transmission MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2012 Repair Manual

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions 4
Check eng. oil Check eng. oil
lev. when next lev. when next
refuelling refuelling The engine oil level has dropped to the minimum level.
A warning tone also sounds.
X Check the oil level when next refuelling, at the latest
(Y page 286).
X If necessary, top up the engine oil (Y page 287).
X Have the engine checked at a qualified specialist workshop if the
engine oil needs topping up more often than usual. æ
Reserve fuel level Reserve fuel level The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
The auxiliary heating cannot be operated.
X Refuel at the nearest filling station. ç There is very little fuel in the fuel tank.
The auxiliary heating cannot be operated.
X Refuel at the nearest filling station without fail. ¸
Replace Replace
air
aircleaner
cleaner Vehicles with a diesel engine: the engine air filter is dirty and must
be replaced.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
i This message does not appear for the 180 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY, manual transmission model A. !
Clean Clean
the
thefuel
fuel fil‐
fil‐
ter
ter Vehicles with a diesel engine: there is water in the fuel filter. The
water must be drained off.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Driving systems
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M MSolutions À
Attention Assist: Attention Assist:
Drowsiness detec‐ Drowsiness detec‐
ted ted Based on certain criteria, ATTENTION ASSIST has detected fatigue
or a lack of concentration on the part of the driver. A warning tone also sounds.
X If necessary, take a break.
During long journeys, take regular breaks in good time so that you get enough rest. À
Attention Assist Attention Assist
inoperative inoperative ATTENTION ASSIST is inoperative.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Display
messages
245On-board computer and displays Z

Vehicle
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions To start engine,
To start engine,
shift to either P shift to either P
or N or N You have attempted to start the engine with the transmission in
position Ror D.
X Shift the transmission to position Por N. Auxiliary battery
Auxiliary battery
malfunction malfunction The auxiliary battery for the automatic transmission is no longer
being charged.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop at the next opportunity.
X Until then, set the automatic transmission to position Pbefore
you switch off the engine.
X Before leaving the vehicle, apply the electric parking brake. Depress brake to
Depress brake to
start engine start engine You have attempted to start the engine with the transmission in
position Nwithout depressing the brake pedal.
X Depress the brake pedal. To shift out of P
To shift out of P
or N or N
depress brake and depress brake and
start engine start engine You have attempted to shift the transmission to position
Ror D
without starting the engine.
X Start the engine.
X Depress the brake pedal.
i It is only possible to shift the transmission from position
Pto
the desired position if you depress the brake pedal. Only then
can the parking lock be deactivated. If you do not depress the
brake pedal, the DIRECT SELECT lever can still be moved but the parking lock remains engaged.
i At transmission fluid temperatures below
Ò20 † you can only
shift out of position Pinto another transmission position when
the engine is running. Apply brake to Apply brake to
deselect Park (P) deselect Park (P)
position position You have attempted to move the transmission selector lever to
position
R,Nor Dwithout depressing the brake pedal.
X Depress the brake pedal. Risk of vehicle Risk of vehicle
rolling rolling
Transmission not Transmission not
in P in P The driver's door is open and the transmission is in position
R,N or
D.
A warning tone also sounds. X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 162).252
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Without changing
Without changing
gear, gear,
consult workshop consult workshop You cannot change the transmission position due to a malfunction.
A warning tone also sounds.
If transmission position Dis selected:
X Drive to a qualified specialist workshop without shifting the
transmission from position D.
If transmission position R,Nor Pis selected:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Only select Park Only select Park
(P) when (P) when
vehicle vehicle
is
isstation‐
station‐
ary
ary The vehicle is moving.
X
Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Shift the transmission to position P.Reversing not Reversing not
poss. poss.
Consult
Consult work‐
work‐
shop
shop The automatic transmission is malfunctioning. You cannot drive in
reverse.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Transmission Mal‐
Transmission Mal‐
function function The automatic transmission is malfunctioning.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Transmission mal‐
Transmission mal‐
function Stop function Stop The automatic transmission is malfunctioning.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 162).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Stop
Stop
vehicle
vehicle Shift
Shift
to P Leave engine
to P Leave engine
running running The automatic transmission has overheated.
X Drive on carefully.
If the display message disappears, the automatic transmission
is available again.
If the display message continues to be displayed:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 162).
X Wait until the automatic transmission has cooled off and the
display message goes out. Display
messages
253On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Trans.
Trans.
oil
oiloverhea‐
overhea‐
ted Drive on with
ted Drive on with
care care AMG vehicles: the transmission oil has overheated.
Manual drive program
Mand the temporarily active manual drive
program are no longer available. The engine power output is
reduced.
X Allow the vehicle to cool down. 4matic currently 4matic currently
unavailable unavailable 4MATIC (permanent all-wheel drive) has overheated. The vehicle is
only driven by the front wheels.
X Drive on.
The airflow cools 4MATIC more quickly.
When the display message goes out, 4MATIC is available again and the vehicle is driven by all four wheels. 4matic inoperative
4matic inoperative 4MATIC is malfunctioning. The vehicle is only driven by the front
wheels.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. A The tailgate is open.
G WARNING
When the engine is running, exhaust gases can enter the vehicle
interior if the tailgate is open.
There is a risk of poisoning.
X Close the tailgate. ? The bonnet is open.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
The open bonnet may then block your view when the vehicle is in
motion.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Apply the electric parking brake.
X Close the bonnet. Active bonnet mal‐ Active bonnet mal‐
function See Own‐ function See Own‐
er's Manual er's Manual The active bonnet (pedestrian protection) is not active due to a
malfunction or because it has already been triggered.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. C At least one door is open. A warning tone also sounds.
X Close all doors. 254
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays

Checking the oil level using the oil dip-
stick Example: vehicles with a petrol engine
Vehicles with a diesel engine (apart from the A 180
CDI BlueEFFICIENCY model with manual transmis-
sion) A 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, manual transmission
X All models apart from the A 180 CDI
BlueEFFICIENCY model with manual
transmission: pull out oil dipstick :.
X A 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY model with
manual transmission: undo the oil filler
cap and pull it out together with integrated
oil dipstick :. X
Wipe off oil dipstick :.
X Slowly slide oil dipstick :into the guide
tube to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark =and
MAX mark ;, the oil level is correct.
X If the oil level has dropped to MIN mark =
or below, top up with 1.0 litre of engine oil.
Adding engine oil G
WARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot com- ponents in the engine compartment, it may
ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Make sure that engine oil does not spill out
over the filler neck. Allow the engine to cool
down and thoroughly clean the components
that have come into contact with engine oil
before you start the engine. H
Environmental note
When topping up the oil, take care not to spill
any. If oil enters the soil or waterways, it is
harmful to the environment.
! Only use engine oils and oil filters that
have been approved for vehicles with a ser-
vice system. You can obtain a list of the
engine oils and oil filters tested and
approved in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Service
Products at any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
Damage to the engine or exhaust system is caused by the following:
R using engine oils and oil filters that have
not been specifically approved for the
service system
R changing the engine oil and oil filter after
missing the change interval required by
the service system
R using engine oil additives
! Do not add too much oil. Topping up with
too much engine oil can result in damage to
the engine or to the catalytic converter.
Have excess engine oil siphoned off. Engine compartment
287Maintenance and care Z

Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents rec-
ommended and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Care of the exterior
Automatic car wash G
WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after the vehicle has been washed. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
After washing the vehicle, brake carefully
while paying attention to the traffic conditions in order to restore full braking efficiency.
! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automati-
cally in certain situations. To prevent dam-
age to the vehicle, deactivate DISTRONIC
PLUS and the HOLD function in the follow-
ing or other similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
! Make sure that the automatic transmis-
sion is in position Nwhen washing your
vehicle in a tow-through car wash. The vehi-
cle could be damaged if the transmission is
in another position.
! Make sure that:
R the side windows and sliding sunroof are
closed completely.
R the blower for the ventilation/heating is
switched off (OFF button is depressed/
airflow control is turned to position 0).
R the windscreen wiper switch is at posi-
tion 0.
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
Wash off excess dirt before cleaning the vehi-
cle in an automatic car wash. After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windscreen and the wiper
blades. This will prevent smears and reduce
wiping noises caused by residue on the wind- screen.
Washing by hand In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at wash bays that are specially
designed for this purpose. Observe the legal
requirements for each individual country.
X Do not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
X Use a soft sponge to clean.
X Use a mild cleaning agent, such as a car
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Thoroughly hose down the vehicle with a
gentle jet of water.
X Do not point the water jet directly towards
the air inlet.
X Use plenty of water and rinse out the
sponge frequently.
X Rinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois.
X Do not let the cleaning agent dry on the
paintwork.
When using the vehicle in winter, remove all
traces of road salt deposits carefully and as
soon as possible.
High-pressure cleaning equipment G
WARNING
The water jet of circular-jet nozzles (dirt grind- ers) can cause damage not visible from the
outside to tyres or chassis components. Com-
ponents damaged in this way can unexpect-
edly fail. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with circu-
lar-jet nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have dam- aged tyres or chassis components replaced
immediately.
! Always maintain a distance of at least
30 cm between the vehicle and the high- Care
291Maintenance and care Z

The highly flammable gas mixture is formed
when charging the battery or jump-starting
the vehicle.
Always make sure that neither you nor the
battery is electrostatically charged. Electro-
static charge is caused, for example, by:
R wearing synthetic clothing
R the friction of clothing on the seat
R pulling or sliding the battery over carpets or
other synthetic materials
R rubbing the battery with a cloth G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery produ- ces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit occurs or
sparks are created, the hydrogen gas can
ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.
R Make sure that the positive terminal of a
connected battery does not come into con- tact with vehicle parts.
R Never place metal objects or tools on a bat-
tery.
R It is important that you observe the descri-
bed order of the battery terminals when
connecting and disconnecting a battery.
R When jump-starting, make sure that the
battery poles with identical polarity are
connected.
R It is particularly important to observe the
described order when connecting and dis-
connecting the jump leads.
R Never connect or disconnect the battery
terminals while the engine is running. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury. Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing.
Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean
over the battery. Keep children away from
batteries. Wash battery acid immediately with water and seek medical attention. H
Environmental note Batteries contain pollutants.
It is illegal to dispose of them
with the household rubbish.
They must be collected sep-
arately and disposed of in anenvironmentally responsible
recycling system. Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally responsible
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop or to a col-
lection point for used batter-
ies.
! Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Observe the service intervals in the Service
Booklet or contact a qualified specialist
workshop for more information.
! Always have work on the battery carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop.
Should it, in exceptional circumstances, be
absolutely necessary to disconnect the bat-
tery yourself, please observe the following:
R switch off the engine and remove the
key. Check that all the indicator lamps in the instrument cluster are off. Otherwise,
you may damage electronic components such as the alternator, for example.
R first, disconnect the negative terminal
clamp, followed by the positive terminal
clamp. Never swap the terminal clamps.
The vehicle electronics may otherwise be
damaged.
R on vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission is locked in position P
after disconnecting the battery. The vehi-
cle is secured against rolling away. You
can then no longer move the vehicle.
The battery and the cover of the positive
terminal clamp must be fitted securely dur- ing operation. Battery (vehicle)
305Breakdown assistance Z

characteristics may be impaired, especially at low temperatures. Have the thawed battery
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not use a rapid charging device to start the vehicle. If your vehicle's battery is discharged, the engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a second battery using jump
leads. Observe the following points:
R The battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible,
jump-start the vehicle using a second battery or a jump-starting device.
R Vehicles with a petrol engine: only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust
system are cold.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
R Jump-starting may only be performed from batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
R Only use jump leads that have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps.
R If the battery is fully discharged, leave the battery that is being used to jump-start connected
for a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the empty battery a little.
R Make sure that the two vehicles do not touch.
Make sure that:
R the jump leads are not damaged.
R bare parts of the terminal clamp do not come into contact with other metal parts while the
jump leads are connected to the battery.
R the jump leads cannot come into contact with parts which can move when the engine is
running, such as the V-belt pulley or the fan.
X Secure the vehicle by applying the electric parking brake.
X Manual transmission: shift into neutral.
X Automatic transmission: shift the transmission to position P.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition lock and remove it.
X Switch off all electrical consumers (e.g. radio, blower, etc.).
X Open the bonnet (Y page 285). Jump-starting
309Breakdown assistance Z

!
Only secure the tow rope or towing bar to
the towing eyes. The vehicle may otherwise be damaged.
! Observe the following points when towing
with a tow rope:
R secure the tow rope on the same side on
both vehicles.
R make sure that the tow rope is not longer
than legally permitted. Mark the tow rope in the middle, e.g. with a white cloth
(30 x 30 cm). This makes other road
users aware that a vehicle is being
towed.
R only secure the tow rope to the towing
eye.
R observe the brake lamps of the towing
vehicle while driving. Always maintain a
distance so that the tow rope does not
sag.
R do not use steel cables or chains to tow
your vehicle. You could otherwise dam-
age the vehicle.
! Do not use the towing eyes for recovery
purposes as this could damage the vehicle.
If in doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
! Pull away smoothly when towing away or
tow-starting a vehicle. If the tractive power
is too high, the vehicles could be damaged.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum of
50km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must not be exceeded.
For towing distances over 50 km, the frontaxle or the entire vehicle must be raised
and transported.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be tow-started. The transmission
may otherwise be damaged.
Observe the legal requirements for the rele-
vant countries when towing and tow-starting.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed. Vehicles with automatic transmission:
when towing a vehicle, the transmission must
be in position N.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2
R vehicles with automatic transmission:
cannot shift the transmission to position N
i Deactivate the automatic locking feature
(Y page 223). You could otherwise be
locked out when pushing or towing the
vehicle.
Deactivate tow-away protection
(Y page 70) before the vehicle is towed. Fitting/removing the towing eye
Fitting the towing eye X
Remove the towing eye from the stowage
space.
The towing eye is located with the vehicle
tool kit under the luggage compartment
floor (Y page 299). Towing and tow-starting
311Breakdown assistance Z

Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit: the towing eye
is located under the tyre inflation compres-
sor.
X Press the mark on cover :inwards in the
direction of the arrow.
X Remove cover :from the opening.
X Screw the towing eye in clockwise to the
stop and tighten it.
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch do not have a bracket for the screw-in towing eye at the
back. If you intend to use the vehicle for tow- ing, fold out the ball coupling (Y page 203)
and secure the towbar to it.
Removing the towing eye X
Loosen the towing eye and unscrew it.
X Attach cover :to the bumper and press
until it engages.
X Place the towing eye in the stowage well
under the luggage compartment floor
(Y page 299).
X Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit: replace the tyre
inflation compressor. Towing the vehicle with the front axle
raised
Only vehicles without 4MATIC can be
towed with the front axle raised.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised; otherwise, the transmission may be damaged.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may either be towed
away with both axles on the ground or be loa-
ded up and transported.
! The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the front axle
raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could other-
wise damage the brake system.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed. X
Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and shift to
neutral.
or
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Deactivate automatic locking (Y page 223).
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 108).
X Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
0 and leave the key in the ignition lock.
When towing your vehicle with the front axle
raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions (Y page 310). Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground G
WARNING
The power assistance for the steering and the brake force booster do not work when the
engine is not running. You will then need
much more effort to brake and steer the vehi-
cle. Adapt your style of driving accordingly.
i In order to signal a change of direction
when towing with the hazard warning lamps switched on, use the combination switch asusual. In this case, only the turn signals for
the desired direction flash. When you reset
the combination switch, the hazard warn-
ing lamps start flashing again. 312
Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance