MERCEDES-BENZ E500 2003 W211 Owner's Manual

311 Practical hints
What to do if …
W
Washer fluid
Check level
The fluid level has dropped to about 1/3 of total reservoir capacity.

Add washer fluid (
page 267).
B
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 264).

If you have to add coolant frequently, have
the cooling system checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Ï
Coolant
Visit workshop!
The cooling fan for the coolant is
malfunctioning.

Observe the coolant temperature display.

Have the fan replaced as soon as possible.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You can be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning. Extended driving with
the message and symbol displayed
may cause serious engine damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount
of coolant in the cooling system. The
engine will overheat causing major en-
gine damage.

312 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off!
The coolant is too hot.
The poly-V-belt could be broken.

Stop the vehicle.

Only start the engine again after the mes-
sage disappears. You could otherwise dam-
age the engine.

Stop immediately and check the
poly-V-belt.
If it is broken, do not drive any further.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If it is in order, drive immediately to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
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. The engine should not be oper-
ated with the coolant temperature above
266°F (130°C). Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

313 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
A
Reserve fuel
The fuel level has dropped below the
reserve mark.

Refuel at the next gas station (
page 259).
Y
Hood open!
You are driving with the hood open.

Close the hood (
page 261).
I
Remove key
!
You have forgotten to remove the
key.

Remove the key from the starter switch.
Replace key
There is no additional code available
for SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
.
Lamp sensor
Visit workshop!
The lamp sensor is malfunctioning.
The headlamps switch on automati-
cally.

In the control system, set lamp operation to
manual mode (
page 130).

Switch on headlamps using the exterior
lamp switch.
Low beam, left
The left low beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Low beam, right
The right low beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

318 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
<
Front passenger seat
belt
Please fasten belt!
The display reminds you and your pas-
sengers to fasten seat belts.

Fasten the seat belts.
Driver‘s seat belt
Fasten seat belt!
The display reminds you and your pas-
sengers to fasten seat belts.

Fasten the seat belts.
_
Steering oil
Visit workshop!
The steering gear oil level is too low.
There is a danger of steering gear dam-
age.

Have the system checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
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.

319 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pressure monitor-
ing activated
The tire pressure is being checked.
Tire pressure monitor-
ing Reactivate

The tire inflation pressure monitor* is de-
activated.

Activate the tire inflation pressure moni-
tor* (
page 271).
Tire pressure monitor-
ing currently inactive
The tire inflation pressure monitor* is un-
able to monitor the tire pressure due to

the presence of several wheel sensors
in the vehicle.


excessive wheel sensor temperatures.


a nearby radio interference source.


unrecognized wheel sensors mounted.

Check the tire pressure at the next ser-
vice station.
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

320 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pressure monitor-
ing
Visit workshop!
The tire inflation pressure monitor is mal-
functioning.
A wheel without proper sensor was in-
stalled.

Have the tire inflation pressure monitor
checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Change the wheel.
Tire pressure, rear left
Caution tire defect!
The left rear tire is rapidly deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt,
avoiding abrupt steering and braking ma-
neuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 338).
Tire pressure, rear left
Check tires!
The left rear tire pressure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire pressure.

Change the wheel (
page 338).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.