling char-
acteristics. G
WARNING
M+S tyres with a tread depth of less than
4mmm ust be replaced. They are no longer
suitable for winter use and can no longer pro-
vide sufficient grip .This could cause you to
lose control of your vehicle and cause an acci-
dent.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tyres you have
fitted.
If you fit M+S tyres that have a lower maxi-
mum permissible speed than that of the vehi-
cle, affix an appropriate warning sign in the
driver's field of vision. This can be obtained
at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Under these circumstances, you should also
restrict the maximum speed of the vehicle
using permanent SPEEDTRONIC so that it
does not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for the M+S tyres(Y page 183).
When you have fitted M+S tyres:
X Check the tyre pressures (Y page 361).
X Restart the tyre pressure loss warning sys-
tem (Y page 362).
X Restart the tyre pressure monitor
(Y page 365). G
WARNING
If you fit the spare wheel when driving with M
+S tyres, bear in mind that driving stability will
be impaired due to unstable cornering char-
acteristics caused by the different tyres. You
should therefore adapt your driving style and
drive carefully.
Have the spare wheel replaced at the nearest
qualified specialist workshop which has the
necessary specialist knowledge and tools to
carry out the work required. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you use aMercedes-Benz
Service Centre for this purpose. In particular,
work relevant to safety or on safety-related
systems must be carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. Snow chains
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains that
have been specially approved for your vehicle
by Mercedes-Benz, or that are of a corre-
sponding standard of quality.
If you intend to fit snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind:
R it is not permissible to attach snow chains
to all wheel-tyre combinations; see the
information under "Wheel/tyre combina-
tions" in the "Wheels and tyres" section.
R snow chains must not be fitted to emer-
gency spare wheels, e.g. a "Minispare"
emergency spare wheel.
R only fit snow chains in pairs and to the rear
wheels, even on vehicles with 4MATIC.
Observe the manufacturer's installation
instructions.
! Vehicles with steel wheels: if you wish
to fit snow chains to steel wheels, make
sure that you remove the respective
wheels' hubcaps first .The hubcaps may
otherwise be damaged.
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 50 km/h. 360
Winter operationWheels and tyres

the work required. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends tha tyou use a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre for this purpose. In particular, work
relevant to safety or on safety-related sys-
tems must be carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
The wheels could work loose if they are not
tightened to a torque of 130 Nm.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use wheel bolts of the
correc tsize which have been approved for
Mercedes-Ben zvehicles.
The wear patterns on the fron tand rea rtyres
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Interchange the wheels befor eaclear wear
pattern has formed on the tyres. Front tyres
typically wear more on the shoulders and the
rear tyres in the centre.
On vehicles that have the same size front and
rea rwheels, you can interchange the wheels
every 5000 km to 10,000 km depending on
the degree of tyre wear. Do not reverse the
direction of tyre rotation.
Cleant he contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is interchanged. Check the tyre pressure and,
if necessary, restart the tyre pressure loss
warning system or the tyre pressure monitor.
! On vehicles fitted with a tyre pressure
monitor, electronic components are loca-
ted in the wheel.
Tyre-fitting tools should not be applied in
the area of the valve, as this could damage
the electronic components.
Always have the tyres changed at a quali-
fied specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre. Direction of rotation
Tyres with a specified direction of rotation
have additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk
of aquaplaning. You will only gain these ben-
efits if the correct direction of rotation is
observed. An arrow on the sidewall of the tyre indicates
its correct direction of rotation.
You may fit an emergency spare wheel/spare
wheel against the direction of rotation.
Observe the time restriction on use as well as
the speed limitation specified on the emer-
gency spare wheel/spare wheel. Storing wheels
Store wheels that are not being used in a cool,
dry and preferably dark place. Protect the
tyres against oil, grease, petrol and diesel. Cleaning the wheels
G
WARNING
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with circu-
lar-jet nozzles (dirt grinders) to clean your
vehicle, in particular the tyres. You could oth-
erwise damage the tyres and cause an acci-
dent. Wheel and tyre combinations
Points to remember
! For safety reasons, Mercedes-Ben zrec-
ommends that you only use tyres and
wheels which have been approved by
Mercedes-Benzs pecifically for your vehi-
cle.
These tyres have been specially adapted
for use with the contro lsystems, such as
ABS or ESP ®
, and are marked as follows:
R MO =Mercedes-BenzO riginal
R MOE =Mercedes-BenzO riginal Extended
(tyres with run-flat characteristics)
R MO1 =Mercedes-BenzO riginal (only cer-
tain AMG tyres)
Mercedes-Benz Original Extended tyres
may only be used on wheels that have been
specifically approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Only use tyres, wheels or accessories tes-
ted and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Cer- 366
Wheel and tyre combinationsWheels and tyres

therefore strongly recommended to observe
regular oil changes using an approved engine
oil with the appropriate SAE classification. Brake fluid
G
WARNING
Ove raperiod of time, the brake fluid absorbs
moisture from the air; This lowers its boiling
point.
If the boiling point of the brake fluid is too low,
vapour pockets may form in the brake system
when the brakes are applied hard (e.g. when
driving downhill). This impairs braking effi-
ciency.
You should have the brake fluid renewed at
regular intervals. The brake fluid change inter-
vals can be found in the Service Booklet.
Only use brake fluid approved by Mercedes-
Benz. Information about approved brake flu-
ids can be obtained from any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre or on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com
i There is usually a notice in the engine
compartment to remind you when the next
brake fluid change is due. Coolant
Important safety notes The coolant is a mixture of water and anti-
freeze/corrosion inhibitor. It performs the
following tasks:
R
anti-corrosion protection
R antifreeze protection
R raising the boiling point
i When the vehicle is first delivered, it is fil-
led with a coolant mixture that ensures
adequate antifreeze and corrosion protec-
tion.
! Only add coolant that has been premixed
with the desired antifreeze protection. The
engine could otherwise be damaged.
Further information on coolants and on fill-
ing can be found in the Mercedes-Benz
Specifications for Service Products, MB
Approval 310.1, e.g. on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com .You can
also consult a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
! Always use a suitable coolant mixture,
even in countries where high temperatures
prevail.
Otherwise, the engine cooling system is not
sufficiently protected from corrosion and
overheating.
If antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor is present in
the correc tconcentration, the boiling point of
the coolant during operation will be around
130 †.
The antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor concentra-
tion in the engine cooling system should:
R be at least 50%. This will protec tthe engine
cooling system against freezing down to
around -37 †.
R not exceed 55% (antifreeze protection
down to -45 †); otherwise, heat will not be
dissipated as effectively.
If the vehicle has lost coolant, top it up with
equal amounts of water and antifreeze/cor- Service products and capacities
383Technical data Z