MERCEDES-BENZ C COUPE 2005 CL203 Owner's Manual

340 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during thebulb self-check when switching on the
ignition, have the respective bulb checked
and replaced if necessary.Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
-
The yellow ABS malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and has
switched off. The BAS and the ESP are also
switched off (see messages in display).
The brake system is still functioning normally
but without the ABS available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning,
other systems such as the navigation
system* or the automatic transmission* may
also be malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.

Read and observe messages in the
display (
page 353).

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below ten
volts. The ABS has switched off.
The battery might not be charged sufficiently.

Switch off electrical consumers that
are currently not needed, e.g. seat
heating*.

If necessary, have the generator
(alternator) and battery checked.
When the voltage is above this value
again, the ABS is operational again.

341 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
3
(Canada only)
;
(USA only)
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving and
you hear a warning sound.
You are driving with the
parking brake set.

Release the parking brake
(page 50).
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving.
There is insufficient brake fluid
in the reservoir.

Risk of accident! Carefully 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 the brake warning lamp illumi-
nated can result in an accident. Have your
brake system checked immediately if the
brake warning lamp stays on. Don’t 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.

342 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
ú
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine
malfunction indicator
lamp comes on while
driving.
There is a malfunction in:

The fuel management system


The ignition system


The emission control system


Systems which affect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in ex-
cessive emissions values and may
switch the engine to its limp-home
(emergency operation) mode.

Have the vehicle checked as soon as possi-
ble by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is used
by the service station to link the vehicle to
the shop diagnostics system. It allows the
accurate identification of system
malfunctions through the readout of
diagnostic trouble codes. It is located in the
front left area of the footwell next to the
parking brake pedal.
A loss of pressure has been detect-
ed in the fuel system. The fuel cap
may not be closed properly or the
fuel system may be leaky.

Check the fuel cap (
page 288).
If it is not closed properly:

Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:

Have the fuel system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Your fuel tank is empty.

After refuelling start, turn off and restart the
engine three or four times in succession.
The limp-home mode is canceled. You do not
need to have your vehicle checked.

343 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
v
The yellow ESP warning lamp
comes on while driving.
The ESP is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road, weather and traffic
conditions.

Switch the ESP back on (
page 85).
If the ESP cannot be switched back on,
have the system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
The yellow ESP warning lamp
flashes while driving.
The ESP or traction control has come into
operation because of detected traction loss
in at least one tire.

When driving off, apply as little
throttle as possible.

While driving, ease up on the
accelerator.

Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road and weather
conditions.

Do not deactivate the ESP.
Exceptions: (
page 83).
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.

344 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
The yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp in the fuel gauge
comes on while driving.
The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 288).
<
The red seat belt telltale illumi-
nates for a brief period after
starting the engine.
The telltale reminds you and your passengers
to fasten seat belts.

Fasten your seat belt.
The telltale goes out.
The red seat belt telltale
illuminates and a warning chime
sounds for approximately six
seconds after starting the
engine.
The driver’s seat belt is not fastened before
the engine is started.

Fasten the driver’s seat belt.
The telltale goes out.
1
The red SRS indicator lamp
comes on while driving.
There is a malfunction in the restraint
systems. The air bags or emergency
tensioning devices (ETDs) could deploy
unexpectedly or fail to deploy in an accident.

Drive with added caution to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Warning!
G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is
indicated 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 unnec-
essarily which could result in an accident
and/or injury to you or to others.

345 Practical hints
What to do if …
Lamp in center consoleProblem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
56
The front passenger front air bag
off indicator lamp illuminates and
remains illuminated with the
weight of a typical adult or some-
one larger than a small individual
on the front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Have the system checked as soon as possible
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Also note any messages in the multifunction
display and follow corrective steps
(page 347).
Warning!
G
If the 56indicator lamp illuminates
and remains illuminated with the weight of a
typical adult or someone larger than a small
individual on the front passenger seat, do
not have any passenger use the front
passenger seat until the system has been
repaired.

346 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
56
The front passenger front air
bag off indicator lamp does
not illuminate and/or does
not remain illuminated with
the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a stan-
dard child restraint or less on
the front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Make sure there is nothing between seat cushion
and child seat and check installation of the child
seat.

Make sure that no objects applying supplemental
weight onto the seat are present.

If the front passenger front air bag off indicator lamp
remains out, have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not transport a child on the front passenger seat
until the system has been repaired.

Also note any messages in the multifunction display
and follow corrective steps (
page 349).
Warning!
G
If the 56indicator lamp does not
illuminate or remains out with the weight of
a typical 12-month-old child in a standard
child restraint or less on the front passenger
seat, do not transport a child on the front
passenger seat until the system has been
repaired.

347 Practical hints
What to do if …
Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
Warning and malfunction messages
appear in the multifunction display located
in the instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in
this Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the vehicle status message
memory menu in the control system
(page 132) displays both cleared and
uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the
multifunction display in red color.Certain messages of high priority cannot
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (
page 24) or
buttonj, k, ÿ, orè on the
steering wheel.
Other messages of high priority and
messages of less immediate priority can
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (page 24) or
buttonj, k, ÿ, orè on the
steering wheel. These are then stored in
the vehicle status message memory
(
page 132). Remember that clearing a
message will only make the message dis-
appear. Clearing a message will not cor-
rect the condition that caused the
message to appear.
Warning!
G
All categories of messages contain
important information which should be
taken note of and, where a malfunction is
indicated, addressed as soon as possible at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty, or result in property
damage or personal injury.Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
Contact your nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

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.

349 Practical hints
What to do if …
Text messagesDisplay message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front-pass
airbag activated
See Operator’s Manual
Air bag is activated while driving even
though a child, small individual, or object
below the system's weight threshold is on
the front passenger seat, or the front pas-
senger seat is empty. Objects on the seat
or forces acting on the seat may make the
system sense supplemental weight.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon
as possible and check the following:
Make sure that there is nothing
between seat cushion and child seat
and check installation of the child
seat.

Make sure that no objects applying
supplemental weight onto the seat are
present. The system may recognize
such supplemental weight and sense
that an occupant on the front passen-
ger seat is of a heavier weight than ac-
tually present.
(Continued on next page)