traction control MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class 2008 C216 Comand Manual

444 Controls in detailDriving systemsWarning!
G
DISTRONIC Plus adaptive cruise control is
no substitute for active driving involvement.
It does not react to pedestrians or stationary
objects, nor does it recognize or predict the
curvature and lane layout or the movement
of vehicles ahead. DISTRONIC Plus can only
apply a maximum of 40% of the vehicle’s
braking power.
DISTRONIC Plus may not detect narrow ve-
hicles possibly driving in front of you, such
as motorcycles and vehicles driving in an
offset formation.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to road, weather and traffic con-
ditions and to provide the steering, braking
and other driving inputs necessary to retain
control of the vehicle.
High-frequency sources such as toll sta-
tions, speed measuring systems etc. can
cause the DISTRONIC Plus system to tem-
porarily cease functioning.
Warning!
G
DISTRONIC Plus requires familiarity with its
operational characteristics. We strongly rec-
ommend that you review the following infor-
mation carefully before operating the
system.Warning!
G
DISTRONIC Plus cannot take street and traf-
fic conditions into account. Only use
DISTRONIC Plus if the road, weather and
traffic conditions make it advisable to travel
at a steady speed.Warning!
G
Use of DISTRONIC Plus can be dangerous
on slippery roads. Rapid changes in tire trac-
tion can result in wheel spin and loss of con-
trol.
DISTRONIC Plus does not act upon adverse
sight distance conditions. Do not use
DISTRONIC Plus during conditions of fog
and heavy rain, snow or sleet.Warning!
G
DISTRONIC Plus cannot take weather condi-
tions into account. Switch off
DISTRONIC Plus or do not turn it on if:

roads are slippery or covered with snow
or ice. The wheels could lose traction
while braking or accelerating, and the
vehicle could skid.


the sensor is dirty or visibility is
diminished due to snow, rain or fog. The
distance control could be impaired.
Always pay attention to traffic conditions
even while DISTRONIC Plus is switched on.
Otherwise, you may not be able to recognize
dangerous situations until it is too late and
could cause an accident resulting in person-
al or fatal injury to you or others.

543 Operation
Driving instructions
TiresTreadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and be-
come visible at a tread depth of approxi-
mately
1/16in (1.6 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be re-
placed.
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.Specified tire inflation pressures must be
maintained. This applies particularly if the
tires are subject to extreme operating con-
ditions (e.g. high speeds, heavy loads, high
ambient temperatures).
For more information, see “Tires and
wheels” (
page 561).
Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer
on the road, hydroplaning may occur, even
at low speeds and with new tires. Reduce
vehicle speed, avoid track grooves in the
road and apply brakes cautiously in the
rain.


Turn the SmartKey or the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* to starter switch
position0 and remove, or press the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button.


Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO
* with you and lock the
vehicle when leaving.
Warning!
G
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or
ride disturbance, or you suspect that possi-
ble damage to your vehicle has occurred,
you should turn on the hazard warning flash-
ers, carefully slow down, and drive with cau-
tion to an area which is a safe distance from
the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle underbody
for possible damage. If the vehicle or tires
appear unsafe, have the vehicle towed to
the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center or tire
dealer for repairs.
Warning!
G
Although the applicable federal motor vehi-
cle safety laws consider a tire to be worn
when the treadwear indicators (TWI) be-
come visible at approximately
1/16 in
(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not al-
low your tires to wear down to that level. As
tread depth approaches
1/8 in (3 mm), the
adhesion properties on a wet road are
sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire or driving at high
speed with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.

544 OperationDriving instructionsTire traction
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or
icy road is always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the
condition of the road whenever the outside
temperatures are close to the freezing
point.Mercedes-Benz recommends winter tires
(
page 590) with a minimum tread depth
of approximately
1/6in (4 mm) on all four
wheels for the winter season to ensure
normal balanced handling characteristics.
On packed snow, they can reduce your
stopping distance compared to summer
tires.
Stopping distance, however, is still consid-
erably greater than when the road is not
covered with snow or ice. Exercise appro-
priate caution.
Tire speed rating
Regardless of the tire speed rating, local
speed limits should be obeyed. Use pru-
dent driving speeds appropriate to prevail-
ing conditions.
Warning!
G
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction
will be substantially reduced. Under such
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake
with extreme caution.
!
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel. This may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited War-
ranty.
Warning!
G
Even when permitted by law, never operate
a vehicle at speeds greater than the maxi-
mum speed rating of the tires.
Exceeding the maximum speed for which
tires are rated can lead to sudden tire fail-
ure, causing loss of vehicle control and pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or serious
personal injury and possible death, for you
and for others.

584 OperationTires and wheelsQuality grades can be found, where appli-
cable, on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to
these grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For ex-
ample, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1
1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to low-
est, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades rep-
resent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the high-
est), B, and C, representing the tire’s resis-
tance 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 tem-
perature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and ex-
cessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure. The grade C corresponds to the
minimum 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.
Treadwear
Traction
Temperature
200
AA
A
Warning!
G
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.

591 Operation
Winter driving
Snow chainsSnow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains
as soon as possible when driving on roads
without snow.
Please observe the following guidelines
when using snow chains:


Use of snow chains is not permissible
with all wheel/tire combinations
(page 727).


Use snow chains in pairs and rear
wheels only. Follow the manufacturer’s
mounting instructions.


Only use snow chains that are
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
be glad to advise you on this subject.


Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before installing
snow chains.


Do not use snow chains on the spare
wheel (
page 730).
Warning!
G
If you use your spare tire when winter tires
are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that
the difference in tire characteristics may
very well impair turning stability and that
overall driving stability may be reduced.
Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter
tire at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.!
When driving with snow chains, always se-
lect the raised level of the level control system
ABC (page 461). Other settings may result in
damage to your vehicle.
!
Some tire sizes do not leave adequate clear-
ance for snow chains. To help avoid serious dam-
age to your vehicle or tires, make sure that the
use of snow chains is permissible as specified in
the “Technical data” section of this Operator’s
Manual, see “Rims and tires” (
page 727).
!
If snow chains are mounted to the front
wheels, they may scrape against the body or axle
components. The tires or the vehicle could be
damaged as a result.
i
All models except CL 63 AMG:
When driving with snow chains, you may wish to
switch off the ESP
® (page 72) before setting
the vehicle in motion. This will improve the
vehicle’s traction.
i
CL 63 AMG:
Do not switch off the ESP
® when driving in snow
or with snow chains mounted.

614 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
l
PRE-SAFE
® Brake*: The red dis-
tance warning lamp comes on
while driving.
You are too close to the vehicle in front of
you to maintain selected speed.

Apply the brakes immediately to in-
crease the following distance.
l
DISTRONIC Plus* or PRE-SAFE
®
Brake*: The red distance warn-
ing lamp comes on while driving
and an acoustic warning
sounds.You are gaining too rapidly on the vehicle
ahead of you.

Apply the brakes immediately.
DISTRONIC Plus* or PRE-SAFE
® Brake* has
recognized a stationary obstacle on your
probable line of travel.

Apply the brakes immediately.

Carefully observe the traffic situation.
You may need to brake or maneuver to
avoid hitting an obstacle.
v
The yellow ESP
® warning lamp
flashes while driving.
The ESP
® or electronic traction system has
come into operation because of detected
traction loss in at least one tire.
Cruise control and DISTRONIC Plus* are de-
activated.

When driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.

While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor.

Adapt your speed and driving to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.

Do not deactivate the ESP
®. Exceptions:
(
page 72).
Failure to follow these instructions increas-
es the risk of an accident.

748 Index
Distance warning lamp 31, 614
Driving hints 458
Increasing distance 458
Increasing time interval 457
Intermittent signal tone 446
Lever 449
Menu 448
Messages in display 625
Sensor cover 599
Setting a higher speed 453
Setting a slower speed 454
Setting following distance 457
Setting the current speed 453
Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function) 455
Warning and indicator lamps 446
Document holder 516
Door
Control panel 38
Entry lamps 399
Inside door handle 362
Locking 354, 360
Locking with Tele Aid 529
Messages in display 627, 659
Opening from inside vehicle 362
Opening from outside 354, 360Power closing assist 363
Unlocking 354, 359
Unlocking with Tele Aid 529
DOT 586
Downhill driving
Cruise control 439
Drink holder see Cup holder
Drinking and driving 539
Drive-dynamic multicontour seats*
Adjusting (COMAND) 278
Drive-dynamic function
(COMAND) 281
Multicontour adjustments
(COMAND) 278
Driving 406
Abroad 547
Hydroplaning 543
In winter 545
Instructions 406, 539
Problems 411
Safety systems 65
Through standing water 546
With DISTRONIC Plus* 458
Driving maneuver (COMAND) 233
Driving off 542Driving safety systems
ABS 65
Adaptive Brake Lights
(CL 600, USA only) 67
BAS 67
BAS Plus 68
EBP 70
Electronic traction system 72
ESP
®
70
Driving systems 437
ABC 461
Advanced Parking Guidance* 471
Cruise control 437
DISTRONIC Plus* 443
Driving safety systems 65
Park Assist* 467
Parktronic system* 463
Rear View Camera* 477
Vehicle level control (ABC) 462
Driving tips 424
Kickdown 424
DVD 112
Audio (COMAND) 112
Changer (COMAND) 116
Changer (Voice Control) 333
Ejecting (COMAND) 118

749 Index
Loading (COMAND) 116
Playback options (COMAND) 124
Selecting a medium (COMAND) 122
Selecting a track (COMAND) 122
Setting the audio format
(COMAND) 124
Video (COMAND) 128
E
Easy-entry/exit feature 373
COMAND menu 264
EBP 70
Electrical fuses see Fuses
Electrical system, Technical Data 731
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic parking brake 412
Indicator lamp 31, 610
Messages in display 646
Warning lamp 31, 610
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Electronic traction system 72
Emergency call system 522
Emergency calls, Tele Aid 523
Emergency engine shut-down 717
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) 433Emergency operations
Locking the vehicle 684
Releasing from inside 504
Remote door lock 529
Remote door unlock 529
Unlocking the trunk 685
Unlocking the vehicle 684
Emergency Tensioning Device see ETD
Emergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 707
First aid kit 681
Flat tire 696
Fuses 714
Roadside Assistance 16
Roadside Assistance (Tele Aid) 525
Towing the vehicle 710
Emission control 548
Emission control information label 723
Emission control system warranties 14
Engine
Belt layout 724
Cleaning 597
Compartment 553
Coolant 559, 735, 738
Malfunction indicator lamp 31, 612Number 722, 723
Oil 557, 733, 736
Oils 554
Residual heat and ventilation 498
Starting 406
Technical data 725
Turning off 415
Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 554
Adding 557
Additives 736
Checking level 554
Checking level (Dipstick) 557
Checking level (Instrument cluster
control system) 555
Consumption 554
Dipstick 557
Filler neck 557, 558
Messages in display 556, 670
Recommended engine oils and oil
filters 733
ESP
®
70
Messages in display 641, 652
Warning lamp 31, 609, 614

762 Index
PIN2 (COMAND) 143
PUK / PUK2 (COMAND) 143
Redialing (COMAND) 150
Redialing (Instrument cluster
control system) 297
Removing from cradle 521
Single call connection
(COMAND) 151
Speed dialing (COMAND) 150
Submenu overview (COMAND) 144
Switching on/off (COMAND) 139
Transferring a call (COMAND) 153
Unlock code (COMAND) 143
Voice Control 308
Telephone* cradle
Changing 521
Temperature
Outside temperature indicator 31
Setting interior temperature
(COMAND) 270
Tires 570
Tightening torque, Wheel bolts 701
Tilt/sliding sunroof see Power tilt/sliding
sunroofTime
Setting (COMAND) 255
TIN 588
Tire and Loading Information
Placard 565
Tire Identification Number see TIN
Tires 561
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS) 572
And Rims 727
And Wheels 561
Care and maintenance 562
Chains 591
Checking inflation pressure electroni-
cally with Advanced Tire Pressure
Monitoring System
(Advanced TPMS) 572
Cleaning 563
Cold tire inflation pressure 586
Combination low tire pressure
malfunction telltale 31, 618
Direction of rotation 564
Driving instructions 543
Important notes on tire
inflation pressure 570Inflation pressure 569
Information placard 565
Inspection 562
Load rating 578, 588
Load rating, Maximum 582, 586
Minispare wheel 683, 730
Ply composition and material
used 588
Problems under-/overinflation 569
Retreads 561
Rotating 589
Service life 562
Sizes 727
Snow 590
Speed rating 544, 579, 588
Storing 563
Temperature 570, 584
Terminology 585
Total load limit 588
TPMS malfunction telltale 31, 618
Traction 544, 588
Tread depth 563
Tread depth, Winter 590
Treadwear indicators 588
Vehicle maximum load on 588

763 Index
Wear pattern 589
Winter 590
Tools 681
Top tether
Children in the vehicle 61
Towing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit) 681,
713
Towing the vehicle 710
Tow-start 707, 710
Traction 544, 584, 588
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Traveling abroad 547
Tread 588
Tread depth, Tires 563
Tread depth, Winter tires 590
Treadwear indicators 588
Trip odometer 286
Resetting 287
Troubleshooting
Voice Control 347
Trunk
Closing 684
Emergency release 504
Lighting 399
Message in display 680Opening-height restriction
(COMAND) 268
Power closing assist for trunk lid 363
Unlocking in an emergency 684
Valet locking 505
Tumbler holder see Cup holder
Turn signal lamps
Cleaning lenses 599
Replacing bulbs 689
Turn signals 410
Additional in mirrors 689
Front bulbs 689
Indicator lamp 31
Rear bulbs 689U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 588
Uphill driving
Cruise control 439
Upholstery
Cleaning 606
Useful features 516