Mercedes-Benz E-class 1999 Additions to Manual User Manual
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Electronic Traction System (ETS)
(Model E320 with All Wheel Drive
[AWD]: 4-ETS)
The 4-ETS improves vehicle's ability
to utilize available traction, especially
under slippery road conditions. The
brakes are applied to the spinning
wheel and power is transferred to the
wheel(s) with traction. At
approximately 50 mph (80 km/h), the
ETS switches off at the front wheels,
and at approximately 80 mph (130
km/h) at the rear wheels.
The ETS warning lamp, located in the
speedometer dial, starts to flash at
any vehicle speed, as soon as the
tires lose traction and the wheels
begin to spin.
Important!
If the ETS warning lamp flashes:
• during take-off, apply as little
throttle as possible,
• while driving, ease up on the
accelerator.
Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road conditions.
ETS Control
If the yellow BAS/ETS malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while the
ETS warning lamp flashes, with the
engine running, the electronic traction
system is being switched off
temporarily on one ore more wheels
to prevent overheating of the drive
wheel brakes.
If the BAS/ETS malfunction indicator
lamp comes on permanently with the
engine running, a malfunction has
been detected in either system.
If the BAS malfunctions, the brake
system functions in the usual manner,
but without BAS.
Have the BAS or ETS checked at your
authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer as
soon as possible.
With the ABS malfunctioning, the ETS
is also switched off.
Caution!
Model E320 with AWD: 4-ETS
Operational tests with the engine
running can only be conducted on a 2-
axle dynamometer. Otherwise the 4-
ETS applies the brakes to the spinning
wheels.
If the vehicle is towed with one axle
raised (see Towing the vehicle in
Index), or when testing the parking
brake on a brake test dynamo
meter, the engine must be shut off
(electronic key in steering lock
position 0 or 1). Otherwise, the
electronic traction system will
immediately be engaged and will
apply the brakes.
Notes:
The indicator lamp for the ETS is
combined with that of the BAS
The yellow BAS/ETS malfunction
indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster and the yellow ETS warning
lamp in the speedometer dial come
on with the electronic key in steering
lock position 2. They should go out
with the engine running.
Driving the vehicle with varied size
tires will cause the wheels to rotate at
different speeds, therefore the
acceleration slip regulation may
activate (yellow ETS warning lamp in
speedometer dial comes on). For this
reason, all wheels, including the
spare wheel, must have the same tire
size.
In winter operation, the maximum
effectiveness of the four wheel
electronic traction system is only
achieved with Mercedes-Benz
recommended M+S rated radial-ply
tires and/or snow chains.