towing MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2015 Service Manual

Socket in the front centre console
X
Vehicles with a stowage compartment
cover: press the lower section of cover :.
The stowage compartment opens.
X Lift up the cover of socket ;.
Socket in the rear-compartment centre
console X
Pull cover :out by its top edge.
X Lift up the cover of socket ;.
Socket in the luggage compartment X
Lift up the cover of socket :. Mercedes-Benz emergency call sys-
tem
Information on these requirements can be
found in the separate Audio 20 or COMAND
Online operating instructions. X
To open: press cover :briefly.
X To make an emergency call: press SOS
button ;briefly.
The indicator lamp in SOS button ;
flashes until the emergency call is conclu-
ded.
X Wait for a voice connection to the
Mercedes-Benz emergency call centre.
X After the emergency call, close cover :.
You will see a message if:
R a connection to the Mercedes-Benz
emergency call centre cannot be made
R a call has not been automatically forwar-
ded to the public emergency call centre
In this case, dial the 112emergency num-
ber on your mobile phone.
You can find more information on the
Mercedes-Benz emergency call system in the separate Audio 20 or COMAND Online oper-
ating instructions. Features
317Stowing and features Z

Mobile phone
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Operating mobile communications equip-
ment while driving distracts you from paying
attention to traffic conditions. This could also cause you to lose control of the vehicle. There
is a risk of an accident.
Use this device only when the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
You must observe the legal requirements for
the country in which you are currently driving when operating mobile communications
equipment in the vehicle.
If it is permitted by law to operate communi-
cations equipment while the vehicle is in
motion, you may only do so if the traffic sit-
uation permits. You may otherwise be dis-
tracted from the traffic conditions, cause an
accident and injure yourself and others.
Excessive levels of electromagnetic radiation
may cause damage to your health and to the
health of others. The use of an exterior aerial
takes into consideration the scientific discus- sion surrounding the possible health risk
posed by electromagnetic fields.
Mercedes-Benz recommends the use of an
approved exterior aerial. This ensures:
R optimal mobile phone reception quality in
the vehicle
R that mutual interference between the vehi-
cle electronics and mobile phones is mini-
mised
An exterior aerial has the following advan-
tages:
R it conducts the electromagnetic fields gen-
erated by a wireless device to the exterior
R the field strength in the vehicle interior is
lower than in a vehicle that does not have
an exterior aerial
Information on retrofitting two-way radios
and mobile phones (RF transmitters)
(Y page 394). General notes There are various mobile phone brackets that
may be fitted in your vehicle; in some cases,
these are country-specific.
You can connect a Bluetooth ®
-capable
mobile phone with Audio 20 or COMAND
Online via the Bluetooth ®
interface. This also
applies if your vehicle is equipped with con-
venience telephony.
More information on suitable mobile phones,
mobile phone brackets and on connecting
Bluetooth ®
-capable mobile phones with
Audio 20 or COMAND Online can be obtained:
R at your Mercedes-Benz Service Centre
R on the Internet at http://www.mercedes-
benz.com/connect
The functions and services available when
you use the phone depend on your mobile
phone model and service provider.
Using a mobile phone To connect a mobile phone to the exterior
aerial and charge it, insert it into the mobile
phone bracket.
X Open the telephone compartment
(Y page 308).
X Place the mobile phone bracket into the
pre-installed fitting; see the separate instal-
lation instructions for the mobile phone fit-
ting.
X Insert the mobile phone into the mobile
phone bracket; see the separate installa-
tion instructions for the mobile phone fit-
ting.
i The mobile phone can also be operated
without being in the bracket. However, the charging function and aerial function are
not available.
In order to use Bluetooth ®
(SAP profile) on
your telephone module, you must first insert
the telephone module into the pre-installed
fitting. This connects it to the exterior aerial. 318
FeaturesStowing and features

If you wish to charge the mobile phone, then
you must connect it to a USB port.
Further information on the telephone module
with Bluetooth ®
(SAP profile) can be found in
the Digital Owner's Manual.
Operating the mobile phone You can operate the telephone using the
6
and~ buttons on the multifunction
steering wheel. You can operate other mobile
phone functions via the on-board computer
(Y page 246).
When you remove the key from the ignition
lock, the mobile phone is disconnected from
the vehicle. You can then no longer make calls
using the hands-free system.
If a call is active and you remove the key from the ignition lock, the conversation is trans-
ferred over to the mobile phone. It is then
possible to continue the conversation on the
mobile phone.
Mobile phone bracket in the stowage
compartment You can fold the pre-installed bracket up to
improve access to the stowage space
beneath it.
Further information about the stowage com-
partment (Y page 308).
X To fold the bracket up: press button:.
X To fold the bracket down: press the
bracket down and allow it to engage. Floormats
G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell may restrict
the clearance around the pedals or block a
depressed pedal. This jeopardises the oper-
ating and road safety of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Stow all objects securely in the vehicle so that
they do not get into the driver's footwell.
Always fit the floormats securely and as pre-
scribed in order to ensure that there is always sufficient room for the pedals. Do not use
loose floormats and do not place several floor-mats on top of one another. X
Slide the seat backwards.
X To fit: lay the floormat in the footwell.
X Press safety catch knobs :onto retain-
ers ;.
X To remove: pull the floormat away from
retainers ;.
X Remove the floormats. Retrofitted anti-glare film
Retrofitted anti-glare film on the inside of the
windows can interfere with radio/mobile
telephone reception. This is particularly the
case for conductive or metallic-coated films.
You can obtain information about anti-glare
film from a qualified specialist workshop. Features
319Stowing and features Z

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

Useful information
............................338
Where will I find...? ...........................338
Flat tyre ............................................. 340
Battery (vehicle) ................................ 344
Jump-starting .................................... 348
Towing away and tow-starting ........350
Electrical fuses ................................. 355 337Breakdown assistance

X
Remove first-aid kit =.
Check the expiry date on the first-aid kit at
least once a year. Replace the contents if
necessary, and replace any missing items. Fire extinguisher
The fire extinguisher is located underneath
the front of the driver's seat.
X Pull tab :upwards.
X Remove fire extinguisher ;.
Have the fire extinguisher refilled after each
use and checked every one or two years. It
may otherwise fail in an emergency.
Observe the legal requirements for each indi- vidual country. Vehicle tool kit
General notes Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit: the TIREFIT kit is
located in the stowage well under the luggage compartment floor.
Vehicles with a tyre-change tool kit: the tyre-change tool kit is in the stowage well under
the luggage compartment floor.
For vehicles with an emergency spare wheel, see "Removing the emergency spare wheel"
(Y page 390).
i Apart from some country-specific var-
iants, vehicles are not equipped with tyre-
changing tools. Some tools for changing a
wheel are specific to the vehicle. For more information on which tyre changing tools
are required and approved to perform a
wheel change on your vehicle, consult a
qualified specialist workshop.
Necessary tyre-changing tools can include,
for example:
R Jack
R Wheel chock
R Wheel wrench
R Centring pin
Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit :
Tyre inflation compressor
; Tyre sealant filler bottle
= Towing eye
X Open the tailgate.
X Lift the luggage compartment floor
upwards (Y page 312).
X Use the TIREFIT kit (Y page 341).
Vehicles with a tyre-change tool kit X
Open the tailgate.
X Lift the luggage compartment floor
upwards (Y page 312).
X Remove the tyre-change tool kit.
The tyre-change tool kit contains:
R Jack
R Wheel wrench
R One pair of gloves
R Folding wheel chock Where will I find.
..?
339Breakdo wn assis tance

X
Start the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.
X Connect negative terminal ?of donor battery Bto earth point Aof your vehicle using the
jump lead, connecting the jump lead to donor battery Bfirst.
X 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.
X Start the engine.
X Before disconnecting the jump leads, let the engines run for several minutes.
X First, remove the jump leads from earth point Aand negative terminal ?, then from pos-
itive clamp ;and positive terminal =. Begin each time at the contacts on your own vehicle
first.
X Close cover :of positive clamp ;after removing the jump leads.
X Close the bonnet.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
i Jump-starting is not considered to be a normal operating condition.
i Jump-starting cables and further information regarding jump starting can be obtained at
any qualified specialist workshop. Towing away and tow-starting
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Safety relevant functions are restricted or no
longer available if:
R the engine is not running
R the brake system or power steering is mal-
functioning
R there is a malfunction in the voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system
When your vehicle is towed away or towed
started, you may require considerably more
effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such cases use a rigid towing bar. Before
being towed away or tow started, make sure
the steering moves freely. G
WARNING
If the steering wheel lock is engaged, the vehi- cle can no longer be steered. There is a risk of
an accident.
Always switch on the ignition when towing
with a tow rope or a towing bar. G
WARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible gross weight of your vehicle, the:
R towing eye may be torn off
R car/trailer combination may swerve or
even overturn
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per- missible gross weight of your vehicle.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle
weight of your vehicle can be found on the
vehicle identification plate (Y page 396).
! When COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS, DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD func- tion is activated, the vehicle brakes auto-
matically in certain situations. To avoid
damage to the vehicle, deactivate these
systems in the following or similar situa-
tions:
R when towing away
R in a car wash 350
Towing away and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

!
Make sure that the electric parking brake
is released. If the electric parking brake is
faulty, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
! Only secure the tow cable or tow bar to
the towing eyes or, if available, to the trailer
tow hitch. You could otherwise damage the
vehicle.
! 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 will make other road
users aware that a vehicle is being
towed.
R Only secure the tow cable to the towing
eyes or, if available, to the trailer tow
hitch.
R Observe the brake lamps of the towing
vehicle while driving. Always maintain a
distance 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 front
axle or the entire vehicle must be raised
and transported.
! To tow vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use
the key instead of the Start/Stop button.
The automatic transmission may otherwise switch to position Pwhen you open the driver's or front-passenger door which
could damage the transmission.
! 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.
If the vehicle can no longer be driven because
of an accident or breakdown, you have the
following options:
R transporting the vehicle
As a rule, you should have the vehicle trans-
ported.
R towing the vehicle with a tow rope or tow
bar
Only tow the vehicle in exceptional cases.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the key to position 2in the
ignition lock
R cannot release the electric parking brake
R cannot shift the transmission to position N
on vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion
The function of the electric parking brake and
the parking lock is dependent on the on-board voltage.
If the on-board voltage is low or if there is a
system malfunction:
R it may not be possible to apply the released
parking brake or
R it may not be possible to shift the trans-
mission to position P
Switch off non-essential consumers, e.g. the
radio.
Deactivate the automatic locking feature
before towing the vehicle (Y page 251). You
could otherwise be locked out when pushing
or towing the vehicle.
Deactivate tow-away protection before tow-
ing away the vehicle (Y page 79). Towing away and tow-starting
351Breakdown assistance Z

Fitting/removing the towing eye
Fitting the towing eye The mountings for the removable towing eyes
are located in the bumpers. They are at the
rear and at the front, under covers :.
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 339).
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 in the towing eye clockwise to the
stop.
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch only have a
bracket at the front for the screw-in towing
eye. If you intend to use the vehicle for tow-
ing, fold out the ball coupling (Y page 232)
and secure the towbar to it. Removing the towing eye X
Loosen the towing eye and unscrew it.
X Position cover :on top of the opening in
the bumper and press it in at the bottom
until it engages.
X Place the towing eye in the stowage well
under the luggage compartment floor
(Y page 339).
X Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit: replace the tyre
inflation compressor. Towing the vehicle with the front axle
raised
When towing your vehicle with the front axle
raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions (Y page 350).
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 On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO or the
KEYLESS-GO start function: you must
use the key instead of the Start/Stop but-
ton (Y page 159).
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed. 352
Towing away and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

X
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P.
or X Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and engage
neutral.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Deactivate tow-away protection
(Y page 79).
X Deactivate automatic locking (Y page 251).
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 123).
X Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
0 and leave the key in the ignition lock. Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(Y page 350).
X On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO or the
KEYLESS-GO start function: you must
use the key instead of the Start/Stop but-
ton (Y page 159).
Vehicles with automatic transmission: the
automatic transmission automatically shifts
to position Pwhen you open the driver's or
front-passenger door or when you remove the
key from the ignition lock. In order to ensure that the automatic transmission stays in posi- tion Nwhen towing away the vehicle, you
must observe the following points:
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N. Vehicles with manual transmission:
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 Depress the clutch pedal fully and shift to
neutral.
Vehicles with manual or automatic trans-
mission:
X Leave the key in position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 123).
i In order to signal a change of direction
when towing the vehicle with the hazard
warning lamps switched on, use the com-
bination switch as usual. In this case, only
the turn signals for the desired direction
flash. When you reset the combination
switch, the hazard warning lamps start
flashing again. Transporting the vehicle
4MATIC vehicles/vehicles with auto-
matic transmission !
When the vehicle is loaded for transport,
the front and rear axles must be stationary
and on the same transportation vehicle.
Positioning over the connection point of the Towing away and tow-starting
353Breakdown assistance Z