MERCEDES-BENZ C350 4MATIC 2006 W203 Owner's Manual

180 Controls in detailClimate controlSetting the temperature
Use temperature controls2 and3
(page 177) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing

Turn temperature control2 and/or
3 (
page 177) slightly clockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing

Turn temperature control2 and/or
3 (
page 177) slightly counterclock-
wise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution and volume
Use air distribution control4
(page 177) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are located on the
controls:

Press buttonU (
page 177).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The automatic air distribution is
switched off. The air distribution is
controlled according to the selected
control setting.

Turn air distribution control 4
(page 177) to the desired symbol.
Opening center and side air vents

Turn thumbwheels 3, 4, 7 and 8
(page 176) upward.
The center air vents 5 and 6 and side
air vents 2 and 9 are open.
Closing center and side air vents

Turn thumbwheels 3, 4, 7 and 8
(page 176) downward.
The center air vents 5 and 6 and side
air vents 2 and 9 are closed.
Symbol
Function
a
Directs air through the center,
side and rear passenger
compartment air vents
Z
Directs air to the windshield
and the side defroster vents
b
Directs air into the entire
vehicle interior
Y
Directs air to the footwells

181 Controls in detail
Climate control
Adjusting air volume
Six blower speeds are available.
Press buttonU (
page 177).
The indicator lamp in the button goes
out. The automatic air volume control
is switched off. The air volume is
adjusted according to the currently
selected setting.

Use the air volume control4
(page 177) to adjust the air volume.
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
side windows.Activating

Press buttonP or0
(page 177).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning switches
automatically to the following functions:


maximum blowing and heating
power


air flows onto the windshield and
the front side windows


the air recirculation mode is
switched off
Deactivating

Press buttonP or0
(page 177) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.Windshield fogged on the outside

Switch the windshield wipers on
(page 53).

Press buttonU (
page 177).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. Air distribution and air vol-
ume are adjusted automatically.
If the automatic mode of the climate con-
trol is switched off:

Turn air distribution control4
toaorY (
page 177).
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are
clear again.
iThe cooling remains switched on.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.

182 Controls in detailClimate controlAir recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.Activating

Press button, (
page 177).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Warning!
G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 183) is activated, or
press buttonP or 0.
iThe air recirculation mode is activated
automatically at high outside tempera-
tures.
The indicator lamp on button, is
not lit when the air recirculation mode
is automatically switched on.
A quantity of outside air is added after
approximately 30 minutes.Warning!
G
Never operate the side windows and the
tilt/sliding sunroof* if there is the possibility
of anyone being harmed by the closing pro-
cedure.
In the event that the closing procedure
causes potential danger, the closing of the
side windows can be immediately halted by
pressing or pulling the respective window
switch. The closing of the tilt/sliding
sunroof* can be immediately halted by
moving the tilt/sliding sunroof* switch in
the overhead control panel in any direction.
The closing of the side windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof* can be reversed by
again pressing and holding the, button.iPress and hold button, for approx.
2 seconds. The side windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof* will close. You can
release button, once the closing
procedure has begun. The windows
and tilt/sliding sunroof* continue clos-
ing until they are fully closed.

183 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating
Press button, (
page 177).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Air conditioning
The cooling function, only operational
when the engine is running, cools the vehi-
cle interior down to the selected tempera-
ture. The cooling function also
dehumidifies the air in the vehicle interior,
thus preventing the windows from fogging
up.
iThe air recirculation mode is deactivat-
ed automatically:

after 5 minutes if the outside
temperature is below
approximately 41°F (5°C)


after 5 minutes if the air condition-
ing is turned off


after 30 minutes if the outside
temperature is above
approximately 41°F (5°C)
iPress and hold button, for approx.
2 seconds. The side windows and or
tilt/sliding sunroof* will return to their
previous position. You can release
button, once the opening proce-
dure has begun. The windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof* continue opening
until they have reached their previous
position.
A window or tilt/sliding sunroof* will
only return to its previous position if it
has not been moved to another posi-
tion using the respective window
switch or tilt/sliding sunroof* switch
after it was closed with button,. A
window or tilt/sliding sunroof* that
was moved will remain in its current po-
sition if button, i s u se d to re -open
the remaining windows or tilt/sliding
sunroof*.
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.Warning!
G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.

184 Controls in detailClimate controlDeactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate
control system. The air in the vehicle will
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.
Press button2 (
page 177).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The cooling function switches off after
a short delay.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.

Press button2 (
page 177).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents
The air conditioning for the rear passenger
compartment is controlled via the climate
control panel (
page 177).
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned
on again, this indicates that the air
conditioning is losing refrigerant. The
compressor has turned itself off.
Have the air conditioning checked at
the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iThe temperature at the center air vents
for the rear passenger
compartment1 and3 is the same as
at the dashboard center air vents.

185 Controls in detail
Climate control
The air vents for the rear passenger
compartment are located in the rear
center console.
1Left center air vent
2Thumbwheel for air volume control for
center air vents
3Right center air ventAdjusting air distribution

Push the slide for the left center
vent1 or right center vent3 to the
left, right, up, or down.
The air flow is directed in the corre-
sponding direction.
Adjusting air volume

Turn thumbwheel2 up or down.
The air volume is increased or
decreased.iFor draft-free ventilation, push
slides1 and3 upward.

186 Controls in detailAutomatic climate control* (Canada only)

187 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control* (Canada only)
Automatic climate control panel
Item
1
Left side defroster vent, fixed
2
Left side air vent, adjustable
3
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side air vent
4
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
5
Left center air vent, adjustable
6
Right center air vent, adjustable
7
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
8
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side air vent
9
Right side air vent, adjustable
a
Right side defroster vent, fixed
b
Automatic climate control paneliFor draft-free ventilation, move the
sliders for the air vents2,5,6,
and9 to the middle position.
Item
1
Left side air distribution control
2
Front defroster
3
Temperature control, left, raising
4
Display
5
Air volume control, raising
6
Temperature control, right, raising
7
Rear window defroster
8
Right side air distribution control
9
Charcoal filter
a
AC cooling on/offResidual heat/ventilation
b
Temperature control, right, lowering
c
Air volume control, lowering
d
Temperature control, left, lowering
e
Air recirculation
f
Automatic climate control on/off
(complete system)
g
Air distribution and air volume
(automatic mode)

188 Controls in detailAutomatic climate control* (Canada only)The automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can
operate the climate control system in ei-
ther the automatic or manual mode. The
system cools or heats the interior depend-
ing on the selected interior temperature
and the current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air
enters the passenger compartment
through the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the modeA/C is deactivated
(
page 196).
Warning!
G
When operating the automatic climate
control, the air that enters the passenger
compartment through the air vents can be
very hot or very cold (depending on the set
temperature). This may cause burns or frost-
bite on unprotected skin in the immediate
area of the air vents. Always keep sufficient
distance between unprotected parts of the
body and the air vents. If necessary, use the
air distribution control (
page 190) to
direct the air to air vents in the vehicle
interior that are not in the immediate area of
unprotected skin.
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for
heating and cooling given on the following
pages. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air
pollution) may require replacement of
the filter before its scheduled interval.
A clogged filter will reduce the air
volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off, see
“Summer opening feature”
(page 243). The automatic climate
control will then adjust the interior
temperature to the set value much fast-
er.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing
objects on the air flow-through exhaust
slots below the rear window.

189 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control* (Canada only)
Deactivating the automatic climate control system
Deactivating
Press button´ (
page 187).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The automatic climate control system
is deactivated.
Reactivating

Press button´ (
page 187).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.Operating the climate control system
in automatic modeActivating

Press buttonU (
page 187) while
the engine is running.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air volume and air distri-
bution are adjusted automatically.
1Temperature, left
2Blower speed
3Temperature, right

Use temperature controls3 and
dor6 and b (
page 187) to sepa-
rately adjust the air temperature on
each side of the passenger compart-
ment.
The temperature of the vehicle interior
is adjusted automatically.
iWhen the air conditioning is switched
off, the outside air supply and circula-
tion are also switched off. Only choose
this setting for a short time. Otherwise
the windows could fog up.
iWhen operating the automatic climate
control system in automatic mode, you
will only rarely need to adjust the
temperature, air volume and air
distribution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehu-
midify is switched on. This function can
be switched off if necessary.iThe automatic climate control system
can be switched on or off separately for
the left and right sides of the passenger
compartment, as required.