light MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS 2003 Manual Online

290 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
1
The red SRS indicator lamp lights
up while driving.
There is a malfunction in the restraint sys-
tems. The airbags or emergency tensioning
devices (ETDs) could deploy unexpectedly or
fail to activate in an accident.

Drive with added caution to the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
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 acci-
dent, which could result in serious or fatal
injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly and
unnecessarily which could also result in inju-
ry.
ProCarManuals.com

291 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
3
(Canada only)
;
(USA only)The red brake warning lamp
lights up while driving and you
hear a warning sound.
You are driving with the parking brake set.
or
There is a malfunction in the SBC brake sys-
tem.

Release the parking brake.

Read and observe the message in the
display.
The red brake warning lamp
lights up while driving.
There is insufficient brake fluid in the reser-
voir.

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 last message displayed can
result in an accident. Have your brake sys-
tem checked immediately if the brake warn-
ing lamp stays on.
Don’t 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.
ProCarManuals.com

292 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
D
The red coolant warning lamp
lights up when the engine is run-
ning.
There is insufficient coolant in the reservoir.
If this warning lamp lights up frequently,
there is a leak in the cooling system.
If the coolant level is correct, the electric ra-
diator fan may be broken.

Immediately add coolant to prevent
engine from overheating
(page 264).

Have the cooling system checked.

If the coolant temperature is below
257 °F (125 °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 warning lamp
lights up while driving and you
hear a warning sound.
The coolant temperature has exceeded
257 °F (125 °C).

Stop as soon as possible 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 it
cools down.
ProCarManuals.com

293 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
?
The yellow "CHECK ENGINE"
malfunction indicator lamp
comes on while driving.
There is a malfunction in:

The fuel injection system


The ignition system


The exhaust system


The fuel system
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 sys-
tem. It allows the accurate identifica-
tion of system malfunctions through
the readout of diagnostic trouble
codes. It is located in the front left
area of the footwell next to the park-
ing brake.
Your gas tank is empty.

After refuelling, start the engine three
or four times in succession.
The limp-home mode is canceled. You do
not need to have your vehicle checked.
<
The red seat belt warning lamp
blinks for a brief period after
starting the engine.
The warning lamp reminds you to fasten seat
belts.

Fasten your seat belt.
W
The yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp lights up while
driving.
The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.
Gas cap not closed tight.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 259).

Close gas cap
ProCarManuals.com

294 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Lamp in center consoleProblem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
The indicator lamp lights up.
A BabySmart
TM child seat is installed on the
front passenger seat. Therefore, the front
passenger airbag is switched off.
The system is malfunctioning when there is
no BabySmart
TM child seat installed on the
front passenger seat.

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
The indicator lamp does not light up with a
BabySmart
TM child seat properly installed
on the front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Make sure that there is nothing be-
tween seat cushion and child seat and
check installation of the child seat.

If the light remains out, have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint
to transport children on the front pas-
senger seat until the system has been
repaired.
ProCarManuals.com

314 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
.
Display defective
Visit workshop!
The display for the lamps or the system
is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Turn signal, rear left
Substitute lamp on!

The left rear turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A backup bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possi-
ble.
Turn signal, rear right
Substitute lamp on!

The right rear turn signal lamp is mal-
functioning. A backup bulb is being
used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possi-
ble.
Turn sig. left mirror
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.
Marker light
,
front left
The front left side marker lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possi-
ble.
Marker light
front right
The front right side marker lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possi-
ble.
Re, left marker lamp
The rear left side marker lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possi-
ble.
Re, right marker lamp
The rear right side marker lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possi-
ble.
ProCarManuals.com

315 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
.
Turn sig.
right
mirror
The right turn signal in the side mir-
ror is malfunctioning. This message
will only appear if all light emitting
diodes have stopped working.

Have the LEDs replaced as soon as possi-
ble.
Turn sig. front left
Back-up light on!

The left front turn signal lamp is mal-
functioning. A backup bulb is being
used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn sig. front right
Back-up light on!

The right front turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning. A backup bulb is be-
ing used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Brake light
Visit workshop!
Stop lamp illumination is delayed or
lamp is permanently on.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Turn off lamps!
Lamps have been turned on al-
though the key in the starter switch
is in position 0.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Brake light, left
The left brake lamp is malfunction-
ing. A backup bulb is being used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Brake light, right
The right brake lamp is malfunction-
ing. A backup bulb is being used.

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

316 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
.
3rd stop lamp
The high mounted brake lamp is mal-
functioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
High beam, left
The left high beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
High beam, right
The right high beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
License plate lamp,
left
The left license plate lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
License plate lamp,
right

The right license plate lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Front foglight, left
The left front fog lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Front foglight, right
The right front fog lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Rear foglight
The rear fog lamp is malfunctioning.
A backup bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Back-up lamp, left
The left backup lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
ProCarManuals.com

317 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
.
Back-up lamp, right
The right backup lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Tail light, left
The left tail lamp is malfunctioning. A
backup bulb is being used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Tail light, right
The right tail lamp is malfunctioning.
A backup bulb is being used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Park. light,
front left

Back-up light on!

The left parking lamps are malfunc-
tioning. A backup bulb is being used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Park. light,
front right

Back-up light on!

The right parking lamps are malfunc-
tioning. A backup bulb is being used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
<
Seat belt system
Visit workshop!
The seat belt system is malfunction-
ing.

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

323 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
I
Remove key!
You have forgotten to remove the key.

Remove the key from the starter switch.
Replace key
The batteries in the key are dead.

Change the batteries (
page 328).
Automat. light on
Remove key!

Remove the key from the starter switch.
A

Reserve fuel
The fuel level has dropped below the re-
serve mark.

Refuel at the next filling station
(page 259).
J

Door open
You are attempting to drive with one or
more doors open.

Close the doors.
?
Visit workshop!
There may be a malfunction in the:

fuel injection system


ignition system


exhaust system


fuel system

Have the measuring system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
±
Display defective
Visit workshop!
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.
ProCarManuals.com