Mercedes Benz 2009 M-Class User Manual

425

Practical hints

What to do if …

Warning!

G

Each tire, including the spare (if provided),

should be checked monthly when cold and

inflated to the inflation pressure recom-

mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the

vehicle placard or the tire inflation pressure

label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different

size than the size indicated on the vehicle

placard or the tire inflation pressure label,

you should determine the proper tire infla-

tion pressure for those tires).

As an added safety feature, your vehicle has

been equipped with a tire pressure monitor-

ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire

pressure telltale when one or more of your

tires is significantly underinflated. Accord-

ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu-

minates, you should stop and check your

tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to

the proper pressure. Driving on a significant-

ly underinflated tire causes the tire to over-

heat and can lead to tire failure.

Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency

and tire tread life, and may affect the vehi-

cle’s handling and stopping ability. Please

note that the TPMS is not a substitute for

proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-

er’s responsibility to maintain correct tire

pressure, even if underinflation has not

reached the level to trigger illumination of

the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.

USA only:

Your vehicle has also been equipped with a

TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate

when the system is not operating properly.

The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-

bined with the low tire pressure telltale.

When the system detects a malfunction, the

telltale will flash for approximately 1 minute

and then remain continuously illuminated.

This sequence will continue upon subse-

quent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal-

function exists. When the malfunction

indicator is illuminated, the system may not

be able to detect or signal low tire pressure

as intended.

TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety

of reasons, including the installation of in-

compatible replacement or alternate tires or

wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS

from functioning properly. Always check the

TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing

one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle

to ensure that the replacement or alternate

tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue

to function properly.