MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV 2008 Owners Manual

Troubleshooting
288 Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
-
The yellow ABS warning
lamp comes on while the
engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ABS has been deactivated due to
a malfunction. Therefore, Brake
Assist, ESP ®
and PRE-SAFE ®
are,
for example, also deactivated.
The brake system continues to
function normally, but without
electronic support. The wheels
could therefore lock if you brake
hard, for example. X
Drive on carefully.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 259).
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop as soon as possible. -
The yellow ABS warning
lamp comes on while the
engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ABS has been deactivated due to
undervoltage. It is possible that
the battery is not being charged.
Therefore, the following systems
are, for example, also deactiva-
ted: Brake Assist, ESP ®
, BAS and
PRE-SAFE ®
.
The brake system continues to
function normally, but without
electronic support. The wheels
could therefore lock if you brake
hard, for example. X
Switch off consumers that are not required, e.g. reading lamps,
interior lighting, etc.
ABS will be available again as soon as the vehicle's electrical sys-
tem voltage increases. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
289Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
v
3
-
The yellow ESP
®
warning
lamp, the red brake sys-
tem warning lamp and the
yellow ABS warning lamp
light up while the engine is
running. You will also hear
a warning tone. G
Risk of accident
The electronic brake force distri-
bution (EBV) is faulty. Therefore,
ABS, Brake Assist, ESP ®
and PRE-
SAFE ®
are, for example, no lon-
ger available. The brake system
continues to function normally,
but without electronic support.
The wheels could therefore lock
if you brake hard, for example. X
Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. v
The yellow ESP ®
warning
lamp flashes while the
vehicle is in motion. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
, ABS or traction control has
intervened because at least one
wheel has reached its grip limit
and is threatening to spin or lock.
Cruise control or Distronic* is
deactivated. X
Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when pull-
ing away.
X Release the accelerator pedal while you are driving.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: ( Ypage 59). v
The yellow ESP ®
warning
lamp is lit while the engine
is running. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
is deactivated. ESP ®
will
not stabilise the vehicle if it starts
to skid or if a wheel starts to spin. X
Reactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: ( Ypage 59).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
290 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
v
The yellow ESP ®
warning
lamp is lit while the engine
is running. In addition, a
message appears in the
multi-function display. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
is unavailable due to a mal-
function. ESP ®
will not stabilise
the vehicle if it starts to skid or if
a wheel starts to spin. X
Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 259).
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 1
The red SRS warning lamp
is lit while the engine is
running. G
Risk of injury
The restraint systems are faulty.
The airbags or belt tensioners
may either be triggered uninten-
tionally or, in the event of an acci-
dent, not be triggered at all. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 3
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while you are driving. You
will also hear a warning
tone. You are driving with the parking
brake applied. X
Release the parking brake.
The warning lamp goes out and the warning tone ceases. 3
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the engine is run-
ning. You will also hear a
warning tone. G
Risk of accident
There is insufficient brake fluid in
the fluid reservoir. X
Do not continue driving under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 259).
X Under no circumstances should you top up the brake fluid. This will
not rectify the fault. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
291Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
±
The yellow engine diagnos-
tics warning lamp comes
on while the engine is run-
ning. Vehicles with a diesel engine: the
fuel tank has run dry. X
Start the engine three to four times after refuelling.
Emergency running mode is cancelled. The vehicle need not be
checked. ±
The yellow engine diagnos-
tics warning lamp comes
on while the engine is run-
ning. There may be a malfunction:
R
in the fuel injection system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system (on vehi-
cles with a petrol engine)
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 a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. H
The yellow tyre pressure
monitor* warning lamp is
on. G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure monitor* has
detected a sudden or significant
pressure loss in at least one of
the tyres. X
Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 259).
The warning light will go out after the flat tyre has been changed
and you have been driving for a few minutes. <
The red seat belt warning
lamp lights up for 6 sec-
onds after the engine
starts up 33
. The seat belt warning lamp
reminds the driver and front
passenger to fasten their seat
belts. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 89).33
Only for certain vehicles. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
292 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
<
After the engine starts you
will hear a warning tone for
up to 6 seconds 33
. G
Risk of injury
The driver's seat belt is not fas-
tened. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 89).
The warning tone ceases. <
The red seat belt warning
lamp lights up after start-
ing the engine, as soon as
the driver's door or the
front-passenger door is
closed. G
Risk of injury
The driver or front passenger has
not fastened their seat belt. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 89).
The warning lamp goes out. G
Risk of injury
There are objects on the front-
passenger seat. X
Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow them
safely.
The warning lamp goes out. <
The red seat belt warning
lamp flashes and you hear
an intermittent warning
tone. G
Risk of injury
The driver or front passenger has
not fastened their seat belt. At
the same time, you are driving
faster than 25 km/h or have
briefly driven faster than
25 km/h. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 89).
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. G
Risk of injury
There are objects on the front-
passenger seat. At the same
time, you are driving faster than
25 km/h or have briefly driven
faster than 25 km/h. X
Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow them
safely.
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. 33
Only for certain vehicles. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
293Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The yellow reserve fuel warning
lamp comes on while the engine
is running. The fuel level has fallen below the
reserve range. The operation of
the auxiliary heating* can no lon-
ger be guaranteed. X
Refuel at the nearest filling station. Warning tones
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The anti-theft warning alarm* is
triggered. You have opened the vehicle
using the emergency key element
without deactivating the anti-
theft alarm system* first. X
Switch off the alarm (Y page 63).You hear a warning tone. A message appears in the multi-
function display. X
See the explanations for the display message (Y page 259).You hear a warning tone. You are driving with the parking
brake applied. X
Release the parking brake. You hear a warning tone. You did not switch off the lights
when leaving the vehicle. X
Turn the light switch to MorU.
or
X If the rear foglamp is switched on: press the light switch in as far
as it will go. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
294 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
You hear a warning tone.
G
Risk of injury
The driver or front passenger has
not fastened their seat belt. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 89).Accident
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
Fuel is leaking from the vehicle.
G
Risk of fire
The fuel line or the fuel tank has
been damaged. The leaking fuel
creates a risk of fire or explosion. X
Switch off the ignition immediately.
X Remove the ignition key.
Do not restart the engine under any circumstances. The leaking fuel
creates a risk of fire or explosion.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. You are unable to determine the
extent of the damage. X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop. You cannot detect any damage. X
Start the engine as normal. The NECK-PRO head restraints
on the driver's and front-
passenger seats have been trig-
gered. Your vehicle has been involved in
a rear-end collision. X
Reset the NECK-PRO head restraints (Y page 310).Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
295Fuel and fuel tank
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
Fuel is leaking from the vehicle.
G
Risk of explosion or fire
The fuel line or the fuel tank is
defective. X
Turn the key to position 0(Y page 75) in the ignition lock immedi-
ately and remove it.
X Do not restart the engine under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The fuel filler flap cannot be
opened. The fuel filler flap is not released.
The batteries in the vehicle key or
the KEYLESS GO key
* are dis-
charged. X
Unlock the vehicle using the emergency key element
(Y page 308).
X Open the tailgate (Y page 70).
X Manually unlock the fuel filler flap via the emergency release
(Y page 310). The fuel filler flap is released, but
the opening mechanism is jam-
med. X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
296 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The fuel tank of a vehicle with a
diesel engine has been run com-
pletely dry and will not start. There is air in the fuel system. X
Refuel the vehicle.
X Switch on the ignition for approximately 10 seconds (key in posi-
tion 2(Y page 75) in the ignition lock).
X Start the engine continuously for up to 40 seconds until it runs
smoothly.
The fuel system is now free of air.
If the engine does not start:
X Wait two minutes.
X Repeat the starting procedure for up to 40 seconds.
If the engine still does not start:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
297Engine
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The engine will not start. You can
hear the starter motor operating. R
There is a malfunction in the
engine electronics.
R There is a malfunction in the
fuel supply. X
Turn the key back to position 0(Y page 75)in the ignition lock
before the next starting attempt.
X Try to start the engine again (Y page 103). When doing so, remem-
ber that excessively long and frequent attempts to start the engine
will drain the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine will not start. You can
hear the starter motor operating.
The reserve fuel warning lamp is
on and the fuel gauge shows
0. The fuel tank has been run dry. X
Refuel the vehicle.
X Bleed the fuel system (Y page 296).The engine will not start. You can-
not hear the starter motor oper-
ating. The on-board voltage is too low
because the starter battery is too
weak or discharged. X
Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 339).
If the engine does not start despite attempting to jump-start it:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The starter motor was exposed to
a thermal load that was too high. X
Allow the starter motor to cool down for approximately two
minutes.
X Try to start the engine again.
If the engine still does not start:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Practical advice
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