service MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2012 Service Manual

G
WARNING
If you fit unsuitable accessories onto tyre
valves, the tyre valves may be overloaded and malfunction, which can cause tyre pressure
loss. Due to their design, retrofitted tyre pres-
sure monitors keep the tyre valve open. This
can also result in tyre pressure loss. There is a risk of accident.
Only screw standard valve caps or valve caps
specifically provided by Mercedes-Benz for
your vehicle onto the tyre valve. G
WARNING
If the tyre pressure drops repeatedly, the
wheel, valve or tyre may be damaged. Tyre
pressure that is too low may result in a tyre
blow-out. There is a risk of accident.
R Check the tyre for foreign objects.
R Check whether the wheel is losing air or the
valve is leaking.
If you are unable to rectify the damage, con-
tact a qualified specialist workshop. H
Environmental note
Check the tyre pressure regularly, at least
every 14 days.
You will find a table of tyre pressures for var- ious operating conditions on the inside of
your vehicle's fuel filler flap.
Operation with an emergency spare
wheel (Ypage 332).
Operation with a trailer: the applicable
value for the rear tyres is the maximum tyre
pressure value stated in the table inside the
fuel filler flap.
The table inside the fuel filler flap may state
tyre pressures for different load conditions.
These are defined in the table as different
numbers of passengers and amounts of lug-
gage. The actual number of seats may vary;
for more information, please refer to the vehi-
cle's registration documents.
If tyre sizes are not specified, the tyre pres-
sures stated on the tyre pressure information label apply for all tyres approved for this vehi-
cle. If a tyre size precedes a tyre pressure, the
following tyre pressure information is only
valid for that tyre size.
Use a suitable pressure gauge to check the
tyre pressure. The outer appearance of a tyre
does not permit any reliable conclusion aboutthe tyre pressure.
If possible, only correct tyre pressures when
the tyres are cold.
The tyres are cold:
R if the vehicle has been parked with the tyres
out of direct sunlight for at least three
hours and
R if the vehicle has not been driven further
than 1.6 km
Depending on the ambient temperature, the
speed at which you are driving and the load on the tyres, the tyre temperature and thus the
tyre pressure change by approximately
10 kPa per 10 † (0.1 bar/1.5 psi). Take this
into account when checking the pressure of
warm tyres. Only correct the tyre pressure if it
is too low for the current operating condi-
tions.
Driving with tyre pressure that is too high or
too low can:
R shorten the service life of the tyres
R cause increased tyre damage
R have a negative effect on handling charac-
teristics and thus the driving safety (e.g.
aquaplaning) 322
Tyre pressureWheels and tyres

i
The tyre pressure values given for low
loads are minimum values which offer you
good ride comfort characteristics.
However, you can also use the values given for higher loads. These are permissible andwill not adversely affect the running of the
vehicle. Tyre pressure loss warning system
Important safety notes While the vehicle is in motion, the tyre pres-
sure loss warning system monitors the set
tyre pressure using the rotational speed of
the wheels. This enables the system to detect
significant pressure loss in a tyre. If the speed of rotation of a wheel changes as a result of a
loss of pressure, a corresponding warning
message will appear in the multifunction dis- play.
The tyre pressure warning system does not
warn you of an incorrectly set tyre pressure.
Observe the notes on the recommended tyre pressure (Y page 321).
The tyre pressure loss warning system does
not replace the need to regularly check your
vehicle's tyre pressures, since an even loss of pressure on several tyres at the same time
cannot be detected by the tyre pressure loss
warning system.
The tyre pressure monitor is not able to warn you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. if the
tyre is penetrated by a foreign object. In the
event of a sudden loss of pressure, bring the
vehicle to a halt by braking carefully. Avoid
abrupt steering manoeuvres.
The function of the tyre pressure loss warning
system is limited or delayed if:
R snow chains are fitted to your vehicle's
tyres.
R road conditions are wintry.
R you are driving on sand or gravel.
R you adopt a very sporty driving style (cor-
nering at high speeds or driving with high
rates of acceleration). R
you are towing a very heavy or large trailer.
R you are driving with a heavy load (in the
vehicle or on the roof).
Restarting the tyre pressure loss warn-
ing system Restart the tyre pressure loss warning system
if you have:
R changed the tyre pressure
R changed the wheels or tyres
R fitted new wheels or tyres
X Before restarting, make sure that the tyre
pressures are set properly on all four tyres
for the respective operating conditions.
The recommended tyre pressures can be
found in the table on the fuel filler flap.
The tyre pressure loss warning system can only give reliable warnings if you have set
the correct tyre pressure. If an incorrect
tyre pressure is set, these incorrect values
will be monitored.
X Observe the notes on tyre pressure
(Y page 321).
X Make sure that the key is in posi-
tion 2(Ypage 143) in the ignition lock.
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Service
Service menu.
X Press the 9or: button to select
Tyre pressure
Tyre pressure.
X Press the abutton.
The Run Flat Indicator active Run Flat Indicator active
Restart
Restart with
withOK
OKmessage appears in the
multifunction display.
If you wish to confirm the restart: X Press the abutton.
The Tyre press. now OK?
Tyre press. now OK? message
appears in the multifunction display.
X Press the 9or: button to select
Yes
Yes.
X Press the abutton.
The Run Flat Indicator restarted
Run Flat Indicator restarted
message appears in the multifunction dis-
play. Tyre pressure
323Wheels and tyres Z

Do not use high-pressure cleaners with circu-
lar-jet nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have dam-aged tyres or chassis components replaced
immediately. Fitting a wheel
Preparing the vehicle X
Stop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground.
X Apply the electric parking brake manually
(Y page 163).
X Bring the front wheels into the straight-
ahead position.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
engage first or reverse gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
move the DIRECT SELECT lever to P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X If a trailer is coupled to the vehicle, uncou-
ple it.
X If included in the vehicle equipment,
remove the tyre-change tool kit from the
vehicle.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
i Apart from certain country-specific varia-
tions, vehicles are not equipped with a tyre-
change tool kit. For information on which
tools are required to perform a wheel
change on your vehicle, consult a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Necessary wheel-changing tools can
include, for example:
R Jack
R Wheel chock
R Wheel wrench Securing the vehicle against rolling
away
If your vehicle is equipped with a wheel chock,
it can be found in the tyre-change tool kit
(Y page 299).
The folding wheel chock is an additional
securing measure to prevent the vehicle from
rolling away, for example when changing a
wheel.
X Fold both plates upwards :.
X Fold out lower plate ;.
X Guide the lugs on the lower plate fully into
the openings in base plate =. Securing the vehicle on level ground
X On level ground: place chocks or other
suitable items under the front and rear of
the wheel that is diagonally opposite the
wheel you wish to change. Changing a
wheel
325Wheels an d tyres Z

Useful information
............................336
Information on technical data .........336
Vehicle electronics ...........................336
Identification plates .........................338
Service products and capacities .....338
Vehicle data ...................................... 346
Trailer tow hitch ................................ 348
24 GHz radar sensor system (coun-
try overview) ..................................... 350 335Technical data

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els, series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. National variations are pos- sible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all of the functions descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 24). Information on technical data
You can find technical data on the Internet at: http://www.mercedes-benz.com
i The technical data was determined in
accordance with EC Directives. All data
applies to the vehicle's standard equip-
ment. It may therefore differ for vehicles
with optional equipment. You can obtain
further information from a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Vehicle electronics
Tampering with the engine electron-
ics
! Only have work carried out on the engine
electronics and its associated parts, such
as control units, sensors and connector
leads, at a qualified specialist workshop.
Vehicle components may otherwise wear
more quickly and the vehicle's operating
permit may be invalidated. Retrofitting two-way radios and
mobile phones (RF transmitters)
G
WARNING
If RF transmitters are tampered with or not
properly retrofitted, the electromagnetic radi- ation they emit can interfere with the vehicle
electronics. This may jeopardise the opera-
tional safety of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
You should have all work on electrical and
electronic components carried out at a quali-
fied specialist workshop. G
WARNING
If you use the RF transmitter in the vehicle in
an improper way, its electromagnetic radia-
tion can disrupt vehicle electronics, e.g. if:
R the RF transmitter is not connected to an
exterior aerial
R the exterior aerial is fitted incorrectly or is
not a low-reflection aerial
This can jeopardise the operating safety of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Have the low-reflection exterior aerial fitted at
a qualified specialist workshop. When oper-
ating in the vehicle, always connect the RF
transmitter to the low-reflection exterior aer-
ial.
! The operating permit may be invalidated if
the instructions for installation and use of
RF transmitters are not observed.
In particular, the following conditions must be complied with:
R only approved wavebands may be used.
R observe the maximum permissible out-
put in these wavebands.
R only approved aerial positions may be
used.
Observe the notes on operating mobile
phones (Y page 279).
The following aerial positions may be used for
the correct installation of RF transmitters: 336
Vehicle electronicsTechnical data

Identification plates
Vehicle identification plate with vehi-
cle identification number (VIN) X
Open the front right-hand door.
You will see vehicle identification plate :.Example: vehicle identification plate
:
Vehicle identification plate
; Vehicle manufacturer (Daimler AG)
= EU type approval number (only for certain
countries)
? VIN
A Maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight (kg)
B Maximum permissible mass of vehicle/
trailer combination (kg)
C Maximum permissible front axle load (kg)
D Maximum permissible rear axle load (kg)
E Paint code
i The data shown on the vehicle identifica-
tion plate is example data. This data is dif-
ferent for every vehicle and can deviate
from the data shown here. You can find the data applicable to your vehicle on the vehi-
cle's identification plate. VIN
X
Slide the right-hand front seat to its rear-
most position.
X Fold up floor covering :in front of the
right-hand front seat.
You will see VIN ;.
The VIN can also be found on the vehicle
identification plate (Y page 338). Engine number
The engine number is stamped onto the
crankcase. More information can be obtained
from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Service products and capacities
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Service product can be poisonous and haz-
ardous to health. There is a risk of injury.
Observe the instructions on the respective
original container when using, storing and dis- posing off service products. Always store ser-
vice products in the sealed original container. Always keep service products out of the reach
of children. 338
Service products and capacitiesTechnical data

H
Environmental note
Dispose of service products in an environ-
mentally-responsible manner.
Service products include the following:
R Fuels (e.g. petrol, diesel)
R Lubricants (e.g. engine oil, transmission oil)
R Coolant
R Brake fluid
R Windscreen washer fluid
R Climate control system refrigerant
Components and service products must be
matched. Mercedes-Benz recommends that
you use products tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz. They are listed in this
Mercedes-Benz Owner's Manual in the appro- priate section.
You can identify service products approved
by Mercedes-Benz by the following inscrip-
tions on the container:
R MB-Freigabe (e.g. MB-Freigabe 229.51)
R MB Approval (e.g. MB Approval 229.51)
Other designations or recommendations indi- cate a level of quality or a specification in
accordance with an MB Sheet Number (e.g.
MB 229.5). They have not necessarily been
approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Further information can be obtained from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre or on the
Internet at http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com. Fuel
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, naked flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before refuelling. G
WARNING
Fuels are poisonous and hazardous to health. There is a danger of injury.
Do not swallow fuel or let it come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale fuel
vapours. Keep fuels out of the reach of chil-
dren.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
R Wash the fuel off any affected areas of skin
with water and soap immediately.
R If you get fuel in your eyes, rinse them thor-
oughly with clean water immediately. Seek immediate medical attention.
R If fuel is swallowed, seek immediate medi-
cal attention. Do not induce vomiting.
R Change any clothing that has come into
contact with fuel immediately.
Tank capacity The total capacity of the fuel tank may vary,
depending on the vehicle equipment.
Model Total capa-
city A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY,
manual transmission
A 180 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY, manual trans-
mission
40 l
or
50.0 l Models with 4MATIC
56.0 l
All other models
50.0 l
Model Of which
reserve fuel AMG vehicles
Approx.
8.0 l All other models
Approx.
6.0 l Service products and capacities
339Technical data Z

Petrol (EN 228, E DIN 51626
‑1)Fuel grade (AMG vehicles)
! Only refuel using super unleaded petrol
with at least 98 RON/88 MON that con-
forms to European standard EN 228 or an
equivalent specification.
You can otherwise impair engine output or
damage the engine.
! Premium-grade unleaded petrol with an
octane rating of 95 RON/85 MON may be
used as a temporary measure if the recom-
mended fuel is not available. This may
reduce engine performance and increase
fuel consumption. As much as possible,
avoid driving at full throttle.
! Regular unleaded petrol with an octane
rating of 91 RON/82.5 MON may also be
used as a temporary measure if the recom-
mended fuel is not available.
Doing so results in noticeably higher fuel
consumption, and the engine power output is noticeably reduced. Avoid driving at full
throttle.
If only regular unleaded petrol with an
octane rating of 91 RON/82.5 MON or
lower is available, you must have the vehi-
cle adapted to this fuel at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
i E10 fuel contains up to 10% bioethanol.
Your vehicle is suitable for use with E10
fuel. You can refuel your vehicle using E10
fuel.
Fuel grade (except AMG vehicles) ! Do not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
petrol engine. Do not switch on the ignition if you accidentally refuel with the wrong
fuel. Otherwise, fuel can enter the fuel sys- tem. 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. !
Only refuel using premium-grade unlea-
ded petrol with at least 95 ROZ/85 MOZ,
that conforms to European standard
EN 228 or E DIN 51626–1 or an equivalent specification.
Fuel of this specification can contain up to 10 % ethanol.
Fuel that does not conform to EN 228 or
E DIN 51626–1 can lead to increased wear
and damage the engine and exhaust sys-
tem.
! Only use the fuel recommended. Operat-
ing the vehicle with other fuels can lead to
engine failure.
! Do not use the following:
R E85 (petrol with 85% ethanol)
R E100 (100% ethanol)
R M15 (petrol with 15% methanol)
R M30 (petrol with 30% methanol)
R M85 (petrol with 85% methanol)
R M100 (100% methanol)
R Petrol with additives containing metal
R Diesel
Do not mix such fuels with the fuel recom-
mended for your vehicle. Do not use addi-
tives. This can otherwise lead to engine
damage. This does not include cleaning
additives for the removal and prevention of
residue build-up. Petrol must only be mixed
with additives recommended by Mercedes- Benz; see "Additives". You can obtain fur-
ther information from any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
Usually you will find information about the
fuel grade on the pump. If you cannot find the
label on the petrol pump, ask the filling sta-
tion staff.
i E10 fuel contains up to 10% bioethanol.
Your vehicle is suitable for use with E10
fuel. You can refuel your vehicle using E10
fuel.
i A 200 BlueEFFICIENCY, A 250 BlueEF-
FICIENCY: as a temporary measure, if the340
Service products and capacitiesTechnical data

recommended fuel is not available, you
may also use unleaded petrol with an
octane rating of 93 RON/83 MON.
All other models: as a temporary meas-
ure, if the recommended fuel is not availa-
ble, you may also use unleaded petrol with
an octane rating of 91 RON/82 MON. This may reduce engine performance and
increase fuel consumption. Avoid driving at
full throttle and sudden acceleration. Never refuel using fuel with a lower RON/MON.
i In some countries, the available petrol
may not be sufficiently low in sulphur. This
fuel can temporarily produce unpleasant
odours, especially on short journeys. As
soon as sulphur-free fuel (sulphur content
<1 0 ppm) is used for refuelling, the odours
are reduced.
Information on refuelling (Y page 159).
Additives ! Operating the engine with fuel additives
can cause wear in the fuel high-pressure
pump and contaminate the entire fuel sys-
tem. The repair costs are high. This does
not include additives for the removal and
prevention of residue build-up. Petrol must only be mixed with additives recommended
by Mercedes-Benz. More information about recommended additives can be obtained
from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
One of the major problems with low-grade
fuel is the creation of carbon deposits during
the process of burning fuel. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you use fuel brands that
have additives.
If you use fuels without these additives for a
longer period of time, there may be a build-up
of carbon deposits. These will form especially on the inlet valves and in the combustion
chamber.
This could lead to engine running problems,
e.g.:
R longer engine warm-up phase
R uneven idle R
engine noise
R misfiring
R loss of power
In areas where petrol with the required addi-
tives is not available, carbon deposits can
build up. In this case, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends the use of additives that have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles; see
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
The quality of the fuel available in some coun- tries may not be sufficient. Residue could
build up as a result. In such cases, and in
consultation with a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre, the petrol may be mixed with the
additive recommended by Mercedes-Benz
(part no. A000989254512). You must
observe the notes and mixing ratios specified on the container.
Consult a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre to
view a list of approved products. Observe the
instructions for use in the product descrip-
tion.
Do not mix other fuel additives with fuel. This
causes unnecessary costs and could damage the engine.
Diesel (EN 590) Fuel grade
G
WARNING
If you mix diesel fuel with petrol, the flash
point of this fuel mixture is lower than that of pure diesel fuel. When the engine is running,
components in the exhaust system may over-
heat unnoticed. There is a risk of fire.
Never refuel with petrol. Never add petrol to
diesel fuel.
! When refuelling, only use diesel fuel that
conforms to the European standard EN 590
or is of equivalent quality. Fuel that does
not conform to EN 590 can lead to
increased wear as well as damage to the
engine and exhaust system. Service products and capacities
341Technical data Z

!
Do not use the following:
R marine diesel
R heating oil
R bio-diesel
R vegetable oil
R petrol
R paraffin
R kerosene
Do not mix such fuels with diesel fuel and
do not use any special additives. This can
otherwise lead to engine damage.
! Vehicles with a diesel particle filter:
in
countries outside the EU, only refuel with
low-sulphur Euro diesel with a sulphur con- tent under 50 ppm; otherwise the emission
control system could be damaged.
! Vehicles without a diesel particle fil-
ter: in countries where only diesel fuel with
a high sulphur content is available, you will
need to carry out your vehicle's oil change
at shorter intervals. More information
about the interval for oil change can be
obtained from any qualified specialist
workshop.
Usually you will find information about the
fuel grade on the pump. If you cannot find the label on the petrol pump, ask the filling sta-
tion staff.
Information on refuelling (Y page 159).
Low outside temperatures
In winter months, diesel fuel with an improved cold flow quality is available. In Europe, the
EN 590 standard defines various climate-
dependent temperature categories. Malfunc- tions can be avoided by refuelling with diesel
fuel that corresponds to the climatic specifi-
cations outlined in EN 590. At unusually low
outside temperatures, it is possible that the
flow characteristics of the diesel fuel could be
insufficient. Accordingly, diesel fuel from
warmer areas may not be suitable for opera-
tion in colder climatic conditions. i
Further information on country-specific
fuel properties can be obtained from oil
companies, e.g. at filling stations.
Fuel consumption information H
Environmental note
CO 2(carbon dioxide) is the gas which scien-
tists believe to be principally responsible for
global warming (the greenhouse effect). Your vehicle's CO 2emissions are directly related to
fuel consumption and therefore depend on:
R efficient use of the fuel by the engine
R driving style
R other non-technical factors, such as envi-
ronmental influences or road conditions
You can minimise your vehicle's CO 2emis-
sions by driving carefully and having it serv-
iced regularly.
The vehicle will use more fuel than usual in the following situations:
R at very low outside temperatures
R in urban traffic
R on short journeys
R in mountainous terrain
R when towing a trailer
i Only for certain countries: you can find
the current consumption and emission val-
ues of your vehicle in the COC documents
(EU CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY). These documents are delivered with your vehicle.
The consumption figures were in each casebased on the currently applicable version:
R for vehicles that comply with standards
up to and including the EURO 4 standard,
in accordance with EU Directive
80/1268/EEC
R for vehicles that comply with or exceed
the EURO 5 standard, in accordance with
Regulation (EC) No. 715/2007
Deviations from these values may occur
under normal operating conditions. 342
Service products and capacitiesTechnical data