key battery MERCEDES-BENZ C240 2001 W203 Owner's Manual

Contents
Malfunction and warning messages
in the multifunction display ... 274
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE ................275
BATTERY / ALTERNATOR ........ 276
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM .....277
BRAKE ASSIST ...........................277
BRAKE LINING WEAR ..............278
BRAKE FLUID .............................278
PARKING BRAKE .......................279
SEAT BELT SYSTEM ...................279
ELEC. STABIL. PROG.
(Electronic stability program) ..280
COOLANT (coolant level) .......... 281
COOLANT
(coolant temperature) ................282ENGINE OIL LEVEL ................... 283
LIGHTING SYSTEM ................... 284
LIGHT SENSOR .......................... 286
DOOR ........................................... 286
TRUNK OPEN ............................. 287
HOOD ........................................... 287
TELEPHONE – FUNCTION ....... 288
TELE AID ..................................... 288
WASHER FLUID ......................... 289
RESTRAINT SYSTEM ................ 290
KEY .............................................. 290
FUEL RESERVE .......................... 291
UNDERVOLTAGE ....................... 291
STEER. WHEEL ADJUST. .......... 292
ENTRANCE POSITION .............. 292
Practical hintsFirst aid kit .....................................294
Stowing things in the vehicle ......294
Fuses ................................................295
Hood .................................................297
Checking engine oil level .............300
Automatic transmission fluid
level ............................................. 301
Coolant level ................................... 301
Adding coolant ...........................302
Windshield and headlamp washer
system .........................................302
Spare wheel, vehicle tools, storage
compartment .............................304
Vehicle jack .....................................305

ContentsWheels .............................................306
Tire replacement ........................306
Rotating wheels ..........................307
Spare wheel ....................................308
Changing wheels ...........................309
Tire inflation pressure .................. 315
Battery ............................................. 316
Jump starting .................................. 318
Towing the vehicle ......................... 321
Transmission selector lever,
manually unlocking ...................325
Exterior lamps ................................326
Replacing bulbs ..........................326
Trunk lamp ..................................... 331
Changing batteries in the electronic
main key .....................................332Synchronizing remote
control ......................................... 334
Emergency engine shut-down ..... 334
Fuel filler flap, manual release ... 335
Replacing wiper blade insert ...... 337
Roof rack ......................................... 338
Vehicle careCleaning and care of
the vehicle ................................. 340
Power washer ............................. 341
Tar stains .................................... 341
Paintwork, painted body
components ................................ 341
Engine cleaning ......................... 342
Vehicle washing ......................... 342Ornamental moldings ................343
Headlamps, taillamps, turn signal
lenses ...........................................343
Window cleaning .......................343
Wiper blade .................................343
Light alloy wheels ......................344
Instrument cluster .....................344
Steering wheel and gear selector
lever ..............................................344
Cup holder ...................................344
Seat belts .....................................345
Headliner and shelf below rear
window ........................................345
Leather upholstery .....................345
Hard plastic trim items .............345
Plastic and rubber parts ............345

24 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Start lock-out
Important!
Removing the electronic key from the starter switch
activates the start lock-out. The engine cannot be
started.
Inserting the electronic key in the starter switch
deactivates the start lock-out.
Note:
In case the engine cannot be started (vehicle’s battery is
in order), the system is not operational. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call 1-800-FOR-
MERCedes (in the USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).General notes on the central locking system
•If the electronic key is inserted in the starter switch,
the vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked with the
remote control.
If the vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked:
•Aim transmitter eye at a receiver of either front door
handle. Check the batteries of the electronic main
key, see page 332, or synchronize the electronic
main key, see page 334.
•Use the mechanical key to unlock the vehicle. To
start engine, insert the electronic key in the starter
switch. There could be a slight delay until the
electronic key can be turned in the starter switch.
Important!
When unlocking the driver’s door with the mechanical
key, the exterior lamps will flash and the alarm will
sound.
To cancel the alarm, insert the electronic key in the
starter switch or press buttonŒ or‹ on the
electronic main key.

25 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Central locking system
Radio frequency and infrared remote control
The electronic main key has an integrated radio
frequency and infrared remote control.
Due to the extended operational range of the remote
control, it could be possible to unintentionally lock or
unlock the vehicle by pressing the transmit button. If
one of the transmit buttons is pressed, the battery check
lamp lights up brief ly – indicating that the batteries are
in order. See page 332 for checking batteries.
The vehicle doors, trunk and fuel filler flap can be
centrally locked and unlocked via remote control.
Opening and closing the windows and sliding/pop-up
roof can only be done with the infrared portion of the
remote control. Aim transmitter eye at a receiver (6
or 7), press and hold transmit button Œ or ‹,
seepage29.
With vehicle centrally locked, the trunk can also be
opened by using the remote control.
If the electronic key is inserted in starter switch, the
vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked, and the trunk lid
cannot be opened with the remote control.1Transmit button
‹ Locking
ΠUnlocking
Š Opening trunk (if not separately locked)
2Lamp for battery check (see page 332 for changing
batteries if it does not light up briefly)
3PANIC button
4Transmitter eye
5Locking tab for mechanical key
P80.35-2032-26
24
3
5
1

27 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Locking and unlocking with remote control
Unlocking:
Press transmit button Œ. All turn signal lamps blink
once to indicate that the vehicle is unlocked.
The remote control can be programmed for two kinds of
unlocking modes (see below):
Selective unlocking mode –
Press transmit button Œ once to unlock driver’s door
and fuel filler flap.
Press transmit button Πtwice to unlock all doors,
fuel filler flap, and trunk.
Global unlocking mode –
Press transmit button Πonce to unlock all doors,
fuel filler flap, and trunk.
Notes:
If the trunk was previously locked separately, it will
remain locked, see page 35.
The presently active unlocking mode (selective or
global) can only be determined by unlocking the vehicle
with the remote control (see below for changing mode).If within 40 seconds of unlocking with the remote
control, neither door or trunk is opened, the electronic
key is not inserted in the starter switch, or the central
locking switch is not activated, the vehicle will
automatically lock.
Locking:
Press transmit button ‹ once. All turn signal lamps
blink three times to indicate that the vehicle is locked. If
they do not blink three times, a door or trunk is not
properly closed.
Note:
If the vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked by pressing
the transmit button, then it may be necessary to change
the batteries in the electronic main key (if ok, battery
check lamp in electronic main key will light briefly
when pressing transmit button) or to synchronize the
remote control, see pages 332 and 334.
Choosing global or selective mode on remote control
Press and hold transmit buttons‹ andŒ
simultaneously for five seconds to reprogram the
remote control. Battery check lamp will blink two times
indicating the completed mode change.

29 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Opening and closing windows and
sliding / pop-up roof from outside
(summer opening / convenience feature)
Aim transmitter eye of remote control at the door
receiver.
Summer opening:
The sliding / pop-up roof and all side windows can be
opened automatically.
Continue to press transmit button Πafter unlocking
the vehicle.
The windows and sliding/pop-up roof begin to open
after approximately 1 second.
To interrupt opening procedure, release transmit
button.
Convenience feature:
The sliding / pop-up roof and the side windows can be
closed.
Continue to press transmit button ‹ after locking
the vehicle.
The windows and sliding / pop-up roof begin to close
after approximately 1 second.To interrupt closing procedure, release transmit button.
Ensure that all side windows and the sliding / pop-up
roof are properly closed before leaving the vehicle.
Note:
If the windows and sliding / pop-up roof cannot be
operated automatically by pressing the transmit button
of t he r emo te c ontr ol then it m ay be n ece ssar y to chan ge
the batteries in the electronic main key (if ok, battery
check lamp in electronic main key will light briefly
when transmitting), or to synchronize the remote
control, see page 332 and 334.
Wa r n i n g !
Never operate the windows or sliding / pop-up roof
if there is the possibility of anyone being harmed
by the opening or closing procedure.In case the procedure causes potential danger, the
procedure can be immediately halted by releasing
the remote control button. To reverse direction of
movement press Œ for opening or ‹ for
closing.

126 Flexible service system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
The service indicator disappears automatically after
30 seconds or if the knob for instrument cluster
illumination, see page 88, in the instrument cluster is
pressed.
Calling up service indicator manually:
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 1.
Call up the trip odometer and main odometer by
pressing button è or ÿ on the multifunction
steering wheel until the display appears. See page 96.
Press button j or k until the FSS indicator
appears.
The next or previous system is displayed by pressing
button è or ÿ.
Important!
The FSS indicator is not an engine oil level indicator.
See page 128 for engine oil level indicator.Note:
When disconnecting vehicle battery for one or more
days at a time, such days will not be counted. Any such
days not counted by the FSS can be added by your
Mercedes-Benz Center.
The interval between services is determined by the type
of driving for which the vehicle is used. For example,
driving at extreme speeds, and cold starts combined
wi t h short di stan ce d r ivi ng in which the e ngin e d oes not
reach operating normal temperature, reduce the interval
between services.

145 Climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Climate control - OFF/ON
To switch the climate control off, set the air volume
control switch to position 0.
The fresh air supply to the vehicle interior is shut off.
While driving, use this setting only temporarily,
otherwise the windshield could fog up.
To switch the climate control on again, set air volume
control switch to any speed.
Economy mode
The function of this setting corresponds to the
automatic mode. However, because the air conditioning
compressor will not engage (fuel savings), it is not
possible to air condition in this setting.
Press S button to activate. The indicator lamp in the
button illuminates.
Press S button once again to return to the previous
setting.
Important!
In the S mode the windows could fog up on the
inside. Switch off S mode.Residual engine heat utilization
With the engine switched off, it is possible to continue
to heat or ventilate the interior for a short while. Air
volume and distribution are controlled automatically.
To s e l e c t :
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 1
or 0 or remove it altogether.
Press button T. The indicator lamp in the button
illuminates.
This function selection will not activate if the battery
level is insufficient.
The function switches off automatically:
•if the electronic key in starter switch is turned to
position 2,
•after approximately 30 minutes,
•if the battery voltage drops.

156 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Residual engine heat utilization
With the engine switched off, it is possible to continue
to heat or ventilate the interior for a short while. Air
volume and distribution are controlled automatically.
To select:
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 1
or 0 or remove it altogether.
Press button T. The indicator lamp in the button
illuminates.
This function selection will not activate if the battery
level is insufficient. The function switches off automatically:
•if the electronic key in starter switch is turned to
position 2,
•after approximately 30 minutes,
•if the battery voltage drops.

157 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Rear window defroster
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 2.
To select:
Press the F button in the control panel of the
automatic air conditioner. The indicator lamp in the
button illuminates.
To c a nc el:
Press the F button in the control panel of the
automatic air conditioner. The indicator lamp in the
button goes out.
Note:
Heavy accumulation of snow and ice should be removed
before activating the defroster. The rear wind ow de fr oster us es a large amount of power.
To keep the battery drain to a minimum, turn off the
defroster as soon as the rear window is clear.
The defroster is automatically turned off after
approximately 6–17 minutes of operation depending on
the outside temperature and vehicle speed.
If several power consumers are turned on
simultaneously, or the battery is only partially charged,
it is possible that the defroster will automatically turn
itself off. When this happens, the indicator lamp inside
the switch starts blinking.
As soon as the battery has sufficient voltage, the
defroster automatically turns itself back on.