flat tire MERCEDES-BENZ C320 4MATIC WAGON 2004 S203 User Guide

319 Practical hints
Flat tire
Wheel cover on vehicles with steel rims
(Canada only)
On wheel to be changed, remove wheel
cover by reaching into two openings of
the wheel cover and pulling away from
the wheel.

On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts
(approximately one full turn with
wrench).
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. Al-
ways lower the vehicle onto sufficient ca-
pacity jackstands before working under the
vehicle.

320 Practical hintsFlat tireThe jack take-up brackets are located
directly behind the front wheel housings
and in front of the rear wheel housings.
1Jack
2Take-up bracket
Place jack1 on firm ground.

Position jack1 under take-up
bracket2 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.

321 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting the new 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 mounting
bolts.

322 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 301).

Store the jack and the other vehicle
tools in the storage compartment be-
hind the left trim panel (
page 301).

Store the wheel cover (Canada only)
and the damaged wheel in the cargo
compartment.
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 tip over.
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).

323 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting wheel cover (Canada only)
Wheel cover on vehicles with steel rims
(Canada only)

Position small wheel cover opening
over tire valve and press wheel cover
against wheel rim.

Now press (do not hit) opposite side of
wheel cover against wheel rim until
seated.
Make certain that the springs of the
wheel cover are firmly seated in the
outer rim of the steel wheel.
!The wheel cover does not fit the
Minispare wheel.

341 Technical data
Rims and Tires
Rims and Tires
Only use tires and rims which have been
specifically developed for your vehicle and
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Other tires and rims can have detrimental
effects, such as

poor handling characteristics


increased noise


increased fuel consumption
!Moreover, tires and rims not approved
by Mercedes-Benz may, under load,
exhibit dimensional variations and
different tire deformation characteris-
tics that could cause them to come into
contact with the vehicle body or axle
parts. Damage to the tires or the
vehicle may be the result.
iFurther information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. A tire inflation
pressure table is located on the fuel
filler cap of the vehicle. The tire pres-
sure should be checked regularly and
should only be adjusted on cold tires.
Follow tire manufacturer’s mainte-
nance recommendation included with
vehicle.

356 Technical dataConsumer informationTemperature
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the tire’s
resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material of the
tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure. Grade C corresponds to a level
of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
Warning!
G
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause
excessive heat build-up and possible tire
failure.

364 Index
Seats 32, 33
Steering column height 38
Steering column length 38
Steering wheel 36
Air conditioning (cooling)
Turning off 156, 166
Turning on 156, 166
Air conditioning refrigerant 348
Air distribution
Adjusting 153, 162
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air recirculation mode 154, 163
Activating 154, 163
Deactivating 155, 164
Air vents, rear passenger compartment
Adjustable 157, 168
Air volume
Adjusting 153, 162Airbags 57
BabySmart
TM deactivation
system 68
Children 58
Front 61
Passenger 61
Side impact 62
Window curtain 62
Alarm
Audible 73, 81
Canceling 81
Visual 80
Alarm system
Anti-theft 80
Alignment bolt 357
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 320
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 353
Antiglare
Automatic 146
Manual 146
Antilock brake system (ABS) 357Anti-theft alarm system
Arming 80
Canceling alarm 81
Disarming 81
Anti-theft systems 80
Anti-theft alarm system* 80
Immobilizer 80
Tow-away alarm 81
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest
Storage compartment in front of 217
Storage spaces 218
Ashtray 219
ATF (automatic transmission fluid) 256
AUDIO menu 116
Selecting radio station 117
Audio system 169
Audio and telephone, operation 169
Button and soft key operation 172
Cassette operation 182
CD operation 185
Operating and display elements 170

367 Index
Storage compartment inside 209
Tailgate 87
Tie-down rings 214
Cargo tie-down rings 214
Cassette operation
Playing cassettes 182
Cassette player
Operating 119
Catalytic converter 246
CD changer* 185
CD operation 185
CD player
Operating 118
Center console 25
Lower part 26
PASS. AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp 279
Upper part 25
Centigrade
Setting temperature units 125Central locking
Automatic 88
From inside 89
Switch 89
Switching on/off
(control system) 131
Unlocking from inside 89
Central locking switch 89
Certification label 338
Changing
Key setting 132
Changing CDs 185
Charcoal filter 165
Charging
Vehicle battery 325
CHECK ENGINE
malfunction indicator lamp 23, 276
Checking
Coolant level 257
Oil level 251, 254
Tire inflate pressure 251
Vehicle lighting 251Child safety 65
Airbags 58
Infant and child
restraint systems 62, 65
LATCH-type child seat anchors 71
Child safety switch see
Blocking of rear door window operation
Cigarette lighter 220
Cleaning
Cloth upholstery 272
Cup holder 271
Gear selector lever 271
Hard plastic trim items 271
Headlamps 145
Headliner and shelf
below rear window 271
Instrument cluster 270
Leather upholstery 271
Light alloy wheels 270
MB Tex upholstery 272
Plastic and rubber parts 272
Seat belts 271
Steering wheel 271

372 IndexF
Fahrenheit
Setting temperature units 125
Fastening the seat belts 40
Fine adjustment
Cruise control 204
First aid kit 300
Flat tire 318
Lowering the vehicle 322
Minispare wheel 302
Mounting the Minispare wheel 318
Preparing the vehicle 318
Flexible fuel vehicles 350
At the gas station 249
Switching fuels 350
Flexible Service System (FSS) 265
Flexible service system (FSS) 358
Fog lamp, rear 103, 311Fog lamps
Replacing bulbs 310
Fog lamps, front
Messages in display 294
Replacing bulbs 311
Switching on 102
Four wheel electronic
traction system (4MATIC) with ESP 79
4MATIC 79
Front airbags 61
Front lamps
Bi-Xenon type 313
Halogen-type 312
Messages in display 293–296
Replacing bulbs 310, 312
Front seat head restraints
Installing 91
Manual seat 91
Power seat* 92
Removing 91Front seats
Heater* 95
FSS 358
FSS (Flexible Service System) 265
Fuel 250
Additives 350
Cruising range 351
E85 (Ethanol fuel) 351
Fuel reserve warning lamp 278
Gasoline additives 350
Premium unleaded
gasoline 250, 347, 349
Requirements 349
Reserve warning 23
Switching (Flexible fuel vehicle) 350
Technical data 346
Fuel additives 350
Fuel consumption statistics
After start 135
Since last reset 135