trailer MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2015 Service Manual

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. ABS is temporarily unavailable. Therefore, BAS, COLLISION PRE-
VENTION ASSIST PLUS, ESP
®
, ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, EBD
(electronic brake force distribution), the HOLD function, hill start
assist, the adaptive brake lights and PRE ‑SAFE®
, for example, are
also deactivated.
Possible causes:
R Self-diagnosis is not yet complete
R The on-board voltage may be insufficient.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock, for example, if you brake hard.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely affec-ted. The braking distance may increase in an emergency braking
situation.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
There is a 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. 296
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer/Displays

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. A
warning tone also
sounds. EBD is faulty. Therefore, ABS, BAS, COLLISION PREVENTION
ASSIST PLUS, ESP
®
, ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, the HOLD function,
hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights and PRE ‑SAFE®
, for
example, are also not available.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock, for example, if you brake hard.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely affec-ted. The braking distance may 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. !֌J
The red brake system
warning lamp and the
yellow ABS, ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
drive system is running. ABS and ESP
®
are malfunctioning. Therefore, BAS, COLLISION
PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, EBD, PRE ‑SAFE®
, the HOLD function,
hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabili-
sation, for example, are also not available.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock, for example, if you brake hard.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely affec-ted. The braking distance may 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. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
297On-board computer/Displays Z

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

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

!
Please note the care instructions in the
trailer coupling manufacturer's operating
instructions. X
Remove rust, e.g. with a wire brush.
X Remove dirt with a clean, lint-free cloth or a
brush.
X After cleaning, lightly oil or grease ball cou-
pling :.
X Check that the vehicle's trailer tow hitch is
working properly.
i You can also have the maintenance work
on the ball coupling and the trailer tow hitch
carried out by a qualified specialist work-
shop. Interior care
Cleaning the display !
For cleaning, do not use any of the fol-
lowing:
R alcohol-based thinner or petrol
R abrasive cleaning agents
R commercially-available household clean-
ing agents
These may damage the display surface. Do not put pressure on the display surface
when cleaning. This could lead to irrepara-
ble damage to the display. X
Before cleaning the display, make sure that
it is switched off and has cooled down.
X Clean the display surface using a commer-
cially available microfibre cloth and
TFT/LCD display cleaner.
X Dry the display surface using a dry micro-
fibre cloth.
Cleaning the plastic trim G
WARNING
Care products and cleaning agents containing solvents can cause surfaces in the cockpit to
become porous. This could result in plastic
parts breaking away when the airbags are
deployed. There is a danger of injury.
Do not use care products and cleaning agents containing solvents to clean the cockpit.
! Do not affix the following to plastic surfa-
ces:
R stickers
R films
R scented oil bottles or similar items
You could otherwise damage the plastic.
! Do not allow cosmetics, insect repellent
or sunscreen to come in contact with the
plastic trim. This maintains the high-quality look of the surfaces.
X Wipe the plastic trim with a damp, lint-free
cloth, e.g. a microfibre cloth.
X Heavy soiling: use car care and cleaning
products recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
The surface may change colour tempora-
rily. Wait until the surface is dry again.
Cleaning the steering wheel and gear or selector lever X
Thoroughly wipe with a damp cloth or use
leather care agents that have been recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz. 334
CareMaintenance and care

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

transport vehicle is not permitted. The drive
train may otherwise be damaged.
All vehicles !
You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as axle or steering components. Otherwise,
the vehicle could be damaged.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and engage
neutral.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 157).
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 157).
X Shift the transmission to position N.
As soon as the vehicle is loaded: X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and engage
first or reverse gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position P.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock and remove it.
X Secure the vehicle.
The towing eyes or trailer tow hitch can be
used to pull the vehicle onto a trailer or trans- porter if you wish to transport it. Notes for 4MATIC vehicles
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised; otherwise, the transmission may be damaged.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may only be either
towed away with both axles on the ground or be loaded up and transported.
If the vehicle has transmission damage or
damage to the front or rear axle, have it trans-
ported on a transporter or trailer. In the event of damage to the electrical
system:
If the battery is defective, the automatic
transmission will be locked in position P. To
shift the automatic transmission to position
N, you must provide power to the vehicle's
electrical system in the same way as when
jump-starting (Y page 348).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter
or trailer. Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
! Do not tow-start vehicles with automatic
transmission. You could otherwise damage the automatic transmission.
i You can find information on "Jump-start-
ing" under (Y page 348).
Before tow-starting, the following conditions
must be fulfilled: R the battery is connected
R the engine has cooled down
R the exhaust system has cooled down
When tow-starting, it is important that you
observe the safety notes (Y page 350)and the
legal requirements in each respective coun-
try.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 123).
X Fit the towing eye (Y page 352).
X Secure the rigid towing bar or the towing
rope.
X When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 157).
X Depress the clutch pedal fully, engage sec-
ond gear and continue to keep the clutch
pedal fully depressed.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Tow-start the vehicle. 354
Towing away and tow-startingBreakdo
wn assis tance

Tyre pressure
Tyre pressure specifications
G
WARNING
Underinflated or overinflated 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 steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Observe the recommended tyre pressure and check the tyre pressure of all the tyres includ-
ing the spare wheel:
R at least every two weeks
R when the load changes
R before embarking on a longer journey
R for changed operating conditions, e.g. off-
road driving
If necessary, correct the tyre pressure. 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.
The recommended tyre pressures for various
operating conditions can be found in the tyre pressure table on the fuel filler flap
(Y page 181).
Operation with an emergency spare
wheel: information on operation with an
emergency spare wheel can be found in the
general notes in the "Emergency spare wheel"
section (Y page 390).
Operation with a trailer: the applicable
value for the rear axle is the maximum tyre
pressure value stated in the table inside the
fuel filler flap.
Additionally, the tyre pressure table may also state tyre pressures for different load condi-
tions. These are defined in the table as dif-
ferent numbers of passengers and amounts
of luggage. The actual number of seats may
vary; for more information, please refer to the
vehicle's registration documents.
If tyre sizes are not specified, the tyre pres-
sures stated on the tyre pressure table apply for all tyres approved for this vehicle. 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 tyre362
Tyre pressureWheels and tyres