towing MERCEDES-BENZ CLA 2014 User Guide

Useful information............................294
Where will I find...?...........................294
Flat tire..............................................295
Battery(vehicle)................................299
Jump-starting....................................303
Towing and tow-starting..................305
Fuses..................................................308
293
Breakdown assistance

Useful information
iThis Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
iRead the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Ypage 25).
Where will I find...?
First-aid kit
XOpen the trunklid.
XRemove first-aid kit.
iCheck the expiration date on first-aid
kitat least once a year. Replace the
contents if necessary, and replace missing
items.
Vehicle tool kit
General notes
Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit: the TIREFIT kit is
located in the stowage well under the trunk
floor.
Vehicles with a tire-changetool kit: the tire-
change tool kit is in the stowage well under
the trunk floor.
iApart from certain country-specific
variations, the vehicles are not equipped
with a tire-change tool kit. Some tools for
changing a wheel are specific to the
vehicle. For more information on which
tools are required and approved to perform
a wheel change on your vehicle, consult a
qualified specialist workshop.
Tools required for changingawheel may
include, for example:
RJack
RWheel chock
RLug wrench
Vehicles withaTIREFIT kit
Tire inflation compressor
Towing eye
"Tire sealantfiller bottle
XOpen the trunk lid.
XLift the trunk floor upwards (Ypage 259).
iTowing eyeis located under tire
inflation compressor.
Vehicles withatire-change tool kit
XOpen the trunk lid.
XLift the trunk floor upwards (Ypage 259).
XRemove the tire-change toolkit.
294Where will I find...?
Breakdown assistance

Position number identifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-
starting device.
XPress together coverof positive clampand slide it back.
XConnectpositive terminalon your vehicle to positive terminal"of donor battery
using the jumper cable, beginning with your own battery.
XStart the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.
XConnect negative terminal!of donor battery to ground pointof your vehicle using
the jumper cable, connecting the jumper cable to battery of other vehicle first.
XStart the engine.
XBefore disconnecting the jumper cables, let the engine run for several minutes.
XFirst, remove the jumper cables from earth pointand negative terminal!, then from
positive clampand positive terminal". Begin each time at the contacts on your own
vehicle first.
XClose coverof positive terminalafter removing the jumper cables.
XHave the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
iJump-starting is not considered to be a normal operating condition.
iJumper cables and further information regarding jump-starting can be obtained at any
qualified specialist workshop.
Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longer available if:
Rthe engine is not running.
Rthe brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning.
Rthere is a malfunction in the voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
If your vehicle is being towed, much more
force may be necessary to steer or brake.
There is a risk of an accident.
In such cases, use a tow bar. Before towing,
make sure that the steering moves freely.
GWARNING
If the weight of the vehicle to be towed or tow-
started is greater than the permissible gross
weight of your vehicle:
Rthe towing eye could detach itself
Rthe vehicle/trailer combination could
rollover.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the
permissible gross weight of your vehicle.
Information on your vehicle's gross vehicle
weight rating can be found on the vehicle
identification plate (Ypage 344).
Towing and tow-starting305
Breakdown assistance
Z

!If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes
automatically in certain situations. To
prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similarsituations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
!Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged.
!Do not use the towing eyes for recovery
purposes as this could damage the vehicle.
If in doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
!When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
!The vehicle can be towed a maximum of
30 miles (50km). The towing speed of
30 mph (50km/h) must not be exceeded.
If the vehicle has to be towed more than
30 miles (50km), the front axle must be
raised or the entire vehicle raised and
transported.
!Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be started by tow-starting. This
could otherwise damage the transmission.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
When towing a vehicle, the transmission must
be in positionN.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
Rcannot turn the SmartKey to position2in
the ignition lock
Rcannot shift the transmission to position
N.
iDeactivate the automatic locking feature
(Ypage 208). You could otherwise be
locked out when pushing or towing the
vehicle.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
XRemove the towing eye fromthe stowage
space.
The towing eye is located with the vehicle
tool kit under the trunk floor (Ypage 259).
Vehicles with the TIREFIT kit: the towing
eye is beneath the tire inflation
compressor.
XPress the mark on coverinwards in the
direction of the arrow.
XTake coveroff the opening.
XScrew in and tighten the towing eye
clockwise to the stop.
Removing the towing eye
XUnscrew and remove the towing eye.
XPosition the top of coverin the bumper
and press it in at the bottom until it
engages.
XPlace the towing eye in the stowage well
under the trunk floor (Ypage 259).
XVehicles with the TIREFIT kit: put back the
tire inflation compressor.
306Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

Towing the vehicle with the front axle
raised
Only vehicles without 4MATIC can be
towed with the front axle raised.
!Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rearaxle raised,
as doing so will damage the transmission.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may either be towed
away with both axles on the ground or be
loaded up and transported.
!The ignition must be switched off if the
vehicle is being towed with the front axle
raised.Otherwise, ESP®may intervene and
damage the brake system.
XTurn the SmartKey to position2in the
ignition lock.
XWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
XShift the automatic transmission to
positionP.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the electric parking brake.
XSwitch off the automatic locking
(Ypage 208).
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
(Ypage 107).
XTurn the SmartKey to position0in the
ignition lock and leave the SmartKey in the
ignition lock.
Observe the important safety notes when
towing your vehicle with the front axle raised
(Ypage 305).
Towingavehicle with both axles on
the ground
iIn orderto signal a change of direction
when towing with the hazard warning lamps
switched on, use the combination switch as
usual.Inthis case, only the indicator lamps
for the direction of travel flash. After
resetting the combination switch, the
hazard warning lamp starts flashing again.
The automatic transmission automatically
shifts to positionPwhen you open the driver's
or front-passenger door or when you remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock. In order
to ensure that the automatic transmission
stays in positionNwhen towing the vehicle,
you must observe the following points:
XMake sure that the vehicle is stationary.
XTurn the SmartKey to position2in the
ignition lock.
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.
XShift the automatic transmission to
positionN.
XLeave the SmartKey in position2in the
ignition lock.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the electric parking brake.
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
(Ypage 107).
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(Ypage 305).
Transporting the vehicle
!You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as
axle or steering components. Otherwise,
the vehicle could be damaged.
XTurn the SmartKey to position2in the
ignition lock.
XShift the transmission to positionN.
As soon as the vehicle has been loaded:
XPrevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake.
XShift the transmission to positionP.
XTurn the SmartKey to position0in the
ignition lock and remove it.
XSecure the vehicle.
The towing eye can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a trailer or transporter for transporting
purposes.
Towing and tow-starting307
Breakdown assistance
Z

XStep 4:The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the "XXX" amount
equals 1400 lbs and there are five
occupants in the vehicle each with a weight
of 150 lbs, the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs (1400
750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
XStep 5:Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed
the available cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in step 4.
XStep 6 (if applicable):If your vehicle will
be towing a trailer, load from your trailer
will be transferred to your vehicle. Refer to
this Operator's Manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your vehicle
(Ypage 327).
Loading the vehicle325
Wheels and tires
Z