transmission MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 2016 Repair Manual

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Tir e Pressure Moni‐
tor Inoperative No
Wheel Sensor s The wheels mounte d do no t hav e a suitable tire pressur e sensor . The
tire pressur e monitor is deactivated.X
Moun t wheels wit h suitable tire pressur e sensors.
The tire pressur e monitor is activated automatically after drivin g for
a few minutes.
Tir e Press. Monito r
Inoperative The tire pressur e monitor is faulty.X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .
Vehicle Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Shift to 'P' or 'N'
to Start Engine You hav e attempte d to start th e engin e wit h th e transmission in posi-
tion R or D . X
Shift th e transmission to position P or N .
Apply Brake to
Shift fro m 'P' You hav e attempte d to mov e th e transmission selector lever to posi-
tion D , R or N without depressing th e brak e pedal .X
Depress th e brak e pedal .
To Deselect P or N,
Depres s Brake and
Start Engine Wit h th e engin e switched off , you hav e attempte d to shift th e trans -
mission out of position P or N int o another transmission position .X
Depress th e brak e pedal .X
Start th e engine.
Transmission Not in
P Ris k of Vehicl e
Rollin g Awa y The driver's door is open or no t full y closed and th e transmission is in
position R , N or D .
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNIN G
The vehicl e may rol l away.
There is a ris k of an accident.X
Shift th e transmission to position P .X
Secur e th e vehicl e against rollin g away ( Y
page 189).X
Clos e th e driver's door completely.
Onl y Shift to 'P'
whe n Vehicl e is Sta ‐
tionar y The vehicl e is moving .X
Pull ove r and stop th e vehicl e safely as soo n as possible, payin g
attention to roa d and traffic conditions.X
Shift th e transmission to position P .308
Display messages
On-board computer and displays

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Servic e Required Do
Not Shift Gears
Visit Dealer You canno t chang e th e transmission position due to a malfunction .
A warning tone also sounds.
If transmission position D is selected:X
Drive to a qualified specialist workshop without shifting th e trans -
mission from position D .
If transmission position R , N or P is selected:X
Secur e th e vehicl e against rollin g away ( Y
page 189).X
Notify a qualified specialist workshop or breakdown service.
Reversing Not Possi‐
ble Servic e Required You canno t shift int o th e transmission position R due to a malfunction .
The transmission position s P , N or D continu e to be available.
A warning tone also sounds. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .
Transmission Mal ‐
function Sto p A malfunction has occurred in th e mechanical transmission compo -
nents.
A warning tone also sounds. The gearbox automatically shift s to posi-
tion N . X
Pull ove r and stop th e vehicl e safely as soo n as possible, payin g
attention to roa d and traffic conditions.X
Shift th e transmission to position P .X
Secur e th e vehicl e against rollin g away ( Y
page 189).X
Notify a qualified specialist workshop or breakdown service.
Sto p Vehicl e Leave
Engine Runnin g Wai t
Transmission Cool‐
ing PLUG-I N HYBRID vehicles:
The transmission has overheated. Pullin g away can be temporarily
impaire d or no t possible.X
Pull ove r and stop th e vehicl e safely as soo n as possible, payin g
attention to roa d and traffic conditions. Do no t continu e drivin g
under any circumstances. X
Wait until th e display message disappear s before pullin g away.
Auxiliary Batter y
Malfunction The auxiliary battery for th e transmission is no longer bein g charged.X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .X
Unti l then , set th e transmission to position P before you switch off
th e engine. X
Befor e leaving th e vehicle, apply th e electric parking brake.

Warning/
indicator
lamp Q Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
'M
Q ' (USA only) or M (Canada only): the red brake system warning lamp is
lit while the engine is running.
A warning tone also sounds.
There is not enough brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir.
G WARNING
The braking effect may be impaired.
There is a risk of an accident. X
Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying attention to road
and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving under any circumstances. X
Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y
page 189).X
Do not add brake fluid. Adding more will not correct the malfunction. X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop. X
Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
'
Q USA only: the red brake system warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
The multifunction display also shows a display message with the & symbol.
The brake pads/linings have reached their wear limit. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
%
Q The yellow ABS warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) is deactivated due to a malfunction. Therefore BAS
(Brake Assist), BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist, COLLISION PREVENTION
ASSIST PLUS, ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program), PRE ‑ SAFE ®
, PRE ‑ SAFE ®
PLUS,
PRE ‑ SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD function, Hill Start Assist, Crosswind Assist, STEER
CONTROL, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist are also deac-
tivated.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions listed
above. The wheels could therefore lock if you brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely affected. The braking
distance in an emergency braking situation can increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident. X
Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction display. X
Drive on carefully. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
If the ABS control unit is faulty, there is also a possibility that other systems, such
as the navigation system or the automatic transmission, will not be available.316
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays

Care
General notes
H Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man-
ner.
! For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any of
the following: R
dry, rough or hard cloths R
abrasive cleaning agents R
solvents R
cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective films
with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice scraper.
You could otherwise scratch or damage the
surfaces and protective film.
! Do not park the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly
after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after cleaning.
Braking heats the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings, thus drying them. The vehicle
can then be parked.
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash
G WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
After the vehicle has been washed, brake
carefully while paying attention to the traffic
conditions until full braking power is restored. ! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function is
activated, the vehicle brakes automatically in
certain situations.
To prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similar situations: R
when towing the vehicle R
in the car wash
! Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
cleaning agents. These cleaning agents can
damage the paintwork or plastic parts.
! Make sure that: R
the side windows and the sliding sunroof
are fully closed. R
the ventilation/heating is switched off (the
OFF button has been pressed). R
the windshield wiper switch is at position 0 .R
the 360° camera or rear view camera is
switched off.
The vehicle may otherwise be damaged.
! If the SmartKey is within the rear detection
range of KEYLESS-GO, the following situa-
tions, for example, could lead to the uninten-
tional opening of the trunk: R
using a car wash R
using a power washer
Make sure that the SmartKey is at least 10 ft
(3 m ) away from the vehicle.
! Make sure that the automatic transmission
is in neutral position N when washing your
vehicle in a tow-through car wash. The vehicle
may otherwise be damaged. R
Operating with the SmartKey:
Do not remove the SmartKey from the igni-
tion lock. Do not open the driver's door
when the engine is switched off or at very
low speeds. Otherwise, when in transmis-
sion position D or R the automatic trans-
mission will automatically switch to park
position P and block the wheels. R
Operating with the Start/Stop button:
Do not open the driver's door when the
engine is switched off or at very low
speeds. Otherwise, when in transmission
position D or R the automatic transmission
will automatically switch to park position P
and block the wheels. Care 359
Maintenance and care Z

Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in position N neu-
tral:
Operating with the SmartKey: X
Make sure that the ignition is switched on. X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary. X
Depress and hold the brake pedal. X
Shift to neutral N .X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake, if neces-
sary. X
Switch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey
in the ignition lock.
Operating with the Start/Stop button: X
Make sure that the ignition is switched on. X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary. X
Depress and hold the brake pedal. X
Engage park position P .X
Release the brake pedal. X
Remove Start/Stop button from ignition lock
( Y
page 162).X
Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock. X
Switch on the ignition. X
Depress and hold the brake pedal. X
Shift to neutral N .X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake, if neces-
sary. X
Switch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey
in the ignition lock.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off wax
from the windshield and the wiper blades. This
will prevent smears and reduce wiping noises
caused by residue on the windshield.
Washing by hand
In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements in each country. X
Do not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight. X
Use a soft sponge to clean. X
Use a mild cleaning agent, such as a car
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz. X
Thoroughly hose down the vehicle with a gen-
tle jet of water. X
Do not point the water jet directly towards the
air inlet. X
Use plenty of water and rinse out the sponge
frequently. X
Rinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois. X
Do not let the cleaning agent dry on the paint-
work.
Carefully remove all deposits of road salt as
soon as possible when driving in winter.
Power washers
G WARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage
to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-
edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
! Always maintain a distance of at least
11.8 in (30 cm) between the vehicle and the
power washer nozzle. Information about the
correct distance is available from the equip-
ment manufacturer.
Move the power washer nozzle around when
cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following: R
tires R
door gaps, roof gaps, joints, etc. R
electrical components R
battery R
connectors R
lights R
seals R
trim R
ventilation slots
Damaged seals or electrical components can
lead to leaks or failures.360
Care
Maintenance and care

plenty of clean water and seek medical atten-
tion.
All vehicles:
H Environmental note
Batteries contain dangerous
substances. It is against the
law to dispose of them with
the household rubbish. They
must be collected separately
and recycled to protect the
environment.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally friendly
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop or a special
collection point for used bat-
teries.
! Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Observe the service intervals in the Mainte-
nance Booklet or contact a qualified specialist
workshop for more information.
! Always have work on batteries carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop. Should it, in
exceptional circumstances, be absolutely
necessary to disconnect the 12-volt battery
yourself, observe the following: R
secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away. R
switch off the ignition. R
always disconnect the negative terminal
clamp first, followed by the positive termi-
nal clamp.
After the battery has been disconnected, the
transmission is locked in position P .
After the work has been done, install the bat-
tery and replace the cover of the positive ter-
minal clamp firmly.
Comply with safety precautions and take pro-
tective measures when handling batteries. Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and smoking are
prohibited when handling the bat-
tery. Avoid creating sparks.
Electrolyte or battery acid is corro-
sive. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or
clothing.
Wear suitable protective clothing,
especially gloves, apron and face-
guard.
Immediately rinse electrolyte or acid
splashes off with clean water. Con-
tact a physician if necessary.
Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Operator's Manual.
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 prevent vehicle
occupants from suffering acid burns should the
battery be damaged in the event of an accident.
In order for the battery to achieve the maximum
possible service life, it must always be suffi-
ciently charged.
Like other batteries, the vehicle battery may
discharge over time if you do not use the vehicle.
In this case, have the battery disconnected at a
qualified specialist workshop. You can also
charge the battery with a charger recommended
by Mercedes-Benz. Contact a qualified special-
ist workshop for further information.
Have the battery condition of charge checked
more frequently if you use the vehicle mainly for
short trips or if you leave it standing idle for a
lengthy period. Consult a qualified specialist
workshop if you wish to leave your vehicle
parked for a long period of time.Battery (vehicle) 373
Breakdown assistance Z

Do not start the vehicle using a rapid charging device. If your vehicle's battery is discharged, the
engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a second battery using jumper cables.
Observe the following points: R
The battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible, jump-
start the vehicle using a second battery or a jump-starting device. R
You may only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust system are cold. R
All vehicles except Mercedes-AMG vehicles: do not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let
the battery thaw first. R
Only jump-start from batteries with a 12 V voltage rating. R
Only use jumper cables which have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps. R
If the battery is fully discharged, leave the battery that is being used to jump-start connected for
a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the battery slightly. R
Make sure that the two vehicles do not touch.
Make sure that: R
the jumper cables are not damaged. R
when the jumper cables are connected to the battery, uninsulated sections of the terminal clamp
do not come into contact with o ther metal sections.R
the jumper cables cannot come into contact with parts which can move when the engine is
running, such as the V-belt pulley or the fan. X
Secure the vehicle by applying the electric parking brake. X
Shift the transmission to position P .X
Make sure that the ignition is switched off. All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster must be
off. When using the SmartKey, turn the SmartKey to position 0 in the ignition lock and remove it
( Y
page 162). X
Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g. rear window defroster, lighting, etc. X
Open the hood.
Example: ground point cover X
Turn fasteners C one

Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longer available if: R
the engine is not running. R
the brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning. R
there is a malfunction in the voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
If your vehicle is being towed, much more
force may be necessary to steer or brake.
There is a risk of an accident.
In such cases, use a tow bar. Before towing,
make sure that the steering moves freely.
G WARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible
gross weight of your vehicle, the: R
the towing eye could detach itself R
the vehicle/trailer combination could roll-
over.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per-
missible gross weight of your vehicle.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle weight
of your vehicle can be found on the vehicle iden-
tification plate ( Y
page 426).
! When COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS, DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automatically
in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
these systems in the following or similar sit-
uations: R
when towing the vehicle R
in the car wash
! Make sure that the electric parking brake is
released. If the electric parking brake is faulty,
visit a qualified specialist workshop. ! Secure the tow rope or tow bar to the towing
eye only. Otherwise, the vehicle could
become damaged.
! Do not use the towing eyes for recovery pur-
poses as this could damage the vehicle. If in
doubt, recove r the vehicle with a crane.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high, the
vehicles could be damaged.
! Shift the automatic transmission to N and
do not open the driver's or front passenger's
door during towing. The automatic transmis-
sion may otherwise shift to position P , which
could damage the transmission.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment. This
could damage the vehicle.
! The vehicle can be towed a maximum of
30 miles (50km). The towing speed of 30 mph
(50 km/h) must not be exceeded.
If the vehicle has to be towed more than
30 miles (50km), the entire vehicle must be
raised and transported.
It is better to have the vehicle transported than
to have it towed away.
If the vehicle has suffered transmission damage,
have it transported on a transporter or trailer.
The automatic transmission must be in position
N when the vehicle is being towed.
If the automatic transmission cannot be shifted
to position N , have the vehicle transported on a
transporter or trailer.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you: R
cannot turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock R
cannot release the electric parking brake R
cannot shift the automatic transmission to
position N
Disarm the automatic locking feature before the
vehicle is towed ( Y
page 87). You could other-
wise be locked out when pushing or towing the
vehicle.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:Towing and tow-starting 379
Breakdown assistance Z

PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles may not be towed
away but must instead be transported, if: R
the multifunction display is not working or R
the á Towing Not Permitted See
Operator's Manual message appears in the
multifunction display.
If the vehicle is in a dangerous area, it can be
towed out of that area with both axles on the
ground. In this case, the towing distance must
not be greater than 165 ft (50 m) and must not
exceed a towing speed of 6 mph (10 km/h). For
longer distances, have the vehicle loaded and
transported.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
The brackets for the screw-in towing eye are
located in the bumpers. They are at the rear and
at the front, under covers C .X
Remove the towing eye from the vehicle tool
kit/stowage tray ( Y
page 367).X
Press the mark on cover C inwards in the
direction of the arrow. X
Remove cover C from the opening.X
Screw in the towing eye clockwise as far as it
will go and tighten it. Removing the towing eye X
Unscrew and remove the towing eye. X
Attach cover C to the bumper and press until
it engages. X
Place the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit/
stowage tray.
Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
( Y
page 379).
The automatic transmission automatically shifts
to position P when you open the driver's or front-
passenger door or when you remove the Smart-
Key from the ignition lock.
In order to ensure that the automatic transmis-
sion stays in position N when towing the vehicle,
you must observe the following points: X
You must use the SmartKey instead of the
Start/Stop button ( Y
page 162).X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
that the key is in position 0 in the ignition lock.X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the ignition
lock. X
Depress and hold the brake pedal. X
Shift the automatic transmission to position
N . X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake. X
Leave the SmartKey in position 2 in the igni-
tion lock. X
Switch on the hazard warning lamps
( Y
page 132).
In order to signal a change of direction when
towing the vehicle with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination switch
as usual. In this case, only the indicator lamps
for the direction of travel flash. After resetting
the combination switch, the hazard warning
lamp starts f lashing again.380
Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

Transporting the vehicle
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles Transportation of the vehicle should only be car-
ried out by professional recovery companies.
4MATIC vehicles/vehicles with auto-
matic transmission
! When the vehicle is loaded for transport, the
front and rear axles must be stationary and on
the same transportation vehicle. Positioning
over the connection point of the transport
vehicle is not permitted. The drive train may
otherwise be damaged.
All vehicles
! You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as
axle or steering components. Otherwise, the
vehicle could be damaged.
The towing eye can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a trailer or transporter for transporting pur-
poses. X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the ignition
lock. X
Shift the automatic transmission to position
N .
As soon as the vehicle has been loaded: X
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake. X
Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P .X
Turn the SmartKey to position 0 in the ignition
lock and remove it. X
Secure the vehicle. Notes on 4MATIC vehicles
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised, as
doing so will damage the transmission.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may either be towed away
with both axles on the ground or be loaded up
and transported.
If the vehicle's transmission, front, or rear axle is
damaged, have the vehicle transported on a
truck or trailer.
In the event of damage to the electrical sys-
tem: if the battery is defective, the automatic
transmission will be locked in position P . To shift
the automatic transmission to position N , you
must provide power to the vehicle's electrical
system in the same way as when jump-starting
( Y
page 376).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter or
trailer.
Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
! Vehicles with automatic transmission must
not be tow-started. You could otherwise dam-
age the automatic transmission.
i Information on "Jump-starting"
( Y
page 376).
Fuses
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If you manipulate or bridge a faulty fuse or if
you replace it with a fuse with a higher amper-
age, the electric cables could be overloaded.
This could result in a fire. There is a risk of an
accident and injury.
Always replace faulty fuses with the specified
new fuses having the correct amperage.
Blown fuses must be replaced with fuses of the
same rating, which you can recognize by the
color and value. The fuse ratings are listed in the
fuse allocation chart.
The fuse allocation chart is on the fuse box in the
trunk ( Y
page 381). Fuses 381
Breakdown assistance Z