engine MERCEDES-BENZ R-CLASS MPV 2008 Owners Manual

Troubleshooting
291Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
Vehicles with a petrol engine:
The engine is not running
smoothly and is misfiring. There is a malfunction in the
engine electronics or a mechani-
cal component of the engine con-
trol unit. X
Only depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
X Have the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic converter
and damage it. A coolant temperature of over
120 °C is displayed. You also
hear a warning signal. The coolant level is too low. The
coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled suffi-
ciently. X
Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant to
cool down.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 223). Observe the warning notes
as you do so and top up the coolant if necessary. If the coolant level is correct, the
radiator fan may be faulty. The
coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled suffi-
ciently. X
If the coolant temperature is less than 120 °C, you can continue
driving to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving on
mountain roads and stop/start driving. The engine does not switch off. The ignition lock is faulty. X
Open the fuse box in the engine compartment ( Ypage 334).
X Remove fuse 120 using the fuse extractor.
The engine stops.
If you wish to start the engine again:
X Replace the fuse. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
292 Automatic transmission
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The transmission has problems
shifting gear The transmission is losing oil. X
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. The acceleration ability is deteri-
orating.
The transmission no longer
changes gear. The transmission is in emergency
mode.
It is only possible to shift into
2nd
gear and reverse gear. X
Stop the vehicle.
X Move the selector lever to P.
X Turn the key to position 0(Y page 76) in the ignition lock.
X Wait at least 10 seconds before restarting the engine.
X Move the selector lever to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into 2ndgear; if Ris selec-
ted, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
297Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The engine cannot be started
using the key. The on-board voltage is too low. X
Switch off non-essential consumers, e.g. seat heating* or interior
lighting, and try to start the engine again.
If this does not work:
X Check the starter battery and charge it if necessary
(Y page 323).
or
X Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 329).
or
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
299Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The vehicle cannot be started
using the KEYLESS GO key and
the KEYLESS GO button. The KEY-
LESS GO key is in the vehicle. A door is open. The key can there-
fore not be detected as easily. X
Close the door and try to start the vehicle again. You did not depress the brake
when starting the engine. X
Depress the brake and press the KEYLESS GO button. There is interference from a pow-
erful source of radio waves. X
Start your vehicle using the KEYLESS GO key in the ignition lock. You have lost the KEYLESS GO
key. X
Have the KEYLESS GO key cancelled at a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
X Report the loss immediately to the vehicle insurers.
X If necessary, have the manual locks changed too. Trailer towing*
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The ball coupling cannot be
locked.
The key cannot be removed from
the ball coupling. G
Risk of accident
The ball coupling is dirty.
The trailer coupling is damaged. X
Remove the ball coupling and clean it (Y page 248). If the ball cou-
pling still cannot be locked, remove the ball coupling. It must no
longer be used to tow a trailer, as safe operation is not guaranteed.
X Have the entire trailer coupling checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. Practical advice
* optional
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Flat tyre
313Flat tyre
Flat tyre equipment variants
Your vehicle may be equipped with:
R a TIREFIT kit (Y page 252)
R an emergency spare wheel* ( Ypage 252)
R the MOExtended run-flat sys-
tem* (Y page 322) Preparing the vehicle
i Vehicle preparation is not necessary on
vehicles with MOE tyres*.
X Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package*:
Make sure that highway level* is selected
(Y page 154).
X Stop your vehicle as far away from traffic
as possible on solid, non-slippery, level
ground.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps.
X Firmly depress the parking brake.
X Move the selector lever to P.X
All occupants must get out of the vehicle.
Make sure that they are not endangered as
they do so.
X Make sure that no one is near the danger
area whilst a wheel is being changed. Any-
one who is not directly assisting in the
wheel change should, for example, stand
behind the barrier.
X Switch off the engine.
Vehicles without KEYLESS GO* X
Remove the key from the ignition lock.
Vehicles with KEYLESS GO* X
Open the driver's door.
The on-board electronics have status 0,
which is the same as the key having been
removed.
X Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package* and
the Off-Road Pro engineering package*:
Remove the KEYLESS GO button from the
ignition lock. For all vehicles X
Get out of the vehicle.
X Close the driver's door.
X Place the warning triangle ( Ypage 250) at
a suitable distance. Observe legal require-
ments.
i To operate the electric air-pump, you can
use the power socket in the luggage com-
partment (Y page 207) or 2nd row of seats
(Y page 207), even when the ignition is
switched off. For example, to use TIREFIT
or to inflate the collapsible emergency
spare wheel*.
An emergency cut-off ensures that the on-
board voltage does not drop too low. If the
on-board voltage is too low, power to the
sockets is automatically cut-off. This
ensures that there is sufficient power to
start the engine. Practical advice
* optional
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Flat tyre
318
Raising the vehicle G
Risk of injury
The jack is designed only to raise the vehi-
cle for a short time while a wheel is being
changed.
If you intend to work under the vehicle, it
must be placed on stands.
Make sure that the jack is placed on a firm,
non-slip, level surface. Do not use wooden
blocks or similar items as jacking supports.
Otherwise, the jack will not be able to ach-
ieve its load-bearing capacity due to the
restricted height.
Do not start the engine at any time while
the wheel is being changed.
Do not lie under the vehicle when it is being
supported by the jack. If you do not raise
the vehicle as described, it could slip off the
jack (e.g. if the engine is started or a door
or the tailgate is opened or closed) and you
could be seriously injured. G
Risk of accident
If you fail to position the jack correctly, the
vehicle may: R
slip off the jack
R injure you or others
R be damaged
It is thus important to ensure that the jack
is positioned correctly in the respective
jacking points. Before positioning the jack,
remove any dirt that may have collected in
the jacking points. 1
Wheel wrench
X Using wheel wrench 1, loosen the bolts on
the wheel you wish to change by about one
full turn. Do not unscrew the bolts com-
pletely.
The jacking points for the jack are located
behind the wheel housings of the front wheels and in front of the wheel housings of the rear
wheels (arrows). 1
Jacking point
2 Jack
3 Ratchet ring spanner
X Position jack 2at jacking point 1. Practical advice
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Battery
324 Battery acid is caustic.
Avoid contact with the
skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective
clothing, in particular
gloves, an apron and a
face mask.
Immediately rinse acid
splashes off with clean
water. Consult a doctor if
necessary.
Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Owner's
Manual.
H
Environmental note
Do not dispose of batteries with the house-
hold rubbish. Dispose of defective batteries
in an environmentally responsible manner.
Take them to a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre or to a special collection point for
old batteries.
G
Risk of injury
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use batteries which
have been tested and approved for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz. These batteries
provide increased impact protection to pre-
vent vehicle occupants from suffering acid
burns should the battery be damaged in the
event of an accident.
To prevent acid burns, observe the follow-
ing safety notes when handling batteries:
R Do not lean over batteries.
R Do not place any metal objects on a bat-
tery. You could otherwise cause a short
circuit and the battery's highly flammable
gas mixture could ignite.
R Make sure that you do not create an elec-
trostatic charge, e.g. by wearing syn-
thetic clothing or as a result of friction on
fabrics. Therefore, you should not pull or
slide the battery over carpets or other
synthetic materials.
R Never touch the battery first. To dis-
charge a possible electrostatic charge, step out of the vehicle first and touch the
bodywork.
R Do not wipe the battery using a cloth. The
battery may explode as a result of elec-
trostatic charge or due to flying sparks.
! Switch off the engine and remove the
key/KEYLESS GO * button before loosen-
ing or removing the battery terminal
clamps. You may otherwise destroy elec-
tronic components such as the alternator.
i Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
have all work involving the battery, e.g.
removing, charging and replacing, carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g.
a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
The battery is located under the front seat on
the right-hand side when viewed in the direc-
tion of travel. Practical advice
* optional
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Battery
325Disconnecting the battery
G
Risk of accident
If the battery is disconnected:
R the brake boosting effect will not be avail-
able. Greater braking force will then be
required and the brake pedal travel will
be longer. If necessary, depress the
brake pedal with maximum force.
R you can no longer turn the key in the igni-
tion and, on vehicles with KEYLESS
GO*, pressing the KEYLESS GO button*
will have no effect
R the selector lever is locked in position P
! Always disconnect the battery in
the order described below. Never swap the
terminal clamps. You may otherwise dam-
age the vehicle electronics.
X Firmly depress the parking brake and shift
the DIRECT SELECT lever to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Turn the key to position 2(Y page 76)in the
ignition lock.
X Switch off all electrical consumers. X
Open the front right-hand door.
X Position the right-hand front seat at its rear-
most position:
R
partially electric seat adjustment
(Y page 78)
R fully electric seat adjustment
(Y page 79) 1
Front right seat rail cover
2 Front left seat rail cover
X Pull right-hand cover 1forwards in the
direction of the arrow and pull it off the seat
rail.
X Pull left-hand cover 2as far forwards as
possible in the direction of the arrow.
i Left-hand cover 2cannot be completely
pulled off the seat rail. 3
Battery cover fastening nuts
X Loosen and remove fastening nuts 3
along the edge of the carpet.
i To do this, you need a 6 mm Allen key with
a shaft at least 30 cm long (not included in
the vehicle tool kit).
X Position the right-hand front seat as far
forward as possible:
R partially electric seat adjustment
(Y page 78)
R fully electric seat adjustment (Y page 79)
X Turn the key to position 0(Y page 76) in
the ignition lock. Practical advice
* optional
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Jump-starting
329Jump-starting
If your vehicle's battery is discharged, the
engine can be jump-started from another
vehicle or from an external battery using jump
leads.
Observe the following points:
R Jump-starting may only be performed when
the engine and catalytic converter are cold.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is fro-
zen. Let the battery thaw first.
R Jump-starting may only be performed from
batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
R Only use jump leads which are protected
against polarity reversal and which have a
sufficient cross-section and insulated ter-
minal clamps.
i Jump leads which are protected against
polarity reversal and further information
about jump-starting can be obtained from
any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
! Avoid repeated and lengthy starting
attempts.
Never start the vehicle using a rapid battery
charger. G
Risk of injury
There is a risk of acid burns when jump-
starting a vehicle due to the gases which
escape from the battery. Do not lean over
the battery while the engine is being jump-
started. G
Risk of explosion
Gases escaping from the battery during
jump-starting may cause minor explosions.
Avoid creating sparks. Keep naked flames
away from the battery, and do not smoke.
Comply with safety precautions and take
protective measures when handling batter-
ies. You will find these under "Battery" in
the index.
X Make sure that the two vehicles do not
touch.
X Depress the parking brake firmly.
X Move the selector lever to P.
X Switch off all electrical consumers. 1
Earth point on your vehicle
2 Positive terminal on your vehicle
3 Negative terminal of donor battery
4 Positive terminal of donor battery
X Connect positive terminal 2on your vehi-
cle to positive terminal 4of the donor
battery using the jump lead, beginning with
your own battery.
X Start the engine of the donor vehicle and
run it at idling speed.
X Connect negative terminal 3of the donor
battery to the earth point 1of your vehicle
using the jump lead, connecting the jump
lead to the donor battery first.
X Start the engine. Practical advice
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Towing and tow-starting
330
X
Electrical consumers can be switched on
again. Do not switch the lights on, however,
as this will overload the battery.
X Remove the jump lead from earth
point 1and negative terminal 3first,
then from positive terminal 2and positive
terminal 4, each time disconnecting from
the battery on your own vehicle first.
i The message Battery protection:
some convenience functions cur-
rently not available may appear in the
multi-function display. It disappears as
soon as the battery is sufficiently charged.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Towing and tow-starting
Points to remember
G
Risk of accident
If you tow the vehicle, you must use a rigid
towing bar if:
R the engine is not running
R there is a brake system malfunction
R the voltage supply or the vehicle's elec-
trical system is damaged
The electric power steering and the brake
force booster do not work when the engine
is not running. Greater braking force will
then be required and the brake pedal travel
will be longer. If necessary, depress the
brake pedal with maximum force.
Do not tow the vehicle if the key cannot be
turned in the ignition lock. If this is the case,
the steering is locked and the vehicle can-
not be steered.
If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehi-
cle.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed. When towing, observe the legal requirements
in all countries concerned.
!
When towing, pull away slowly and with-
out jerking. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
! Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
as this will damage the vehicle. If in doubt
recover the vehicle with a crane.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum
of 50 km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
With towing distances over 50 km, the
entire vehicle needs to be lifted up and
transported.
! On vehicles with KEYLESS GO*: use the
key instead of the KEYLESS GO * button.
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock and set the automatic transmission to
N. Then turn the key back to 0and leave it
in the ignition lock.
! Only secure the tow cable or towing bar
to the towing eyes. You may otherwise
damage the vehicle. Practical advice
* optional
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