MERCEDES-BENZ C32AMG 2003 W203 Owner's Manual

271 Practical hints
What to do if …
When the
ENGINE OIL LEVEL – CHECK
LEVEL!
message appears while the engine
is running and at operating temperature,
the engine oil level has dropped to approx-
imately the minimum mark on the dipstick.
When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.
If no oil leaks are noted, continue to drive
to the nearest service station where the
engine oil should be topped to the “full”
mark on the dipstick with an approved oil.
:
ENGINE OIL
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The engine oil has dropped to a critical
level.

Check the engine oil level
(page 236) and add oil as required.

If you must add engine oil frequently,
have the engine checked for possible
leaks.
There is water in the oil.

Have the oil checked.
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The measuring system is malfunctioning.

Have the measuring system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
!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.

272 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
A
RESERVE FUEL
VISIT FILLING STATION!
The fuel level has dropped below the
reserve mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 233).
J
DOOR OPEN!
You are attempting to drive with one or
more doors open.

Close the doors.
Y
HOOD OPEN!
You are driving with the hood open.

Close the hood (
page 235).
Ê
TRUNK OPEN!
This message will appear whenever the
trunk lid is open.

Close the trunk lid.
I
REPLACE KEY
VISIT WORKSHOP!
No additional code available for
SmartKey.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
AUTOM. LIGHT ON
REMOVE KEY!
You have forgotten to remove the key.

Remove the key from the starter
switch.
.
LAMP SENSOR
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The lamp sensor is malfunctioning. The
headlamps switch on automatically.

In the control system, set lamp
operation to manual (
page 119).

Switch on headlamps using the
exterior lamp switch.

LOW BEAM, L
CHECK LAMPS!
The left low beam lamp is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
LOW BEAM, R
CHECK LAMPS!
The right low beam lamp is
malfunctioning.

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

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

273 Practical hints
What to do if …
.
TURN SIGNAL, LR
CHECK LAMPS!

The left rear turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
TURN SIGNAL, RR
CHECK LAMPS!

The right rear turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
TURN SIG. IN MIRROR L
CHECK LAMPS!
The left turn signal in the side mirror is
malfunctioning. This message will only
appear if all light emitting diodes have
stopped working.

Have the LEDs replaced as soon as
possible.
TURN SIG. IN MIRROR R
CHECK LAMPS!
The right turn signal in the side mirror is
malfunctioning. This message will only
appear if all light emitting diodes have
stopped working.

Have the LEDs replaced as soon as
possible.
TURN SIGNAL, LF
CHECK LAMPS!
The left front turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
TURN SIGNAL, RF
CHECK LAMPS!
The right front turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
BRAKE LAMP
VISIT WORKSHOP!
Brake lamp illumination is delayed or
lamp is permanently on.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
BRAKE LAMP, L
CHECK LAMPS!

The left brake lamp is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
BRAKE LAMP, R
CHECK LAMPS!

The right brake lamp is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution

274 Practical hintsWhat to do if ….
3RD BRAKE LAMP
CHECK LAMPS!

The high mounted brake lamp is
malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
HIGH BEAM, L
CHECK LAMPS!

The left high beam lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
HIGH BEAM, R
CHECK LAMPS!

The right high beam lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
LICENSE PLATE LAMP, L
CHECK LAMPS!

The left license plate lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
LICENSE PLATE LAMP, R
CHECK LAMPS!

The right license plate lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
FRONT FOGLAMP, L
CHECK LAMPS!

The left front fog lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
FRONT FOGLAMP, R
CHECK LAMPS!

The right front fog lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
REAR FOGLAMP
CHECK LAMPS!

The rear fog lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
REVERSE LAMP, L
CHECK LAMPS!

The left backup lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
REVERSE LAMP, R
CHECK LAMPS!

The right backup lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution

275 Practical hints
What to do if …
.
TAIL LAMP, L
CHECK LAMPS!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!

The left tail lamp is malfunctioning.
A backup bulb is being used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
TAIL LAMP, R
CHECK LAMPS!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!

The right tail lamp is malfunctioning.
A backup bulb is being used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
SIDE MARKER LAMP, LF
CHECK LAMPS!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!

The left parking lamps are
malfunctioning. A backup bulb is being
used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
SIDE MARKER LAMP, RF
CHECK LAMPS!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!

The right parking lamps are
malfunctioning. A backup bulb is being
used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
AUTOM. LIGHT ON
REMOVE KEY!
Key in the starter switch position1 or2.

Remove key from the starter switch.
LIGHTS
TURN OFF LAMPS!
This display appears if the driver’s door is
opened with the engine shut off and no
key in the starter switch.

Insert key in the starter switch.

Switch off lights.
<
SEAT BELT SYSTEM
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The seat belt system is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
DRIVER’S SEAT BELT
FASTEN SEAT BELT!
The display reminds you and your
passengers to fasten seat belts.

Fasten the seat belts.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution

276 Practical hintsWhat to do if …<
PASSENGER SEAT BELT
FASTEN SEAT BELT!
The display reminds you and your
passengers to fasten seat belts.

Fasten the seat belts.
_
STEERING WHEEL ADJUST
LOCK!
The steering column is not properly
locked .

Lock steering column (
page 37).
POWER STEERING FLUID
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.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
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 your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

277 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
L
TELE AID
VISIT WORKSHOP!
One or more main functions of the Tele
Aid system* are malfunctioning.

Have the Tele Aid system* checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
ì
FUNCTION
NOT AVAILABLE!
This display appears if button
ì

or
í
on the multifunction steering
wheel is pressed and the vehicle is not
equipped with a telephone*.
1
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
VISIT 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.

278 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
#
UNDERVOLTAGE
ENGINE ON!
The battery has insufficient voltage and
can no longer supply the convenience
functions such as seat heater*.

Start the engine (
page 44).
UNDERVOLTAGE
SWITCH CONSUMERS OFF!
The battery is malfunctioning.

Have the battery checked at a service
station.
G
VISIT WORKSHOP!
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
The instrument cluster display is
malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
±
VISIT WORKSHOP!
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
Certain electronic systems are unable to
relay information to the control system.
The following systems may have failed:

Coolant temperature display


Tachometer


Cruise control display

Have the electronic systems checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center (
page 259).
W
WASHER FLUID
CHECK LEVEL!
The fluid level has dropped to about
1/3
of total reservoir capacity.
Add washer fluid (
page 241).

279 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Where will I find ...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is stored in the trunk on the
left side secured by a velcro strap.
Unfasten velcro strap.

Remove first aid kit.
Vehicle tool kit
The following is included:

Vehicle tool kit


Towing eye bolt


Wheel wrench


Alignment bolt


Vehicle jack


Wheel bolts


Special fuse extractor


Spare fusesRemoving the vehicle tool kit
Vehicles with full size tire spare wheel
The vehicle tool kit is stored in the space
underneath the trunk floor in the storage
tray (
page 281).
Vehicles with Minispare wheel

Lift up the trunk floor cover.

Loosen retaining screw1 in the middle
of storage well casing2.

Remove storage well casing2.
1Retaining screw
2Storage well casing
iCheck expiration dates and contents
for completeness at least once a year
and replace missing/expired items.


280 Practical hintsWhere will I find ...?
Remove vehicle tool kit storage well
casing5.
3Arrow
4Minispare wheel
5Vehicle tool kit storage well casing
6Vehicle tool kit
Wheel wrench
Vehicle jackVehicle jackVehicles with full size tire spare wheel
The vehicle jack is stored in the space
underneath the trunk floor together with
the vehicle tool kit in the storage tray
(
page 281).
Vehicles with Minispare wheel
The vehicle jack is stored in the space
underneath the trunk floor together with
the vehicle tool kit in the vehicle tool kit
storage well casing (
page 279).
Storage position
Remove the vehicle jack from its
compartment.
iArrow3 on vehicle tool kit storage well
casing5 must point in the direction of
travel. Otherwise you cannot place the
storage well casing on top and secure
the Minispare wheel with retaining
screw1 (
page 279).
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use,
e s p e c i a l l y o n h i l l s . A l w a y s t r y t o u s e t h e j a c k
on level surface. Make sure that the jack
arm is fully seated in the jack take-up
bracket. Always lower the vehicle onto
sufficient capacity jackstands before
working under the vehicle.