trailer MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2008 Owner's Manual

Service
191
specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
X
To switch the switched power supply on
or off: turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2or 0, respectively. Trailer with 7-pin connector
If your trailer has a 7-pin connector, you can
connect it to the 13-pin socket on the ball
coupling using an adapter or, if necessary, an
adapter cable. Both of these can be obtained
at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Fitting the adapter 1
Connector with lug
2 Socket with groove X
Fold down socket .
X Open the socket cover.
X Insert the connector with lug 1into
groove 2on the socket and turn the con-
nector clockwise to the stop.
X Make the cover engage.
X If you are using an adapter cable, secure
the cable to the trailer with cable ties.
! Make sure that there is sufficient cable
play so that the cable cannot become
detached when cornering. Service
ASSYST PLUS service interval display
The ASSYST PLUS service indicator informs
you of the next service due date. The multi-
function display shows the service due date:
Service A due in ..days
Service A due in .. km
Service A due now Next service due (example)
The letter indicates how much time the work-
shop will require to carry out the service work.
The letters displayed range from
Afor a short
service duration to Hfor a long service dura-
tion.
The ASSYST PLUS service interval indicator
does not take into account any periods of Operation
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Care
196
The fabric cover can be cleaned using a deter-
gent solution or an upholstery cleaner.
i The cover cannot be removed.
Cleaning the exhaust tail pipes Dirt combined with the effects of road grit and
corrosive environmental factors may cause
flash rust to form on the surface.
Regular care of the exhaust tail pipes will
ensure that their original shine is restored.
! Do not clean exhaust tail pipes with alka-
line-based cleaning agents such as wheel
cleaner.
Use the chrome-cleaning agent recommen-
ded by Mercedes-Benz for cleaning. Infor-
mation about chrome-cleaning agents can
be obtained from any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Cleaning Parktronic* The sensors are located in the front and rear
bumpers.
1
Parktronic* sensors in the left-hand side
of the front bumper.
X Clean sensors 1in the bumper with water,
car shampoo and a soft cloth.
! Do not use dry, coarse or hard cloths and
do not scrub. You will otherwise scratch or
damage the sensors. If you intend to use a
high-pressure cleaner or a steam cleaner to
clean the sensors, observe the instructions
issued by the equipment manufacturer
concerning the distance to be maintained
between the nozzle of the high-pressure
cleaner and the vehicle. Trailer coupling*
The ball coupling must be cleaned if it
becomes dirty or corroded.
X Remove any rust using a wire brush.
X Remove dirt with a clean, lint-free cloth or
a brush.
! Do not clean the ball coupling with a high-
pressure cleaner. Do not use solvents. 1
Locking balls
2 Guide pin
3 Guide faces
4 Release lever
5 Ball neck head Operation
* optional
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Care
197
X
Lightly oil or grease positions 1to5 and
the ball coupling recess of the vehicle after
cleaning.
X Treat the lock with an oil that is acid and
resin-free.
X Check that the vehicle's trailer coupling is
working properly.
! Observe the note on care provided by the
trailer manufacturer.
i Maintenance of the ball coupling and
trailer coupling can also be performed by
any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. H
Environmental note
Dispose of oily and greasy cloths in an envi-
ronmentally-responsible manner. Operation
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Display
messages 216 Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
. Cornering light
left
or
Cornering light
right The left-hand or right-hand cornering
light* is fa
ulty. X
Change the bulb (Y page 245).. Dipped-beam left
or
Dipped-beam right Vehicles with the light and visibility pack-
age*: the left-hand or right-hand dipped-
beam headlamp is faulty. X
Halogen headlamp: replace the bulbs
(Y page 245).
X Bi-xenon headlamp*: visit a qualified special-
ist workshop. . AUTO lights inop-
erative The light sensor is faulty. The constant
headlamp mode (daytime driving lights) is
switched on. X
Switch the lights to manual control in the on-
board computer (Y page 109).
X Switch the lights on and off using the light
switch. . Trailer turn sig-
nal left
or
Trailer turn sig-
nal right The left-hand or right-hand trailer turn sig-
nal lamp is faulty. X
Change the bulb. . Trailer tail lamp
left
or
Trailer tail lamp
right The left-hand or right-hand trailer tail light
is faulty. X
Change the bulb. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
240 Trailer towing
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The ball coupling cannot be
locked.
The key cannot be removed from
the ball coupling.
G
Risk of accident
The ball coupling is dirty.
The trailer tow hitch is damaged. X
Remove the ball coupling and clean it (Y page 196). Ifthe ball cou-
pling still cannot be locked, remove the ball coupling. It must no
longer be used to tow a trailer, as safe operation is not guaranteed.
X Have the entire trailer tow hitch checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. Parking up the vehicle
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The vehicle is to be left parked up
for longer than six weeks. Damage resulting from non-use
may occur if the vehicle is parked
up for long periods. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop and seek advice.
X Disconnect the battery ( Ypage 265). Practical advice
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Flat tyre
259Changing a wheel/fitting the spare
wheel*
G
Risk of accident
The wheel dimensions and tyre size of the
"Minispare" emergency spare wheel* may
differ from those of the standard wheels.
Your vehicle's handling characteristics will
change when a "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel* is fitted. Adapt your style of
driving accordingly.
The "Minispare" emergency spare wheel*
may only be used for a short time. Do not
exceed the maximum speed of 80 km/h
and do not deactivate ESP ®
.
Never drive the vehicle with more than one
"Minispare" emergency spare wheel* fit-
ted. G
Risk of accident
Have the "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel* or the spare wheel* replaced with
a new wheel as soon as possible at a quali-
fied specialist workshop which has the nec-
essary specialist knowledge and tools to
carry out the work required. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this pur- pose. In particular, work relevant to safety
or on safety-related systems must be car-
ried out at a qualified specialist workshop.
Preparing the vehicle X
Prepare the vehicle as described
(Y page 253).
X If a trailer is coupled, uncouple it.
X Place the wheels in the straight-ahead posi-
tion.
X Take the "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel* or the spare wheel* out of the stow-
age well under the luggage compartment
floor.
X Take the following out of the left-hand
stowage compartment in the luggage com-
partment
R
the vehicle tool kit
R the wheel chock
R the jack
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
On level ground: place chocks or similar
items under the front and rear of the wheel
that is diagonally opposite the wheel you
wish to change. X
On downhill gradients: place chocks or
similar behind both wheels of the other
axle. Steel wheel with wheel trim
X
Vehicles with steel wheels: carefully
reach into two wheel trim openings and
remove the wheel trim. Practical advice
* optional
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Towing and tow-starting
269Fitting the towing eye
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch: if you
intend to use the vehicle for towing, fit the ball
coupling (Y page 186) and connect the tow-
bar to this.
Opening the front cover The mountings for the removable towing eyes
are in the bumpers. They are located at the
front and rear behind covers on the right-hand
side of the vehicle when viewed in the direc-
tion of travel.
1
Cover
X Press cover 1back in the direction of the
arrow.
X Take cover 1off the opening. Opening the rear cover
1
Cover
X Press cover 1back in the direction of the
arrow.
X Take cover 1off the opening.
Securing the towing eye X
Take the towing eye and the wheel wrench
from the vehicle tool kit ( Ypage 200).
X Screw in the towing eye clockwise to the
stop.
X Insert the wheel wrench handle into the
towing eye and tighten it. Towing the vehicle
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum
of 50 km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
With towing distances over 50 km, the
entire vehicle needs to be lifted up and
transported.
! The engine must be switched off (key in
ignition lock in position 0or position 1) if
the vehicle is being towed with the front
axle raised or if the parking brake is being
tested on a dynamometer. Intervention by
ESP ®
could otherwise damage the brake
system.
Vehicles with manual transmission X
Turn the key to position 2(Y page 62) in
the ignition lock.
X Fully depress the clutch pedal.
X Shift to neutral. Practical advice
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Towing and tow-starting
270
Vehicles with AUTOTRONIC* X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Move the selector lever to N.Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
Please note:
R Vehicles with AUTOTRONIC* must not be
tow-started.
R The battery must be connected.
R The engine and catalytic converter must be
cold.
R Avoid repeated and lengthy starting
attempts.
Vehicles with manual transmission X
Turn the key to position 2(Y page 62) in
the ignition lock.
X Fully depress the clutch pedal.
X Shift to neutral. X
Tow the vehicle or let it roll.
X Shift to a suitable gear and bring the clutch
pedal up slowly. Do not depress the accel-
erator pedal.
The engine is started. Removing the towing eye
X Take the wheel wrench from the vehicle
tool kit ( Ypage 200).
X Insert the wheel wrench handle into the
towing eye and turn it anti-clockwise.
X Unscrew the towing eye.
X Replace the cover and press it until it
engages.
X Return the towing eye and the wheel
wrench to the vehicle tool kit. Transporting the vehicle
The towing eyes or trailer coupling *can be
used to pull the vehicle onto a trailer or trans-
porter if you wish to transport it.
! Only lash the vehicle down by the wheels
or wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle
such as axle or steering components. The
vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
Vehicles with manual transmission X
Shift to neutral.
Vehicles with AUTOTRONIC* X
Turn the key to position 2(Y page 62) in
the ignition lock.
X Move the selector lever to N.Practical advice
* optional
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273
Introduction to technical data
.........274
Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts .........274
Vehicle electronics ...........................275
Vehicle identification plates ............276
Engine ................................................ 278
Performance ...................................... 280
Tyres and wheels .............................. 282
Vehicle dimensions ..........................286
Vehicle weights ................................. 286
Trailer coupling* ............................... 290
Service products and capacities .....292 Technical data
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Vehicle weights
287A 150 A 150
BlueEFFICIENCY A 170 A 170
BlueEFFICIENCY A 200
Unladen weight
(in accordance
with EC directive) 5-door vehi-
cle
1,225 kg 1,245 kg 1,240 kg 1,260 kg 1,270 kg
3-door vehi-
cle
1,195 kg 1,215 kg 1,210 kg 1,230 kg 1,240 kg
Maximum per-
missible gross
vehicle weight 5-door vehi-
cle
1,740 kg 1,740 kg 1,770 kg 1,770 kg 1,765 kg
3-door vehi-
cle
1,740 kg 1,740 kg 1,770 kg 1,770 kg 1,765 kg
Maximum per-
missible front
axle load 5-door vehi-
cle
860 kg 860 kg 885 kg 885 kg 890 kg
3-door vehi-
cle
860 kg 860 kg 885 kg 885 kg 890 kg
Maximum per-
missible rear axle
load 5-door vehi-
cle
880 kg 880 kg 885 kg 885 kg 875 kg
3-door vehi-
cle
880 kg 880 kg 885 kg 885 kg 875 kg
To
wing a trailer 5-door vehi-
cle
920 kg 920 kg 920 kg 920 kg 920 kg
3-door vehi-
cle
920 kg 920 kg 920 kg 920 kg 920 kgTechnical data
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