ESP MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2015 Owners Manual

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ÷
The yellow ESP
®
warn-
ing lamp flashes while
the vehicle is in motion. ESP
®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of
skidding or at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when
pulling away.
X Accelerate more gently while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
In rare cases (Y page 75) it may be best to deactivate ESP ®
.
Observe the important safety notes on ESP ®
(Y page 73). å
The yellow ESP
®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while the engine is running. ESP
®
is deactivated. ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehicle if it starts
to skid or if a wheel starts to spin.
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is deactivated, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
Further driving systems or driving safety systems are thus restric- ted.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
In rare cases (Y page 75) it may be best to deactivate ESP ®
.
Observe the important safety notes on ESP ®
(Y page 73).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Drive on carefully.
X Contact a qualified specialist workshop and have ESP ®
checked. M
Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles only:
The yellow SPORT han-
dling mode warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. SPORT handling mode is activated.
G WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated, ESP ®
is unable to sta-
bilise the vehicle.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
X Only switch to SPORT handling mode in accordance with the
conditions described in the "Activating/deactivating ESP ®
" sec-
tion (Y page 75). 298
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer/Displays

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ֌
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. ESP
®
,ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, BAS, COLLISION PREVENTION
ASSIST PLUS, the HOLD function, hill start assist, the adaptive
brake lights and PRE ‑SAFE®
are not available due to a malfunction.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions listed above.
The braking distance may thus increase in an emergency braking
situation.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. ֌
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. ESP
®
, ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, BAS, the HOLD function, hill start
assist and PRE-SAFE ®
are temporarily unavailable.
The adaptive brake lights and COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS may also have failed.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
Self-diagnosis is not yet complete
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions listed above.
The braking distance may thus increase in an emergency braking
situation.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
X Carefully drive on a suitable stretch of road, making slight steer-
ing movements at a speed above 20 km/h.
The functions mentioned above are available again when the
warning lamp goes out.
If the warning lamp is still on:
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
299On-board computer/Displays Z

Tyres
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions h
The yellow tyre pres-
sure monitor warning
lamp (pressure loss/
malfunction) is lit.
The tyre pressure monitor has detected a loss of pressure in at
least one of the tyres.
G WARNING
Underinflated tyres pose the following risks:
R the tyres may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed
increase
R the tyres may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may
greatly impair tyre traction
R the driving characteristics, as well as steering and braking, may
be greatly impaired
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 184).
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Check the tyres and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a
flat tyre (Y page 340).
X Check the tyre pressure (Y page 364).
X If necessary, correct the tyre pressure. h
The yellow tyre pres-
sure monitor warning
lamp (pressure loss/
malfunction) flashes for
approximately one
minute and then
remains lit. The tyre pressure monitor is faulty.
G WARNING
The system is possibly unable to detect or register low tyre pres-
sure.
There is a risk of an accident. X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 304
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer/
Displays

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). Loading guidelines
G
WARNING
If objects, luggage or loads are not secured or not secured sufficiently, they could slip, tip
over or be flung around and thereby hit vehicle
occupants. There is a risk of injury, especially when braking or abruptly changing directions.
Always store objects so that they cannot be
flung around. Secure objects, luggage or
loads against slipping or tipping before the
journey. G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. If the tailgate is open when the engine is running, particu-
larly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust fumes
could enter the passenger compartment.
There is a risk of poisoning.
Turn off the engine before opening the tail-
gate. Never drive with the tailgate open. G
WARNING
The exhaust tail pipe and tail pipe trim can
become very hot. If you come into contact
with these parts of the vehicle, you could burn
yourself. There is a risk of injury.
Always be particularly careful around the
exhaust tail pipe and the tail pipe trim. Allow
these components to cool down before touch-
ing them. The handling characteristics of a laden vehi-
cle are dependent on the distribution of the
load within the vehicle. For this reason, you
should observe the following notes when
transporting a load:
R never exceed the maximum permissible
gross vehicle weight or the permissible axle
loads for the vehicle (including occupants).
R the luggage compartment is the preferred
place to carry objects.
R position heavy loads as far forwards as pos-
sible and as low down in the load compart-ment as possible.
R the load must not protrude above the upper
edge of the seat backrests.
R always place the load against the rear or
front seat backrests. Make sure that the
seat backrests are securely locked into
place.
R always place the load behind unoccupied
seats if possible.
R use the lashing eyelets and the luggage
nets to transport loads and luggage.
R only use lashing eyelets and fastening com-
ponents that are suitable for the weight and size of the load.
R the maximum load capacity of the stowage
well under the luggage compartment floor
is 25 kg.
R secure the load with sufficiently strong and
wear-resistant lashing material. pad sharp
edges for protection.
! 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. Place a
solid board under the load if necessary.
Please note that the load on the luggage
compartment floor will be increased when
the load is lashed down. 306
Loading guidelinesStowing and features

wards, e.g. when braking suddenly or in the
event of an accident.
R The vehicle occupant would thereby be
pushed into the seat belt by the rear bench
seat/rear seat or by the seat backrest. The
seat belt cannot protect as intended and
could result in additional injury.
R Objects or loads in the boot/luggage com-
partment cannot be restrained by the seat
backrest.
This poses an increased risk of injury.
Before every trip, make sure that the seat
backrests and the rear bench seat/rear seat
are engaged before every trip.
! Before folding the backrest in the rear
compartment forwards, make sure that the rear compartment armrest and the
cupholder are folded in. They may other-
wise be damaged.
Observe the loading guidelines (Y page 306).
The left-hand and right-hand rear seat backr-
ests can be folded forwards separately to
increase the luggage compartment capacity.
Folding the rear seat backrest forwardsand back Folding the rear seat backrest forward
X
If necessary, press the backrest head
restraints down fully (Y page 110).
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary. X
Pull left-hand or right-hand release han-
dle ;of the seat backrest forwards.
The corresponding seat backrest :is
released.
X Fold backrest :forwards.
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary. X
Insert the seat belt into seat-belt holder :.
Folding the rear seat backrest back
! Make sure that the seat belt does not
become trapped when folding the rear seat backrest back. Otherwise, it could be dam- aged. X
Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
X Fold seat backrest :back until it engages.
Red lock status indicator ;is no longer
visible.
X Adjust the head restraints if necessary
(Y page 110).
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary. 310
Stowage areasStowing and features

Stowage well under the luggage com-
partment floor
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you drive when the luggage compartment
floor is open, objects could be flung around,
thus striking vehicle occupants. There is a risk of injury, especially when braking or abruptly
changing directions.
Always close the luggage compartment floor
before a journey.
! The maximum load capacity of the stow-
age well under the luggage compartment
floor is 25 kg.
Under the luggage compartment floor you
can find a bracket for TIREFIT and the vehicle tool kit, etc.
Opening/closing the luggage compart-
ment floor X
To open: open the tailgate.
X Holding ribbing ;, press handle :down-
wards.
Handle :folds upwards.
X Swing the luggage compartment floor
upwards using handle :until it rests
against the luggage compartment cover.
X If a parcel shelf is fitted: hook the loop on
the luggage compartment floor into the
hook on the underside of the parcel shelf. X
If the parcel shelf is not fitted: fold out
hook =on the underside of the luggage
compartment floor.
X Fold out hook =on the underside of the
luggage compartment floor. X
Attach hook =to the luggage compart-
ment's upper seal ?.
X To close (if a parcel shelf is fitted):
unhook the loop from the hook on the
underside of the parcel shelf.
X If the parcel shelf is not fitted : detach
hook =from upper seal ?.
X Fasten hook =to the bracket on the
underside of the luggage compartment
floor.
X Fold the luggage compartment floor down.
X Press the luggage compartment floor down
until it engages. 312
Stowage areasStowing and features

Driving abroad
An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network
is also available in other countries. You can
obtain further information from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Care
General notes
H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man-
ner.
! For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any
of the following:
R dry, rough or hard cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective
films with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces and protective film.
! Do not park up the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after clean-
ing. Braking heats the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings, thus drying them. The
vehicle can then be parked up.
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. Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
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.
! When DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD
function is activated, the vehicle brakes
automatically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or similar situations:
R when towing away
R in a 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. Care
329Maintenance and care Z

X
Clean sensors :of the driving systems
with water, car shampoo and a soft cloth.
Cleaning the reversing camera !
Do not clean the camera lens and the area
around the reversing camera with a high-
pressure cleaner. X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
that the key is in position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Open the camera cover for cleaning using
COMAND Online or Audio 20 (see separate
operating instructions).
X To clean the reversing camera: use clean
water and a soft cloth to clean camera
lens :. Cleaning the exhaust tail pipes G
WARNING
The exhaust tail pipe and tail pipe trim can
become very hot. If you come into contact
with these parts of the vehicle, you could burn
yourself. There is a risk of injury.
Always be particularly careful around the
exhaust tail pipe and the tail pipe trim. Allow
these components to cool down before touch-
ing them.
! Do not clean the exhaust pipe with acid-
based cleaning agents, such as sanitary
cleanser or wheel cleaner.
! Mercedes-AMG vehicles with black
exhaust pipes: the black-chrome tailpipe
finishers should not be polished with a
chrome polish. They will otherwise lose
their black sheen. For optimal care, the fin- ishers should be rubbed with a lightly oiled
cloth after every car wash. Commercially
available engine and care oils are suitable
for this.
For heavier soiling, you can apply a fine
paintwork polish with a microfibre cloth.
Remove the excess polish residue after pol- ishing.
Impurities combined with the effects of road
grit and corrosive environmental factors may cause flash rust to form on the surface. You
can restore the original shine of the exhaust
pipe by cleaning it regularly, especially in win- ter and after washing the vehicle.
X Clean the exhaust pipe with a care product
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning the trailer tow hitch H
Environmental note
Dispose of oily and greasy cloths in an envi-
ronmentally-responsible manner.
! Do not clean the ball coupling with a high-
pressure cleaner. Do not use solvents. Care
333Maintenance and care Z

In addition to the vehicle load, the driving dis-
tance possible depends upon:
R vehicle speed
R road condition
R outside temperature
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode may be reduced by extreme driving condi-
tions/manoeuvres, or it can be increased
through a moderate style of driving.
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode
is counted from the moment the tyre pressure loss warning appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
You must not exceed a maximum speed of
80 km/h.
When replacing one or all tyres, observe the
following specifications for your vehicle's
tyres:
R size
R type and
R the "MOExtended" mark.
If a tyre has gone flat and cannot be replaced
with an MOExtended tyre, a standard tyre
may be used as a temporary measure. Make
sure that you use the proper size and type
(summer or winter tyre).
Vehicles with MOExtended tyres are not
equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the factory. It is therefore recommended that you additionally
equip your vehicle with a TIREFIT kit if you fit tyres that do not feature run-flat characteris- tics, e.g. winter tyres. A TIREFIT kit can be
obtained from a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When driving in emergency mode, the driving characteristics deteriorate, e.g. when corner-
ing, accelerating quickly and when braking.
There is a risk of accident.
Do not exceed the stated maximum speed.
Avoid abrupt steering and driving manoeu-
vres, and driving over obstacles (kerbs, pot- holes, off-road). This applies in particular to a
laden vehicle.
Stop driving in emergency mode if:
R you hear banging noises.
R the vehicle starts to shake.
R you see smoke and smell rubber.
R ESP ®
is intervening constantly.
R there are tears in the sidewalls of the tyre.
After driving in emergency mode, have the
wheel rims checked at a qualified specialist
workshop with regard to their further use. The faulty tyre must be replaced. TIREFIT kit
Important safety notes TIREFIT is a tyre sealant.
You can use TIREFIT to seal punctures of up to
4 mm, particularly those in the tyre tread. You
can use TIREFIT at outside temperatures
down to Ò20 †. G
WARNING
In the following situations, the tyre sealant is
unable to provide sufficient breakdown assis- tance, as it is unable to seal the tyre properly:
R there are cuts or punctures in the tyre
larger than those mentioned above.
R the wheel rim is damaged.
R you have driven at very low tyre pressures
or on a flat tyre.
There is a risk of an accident.
Do not drive any further. Contact a qualified
specialist workshop. G
WARNING
The tyre sealant is harmful and causes irrita-
tion. It must not come into contact with your
skin, eyes or clothing or be swallowed. Do not inhale TIREFIT fumes. Keep tyre sealant away
from children. There is a risk of injury. Flat tyre
341Breakdown assistance
Z

G
WARNING
Work carried out incorrectly on the battery
can lead, for example, to a short circuit and
thus damage the vehicle electronics. This can lead to function restrictions applying to
safety-relevant systems, e.g the lighting sys-
tem, the ABS (anti-lock braking system) or the
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program). The oper-
ating safety of your vehicle may be restricted.
You could lose control of the vehicle, for
example:
R when braking
R in the event of abrupt steering manoeuvres
and/or when the vehicle's speed is not
adapted to the road conditions
There is a risk of an accident.
In the event of a short circuit or a similar inci- dent, contact a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. Do not drive any further. Always have work on the battery carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Further information about ABS (Y page 69)
and ESP ®
(Y page 73). G
WARNING
Electrostatic build-up can lead to the creation of sparks, which could ignite the highly explo-
sive gases of a battery. There is a risk of an
explosion.
Before handling the battery, touch the vehicle body to remove any existing electrostatic
build-up.
The highly flammable gas mixture is created
while the battery is charging and when jump-
starting.
Always make sure that neither you nor the
battery is electrostatically charged. Electro-
static charge is created, for example:
R by wearing synthetic fibre clothing
R by friction between clothing and the seat
R when you pull or push the battery across
carpet or other synthetic materials
R when you rub 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 breathe in any battery gases. Do not
lean over the battery. Keep the batteries out
of the reach of children. Immediately rinse off
battery acid thoroughly with plenty of clean
water and seek medical attention at once. 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- Battery (vehicle)
345Breakdown assistance
Z