check engine MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS ESTATE 2012 Owner's Manual

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
# The battery is no
tbeing charged.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
Possible causes:
R faulty alternator
R torn poly-V-belt
R a malfunction in the electronics
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attentio ntoroad and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 183).
X Open the bonnet.
X Check whether the poly-V-belt is torn.
If the poly-V-belt is torn:
! Do not continue driving. The engine could otherwise overheat.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the poly-V-belt is OK:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 4
Check eng. oil
lev. when next
refuelling The engine oil level has dropped to the minimum level.
Aw
arning tone also sounds.
X Chec kthe oil level when next refuelling, at the latest
(Y page 347).
X If necessary, top up the engine oil (Y page 347).
X Have the engine checked at a qualified specialist workshop if
the engine oil needs topping up more often than usual. 4
Add
1 litre engine
oil when next refu‐
elling AMG vehicles: the engine oil level is too low.
X
Check the oil level when next refuelling, at the latest
(Y page 347).
X If necessary, top up the engine oil (Y page 347).
X Have the engine checked at a qualified specialist workshop if
the engine oil needs topping up more often than usual. 8
Reserve fuel level The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
Operation of the auxiliary heating is deactivated when the fuel level
drops into the reserve range.
X
Refuel at the nearest filling station. 280
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
C There is only a very small amount of fuel in th
efuel tank.
The auxiliary heating canno tbe operated.
X Refuel at the nearest filling station without fail. ¸
Please
replace air
cleaner Vehicles with a diesel engine: the engine air filter is dirty and must
be replaced.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. !
Clean
the fuel fil‐
ter Vehicles with a diesel engine: there is water in the fuel filter. The
water must be drained off.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ¯
Refill AdBlue at
workshop See Own‐
er's Manual The AdBlue
®
level has fallen below the reserve range. Awarning
tone also sounds.
X Have AdBlue ®
refilled as soon as possible at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. ¯
Refill AdBlue at
workshop No start
in .. km The AdBlue
®
level is only sufficient for the indicated distance. A
warning tone also sounds.
X Have AdBlue ®
refilled as soon as possible at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. ¯
Refill AdBlue at
workshop Eng.
start not possible The AdBlue
®
tan kis empty. Awarning tone also sounds. You can
no longer start the engine.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. ¯
Check AdBlue See
Owner's Manual The AdBlue
®
system is malfunctioning. A warning tone also
sounds.
X Visi taqualified specialist workshop. ¯
Eng.
start not pos‐
sible in ... km The AdBlue
®
system is malfunctioning. A warning tone also
sounds.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. ¯
Eng.
start not pos‐
sible The AdBlue
®
system is malfunctioning. A warning tone also
sounds. You can no longer start the engine.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. Display messages
281On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
DISTRONIC PLUS cur‐
rently unavailable
See Owner's Manual DISTRONIC PLU
Sis temporarily inoperative. Possible causes:
R the function is impaired due to heavy rain or snow.
R the sensors in the radiator trim and in the bumpers are dirty.
R the radar sensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due to
electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio sta-
tions or other sources of electromagnetic radiation.
R the system is outside the operating temperature range.
R the on-board voltage is too low.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
Once the causes listed abov eno longer apply, the display message
goes out.
DISTRONIC is operational again.
If the display message does not disappear:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 183).
X Clean the sensors in the radiator trim and in the bumpers
(Y page 354).
X Restart the engine. DISTRONIC PLUS
inoperative DISTRONIC PLUS is faulty.
BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE
®
Brake may also have failed.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
X Visi taqualified specialist workshop. DISTRONIC PLUS
inactive You have depressed the accelerator pedal. DISTRONIC PLUS is no
longer controlling the speed of the vehicle.
X
Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. DISTRONIC PLUS
--- km/h An activation condition for DISTRONIC PLUS is not fulfilled.
X
Check the activation conditions for DISTRONIC PLUS
(Y page 195). DISTRONIC PLUS and
SPEEDTRONIC DISTRONIC PLUS and SPEEDTRONIC are faulty. A warning tone
also sounds.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Cruise control and
SPEEDTRONIC inop‐
erative SPEEDTRONIC and cruise control are malfunctioning.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
X Visi taqualified specialist workshop. Display messages
287On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
M
or? The bonne
tis open. Awarning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
The open bonne tmay then bloc kyour view when the vehicle is in
motion.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 183).
X Close the bonnet.
If the active bonnet (pedestrian protection) has been triggered:
X Reset the bonnet (Y page 344).
X Close the bonnet. Active bonnet mal‐
function See Own‐
er's Manual The active bonnet (pedestrian protection) is not active due to a
malfunction.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. C At least one door is open.
Awarning tone also sounds.
X Close all doors. _
Rear left seat
backrest not
locked or
Rear right seat back‐
rest not locked Saloon with through-loading feature in the rear bench seat:
The backres
tinthe rear is not engaged on the left-hand and/or
right-hand side. Awarning tone also sounds.
X Push the backres tback until it engages. j
Check trailer
hitch lock The trailer tow hitch is no
tcorrectly engaged.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attentio ntoroad and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Allow the trailer tow hitch ball coupling to engage in the end
position (Y page 237). &
inoperative Bat‐
tery low The on-board voltage is too low. The auxiliary heating has switched
itself off or cannot be switched on (Y page 151).
X Drive for a longer distance.
The battery is being charged. The auxiliary heating is operational
again as soon as the on-board electrical system voltage is suf-
ficient. Display messages
295On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
&
inoperative
Refuel
vehicle There is too little fuel in the fuel tank. The auxiliary heating cannot
be switched on (Y
page 151).
X Refuel at the neares tfilling station. &
inoperative See
Owner's Manual The auxiliary heating has a temporary malfunction or is faulty.
X
When the vehicle is on alevel surface and the engine has cooled
down, make up to four attempts to switch on the auxiliary heat-
ing, waiting several minutes between each attempt
(Y page 151).
X If the auxiliary heating does not switch on, consult a qualified
specialist workshop. Ð
Power
steering mal‐
function See Own‐
er's Manual The power steering assistance is faulty.
Aw
arning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
You will need to use more force to steer.
There is a ris kofanaccident.
X Check whethe ryou are able to apply the extra force required.
X If you are able to steer safely: carefully drive on to a qualified
specialist workshop.
X If you are unable to steer safely: do not drive on. Contact the
nearest qualified specialist workshop. Telephone No
service Your vehicle is outside the network provider's transmitter/
receiver range.
X
Wait until the mobile phone operational readiness symbol
appears in the multifunction display. ¥
Top
up washer fluid The washer fluid level in the washer fluid reservoir has dropped
below the minimum.
X
Top up the washer fluid (Y page 349).296
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
ä
The yellow ESP
®
warn-
ing lamp flashes while
the vehicle is in motion. ESP
®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk 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 72).å
The yellow ESP
®
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 72).
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 a qualified 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
conditions written in the "Activating/deactivating SPORT han-
dling mode" section (Y page 74). Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster
303On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
äå
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. ESP
®
, BAS, BAS PLUS, PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD
function, hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer
stabilisation are not available due to a malfunction.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can thus
increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
The danger of skidding and having an accident increases.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. J
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the vehicle is
moving. A warning 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 a malfunction 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 a qualified specialist workshop immedi-
ately.
For further information about the Supplemental Restraint System,
see (Y page 43). 304
Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Engine
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
;
The yellow engine diag-
nostics warning lamp
lights up while the
engine is running.
There may be a fault, 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 engin emay
be running in emergency mode.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified
specialist workshop. Vehicles with a diesel engine: the fuel tan
khas been run dry
(Y page 182).
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 no tbe
checked. 8
The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp lights up
while the engine is run-
ning.
The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
Operation of the auxiliary heating is deactivated if the fuel level
drops into the reserve range.
X
Refuel at the nearest filling station. ?
The red coolant warn-
ing lamp lights up while
the engine is running
and the coolant tem-
perature gauge is at the
star toft he scale. The temperature sensor for the coolant temperature gauge is
faulty.
The coolant temperature is no longer being monitored. There is a
risk of engine damage if the coolant temperature is too high.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine. Do not continue driving
under any circumstances.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 183).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster
305On-board computer and displays Z

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 183).
X Leave the vehicle and keep a safe 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 348).
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. A warning 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 compartment to catch fire.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause serious burns, which
can occur just by opening the bonnet.
This poses a risk 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 183).306
Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
X
Leave the vehicle and keep a safe 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 348).
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 a vehicle or a stationary obstacle in your line
of travel at too high a speed.
X
Be prepared to brake immediately.
X Pay careful attention to the traffic situation. You may have to
brake or take evasive action.
Further information on DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page 195).
Further information on PRE-SAFE ®
Brake (Y page 76). Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster
307On-board computer and displays Z