check engine light MERCEDES-BENZ R350 2007 R171 Owner's Manual

63 Getting started
Driving
Deactivating intermittent wipe
Turn rear window wiper switch 1 to
position4 (
page 62).
Indicator6for the rear window wiper
is cleared from the lower multifunction
display, indicating that the rear window
wiper is deactivated.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Turn and hold rear window wiper
switch 1 in position 2 or 5
(
page 62) until the rear window is
clean.
The rear window wiper operates with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp cleaning*
system” (
page 372).
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged
(gasoline engine only).

The engine electronics may not be
operating properly.

Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it
(gasoline engine only).
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.The coolant temperature is above
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as possible and turn off the
engine. Allow engine and coolant to
cool.
Check the coolant level and add
coolant if necessary (
page 370).

175 Controls in detail
Control system
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the vehicle status message
memory appears in the multifunction
display.If conditions have occurred causing status
messages to be recorded, the number of
messages appears in the multifunction
display:
Press buttonk orj.
The stored messages will now be
displayed in the order in which they
have occurred. For malfunctions and
warning messages, see “Vehicle status
messages in the multifunction display”
(
page 433).Should the vehicle’s system record any
conditions while driving, the number of
messages will reappear in the multifunc-
tion display

when the SmartKey in the starter
switch is turned to position0 or
removed from the starter switch
or

when you turn off the engine by
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 67) in the starter
switch once and open the driver’s door
(this puts the starter switch in
position0, same as with the SmartKey
removed from the starter switch)
Warning!G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center to address the malfunc-
tion and warning messages (
page 433).
iAfter you have scrolled through all recorded
status messages, the first recorded message
appears again.
iThe vehicle status message memory will
be cleared when you turn the SmartKey in the
starter switch to position1 or2, or when you
press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button once
or twice without depressing the brake pedal. You
will then only see high priority messages in the
multifunction display (
page 433).

201 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Transmission positions
The current transmission position appears
in the multifunction display.
1Current transmission position
!If the current transmission position does not
appear in the multifunction display due to a
malfunction, for example, make sure that the
automatic transmission is in the desired position
by carefully driving off with the transmission in
drive positionD and program modeS
(
page 206) selected. Do not limit the gear
range.
Effect
ìPark position
Shift into park positionP only
when vehicle is stopped. The
park position is not intended to
serve as a brake when the vehi-
cle is parked. Rather, the driver
should always set the parking
brake in addition to shifting into
park positionP to secure the
vehicle.
If the vehicle’s electrical system
is malfunctioning, the automatic
transmission could remain
locked in park positionP.
Have the vehicle checked as
soon as possible by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
!SmartKey:
If you turn off the engine using the SmartKey and
remove the SmartKey from the starter switch,
the transmission will shift to park positionP
automatically. Keep in mind that turning off the
engine with the SmartKey alone will not automat-
ically shift the transmission to park positionP.
Only when the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch, will the transmission automat-
ically shift to park positionP.
KEYLESS-GO*:
If you turn off the engine using the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button and open the driver’s door, the
transmission will shift to park positionP auto-
matically. Keep in mind that turning off the
engine using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
alone will not automatically shift the trans-
mission to park positionP. Only when the
driver’s door is opened, will the transmission
automatically shift to park positionP.
Even though this is possible, make it a practice
to always shift into park positionP before turning
off the engine and remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch, or when using KEYLESS-GO*,
before turning off the engine with the start/stop
button and opening the driver’s door.

211 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Kickdown
Using the kickdown when driving in the
manual program modeM is not possible.
Deactivating manual shift program
Press the program mode selector
switch (
page 209) repeatedly until
CorS appears in the multifunction
display.
or
Restart the engine.
The transmission will go to the
automatic program mode (C orS).
The manual program modeM is not
stored.Emergency operation (Limp-Home
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less re-
sponsive or sluggish or the transmission
no longer shifts, the transmission is most
likely operating in limp-home (emergency
operation) mode. In this mode only second
gear and reverse gear can be selected.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
Shift to park positionP.
Turn off the engine.
Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.
Restart the engine.
Shift to drive positionD (for second
gear) or reverse gearR.
Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.

228 Controls in detail
Climate control
Convenience opening:
Press and hold button: until the
windows and the tilt/sliding panel are
opened or have reached the desired
position. The indicator lamp on the
button goes out. The air recirculation
mode is deactivated.
Air conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while
the engine is running and cools the interior
air to the temperature set by the operator.
In addition, the air conditioning dehumidi-
fies the interior air at outside temperatures
above 41°F (5° C) and helps prevent
window fogging.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate
control system. The air in the vehicle will
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.
Press button9 (page 220).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press button9 (page 220) again.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.
iCondensation may drip out from underneath
the vehicle. This is normal and not an indication
of a malfunction.
Warning!G
If you turn off the cooling function, the inte-
rior air is not dried. The windows can fog up
more quickly. Window fogging may impair
visibility and endanger you and others.
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned on
again, this indicates that the air conditioning is
losing refrigerant. The compressor has turned
off.
Have the air conditioning checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.


243 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Convenience opening:
Press and hold button: until the
windows and the tilt/sliding panel are
opened or have reached the desired
position. The indicator lamp on the
button goes out. The air recirculation
mode is deactivated.
Air conditioning
The cooling function, only operational
when the engine is running, cools the
vehicle down to the selected interior
temperature. The cooling function also
dehumidifies the air in the vehicle interior,
thereby preventing the windows from
fogging up.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the automatic
climate control system. The air in the
vehicle will then no longer be cooled or
dehumidified.
Press button9 (page 234).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The cooling function switches off
after a short delay.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press button9 again.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R-134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.
iCondensation may drip out from underneath
the vehicle. This is normal and not an indication
of a malfunction.
Warning!G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
interior air is not dried. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned on
again, this indicates that the air conditioning is
losing refrigerant. The compressor has turned
off.
Have the air conditioning checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

349 Operation
Driving instructions
To help prevent brake disk corrosion after
driving on wet road surfaces (particularly
salted roads), it is advisable to brake the
vehicle with considerable force prior to
parking. The heat generated serves to dry
the brakes.
If your brake system is normally only
subjected to moderate loads, you should
occasionally test the effectiveness of the
brakes by applying above-normal braking
pressure at higher speeds. This will also
enhance the grip of the brake pads.
Refer to the description of the Brake Assist
System (BAS) (
page 102).Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may
be the reason for low brake fluid level in
the reservoir.
The brake fluid level in the reservoir may
be too low if the brake warning lamp
in the instrument cluster comes on and an
acoustic warning sounds although the
parking brake is released (
page 421).
Observe additional messages in the multi-
function display that may appear
(
page 454).
Have the brake system inspected
immediately. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Only install brake pads and brake fluid
recommended by Mercedes-Benz.
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
park, so that the air stream will cool down
the brakes faster.
Warning!G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Warning!G
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired. This
could result in an accident.
!When driving down long and steep grades,
relieve the load on the brakes by shifting into a
lower gear to use the engine’s braking power.
This helps prevent overheating of the brakes and
reduces brake pad wear.
When using the engine’s braking power, a drive
wheel may not spin for an extended period of
time, e.g. on slippery road surfaces. This may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited War-
ranty.

362 Operation
At the gas station
Low outside temperatures
(diesel engine)
To prevent malfunctions, diesel fuel with
improved cold flow characteristics is of-
fered in the winter months. Check with
your fuel retailer.Check regularly and before a long trip
Open the hood (page 364).
1Coolant level
2Brake fluid
3Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (page 366).
Coolant
For normal replenishing, use water (pota-
ble water quality). For more information,
see “Coolant level” (
page 370) and
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 538).
Brake fluid
!Do not fill the tank with gasoline. Do not
blend diesel fuel with gasoline or kerosine. The
fuel system and engine will otherwise be dam-
aged, which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!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 immediately. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
immediately. Do not add brake fluid as this will
not solve the problem. For more information, see
“Brake fluid” (
page 541).

366 Operation
Engine compartment
Closing
Let the hood drop from a height of
approximately 1 ft (30 cm).
The hood will lock audibly.
Check to make sure the hood is fully
closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point
above the headlamps, then it is not
properly closed. Open it again and let it
drop with somewhat greater force.
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Increased oil consumption
can occur when

the vehicle is new

the vehicle is driven frequently at
higher engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.Checking engine oil level with the
control system (R 500 only)
When checking the oil level

the vehicle must be parked on level
ground

with the engine at operating tempera-
ture, the vehicle must have been
stationary for at least 5 minutes with
the engine turned off

with the engine not at operating tem-
perature yet, the vehicle must have
been stationary for at least 30 minutes
with the engine turned off
To check the engine oil level via the
multifunction display, do the following:
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
The standard display (
page 166)
should appear in the multifunction
display.
Warning!G
When closing the hood, use extreme caution
not to catch hand or fingers. Be careful that
you do not close the hood on anyone.
Make sure the hood is securely engaged be-
fore driving. Do not continue driving if the
hood can no longer engage after an accident
for example. The hood could otherwise
come loose while the vehicle is in motion
and injure you and/or others.
iDo not use any special lubricant additives,
as these may damage the drive assemblies.
Using special additives not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may cause damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
More information on this subject is available at
any Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

368 Operation
Engine compartment
If there is excess engine oil with the engine
at operating temperature, the following
message will appear:
Engine oil level
Reduce oil level
Have excess oil siphoned or drained
off. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
For more information on messages in the
multifunction display concerning engine
oil, see the “Practical hints” section
(
page 459).Checking engine oil level with the oil
dipstick (except R 500)
When checking the oil level

the vehicle must be parked on level
ground

with the engine at operating tempera-
ture, the vehicle must have been
stationary for at least 5 minutes with
the engine turned off

with the engine not at operating tem-
perature yet, the vehicle also must
have been stationary for at least
5 minutes with the engine turned off1Oil dipstick
2Upper mark
3Lower mark
Open the hood (page 364).
Pull out oil dipstick1.
Wipe oil dipstick 1 clean.
Fully insert oil dipstick1 into the
dipstick guide tube.
Pull out oil dipstick1 again after
approximately 3 seconds to obtain
accurate reading.
The oil level is correct when it is between
lower mark 3 (min.) and upper mark 2
(max.) of the oil dipstick.
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained off.
It could cause damage to the engine and/or
catalytic converter (gasoline engine) or the
oxidation catalyst (diesel engine) not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.