charging MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class 2008 W221 Comand Manual

Contents
Flat tire .............................................. 723
Preparing the vehicle ................... 723
Mounting the spare wheel............ 723
Batteries ............................................ 729
Disconnecting starter battery ...... 731
Removing starter battery ............. 732
Charging battery .......................... 732
Reinstalling starter battery........... 733
Reconnecting starter battery ....... 733
Jump starting ..................................... 734
Towing the vehicle ............................. 737
Towing with front wheels raised ... 738
Towing with all wheels
on the ground............................... 739
Installing towing eye bolt ............. 740
Fuses ................................................. 741
Fuse boxes in
engine compartment .................... 742
Fuse boxes in
passenger compartment .............. 743
Emergency engine shut-down ...... 744
Technical data.................................. 745
Parts service....................................... 746
Warranty coverage ............................. 747
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 747
Identification labels ............................ 748
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................. 750
S 450 4MATIC, S 550 and
S 550 4MATIC............................... 750
S 63 AMG ..................................... 750
S 600 and S 65 AMG .................... 750
Engine ................................................ 751
Rims and tires .................................... 754
Same size tires ............................. 755
Mixed size tires ............................. 757
Spare wheel .................................. 759
Electrical system ................................ 760
Main dimensions and weights ............ 762
Main dimensions........................... 762
Weights ......................................... 763Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. .......... 764
Capacities ..................................... 764
Engine oils .................................... 769
Engine oil additives ....................... 769
Air conditioning refrigerant ........... 769
Brake fluid .................................... 769
Premium unleaded gasoline.......... 770
Fuel requirements......................... 770
Gasoline additives......................... 771
Coolants ....................................... 771
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 774
Index................................................. 775

629 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
-
The yellow Antilock
Brake System (ABS)
indicator lamp comes on
while the engine is run-
ning.
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts. The ABS has switched off.
The battery may not be charged sufficiently.
When the voltage is above this value again,
the ABS is operational again and the ABS in-
dicator lamp should go out.
If the ABS indicator lamp does not go out:
Have the generator (alternator) and the
battery checked.
When the voltage is above this value again,
the ABS is operational again.
;(USA only)3(Canada only)-
v
The red brake warning
lamp comes on while the
engine is running. In addi-
tion, the yellow ABS mal-
function indicator lamp,
and the yellow ESP
®
warning lamp come on
and an acoustic warning
sounds.
A malfunction in the Electronic Brake Pro-
portioning (EBP) was detected. The ABS,
BAS, ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
® are also
switched off (see messages in multifunction
display).
The brake system continues to function
normally, but without electronic support.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.

Read and observe messages in the mul-
tifunction display (
page 642).

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increas-
es the risk of an accident.

663 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ABS and ESP
Currently Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
ABS, ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® are not
available due to a malfunction. BAS is also
switched off. It is possible that the self-diag-
nostics have not yet been completed.
The brake system still functions normally.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.

Drive a short distance with gentle turns
above a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h).
The message disappears when ABS and ESP
®
are again available.
The ABS, ESP
® as well as PRE-SAFE
® were
deactivated because of insufficient power
supply. The charging voltage has fallen be-
low 10 volts.
The brake system still functions normally
but without the ABS, ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
®
available.
BAS Plus* and PRE-SAFE
® Brake* are also
not available.
When the voltage is above this value again, the
ABS, ESP
® and PRE-SAFE
® are operational again
and the message in the multifunction display
should disappear.
If the message in the multifunction display does
not disappear:

Have the generator (alternator) and the bat-
tery checked.

678 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning


broken poly-V-belt

Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe loca-
tion.

Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:

Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the en-
gine will overheat due to an inoperative water
pump which may result in damage to the en-
gine.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:

Drive immediately to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
There is a malfunction in the electronic
system.

Have the system checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

732 Practical hintsBatteriesSwitching off vehicle’s internal
electrical functions
Turn off all electrical consumers.

Turn SmartKey in starter switch to po-
sition 0.

Turn SmartKey in starter switch to po-
sition 1.

Wait for 30 seconds.
The vehicle’s internal electrical func-
tions are switched off.

Turn SmartKey in starter switch to po-
sition 0.Disconnecting starter battery

Open the hood (
page 573).

Use a 10-mm open-end wrench to dis-
connect the battery negative lead.

Remove cover2 (
page 731) from
the positive terminal.

Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing starter battery
Pull out the battery ventilation hose
from the battery (depending on battery
arrangement in your vehicle model, the
ventilation hose is located either on the
left or right side of the battery).

Fold bar on starter battery up.

Take out the starter battery.
Charging battery
i
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
KEYLESS-GO button (
page 371) and use the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO like a normal
SmartKey.
!
Do not remove the SmartKey!
i
For your convenience, have the starter bat-
tery removed by a Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle unless the accessory battery
charge unit approved by Mercedes-Benz is
being used. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury.
An accessory battery charge unit specially
adapted for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz is
available, permitting the charging of the bat-
tery in its installed position. Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
information and availability. Charge battery
in accordance with the separate instruc-
tions for the accessory battery charger.i
Have the batteries charged by a
Mercedes-Benz Center. If you charge the batter-
ies yourself, follow the operating instructions for
your charging device.

733 Practical hints
Batteries
Starter battery
Connect the switched-off charging de-
vice to the terminals of the starter bat-
tery. Observe the operating
instructions in the manual for the
charging device while doing so.
Reinstalling starter battery
Install starter battery in engine com-
partment.

Swing retaining bar down.
Reconnecting starter battery

Make sure that the consumer battery in
the trunk is correctly installed and con-
nected.

Turn SmartKey in starter switch to po-
sition 0 and remove.

Connect the positive lead and fasten its
cover2 (
page 731).

Connect negative lead1
(page 731).

Attach ventilation tube.

Switch on the ignition (
page 370).

Start the engine (
page 416).

Check vehicle functions.
!
Only use charging devices with a maximum
charging voltage of 14.8 V.
Warning!
G
During the charge procedure, there is a risk
of acid burns due to gases escaping from
the battery. Do not bend over the battery
during the charge procedure.
!
The battery and the battery ventilation hose
must always be securely installed when the vehi-
cle is in operation.
!
Always connect the starter battery in the or-
der described below. Otherwise, the vehicle’s
electronics could be damaged.
Warning!
G
Do not drive without a properly installed and
connected consumer battery.
Have any work on the consumer battery car-
ried out by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
!
Never invert the terminal connections.
!
Make sure that the battery has a plug where
the ventilation tube is attached to it.

777 Index
B
Backup lamps
Replacing bulbs 715
Bar 606
BAS 69
Batteries, SmartKey
Checking battery condition 366
Replacing 712
Batteries, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Checking battery condition 366
Replacing 712
Batteries, vehicle 729
Charging 732
Discharged, Jump starting 734
Disconnecting 731
For electrical consumers 729
For starter 729
Message in display 678
Reconnecting 733
Removing 732
Bead 606
Beverage holder see Cupholder
Blind Spot Assist* 495
Messages in display 654
Bluetooth
®
Settings (COMAND) 180Brake assist system (BAS Plus) 70
Brake assist system (BAS) 69
Brake fluid 572, 766, 769
Brake lamp bulbs 715
Brake lamp, high mounted 715
Brake pads
Message in display 666
Brake warning lamp 29
Brakes 560
High-performance brake system
(AMG vehicles only) 561
Warning lamp 29, 629
Break-in period 558
Bulbs, replacing 714
Additional turn signals 715
Brake lamps 715
Fog lamps 715
Front lamps 715
High beam 715
High mounted brake lamp 715
License plate lamps 715
Low beam 715
Parking and standing lamps 715
Rear fog lamp 715
Turn signal lamps 715C
California retail buyers and lessees,
important notice for 15
Can holder see Cupholder
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants 764
Cargo area see Trunk
Cargo tie-down hooks 532
Carpets, Cleaning and care of 624
Catalytic converter 568
CD
Ejecting (COMAND) 122
Loading (COMAND) 120
Menu overview (COMAND) 123
Playback options (COMAND) 128
Selecting a medium (COMAND) 126
Selecting a track (COMAND) 126
CD (COMAND) 116
Central locking
Automatic 368
Locking/unlocking from inside 369
Central locking/unlocking switches 369
Certification label 748
Change of address or ownership 16