check engine MERCEDES-BENZ CLS COUPE 2012 Owner's Manual

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
÷
The yellowE
SP®
warn-
ing lamp flashes while
the vehicle is in motion. ESP
®
or traction control has intervened because there is arisk 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 ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 65).å
The yellowE
SP®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while
the engine is running. ESP
®
is deactivated.
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is switched off, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
The danger of skidding and having an accident increases.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 65).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Drive on carefully.
X Have ESP ®
checked at aqualified specialist workshop. M
AMG vehicles 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 switched on, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilise the vehicle.
The danger of skidding and having an accident increases.
X Only switch to SPORT handling mode in accordance with the
condition swritten in the "Activating/deactivating SPORT han-
dling mode" section (Y page 66).264
Warning and indicator lampsint
he instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
J
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the vehicle is
moving.
Awarning tone
also sounds. You are driving with the parking brake applied.
X
Release the parking brake.
The warning lamp goes out and the warning tone ceases. 6
The red SRS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
There is
amalfunction in the SRS (Supplemental Restraint Sys-
tem).
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 Drive on carefully.
X Have SRS checked at aqualified specialist workshop immedi-
ately.
For further information about the Supplemental Restraint System,
see (Y page 41). Engine
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
;
The yellowe
ngine diag-
nosticsw arning lamp
lights up while the
engine is running. There may be
afault, 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 Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at aqualified
specialist workshop. Vehicles with
adiesel engine: the fuel tank has been run dry
(Y page 158).
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. 266
Warning and indicator lampsint
he instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
?
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 mal-
functioning.
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 Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 159).
X Leave the vehicle and keep asafe 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 299).
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
under 120 †. The engine may otherwise be damaged.
X Drive to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine 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.
Awarning 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 compartmen ttocatch fire.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause serious burns, which
can occur just by opening the bonnet.
This poses arisk 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 Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 159).268
Warning and indicator lampsint
he instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
X
Leave the vehicle and keep asafe 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 299).
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 heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain and stop-start traffic. Driving systems
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
·
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.
Aw
arning tone also
sounds. You are approaching
avehicle or astationar yobstacle in your line
of travel at to ohigh aspeed.
X Be prepared to brak eimmediately.
X Pay careful attentio ntothetraffic situation. You may have to
brak eort akee vasive action.
Further informatio nonDISTRONICPLUS(Ypage 170).
Further informatio nonPRE-SAFE ®
Brake (Y page 68). Warning and indicator lamps in th
einstrumen tcluster
269On-boar dcomputer and displays Z

X
Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off.
X Pull release lever :on the bonnet.
The bonnet is released. X
Reach into the gap, pull bonnet catch han-
dle ;up and lift the bonnet.
If you lift the bonnet by approximately
40 cm, the bonnet is opened and held open
automatically by the gas-filled strut.
Closing the bonnet G
WARNING
Make sure that nobody can become trapped
as you close the bonnet.
X Lower the bonnet and let it fall from a
height of approximately 20 cm.
X Check that the bonnet has engaged prop-
erly.
If the bonnet can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Open it again and close
it with alittle more force. Radiator
Vehicles with adiesel engine: do not cover
the radiator .Donot use thermal mats, insect
protection covers or anything similar. Doing
so can cause the Onboard Diagnostics Sys-
tem to display inaccurate values. Some of
these values are legally required and must
always be correct. Engine oil
General notes Dependin
gonyour driving style, the vehicle
consumes up to 0.8 lofoil per 1,000 km. The
oil consumption may be higher than this when
the vehicle is new or if you frequently drive at
high engine speeds.
Dependin gonthe engine, the oil dipstick may
be installed at adifferent location.
When checking the oil level:
R park the vehicle on alevel surface.
R the engine should be switched off for
approximately five minutes if the engine is
at normal operating temperature.
R if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature, e.g. if the engine was only
started briefly: wait about 30 minutes
before carrying out the measurement. Engine compartment
297Maintenance and care Z

Checking th
eoil level usin gthe oil dip-
stick Example
:vehicles with apetrol engine Example: vehicles with
adiesel engine
X Pull oil dipstick :out of the oil dipstick
tube.
X Wipe off oil dipstick :.
X Slowly slide oil dipstick :into the guide
tube to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark =and
MAX mark ;,the oil level is correct.
X If the oil level has dropped to MIN mark
= or below, add 1.0 litre of engine oil.
Adding engine oil G
WARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot
engine parts, it may ignite and you could burn
yourself. Do not spill any engine oil on hot
engine parts. H
Environmental note
When topping up the oil, take care not to spill
any. If oil enters the soil or waterways, it is
harmful to the environment.
! Only use engine oils and oil filters that
have been approved for vehicles with a
service system. You can obtain alist of the
engine oils and oil filters tested and
approved in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz Specification sfor Service
Product satany Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
Damage to the engine or exhaust system is
caused by the following:
R using engine oils and oil filters that have
not been specifically approved for the
service system
R changin gthe engine oil and oil filter after
missing the change interval required by
the service system
R using engine oil additives
! Do not add too much oil. Topping up with
too much engine oil can result in damage
to the engine or to the catalytic converter.
Have exces sengine oil siphoned off. Example: engine oil filler cap
X
Turn cap :anti-clockwise and remove it.
X Top up the engine oil.
If the oil level is at or below the MIN mark
on the oil dipstick ,add 1.0 litre of engine
oil. 298
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

X
Replac ecap : on th efiller neck and turn
clockwise.
Mak esuret hatthe cap locks securel yinto
place.
X Chec kthe oil level again with the oil dip-
stick (Y page 298).
For further information on engine oil, see
(Y page 363). Other service products
Checking the coolant level G
WARNING
The cooling system is pressurised. Therefore,
only unscrew the cap once the engine has
cooled down. The coolant temperature gauge
must display less than 70 †.Otherwise, you
could be scalded if hot coolant escapes. X
Park the vehicl eonalevel surface.
Onl ycheck the coolant level if the vehicle
is on alevel surface and the engine has
coole ddown.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 141).
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button twice (Y page 141).
X Check the coolant temperatur edisplay in
the instrument cluster.
Th ec oolant temperatur emustbeb elow
70 †.
X Turn the key to position 0(Y page 141) in
the ignition lock. X
Slowl yturnc ap : half aturna nti-clock-
wise to allow exces spressure to escape.
X Turn cap :further anti-clockwis eand
remove it.
If th ecoolan tisatt heleve lofm arkerbar
= in th efille rneck when cold, ther eis
enough coolant in coolant expansion
tank ;.
If the coolant level is approximately
1.5 cm above marker bar =in the filler
neckw hen warm, there is enough coolant
in coolant expansion tank ;.
X If necessary, top up with coolant that has
been tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
X Replace cap :and turn it clockwise as far
as it will go.
For further information on coolant, see
(Y page 365).
Topping up the windscreen washer sys-
tem/headlam pcleaning system G
WARNING
Windscreen washer fluid/antifreez eishighly
flammable. Avoid spilling windscreen washer
fluid/antifreez eonhot engin ecomponent sas
it can ignit eand burn. Severe burns could be
the result. X
To open: pull cap:upwards by the tab.
X Top up with the premixed washer fluid.
X To close: press cap :ontothe filler neck
until it engages. Engine compartment
299Maintenance and care Z

Special service requirements
Arduous operating condition
sorincreased
loads on the vehicle will require some service
work to be performed more often than for a
vehicle in normal use. Such arduousc ondi-
tions include regular city driving with frequent
intermediate stops and use in mountainous
terrain or on poor road surfaces.
For example, if the vehicle is used under ardu-
ous operating conditions, have air filters,
engine oil and oil filters changed frequently
and check the wheels often.F urther informa-
tion can be obtaine dataqualified specialist
workshop, e.g. aMercedes-Ben zService
Centre.
Driving abroad
An extensive Mercedes-BenzS ervice network
is also available in other countries. The
Service Hotline's curren ttelephone numbers
for use when you are abroad are to be found
in the "Mercedes-Benz Service24h" section
of the Service Booklet. Care
General notes
H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packagin gand cleaning
cloth sinane nvironmentally responsible man-
ner.
! For cleanin gyour vehicle, do not use any
of the following:
R dry, rough or hard cloths
R abrasive cleanin gagents
R solvents
R cleanin gagents containin gsolvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective
films with hard objects, e.g. aring or ice
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces and protective film. !
Do not park up the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleanin git, particularly
after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for afew minutes after clean-
ing. Braking heats the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings, thus drying them. The
vehicle can then be parked up.
Regular care of your vehicle is acondition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care product sand cleanin gagents rec-
ommended and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash G
WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. This could cause an accident. For
this reason, following acar wash, drive with
particular care until the brakes are dry. G
WARNING
The vehicle is braked when the HOLD function
or DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. Therefore,
deactivat ethe HOLD function and DISTRONIC
PLUS before the vehicle is washed in an auto-
matic car wash.
! Make sure that:
R the side windows and sliding sunroof are
closed completely.
R the blower for the ventilation/heating is
switched off (OFF button is depressed).
R the windscreen wiper switch is at posi-
tion 0.
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
! In car washes with atowing mechanism,
make sure that the automatic transmission
is in transmission position N,otherwise the
vehicle could be damaged. Care
301Maintenance and care Z

Battery aci
discaustic.
Avoid contact with the skin,
eyes or clothing.
Wea rsuitable protective
clothing ,inparticular
gloves, an apro nand aface
mask.
Immediately rins eacid
splashes off with clean
water. Consult adoctor if
necessary. Wear ey
eprotection. Kee
pchildren away. Observ
ethisO wner'sM an-
ual. G
WARNING
For safety reasons ,Mercedes-Benz recom-
mend stha tyou only use batteries which have
been tested and approved for your vehicle by
Mercedes-Benz. These batteries provide
increased impact protection to prevent vehi-
cle occupant sfrom suffering acid burns
should the battery be damaged in the event
of an accident.
To prevent acid burns, observe the following
safety notes when handling batteries:
R do not lean over the battery.
R do not place any metal object sonabattery.
Otherwise, you could cause ashort circuit
and the battery's gas mixture could ignite.
R make sure that you do not create an elec-
trostatic charge, e.g. by wearing synthetic
clothin gorasar esult of friction on fabrics.
Therefore, you should not pull or slide the
battery over carpets or other synthetic
materials. R
never touch the battery first. To discharge
ap ossible electrostatic charge, step out of
the vehicle first and touch the bodywork.
R do not wipe the battery using acloth. The
battery may explode as aresult of electro-
static charge or due to flying sparks. H
Environmental note Batteries contain pollutants.
It is illegal to dispose of them
with the household rubbish.
They must be collected sep-
arately and disposed of in an
environmentally responsible
recycling system. Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally responsible
manner. Take discharged
batteries to
aqualified spe-
cialis tworkshop or to acol-
lection point for used batter-
ies.
! Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Observe the service intervals in the Service
Booklet or contact aqualified specialist
workshop for more information.
! You should have all work involving the
battery carried out at aqualified specialist
workshop. In th eexcepti onal cas ethatitis
necessar yfor you to disconnect th ebattery
yourself, mak esure that:
R you switch off th eenginea nd remove the
key. On vehicles wit hKEYLESS-GO,
ensure that th eignition is switched off.
Chec kthat all the indicator lamps in the
instrumentc luster are off. Otherwise,
electronic components, such as the
alternator, may be damaged.
R you first remove the negative terminal
clamp and then the positive terminal
clamp. Never swap the terminal clamps. Battery (vehicle)
317Breakdown assistance Z

Otherwise, the vehicle's electronic sys-
tem may be damaged.
R in vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission is locked in position P
after disconnecting the battery. The vehi-
cle is secured against rolling away. You
can then no longer move the vehicle.
The battery and the cover of the positive
terminal clamp must be fitted securely dur-
ing operation.
In order for the battery to achieve the maxi-
mum possibles ervice life, it must always be
sufficiently charged.
The vehicle battery, like other batteries, can
discharge over time if you do not use the
vehicle. In such cases, have the battery dis-
connected at aqualified specialist workshop.
You can also charge the battery with a
charger recommended by Mercedes-Benz.
For more information, please contact aquali-
fied specialist workshop.
Have the battery charge checked more fre-
quently if you use the vehicle mainly for short
trips or if you leave it standing idle for a
lengthy period. Consult aqualified specialist
workshop if you wish to leave your vehicle
parked up for along period of time.
i When you park the vehicle, remove the
key if you do not require any electrical con-
sumers. The vehicle will then use very little
energy, thus conserving battery power.
i After an interruption of the power supply,
e.g. the battery was discharged, you have
to:
R set the clock. Information on setting the
clock can be found in the separate oper-
ating instructions.
On vehicles with COMAND Online and a
navigation system, the clock is set auto-
matically.
R reset the function for folding the exterior
mirrors in/out automatically, by folding
the mirrors out once (Y page 106). Charging the battery
G
WARNING
Only charge the battery in awell-ventilated
area. As the battery is being charged, gases
can escape and generate minor explosions.
This could injure you and other persons or
cause damage to the paintwork or acid cor-
rosion on the vehicle.
You can obtain information on battery charg-
ers which allow the battery to be charged
while still installed from aqualified specialist
workshop. G
WARNING
There is arisk of acid burns during the charg-
ing process due to the gases which escape
from the battery. Do not lean over the battery
during the charging process. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. Avoid contact with the
skin, eyes or clothing.
! Only charge the installed battery with a
battery charger which has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz.T hese battery
chargers allow the battery to be charged
while still installed in the vehicle.
! Only use battery chargers with amaxi-
mum charging voltage of 14.8 V.
! Only charge the battery using the jump-
start connection point.
The jump-starting connection point is in the
engine compartment( Ypage 319).
Read the battery charger's operating instruc-
tions before charging the battery.
X Open the bonnet (Y page 296).
X Connect the battery charger to the positive
terminal and earth point in the same order
as when connecting the donor battery in
the jump-starting procedure
(Y page 319). 318
Battery (vehicle)Breakdown assistance