MERCEDES-BENZ CLA 2014 Owners Manual

Upshifting
XPull the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter (Ypage 147).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
iAll vehicles (except AMG vehicles):in
order to preventengine damage the
automatic transmission automatically
shifts up:
Rif the maximumengine speed on the
currently engaged gear is reached and
Ryou continue to accelerate.
AMGvehicles:
!In manual drive programM, the automatic
transmission does not shiftup
automatically evenwhen the engine
limiting speed for the current gear is
reached. When the engine limiting speed is
reached, the fuel supply is cut to prevent
the engine from overrevving. Always make
sure that the engine speed does not reach
the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage.
AMG vehicles
!In manual drive programM, the automatic
transmission does not shift up
automatically even when the engine
limiting speed for the current gear is
reached. When the engine limiting speed is
reached, the fuel supply is cut to prevent
the engine from overrevving. Always make
sure that the engine speed does not reach
the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage.
Gear indicator
Upshift indicator
Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
an upshift indicator will be shown in the
multifunction display.
XIf the color in the speedometer
multifunction display changes to red and
theUPdisplay message is shown, shift up
a gear.
Downshifting
XPull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter (Ypage 147).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
iIf you slow down or stop without shifting
down, the automatic transmission
automatically shifts down.
iFor maximum acceleration, pull the left-
hand steering wheel paddle shifter until the
transmission selects the optimum gear for
the current speed.
iIf the engine exceeds the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the
automatic transmission protects against
engine damage by not shifting down.
Kickdown
AMG vehicles:kickdown is only possible in
temporary manual drive programM.
You can also use kickdown for maximum
acceleration in manual drive programM.
XDepress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on the engine speed.
XShift back up once the desired speed is
reached.
iDuring kickdown, you cannot change gear
using the steering wheel paddle shifters.
iIf you apply full throttle, the automatic
transmission shifts up to the next gear
when the maximum engine speed is
Automatic transmission149
Driving and parking
Z

reached. This prevents the engine from
overrevving.
Switching off the manual drive program
XPress the programselectorbutton
(Ypage 146) repeatedly untilEorS
appears in the multifunction display.
Deactivatingthe temporary manual drive
program
XPull and hold the right steering wheel
paddle shifter until the automatic
transmission shifts into the last active
automatic drive programE(drive program
Con AMG vehicles) orS.
iWhen manual drive programMis
deactivated, the automatic transmission in
automatic drive programE(drive program
Con AMG vehicles) orSmay shift from the
current gearinto a higherorlower gear.
This is dependent on the position of the
accelerator pedal, speed and load.
150Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Problems with the transmission
ProblemPossible causes/consequences and
Solutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear.
The transmission is losing oil.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.
The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no
longer shifts into all of
the gears.
Reverse gear can no
longer be engaged.
The transmission is in emergency mode.
XStop the vehicle.
XShift the transmission to positionP.
XSwitch off the engine.
XWait at least 10 seconds before restarting the engine.
XShift the transmission to positionD.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.
Refueling
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and
explosion.
You must avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before
refueling.
GWARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not come
into contact with your skin, eyes or clothing
and that it is not swallowed. Do not inhale fuel
vapors. Keep fuel away from children.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
RWash away fuel from skin immediately
using soap and water.
RIf fuel comes into contact with your eyes,
immediately rinse them thoroughly with
clean water. Seek medical assistance
without delay.
RIf fuel is swallowed, seek medical
assistance without delay.Donot induce
vomiting.
RImmediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with fuel.
GWARNING
Electrostatic buildup can create sparks and
ignite fuel vapors. There is a risk of fire and
explosion.
Always touch the vehicle body before opening
the fuel filler flap or touching the fuel pump
nozzle. Any existing electrostatic buildup is
thereby discharged.
!Do not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
gasoline engine. Do not switch on the
ignition if you accidentally refuel with the
wrong fuel. Otherwise, the fuel will enter
the fuel system. Even small amounts of the
wrong fuel could result in damage to the
fuel system and the engine. Notify a
qualified specialist workshop and have the
fuel tank and fuel lines drained completely.
Refueling151
Driving and parking
Z

!Overfilling the fuel tank could damage the
fuel system.
!Take care not to spill any fuel on painted
surfaces. You could otherwise damage the
paintwork.
!Use a filter when refueling from a fuel can.
Otherwise, the fuel lines and/or injection
system could be blocked by particles from
the fuel can.
Do not get into the vehicle againduring the
refueling process. Otherwise, electrostatic
charge could build up again.
If you overfill the fuel tank, fuel could spray
out when the fuel pump nozzle is removed.
Forfurther information on fuel and fuel quality
(Ypage 346).
Refueling
Opening/closing the fuel filler flap
To open the fuel filler flap
Tire pressure table
"To insert the fuel filler cap
!Fuel type to be used
The fuel filler flap is unlocked or locked
automatically when you open or close the
vehicle with the SmartKey.
The position of the fuel filler cap is displayed

in the instrumentcluster.The arrow on
the filling pump indicates the side of the
vehicle.
Opening
XSwitch the engine off.
XRemove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.
XPress the fuel filler flap in the direction of
arrow.
The fuel filler flap swings up.
XTurn the fuel filler flap counter-clockwise
and remove it.
XInsert the fuel filler cap into holder on the
inside of fuel filler flap".
XCompletely insert the filler neck of the fuel
pump nozzle into the tank, hook in place
and refuel.
XOnly fill the tank until the pump nozzle
switches off.
iDo not add any more fuel after the pump
stops filling for the first time. Otherwise,
fuel may leak out.
Closing
XReplace the cap on the filler neck and turn
clockwise until it engages audibly.
XClose the fuel filler flap.
iClose the fuel filler flap before locking the
vehicle.
iIf you are driving with the fuel filler cap
open, thereserve fuel warning lamp
flashes.Amessage appears in the
multifunction display (Ypage 228).
In addition, theCheck Engine warning
lamp may light up (Ypage 248).
For further information on warning and
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster,
see (Ypage 248).
152Refueling
Driving and parking

Problems with fuel and the fuel tank
ProblemPossible causes/consequences and
Solutions
Fuel is leaking from the
vehicle.
The fuel line or the fuel tank is faulty.
GWARNING
Risk of explosion or fire.
XTurn the SmartKey to position0in the ignition lock immediately
and remove it (Ypage 137).
XDo not restart the engine under any circumstances.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
The fuel filler flap
cannot be opened.
The fuel filler flap is not unlocked.
or
The SmartKey battery is discharged.
XUnlock the vehicle (Ypage 72).
or
XUnlock the vehicle using the mechanical key (Ypage 73).
The fuel filler flap is unlocked, but the opening mechanism is
jammed.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
Parking
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of the exhaust system or exhaust
gas flow. There is a risk of fire.
Park the vehicle so that no flammable
materials come into contact with parts of the
vehicle which are hot. Take particular care not
to park on dry grassland or harvested grain
fields.
GWARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, they could set it in motion by, for
example:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshift the automatic transmission out of the
parking positionP.
Rstart the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle
equipment and become trapped. There is a
risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
!Always secure the vehicle correctly
against rolling away.Otherwise, the vehicle
or its drivetraincould be damaged.
Parking153
Driving and parking
Z

To ensure that the vehicle is secured against
rolling away unintentionally:
Rthe electric parking brake must be applied.
Rthe transmission must be in positionPand
the transmission position display must
showP.
Rthe SmartKey must be removed from the
ignition lock.
Ron uphill or downhill gradients, the front
wheels must be turned towards the curb.
Switching off the engine
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The automatic transmission switches to
neutral positionNwhen you switch off the
engine. The vehicle may roll away.There is a
risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking positionP. Prevent the parked
vehicle from rolling away by applying the
parking brake.
Vehicles with automatic transmission
All vehicles (except AMG vehicles)
XApply the electric parking brake.
XShift the transmission to positionP.
Selector lever in AMG vehicles
AMG vehicles:
XApply the electric parking brake.
XPressPbutton.
XTurn the SmartKey to position0in the
ignition lock and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.
iIf you switch the engine off with the
transmission in positionRorD, the
automatic transmission shifts toN
automatically.
If you then open one of the front doors or
remove the SmartKey from the ignition, the
automatic transmission shifts toP.
If you shift the automatic transmission to
Nbefore switching off the engine, the
automatic transmission remains inNeven
if a door is opened.
iThe automatic transmission shifts toP
automatically if you:
Rswitch off the engine using the SmartKey
and remove the SmartKey from the
ignition lock or
Rswitch off the engine using the SmartKey
and open a front door.
If you attempt to turn off the engine when the
selector lever is not in positionP:
Ra message appears in the multifunction
display
Ra warning signal sounds
Electric parking brake
General notes
GWARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, they could set it in motion by, for
example:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshift the automatic transmission out of the
parking positionP.
Rstart the engine.
154Parking
Driving and parking

In addition, they may operate vehicle
equipment and become trapped.There is a
risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
iThe electric parking brake performs a
function test at regular intervals while the
engine is switched off. The sounds that can
be heard while this is occurring are normal.
Applying/releasing manually
Applying
XPush handle.
When the electric parking brake is applied,
the(USA only) or (Canada only)
red indicator lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster.
iThe electric parking brake can also be
applied when the SmartKey is removed.
Releasing
XPull handle.
The red(USA only) or (Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
iYou can only release the electric parking
brake when the SmartKey is in position1
or2in the ignition lock.
Applying automatically
The electric parking brake is applied
automatically:
Rif DISTRONIC PLUS brings the vehicle to a
standstill or
Rif the HOLD function is keeping the vehicle
stationary or
Rif Active Parking Assist is holding the
vehicle at a standstill
In addition, at least one of the following
conditions must be fulfilled:
Rthe engine is switched off.
Rthe driver's door is open and the seat belt
is not fastened.
Rthere is a system malfunction.
Rthe power supply is insufficient.
Rthe vehicle is stationary for a lengthy
period.
The red(USA only) or (Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrumentcluster
lights up.
iThe electric parking brake is not
automatically engaged if the engine is
switched off by the ECO start/stop
function.
Releasing automatically
Your vehicle's electric parking brake is
automatically released if all of the following
conditions are met:
Rthe engine is running.
Rthe transmission is in positionDorR.
Rthe seat belt has been fastened.
Ryou depress the accelerator pedal.
If the transmission is in positionR, the tailgate
must be closed.
Parking155
Driving and parking
Z

If yourseat belt is not fastened, the following
conditions must be fulfilled to automatically
release the electric parkingbrake:
Rthe driver's door is closed.
Ryou have shifted out of transmission
positionPor you have previously driven
faster than 2 mph (3 km/h).
Emergency braking
The vehicle can also be braked during an
emergency by using the electric parking
brake.
XWhile driving, push handleof the electric
parking brake (Ypage 154).
iThe vehicle is braked for as long as
handleof the electric parking brake is
pressed. The longer electric parking brake
handleis depressed, the greater the
braking force.
During braking:
Ra warning tone sounds
RtheRelease Park. Brakemessage
appears
Rthe red(USA only) or (Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes
When the vehicle has been braked to a
standstill, the electric parking brake is
engaged.
Parking the vehicle foralong period
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging.
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
six weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as
a result of lack of use.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice.
iYou can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist
workshop.
Driving tips
General notes
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you switch off the ignitionwhile driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect.You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
GWARNING
If you operate mobile communication
equipment while driving, you will be
distracted from traffic conditions. You could
also lose control of the vehicle. There is a risk
of an accident.
Only operate this equipment when the vehicle
is stationary.
Observe the legal requirements for the
country in which you are driving. Some
jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
mobile phone while driving a vehicle.
If you make a call while driving, always use
hands-free mode. Only operate the telephone
when the traffic situation permits. If you are
unsure, pull over to a safe location and stop
before operating the telephone.
Bear in mind that at a speed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), the vehicle covers
a distance of 44 ft (approximately 14 m) per
second.
156Driving tips
Driving and parking

Drive sensibly–save fuel
Observe the following tips to save fuel:
RThe tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure.
RRemove unnecessary loads.
RRemove roof racks whenthey are not
needed.
RWarm up the engine at low engine speeds.
RAvoid frequent acceleration or braking.
RHave all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the
Maintenance Booklet or by the service
interval display.
Fuel consumption also increases when
driving in cold weather, in stop-start traffic
and in hilly terrain.
Drinking and driving
GWARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and
judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident is greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Emission control
GWARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces
without sufficient ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency if
they are serviced exactly in accordance with
the manufacturer's specifications. For this
reason, only have work on the engine carried
out by qualified and authorized Mercedes-
Benz technicians.
The engine settings must not be changed
under any circumstances. Furthermore, all
specific service work must be carried out at
regular intervals and in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benzservice requirements. Details
can be found in the Maintenance Booklet.
ECO display
The ECO display gives you information on how
economical your driving style is. The ECO
display assists you in achieving the optimum
driving style in terms of consumption, taking
the actual and selected conditions into
consideration.Your driving style can
significantly influence the vehicle's
consumption.
Example: ECO display
The ECO display consists of three bars:
RAcceleration
RConstant
RCoasting
The percent value is the average value of the
three bars. The three bars and the mean value
begin at the value of 50%.Ahigher
percentage indicates a moreeconomical
driving style.
The ECO display does not indicate the actual
fuel consumption and a fixed percentage
count in the ECO display does not indicate a
fixed consumption figure.
Driving tips157
Driving and parking
Z

Apart from driving style, consumption is
dependent on many factors such as, e.g.:
Rload
Rtire pressure
Rcold start
Rchoice of route
Relectrical consumers switched on
These factors are not taken into
considerationby the ECO display.
The evaluation of your driving style is carried
out using the following three categories:
RAcceleration(evaluation of all
acceleration processes):
-The bar fills up: moderate acceleration,
especially at higher speeds
-The bar empties: sporty acceleration
RConstant(assessmentofdriving behavior
at all times):
-The bar fills up: constant speed and
avoidance of unnecessary acceleration
and deceleration
-The bar empties: fluctuations in speed
RCoasting(assessment of all deceleration
processes):
-The bar fills up: anticipatory driving,
keeping yourdistance and early release
of the accelerator. The vehicle can coast
without use of the brakes.
-The bar empties: frequent braking
iAn economical driving style specially
requires driving at moderate engine
speeds.
To achieve a higher value in the categories
AccelerationandConstant:
Robserve the gearshift recommendations.
Rdrive in drive programE.
iOn long journeys at a constant speed, e.g.
on the highway, only the bar forConstant
will change.
iThe ECO display summaries the driving
characteristics fromthe start of the journey
to its completion. For this reason, the bars
change dynamically at the beginning of the
journey. On longer journeys, there are
fewer changes. For more dynamic changes,
carry out a manual reset.
Further information on the ECO display
(Ypage 198).
Braking
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients
!On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting to
a lower gear in good time. This allows you
to take advantage of the engine's braking
effect.For this, you need to have selected
manual drive programM.This helps you to
avoid overheating the brakes and wearing
them out excessively.
When you take advantage of the engine's
braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on a slippery road
surface. This could cause damage to the
drive train. This type of damage is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benzwarranty.
iBriefly depressing the acceleratorpedal
on downhill gradients while the manual
drive programMis temporarily activated:
the automatic transmission may switch to
the last active automatic drive programE
orS.The automatic transmission may shift
to a higher gear. This can reduce the
engine's braking effect.
158Driving tips
Driving and parking