2002 Mercedes S-Class Owner's Manual - Page 252

If the parking brake is released and the brake warning lamp in the instrument cluster stays on, the brake fluid level in the reservoir is too low. Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may be the reason for low brake fluid in the reservoir. Have the brake system inspected at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately. All checks and service work on the brake system should be carried out by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Install only brake pads and brake fluid recommended by Mercedes-Benz. Warning! 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. Caution! 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. After hard braking, it is advisable to drive on for some time, rather than immediately parking, so the air stream will cool down the brakes faster. Driving off Apply the service brakes to test them briefly after driving off. Perform this procedure only when the road is clear of other traffic. Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not place full load on the engine until the operating temperature has been reached. When starting off on a slippery surface, do not allow one drive wheel to spin for an extended period with the ESP switched off. Doing so may cause serious damage to the drive train which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. Driving instructions Instruments and controls Operation Driving 249 Instrument cluster display Practical hints Car care Technical data Index