tow bar MERCEDES-BENZ A CLASS 2012 User Guide

Position number
B identifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-
starting device.
X Press together cover : of positive clamp ; and slide it back.
X Connect positive terminal ; on your vehicle to positive terminal = of donor battery B
using the jump lead, beginning with your own battery.
X Start the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.
X Connect negative terminal ? of donor battery B to earth point A of your vehicle using
the jump lead, connecting the jump lead to donor battery B first.
X Start the engine.
X Before disconnecting the jump leads, let the engines run for several minutes.
X First, remove the jump leads from earth point A
and negative terminal ?, then from pos-
itive clamp ; and positive terminal =. Begin each time at the contacts on your own vehicle
first.
X Close cover : of positive clamp ; after removing the jump leads.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
i Jump-starting is not considered to be a normal operating condition.
i Jump-starting cables and further information regarding jump starting can be obtained at
any qualified specialist workshop. Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Safety-relevant functions are restricted or not
available if:
R the engine is not running.
R the brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning
R the

voltage supply or the vehicle's electrical
system is malfunctioning.
If your vehicle is towed, significantly greater
force may be required to steer the vehicle or
to brake. There is a risk of an accident.
In such circumstances, use a towing bar.
Make sure that the steering is moving freely
before towing. G
WARNING
If the weight of the vehicle to be towed or tow-
started is greater than the permissible gross
weight of your vehicle:
R the towing eye could detach itself
R the

vehicle/trailer combination could over-
turn.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per-
missible gross weight of your vehicle.
Information on your vehicle's gross vehicle
weight rating can be found on the vehicle
identification plate ( Y page 338). G
WARNING
The vehicle is braked when the HOLD function
or DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. Therefore,
deactivate

HOLD and DISTRONIC PLUS if the
vehicle is to be towed. 310
Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

!
Only secure the tow rope or towing bar to
the towing eyes. The vehicle may otherwise
be damaged.
! Observe the following points when towing
with a tow rope:
R secure the tow rope on the same side on
both vehicles.
R make sure that the tow rope is not longer
than legally permitted. Mark the tow rope
in the middle, e.g. with a white cloth
(30 x 30 cm). This makes other road
users aware that a vehicle is being
towed.
R only secure the tow rope to the towing
eye.
R observe the brake lamps of the towing
vehicle while driving. Always maintain a
distance so that the tow rope does not
sag.
R do not use steel cables or chains to tow
your vehicle. You could otherwise dam-
age the vehicle.
! Do not use the towing eyes for recovery
purposes as this could damage the vehicle.
If in doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
! Pull away smoothly when towing away or
tow-starting a vehicle. If the tractive power
is too high, the vehicles could be damaged.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum
of 50km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
For towing distances over 50 km, the front
axle or the entire vehicle must be raised
and transported.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be tow-started. The transmission
may otherwise be damaged.
Observe the legal requirements for the rele-
vant countries when towing and tow-starting.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed. Vehicles with automatic transmission:
when
towing a vehicle, the transmission must
be in position N.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2
R vehicles with automatic transmission:
cannot shift the transmission to position N
i Deactivate the automatic locking feature
(Y page 223). You could otherwise be
locked out when pushing or towing the
vehicle.
Deactivate tow-away protection
(Y page 70) before the vehicle is towed. Fitting/removing the towing eye
Fitting the towing eye X
Remove the towing eye from the stowage
space.
The towing eye is located with the vehicle
tool kit under the luggage compartment
floor ( Y page 299). Towing and tow-starting
311
Breakdown assistance Z

Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit: the towing eye
is
located under the tyre inflation compres-
sor.
X Press the mark on cover : inwards in the
direction of the arrow.
X Remove cover : from the opening.
X Screw the towing eye in clockwise to the
stop and tighten it.
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch do not have
a bracket for the screw-in towing eye at the
back.

If you intend to use the vehicle for tow-
ing, fold out the ball coupling ( Y page 203)
and secure the towbar to it.
Removing the towing eye X
Loosen the towing eye and unscrew it.
X Attach cover : to the bumper and press
until it engages.
X Place the towing eye in the stowage well
under the luggage compartment floor
(Y page 299).
X Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit: replace the tyre
inflation compressor. Towing the vehicle with the front axle
raised
Only vehicles without 4MATIC can be
towed with the front axle raised.
! Vehicles

with 4MATIC must not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised; otherwise,
the transmission may be damaged.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may either be towed
away with both axles on the ground or be loa-
ded up and transported.
! The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the front axle
raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could other-
wise damage the brake system.
X Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.
X When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed. X
Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and shift to
neutral.
or
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Deactivate automatic locking
(Y page 223).
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 108).
X Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
0 and leave the key in the ignition lock.
When towing your vehicle with the front axle
raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions ( Y page 310). Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
G
WARNING
The power assistance for the steering and the
brake force booster do not work when the
engine is not running. You will then need
much

more effort to brake and steer the vehi-
cle. Adapt your style of driving accordingly.
i In order to signal a change of direction
when towing with the hazard warning lamps
switched on, use the combination switch as
usual. In this case, only the turn signals for
the desired direction flash. When you reset
the combination switch, the hazard warn-
ing lamps start flashing again. 312
Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
! Do not tow-start vehicles with automatic
transmission.
You could otherwise damage
the automatic transmission.
Before tow-starting, the following conditions
must be fulfilled:
R the battery is connected.
R the engine has cooled down.
R the exhaust system has cooled down.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 108).
X Fit the towing eye (Y page 311).
X Secure the rigid towing bar or the towing
rope.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.
X Depress the clutch pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Engage neutral.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Tow-start the vehicle.
X Engage second gear.
X Release the clutch pedal slowly without
depressing the accelerator pedal.
The engine is started.
X Depress the clutch pedal and shift to neu-
tral.
X Stop at a suitable place.
X Secure the vehicle by applying the electric
parking brake.
X Remove the rigid towing bar or towing rope.
X Remove the towing eye (Y page 312).
X Switch off the hazard warning lamps.
When tow-starting, it is important that you
observe the safety instructions ( Y page 310)
and the legal requirements for the relevant
countries. Electrical fuses
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you manipulate, bridge or replace a faulty
fuse with a fuse of a higher amperage, the
electric

cables could be overloaded. This may
result in a fire. There is a risk of an accident
and injury.
Always replace faulty fuses with specified new
fuses of the correct amperage.
! Only use fuses that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and which
have the correct fuse rating for the system
concerned. Only use fuses marked with an
"S". Components or systems could other-
wise be damaged.
The fuses in your vehicle serve to disconnect
faulty circuits. If a fuse blows, all the compo-
nents on the circuit and their functions will
fail.
Blown fuses must be replaced with fuses of
the same rating, which you can recognise by
the colour and fuse rating. The fuse ratings
are listed in the fuse allocation chart.
If the newly inserted fuse also blows, have the
cause traced and rectified at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Before replacing a fuse
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 162).
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Turn the key to position 0 in the ignition
lock and remove it (Y page 143). All indi-
cator

lamps in the instrument cluster must
be off.
The fuses are located in various fuse boxes:
R fuse

box in the engine compartment on the
left-hand side of the vehicle, when viewed
in the direction of travel
R fuse box in the front-passenger footwell314
Electrical fuses
Breakdown assistance

Trailer loads
Vehicles with manual transmission !
Use a drawbar noseweight as close as possible to the maximum permissible noseweight.
Do not use a noseweight of less than 50kg, otherwise the trailer may come loose.
Note that the payload and the rear axle load are reduced by the actual payload. Permissible
trailer load,
braked 18 Permissible
trailer load,
braked 19 Permissible
trailer load, unbraked Maximum
drawbar nose-
weight 20 Permissible
rear axle
load when towing a trailer A 180
21 1500 kg 1200 kg 685 kg 75 kg 985 kg
A 200
21 1500 kg 1400 kg 685 kg 75 kg 980 kg
A 180 CDI
21 1500 kg 1200 kg 695 kg 75 kg 980 kg
A 200 CDI
21 1500 kg 1500 kg 720 kg 75 kg 975 kg
The actual noseweight may not be higher than the value which is given. The value can be found
on the trailer tow hitch or trailer identification plates. The lowest weight applies.
You can attach carrier systems, e.g. bicycle racks or load-bearing implements, on the ball
coupling. The maximum noseweight of

75 kg applies when using carrier systems on the ball
coupling.
Vehicles with automatic transmission !
Use
a drawbar noseweight as close as possible to the maximum permissible noseweight.
Do not use a noseweight of less than 50kg, otherwise the trailer may come loose.
Note that the payload and the rear axle load are reduced by the actual payload.
Trailer towing is not permissible on the following models:
R A 45 AMG 4MATIC
R Vehicles with the AMG Sports package
18 At a minimum gradient-climbing capability of
8% from a standstill.
19 At a minimum gradient-climbing capability of 12% from a standstill.
20 The drawbar noseweight is not included in the trailer load.
21 BlueEFFICIENCY Trailer tow hitch
349
Technical data Z

Permissible
trailer load,
braked 18 Permissible
trailer load,
braked 19 Permissible
trailer load, unbraked Maximum
drawbar nose-
weight 20 Permissible
rear axle
load when towing a trailer A 180
21 1500 kg 1200 kg 695 kg 75 kg 955 kg
A 200
21 1500 kg 1400 kg 695 kg 75 kg 950 kg
A 250
21 1500 kg 1500 kg 720 kg 75 kg 960 kg
A 180 CDI
21 1500 kg 1200 kg 735 kg 75 kg 950 kg
A 200 CDI
21 1500 kg 1500 kg 735 kg 75 kg 950 kg
A 220 CDI
21 1500 kg 1500 kg 740 kg 75 kg 950 kg
The actual noseweight may not be higher than the value which is given. The value can be found
on the trailer tow hitch or trailer identification plates. The lowest weight applies.
You can attach carrier systems, e.g. bicycle racks or load-bearing implements, on the ball
coupling. The maximum noseweight of
75 kg applies when using carrier systems on the ball
coupling. 24 GHz radar sensor system (country overview)
The 24 GHz radar sensor system requires separate approval for each country. When you are
driving in a country in which the radar sensor system is not approved, you must deactivate
the system using the on-board computer (Y page 223).
The current country overview can be obtained from a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre or on
the Internet at:

http://www.mercedes-benz.de/betriebsanleitung.
Vehicles with a navigation system: the radar sensor system is deactivated automatically
near radio telescope facilities. A display message appears in the multifunction display to tell
you that the radar sensor system is being switched off ( Y page 246).
If Blind Spot Assist is active, it will be deactivated automatically (Y page 219).
If deactivation does not occur automatically, you must deactivate the radar sensor system
using the on-board computer (Y page 223).
Vehicles without navigation and vehicles for Australia: you must deactivate the radar
sensor system using the on-board computer when you are near a radio telescope facility
(Y page 223).
18 At a minimum gradient-climbing capability of
8% from a standstill.
19 At a minimum gradient-climbing capability of 12% from a standstill.
20 The drawbar noseweight is not included in the trailer load.
21 BlueEFFICIENCY350
24 GHz radar sensor system (country overview)
Technical data