wheel alignment MERCEDES-BENZ C WAGON 2005 S203 Owner's Manual

322 Practical hintsWhere will I find ...?3Vehicle tool kit
The following is included:

Towing eye bolt


Wheel wrench


Alignment bolt


Vehicle jack


Spare wheel bolts


Fuse extractor


Spare fuses


Collapsible wheel chock


A pair of glovesVehicle jackThe vehicle jack is located in the storage
compartment behind the left trim panel.
Storage position
Remove vehicle jack from its
compartment.

Push crank handle up.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use,
especially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Make sure the jack arm is
fully seated in the jack take-up bracket.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.

344 Practical hintsFlat tireThe jack take-up brackets are located
directly behind the front wheel housings
and in front of the rear wheel housings.
1Take-up bracket
2Jack
Place jack2 on firm ground.

Position jack2 under take-up
bracket1 so that it is always vertical
(plumb-line) as seen from the side,
even if the vehicle is parked on an
incline.

Jack up the vehicle until the wheel is a
maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the
ground. Never start engine while
vehicle is raised.Removing the wheel
1Alignment bolt

Unscrew upper-most wheel bolt and
remove.

Replace this wheel bolt with alignment
bolt1 supplied in the tool kit.

Remove the remaining bolts.

Remove the wheel.
Warning!
G
The jack is intended only for lifting the
vehicle briefly for wheel changes. It is not
suited for performing maintenance work
under the vehicle.

Never start the engine when the vehicle
is raised.


Never lie down under the raised vehicle.
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt.
This could result in damage to the bolts
and wheel hub threads.

345 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting the Minispare wheel
1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2Wheel bolt for Minispare wheel or other
steel rims (located in vehicle tool kit)
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.

Guide Minispare wheel onto alignment
bolt and push it on.

Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
!Wheel bolts2 must be used when
mounting the Minispare wheel or other
steel rims. The use of any wheel bolts
other than wheel bolts2 for the
Minispare wheel or other steel rims will
physically damage the vehicle’s
brakes.
!To avoid paint damage, place wheel flat
against hub and hold it there while
installing first wheel bolt.Warning!
G
Always replace wheel bolts that are
damaged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be
repaired immediately. Do not continue to
drive under these circumstances! Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to
come off. This could cause an accident.
Make sure to use the correct wheel bolts.

346 Practical hintsFlat tire
Unscrew the alignment bolt, install last
wheel bolt and tighten slightly.Lowering the vehicle

Lower vehicle by turning crank
counterclockwise until vehicle is
resting fully on its own weight.

Remove the jack.
1 - 5Wheel bolts

Tighten the five wheel bolts evenly,
following the diagonal sequence
illustrated (1to5), until all bolts are
tight. Observe a tightening torque
of 80 lb-ft (110 Nm).Before storing the jack, it should be fully
collapsed, with handle folded in (storage
position) (
page 322).

Store the jack and the other vehicle
tools in the storage compartment be-
hind the left trim panel (
page 322).
Warning!
G
Only use genuine equipment
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts. Other wheel
bolts may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the
vehicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle
could fall of the jack.
Warning!
G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. The wheels could come
loose if they are not tightened to a torque
of 80 lb-ft (110 Nm).

385 Technical terms
ABS
(A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)
Prevents the wheels from locking up
during braking so that the vehicle can
continue to be steered.
Alignment bolt
Metal pin with thread. The centering
pin is an aid used when changing a tire
to align the wheel with the wheel hub.
BabySmart
TM1
air bag deactivation
system
This system detects if a special system
compatible child restraint seat is
installed on the front passenger seat.
The system will automatically deacti-
vate the passenger front air bag when
such a seat is properly installed
(the56indicator lamp located
in the center console comes on). See
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for availability.BabySmart
TM compatible child seats
Special restraint system for children.
The sensor system for the passenger
seat prevents deployment of the
passenger front air bag if a
BabySmartTM compatible child seat is
installed.
BAS
(B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)
System for potentially reducing braking
distances in emergency braking
situations. The system is activated
when it senses an emergency based on
how fast the brake is applied.
Bi-Xenon headlamps*
Headlamps which use an electric arc as
the light source and produce a more
intense light than filament headlamps.
Bi-Xenon headlamps produce low
beam and high beam.CAC
(C
ustomer A
ssistance C
enter)
Mercedes-Benz customer service
center, which can help you with any
questions about your vehicle and
provide assistance in the event of a
breakdown.
CAN system
(C
ontroller A
rea N
etwork)
Data bus network serving to control
vehicle functions such as door locking
or windshield wiping depending on
vehicle settings and/or ambient
conditions.
Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the
passenger compartment needed for
vehicle operation and monitoring.
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.

392 Index
Mirrors 41
Multicontour seat* 103
Placing upright rear seat
head restraints 101
Power seat* 38
Rear seat head restraints 100
Seat belt height 45
Seat cushion depth 103
Seat cushion tilt, manual seat 36
Seat cushion tilt, power seat* 38
Seat fore and aft adjustment,
manual seat 36
Seat fore and aft adjustment,
power seat* 38
Seat height, manual seat 36
Seat height, power seat* 38
Seats 35
Steering column height,
electrical* 41
Steering column height,
manual 40Steering column length,
electrical* 41
Steering column length,
manual 40
Steering wheel 39
Adjusting air distribution
and volume 170
Adjusting sound functions 179
Adjusting the volume 179
Aids for changing fuses 357
Air bags 61
BabySmart
TM
deactivation system 72, 385
Children 62
Front 65
Passenger 65
Safety guidelines 64
Side impact 66
Window curtain 66
Air conditioning (cooling) 173
Turning off 173
Turning on 173Air conditioning refrigerant 375
Air distribution
Adjusting 170
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air recirculation mode 171
Activating 171
Deactivating 172
Air vents, rear passenger compartment
Adjustable 174
Air volume
Adjusting 170
Alarm
Audible 78, 85
Canceling 86, 88
Visual 85
Alarm system
Anti-theft* 85
Tow-away* 87
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 344, 385
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 380
Antiglare
Automatic* 162
Manual 161

420 Index
Instrument cluster 290
Leather upholstery 291
Light alloy wheels 290
MB Tex upholstery 292
Ornamental moldings 289
Paintwork 288
Plastic and rubber parts 292
Power washer 288
Seat belts 291
Side markers 289
Steering wheel 291
Tail lamps 289
Tar stains 288
Turn signals 289
Upholstery 291
Vehicle washing 289
Window cleaning 290
Wiper blades 290
Wood trims 292
Vehicle Identification Number see VIN
Vehicle jack 322Vehicle lighting
Checking 269
Vehicle status message memory 128
Calling up 128
Clearing 129
Vehicle status messages
Displaying 129
Vehicle tool kit 321
Alignment bolt 322
Collapsible wheel chock 322
Fuse extractor 322
Gloves 322
Jack 322
Spare fuses 322
Spare wheel bolts 322
Towing eye bolt 322
Vehicle jack 322
Wheel wrench 322
Vehicle washing 289
VIN 364, 389
Voice control system* 389
Hands-free microphone 29W
Warning lamps see
Lamps, indicator and warning
Warning sounds
Drivers seat belts 66
Parking brake 48
Warranty coverage 363
Washer fluid
Wiping rear window with 53
Wiping windshield with 52
Washer fluid see Windshield washer fluid
Washer reservoir level
Checking 269
Washing the vehicle 287
Wear pattern (tires) 281
Weights 372
Wheel change
Tightening torque 346
Wheels
Tires and wheels 278
Window curtain air bags 66
Windows see Side windows