brake MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2018 Owner's Manual

speed and
the transmission is in position h
or k.
% Tomanoeuvre with an open driver's door,
open the driver's door while stationary and
engage transmission position hork
again.
% Atvery low outside temp eratures from
appr ox. -20°C you may not be able toshift
th e transmission from jtoano ther trans‐
mission position when the engine is
switched off. If this is the case, only change
th e transmission position while the engine is
ru nning.
En gaging drive position D #
Depress the brake pedal and push the
DIRECT SELECT le ver down past thefirst
point of resis tance.
The transmission position displ aysho wsh
in the multifunction displa y.
When the automatic transmission is in transmis‐
sion position h, it shiftsthege ars automati‐
call y.This depends on thefo llowing factors:
R the selected drive prog ram R
the position of the accelera tor pedal
R the driving speed Manual
gearshifting &
WARNING Risk of skidding and of an
accident due toshifting down on slippery
ro ad sur faces
If yo u shift down on slippery road sur faces to
inc rease the engine braking ef fect, the drive
wheels may lose traction. #
Do not shift down on slippery road sur‐
fa ces toinc rease the engine braking
ef fect. When
the automatic transmission is shif tedto
position h,you can manually shift it with the
st eering wheel gearshift paddle. If permit ted, the
automatic transmission shifts tothe next gear
up or down depending on thesteering wheel
ge arshift paddle being pulled.
Yo u ha vetwo options tomanually shift the auto‐
matic transmission:
R temp orary setting
R permanent setting
The gears shift automatically when manual gear‐
shifting is deactivated. 16 6
Driving and pa rking

R
you are no lon ger depressing the accelerator
or brake pedal.
% Glide mode can also be activated if you ha ve
selected the "Eco" setting forth e drive in the
drive prog ram =.
Glide mode is deactivated again if one of the
conditions is no longer met.
Ve hicles with Driving Assistance Package,
Ac tive Di stance Assist DISTRO NIC orActive Brake Assi
st:Glide mode is not acti vated if one
of these sy stems is active.
Glide mode can also be pr evented bythefo llow‐
ing parame ters:
R incline
R downhill gradient
R temp erature
R height R
speed
R operating status of the engine
% Glide mode can be ended bypressing the
ri ght-hand steering wheel gearshift paddle
(→ page 166). Problems with th
e transmissionProblem
Possible causes/consequences and M
MSolutions
The transmission has problems shifting
ge ar. The transmission is losing oil. #
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop immediatel y.
The acceleration characteristics are
de teriorating.
The transmission no longer shifts gear. The transmission is in emer
gency operation mode. #
Pull over and stop theve hicle, paying attention toroad and traf fic conditions. #
Switch the transmission toposition j. #
Switch off the engine. #
Wait at least ten seconds be fore re starting the engine. #
Switch the transmission toposition h. 16 8
Driving and pa rking

#
Unscr ew and close disposable hose 1and
Ad Blue ®
re fill canis ter2 inreve rse order. #
Replace theAd Blue ®
fuel filler cap and turn it
clockwise. #
Close the fuel filler flap. #
Swit chon the ignition for at least 60 sec‐
onds.
% Ifth eve hicle could not be star ted as the
Ad Blue ®
tan kwa s em pty, it can take up to
60 seconds forth ere fill to be de tected. #
Start theve hicle.
% Avoid storing AdBlue ®
re fill con tainers per‐
manently in theve hicle. Pa
rking Pa
rking theve hicle &
WARNING Risk of accident and inju ry
caused byan insuf ficiently secu redve hi‐
cle rolling away.
If th eve hicle is not securely par ked suf fi‐
ciently, it can rollaw ay in an uncont rolled
wa yev en at a slight downhill gradient. #
Ensure that the par kedve hicle is alw ays
properly secured against rolling away as
fo llo ws:
R on uphill or downhill gradients, turn
the front wheels so that theve hicle
ro lls towa rdsth eke rb if it starts
moving.
R apply the parking brake.
R vehicles with automatic transmis‐
sion: shift the transmission toposi‐
tion j.
R vehicles with manual transmission:
engage firs t1 orreve rsege ar k. &
WARNING Risk offire caused byhot
ex haust sy stem parts
Flammable material such as lea ves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact
wi th hot parts of theex haust sy stem or
ex haust gasflow. #
Park theve hicle so that no flammable
material can come into con tact wi thhot
ve hicle components. #
In particular, do not park on dry grass‐
land or har vested grain fields. &
WARNING Risk of accident and inju ry
due tochildren left unat tended in the
ve hicle
If yo u lea vechildren unat tended in theve hi‐
cle, they may be able toset theve hicle in
motion, forex ample by:
R releasing the parking brake. Driving and parking
175

R
shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position jor shifting manual trans‐
mission into idle position.
R starting the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip‐
ment and become trapped. #
Never lea vechildren unat tended in the
ve hicle. #
When leaving theve hicle, alw aysta ke
th eke y with you and lock theve hicle. *
NO
TEDama getotheve hicle due toit
ro lling away #
Alw ays secure theve hicle against roll‐
ing away. #
Bring theve hicle toast andstill byapplying
th e brake pedal. #
On uphill or downhill gradients, turn the front
wheels so that theve hicle rolls towa rdsthe
ke rb if it starts moving. #
App lythe electric parking brake. #
Vehicles with manual transmission:
engage firs t1 orreve rsege ar k. #
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
engage transmission position jin a station‐
ary vehicle with the brake pedal applied
(→ page 165). #
Switch off the engine and the ignition by
pressing the1 button. #
Release the service brake slowl y. #
Get out of theve hicle and lock it.
% When you park theve hicle, you can still
opera tethe side windo wsand the panoramic
sliding sunroof for appro ximately five
minutes if the driver's door is closed. Garage door opener
Prog
ramming buttons for the garage door
opener &
DANG ER Risk of fata l injuries due to
ex haust gases
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
ga ses such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
th ese exhaust gases is hazardous tohealth
and can lead topoisoning. 176
Driving and pa rking

Electric pa
rking brake Electric parking brake function (app
lying
automatically) &
WARNING Risk of accident and inju ry
due tochildren left unat tended in the
ve hicle
If yo u lea vechildren unat tended in theve hi‐
cle, they may be able toset theve hicle in
motion, forex ample by:
R releasing the parking brake.
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position jor shifting manual trans‐
mission into idle position.
R starting the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip‐
ment and become trapped. #
Never lea vechildren and animals unat‐
te nded in theve hicle. #
When leaving theve hicle, alw aysta ke
th eke y with you and lock theve hicle.
This also applies tothe digital vehicle ke
y if the "Digital Vehicle Key" function
is activated via Mercedes me connect. Ve
hicles with manual transmission:
When theve hicle comes toast andstill, the elec‐
tric parking brake is applied if one of thefo llow‐
ing conditions is fulfilled:
R The engine is switched off.
R The driver's door is opened.
The elect ric pa rking brake is also applied while
th eve hicle is kept stationary bythe HOLD func‐
tion if one of thefo llowing conditions is fulfilled:
R The engine is switched off.
R The seat belt tongue is not inser ted in the
seat belt buckle of the driver's seat and the
driver's door is opened.
R There is a sy stem malfunction.
R The po wer supp lyis insuf ficient.
R The vehicle is stationary for a lengt hyperiod.
When the electric parking brake is applied, the
re d! indicator lamp appears in the instru‐
ment clus ter. If
th e electric parking brake is not applied when
th e driver's door is opened, theRisk of vehicle
rolling away Apply parking brake See Owner's
Manual message appears.
The electric parking brake is not automatically
applied if the engine is switched off bythe ECO
st art/ stop function.
% Toprev ent application: pull the handle of the
electric parking brake.
Ve hicles with automatic transmission:
The electric parking brake is applied if the trans‐
mission is in position jand one of thefo llow‐
ing conditions is fulfilled:
R The engine is switched off.
R The seat belt tongue is not inser ted in the
seat belt buckle of the driver's seat and the
driver's door is opened.
% Toprev ent application: pull the handle of the
electric parking brake.
In thefo llowing situations, the electric parking
brake is also applied:
R Active Dis tance Assi stDISTRONIC is bringing
th eve hicle toast andstill. Driving and parking
181

R
The HOLD function is keeping theve hicle sta‐
tionar y.
R Active Parking Assist is keeping theve hicle
st ationar y.
This is the case if one of thefo llowing conditions
is also fulfilled:
R The engine is switched off.
R The seat belt tongue is not inser ted in the
seat belt buckle of the driver's seat and the
driver's door is opened.
R There is a sy stem malfunction.
R The po wer supp lyis insuf ficient.
R The vehicle is stationary for a lengt hyperiod.
When the electric parking brake is applied, the
re d! indicator lamp appears in the instru‐
ment clus ter.
The electric parking brake is not automatically
applied if the engine is switched off bythe ECO
st art/ stop function.
Electric parking brake function (releasing
automatically)
Ve hicles with manual transmission: The electric parking brake is
released when the
fo llowing conditions are fulfilled:
R The driver's door is closed.
R The engine is running.
R Age ar has been selec ted, youre lease the
clutch pedal and dep ress the accelera tor
pedal.
or R You apply the brakes and shift from neutral
i into reve rsege ar k or a forw ard gear
(1 -6) when on le velground.
% Inreve rsege ar k, theta ilgate must also be
closed.
When the electric parking brake is released, the
re d! indicator lamp in the instrument clus‐
te r goes out.
Ve hicles with automatic transmission:
The electric parking brake is released when the
fo llowing conditions are fulfilled:
R The engine is running.
R The seat belt tongue is inser ted into the seat
belt buckle of the driver's seat. R
The transmission is in position hork and
yo u depress the accelera tor pedal or you
shift from transmission position jtoh or
k.
R Ifth e transmission is in position k,theta il‐
gate must be closed.
If th e seat belt tongue is not inser ted into the
seat belt buckle of the driver's seat, thefo llow‐
ing conditions must be fulfilled:
R The driver's door is closed.
R You mo vethe transmission out of transmis‐
sion position joryou ha veprev iously
driven fasterthan 3 km/h.
R Ifth e transmission is in position k,theta il‐
gate must be closed.
When the electric parking brake is released, the
re d! indicator lamp in the instrument clus‐
te r goes out. 18 2
Driving and pa rking

App
lying/releasing the electric pa rking
brake manually
Applying #
Push handle 1.
The red! indicator lamp appears in the
instrument clus ter. %
The electric parking brake is only securely
applied if the indicator lamp is lit continu‐
ously.
Re leasing #
Swit chthe ignition on. #
Pull handle 1.
The red! indicator lamp in the instru‐
ment clus ter goes out.
Emer gency braking #
Press and hold handle 1.
When theve hicle has been braked to a
st andstill, the electric parking brake is
applied. The red! indicator lamp appears
in the instrument clus ter. Information on de
tecting dama geon a
pa rked vehicle If a collision is de
tected when theto w- aw ay pro‐
te ction is primed on a loc kedve hicle, you will
re cei vea notification in the multimedia sy stem
when you swit chon the ignition. Yo
u will recei veinformation about thefo llowing
points:
R The area of theve hicle that may ha vebeen
damaged.
R The forc e of the impact.
The following situations can lead toinadver tent
acti vation:
R The pa rked vehicle is mo ved, e.g. in a two-
st or ey garage.
% Deactivate tow- aw ay protection in order to
pr eve nt inadver tent acti vation. If you deacti‐
va te tow- aw ay protection, damage de tection
will also be deactivated.
Sy stem limitations
De tection may be restricted in thefo llowing sit‐
uations:
R The vehicle is damaged without impact, e.g.
if an outside mir ror is torn off or the paint is
damaged byakey.
R Impact occurs at low speed.
R The electric parking brake is not applied. Driving and parking
18 3

Fu
nction of thera dar senso rs Some driving and driving sa
fety sy stems use
ra dar sensors tomonitor the area in front of,
behind or next totheve hicle (depending on the
ve hicle's equipment).
Depending on theve hicle's equipment, thera dar
sensors are integrated behind the bumpers
and/or behind the Mercedes star. Keep these
parts free of dirt, ice and slush (→ page 432).
The sensors must not be co vered, forex ample
by cycle rack s, ove rhanging loads, sticke rs,fo il
or foils toprotect against stone chipping. In the
eve nt of dama getothe bumpers or radiator
grille, or following a collision impacting the
bumpers or radiator grille, ha vethe function of
th era dar sensors checked at a qualified special‐
ist workshop. The driver assis tance sy stem may
no longer workproper ly. Overview of driving sy
stems and driving
saf ety sy stems In
this section, you will find information about
th efo llowing driving sy stems and driving saf ety
sy stems:
R 360° Camera (→ page 221)
R ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
(→ page 185)
R Active Dis tance Assi stDISTRONIC
(→ page 200)
R Adaptive brake lights (→ page196)
R Active Brake Assi st (→page 190)
R Active Lane Keeping Assist (→ page240)
R ATTENTION ASSIST (→ page 231)
R BAS (Brak eAssist System) (→ page186)
R Hill Start Assist
R DYNA MIC BODY CONTROL (→ page214)
R EBD ( Electronic Brakeforc eDistribution)
(→ page 190)
R ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
(→ page 186) R
Speed Limit Assist (→ page 233)
R Active Speed Limit Assi st (→page 204)
R HOLD function (→ page212)
R STEER CONTROL (→ page 190)
R Active Steering Assist (→ page 206)
R Speed limiter (→ page197)
R Active Parking Assist (→ page 225)
R Parking Assist PARKTRONIC ( →page 214)
R Reversing camera (→ page218)
R Cruise control (→ page196)
R Function of Blind Spot Assi stand Active Blind
Spot Assi stwith exitwa rning (→ page 237)
R Traf fic Sign Assi st (→page 235) Fu
nction of ABS (Anti-lock Braking Sy stem) ABS
regulates the brake pressure in critical driv‐
ing situations:
R During braking, e.g. at full brake application
or insuf ficient tyre traction, the wheels are
pr eve nted from lo cking.
R Vehicle steerability while braking is ensured. Driving and parking
18 5

If ABS inter
venes when braking, you will feel a
pulsing in the brake pedal. The pulsating brake
pedal can be an indication of hazardous road
conditions and can ser veas a reminder totake
ex tra care while driving.
Sy stem limitations
R ABS is active from speeds of appr ox.
8 km/h.
R ABS may be impai red or may not function if a
malfunction has occur red and theye l‐
low ! ABSwarning lamp lights up contin‐
uously in the instrument clus ter af terthe
engine is star ted. Fu
nction of BAS (Brake Assist Sy stem) &
WARNING Risk of an accident caused by
a malfunction in BAS (Brake Assi stSys‐
te m)
If BA S is malfunctioning, the braking dis tance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. #
Dep ress the brake pedal with full force
in emer gency braking situations. ABS
pr eve nts the wheels from locking. BA
S suppo rts yo ur eme rgency braking situation
with additional brake forc e.
If yo u depress the brake pedal quickl y,BA S is
acti vated:
R BAS au tomatical lyboosts the brake pres‐
sure.
R BAS can sho rten the braking dis tance.
R ABS pr events the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
re lease the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. Fu
nctions of ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro‐
gr am) &
WARNING Risk of skidding if ESP ®
is
malfunctioning
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
cannot car ry
out vehicle stabilisation. In addition, other
driving saf ety sy stems are switched off. #
Drive on carefull y. #
Have ESP ®
ch ecked at a qualified spe‐
cialist workshop. &
WARNING Risk of skidding if ESP ®
is
deactivated
If yo u deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
cannot car ry
out vehicle stabilisation. #
ESP ®
should on lybe deactivated in the
fo llowing situations. 18 6
Driving and pa rking

ESP
®
can moni tor and impr ovedriving stability
and traction in thefo llowing situations, within
ph ysical limits:
R When pulling away on wet or slippe rycar ria‐
ge wa ys.
R When braking.
R Vehicles with trailer hitch: in trailer opera‐
tion from speeds of 65 km/h, if theve hicle/
trailer combination begins tosw ay from side
to side.
R Instro ng side winds when you are driving
fa ster than 80 km/h.
If th eve hicle deviates from the direction desired
by the driver, ESP ®
can stabilise theve hicle by
inter vening in thefo llowing ways:
R One or more wheels are braked.
R The engine output is adap ted according to
th e situation.
ESP ®
is deactivated if theå ESP®
OFF warn‐
ing lamp lights up continuously in the instrument
clus ter. Obser
vethefo llowing points when ESP ®
is deac‐
tivated:
R Driving stability will no lon ger be impr oved.
R Vehicles with trailer hitch: stabilisation of
th eve hicle/trailer combination is no longer
active.
R Crosswind Assist is no longer active.
R The drive wheels could spin.
R ETS/4ETS traction control is still active.
% When ESP ®
is deactivated, you are still assis‐
te dby ESP ®
when braking.
If th e÷ ESP®
wa rning lamp flashes in the
instrument clus ter,one or se veralve hicle wheels
has reached its grip limit:
R Adapt the driving style to suit the pr evailing
ro ad and weather conditions.
R Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum‐
st ances.
R Onlydepress the accelerator pedal as far as
is necessar y. It may be best
todeactivate ESP ®
in thefo llow‐
ing situations:
R When using snow chains.
R In deep sn ow.
R On sand or gr avel.
% Spinning the wheels results in a cutting
action, which enhances traction.
If th e÷ ESP®
wa rning lamp lights up continu‐
ousl y,ESP ®
is not available due toa malfunction.
Obse rveth efo llowing information:
R Warning and indicator lamps (→ page548)
R Displ aymessa ges (→ page 498)
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction Sy stem)
ETS/4E TStraction control is pa rtof ESP ®
and
makes it possible topull away and accelerate on
a slippe rycar riag ewa y.
ETS/4ETS can impr ovetheve hicle's traction by
inter vening in thefo llowing ways:
R The drive wheels are braked individually if
they spin. Driving and parking
187