Throttle MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS 1999 Owners Manual

Automatic Transmission

The automatic transmission selects individual gears automatically, dependent upon
• Selector lever position
• Program mode selector
• Accelerator position
• Vehicle speed

Important !

When parking the car or before working on the vehicle with the engine running, firmly depress the parking brake
pedal and shift the selector lever into "P".


Driving
The selector lever is automatically locked while in position "P". To move the selector lever out of position "P", the
service brake pedal must be firmly depressed before the shift lock will release. Shift selector lever to the desired
position only when the engine is idling normally and the service brake is applied. Do not release the brake until
ready to drive. The vehicle may otherwise start creeping when the selector lever is in drive or reverse position.

Warning !
It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out of "P" or "N" if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If
your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal, the car could accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the car and hit someone or something. Only shift into gear when the engine is idling
normally and when your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

Important !
After selecting any driving position from "N" or "P", wait a moment to allow the gear to fully engage before
accelerating, especially when the engine is cold.


Accelerator Position
Partial throttle = early upshifting = normal acceleration
Full throttle = later upshifting = rapid acceleration
Kickdown (depressing the accelerator beyond full throttle) = downshifting to a lower gear = maximum acceleration.
Once the desired speed is attained, ease up on t he accelerator - the transmission shifts up again.




Selector Lever Positions

The automatic gear shifting process can be adapted to specific operating
conditions using the selector lever.

P - Parking position.
The parking position is to be used when parking t he vehicle. Engage only with the car stopped. The parking
position is not intended to serve as a brake when the vehicle is parked. Rather, the driver should always use
the parking brake in addition to placing the selector lever in park to secure the vehicle.

Note:
The electronic key can be removed from the steering lo ck only with the foot off the brake pedal and the selector
lever in position "P". With the electronic key removed, the selector lever is locked in position "P".


R - Reverse gear. Shift to reverse gear only with the car stopped.
N - Neutral.
No power is transmitted from the engine to the rear axle. When the brakes are released, the vehicle can be
moved freely (pushed or towed). Do not engage "N" while driving except to coast when the vehicle is in danger of
skidding (e.g. on icy roads, see Winter driving Instructions in Index).





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Important !
Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any other reason with selector lever in "N" can result in transmission damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.


D - The transmission automatically upshifts through 5th gear . Position "D" provides optimum driving characteristics
under all normal operating conditions.
4 - Upshift through 4th gear only.
Suitable for performance driving. To shift from position "D" to "4", push selector lever to the left.
3 - Upshift through 3rd gear only.
Suitable for moderately steep hill s. Since the transmission does not shift hi gher than 3rd gear, this gear selection
will allow use of the engine's braking power downhill.
2 - Upshift through 2nd gear only.
For driving in mountainous regions or under extreme operating conditions. This gear selection will allow use of the
engine's braking power when descending steep grades.
1 - In this position, the engine's
braking effect is utilized by shifting into 1 st gea r. Use this position while descending very steep or lengthy
downgrades and only at speeds below 40 mph (60 km/h).


Important !
With selector lever in position "D", "4" or "3", upshifting from 1st to 2nd to 3rd gear is delayed depending on vehicle
speed and engine temperature. This allows the catalytic converter to heat up more quickly to operating temperatures.
During the brief warm-up period this delayed upshift and increased engine noise might be perceived as a malfunction.
However, neither the engine nor transmission are negatively affected by this mode of operation.
The delayed upshift is effective with vehicle speeds below 31 mph (50 km/h) at partial throttle and engine
temperatures below 95°F (35°C). To avoid overrevving the engi ne when the selector lever is moved to a lower driving
range, the transmission will not shift to a lower gear as l ong as the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit of that gear.
To prevent the engine from laboring at low RPMs, do not allow the engine speed to drop too low on uphill gradients.
Depending on the degree of the incline, shift selector feve r to a lower gear range early enough to maintain engine
RPM within the best torque range.

Warning!

On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in order to obtain braking action. This could result in rear wheel
slip and reduced vehicle control. Your vehicle's AB S will not prevent this type of loss of control.

Maneuvering
To maneuver in tight areas, e.g. when pulling into a parki ng space, control the car speed by gradually releasing the
brakes. Accelerate gently and never abr uptly step on the accelerator. To rock a car out of soft ground (mud or snow),
alternately shift from forward to reverse, while applying slight partial throttle. Rocking a car free in this manner may
cause the ABS malfunction indicator lamp to come on. Turn off and restart the engine to clear the malfunction
indication.

Stopping
For brief stops, e.g. at traffic lights, leave the transmission in gear and hold vehicle with the service brake. For longer
stops with the engine idling, shift into "N" or "P" and hold t he vehicle with the service brake. When stopping the car on
an uphill incline, do not hold it with the accelerator, use the brake. This avoids unnecessary transmission heat build
up.

Warning !

Getting out of your car with the selector lever not fully engaged in position "P" is dangerous. Also, when
parked on an incline, position "P" alone may not pr event your vehicle from moving, possibly hitting people
or objects. Always set the parking brake in addition to sh ifting to position "P". When parked on an incline,
also turn front wheel against curb.

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Acceleration Slip Regulation (ASR)
The acceleration slip regulation will engage at all vehicle s peeds, if one or both drive wheels begin to lose traction
and spin in acceleration. While engaged, the yellow warni ng lamp in the speedometer dial flashes. With the
acceleration slip regulation engaged, the brake is applied to the spinning drive wheel until slip is brought under
control. If both drive wheels spin, the brake is applied to both drive wheels and simultaneously, engine torque is
limited, to improve the vehicle's driving stability. As traction on the road surface increases, thus allowing
acceleration without slip, the allowable engine torque also increases again and the brake is no longer applied to
drive wheels.

Important !
If the ASR warning lamp flashes, adapt your spee d and driving to the prevailing road conditions.

Caution !
If the vehicle is towed with the front axle raised (see Towing the vehicle in Index), t he engine must be shut off
(electronic key in steer ing lock position 0 or 1). Othe rwise, the acceleration slip regulation will immediately be
engaged and will apply the rear wheel brakes.

Notes:
The indicator lamp for the ASR is combined with that of the BAS The yellow BAS/ASR malfunction indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster and the yellow ASR warning lamp in the speedometer dial come on with the
electronic key in steering lock position 2. They should go out with the engine running. If the BAS/ASR malfunction
indicator lamp comes on with the engine running, a malfunc tion has been detected in either system. Pressing the
accelerator pedal will require greater effort. Only partial engine output will be available.
If the BAS malfunctions, the brake system functions in the usual manner, but without BAS. Have the BAS or ASR
checked at your authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer as soon as possible. With the ABS malfunctioning, the ASR
is also switched off. Driving the vehicle with varied size tires will cause the wheels to ro tate at different speeds,
therefore the acceleration slip regulation may activate (ye llow ASR warning lamp in speedometer dial comes on).
For this reason, all wheels, including the spare wheel, mu st have the same tire size. When testing the parking
brake on a brake test dynamometer, the engine must be shut off. Otherwise, t he acceleration slip regulation will
immediately be engaged and will apply the rear wheel brakes . In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of
the acceleration slip regulation is only achieved with Mercedes-Benz recommended M+S rated radialply tires
and/or snow chains.

ASR Control Switch



ASR control switch located in center console To improve
the vehicle's traction when driving with snow chains, or
starting off in deep snow, sand or gravel, press the upper half of the ASR switch. The ASR warning lamp, located
in the speedometer dial, is cont inuously illuminated. With the ASR system switched off, the engine torque
reduction feature is cancelled. Therefore, the enhanced vehicle stability offered by ASR is unavailable. Adapt your
speed and driving to the prevailing road conditions. A por tion of the ASR system remains active, even with the
switch in the OFF position. If one drive wheel loses traction a nd begins to spin, the brake is applied until the wheel
regains sufficient traction. The traction control engages at vehicle speeds up to approximately 24 rnph (40 km/h),
and switches off at 50 mph (80 km/h).
Note:
Avoid spinning of one drive wheel. Doing so may cause seriou s damage to the drive train which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
The ASR warning lamp, located in the speedometer dial, star ts to flash at any vehicle speed as soon as the tires
lose traction and the wheels begin to spin. To return to the enhanced vehicle stability offered by ASR: press lower
half of the switch (the ASR warning lamp in the speedometer dial goes out).

Important!
If the ASR warning lamp flashes:
• during take-off, apply as little throttle as possible,
• while driving, ease up on the accelerator.


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Electronic Stability Program (ESP) (optional)

The ESP enhances directional control and reduces driving wheel spin of the vehicle under any driving condition.
Over/understeering of the vehicle is counteracted by applying brakes to the appropriate wheel to create a
counterpointing vehicle movement. The ESP warning lamp, located in the speedometer dial, starts to flash.

Important !
If the ESP warning lamp flashes, adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road conditions.

Caution !
If the vehicle is towed with the front axle raised (see Towing the vehicle in Index), t he engine must be shut off
(electronic key in steer ing lock position 0 or 1). Otherwise, the el ectronic stability program will immediately be
engaged and will apply the rear wheel brakes.

Notes:
The indicator lamp for the ESP is combined with that of the BAS. The yellow BAS/ESP malfunction indicator lamp
in the instrument cluster and the yellow ESP warning lamp in the speedometer di al come on with the electronic key
in steering lock position 2. They should go out with th e engine running. If the BAS/ESP multifunction indicator lamp
comes on permanently with the engine running, a malfunction has been detected in either system.
Pressing the accelerator pedal will require greater effort. Only partial engine output will be available. If the BAS
malfunctions, the brake system functions in the usual manner, but without BAS. Have the BAS or ESP checked at
your authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer as soon as possible. With the ABS malfunctioning, the ESP is also switched
off. Driving the vehicle with varied size ti res will cause the wheels to rotate at different speeds, therefore the electronic
stability program may activate (yellow ESP warning lamp in speedometer dial comes on).
For this reason, all wheels, including the spare wheel, must have the same tire size. When testing the parking brake
on a brake test dynamometer, the engine must be shut off. Otherwise, t he electronic stability program will
immediately
be engaged and will apply the rear wheel brakes. In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the electronic
stability program is only achieved with Mercedes-Benz reco mmended M+S rated radial-ply tires and/or snow chains.

ESP Control Switch



ESP control switch located on center co
nsole To improve the vehicle's traction when driving with snow chains, or
starting off in deep snow, sand or gravel, press the upper half of the ESP switch. The ESP warning lamp, located in
the speedometer dial, is continuously illuminated. With the ESP system switched off, the engine torque reduction
feature is cancelled. Therefore, the enhanced vehicle stability offered by ESP is unavailable. Adapt your speed and
driving to the prevailing road conditio ns. A portion of the ESP system remains ac tive, even with the switch in the OFF
position. If one drive wheel loses traction and begins to spin , the brake is applied until the wheel regains sufficient
traction. The traction control engages at vehicle speeds up to approximately 24 mph (40 km/h), and switches off at 50
mph (80 km/h).

Note:
Avoid spinning of one drive wheel. Doing so may cause seriou s damage to the drive train which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. The ESP warning lamp, located in the speedome ter dial, starts to flash at any
vehicle speed as soon as the tires lose traction and the wheels begin to spin. To return to the enhanced vehicle
stability
offered by ESP: press lower half of the switch (the ESP warning lamp in the speedometer dial goes out).

Important !
If the ESP warning lamp flashes:
• during take-off, apply as little throttle as possible,
• while driving, ease up on the accelerator.


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Premium Unleaded Gasoline

Caution !
To maintain the engine's durability and performance, premium unleaded gasoline must be used. If premium unleaded
is not available and low octane fuel is used, follow these precautions:
• have the fuel tank filled only partially with unleaded regular and fill up with premium unleaded as soon as possible,
• avoid full throttle driving and abrupt acceleration,
• do not exceed an engine speed of 3000 rpm, if the vehicle is loaded with a light load such as two
persons and no luggage,
• do not exceed 2/3 of maximum accelerator pedal positi on, if the vehicle is fully loaded or operating
in mountainous terrain.


Fuel Requirements
Use only Premium unleaded meeting ASTM standard D 439: The octane number (posted at the pump) must be 91
min.
It is an average of both the Research (R) octane number an d the Motor (M) octane number: [(R+M)/2]. This is also
known as ANTI-KNOCK INDEX. Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates such as Ethanol, I PA, IBA and TBA can
be used provided the ratio of any one of these oxygenates to gasoline does not exceed 10%, MTBE not to exceed
15%. The ratio of Methanol to gasoline must not exceed 3% plus additional components. Using mixtures of Ethanol
and Methanol is not allowed. Gasohol, which contains 10% Ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline, can be used. These
blends must also meet all other fuel requirements such as resistance to spark knock, boiling range, vapor pressure
etc..


Gasoline Additives
A major concern among engine manufacturers is carbon build up caused by gasoline. Mercedes- Benz recommends
the use of only quality gasoline containing additives that prevent the build up of carbon deposits. After an extended
period of using fuels without such additives, carbon deposit s can build up especially on the intake valves and in the
combustion area, leading to engine performance problems such as:
• warm-up hesitation,
• unstable idle,
• knocking/pinging,
• misfire,
• power loss.
Do not blend other specific fuel additives with fuel. They only result in unnecessary cost, and may be harmful to the
engine operation. Damage or malfunctions resulting from poor fuel quality or from blending specific fuel additives are
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.


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