ignition MERCEDES-BENZ R63AMG 2007 R171 Repair Manual

409 Operation
Maintenance
Calling up the maintenance service
indicator display
You can call up the maintenance service
indicator display at any time to check
when the next maintenance service is due.
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
The standard display of the control sys-
tem appears (
page 166).
Press button èorÿon the
multifunction steering wheel
repeatedly until the standard display
appears in the multifunction display
(
page 166).
Press button k or j on the
multifunction steering wheel until the
maintenance service indicator display
with the service symbol 9 and the
service deadline appears in the multi-
function display.Resetting the maintenance service
indicator
In the event that the maintenance service
on your vehicle is not carried out by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center, you can have the maintenance
service indicator reset. The automotive
maintenance facility carrying out the
maintenance service will find the informa-
tion for resetting the maintenance service
indicator in the maintenance-relevant
literature for your vehicle. Such literature
is available either from either an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center or directly from Mercedes-Benz.
iThe menu overview can be found on
(
page 162).
iIf the battery is disconnected, the days of
disconnection will not be included in the count
shown by the maintenance service indicator. To
arrive at the true maintenance service deadline,
you will need to subtract these days from the
days shown in the maintenance service indicator
message or maintenance service indicator
display.
iIf the maintenance service indicator was in-
advertently reset, have an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center correct it.
Only reset if the proper maintenance service has
been performed. Resetting the system without
performing the proper service as called for by
the maintenance service indicator will result in
engine damage and/or other vehicle damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

414 Operation
Vehicle care
Cleaning the Distronic* system sensor
cover
1Distronic system sensor cover
Switch off the ignition (page 39).
Use a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car
Shampoo, with plenty of water and a
non-scratching cloth to clean sensor
cover1.
Restart the engine after cleaning sen-
sor cover1.
Cleaning the Parktronic* system
sensors
1Parktronic system sensors in front
bumper
Use a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car
Shampoo, with plenty of water and a
soft, non-scratching cloth to clean
sensors1 on the bumpers.
!To prevent scratches or damage, never
apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the sensor
cover1. Do not attempt to wipe dirty sensors
with a dry cloth or sponge.
!Do not apply strong pressure to the sensor
covers. Applying strong pressure may damage
the sensor covers.
Follow the instructions provided by the power
washer manufacturer on maintaining a distance
between the vehicle and the nozzle of the power
washer.
!To prevent scratches, never apply strong
force and only use a soft, non-scratching cloth
when cleaning the sensors. Do not attempt to
wipe dirty sensors with a dry cloth or sponge.

420 Practical hints
What to do if …
Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during thebulb self-check when switching on the
ignition, have the respective bulb checked
and replaced if necessary.
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
-The yellow ABS indicator lamp
comes on while the engine is
running.ABS has detected a malfunction and has
switched off. The BAS, ESP®, EBP, and 4-ETS
are also switched off (see messages in multi-
function display).
The brake system is still functioning normally
but without the ABS available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning,
other systems such as the navigation
system* or the automatic transmission may
also be malfunctioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.
Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display (
page 433).
Have the system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts. The ABS has switched off.
The battery might not be charged sufficiently.When the voltage is above this value
again, the ABS is operational again and
the ABS indicator lamp should go out.
If the ABS indicator lamp does not go out:
Have the generator (alternator) and
the battery checked.

423 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/conse-
quenceSuggested solution
?(USA only)
±(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.There is a malfunction in:

The fuel management
system

The ignition system

The emission control
system

Systems which affect
emissions
Such malfunctions may result
in excessive emissions values
and may switch the engine to
its limp-home (emergency
operation) mode.
Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics
system. It allows the accurate identifi-
cation of system malfunctions through
the readout of diagnostic trouble
codes. It is located in the front left area
of the footwell next to the parking
brake pedal.
iSome states may by law require you to visit
a workshop immediately as soon as the engine
malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Check
local requirements.

434 Practical hints
What to do if …
On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may
appear in the multifunction display.
For your convenience the messages are
divided into two sections:

Text messages (page 435)

Symbol messages (page 451)
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with
added caution. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.
iSwitching on the ignition causes all
instrument cluster lamps (except high beam
headlamp indicator lamp, and turn signal indica-
tor lamps unless activated) as well as the multi-
function display to come on. Make sure the
lamps and multifunction display are in working
order before starting your journey.

443 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
PShift to PYou have started the engine or
switched on the ignition with
KEYLESS-GO* and opened the
driver’s door with the automatic
transmission not set to positionP.Set the automatic transmission to
positionP.
or
Close the driver’s door
Shift to P or N
to start engineYou have attempted to start the
engine with the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button while the auto-
matic transmission was set to
positionR orD.Set the automatic transmission to
positionP orN.
Make sure the brake pedal is depressed
when attempting to start the engine with
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button.
Only shift to
Park when vehicle
is stationaryYou have tried to shift the transmis-
sion into position P using the gear
selector lever although the vehicle is
still in motion.Stop the vehicle.

445 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible
cause/consequencePossible solution
Front passenger airbag
enabled
See Operator’s ManualFront passenger front
air bag is activated
while driving even
though a child, small
individual, or object
below the system’s
weight threshold is on
the front passenger
seat, or the front pas-
senger seat is empty.
Objects on the seat or
forces acting on the
seat may make the
system sense supple-
mental weight.Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and check the front passen-
ger seat for the following:
Apply the parking brake (page 66).
Switch off the ignition (page 39).
Remove child and child restraint from front passenger seat and properly secure
the child in rear seat employing the child restraint if necessary.
Remove any other items from on and around the front passenger seat and
make sure the storage bag on the back of the front passenger seat is empty.
Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the seat are present (e.g. ob-
jects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged behind or around the seat, head re-
straints pushing against roof etc.). The system may recognize such forces as
supplemental weight and sense that an occupant on the front passenger seat
is of a heavier weight than actually present.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door and turn on the igni-
tion (
page 39).
(Continued on next page)

446 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible
cause/consequencePossible solution
Front passenger airbag
enabled
See Operator’s ManualMonitor the 59indicator lamp on the center console (page 92) and
the multifunction display in the instrument cluster (
page 26) for the following:
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition turned on,

the 59indicator lamp on the center console should illuminate and
remain illuminated, indicating that the OCS (
page 88) has deactivated the air
bag.

the message Front passenger airbag enabled See Operator’s Manual or the
message
Front passenger airbag disabled See Operator’s Manual should
not appear in the multifunction display at any time the seat is unoccupied. Wait
at last 60 seconds for the system to complete the necessary check cycles and
to make sure neither message appears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the front passenger seat again.
Depending on the front passenger classification sensed by the OCS (
page 88),
the 59indicator lamp will remain illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working properly. Have the
system checked as soon as possible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Warning!G
If the 59 indicator lamp re-
mains out even after performing the above
corrective steps, do not have any children
12 years old and under and other small individuals use the front passenger seat
until the system has been repaired.

447 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible
cause/consequencePossible solution
Front passenger airbag
disabled
See Operator’s ManualFront passenger front
air bag is deactivated
while driving even
though an adult or
someone larger than a
small individual is oc-
cupying the front pas-
senger seat. Forces
acting on the seat may
make the system
sense a decrease in
weight.Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and check the front
passenger seat for the following:
Apply the parking brake (page 66).
Switch off the ignition (page 39).
Have the front passenger vacate the seat and exit the vehicle.
Adjust the seat in a height position (page 44).
Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the seat are present (e.g. ob-
jects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged underneath, behind or around the
seat). Such forces may cause the system to sense that an occupant of a lesser
weight than actually present is on the front passenger seat.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door and switch on the
ignition (
page 39).
(Continued on next page)

448 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible
cause/consequencePossible solution
Front passenger airbag
disabled
see Operator’s ManualMonitor the 59indicator lamp on the center console (page 92) and
the multifunction display in the instrument cluster (
page 26) for the following:
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition turned on,

the 59indicator lamp on the center console should illuminate and
remain illuminated, indicating that the OCS (
page 88) has deactivated the air
bag.

the message Front passenger airbag enabled see Operator’s Manual or the
message
Front passenger airbag disabled see Operator’s Manual should
not appear in the multifunction display at any time the seat is unoccupied. Wait
at last 60 seconds for the system to complete the necessary check cycles and
to make sure neither message appears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the front passenger seat again.
Depending on the front passenger classification sensed by the OCS (
page 88),
the 59indicator lamp will remain illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working properly. Have the
system checked as soon as possible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Warning!G
If the 59indicator lamp re-
mains out even after performing the above
corrective steps, do not have any children
12 years old and under and other small individuals use the front passenger seat
until the system has been repaired.