erg MERCEDES-BENZ C WAGON 2005 S203 Owner's Manual

Contents
Automatic transmission ..................... 152
One-touch gearshifting................. 154
Gear ranges ................................. 155
Gear selector lever position ......... 156
Automatic shift program .............. 158
Driving tips ................................... 159
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 160
Good visibility .................................... 161
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 161
Rear view mirrors ......................... 161
Sun visors .................................... 164
Rear window defroster ................. 165
Climate control .................................. 166
Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 169
Setting the temperature ............... 169
Adjusting air distribution and
volume ......................................... 170
Defrosting .................................... 171
Air recirculation mode.................. 171
Air conditioning ............................ 173
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents...................... 174Audio system ...................................... 175
Audio and telephone, operation .... 175
Operating safety ........................... 175
Operating and display elements.... 176
Button and soft key operation....... 178
Operation ...................................... 178
Radio operation ............................ 183
Introduction to satellite radio*
(USA only) ..................................... 188
CD mode ....................................... 193
GSM network phones ................... 200
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 206
Emergency calls “911”.................. 213
Power windows .................................. 215
Opening and closing the
windows........................................ 215
Synchronizing power windows ...... 218
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*................. 219
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof ........................ 219
Synchronizing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof ........................ 222
Driving systems .................................. 223
Cruise control ............................... 223Loading .............................................. 226
Roof rack* .................................... 226
Parcel net in cargo
compartment ................................ 226
Storage compartment under
cargo compartment floor .............. 227
Retractable luggage cover and
partition net .................................. 228
Split rear bench seat .................... 230
Loading instructions ..................... 232
Cargo tie-down rings..................... 233
Useful features ................................... 234
Storage compartments ................. 234
Ashtrays........................................ 238
Cigarette lighter ............................ 239
Electrical outlet............................. 240
Telephone* ................................... 241
Tele Aid* ....................................... 242
Garage door opener* .................... 249

Contents
Practical hints................................. 293
What to do if … .................................. 294
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 294
Lamp in center console................ 300
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 301
Where will I find ...? ........................... 321
First aid kit ................................... 321
Vehicle tool kit ............................. 321
Minispare wheel ........................... 324
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 326
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 326
Locking the vehicle ...................... 327
Fuel filler flap ............................... 328
Manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever .. 328
Opening/closing in an emergency..... 329
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* .......... 329Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 330
SmartKey ...................................... 331
Replacing bulbs .................................. 332
Bulbs ............................................. 332
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 335
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 339
Replacing wiper blades....................... 341
Removing wiper blades ................. 341
Installing wiper blades .................. 341
Flat tire ............................................... 342
Preparing the vehicle .................... 342
Mounting the Minispare wheel...... 342
Battery................................................ 347
Disconnecting the battery............. 348
Removing the battery.................... 348
Charging and reinstalling
the battery .................................... 348
Reconnecting the battery.............. 349Jump starting...................................... 350
Towing the vehicle.............................. 352
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 355
Fuses.................................................. 356
Aids for changing fuses ................ 357
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 357
Fuse box in engine
compartment ................................ 358
Fuse box in cargo
compartment ................................ 359

29 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
Item
Page
1
Rear interior lighting
on/off
115
2
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*
219
3
Right reading lamp on/off
115
4
Interior lighting control
114
5
Hands-free microphone for
Tele Aid* (emergency call
system), telephone* and
voice control system*
(see separate operating
instructions)
148,
200,
242
Item
Page
6
Interior rear view mirror
41,
161
7
Garage door opener*
249
8
Left reading lamp on/off
115
9
Tele Aid* (emergency call
system) button
242

60 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyIn this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint systems
of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are

Seat belts


Emergency tensioning device


Air bags


Child seats


Child seat recognition


Lower anchors and tethers for children
(LATCH)
As independent systems, their protective
effects work in conjunction with each
other.The1 indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 24) comes on:


for about four seconds when you turn
the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position1. It then goes out briefly,
comes on again and remains lit until
you start the engine.


for about four seconds when you start
the engine by turning the SmartKey.The1 indicator lamp goes out shortly
after you start the engine. This shows that
the restraint systems are operational.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the1 indicator lamp:


fails to extinguish after approximately
four seconds.


does not come on at all.


comes on after the engine was started
or while driving.
For safety reasons, we strongly recom-
mend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to
have the system checked.
For more information, see “Practical
hints”(
page 299).
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and
restraint systems for infants and
children, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 69).
iThe1 indicator lamp remains lit if
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position2 and left there. The
indicator lamp will go out when you
start the engine.

64 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
emergency tensioning device and
air bag In cases of other frontal impacts,
angled impacts, roll-overs, other side
impacts, rear collisions, or other acci-
dents, the air bags will not be activat-
ed. The driver and passengers will then
be protected by the fastened seat
belts.
We caution you not to rely on the
presence of the air bags in order to
avoid wearing your seat belt.
Your vehicle was originally equipped
with air bags that are designed to acti-
vate in certain impacts exceeding a
preset threshold to reduce the poten-
tial and severity of injury. It is important
to your safety and that of your passen-
gers that you replace deployed air bags
and repair any malfunctioning air bags
to make sure that the vehicle will con-
tinue to provide supplemental crash
protection for occupants.Warning!
G


Damaged seat belts or belts that were
highly stressed in an accident must be
replaced and their anchoring points
must also be checked. Only use belts in-
stalled or supplied by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.


Air bags and emergency tensioning
devices (ETDs) are designed to function
on a one-time only basis. An air bag or
ETD that was activated must be
replaced.


No modifications of any kind may be
made to any components or wiring of
the SRS. This includes changing or re-
moving any component or part of the
SRS, the installation of additional trim
material, badges, etc. over the steering
wheel hub, passenger front air bag
cover, door trim panels, or door frame
trims, and installation of additional elec-
trical/electronic equipment on or near
SRS components and wiring. Keep area
between air bags and occupants free
from objects (e.g. packages, purses,
umbrellas, etc.).


Do not pass belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.


Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the belts.


Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this
may severely weaken them. In a crash
they may not be able to provide ade-
quate protection.

65 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
When you sell your vehicle we strongly
urge you to give notice to the subsequent
owner that it is equipped with an SRS by
alerting them to the applicable section in
the Operator’s Manual.
Front air bags
1Driver’s air bag
2Passenger front air bagDriver and front passenger air bags are
deployed:


in the event of a frontal impact


if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold


independently of the side impact
air bags
The air bags will not deploy in impacts
which do not exceed the system’s
deployment thresholds. You will then be
protected by the fastened seat belts.
The passenger front air bag will only be
deployed if:


the front passenger seat is occupied


the56 indicator lamp in the
center console is not lit (
page 72)


the impact exceeds a preset
deployment treshold


Do not hang items such as coat hangers
from the coat hooks or handles over the
door. These items may turn into projec-
tiles and cause head and other injuries
when curtain air bag is deployed.


Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.


Air bag system components will be hot
after an air bag has inflated. Do not
touch.


In addition, improper repair work on the
SRS creates a risk of rendering the SRS
inoperative or causing unintended
air bag deployment. Work on the SRS
must therefore only be performed by
qualified technicians. Contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.


For your protection and the protection
of others, when scrapping the air bag
unit or emergency tensioning device,
our safety instructions must be fol-
lowed. These instructions are available
from your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.


Given the considerable deployment
speed and the textile structure of the
air bags, there is the possibility of abra-
sions or other injuries resulting from
air bag deployment.

68 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyWarning!
G
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY

Seat belts can only work when used
properly. Never wear seat belts in any
other way than as described in this sec-
tion, as that could result in serious inju-
ries in case of an accident.


Each occupant should wear their seat
belt at all times, because seat belts help
reduce the likelihood of and potential
severity of injuries in accidents, includ-
ing rollovers. The integrated restraint
system includes SRS (driver air bag,
passenger front air bag, side impact
air bags, head protection window cur-
tain air bags for side windows), ETD
(seat belt emergency tensioning device),
and front seat knee bolsters. The sys-
tem is designed to enhance the protec-
tion offered to properly belted
occupants in certain frontal (front
air bags and ETD) and side (side impact,
window curtain air bags and ETD) im-
pacts which exceed preset deployment
thresholds.


Never wear the shoulder belt under your
arm, against your neck or off your shoul-
der. In a crash, your body would move
too far forward. That would increase the
chance of head and neck injuries. The
belt would also apply too much force to
the ribs or abdomen, which could se-
verely injure internal organs such as
your liver or spleen.


Never wear belts over rigid or breakable
objects in or on your clothing, such as
eyeglasses, pens, keys, etc., as these
might cause injuries.


Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips and not across the abdo-
men. If the belt is positioned across your
abdomen, it could cause serious injuries
in a crash.


Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time. Do not fasten a seat
belt around a person and another
person or other objects.


Belts should not be worn twisted. In a
crash, you wouldn’t have the full width
of the belt to manage impact forces. The
twisted belt against your body could
cause injuries.


Pregnant women should also use a
lap-shoulder belt. The lap belt portion
should be positioned as low as possible
on the hips to avoid any possible pres-
sure on the abdomen.


Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.

69 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Emergency tensioning device (ETD),
seat belt force limiter
The seat belts for the front and rear outer
seats are equipped with emergency
tensioning devices and belt force limiters.
The ETD is designed to activate in the
following cases:

in frontal or rear-end impacts
exceeding a preset severity level.


if the restraint systems are operational
and functioning correctly.
See 1indicator lamp (
page 60).In an impact, emergency tensioning
devices remove slack from the belts in
such a way that the seat belts fit more
snugly against the body. Belt force limiters
reduce the force exerted by the seat belts
on occupants during a crash.
Children in the vehicle
If an infant or child is traveling with you in
the vehicle:

Secure the child using an infant or child
restraint appropriate to the age and
size of the child.


Make sure that the infant or child is
properly secured at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
Infant and child restraint seats and infor-
mation on choosing an appropriate re-
straint system can be obtained from any
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Infant and child restraint systems
Only use a BabySmart
TM1
compatible child
restraint for the front passenger seat in
this vehicle.
iThe ETDs for the front seats will only
activate if the respective front seat belt
is fastened (latch plate properly
inserted into buckle).
The ETDs for the rear outer seats will
activate with or without the respective
seat belt fastened.
Warning!
G
An emergency tensioning device (ETD) that
was activated must be replaced.
When scrapping the emergency tensioning
device, our safety instructions must be
followed. These are available at your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.!Do not place objects heavier than
20 lbs (9 kg) on the front passenger
seat. This could cause the front or side
impact air bag on the front passenger
side to deploy in a crash which exceeds
the system’s deployment threshold.
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.

72 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyBabySmart
TM1
air bag deactivation
system
The56 indicator lamp is located in
the center console.
1Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lampSpecial BabySmart
TM compatible child
seats, designed for use with the
Mercedes-Benz system and available at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center are
required for use with the BabySmart
TM
air bag deactivation system. With the spe-
cial child seat properly installed, the pas-
senger front air bag will not deploy.
The56 indicator lamp will be
illuminated, except with the SmartKey
removed or in starter switch position0.Self-test BabySmart
TM without special
child seat installed
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position1 or2,
the56indicator lamp comes on
for approximately six seconds and then
goes out.
If the56indicator lamp should not
come on or is continuously lit, the system
is not functioning. You must see an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center before
seating any child on the front passenger
seat.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 300).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle; even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system. Unsupervised chil-
dren in a child restraint system may use ve-
hicle equipment and may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.
iThe system does not deactivate the
side impact air bag and the emergency
tensioning device.


80 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsBraking
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in
the regulating mode.
Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the
pulsation.
Continuous steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and ability to steer
the vehicle.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions
and functions as a reminder to take extra
care while driving.Emergency brake maneuver

Keep continuous full pressure on the
brake pedal.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 294) and (
page 302).
BAS
The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the
brakes very quickly, the BAS automatically
provides full brake boost, thereby poten-
tially reducing the braking distance. Apply
continuous full braking pressure until the
emergency braking situation is over. The
ABS will prevent the wheels from locking.
When you release the brake pedal, the
brakes function again as normal. The BAS
is then deactivated.
Warning!
G
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency
beyond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction af-
forded. The ABS cannot prevent accidents,
including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, following another vehicle too
closely, or hydroplaning. Only a safe, atten-
tive, and skillful driver can prevent acci-
dents. The capabilities of an ABS equipped
vehicle must never be exploited in a reck-
less or dangerous manner which could jeop-
ardize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.
Warning!
G
If the BAS is malfunctioning, the brake sys-
tem is still functioning normally, but without
the additional brake boost available that
BAS would normally provide in an emergen-
cy braking maneuver. Therefore, the braking
distance may increase.