air conditioning MERCEDES-BENZ R350 2006 W251 Owner's Manual

Contents
Automatic transmission ..................... 197
Gear selector lever ....................... 197
Shifting procedure ....................... 199
Transmission positions................. 200
Gear ranges ................................. 202
Driving tips ................................... 203
Automatic shift program .............. 204
Steering wheel gearshift control .. 205
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 207
Good visibility .................................... 208
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 208
Rear view mirrors ......................... 208
Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors* ....................................... 211
Sun visors .................................... 212
Rear door window sunshade* ...... 214
Third-row sunshade* .................... 214
Rear window defroster ................. 215
Climate control .................................. 216
Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 220
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode ........... 221Setting the temperature................ 222
Adjusting air distribution............... 222
Adjusting air volume ..................... 222
Front defroster.............................. 223
Air recirculation mode .................. 224
Air conditioning............................. 226
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 227
Rear climate control ..................... 228
3-zone automatic climate control* ..... 230
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 234
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 235
Setting the temperature................ 236
Adjusting air distribution............... 236
Adjusting air volume ..................... 237
Front defroster.............................. 238
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ....... 239
Air recirculation mode .................. 239
Air conditioning............................. 241
Using driver-side settings for all
temperature zones........................ 242
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 243
Rear automatic climate control..... 244Power windows .................................. 248
Opening and closing ..................... 248
Synchronizing the door windows .. 251
Summer opening feature .............. 251
Convenience closing feature......... 252
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 255
Opening and closing ..................... 255
Synchronizing ............................... 258
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*............................... 259
Roller sunblinds for the
panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel ........................... 259
Opening and closing the
panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel ........................... 260
Synchronizing the panorama roof
with power tilt/sliding panel......... 262
Driving systems .................................. 264
Cruise control ............................... 264
AIRMATIC* ................................... 269
Parktronic* (Parking assist) .......... 274

ContentsTechnical data.................................. 507
Parts service ...................................... 508
Warranty coverage ............................. 509
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet...................... 509
Identification labels............................ 510
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 512
Engine ................................................ 513
Rims and tires .................................... 514
Same size tires ............................. 516
Spare wheel (collapsible tire) ....... 517
Electrical system................................ 518
Main Dimensions ............................... 519
Weights .............................................. 520Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 521
Capacities .................................... 521
Engine oils.................................... 523
Engine oil additives ...................... 523
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 523
Brake fluid .................................... 523
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 524
Fuel requirements ........................ 524
Gasoline additives ........................ 525
Coolants....................................... 525
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning* system ......................... 528
Technical terms............................... 529Index................................................. 535

218 Controls in detailClimate control
1
Temperature control, left
2
Air distribution and air volume
(automatic, manual)
3
Front defroster
0USA only
P Canada only
4
Increasing air volume
5
Air distribution (directs air through
the windshield and side air vents)
6
Rear air conditioning on/off
:USA only
7
Temperature control, right
8
AC cooling on/off (A/C)
Residual heat/ventilation (REST)
9
Air distribution (directs air through
center and side air vents)
a
Air distribution (directs air through
the footwells and side vents)
b
Air volume display
c
Decreasing air volume
d
Rear window defroster
1 USA only
F Canada only
e
Air recirculation
f
Interior temperature sensor
g
Climate control on/off

219 Controls in detail
Climate control
The climate control is operational whenev-
er the engine is running. You can operate
the climate control system in either the
automatic or manual mode. The system
cools or heats the interior depending on
the selected interior temperature and the
current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/C mode is deactivated
(
page 227).
Warning!
G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature).
This may cause burns or frostbite to unpro-
tected skin in the immediate area of the air
vents.
Always keep sufficient distance between un-
protected parts of the body and the air
vents. If necessary, use the air distribution
controls (
page 218) to direct the air to air
vents in the vehicle interior that are not in
the immediate area of unprotected skin.
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollu-
tion) may require replacement of the fil-
ter before its scheduled interval. A
clogged filter will reduce the air volume
to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off, see
“Summer opening feature”
(page 251). The climate control will
then adjust the interior temperature to
the set value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.

220 Controls in detailClimate controlDeactivating the climate control system
Deactivating
Press button´ (
page 218).
Reactivating

Press buttonU (
page 218).Deactivating rear climate control
You can switch on and off the rear climate
control using the climate control panel in
the front.
Deactivating

Press button: on the front climate
control panel (
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Reactivating

Press button: on the front climate
control panel (
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The rear climate control is adjust-
ed automatically.For more information on rear climate con-
trol, see “Rear climate control”
(
page 228).
iWhen the air conditioning is switched
off, the outside air supply and circula-
tion are also switched off. Only choose
this setting for a short time. Otherwise
the windows could fog up.iYou can also press button´
(page 218) on the climate control
panel.
If you press button0 (
page 218)
to reactivate the climate control sys-
tem, the defrosting mode is activated.
iYou can also switch on and off the rear
climate control by pressing the respec-
tive button on the rear climate control
panel (
page 229).

223 Controls in detail
Climate control
Closing the center air vents
Turn thumbwheels 5 and 6
(page 216) downward.
The corresponding center air vents on
the left and right are closed.
Opening the side air vents

Turn thumbwheels 2 and 7
(page 216) upward.
The corresponding side air vents on the
left and right are open.
Closing the side air vents

Turn thumbwheels 2 and 7
(page 216) downward.
The corresponding side air vents on the
left and right are closed.
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up. You
can also use it to defog the windshield and
side windows.
Activating
Press button0 (
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.The climate control switches to the follow-
ing functions automatically:


maximum blower speed and heating
power


air flows onto the windshield and the
front side windows (side air vents must
be open)


the air conditioning compressor
switches on at outside temperatures
above approximately 41°F (5°C) for
air-drying
Deactivating

Press button0 (
page 218) once
more.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
The previous settings are in effect
again. The air conditioning compressor
remains switched on.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are
clear again.
iTo switch off, you can also press
button´ orU (
page 218).

224 Controls in detailClimate controlWindshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on
(page 59).

Press button 0(
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.The climate control switches automatically
to the following functions:


maximum blower speed and heating
power


air flows onto the windshield and the
front side windows (side air vents must
be open)


the air conditioning compressor
switches on at outside temperatures
above approximately 41°F (5°C) for
air-drying
If the automatic air distribution is switched
off:

Press air distribution button 9 or a
(page 218).
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.
Warning!
G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 226) is activated, or
press button0.

226 Controls in detailClimate controlDeactivating
Press button:.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Air conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while
the engine is running and cools the interior
air to the temperature set by the operator.
In addition, the air conditioning dehumidi-
fies the interior air at outside temperatures
above 41°F (5° C) and helps prevent
window fogging.
iThe air recirculation mode is
deactivated automatically

after 5 minutes if the outside
temperature is below
approximately 41°F (5°C)


after 5 minutes if the air condition-
ing and air-drying is turned off


after 30 minutes if the outside
temperature is above
approximately 41°F (5°C)
iPress and hold button:for approx-
imately 2 seconds. The windows,
and/or the tilt/sliding sunroof*, (or
tilt/sliding panel*) will return to their
previous position. You can release
button:once the opening proce-
dure has begun. The windows and/or
the tilt/sliding sunroof* (or tilt/sliding
panel*) continue opening until they
have reached their previous position.
A window or the tilt/sliding sunroof*
(or tilt/sliding panel*) will only return
to its previous position if it has not
been moved to another position using
the respective window switch or
tilt/sliding sunroof* (or tilt/sliding
panel*) switch after it was closed with
button:.
A window or the tilt/sliding sunroof (or
tilt/sliding panel*) that was moved will
remain in its current position if
button:is used to re-open the re-
maining windows or tilt sliding sun-
roof* (or tilt/sliding panel*).
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.Warning!
G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.

227 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate
control system. The air in the vehicle will
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.
Press button9 (
page 218).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.

Press button9 (
page 218) again.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.
Residual heat and ventilation
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned
on again, this indicates that the air con-
ditioning is losing refrigerant. The com-
pressor has turned off.
Have the air conditioning checked at
the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
iHow long the system will provide heat-
ing depends on

the coolant temperature


the battery voltage
Regardless of the temperature and air
volume set on the climate control
panel, an interior temperature is aimed
at by 72°F (22°C) and the blower runs
on low speed to protect the vehicle bat-
tery.

228 Controls in detailClimate controlActivating
Switch off the ignition (
page 38).

Press button9 (
page 218).
The indicator lamp on button comes
on.
Deactivating

Press button9 (
page 218) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Rear climate controlRear climate control panel
Activating rear climate control
Press buttonU.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air volume and air distri-
bution are adjusted automatically.
iThe residual heat is automatically
turned off:

when the ignition is switched on


after about 30 minutes


if the coolant temperature is too
low


if the battery voltage drops
1
Rear climate control on
(automatic mode)
2
Air distribution (directs air through
the center air vents)
3
Rear air conditioning off
4
Air distribution (directs air through
the footwells and side air vents)
5
Right rear center air vent, adjustable
6
Left rear center air vent, adjustableiThe climate control must be switched
on (
page 220).