wipers MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2012 Owner's Manual

Windows misted up on the outside
X
Activate the windscreen wipers.
X Set the air distribution to PorO.
i You should only select this setting until
the windscreen is clear again. Rear window heating
Switching on/off The rear window heating has a high current
draw. You should therefore switch it off as
soon as the window is clear. It otherwise
switches off automatically after several
minutes.
If the battery voltage is too low, the rear win-
dow heating may switch off.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 143).
X Press the ¤button.
The indicator lamp in the ¤button lights
up or goes out. Operating the climate control system
131Climate control

more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off.
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only set the automatic transmission to the
respective drive positions when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. Otherwise, you could damage the
drive train.
! AMG vehicles:
avoid full-load operation
and engine speeds greater than 5000 rpm
when the engine is cold. This helps to pro-
tect the engine and avoids uncomfortable
driving. Key positions
g
To remove the key
1 Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windscreen wipers 2
Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
3 To start the engine
Vehicles with manual transmission: the
steering is locked when the key is taken out of
the ignition lock.
i If the key does not belong to the vehicle, it
can still be turned in the ignition lock. How- ever, the ignition will not be switched on.
The engine cannot be started. Starting the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
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 with-
out sufficient ventilation. G
WARNING
Flammable materials introduced through
environmental influence or by animals can
ignite if in contact with the exhaust system or parts of the engine that heat up. There is a risk
of fire.
Carry out regular checks to make sure that
there are no flammable foreign materials in
the engine compartment or in the exhaust
system.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine.
i Vehicles with a petrol engine:
the
engine runs at a higher engine speed during the cold start procedure so that the cata-
lytic converter can reach operating tem-
perature more quickly. The sound of the
engine may change as a result. Driving
143Driving and parking Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions &
inoperative See inoperative See
Owner's Man. Owner's Man. The auxiliary heating has a temporary malfunction or is faulty.
X When the vehicle is on a level surface and the engine has cooled
down, make up to four attempts to switch on the auxiliary heat- ing, waiting several minutes between each attempt
(Y page 134).
X If the auxiliary heating does not switch on, consult a qualified
specialist workshop. Telephone No ser‐ Telephone No ser‐
vice vice Your vehicle is outside the network provider's transmitter/
receiver range.
X Wait until the mobile phone operational readiness symbol
appears in the multifunction display. ¥
Top Top
up
upwasher
washer fluid
fluid The washer fluid level in the washer fluid reservoir has dropped
below the minimum.
i If, during the winter months, you do not add antifreeze to the
washer fluid, it may freeze in the washer fluid container. In this
case, the Top Topup
upwasher
washer fluid
fluiddisplay message may appear
in the multifunction display.
X Top up the washer fluid (Y page 289).Wiper malfunction‐
Wiper malfunction‐
ing ing The windscreen wipers are defective.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Hazard warning
Hazard warning
lamps malfunction‐ lamps malfunction‐
ing ing The hazard warning lamps are faulty.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Key
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions +
Key does not Key does not
belong to vehicle belong to vehicle You have put the wrong key in the ignition lock.
X Use the correct key. +
Replace key Replace key The key needs to be replaced.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 256
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays

Raising the active bonnet increases the clear-
ance to hard components, such as the engine.
If the active bonnet has been triggered, it is
raised at the rear in the area around the hinge by approximately 60 mm.
For the drive to the workshop, reset the trig-
gered active bonnet yourself. If the active
bonnet has been triggered, pedestrian pro-
tection may be limited.
Resetting G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment could be very hot, e.g. the engine, the
radiator and parts of the exhaust system.
There is a risk of injury when accessing the
engine compartment.
As far as possible, allow the engine to cool
down and only touch the components descri- bed in the following. X
With your hand flat, push down active bon-
net :in the area around the hinges on
both sides (arrows) until you feel it engage.
If you can raise the active bonnet slightly in
the area around the hinges, it is not engaged correctly. Repeat the step.
If the bonnet can then still be raised, drive
directly to a qualified specialist workshop. Do
not drive faster than 100 km/h. Opening the bonnet G
WARNING
When the bonnet is open, and the windscreen wipers are set in motion, you can be injured by
the wiper linkage. There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
the ignition before opening the bonnet.
! Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
not folded away from the windscreen. Oth-
erwise, you could damage the windscreen
wipers or the bonnet. X
Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off.
X Pull release lever :on the bonnet.
The bonnet is released. X
Reach into the gap between the bonnet and
the radiator trim and press bonnet catch
lever ;to the left.
X Raise the bonnet. Engine compartment
285Maintenance and care Z

Observe these notes if your vehicle has a
clear matt finish. This will help you to avoid
damage to the paintwork due to incorrect
treatment.
These notes also apply to light-alloy wheels
with a clear matt finish.
i The vehicle should preferably be washed
by hand using a soft sponge, car shampoo
and plenty of water.
i Use only insect remover and car shampoo
from the range of recommended and
approved Mercedes-Benz care products.
Cleaning the windows G
WARNING
If the windscreen wipers are set in motion
when cleaning the windscreen or wiper
blades, you could become trapped. There is a danger of injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windscreen or wiper blades.
! Only fold the windscreen wipers away
from the windscreen when vertical. Other-
wise, you will damage the bonnet.
! Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,
solvents or cleaning agents containing sol- vents to clean the inside of the windows. Do
not touch the insides of the windows with
hard objects, e.g. an ice scraper or ring.
There is otherwise a risk of damaging the
windows.
! Clean the water drainage channels of the
windscreen and the rear window at regular
intervals. Deposits such as leaves, petals
and pollen may under certain circumstan-
ces prevent water from draining away. This
can lead to corrosion damage and damage to electronic components.
X Clean the inside and outside of the win-
dows with a damp cloth and a cleaning
agent that is recommended and approved
by Mercedes-Benz. Cleaning the wiper blades G
WARNING
If the windscreen wipers are set in motion
when cleaning the windscreen or wiper
blades, you could become trapped. There is a danger of injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windscreen orwiper blades.
! Only fold the windscreen wipers away
from the windscreen when vertical. Other-
wise, you will damage the bonnet.
! Do not pull on the wiper blade. Otherwise,
the wiper blade could be damaged.
! Do not clean wiper blades too often and
do not rub them too hard. Otherwise, the
graphite coating could be damaged. This
could cause wiper noise.
X Fold the wiper arms away from the wind-
screen.
X Clean the wiper blades carefully using a
damp cloth.
X Fold the windscreen wipers back again
before switching on the ignition.
! Hold the wiper arm securely when folding
back. The windscreen could be damaged if
the wiper arm hits against it suddenly.
Cleaning the exterior lighting !
Only use cleaning agents or cleaning
cloths that are suitable for plastic lenses.
Unsuitable cleaning agents or cleaning
cloths could scratch or damage the plastic
lenses of the exterior lighting.
X Clean the plastic lenses of the exterior
lighting using a wet sponge and a mild
cleaning agent, e.g. Mercedes-Benz car
shampoo or cleaning cloths. Care
293Maintenance and care Z

The fuse allocation chart is on the fuse box in
the front-passenger footwell (Y page 315).Fuse box in the engine compartment
G
WARNING
When the bonnet is open, and the windscreen wipers are set in motion, you can be injured by
the wiper linkage. There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
the ignition before opening the bonnet.
! Make sure that no moisture can enter the
fuse box when the cover is open.
! When closing the cover, make sure that it
is lying correctly on the fuse box. Moisture
seeping in or dirt could otherwise impair
the operation of the fuses. X
Open the bonnet.
X Remove any existing moisture from the
fuse box using a dry cloth.
X To open: open clamps ;.
X Fold cover :up in the direction of the
arrow and remove it. X
To close: check whether the seal is lying
correctly in cover :.
X Insert cover :at the back into openings
= on the fuse box.
X Fold down cover :.
X Hook clamps ;into the fuse box and
close.
X Close the bonnet. Fuse box in the front-passenger foot-
well
X
To open: remove the floormat from the
front-passenger side.
X Fold out perforated floor covering :in the
direction of the arrow. Electrical fuses
315Breakdown assistance Z