transmission MERCEDES-BENZ CLS-CLASS 2011 Owner's Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: MERCEDES-BENZ, Model Year: 2011, Model line: CLS-CLASS, Model: MERCEDES-BENZ CLS-CLASS 2011Pages: 308, PDF Size: 6.07 MB
Page 106 of 308
Effect
A
Neutral position
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When the
brakes are released, the vehicle can
be moved freely (pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the
transmission, never shift the
automatic transmission into neutral
position N while driving.
Exception: If the ESP ®
is switched
off or malfunctioning, shift the
automatic transmission into neutral
position N if the vehicle is in danger
of skidding.
! Coasting the vehicle, or driving
for any other reason with the
automatic transmission in neutral
position N can result in
transmission damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty. 7
Drive position
The automatic transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears are
available.
Driving tips
Kickdown Use the kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
X
U.S. vehicles except AMG vehicles:
Fully depress the accelerator pedal.
Depending on the engine speed the
automatic transmission shifts into a lower
gear.
X Canada vehicles and AMG vehicles:
Depress the accelerator pedal past the
point of resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
automatic transmission shifts into a lower
gear. Working on the vehicle G
Warning!
When working on the vehicle, engage the
parking brake and shift the automatic
transmission into park position P. Otherwise
the vehicle could roll away which could result
in an accident and/or serious personal injury. Gear ranges
With the automatic transmission in drive
position D and driving in automatic program
mode C or S, you can limit or extend the gear
range, see “One-touch gearshifting”
(Y page 105).
The current gear range appears in the
multifunction display. :
Gear range indicator Effect
=
With this selection you can use the
braking effect of the engine.
5
Allows the use of the engine’s
braking effect when driving
R
on steep downgrades
R in mountainous regions
R under extreme operating
conditions 4
For maximum use of the engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.104
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Automatic shift program
Program mode selector switch
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For sporty driving
Program mode selector switch on CLS 63 AMG
C Comfort For standard driving
S Sport For sporty driving
M Manual For manual gearshifting The current program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
:
Program mode indicator
You should only change the program mode
when the automatic transmission is in park
position P.
Automatic program mode S will not be stored.
When the engine is turned off with the
automatic program mode S selected, the
automatic transmission will go to the
automatic program mode C when the engine
is restarted.
X Press the program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the letter of the desired
program mode appears in the multifunction
display.
Selecting program mode C means:
R The vehicle starts out more gentle, both
forward and reverse, except when driving
off with full throttle.
R Traction and driving stability are improved
on icy roads.
R Upshifts occur earlier even when you give
more gas. The engine then operates at
lower revolutions and the wheels are less
likely to spin.
Selecting program mode S means that
upshifts occur later. One-touch gearshifting
With the automatic transmission in drive
position D and driving in automatic program Automatic transmission
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mode
C or S, you can limit or extend the gear
range using the gear selector lever or the
steering wheel gearshift control.
Steering wheel gearshift control is available
on vehicles with AMG Sport Package and on
CLS 63 AMG only.
CLS 63 AMG: For information on using the
gear selector lever or the steering wheel
gearshift control in manual program mode
M, see “Manual shift program”
(Y page 107). Steering wheel gearshift control (example
illustration)
i
You cannot shift with the steering wheel
gearshift control when the automatic
transmission is in park position P, neutral
position N, or reverse gear R.
Limiting gear range G
Warning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not prevent
this type of loss of control.
X Briefly press the gear selector lever to the
left in the D- direction.
or
X Briefly pull left gearshift control :.
The automatic transmission will shift into
the next lower gear as permitted by the
shift program. This action simultaneously limits the gear range of the automatic
transmission.
i To avoid overrevving the engine when
downshifting, the automatic transmission
will not shift into a lower gear if the engine’s
maximum speed would be exceeded.
Extending gear range X
Briefly press the gear selector lever to the
right in the D+ direction.
or
X Briefly pull right gearshift control ;.
The automatic transmission will shift into
the next higher gear as permitted by the
shift program. This action simultaneously
extends the gear range of the automatic
transmission.
i If you press on the accelerator pedal
when the engine has reached the
revolution limit of the current gear range,
the automatic transmission will upshift
beyond any gear range limit selected.
Canceling gear range limit X
Press and hold the gear selector lever to
the right in the D+ direction until D
reappears in the multifunction display.
or
X Pull and hold right gearshift control ; until
D reappears in the multifunction display.
The automatic transmission will shift from
the current gear range directly into drive
position D.
Shifting into optimal gear range X
Press and hold the gear selector lever to
the left in the D- direction.
or
X Pull and hold left gearshift control :.
The automatic transmission will select the
gear range suited for optimal acceleration
and deceleration automatically. This will
involve shifting down one or more gears. 106
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Manual shift program
The manual shift program is available on
CLS 63 AMG only.
Manual program mode M differs with regard
to spontaneity, response time, and shifting
smoothness from automatic program mode
S.
In manual program mode M, system-
controlled automatic gearshifting is switched
off. You need to change the gears by manually
upshifting or downshifting using the gear
selector lever or the steering wheel gearshift
control. Program mode selector switch on CLS 63 AMG
C Comfort For standard driving
S Sport For sporty driving
M Manual For manual gearshifting
The current program mode appears in the
multifunction display (
Y page 105).
For information on automatic program mode
(C or S), see “Automatic shift program”
(Y page 105) and “One-touch gearshifting”
(Y page 105).
Activating manual shift program X
Press the program mode selector switch
repeatedly until M appears in the
multifunction display.
The automatic transmission switches to
manual program mode M. Automatic shifting is switched off. The gear range is
not limited.
You can change the gears manually with drive
position D selected. You can upshift or
downshift through the gears in succession.
i Manual program mode M will not be
stored. When the engine is turned off with
manual program mode M selected, the
automatic transmission will go to
automatic program mode C when the
engine is restarted.
Upshifting !
In manual program mode M, the
automatic transmission will not upshift,
even if the engine has reached its
overrevving range. Shift up into the next
gear before the engine has reached its
overrevving range. Make absolutely certain
that the engine speed does not reach the
red marking on the tachometer. Otherwise
the engine could be damaged which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
X Briefly press the gear selector lever to the
right in the D+ direction.
or
X Briefly pull right gearshift control ;
(Y page 106).
The automatic transmission shifts into the
next higher gear.
Upshift indicator In manual program mode
M, upshift
indicator ; in the multifunction display
advises you to upshift before the engine
reaches the overspeed range. In addition,
symbol ^ may appear instead of manual Automatic transmission
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program mode symbol
M in the multifunction
display. Thus you can drive at the maximum
engine speed for each gear without
overrevving the engine.
X Shift the automatic transmission from
current gear : into the next higher gear.
The fuel supply will otherwise be
interrupted to prevent the engine from
overrevving.
Downshifting G
Warning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result
in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not prevent
this type of loss of control.
X Briefly press the gear selector lever to the
left in the D- direction.
or
X Briefly pull left gearshift control :
(Y page 106).
The automatic transmission shifts into the
next lower gear.
i For maximum acceleration, press and
hold
the gear selector lever to the left in the
D- direction or pull and hold the left
gearshift control. Depending on the engine
speed the automatic transmission selects
the optimal gear for maximum
acceleration.
i When you brake or stop, the automatic
transmission shifts down into a gear from
which you can easily accelerate or take off.
Kickdown Using the kickdown while driving in manual
program mode
M is not possible. Deactivating manual shift program X
Press the program mode selector switch
repeatedly until C or S appears in the
multifunction display.
or
X Restart the engine.
The automatic transmission will go to
automatic program mode C.
Manual program mode M is not stored. Emergency operation (limp-home
mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less
responsive or sluggish or the automatic
transmission no longer shifts, the automatic
transmission is most likely operating in limp-
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode only second gear and reverse gear R
can be selected.
X Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
X Shift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
X Turn off the engine.
X Wait at least 10 seconds before restarting.
X Restart the engine.
X Shift the automatic transmission into drive
position D
(for second gear) or reverse gear
R.
X Have the automatic transmission checked
at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible. Instrument cluster
Introduction
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(Y page 28). 108
Instrument cluster
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Press button
6
to answer a call
to dial8
to redial
~ to end a call
to reject an incoming call =
Press button
V
U
to select next or previous menu Press button briefly
&
*
to move within a menu
Within Audio/DVD
menu to
select previous or next track,
scene or stored station
Within Telephone menu to
switch to the phone book and
select a name or number Press and hold button
&
*
Within Audio/DVD
menu to
select previous or next track
with quick search or to select
previous or next station in
station list or wave band
Within Telephone menu to
start the quick search in the
phone book Depending on the selected menu, pressing
the buttons on the multifunction steering
wheel will alter what appears in the
multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunction
display is arranged in menus and
accompanying functions and submenus.
The individual functions are then found within
the relevant menu (radio or CD operations
under Audio/DVD
menu, for example).
These functions serve to call up relevant
information or to customize the settings for
your vehicle. It is helpful to think of the menus, and the
functions within each menu, as being
arranged in a circular pattern.
X
Press button V or U repeatedly to
pass through each menu one after the
other.
X Press button * or & repeatedly to
pass through each function display, one
after the other, in the current menu.
In the Settings menu, instead of functions,
you will find a number of submenus for calling
up and changing settings. For instructions on
using these submenus, see “Settings menu”
(Y page 118).
The number of menus available in the system
depends on which optional equipment is
installed in your vehicle. Multifunction display
:
Outside temperature indicator
; Trip odometer
= Automatic transmission program mode
indicator
? Transmission position/gear range
indicator
A Main odometer
For more information on menus displayed in
the multifunction display, see “Menus and
submenus” (Y page 112).
8 Function only available in telephone menu. Control system
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previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.
G
Warning!
The cruise control brakes automatically so
that the set speed is not exceeded. :
Setting current or higher speed
; Setting current or lower speed
= Canceling the cruise control
? Activating the cruise control or resuming
to last set speed
Activating cruise control You can activate the cruise control at a
vehicle speed above 20 mph (30 km/h).
You cannot activate the cruise control
R
when you brake
R when you have engaged the parking brake
R when the automatic transmission is in park
position P, reverse gear R, or neutral
position N
R the ESP ®
is switched off or has switched off
due to a malfunction
The vehicle speed displayed in the
speedometer can briefly vary from the speed
setting for the cruise control system. Setting current speed X
Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.
X Briefly lift the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow : or press in direction
of arrow ;.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
i On uphill grades, the cruise control may
not be able to maintain the set speed. Once
the grade eases, the set speed will be
resumed.
On downhill grades, the cruise control
maintains the set speed by braking with the
vehicle’s brake system. In addition, on
longer downhill grades the automatic
transmission will downshift automatically.
Canceling cruise control X
Depress the brake pedal.
or
X Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow =.
The last set speed is stored for later use.
The last stored speed is deleted from memory
when the engine is turned off.
The cruise control switches off automatically
when you depress the brake pedal or you
engage the parking brake. In this case, the
cruise control speed segments in the
multifunction display will go out.
The cruise control also switches off
automatically when
R the vehicle speed falls below 20 mph
(30 km/h)
R the ESP ®
is in operation
R the ESP ®
is switched off with the ESP ®
switch
R the ESP ®
has switched off due to a
malfunction
R you shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N while driving 128
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Cruise control lever
The Distronic system is operated by means of
the cruise control lever.
:
Setting current or higher speed
; Setting current or lower speed
= Deactivating the Distronic
? Activating the Distronic, resuming to the
last set speed or increasing speed in
1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Activating Distronic You can activate the Distronic when the
vehicle speed is between 20 mph (30 km/h)
and 110 mph (180 km/h).
When the Distronic is activated, one or two
cruise control speed segments around the set
speed in the multifunction display are
illuminated. The multifunction display will
briefly show a message such as
DISTRONIC 55 MPH
(Canada: DISTRONIC 90 km/h).
If the Distronic is not activated after the
cruise control lever is pulled in direction of
arrow
? (Y page 133), you will see the
message — in the multifunction display.
In the following cases you cannot activate the
Distronic:
R up to 2 minutes after starting the engine
R when you brake
R when you have engaged the parking brake R
when the automatic transmission is in park
position P, reverse gear R, or neutral
position N
R when the ESP ®
is switched off or has
switched off due to a malfunction
The vehicle speed displayed on the
speedometer can briefly vary from the speed
setting on the Distronic system.
Setting the current speed X
Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.
X Briefly lift the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow : or depress in
direction of arrow ; (Y page 133).
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
i If you do not take your foot off of the
accelerator pedal and continue to
accelerate past the set speed, the following
message will appear in the multifunction
display:
DISTRONIC Override
The distance to a slower moving vehicle in
front of you will not be set. Your vehicle
speed will then be determined only by the
accelerator pedal position.
Setting a higher speed G
Warning!
Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment
until the vehicle has made the necessary
adjustments.
Increase the set vehicle speed to a value that
the prevailing road conditions and legal speed
limits permit. Otherwise, sudden and
unexpected acceleration of the vehicle could
cause an accident and/or serious injury to
you and others.
You can increase the set speed in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments or in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments. Driving systems
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R
the ESP ®
has switched off due to a
malfunction
R you shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N while driving
The cruise control speed segments in the
multifunction display goes out and an
acoustic warning will sound. Observe
additional messages in the multifunction
display that may appear. G
Warning!
Distronic switches off and releases the brakes
when the vehicle decelerates below the
minimum speed of 20 mph (30 km/h) by
operation of the system. At that time the
driver must apply the brakes in order to
reduce vehicle speed further or bring it to a
stop.
Depressing the accelerator pedal does not
deactivate the Distronic. After a brief
acceleration (e.g. for passing), the Distronic
will resume the last set speed.
Setting the following distance in
Distronic You can set the specified following distance
for Distronic by varying the time setting
between 1.0 and 2.0 seconds. Using this time
setting and the current speed of your vehicle,
Distronic calculates and sets the required
following distance to the preceding vehicle.
The set distance will be shown in the
multifunction display.
G
Warning!
It is up to the driver to exercise discretion to
select the appropriate setting given road
conditions, traffic, driver’s preferred driving
style and applicable laws and driving
recommendations for safe following distance. X
Increasing distance: Turn
thumbwheel : towards ª.
Increasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a greater following
distance to the preceding vehicle.
X Decreasing distance: Turn
thumbwheel : towards ¥.
Decreasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a shorter following
distance to the preceding vehicle.
Driving with Distronic This section describes a number of driving
situations where special precaution is
required on the part of the driver. Be prepared
to brake in such situations. Braking will
deactivate the Distronic system.
G
Warning!
The Distronic works to maintain the speed
selected by the driver unless a moving
obstacle proceeding directly ahead of it in the
same travel direction is detected (e.g.
following another vehicle ahead of you at your
set distance).
This means that:
R Your vehicle can pass another vehicle after
you have changed lanes.
R While in a sharp turn or if the preceding
vehicle is in a sharp turn, the Distronic
could lose sight of the preceding vehicle.
Your vehicle could then accelerate to the
previously selected speed. Driving systems
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and
R the automatic transmission is in drive
position D, reverse gear R, or neutral
position N
The Parktronic system deactivates at speeds
above approximately 11 mph (18 km/h). At
lower speeds, the Parktronic system
activates again.
The Parktronic system also deactivates when
you shift the automatic transmission into
park position P or engage the parking brake.
The Parktronic system monitors the
surroundings of your vehicle with six sensors
in the front bumper and four sensors in the
rear bumper. Example illustration, sensors in the front bumper
To function properly, sensors
: must be free
of dirt, ice, snow and slush. Clean
sensors : regularly. Be careful not to
scratch or damage sensors :, see “Cleaning
the driving systems sensors” (Y page 219). G
Warning!
The Parktronic is a supplemental system. It is
not intended to, nor does it replace, the need
for extreme care. The responsibility during
parking and other critical maneuvers always
remains with the driver. G
Warning!
Make sure no persons or animals are in or
near the area in which you are parking/
maneuvering. Otherwise, they could be
injured. !
Special attention must be paid to objects
with smooth surfaces or low silhouettes
(e.g. trailer couplings, painted posts,
elevated crossbars or road curbs). Such
objects may not be detected by the system
and can damage the vehicle.
During parking maneuvers, pay special
attention to objects located above or below
the height of the sensors (e.g. street curbs,
painted posts, or trailer hitches etc.). The
Parktronic system will not detect such
objects at close range and damage to your
vehicle or the object may result.
! Ultrasonic signals from outside sources
(e.g. truck air brakes, car wash, or
jackhammers) may impair the operation of
the Parktronic system.
Range of the sensors Front sensors
Center approx. 40 in (100 cm)
Corners approx. 24 in (60 cm)140
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