engine coolant MERCEDES-BENZ C WAGON 2005 S203 Owner's Manual

ContentsOperation......................................... 255
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ......... 256
Driving instructions ............................ 257
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 257
Drinking and driving ..................... 257
Pedals .......................................... 257
Power assistance ......................... 257
Brakes .......................................... 258
Driving off..................................... 259
Parking ......................................... 259
Tires ............................................. 260
Hydroplaning ................................ 260
Tire traction .................................. 261
Tire speed rating .......................... 261
Winter driving instructions ........... 262
Standing water ............................. 263
Passenger compartment .............. 263
Driving abroad .............................. 263
Control and operation of radio
transmitter ................................... 264
Catalytic converter ....................... 264
Emission control........................... 265
Coolant temperature .................... 266At the gas station .............................. 267
Refueling ...................................... 267
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 269
Engine compartment ......................... 270
Hood ............................................ 270
Engine oil ..................................... 272
Transmission fluid level ................ 274
Coolant level ................................ 275
Battery ......................................... 276
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 277
Tires and wheels ................................ 278
Important guidelines .................... 278
Life of tire..................................... 279
Direction of rotation ..................... 279
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 279
Rotating tires ............................... 281Winter driving .................................... 282
Winter tires .................................. 282
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 283
Snow chains................................. 283
Maintenance...................................... 284
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 285
Maintenance service term
exceeded ..................................... 285
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 285
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 286
Vehicle care....................................... 287
Cleaning and care of the
vehicle ......................................... 287

ContentsTechnical data.................................. 361
Parts service ...................................... 362
Warranty coverage ............................. 363
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 363
Identification labels............................ 364
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 365
C 240 (all models) ........................ 365
Engine ................................................ 366
Rims and Tires ................................... 367
Same size tires ............................. 368
Minispare wheel ........................... 369
Electrical system................................ 370
Main Dimensions ............................... 371
Weights .............................................. 372Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 373
Capacities .................................... 373
Engine oils.................................... 375
Engine oil additives ...................... 375
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 375
Brake fluid .................................... 375
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 376
Fuel requirements ........................ 376
Gasoline additives ........................ 377
Flexible Fuel Vehicles ................... 377
Coolants....................................... 379
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 381
Consumer information ....................... 382
Uniform tire quality grading ......... 382
Technical terms............................... 385Index................................................. 391

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Speedometer with:vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP)
warning lamp
81,
298
;Brake warning
lamp, USA only
47,
55,
295
3Brake warning
lamp, Canada only
47,
55,
295
BLow beam head-
lamp indicator lamp
49,
108
2
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
50
3
Multifunction display
with:
119
Trip odometer
117
Main odometer
119
Gear selector lever
position
46,
156
Item
Page
Program mode
158
Status indicator (outside
temperature/digital
speedometer
118,
134
Digital clock
119,
135
4
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
50
5
Tachometer with:
118
-Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
indicator lamp
79,
294
úEngine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only
296,
297
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only
296,
297
1Supplemental
restraint system
indicator lamp
60,
299
Item
Page
<Seat belt telltale
66,
299
AHigh beam head-
lamp indicator lamp
49,
112
6
Fuel gauge with:Fuel reserve warning lamp
299
4Fuel filler cap
location indicator:
The fuel filler cap is
on the rear
right-hand side.
7
Coolant temperature
gauge
117
8
Reset button for:

Resetting trip
odometer
117


Resetting individual
settings
130


Instrument cluster
illumination
116

54 Getting startedDrivingProblems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.


The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.


Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.

Give very little gas.

Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.The coolant temperature is
above 248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.

Stop the vehicle as soon as possible
and turn off the engine. Allow engine
and coolant to cool.

Check the coolant level and add
coolant if necessary (
page 275).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:

Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.

Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the


major assemblies


fuel system


engine mount:

Start the engine in the usual manner.

117 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Coolant temperature gauge
The coolant temperature gauge is on the
left side in the instrument cluster
(page 24).During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tempera-
ture may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip
odometer and main odometer in the
multifunction display (
page 119).

If it is not displayed, press buttonè
orÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel until the trip odometer appears
(page 120).

Press and hold the reset button in the
instrument cluster (
page 116) until
the trip odometer is reset.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is badly
overheated can cause some fluids which
may have leaked into the engine
compartment to catch fire. You could be
seriously burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.

266 OperationDriving instructionsCoolant temperature
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant
temperature may rise close to
approximately 248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is badly
overheated can cause some fluids,
which may have leaked into the engine
compartment, to catch fire. You could
be seriously burned


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.

269 Operation
At the gas station
Check regularly and before a long trip
1Coolant
2Brake fluid (fuse box cover removed)
3Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system*Coolant
For normal replenishing, use water (pota-
ble water quality). For more information,
see “Coolant level” (
page 275) and see
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 373).
Brake fluid
Removing fuse box cover (
page 358).Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system*
For more information on filling up the
washer reservoir, see “Windshield washer
system and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 277).
Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil level,
see “Engine oil” (
page 272).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For more
information on replacing light bulbs, see
“Replacing bulbs” (page 332).
Exterior lamp switch (page 108).
Tire inflation pressure
More information on tire inflation pressure
(
page 279).
iOpening the hood, see (
page 270).
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks immediately.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center immediately. Do not add brake
fluid as this will not solve the problem.
For more information, see “Practical
hints” (
page 295).

271 Operation
Engine compartment
Closing
Let the hood drop from a height of
approximately 1 ft (30 cm).
The hood will lock audibly.

Check to make sure the hood is fully
closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point
above the headlamps, then it is not
properly closed. Open it again and let it
drop with somewhat greater force.
Warning!
G
If you see flames or smoke coming from the
engine compartment, or if the coolant tem-
perature display indicates that the engine is
overheated, do not open the hood. Move
away from vehicle and do not open the hood
until the engine has cooled. If necessary,
call the fire department.
Warning!
G
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage
it is dangerous to touch any components
(ignition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnos-
tic socket) of the ignition system

with the engine running


while starting the engine


if ignition is “on” and the engine is
turned manually
Warning!
G
Be careful that you do not close the hood on
anyone.

275 Operation
Engine compartment
Coolant level
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion/antifreeze. To check
the coolant level, the vehicle must be
parked on level ground and the engine
must be cool.
The coolant expansion tank is located on
the passenger side of the engine compart-
ment.
1Coolant expansion tank
2Cap

Using a rag, turn cap2 slowly approx-
imately one half turn to the left to
release any excess pressure.

Continue turning the cap to the left and
remove it.
The coolant level is correct if the level

for cold coolant: reaches the black
top part of the reservoir


for warm coolant: is approx. 0.6 in
(1.5 cm) higher

Add coolant as required.

Replace and tighten cap.
For more information on coolant, see
“Coolants” (
page 379).
Warning!
G
In order to avoid any possibly serious burns:

Use extreme caution when opening the
hood if there are any signs of steam or
coolant leaking from the cooling system,
or if the coolant temperature gauge indi-
cates that the coolant is overheated.


Do not remove pressure cap on coolant
reservoir if coolant temperature is
above 158°F (70°C). Allow engine to
cool down before removing cap. The
coolant reservoir contains hot fluid and
is under pressure.


Using a rag, slowly open the cap
approximately
1/2turn to relieve ex-
cess pressure. If opened immediately,
scalding hot fluid and steam will be
blown out under pressure.


Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine
parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene
glycol which may burn if it comes into
contact with hot engine parts.

308 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
B
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 275).

If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You can be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning. Extended driving with
the message and symbol displayed
may cause serious engine damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount
of coolant in the cooling system. The
engine will overheat causing major
engine damage.