jump cable MERCEDES-BENZ C300 4MATIC 2008 W204 Owner's Manual

447 Practical hints
Battery
1Filter box
2Clamps
Removing filter box: Release
clamps2.
Remove filter box.
Installing filter box: Insert filter box
properly.
Secure it with clamps2.
Warning!G
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injury or death.
Observe all safety instructions and
precautions when handling automotive
batteries (
page 446).
Never lean over batteries while connecting,
you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc.
!Never loosen or detach battery terminal
clamps while the engine is running or the
SmartKey is in the starter switch. Otherwise the
alternator and other electronic components
could be severely damaged.
Have the battery checked regularly at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for maintenance
intervals or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further information.
Warning!G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof batteries only to avoid the
risk of acid burns in the event of an
accident.
!Do not connect any consumers directly to
the battery or it will be discharged.

451 Practical hints
Jump starting
Jump starting
If the battery is discharged, the engine can
be started with jumper cables and the
battery of another vehicle. Observe the
following:

Jump starting should only be performed
when the engine and catalytic
converter are cold.

Do not start the engine if the battery is
frozen. Let the battery thaw out first.

Only use a12-volt battery to jump start
your vehicle. Jump starting with a high-
er voltage battery could damage the ve-
hicle’s electrical system, which will not
be covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

Only use jumper cables with sufficient
cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.

Always make sure the jumper cables
are not on or near pulleys, fans or other
parts that move when an engine is
started or running.
Warning!G
Failure to follow these directions will cause
damage to the electronic components, and
can lead to a battery explosion and severe
injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting
or jump starting, you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water, and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and very explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc.
Attempting to jump start a frozen battery
can result in it exploding, causing personal
injury.
Read all instructions before proceeding.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission*
and/or 4MATIC:
Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!Avoid repeated and lengthy starting
attempts.
Do not attempt to start the engine using a bat-
tery quick charge unit.
If engine does not run after several unsuccessful
starting attempts, have it checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Excessive unburned fuel generated by repeated
failed starting attempts may damage the catalyt-
ic converter and may present a fire risk.
Make sure the jumper cables do not have loose
or missing insulation.
Make sure the cable clamps do not touch any
other metal part while the other end is still at-
tached to a battery.
Warning!G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(
page 446).

452 Practical hints
Jump starting
The battery is located in the engine com-
partment on the right hand side. For jump
starting, use the under hood terminals in
front of the battery.
Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.
Turn off all electrical consumers,
except hazard warning flashers or work
lights.
Apply the parking brake (page 134).
Make sure gear selector lever* is set to
positionP (manual transmission to
Neutral).
Open the hood (page 326).
Slide red cover2 from positive under
hood terminal3 in direction of arrow. 1Positive terminal of charged battery
2Positive under hood terminal cover
3Positive under hood terminal in front of
discharged battery
4Negative under hood terminal
5Negative terminal of charged battery
Connect positive terminal1 of the
charged battery with positive under
hood terminal3 in front of the dis-
charged battery with the jumper cable.
Clamp cable to charged battery1
first.
Start the engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.
Connect negative terminal5 of the
charged battery to jumper cables and
attach other end to negative under
hood terminal4 on the vehicle. Clamp
cable to charged battery5 first
Start the engine of the disabled
vehicle.
You can now turn on the electrical con-
sumers. Do not switch on the headlamps
under any circumstances.
Remove the jumper cables first from
the negative terminals4 and5 and
then from the positive terminals3
and1.
You can now switch on the headlamps.
Slide red cover2 from positive under
hood terminal3 back.
Close the hood (page 326).
Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
!Never invert the terminal connections.

454 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Warning!G
Without the engine running, there is no pow-
er assistance for the brake and steering sys-
tems. In this case, it is important to keep in
mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
iWhen towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, please note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and
the SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) in starter switch position 2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel as well as
the right rear wheel are turning at vehicle speeds
of approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle doors from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking
(
page 173).
!If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised (not permissible for vehicles with
4MATIC), the gear selector lever must be in
positionN (manual transmission: gear shift lever
in neutral position) and the engine must be shut
off (SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) in starter switch position0 or1).
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system.
While towing, the battery must be connected and
charged. Otherwise:

you will not be able to switch on the ignition

you will not be able to engage the automatic
transmission* in positionN (
page 127)
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the gear selector lever must be in
positionN (manual transmission: gear shift lever
in neutral position) and the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only)
must be in starter switch position2.
!Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt.
Never attach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to
vehicle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
iTo signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, turn SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) in
starter switch to position2 and activate the
combination switch for the left or right turn sig-
nal in the usual manner – only the selected turn
signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard
warning flasher will operate again.
!Make sure the parking brake is released.
iIf the battery is disconnected or discharged

the SmartKey or SmartKey with KEY-
LESS-GO* (Canada only) will not turn in the
starter switch

Vehicles with automatic transmission*: the
gear selector lever will remain locked in
positionP (
page 127).
For more information see “Battery”
(
page 446) and see “Jump starting”
(
page 451).