engine MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550 2007 W219 Owner's Manual

345 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
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 excessive
emissions values and may switch the engine
to its limp-home (emergency operation)
mode.

Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible 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 read-
out of diagnostic trouble codes. It is
located in the front left area of the foot-
well next to the parking brake.
i
Some states may by law require you to con-
tact a workshop immediately as soon as the en-
gine malfunction indicator lamp comes on.
Check local requirements.

346 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
ú
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
A loss of pressure has been detected in the
fuel system. The fuel cap may not be closed
properly or the fuel system may be leaky.

Check the fuel cap.
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 re-
start the engine three or four times in
succession.
The limp-home mode is canceled. You do
not need to have your vehicle checked.

347 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
D
The red coolant temperature
warning lamp comes on when
the engine is running.
There is insufficient coolant in the reservoir.
If this warning lamp comes on frequently,
there is a leak in the cooling system.
If the coolant level is correct, the electric
radiator fan may be broken.

Immediately add coolant to prevent
engine from overheating
(page 290).

Have the cooling system checked.

If the coolant temperature is below
248°F (120°C), you can continue
driving to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Avoid high engine loads (e.g. driving
uphill) and stop-and-go driving.
D
The red coolant temperature
warning lamp comes on while
driving and you hear a warning
sound.
The coolant temperature has exceeded
248°F (120°C).

Stop in a safe location as soon as pos-
sible and allow the engine and coolant
to cool down.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly overheat-
ed 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 engine 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.

348 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
l
The red distance warning lamp
comes on while driving.
You are too close to the vehicle in front
of you to maintain selected speed.

Apply the brakes immediately to increase
the following distance.
l
The red distance warning lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning chime sound.


You are gaining too rapidly on the ve-
hicle ahead of you.


The distance warning system has
recognized a stationary obstacle on
your probable line of travel.

Apply the brakes immediately.

Carefully observe the traffic situation. You
may need to brake or maneuver to avoid
hitting an obstacle.
W
The yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp comes on while
driving.
The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 283).
<
The red seat belt telltale comes
on for a maximum of 6 seconds
after starting the engine.
The seat belt telltale reminds you and
your passengers to fasten your seat
belts before driving off.

Fasten your seat belts.
Regardless of whether the seat belts are
fastened or not, the seat belt telltale al-
ways comes on and remains lit for
6 seconds after starting the engine.
<
You hear a warning chime for a
maximum of 6 seconds after
starting the engine.
You have forgotten to fasten your seat
belt.

Fasten your seat belt.
The warning chime stops sounding.

349 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
<
The red seat belt telltale comes
on while the vehicle is standing
still and the engine is running or
during driving.
You and/or your front passenger have for-
gotten to fasten your seat belts.

Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out.
There are items placed on the front passen-
ger seat and therefore the system senses the
front passenger seat as being occupied.

Remove the items from the front pas-
senger seat and put them in a safe
place.
The seat belt telltale goes out.
<
During driving the red seat belt
telltale flashes and you addition-
ally hear an intermittent warning
chime with increasing intensity.
The vehicle’s speed once exceeded 15 mph
(25 km/h) and you and/or your front pas-
senger have forgotten to fasten your seat
belts.

Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out and the
warning chime stops sounding.
There are items placed on the front passen-
ger seat and therefore the system senses the
front passenger seat as being occupied.

Remove the items from the front pas-
senger seat and put them in a safe
place.
The seat belt telltale goes out and the
warning chime stops sounding.
i
After 60 seconds with an unfastened seat
belt the warning chime stops sounding and the
seat belt telltale illuminates continuously. The
seat belt telltale will only go out if both, thedriver’s and the front passenger’s seat belt are
fastened, or the vehicle is standing still and a
front door is opened.

360 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Distronic
currently unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
Distronic* is switched off and is tempo-
rarily unavailable.
Distronic* is deactivated if:

the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille is dirty


its function is impaired by heavy pre-
cipitation or fog

If necessary, clean the Distronic* cover in the
area of the radiator grille (
page 336).

Restart the vehicle.
or
Distronic* becomes operational again without the
engine being restarted when:


dirt on the radiator grille has fallen off while
driving (e.g. slush or snow)


the system recognizes full sensor availability
(due to lessening rain or the road surface dry-
ing)


the message in the multifunction display disap-
pears


the speed last stored flashes in the display for
5 seconds.
You can operate Distronic* as usual again.

366 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
P
Gear selector lever
in Park position
You have tried to start the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button with the gear selector lever
not in positionP.

Place the gear selector lever in positionP.
You have tried to turn off the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button with the gear selector lever
not in positionP.
P/N
Shift gear select. lever
to Neutral or Park
You have tried to start the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button while the gear selector lever
was in positionR orD.

Place the gear selector lever in positionP
orN. Make sure the brake pedal is depressed.
PRE-SAFE
inoperative
See Operator’s Man.
PRE-SAFE
® itself has failed. All other
occupant safety systems, such as
the air bags, are still available.

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

370 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Symbol messagesDisplay symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
V

You are driving with one or more doors
open.

Close the doors.
Y
You are driving with the hood open.

Close the hood (
page 286).
Ê
This message will appear whenever the
trunk is open.

Close the trunk.
#
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning


broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake system
requires electrical energy and may be
operating with restricted capability.
Considerably greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping distance is
increased.

Stop immediately in a safe location or
as soon as it is safe to do so and
check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:

Do not continue to drive. Otherwise
the engine will overheat due to an
inoperative water pump which may re-
sult in damage to the engine. Notify
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:

Drive immediately to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Adjust driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.

371 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
#
There is a malfunction in the electronic
system.

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
#
Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicle
The battery is malfunctioning.
The brake system requires electrical en-
ergy and therefore has only limited oper-
ation. Considerably greater brake pedal
force is required and the stopping dis-
tance is increased.

Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe
to do so. Adjust driving to be consis-
tent with reduced braking responsive-
ness.

Call Roadside Assistance.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
#
Low voltage
Start engine
The battery has insufficient voltage.

Start the engine (
page 51).
2
Brakepad wear
The brake pads have reached their wear
limit.

Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
!
Brake pad thickness must be visually in-
spected by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.

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

Release the parking brake
(page 53).
(USA only);(Canada only)3
EBV, ABS, ESP
inoperative
See Operator’s Man.
ABS, ESP
®, EBP as well as PRE-SAFE
®
have switched off due to a malfunction.
BAS is also switched off.
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS, BAS, ESP
® and
PRE-SAFE
® available.

Continue driving with added caution.

Adjust driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.

Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
(USA only);(Canada only)3
Check
brake fluid level
There is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.

Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle in a
safe location and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Do not add
brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with the messages
Check brake
fluid level
displayed can result in an ac-
cident. Have your brake system checked im-
mediately.
Do not add brake fluid before checking the
brake system. Overfilling the brake fluid res-
ervoir 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.