brake MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS 2016 Manual Online

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Servic e Required Do
Not Shift Gears
Visit Dealer You canno t chang e th e transmission position due to a malfunction .
A warning tone also sounds.
If transmission position D is selected:X
Drive to a qualified specialist workshop without shifting th e trans -
mission from position D .
If transmission position R , N or P is selected:X
Secur e th e vehicl e against rollin g away ( Y
page 177).X
Notify a qualified specialist workshop or breakdown service.
Reversing Not Possi‐
ble Servic e Required You canno t shift int o th e transmission position R due to a malfunction .
The transmission position s P , N or D continu e to be available.
A warning tone also sounds. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .
Transmission Mal ‐
function Sto p A malfunction has occurred in th e mechanical transmission compo -
nents.
A warning tone also sounds. The gearbox automatically shift s to posi-
tion N . X
Pull ove r and stop th e vehicl e safely as soo n as possible, payin g
attention to roa d and traffic conditions.X
Shift th e transmission to position P .X
Secur e th e vehicl e against rollin g away ( Y
page 177).X
Notify a qualified specialist workshop or breakdown service.
Sto p Vehicl e Leave
Engine Runnin g Wai t
Transmission Cool‐
ing PLUG-I N HYBRID vehicles:
The transmission has overheated. Pullin g away can be temporarily
impaire d or no t possible.X
Pull ove r and stop th e vehicl e safely as soo n as possible, payin g
attention to roa d and traffic conditions. Do no t continu e drivin g
under any circumstances. X
Leav e th e engin e running.X
Wait until th e display message disappear s before pullin g away.
Auxiliary Batter y
Malfunction PLUG-I N HYBRID vehicles only:
The auxiliary battery for th e transmission is no longer bein g charged.X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop .X
Unti l then , set th e transmission to position P before you switch off
th e engine. X
Befor e leaving th e vehicle, apply th e electric parking brake.

Warning/
indicator
lamp Q Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
'M
Q ' (USA only), M (Canada only): the red brake system warning lamp is lit
while the engine is running.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles: the red brake system warning lamp is shown in the
READY driving status.
A warning tone also sounds.
There is not enough brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir.
G WARNING
The braking effect may be impaired.
There is a risk of an accident. X
Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying attention to road
and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving under any circumstances. X
Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y
page 177).X
Do not add brake fluid. Adding more will not correct the malfunction. X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop. X
Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
'
Q USA only: the red brake system warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
The multifunction display also shows a display message with the & symbol.
The brake pads/linings have reached their wear limit. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
%
Q The yellow ABS warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles: the yellow ABS warning lamp is shown in the READY
driving status.
ABS (anti-lock braking system) is malfunctioning.
If there is an additional warning tone, the EBD (electronic brake force distribution)
is malfunctioning.
Other driving systems and driving safety systems may also be faulty.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions listed
above. The front and rear wheels could therefore lock if you brake hard, for exam-
ple.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely affected. The braking
distance in an emergency braking situation can increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident. X
Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction display. X
Drive on carefully. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
If the ABS control unit is faulty, there is also a possibility that other systems, such
as the navigation system or the automatic transmission, will not be available.Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster 289
On-board computer and displays Z

Warning/
indicator
lamp Q Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
t
Q Only Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the yellow SPORT handling mode warning lamp is
lit while the engine is running.
SPORT handling mode is activated.
G WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is switched on, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident. X
Only switch to SPORT handling mode in accordance with the conditions descri-
bed in the "Activating/deactivating ESP" section ( Y
page 74).
I$
Q I (USA only), $ (Canada only): the red indicator lamp for the electric
parking brake flashes or is lit and/or the yellow warning lamp for the electric
parking brake is lit. X
Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
u
Q The red restraint system warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
The restraint system is faulty.
G WARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be triggered uninten-
tionally or, in the event of an accident, may not be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury. X
Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction display. X
Drive on carefully. X
Contact a qualified specialist workshop and have the restraint system checked.
For further information about the restraint system, see ( Y
page 46).292
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays

Drivin g abroadAn extensive Mercedes-Ben z Servic e networ k is
also available in other countries. You can obtain
further information from any authorized
Mercedes-Ben z Center.
Car e
General notes
H Environmental not e
Dispose of empty packagin g and cleanin g
cloths in an environmentally responsible man -
ner.
! Fo r cleanin g your vehicle, do no t use any of
th e following: R
dry, rough or har d clothsR
abrasiv e cleanin g agentsR
solvents R
cleanin g agents containin g solvents
Do no t scrub .
Do no t touch th e surfaces or protective films
wit h har d objects , e.g. a rin g or ic e scraper.
You could otherwise scratch or damage th e
surfaces and protective film.
! Do no t par k th e vehicle fo r an extended
period straight after cleanin g it , particularly
after havin g cleaned th e wheels wit h whee l
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increase d corrosion of th e brake discs and
brake pads/linings. Fo r this reason , you
should drive fo r a fe w minutes after cleaning.
Brakin g heat s th e brake discs and th e brake
pads/linings, thus drying them. The vehicle
can then be parked.
Regular car e of your vehicle is a condition fo r
retainin g th e qualit y in th e lon g term .
Use car e products and cleanin g agents recom -
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Washing th e vehicle an d cleaning th e
paintwor k
Automatic car was h
G WARNING
Brakin g efficiency is reduce d after washin g
th e vehicle. There is a ris k of an accident.
Afte r th e vehicle has bee n washed, brake
carefully whil e payin g attention to th e traffic
condition s until full braking powe r is restored .
! If DISTRONIC PLU S or th e HOLD function is
activated, th e vehicle brake s automatically in
certain situations.
To preven t damage to th e vehicle, deactivat e
DISTRONIC PLU S and th e HOLD function in
th e followin g or other similar situations: R
when towin g th e vehicle R
in th e car wash
! Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
cleanin g agents . These cleanin g agents can
damage th e paintwor k or plasti c parts .
! Mak e sur e that : R
th e sid e windows and th e slidin g sunroof
are full y closed. R
th e ventilation/heatin g is switched of f (the
OF F butto n has bee n pressed).R
th e windshield wipe r switch is at position 0 .R
th e 360° camera or rea r vie w camera is
switched off.
The vehicle may otherwise be damaged .
! If th e SmartKey is within th e rea r detection
range of KEYLESS-GO , th e followin g situa-
tions, fo r example, co uld l ead to th e u
ninten -
tional opening of th e trunk :R
usin g a car wash R
usin g a powe r washer
Mak e sur e that th e SmartKey is at leas t 10 ft
(3 m) away from th e vehicle.
! Mak e sur e that th e automatic transmissio n
is in neutral position N when washin g your
vehicle in a tow-through car wash . The vehicle
may otherwise be damaged .R
Operatin g wit h th e SmartKey:
Do no t remov e th e SmartKey from th e igni-
tion lock. Do no t ope n th e driver's doo rCare 335
Maintenance and care Z

when the engine is switched off or at very
low speeds. Otherwise, when in transmis-
sion position D or R the automatic trans-
mission will automatically switch to park
position P and block the wheels.R
Operating with the Start/Stop button:
Do not open the driver's door when the
engine is switched off or at very low
speeds. Otherwise, when in transmission
position D or R the automatic transmission
will automatically switch to park position P
and block the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in position N neu-
tral:
Operating with the SmartKey and Start/Stop
button: X
Make sure that the ignition is switched on. X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary. X
Depress and hold the brake pedal.
Operating with the Start/Stop button only: X
Engage park position P .X
Release the brake pedal. X
Remove Start/Stop button from ignition lock
( Y
page 146).X
Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock. X
Switch on the ignition. X
Depress and hold the brake pedal.
Operating with the SmartKey and Start/Stop
button: X
Shift to neutral N .X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake, if neces-
sary. X
Switch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey
in the ignition lock.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre- wash it bef ore
c leaning it in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off wax
from the windshield and the wiper blades. This
will prevent smears and reduce wiping noises
caused by residue on the windshield. Washing by hand In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements in each country. X
Do not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight. X
Use a soft sponge to clean. X
Use a mild cleaning agent, such as a car
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz. X
Thoroughly hose down the vehicle with a gen-
tle jet of water. X
Do not point the water jet directly towards the
air inlet. X
Use plenty of water and rinse out the sponge
frequently. X
Rinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois. X
Do not let the cleaning agent dry on the paint-
work.
Carefully remove all deposits of road salt as
soon as possible when driving in winter.
Power washers
G WARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage
to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-
edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
! Always maintain a distance of at least
11.8 in (30 cm) between the vehicle and the
power washer nozzle. Information about the
correct distance is available from the equip-
ment manufacturer.
Move the power washer nozzle around when
cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following: R
tires R
door gaps, roof gaps, joints, etc. R
electrical components R
battery R
connectors336
Care
Maintenance and care

R
lights R
seals R
trim R
ventilation slots
Damaged seals or electrical components can
lead to leaks or failures.
! If the SmartKey is within the rear detection
range of KEYLESS-GO, the following situa-
tions, for example, could lead to the uninten-
tional opening of the trunk: R
using a car wash R
using a power washer
Make sure that the SmartKey is at least 10 ft
(3 m) away from the vehicle.
! Edition 1 special model: parts of your vehi-
cle are covered with a decorative foil. Main-
tain a distance of at least 70 cm between the
foil-wrapped parts of the vehicle and the noz-
zle of the high pressure cleaner.
Information about the correct distance is
available from the equipment manufacturer.
Move the power washer nozzle around when
cleaning your vehicle.
Cleaning the paintwork
! Do not affix: R
stickers R
films R
magnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces. You could otherwise
damage the paintwork.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected by
corrosion and damage caused by inadequate
care cannot always be completely repaired. In
such cases, visit a qualified specialist workshop. X
Remove dirt immediately, where possible,
while avoiding rubbing too hard. X
Soak insect remains with insect remover and
rinse off the treated areas afterwards. X
Soak bird droppings with water and rinse off
the treated areas afterwards. X
Remove coolant, brake fluid, tree resin, oils,
fuels and greases by rubbing gently with a
cloth soaked in petroleum ether or lighter
fluid. X
Use tar remover to remove tar stains. X
Use silicone remover to remove wax. If water no longer forms "beads" on the paint
surface, use the paint care products recommen-
ded and approved by Mercedes-Benz. This is the
case approximately every three to five months,
depending on the climate conditions and the
care product used.
If dirt has penetrated the paint surface or if the
paint has become dull, the paint cleaner recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz
should be used.
Do not use these care products in the sun or on
the hood while the hood is hot. X
Use a suitable touch-up stick, e.g. MB Touch-
Up Stick, to repair slight damage to the paint-
work quickly and provisionally.
Matte finish care
! Never polish the vehicle or the light alloy
wheels. Polishing causes the finish to shine.
! The following may cause the paint to
become shiny and thus reduce the matte
effect: R
strong rubbing of the paintwork with
unsuitable materials R
frequent use of automatic car washes R
washing the vehicle in direct sunlight
! Never use paint cleaner, buffing or polishing
products, or gloss preserver, e.g. wax. These
products are only suitable for high-gloss sur-
faces. Their use on vehicles with matte finish
leads to considerable surface damage (shiny,
mottled areas).
Always have paintwork repairs carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! Do not use wash programs with a hot wax
treatment under any circumstances.
Observe these notes if your vehicle has a clear
matte finish. This will help you to avoid damage
to the paintwork due to incorrect treatment.
These notes also apply to light alloy wheels with
a clear matte finish.
The vehicle should preferably be washed by
hand using a soft sponge, car shampoo and
plenty of water.
Use only insect remover and car shampoo from
the range of approved Mercedes-Benz care
products. Care 337
Maintenance and care Z

Cleaning the vehicle parts
Cleaning the wheels
G WARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage
to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-
edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
! Do not use acidic wheel cleaning products
to remove brake dust. This could damage
wheel bolts and brake components.
! Do not park 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 cleaning.
Braking heats the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings, thus drying them. The vehicle
can then be parked.
Cleaning the windows
G WARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield
wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or
wiper blades.
! Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,
solvents or cleaning agents containing sol-
vents to clean the inside of the windows. Do
not touch the insides of the windows with
hard objects, e.g. an ice scraper or ring. There
is otherwise a risk of damaging the windows.
! Clean the water drainage channels of the
windshield and the rear window at regular
intervals. Deposits such as leaves, petals and
pollen may under certain circumstances pre- vent water from draining away. This can lead
to corrosion damage and damage to elec-
tronic components. X
Clean the inside and outside of the windows
with a damp cloth and a cleaning product that
is recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Cleaning wiper blades
G WARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield
wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or
wiper blades.
! Do not pull the wiper blade. Otherwise, the
wiper blade could be damaged.
! Do not clean wiper blades too often and do
not rub them too hard. Otherwise, the graph-
ite coating could be damaged. This could
cause wiper noise.
! Hold the wiper arm securely when folding
back. The windshield could be damaged if the
wiper arm smacks against it suddenly. X
Fold the windshield wiper arms away from the
windshield ( Y
page 126). X
Carefully clean the wiper blades with a damp
cloth. X
Fold the windshield wiper arms back again
before switching on the ignition.
Cleaning the exterior lighting
! Only use cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
which are suitable for plastic light lenses.
Unsuitable cleaning agents or cleaning cloths
could scratch or damage the plastic light len-
ses. X
Clean the plastic lenses of the exterior light-
ing using a wet sponge and a mild cleaning
agent, e.g. Mercedes-Benz car shampoo or
cleaning cloths.338
Care
Maintenance and care

Do not start the vehicle using a rapid charging device. If your vehicle's battery is discharged, the
engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a second battery using jumper cables.
Observe the following points: R
The battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible, jump-
start the vehicle using a second battery or a jump-starting device. R
You may only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust system are cold. R
Only jump-start from batteries with a 12 V voltage rating. R
Only use jumper cables which have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps. R
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 battery slightly. R
Make sure that the two vehicles do not touch.
Make sure that: R
the jumper cables are not damaged. R
when the jumper cables are connected to the battery, uninsulated sections of the terminal clamp
do not come into contact with other metal sections. R
the jumper cables cannot come into contact with parts which can move when the engine is
running, such a s the V-belt pulley or the fan.X
Secure the vehicle by applying the electric parking brake. X
Shift the transmission to position P .X
Make sure that the ignition is switched off. All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster must be
off. When using the SmartKey, turn the SmartKey to position 0 in the ignition lock and remove it
( Y
page 146). X
Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g. rear window defroster, lighting, etc. X
Open the hood.
Position number

! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high, the
vehicles could be damaged.
! Shift the automatic transmission to N and
do not open the driver's or front passenger's
door during towing. The automatic transmis-
sion may otherwise shift to position P , which
could damage the transmission.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment. This
could damage the vehicle.
! The vehicle can be towed a maximum of
30 miles (50km). The towing speed of 30 mph
(50 km/h) must not be exceeded.
If the vehicle has to be towed more than
30 miles (50km), the entire vehicle must be
raised and transported.
It is better to have the vehicle transported than
to have it towed away.
If the vehicle has suffered transmission damage,
have it transported on a transporter or trailer.
The automatic transmission must be in position
N when the vehicle is being towed. If the auto-
matic transmission cannot be shifted to position
N , have the vehicle transported on a transporter
or trailer.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you: R
cannot turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock R
cannot release the electric parking brake R
cannot shift the automatic transmission to
position N
Disarm the automatic locking feature before the
vehicle is towed ( Y
page 89). You could other-
wise be locked out when pushing or towing the
vehicle.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles may not be towed
away but must instead be transported, if: R
the multifunction display is not working or R
the á Towing Not Permitted See
Operator's Manual message appears in the
multifunction display
If the vehicle is in a dangerous area, it can be
towed out of that area with both axles on the
ground. In this case, the towing distance must
not be greater than 165 ft (50 m) and must not
exceed a towing speed of 6 mph (10 km/ h) . For longer distances, have the vehicle loaded and
transported.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
The brackets for the screw-in towing eye are
located in the bumpers. They are at the rear and
at the front, under covers C .X
Remove the towing eye from the vehicle tool
kit ( Y
page 343). X
Press the mark on cover C inwards and
remove. X
Screw in the towing eye clockwise as far as it
will go and tighten it.
Removing the towing eye X
Unscrew and remove the towing eye. X
Attach cover C to the bumper and press until
it engages. X
Put the towing eye back into the vehicle tool
kit.
Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
Only vehicles without 4MATIC can be towed
with the rear axle raised.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles: towing the vehicle
away with the rear axle raised should only be
carried out by professional recovery companies.Towing and tow-starting 355
Breakdown assistance Z

! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised, as
doing so will damage the transmission.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may either be towed away
with both axles on the ground or be loaded up
and transported.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission must
not be towed with the rear axle raised. The
vehicle/trailer combination may otherwise
swerve or even roll over.
Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground The automatic transmission automatically shifts
to position P when you open the driver's or front-
passenger door or when you remove the Smart-
Key from the ignition lock. In order to ensure
that the automatic transmission stays in posi-
tion N when towing the vehicle, you must
observe the following points: X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary. X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the ignition
lock. X
Depress and hold the brake pedal. X
Shift the automatic transmission to position
N . X
Leave the SmartKey in position 2 in the igni-
tion lock. X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake. X
Switch on the hazard warning lamps
( Y
page 120).
In order to signal a change of direction when
towing the vehicle with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination switch
as usual. In this case, only the indicator lamps
for the direction of travel flash. After resetting
the combination switch, the hazard warning
lamp starts flashing again.
Transporting the vehicle
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles
Transportation of the vehicle should only be car-
ried out by professional recovery companies. 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 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.
The towing eye can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a trailer or transporter for transporting pur-
poses. X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the ignition
lock. X
Shift the automatic transmission to position
N .
As soon as the vehicle has been loaded: X
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake. X
Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P . X
Turn the SmartKey to position 0 in the ignition
lock and remove it. X
Secure the vehicle.
Notes on 4MATIC vehicles
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised, as
doing so will damage the transmission.356
Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance