Mercedes-Benz W212 Distronic Plus inoperative message
E350 CDI
Why does the W212 Distronic Plus show inoperative in winter?
The most common cause is snow or ice in front of the front radar. In that case, besides Distronic, PRE-SAFE Brake and blind spot assist messages often appear too. Cleaning the front end and restarting the car restored the functions.
What else can Distronic not working mean?
The fault can be in a radar near the front bumper: one faulty radar is enough to prevent operation, and a common cause is water getting into the radar housing. Sometimes recalibrating the radar helps. Wiring, the radar's bus connection, low battery voltage or a poor ground can also cause PRE-SAFE messages.
Does the cruise control work if Distronic does not work?
No. The cruise control is tied to Distronic operation, so when Distronic is out of use, so is the cruise control. A fault in the rear blind spot radar, on the other hand, does not prevent Distronic.
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