climate control MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 2003 Owners Manual

Contents
Sun visors .................................... 172
Rear window sunshade* .............. 173
Rear door window sunshade* ...... 173
Automatic climate control ................. 174
Setting the temperature ............... 177
Adjusting air distribution .............. 178
Adjusting air volume .................... 179
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ....... 179
Defrosting .................................... 180
Air recirculation mode.................. 180
Charcoal filter .............................. 182
Rear window defroster ................. 183
Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 183
Air conditioning ............................ 184
Storage compartment ventilation. 184
Residual heat and ventilation ....... 185
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 186
Rear passenger compartment
climate control* ........................... 187
Power windows.................................. 188
Opening and closing the windows 188
Synchronizing power windows ..... 191Sliding/pop-up roof ............................ 192
Opening and closing the slid-
ing/pop-up roof ............................ 192
Synchronizing the sliding / pop-up
roof .............................................. 195
Driving systems .................................. 196
Cruise control ............................... 196
Distronic* ..................................... 199
AIRMATIC...................................... 211
Active Body Control (ABC)* .......... 213
Parktronic system* (Parking
assist) ........................................... 218
Loading............................................... 222
Roof rack* .................................... 222
Loading instructions ..................... 222
Cargo tie-down hooks ................... 223
Useful features ................................... 224
Interior storage spaces ................. 224
Ashtrays........................................ 232
Cigarette lighters .......................... 233
Heated steering wheel* ................ 235
Telephone* ................................... 236
Tele Aid ......................................... 237
Garage door opener ...................... 245
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 248
Operation.......................................... 249
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) .......... 250
Driving instructions ............................ 251
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 251
Drinking and driving...................... 251
Pedals ........................................... 251
Power assistance .......................... 251
Brakes .......................................... 252
Driving off ..................................... 253
Parking ......................................... 253
Tires.............................................. 254
Hydroplaning ................................ 255
Tire traction .................................. 255
Tire speed rating ........................... 255
Winter driving instructions ............ 256
Standing water ............................. 257
Passenger compartment............... 258
Driving abroad .............................. 258
Control and operation of radio
transmitters .................................. 258
Catalytic converter ....................... 259
Emission control ........................... 259
Coolant temperature .................... 260

25 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Switch for rear window
sunshade
173
2
Parking assist (Parktronic*
system) deactivation
switch
221
3
Airmatic or ABC* switch
213
4
Level control switch
216
5
Central locking switch
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp
103
83
6
Hazard warning flasher
on/off switch
124
Item
Page
7
Central unlocking switch
103
8
ESP (Electronic Stability
Program) control switch
80
9
Rear seat head restraints,
switch for folding down
106
10
Tow-away alarm switch
84
11
COMAND system (see sep-
arate operating instruc-
tions)
12
Automatic climate control
187
13
Ashtray
Lighter
232
233

85 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Good visibility
Automatic climate control
Power windows
Sliding/pop-up roof
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features

117 Controls in detail
Memory function
Memory function
The memory button and stored position
switch are located on the door.
You can store up to three different settings
per SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO* card.
The following settings are saved for each
stored position:

Seat and backrest position


Settings for the multi-contour seat*


Steering wheel position


Inside rear view mirror position


Exterior rear view mirror position


Automatic climate control
These key dependent memory settings can
be deactivated if desired (
page 156).
1 Stored position buttons
2Memory button

Make sure that the ignition is switched
on or the relevant door is open and the
SmartKey is inserted in the starter
switch.
!Prior to operating the vehicle, the driv-
er should check and adjust the seat
height, seat position fore and aft, and
seat backrest angle if necessary, to en-
sure adequate control, reach, and com-
fort. The head restraint should also be
adjusted for proper height. Also see
“Airbags” (
page 57) section for prop-
er seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, opera-
tion and comfort. Both the inside and
outside rear view mirrors should be ad-
justed for adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small
children should be seated in a properly
secured restraint system that complies
with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 210.2.
Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

174 Controls in detailAutomatic climate control
Automatic climate control

175 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Automatic climate control panel
Item
1
Swiveling left center air vent
2
Fixed air vent, left
3
Air volume control for left center air
vent
4
Air temperature control for center
air vents
5
Air volume control for right center
air vent
6
Fixed air vent, right
7
Swiveling right center air vent
8
Side defroster vent, left and right,
fixed
9
Swiveling side air vent, left and right
10
Air volume control for side air vents
11
Door air vent, left and right
12
Automatic climate control panel
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the slid-
ers for the center air vents to the mid-
dle position.
Item
1
Windshield defroster
2
Rear window defroster
3
Display
4
Residual engine heat utilization
5
Automatic climate control on/off
6
Air distribution, right
7
Economy mode (AC
OFF
)
8
Temperature control, right
9
Air volume (automatic, manual)
10
Temperature control, left
11
Air recirculation
12
Air distribution, left
13
Activated charcoal filter

176 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlThe 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 en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the economy mode AC
OFF
is se-
lected (
page 184).
Warning!
G
When operating the automatic climate con-
trol, the air that enters the passenger com-
partment through the air vents in the
footwell can be very hot or very cold (de-
pending on the set temperature). This may
cause burn or frostbite to unprotected skin
in the immediate area of the air vents. Al-
ways keep sufficient distance between un-
protected parts of the body and the footwell
air vents. If necessary change the air flow
using the air distribution controls to direct
the air away from the footwell air vents
(page 178).
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iThe current climate control settings
(ON/OFF, temperature, air volume, ac-
tivated charcoal filter, etc.) are stored
for each SmartKey before it is removed
from the starter switch or when the ve-
hicle is locked using the KEYLESS-GO*
card (if so equipped) (
page 100).
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air volume by placing
objects on the air volume-through ex-
haust slots below the rear window.

177 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls (
page 175)
10for the left side or8 for the right side to
separately adjust the air temperature on
each side of the passenger compartment.
You should raise or lower the temperature
setting in small increments, preferably
starting at 72°F (22°C).
Increasing / decreasing

Press button 10 or 8 repeatedly until
the display shows the desired tempera-
ture.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.Adjusting the temperature for center
air vents
When outside temperatures are low, you
can manually raise the air temperature for
the center and side air vents.
Thumbwheel4 is located between the cen-
ter air vents (
page 174).
Automatic temperature control

Turn thumbwheel 4 to A.
The indicator lamp above the thumb-
wheel lights up. The temperature is au-
tomatically adjusted to the set value.Turning on warm air

Turn thumbwheel 4 in the direction of
the white marking.
Warm air will enter from the center air
vent.
Turning on cooler air

Turn thumbwheel4 in the direction of
the blue marking.
Cooler air will enter from the center air
vent.
iWhen operating the climate control
system in automatic mode, you will
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.

178 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlAdjusting air distribution
Use air distribution controls12 and6
(page 175) to separately adjust the air
distribution on each side of the passenger
compartment. The following symbols are
found on the controls:Adjusting manually

Press button
U
.
The button emerges and the
h
,
V
, j
and
k
symbols become
visible.

Turn the marking on the regulator to
the desired symbol.
The air will be directed to the vents cor-
responding to this symbol.
Adjusting automatically

Press button
U
until it clicks in.
The
h
, V
, j
and
k
sym-
bols are no longer visible. The air distri-
bution is adjusted automatically.Windows fogged on the inside

Press button AC
OFF
to switch on the air
conditioning (
page 175).
The indicator lamp in the button goes
out.

Press button
O
to switch off the air
recirculation (
page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.

Adjust left and right air vents1 and6
upwards (
page 174).

Set blower to the maximum blower
speed.

Increase temperature setting.

Open side air vents9 and direct them
onto the side windows (
page 174).
Symbol
Function
h
Directs air through the cen-
ter air vents
j
Directs air to the windows
V
Directs air into the entire
vehicle interior
k
Directs air to the footwells

179 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on.

Press on both
U
buttons until they
click in.
The
h
, V
, j
and
k
sym-
bols are no longer visible.

Press button
O
to switch off the air
recirculation (
page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.

Set blower to the maximum blower
speed.
Adjusting air volume
Use air volume control9 (
page 175) for
both automatic and manual air volume ad-
justment.
Adjusting automatically

Press theA on air volume switch9
(page 175).
The display shows “AUTO.” The air vol-
ume is adjusted automatically.
Adjusting manually
Reducing air volume

Press switch9 down until the desired
air volume is reached. The display
shows the current level.
Increasing air volume

Press switch9 up until the desired air
volume is reached. The display shows
the current level.
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
If the left and right air distribution controls
as well as the air volume control are set
to
U
and there is a high need for cool-
ing, the display “MAXCOOL” appears.
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior (when windows and
sliding/pop-up roof are closed).