warning triangle with exclamation point. What does it mena?
 

It's an icy morning in DC today, and my wife called on her way to work saying there is this yellow triangle warning light with exclamation point lit up. I tried to search the web and has not found any definitive answers to this. Any one knows what this is about? The car drives normal.

It seems that this symbol indicates that the ESP/Traction control has been turned off. I doubt my wife would turn it off in today's icy condition, Maybe she turned if off inadvertently. But she is safe at work and will check later and see if she pushed any bottoms by mistake.

Loss of traction. The stability and traction control systems took over. Should go away after a very short while though.

That's comforting to know. Thanks.
But from the two winters I have had with this car, I am totally convinced the run flat tires have very bad traction in snow/icy conditions.

The flashing triangle warns the driver that a wheel is slipping. If its on steady it means that the ESP is switched off. As for run flat tires, I would not own a vehicle that has them. They are horrible from lots of standpoints.

I think your tires are almost constantly slipping causing the ESP to alert the driver. If it doesnt do it this afternoon after road conditions improve then that's your problem. I agree on the comment about run flats.

Well, wife said the yellow warning light was never on again on her way back tonight. So my only logical explanation was that she accidentally turned off the ESP.

Even if she turned it off inadvertently, you can rest assured that it will work!

The traction control can NEVER be turned off in any production Benz. Even though it will look like it is turned off, the electronics will kick in and interfere when your car slips and will try to save it.

^^ This I know because I've seen it do that to me on the track and also because I watch too much Top Gear :zoom:

Traction control comes back on 100% after a restart.

I don't think the Top Gear boys got it 100% correct. When TC is off, the throttle is not retarded when the vehicle senses a loss in traction. For instance, I can smoke the tires in my SL until my heart is content with TC off. I cannot do it with TC on. All ABS braking controls are still on when traction control is off.

To confuse the issue more, some models (I know SL55 and E55) have "dyno" modes that shut ABS off as well. It takes a sequence of commands to get in "dyno" mode so it cannot be done inadvertently like turning off TC.

I sometimes turn TC off in my ML500 when it is icy (on quite roads) to get a feel for the cars sliding characteristics.

Turning off the ESP only turns off a portion of the system. This is to allow the driver to negotiate out of a snow bank or stuck situation but the basics for safety stability are always on. I thing perhaps your wife had slipping wheels which can certainly happen in those conditions causing the triangle to flash. If it was on steady she had inadvertenly turned the ESP switch off. However after shutting down and then restarting the system reverts back to on with no input from the driver.

Answers
 

my son drove my sl500 and when he came back,i noticed the car takes off and ran ONLY go 25-30 mph and the traction control light flashes for a while the the car will run fine until i stop and cut it off and back to slow again.what may i need to replace or reset?

Not real sure what is going on. Hopefully someone can help you out. You might also post in the SL (R129) forum. If your SL was built in 98 it is different than the cars on this forum.

Good Luck!

Thank you!!

Acura TL 2006
 

Can someone give me any suggestion ? I have an Acura TL 2006 and Shows a triangle with (!) and after driving the VSA comes on. What can it be ?

This is a Mercedes forum.

I hope you don't get this a lot. I'd go postal if I were in your shoes. LOL!

"Sorry, but you have to return the car to the dealer."
"For service?"
"No, give it back. All of it! And put your driver's license in the glove box when you do that."
"Umm... that bad? Why my driver's license?"
"You're too st**id to be driving a car. Take the bus. Buy a bicycle."

Strange people, without a doubt.

When you hit the ESP.....you are turning off traction control. Period. It will no longer assist you when losing traction. Period. How do I know????? I turned mine off on my 2003 CL55 AMG.....burned out uncontrollably...........................and crashed it!!!!!! It will not kick back in or automatically assist or partially work. Trust me. I have the ‘proof’....................😔😢
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...a426c54da.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...b8adeb66f.jpeg

The meaning of the symbol is explained in the owners manual. If you’re looking online, look for an owners manual.