starter MERCEDES-BENZ C240 2001 W203 Owner's Manual

Contents
DrivingControl and operation of radio
transmitters ............................... 218
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 219
Maintenance ................................... 219
Tele Aid ...........................................220
Catalytic converter ........................228
Emission control ............................229
Starter switch .................................230
Starting and turning
off the engine ............................232
Manual transmission ....................233
Automatic transmission ...............234
Parking brake .................................243
Driving instructions ......................244
Drive sensibly – Save Fuel ........244
Drinking and driving .................244
Pedals ...........................................244Power assistance ........................ 245
Brakes .......................................... 245
Driving off ................................... 246
Parking ........................................ 246
Tires ............................................. 247
Snow chains ............................... 250
Winter driving
instructions ................................ 250
Deep water .................................. 252
Passenger compartment ........... 253
Traveling abroad ........................ 253
Cruise control ................................ 254
Brake assist system (BAS) ............ 257
Antilock brake system
(ABS) .......................................... 258
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ........................................... 260
What you should know at the gas
station ......................................... 264
Check regularly and before a long
trip .............................................. 266
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster .............268
On-board diagnostic system .........268
Check engine malfunction
indicator lamp .............................268
Brake warning lamp ..................270
Supplemental restraint system
(SRS) indicator lamp .................. 271
Fuel reserve warning ................. 271
ABS malfunction
indicator lamp .............................272
Electronic stability program
(ESP) — warning lamp ...............273
Seat belt nonusage
warning lamp ............................273
Malfunction and indicator lamp in
the center console .....................273
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp .....273

17 Instruments and controls
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Hood lock release, see page 297
2Parking brake pedal, see page 243
3Steering wheel adjustment (manual), see page 77
4Parking brake release, see page 243
5Exterior lamp switch, see page 130
6Combination switch, see page 134
7Exterior mirror adjustment, see page 81
8Headlamp washer button, see page 133
9Cruise control switch, see page 25410Multifunction steering wheel, see page 92
Horn (with electronic key in starter switch
position 1 or 2)
11Instrument cluster, see page 88
12Voice recognition system switch, see separate
operating instructions
13Starter switch, see page 230
14Glove box lid release, see page 194
15Glove box lock, see page 194

22 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Ve h i c l e k e y s
Included with your vehicle are 2 electronic main keys
with integrated radio frequency and infrared remote
controls plus removable mechanical key.
The locking tabs for the mechanical key portion of the
two electronic main keys are a different color to help
distinguish it.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
electronic key from the starter switch, and lock
your vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may cause
serious personal injury.

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.

30 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Panic button
To activate press and hold button (1) for at least one
second. An audible alarm and blinking exterior lamps
will operate for approximately 3 minutes.
To deactivate press button (1) again, or insert electronic
key in starter switch.Note:
For operation in the USA only: This device complies
with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this device could void
the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Mechanical keys
The mechanical keys work only in driver’s door, trunk,
and storage compartment locks.
Notes:
The mechanical key does not operate the central locking
system or antitheft alarm system.
The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or unlocked with
the mechanical key.
If the fuel filler flap cannot be opened, see page 335.
P80.35-2035-26
1

32 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
If the vehicle has previously been locked from the
outside, opening a door from the inside will trigger the
alarm. When opening a front door while the central
locking system is in the:
•selective unlocking mode, only that individual door
is unlocked. The remaining doors, the trunk and
fuel filler flap remain locked.
•global unlocking mode, all doors, the trunk and fuel
filler flap are unlocked.
Notes:
In case of a malfunction in the central locking system
the doors can be locked and unlocked individually.
To lock, push down lock buttons or turn mechanical key
in driver’s door lock to position 3. In addition lock the
trunk.To unlock, pull inside door handles or turn mechanical
key in driver’s door lock to position 2.
Rear doors can only be opened from inside by first
pulling up the door lock button.
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.

33 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Central locking switch
1Locking
2Unlocking
The central locking switch is located in the center
console.
The doors and trunk can only be locked with the central
locking switch, if both front doors are closed.
If the vehicle was previously locked with the central
locking switch, while in the selective remote control
mode, only the door opened from the inside is unlocked.If the vehicle was previously locked with the central
locking switch, while in the global remote control mode,
the complete vehicle is unlocked when a door is opened
from the inside.
Notes:
If the vehicle was previously locked with the remote
control, the doors and trunk cannot be unlocked with
the central locking switch.
The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or unlocked with
the central locking switch.
If the vehicle has previously been locked from the
outside, opening a door from the inside will trigger the
alarm. To cancel the alarm, insert the electronic key in
the starter switch or press buttonŒ or‹ on the
electronic main key.
P54.25-2417-26
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
electronic key from the starter switch, and lock
your vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may cause
serious personal injury.

34 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Automatic central locking
Wit h t he autom ati c c entral lockin g s ystem ac ti vate d, t he
doors and trunk are locked at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km / h) or more. The fuel filler
flap remains unlocked.
The automatic central locking function can be switched
on or off. See page 111 for “Individual settings”.
Notes:
If doors are unlocked with the central locking switch
after activating the automatic central locking, and
neither door is opened, then the doors remain unlocked
even at vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km / h) or more.
If a door is opened from the inside at speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km / h) or less with the
automatic central locking activated, the door will again
be automatically locked at speeds of approximately
9 mph (15 km / h) or more.Important!
When towing the vehicle, or with the vehicle on a
dynamometer test stand, please, note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and the
electronic key in starter switch position 2, the vehicle
doors will lock if the left front wheel as well as the right
rear wheel spin at vehicle speeds of approximately
9 mph (15 km / h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking. See page 111
for “Individual settings” - “VEHICLE”.
Emergency unlocking in case of accident
The doors unlock automatically a short time after an
accident in which an airbag or emergency tensioning
retractor deploys (this is intended to aid rescue and
exit).