tow MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2008 Owner's Guide

Driving sys
tems 127
A warning tone sounds. the multi-function
display shows the message:
Park Assist
cancelled.
When active parking assist is cancelled, you
must steer again yourself.
Trailer towing* For vehicles with a trailer coupling, the mini-
mum length for parking spaces is slightly
increased.
If you have attached a trailer to your vehicle,
you should not use active parking assist.
Once the electrical connection is established
between your vehicle and the trailer, active
parking assist is no longer available. Park-
tronic is deactivated for the rear area. ECO start/stop function*
The ECO start/stop function automatically
switches off the engine as soon as you stop
the vehicle and restarts the engine as soon as
you prepare to pull away again. Each time the
engine is started using the key, the ECO
start/stop function is activated.
Conditions for the automatic engine
switch-off The ECO start/stop function automatically
switches off the engine if all of the following
conditions are met:
R you have shifted to neutral
R the clutch pedal is not depressed
R the brake pedal is depressed
R the vehicle speed is very low
R the engine has reached its operating tem-
perature
R the indicator lamp in the ECO button is lit
green
R the bonnet is closed
R the outside temperature is within the com-
fort range R
the battery is sufficiently charged
R the brake vacuum is stable
Conditions for the automatic engine
start The ECO start/stop function automatically
switches on the engine if one of the following
conditions is met:
R
the brake pedal is released
R the clutch pedal is depressed
R the vehicle speed exceeds a certain thresh-
old
R the ECO button is pressed
R the brake vacuum has decreased
R the battery charge has dropped
R the demister function of Thermotronic *is
selected Controls
* optional
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Air conditioning
140
or
X
Press one of the $or% temperature
buttons.
The indicator lamp in the |button goes
out. The air distribution is directed towards
the windscreen. The air conditioning
switches to manual mode.
or
X Turn thumbwheel 1clockwise or anti-
clockwise (Y page 134).
The indicator lamp in the |button goes
out. The air distribution is directed towards
the windscreen. The air conditioning
switches to manual mode. Demisting the windows
Windows misted up on the inside X
Activate the "cooling with air dehumidifica-
tion" function 19
.
X Activate the automatic air conditioning. 20
X If the windows continue to mist up, activate
the "demisting" function.
Windows misted up on the outside X
Activate the windscreen wipers.
X Turn the air distribution thumbwheel to the
Y ora symbol.
i You should only select this setting until
the windscreen is clear again. Switching the rear window heating
on/off
G
Risk of accident
Clear all windows of ice or snow before set-
ting off. Impaired visibility could otherwise
endanger you and others.
i The rear window heating has a high cur-
rent draw. You should therefore switch it
off as soon as the window is clear, as it only
switches off automatically after several
minutes.
i If the battery voltage is too low, the rear
window heating may switch off.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X To activate, press the 121
/F 22
but-
ton.
The indicator lamp in the 1/Fbut-
ton lights up or goes out.
19 Vehicles with air conditioning*/Thermotronic*.
20 Vehicles with Thermotronic*.
21 Vehicles with an air-conditioning system*/Thermotronic*.
22 Vehicles with Heatmatic. Cont
rols
* optional
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Loading and stowing
144 Loading and stowing
Cup holder
The stowage compartments in the doors con-
tain mouldings designed to hold bottles. G
Risk of injury
Keep the cup holder closed while the vehi-
cle is in motion. Otherwise, vehicle occu-
pants could be injured by objects being
thrown around if you:
R brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R are involved in an accident
Only use the cup holders for containers of
a suitable size and which have lids. Other-
wise, the drinks could spill.
Cup holders should not be used for hot
drinks. Otherwise, you may scald yourself. Cup holder in the centre console 1
Cup holder
Cup holder in the rear compartment* 1
Cup holder X
To open: fold down the rear seat armrest.
X Press the front of cup holder 1.
The cup holder slides out automatically.
! Do not fold the armrest up unless the cup
holder is closed. Otherwise, the cup holder
could be damaged. Roof rack system* and ski rack*
G
Risk of accident
An incorrectly secured roof rack, ski rack
or load could work loose from the vehicle
and thereby cause an accident. Follow the
roof rack/ski rack manufacturers' installa-
tion instructions and special instructions
for use.
The roof load raises the vehicle's centre of
gravity, thereby affecting vehicle handling.
You must observe the maximum roof load
of 50 kg. Always adapt your driving style to
the prevailing road, traffic and weather con-
ditions and drive with particular care if the
roof is laden.
! Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
only use roof rack systems which have
been tested and approved for Mercedes- Controls
* optional
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Loading and stowing
145
Benz vehicles. This helps to prevent dam-
age to the vehicle.
Position the load on the roof rack in such a
way that the vehicle will not sustain dam-
age even when it is in motion.
Depending on the vehicle's equipment,
make sure that you can:
R open the panorama louvred sliding sun-
roof* fully
R open the tailgate fully 1
Covers
X Fold covers 1upwards.
X Only secure the roof rack to the anchorage
points under covers 1. Observe the manufacturer's installation
instructions. Luggage net
G
Risk of injury
Only place lightweight items in the luggage
net. Do not use it to transport heavy, bulky,
sharp-edged or fragile objects. In the event
of an accident, the luggage net will not
secure the transported goods. Loading guidelines
G
Risk of injury
Secure and position the load as described
in the loading guidelines.
Otherwise, vehicle occupants could
be injured by the load being thrown around
in the event of sharp braking, a sudden
change in direction or an accident. This also
applies to seats which have been removed.
You will find further information in the
"Securing a load" section.
Even if you follow all the loading guidelines,
the load will increase the risk of injury in the
event of an accident. G
Risk of poisoning
Keep the tailgate closed when the engine is
running. Otherwise, you could be poisoned
by exhaust fumes entering the vehicle.
The handling characteristics of a laden vehi-
cle depend on the distribution of the load
within the vehicle. You should therefore load
your vehicle as shown in the illustrations. Observe the following notes when transport-
ing a load:
R
When transporting a load, never exceed the
maximum permissible gross vehicle weight
or the permissible axle loads for the vehicle
(including occupants).
R Position heavy loads as far forwards and as
low down in the luggage compartment as
possible.
R The load must not protrude above the
upper edge of the backrests. Controls
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Loading and stowing
146
R
Always place the load against the rear seat
backrests or the seat cushions if these
have been folded forwards.
R The maximum load capacity of the stowage
well under the luggage compartment floor
is 25 kg.
R Always place the load behind unoccupied
seats if possible.
R Secure the load with sufficiently strong and
wear-resistant load restraints. Pad sharp
edges for protection.
i Load restraints are available at any quali-
fied specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre. R
If the rear seats are not occupied, insert the
belt tongue on the outer seat belts into the
buckle of the opposite seat belt. This
increases the restraining effect of the rear
seat backrests.
! Do not position the load on one part of the
folding luggage compartment floor only.
The maximum load capacity of the folding
luggage compartment floor is 100 kg.
Spread the weight evenly to avoid damag-
ing the luggage compartment floor. If nec-
essary, place a solid board under the load.
Please note that the load on the luggage compartment floor will be increased when
the load is lashed down. Securing a load
Lashing eyelets G
Risk of injury
Distribute the load on the lashing eyelets
evenly.
Otherwise, vehicle occupants could be
injured by objects being thrown around if
you:
R brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R are involved in an accident
Please observe the loading guidelines.
Observe the following points or guidelines
when securing loads:
R Secure the load using the lashing eyelets.
R Do not use elastic straps or nets to secure
a load, as these are only intended as an
anti-slip protection for light loads.
R Do not route lashing materials across sharp
edges or corners.
R Pad sharp edges for protection. Controls
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Loading and stowing
147
Securing loads in the luggage compart-
ment
There are four lashing eyelets in the luggage
compartment. Example: 5-door vehicle
1
Lashing eyelets
X Secure the load using lashing eyelets 1or
the mounting cups for the seats, if the seats
have been removed. Securing a load when the seats have been
removed Rear seat removed
X
Guide the load restraints in a cross pattern
over the load, as shown in the illustration.
X Secure the load using the lashing eyelets
or the mounting cups on the seats. G
Risk of injury
Always stow the load so that it does not
interfere with driving the vehicle.
Avoid obstructing the driver's line-of-sight.
The load must not protrude above the upper
edge of the door trim if the front-passenger
seat has been removed.
Pad sharp edges for protection. This will
reduce the risk of lacerations and prevent
the load restraints from wearing.
Observe the following notes: R
The load must not protrude above the
upper edge of the door trim.
R Long loads must only be placed low down
and towards the front of the front-
passenger footwell.
! Load restraints must not be fastened to
the front right-hand mounting cup. Other-
wise, the contact switch for the front-
passenger seat could be damaged.
Securing a light load using a retaining
net*
X Place the retaining net over the load.
X Engage the retaining net hooks in the lash-
ing eyelets. Through-loading feature*
G
Risk of injury
Do not transport unsecured objects in the
through-loading facility.
Otherwise, you and other vehicle occu-
pants could be injured by objects being
thrown around the vehicle in the event of
sharp braking, a sudden change in direction
or an accident. Controls
* optional
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Loading and stowing
148
To enable you to use the maximum through-
loading opening and to prevent the armrest
from becoming dirty or being damaged, the
armrest should be removed (Y page 148).
Opening the through-loading facility 1
Armrest
X Fold down armrest 1. 2
Cover in the luggage compartment
3 Locking mechanism
X Slide locking mechanism 3in the direc-
tion of the arrow.
X Swing cover 2to the side.
Cover 2is held open by a magnet.
Closing the through-loading facility X
Swing back cover 2in the luggage com-
partment until it engages.
X Fold the armrest up fully if necessary. Removing the armrest 1
Armrest
X Fold down armrest 1. 2
Release Controls
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Loading and stowing
149
X
Pull release 2upwards and hold it
securely.
X Pull armrest 1out towards the front.
Hold the side of armrest 1as you do this,
otherwise you could inadvertently open the
cup holder.
i The release remains in the open position
after armrest 1has been removed.
! Do not press the release down when the
armrest has been removed, otherwise the
armrest mechanism could be damaged.
Fitting the armrest 1
Red area X
Align the armrest.
X Slide the armrest back until it engages.
The release drops down. Make sure that the
red area 1of the release is no longer visi-
ble. If it is still visible, the armrest is not
locked in position. G
Risk of injury
The armrests must be locked in position
when the vehicle is being driven.
Otherwise, vehicle occupants could
be injured by the armrest being thrown
around in the event of sharp braking, a sud-
den change in direction or an accident.
Nobody should travel in the vehicle sitting
in the centre position in the rear compart-
ment if the armrest has been removed.
! Do not close the armrest unless it has
been locked in position, otherwise the arm-
rest mechanism could be damaged. EASY-VARIO system*
On 3-door vehicle variants, the "Variable lug-
gage compartment floor" (Y page 155) and
"Removing the rear seat cushion"
(Y page 151) functions are combined in the
EASY-VARIO system. EASY-VARIO-PLUS system*
On 5-door vehicle variants, the "Removing the
rear seat cushion" ( Ypage 151), "Removing
the backrest" (Y page 152), "Removable
front-passenger seat" (Y page 156) and
"Folding backrest on the front-passenger
seat" (Y page 158) functions are combined
in the EASY-VARIO-PLUS system. Controls
* optional
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Loading and stowing
150 Enlarging the luggage compartment
The left-hand and right-hand rear seats can
be folded down to increase the luggage com-
partment capacity. G
Risk of injury
Make sure that nobody can become trap-
ped as you fold the backrests forward.
! To prevent damage, before the backrests
are folded forward:
R the head restraints must be pushed in
fully
R the front seats must be as far forwards
as possible
R the seat cushions must be folded forward
or removed Folding the rear bench seat forwards 1
Belt retainer
X Insert the seat belt into belt retainer 1.
3-door vehicles 1
Seat cushion release handle X
Pull seat cushion release handle 1.
The seat cushion is unlocked.
X Fold the right-hand or left-hand seat cush-
ion forward.
5-door vehicles 1
Seat cushion
X Fold left or right seat cushion 1forwards. Controls
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Loading and stowing
151
3 and 5-door vehicles
2
Backrest release handle
3 Backrest
X Pull left-hand or right-hand release handle
2 on backrest.
Corresponding backrest 3is unlocked.
X Fold the backrest forwards until it rests on
the hinge fixtures (Y page 152).
X Move the front seats to the desired posi-
tions. Swinging back the rear bench seat 4
Red lock verification indicator
X Swing the backrest back until it engages.
Red lock verification indicator 4is no lon-
ger visible.
! Make sure that the seat belt does not
become trapped.
X Swing the seat cushion backwards.
X Adjust the head restraints if necessary .
X Move the front seats to the desired posi-
tions.
If red lock verification indicator 4is visible,
this means the backrest is not engaged. G
Risk of injury
Make sure that the backrest is correctly
locked in position. The red lock verification
indicators on the left and right sides should
no longer be visible. If they are visible, the
backrests are not locked in position.
Occupants could then be injured in the
event of an accident, e.g. by objects being
thrown forwards from the luggage com-
partment.
Removing rear seat cushions* 1
Belt retainer
X Insert the seat belt into belt retainer 1. Controls
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