2003 Mercedes-benz C Class Coupe Owners Manual

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왘 Push switch in the direction of arrow 1 past the resistance point. The windshield wiper operates with washer fluid. Vehicles without rain sensor*: Fast wiper speed III goes to setting II when the vehicle is standing still. Vehicles with rain sensor*: Intermittent wiping interval dependent on wetness of windshield. Wiping will not occur with a door open. Vehicles with rain sensor*: Do not leave in intermittent setting when vehi- cle is taken to an automatic car wash or during windshield cleaning. Wipers will operate in presence of water sprayed on the windshield, and wipers may be damaged as a result. The switch should not be left in inter- mittent setting as the wipers will wipe the windshield once every time the en- gine is started. Dust that accumulates on the windshield might scratch the glass when wiping occurs on a dry windshield. Getting started Driving If leaves, snow, etc. block the wind- shield wipers, switch off the wipers. 앫 For safety reasons, withdraw key from starter switch. Remove block- age. 앫 Turn the windshield wipers on again. If windshield wipers fail to function at all in switch position I, 앫 set the combination switch to the next highest wiper speed. 앫 have the windshield wipers checked at the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 49 Getting started Driving Problems while driving The engine runs erratically and misfires 앫 An ignition cable may be damaged. 앫 The engine electronics may not be op- erating properly. 앫 Unburned gasoline may have entered the catalytic converter and damaged it. 왘 Give very little gas. 왘 Have the problem repaired by an au- thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible. The coolant temperature is over 248°F (120°C) The coolant is too hot and is no longer cooling the engine. 왘 Stop the vehicle as soon as possible and turn off the engine. Allow engine and coolant to cool. 왘 Check the coolant level and add cool- ant if necessary (컄 page 229). In case of accident If the vehicle is leaking gasoline: 왘 Do not start the engine under any cir- cumstances. 왘 Notify local fire and/or police authori- ties. If the extent of the damage cannot be de- termined: 왘 Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. If no damage can be determined on the 앫 major assemblies 앫 fuel system 앫 engine mount 왘 Start the engine in the usual manner. 50 Parking and locking You have now completed your first drive. You have properly stopped and parked your vehicle. End your drive as follows. Warning! Wait until the vehicle is stationary before re- moving the key from the starter switch. The vehicle cannot be steered when the key is removed. Warning! With the engine not running, there is no power assistance for the brake and steering system. In this case, it is important to keep in mind that a considerably higher degree of effort is necessary to stop or steer the vehi- cle. Getting started Parking and locking Warning! Parking brake Do not park this vehicle in areas where com- bustible materials such as grass, hay or leaves can come into contact with the hot exhaust system, as these materials could be ignited and cause a vehicle fire. To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re- sult of vehicle movement, before turning off the engine and leaving the vehicle always: 앫 Keep right foot on brake pedal. 앫 Firmly depress parking brake pedal. 앫 Move the selector lever to position P (manual transmission: first or reverse gear). 앫 Slowly release brake pedal. 앫 When parked on an incline, turn front wheels towards road curb. 앫 Turn the key to starter switch position 0 and remove. 앫 Take the key and lock vehicle when leav- ing. 1 Release handle 2 Parking brake 왘 Step firmly on parking brake 2. When the engine is running, the indica- tor lamp ; (USA only) or 3 (Canada only) in the instrument cluster will be illuminated. 51 Getting started Parking and locking Warning! Warning! When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key from the starter switch and lock the ve- hicle. Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Children could release the parking brake and/or move the gear selector lever from position P, either of which could result in an accident and/or serious injury. Getting out of your vehicle with the selector lever not fully engaged in position P is dan- gerous. Also, when parked on an incline, position P alone may not prevent your vehi- cle from moving, possibly hitting people or objects. Always set the parking brake in addition to shifting to position P (manual transmission: first or reverse gear). When parked on an incline, turn front wheels towards the road curb. 52 Switching off headlamps 왘 Turn the exterior lamp switch to M (컄 page 47). More information can be found in the “Controls in detail” section (컄 page 96). Turning off engine 왘 Place the gear selector lever in position P (manual transmission: first or reverse gear). Always set the parking brake in addi- tion to shifting to position P (manual transmission: first or reverse gear). On steep slopes, turn the front wheels towards the road curb. Getting started Parking and locking 왘 After exiting the vehicle press the lock button ‹ on the remote control (컄 page 30). The locking knobs on the doors move down. More information can be found in the “Controls in detail” section (컄 page 82). Warning! To prevent possible personal injury, always keep hands and fingers away from the door openings when closing the doors. Be espe- cially careful when small children are around. Before closing doors, make sure that there is no possibility of someone getting caught in a door during closing. Turning off with the SmartKey 왘 Turn the key in the starter switch to position 0 and remove it. The immobilizer is activated. 왘 Press the seat belt release button (컄 page 41). Vehicles with automatic transmission: The SmartKey can only be removed from the starter switch with the gear selector lever in position P. With the SmartKey removed and the driver’s door open, a warning sounds if the vehicle’s exterior lamps are not switched off. 53 54 Safety and Security Occupant safety Panic alarm* Driving safety systems Anti-theft systems 55 The 1 warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights up: 앫 for about 4 seconds when you turn the key in the starter switch to position 1. 앫 for about 4 seconds when you start the engine by turning the key. The warning lamp goes out shortly after you start the engine. This shows that the restraint systems are operational. A malfunction in the system has been de- tected if the 1 warning lamp: 앫 fails to extinguish after approximately The warning lamp remains lit if the key is turned to position 2 and left there. The warning lamp will go out when you start the engine. 4 seconds. 앫 does not come on at all. 앫 comes on after the engine was started or while driving. For safety reasons, we strongly recom- mend that you visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have the system checked. More information can be found in the “Practical hints” section (컄 page 248). Safety and Security Occupant safety Occupant safety In this section you will learn the most im- portant facts about the restraint systems of the vehicle. The restraint systems are 앫 Seat belts 앫 Emergency tensioning device 앫 Airbags 앫 Child seats 앫 Child seat recognition 앫 Lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) As independent systems their protective effects work in conjunction with each oth- er. For information on infants and children traveling with you in the vehicle and re- straint systems for infants and chil- dren, see “Children in the vehicle” (컄 page 65). 56 G Airbags Warning! In the event that the SRS malfunction indica- tor lamp lights up during driving or does not come on at all, the SRS may not be opera- tional. For your safety, we strongly recom- mend that you visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have the system checked; otherwise the SRS may not be activated when needed in an acci- dent, which could result in serious or fatal injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly and unnecessarily which could also result in inju- ry. Improper work on the restraint systems, in- cluding incorrect installation and removal, can lead to possible injury through an unin- tended activation of the SRS. In addition, through improper work there is a risk of rendering the SRS inoperative or causing unintended airbag deployment. Work on the SRS must therefore only be per- formed by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Warning! Airbags are designed to reduce the potential of injury in certain frontal (front airbags) im- pacts, or side (side impact and head protec- tion window curtain airbags) impacts which may cause significant injuries. However, no system available today can totally eliminate injuries and fatalities. The activation of the SRS temporarily releas- es a small amount of dust from the airbags. This dust, however, is neither injurious to your health, nor does it indicate a fire in the vehicle. The dust might cause some tempo- rary breathing difficulty for people with asth- ma or other breathing trouble. To avoid this, you may wish to get out of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have any breathing difficulty but cannot get out of the vehicle after the airbag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a window or door. Safety and Security Occupant safety Warning! To reduce the risk of injury when the front airbags inflate, it is very important for the driver and front passenger to always be in a properly seated position and to wear your seat belts. For maximum protection in the event of a collision always be in normal seated position with your back against the backrest. Fasten your seat belt and ensure that it is properly positioned on your body. Since the airbag inflates with considerable speed and force, a proper seating and hands on steering wheel position will help to keep you at a safe distance from the airbag. Oc- cupants who are unbelted, out of position or too close to the airbag can be seriously in- jured by an airbag as it inflates with great force in the blink of an eye: 앫 Sit properly belted in an upright position with your back against the seat back- rest. 57 Safety and Security Occupant safety 앫 Adjust the driver seat as far as possible rearward, still permitting proper opera- tion of vehicle controls. The distance from the center of the driver’s breast- bone to the center of the airbag cover on the steering wheel must be at least ten inches (25 cm) or more. You should be able to accomplish this by a combina- tion of adjustments to the seat and steering wheel. If you have any prob- lems, please see your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 앫 Do not lean with your head or chest close to the steering wheel or dash- board. 앫 Keep hands on the outside of steering wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in- side the rim can increase the risk and potential severity of hand/arm injury when driver front airbag inflates. 앫 Adjust the front passenger seat as far as possible rearward from the dashboard when the seat is occupied. 58 앫 Occupants, especially children, should never lean their heads in the area of the door where the side airbag inflates. This could result in serious injuries or death should the airbag be triggered. Always sit upright, properly use the seat belts and appropriate size infant or child re- straint system. 앫 Children 12 years old and under must never ride in the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmartTM compatible child seat, which operates with the BabySmartTM system installed in the vehicle to deacti- vate the passenger side front airbag when it is properly installed. Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it inflates in a crash. If this happens, seri- ous or fatal injury will result. Failure to follow these instructions can re- sult in severe injuries to you or other occu- pants. If you sell your vehicle you are responsible to make the buyer aware of these points. Be sure to give the buyer this Operator’s Manu- al. Warning! Accident research shows that the safest place for children in an automobile is in the rear seat. Should you choose to place a child 12 years old or under in the front passenger seat of your vehicle, you must properly use a BabySmartTM child restraint which will turn off the passenger side front airbag. BabySmartTM will not, however, turn off any side impact airbag. It should be noted that with respect to both front and rear side impact airbags there is a possibility for a side airbag related injury if occupants, especially children, are not prop- erly seated or restrained when next to a side airbag which needs to deploy rapidly in a side impact in order to do its job. To help avoid the possibility of injury, please follow these guidelines: (1) Occupants, especially children, should never place their bodies or lean their heads in the area of the door or rear i Airbags are designed to activate only in certain frontal (front airbags) impacts, or side (side impact and head protec- tion window curtain airbags) impacts which exceed preset thresholds. Only during these types of impacts, if of sufficient severity to meet the deploy- ment thresholds, will they provide their supplemental protection. The driver and passenger should al- ways wear their seat belts. Otherwise it is not possible for the airbags to pro- vide their supplemental protection. quarter trim panels where the side air- bag inflates. This could result in serious injuries or death should the side airbag be activated. (2) Always sit upright, properly use the seat belts and use an appropriately sized in- fant or child restraint system for all chil- dren 12 years old or under. (3) Always wear seat belts properly. If you believe that, even with the use of these guidelines, it would be safer for your rear seat occupants to have both rear side airbags deactivated, then deactivation can be accomplished upon your written request to do so at your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center at an additional cost. Please contact your local authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call our Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372) for details. Safety and Security Occupant safety In cases of other frontal impacts, angled impacts, roll-overs, other side impacts, rear collisions, or other acci- dents, the airbags will not be activated. The driver and passengers will then be protected by the fastened seat belts. We caution you not to rely on the pres- ence of the airbags in order to avoid wearing your seat belt. Your vehicle was originally equipped with airbags that are designed to acti- vate in certain impacts exceeding a preset threshold to reduce the poten- tial and severity of injury. It is important to your safety and that of your passen- ger that you replace deployed airbags and repair any malfunctioning airbags to ensure that the vehicle will continue to provide supplement crash protec- tion for occupants. 59 Safety and Security Occupant safety Safety guidelines for the seat belt, emergency tensioning device and airbag Warning! 앫 Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly stressed in an accident must be replaced and their anchoring points must also be checked. Use only belts in- stalled or supplied by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 앫 Airbags and ETDs are designed to func- tion on a one-time-only basis. An airbag or emergency tensioning device (ETD) that was activated must be replaced 60 앫 No modifications of any kind may be made to any components or wiring of the SRS. This includes changing or re- moving any component or part of the SRS, the installation of additional trim material, badges etc. over the steering wheel hub, front passenger airbag cov- er, door trim panels, or door frame trims, and installation of additional elec- trical/electronic equipment on or near SRS components and wiring. Keep area between airbags and occupants free from objects (e.g. packages, purses, umbrellas, etc.). 앫 Do not pass belts over sharp edges. They could tear. 앫 Do not make any modification that could change the effectiveness of the belts. 앫 Do not hang items such as coat hangers from the coat hooks or handles over the door. These items may turn into projec- tiles and cause head and other injuries when curtain airbag is deployed. 앫 An airbag system component within the steering wheel gets hot after the airbag has inflated. Do not touch. 앫 Improper work on the system, including incorrect installation and removal, can lead to possible injury through an unin- tended activation of the SRS. 앫 In addition, through improper work there is a risk of rendering the SRS inop- erative or causing unintended airbag de- ployment. Work on the SRS must therefore only be performed by an au- thorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 앫 For your protection and the protection of others, when scrapping the airbag unit or emergency tensioning device, our safety instructions must be fol- lowed. These instructions are available from your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 앫 Given the considerable deployment speed and the textile structure of the airbags, there is the possibility of abra- sions or other injuries resulting from air- bag deployment. The front passenger airbag will only be de- ployed if: 앫 the front passenger seat is occupied 앫 the 7 indicator lamp in the center console is not lit (컄 page 67). When you sell your vehicle we strongly urge you to give notice to the subsequent owner that it is equipped with an “SRS” by alerting them to the applicable section in the Operator’s Manual. Front airbags Driver and passenger airbags are de- ployed: 앫 in the event of a frontal impact 앫 if impact exceeds a preset deployment threshold 앫 independently of the side impact air- bags The airbags will not deploy in impacts which do not exceed the system’s deploy- ment thresholds. You will then be protect- ed by the fastened seat belts. 1 Driver airbag 2 Passenger airbag Safety and Security Occupant safety Do not place objects heavier than 20 lbs (9kg) on the front passenger seat. This could cause the front or side impact airbag on the front passenger side to deploy in a crash which exceeds the system’s deployment threshold. Side impact airbags, window curtain airbags The side impact airbags and window cur- tain airbags are deployed: 앫 on the impacted side of the vehicle 앫 in impacts exceeding a preset deploy- ment threshold 앫 independently of the front airbags The side impact airbags are not deployed in impacts which do not exceed the sys- tem’s deployment threshold. 61 Safety and Security Occupant safety The front passenger side airbag will only deploy if the system senses that the front passenger seat is occupied. 1 Window curtain airbag 2 Side impact airbags Seat belts The seat belt nonusage warning lamp < in the instrument cluster lights up and a warning sounds for a short time when you turn the key in the starter switch to position 2 and the driver‘s seat belt is not fastened. 62 After starting the engine the seat belt non- usage warning lamp blinks for a brief peri- od to remind the driver and passengers to fasten the seat belts. The use of seat belts and infant and child restraint systems is required by law in most states and all Canadian provinces. Even where this is not the case, all vehicle occupants should have their seat belts fas- tened whenever the vehicle is in motion. Information on fastening seat belts is found in the “Getting started” section (컄 page 41). For information on infants and children traveling with you in the vehicle and re- straint systems for infants and chil- dren, see “Children in the vehicle” (컄 page 65). Warning! Always fasten your seat belt before driving off. Always make sure your passengers are properly restrained, even those sitting in the rear and pregnant women. Failure to wear and properly fasten and po- sition your seat belt greatly increases your risk of injuries and their likely severity in an accident. You and your passengers should always wear seat belts. If you are ever in an accident, your injuries can be considerably more severe without your seat belt properly buckled. Without your seat belt buckled, you are much more likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, the possibility of injury or death is lessened if you are properly wearing your seat belt. Airbags can only protect as they are designed if the occupants are prop- erly wearing their seat belts. Warning! Warning! Warning! Safety and Security Occupant safety Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly stressed in an accident must be replaced and their anchoring points must also be checked. Only use seat belts which have been ap- proved by Mercedes-Benz. Do not make any modifications to the seat belts. This can lead to unintended activation or to failure. Have all work carried out only by an autho- rized Mercedes-Benz Center. Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat backrest reclined. Sitting in an excessively reclined position can be dangerous. You could slide under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide under it, the belt would apply force at the abdomen or neck. That could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The seat backrest and seat belt provide the best re- straint when the wearer is in an upright po- sition and the belt is properly positioned on the body. Warning! Never let more people ride in the vehicle than there are seat belts available. Be sure everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly re- strained with a separate seat belt. USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY 앫 Seat belts can only work when used properly. Never wear seat belts in any other way than as described in this sec- tion, as that could result in serious inju- ries in case of an accident. 앫 Each occupant should wear their seat belt at all times, because seat belts help reduce the likelihood of and potential severity of injuries in accidents, includ- ing rollovers. The integrated restraint system includes SRS (driver airbag, front passenger airbag, side impact air- bags, head protection window curtain airbags for side windows), ETD (seat belt emergency tensioning device), and front seat knee bolsters. The system is de- signed to enhance the protection of- fered to properly belted occupants in certain frontal (front airbags) and side (side impact and window curtain air- bags) impacts which exceed preset de- ployment thresholds. 63 Safety and Security Occupant safety 앫 Never wear the shoulder belt under your arm, against your neck or off your shoul- der. In a crash, your body would move too far forward. That would increase the chance of head and neck injuries. The belt would also apply too much force to the ribs or abdomen, which could se- verely injure internal organs such as your liver or spleen. 앫 Never wear belts over rigid or breakable objects in or on your clothing, such as eyeglasses, pens, keys etc., as these might cause injuries. 앫 Position the lap belt as low as possible on your hips and not across the abdo- men. If the belt is positioned across your abdomen, it could cause serious injuries in a crash. 앫 Never use a seat belt for more than one person at a time. Do not fasten a seat belt around a person and another per- son or other objects. 앫 Belts should not be worn twisted. In a crash, you wouldn’t have the full width of the belt to manage impact forces. The twisted belt against your body could cause injuries. 앫 Pregnant women should also use a lap-shoulder belt. The lap belt portion should be positioned as low as possible on the hips to avoid any possible pres- sure on the abdomen. 앫 Never place your feet on the instrument panel or on the seat. Always keep both feet on the floor in front of the seat. Emergency tensioning device (ETD) The seat belts are equipped with emergen- cy tensioning devices and belt force limit- ers. The ETD is designed to activate in the fol- lowing cases when the seat belts are fas- tened: 앫 in frontal or rear-end impacts exceed- ing a preset severity level 앫 if the restraint systems are operational and functioning correctly, see 1 indicator lamp (컄 page 56) In an impact, emergency tensioning devic- es remove slack from the belts in such a way that the seat belts fit more snugly against the body. Belt force limiters reduce the force exerted by the seat belts on oc- cupants during a crash. 64 Warning! Children in the vehicle An emergency tensioning device (ETD) that was activated must be replaced. When scrapping the emergency tensioning device, our safety instructions must be fol- lowed. These are available at your autho- rized Mercedes-Benz Center. Do not place objects heavier than 20 lbs (9kg) on the front passenger seat. This could cause the front or side impact airbag on the front passenger side to deploy in a crash which exceeds the system’s deployment threshold. If an infant or child is traveling with you in the vehicle: 앫 Secure the child using an infant or child restraint appropriate to the age and size of the child and recommended for use by Mercedes-Benz. 앫 Ensure that the infant or child is prop- erly secured by a belt at all times while the vehicle is in motion. Infant and child restraint seats and infor- mation on choosing an appropriate re- straint system can be obtained from any Mercedes-Benz Center. Safety and Security Occupant safety Infant and child restraint systems Use only a BabySmartTM compatible child restraint for the front passenger seat in this vehicle. We recommend all infants and children be properly restrained at all times while the vehicle is in motion. All lap-shoulder belts except the driver‘s seat belt have special seat belt retractors for secure fastening of child restraints. To fasten a child restraint, follow child re- straint instructions for mounting. Then pull the shoulder belt out completely and let it retract. During the seat belt retraction, a ratcheting sound can be heard to indicate that the special seat belt retractor is acti- vated. The belt is now locked. Push down on child restraint to take up any slack. To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and let seat belt retract completely. The seat belt can again be used in the usual man- ner. BabySmartTM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp. 65 Safety and Security Occupant safety Information on child seats with mount- ing fittings for tether anchorages (컄 page 69). For information on “LATCH”-type child seat mounts (컄 page 70). Warning! Never release the seat belt buckle while the vehicle is in motion, since the special seat belt retractor will be deactivated. The use of infant or child restraints is required by law in all 50 states, the Dis- trict of Columbia, the U.S. territories and all Canadian provinces. 66 Infants and small children should be seated in an appropriate infant or child restraint system properly secured by a lap-shoulder belt or, if so equipped, a child restraint lower anchorage system that complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 210.2. A statement by the child restraint man- ufacturer of compliance with this stan- dard can be found on the instruction label on the restraint and in the instruc- tion manual provided with the restraint. When using any infant or child restraint system, be sure to carefully read and follow all manufacturer’s instructions for installation and use. Please read and observe warning labels affixed to inside of vehicle and to infant or child restraints. Warning! Children 12 years old and under must never ride in the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmartTM compatible child seat, which operates with the BabySmartTM system installed in the ve- hicle to deactivate the passenger front air- bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it in- flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal injury will result. According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seat- ing positions. Infants and small children must ride in back seats and be seated in an appropriate infant or child restraint system, which is properly secured with the vehicle’s seat belt and top tether strap, or secured via lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in accordance with the child seat manufactur- er’s instructions. Infants and small children should never share a seat belt with another occupant. During an accident, they could be crushed between the occupant and seat belt. Children too big for child restraint systems must ride in back seats using regular seat belts. Position shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not face or neck. A booster seat may be necessary to achieve proper belt positioning for children from 41 lbs. un- til they reach a height where a lap/shoulder belt fits properly without a booster. A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is significantly increased if the child restraints are not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. When the child restraint is not in use, re- move it from the vehicle or secure it with the seat belt to prevent the child restraint from becoming a projectile in the event of an ac- cident. Do not leave children unattended in the ve- hicle; even if the children are secured in a child restraint system. Unsupervised chil- dren in a child restraint system may use ve- hicle equipment and may cause an accident and/or serious personal injury. BabySmartTM airbag deactivation system Safety and Security Occupant safety bag deactivation system. With the special child seat properly installed, the passenger front airbag will not deploy. The 7 indicator lamp located in the center console will be illuminated, except with the key removed or in the starter switch position 0. The system does not deactivate the side impact airbag and the emergency tensioning device. Special BabySmartTM compatible child seats, designed for use with the Mercedes-Benz system and available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center are required for use with the BabySmartTM air- 67 Safety and Security Occupant safety Self-test BabySmartTM without special child seat installed After turning the key in the starter switch to position 1 or 2, the 7 indicator lamp located in the center console lights up for approx. 6 seconds and then goes out. If the indicator lamp should not come on or is continuously lit, the system is not func- tioning. You must see an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center before seating any child on the passenger seat. More information can be found in the “Practical hints” section (컄 page 251). Warning! Warning! The BabySmartTM airbag deactivation sys- tem will ONLY work with a special child seat designed to operate with it. It will not work with child seats which are not BabySmartTM compatible. Never place anything between seat cushion and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces the effectiveness of the deactivation sys- tem. The bottom of the child seat must make full contact with the passenger seat cushion. An incorrectly mounted child seat could cause injuries to the child in case of an accident, instead of protecting the child. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation of special child seats. When using a BabySmartTM compatible child seat on the front passenger seat, the front passenger airbag will not deploy only if the 7 indicator lamp remains illuminat- ed. Please be sure to check the indicator every time you use the special system child seat. Should the light go out while the restraint is installed, please check installation. If the light remains out, do not use the BabySmartTM restraint to transport children on the front passenger seat until the system has been repaired. BabySmartTM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp. 68 Warning! Installation of infant and child restraint systems Do not place powered-on laptops, cell phones and like electronic devices on the front passenger seat. Signals from such de- vices may interfere with the BabySmartTM system. Such signal interference may cause the 7 indicator lamp not to come on during self-test or be continuously lit, indi- cating that the system is not functioning. Anchorage rings 1 are located on the back side of the rear backrests and on the floor behind rear seat. Prior to installing a tether strap, note the following steps: 왘 Fold backrest forward. Safety and Security Occupant safety 왘 Guide tether strap between head re- straints and rear shelf. Head restraint must be installed (if re- movable) and positioned such that the top tether strap can pass freely be- tween the head restraint and top of seat back. Make sure that the tether strap is not twisted. 왘 Fold backrest back until it locks in place. Warning! Always lock backrest in its upright position when rear seat bench is occupied by pas- sengers, or the extended cargo area is not in use. Check for secure locking by pushing and pulling on the backrest. 69 Safety and Security Occupant safety 왘 Fold up anchorage ring 1. 왘 Securely fasten hook 2, which is part of the tether strap, to anchorage ring 1. For safety, make sure that the hook has attached to the ring beyond the safety catch, as illustrated. 70 Child seat anchors – “LATCH” type This vehicle is equipped with two “LATCH” (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) type anchors (at each of the rear seats) for the installation of a “LATCH” child seat with the matching anchor fittings. If a child seat is not installed, the “LATCH” anchors can be folded back between the seat cushion and the backrest. The child seat must be firmly attached in the right and left side anchors. To fold mounts back 왘 Press down button 2 on each anchor and return anchor to its catch. Non-“LATCH” type child seats may also be used and can be installed using the vehicle’s seat belt system. Install child seat according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 왘 Grip inner side of anchors 1 and fold forward until they lock in place. 왘 Install child seat according to the man- ufacturer’s instructions. Warning! Children too big for child restraint systems must ride in back seats using regular seat belts. Position shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not face or neck. A booster seat may be necessary to achieve proper belt positioning for children from 41 lbs. until they reach a height where a lap/shoulder belt fits properly without a booster. Before installing the child seat, make sure anchors 1 are folded out and locked in place. Install child seat according to manufactur- er’s instructions. The child seat must be firmly attached in the right and left side anchors 1. An incorrectly mounted child seat may come loose during an accident which could result in serious injury or death to your child. Damaged or impact-damaged child seats or child seat anchors must be replaced. Do not leave children unattended in the ve- hicle, even if the children are secured in a child restraint system. Safety and Security Occupant safety 71 Activating 왘 Press and hold button 1 for at least one second. Deactivating 왘 Press button 1 again. 왘 Insert key in starter switch. For operation in the USA only: This de- vice complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any inter- ference received, including interfer- ence that may cause undesired operation. Any unauthorized modification to this device could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. Safety and Security Panic alarm* Panic alarm* An audible alarm and blinking exterior lamps will operate for approximately 2½ minutes. 1 Â button Canada only: Only vehicles equipped with an anti-theft alarm system* have SmartKeys with integrated panic button 1. 72 Driving safety systems In this section you will find informations on the following driving safety systems: 앫 ABS (Antilock Brake System) 앫 BAS (Brake Assist System) 앫 ESP (Electronic Stability Program) In winter operation, the maximum ef- fectiveness of the ABS, ESP is only achieved with winter tires (M+S tires), or snow chains as required. Warning! The following factors increase the risk of ac- cidents: 앫 Excessive speed, especially in turns 앫 Wet and slippery road surfaces 앫 Following another vehicle too closely The ABS, BAS, ESP cannot reduce this risk. Always adjust your driving style to the pre- vailing road and weather conditions. ABS Warning! Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm, steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump- ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of ABS and significantly reduces braking effec- tiveness. The ABS regulates the brake pressure so that the wheels do not lock during braking. This allows you to maintain the ability to steer your vehicle. The ABS is functional above a speed of ap- proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent of road surface conditions. At the instant one of the wheels is about to lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in the regulating mode. Keep firm and steady pressure on the brake pedal while experi- encing the pulsation. Safety and Security Driving safety systems Continuous steady brake pedal pressure yields the advantages provided by the ABS, namely braking power and ability to steer the vehicle. On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will re- spond even with light brake pressure. The pulsating brake pedal can be an indication of hazardous road conditions and func- tions as a reminder to take extra care while driving. To alert following vehicles to slippery road conditions you discover, operate your hazard warning flashers as appro- priate. 73 ABS control The - malfunction indicator lamp in the speedometer lights up when you turn the key in the starter switch to position 2. It goes out when the engine is running. More information can be found in the “Practical hints” section (컄 page 247). BAS The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in emergency situations. If you apply the brakes very quickly, the BAS automatically provides full brake boost, thereby poten- tially reducing the braking distance. Apply continuous full braking pressure until the emergency braking situation is over. The ABS will prevent the wheels from locking. When you release the brake pedal, the brakes function again as normal. The BAS is then deactivated. More information can be found in the “Practical hints” section (컄 page 254). Safety and Security Driving safety systems Warning! The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase braking or steering efficiency be- yond that afforded by the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires or the traction. The ABS cannot prevent accidents, including those resulting from excessive speed in turns, following another vehicle too closely, or aquaplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca- pabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a reckless or danger- ous manner which could jeopardize the us- er’s safety or the safety of others. 74 Warning! ESP The BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase braking efficiency beyond that af- forded by the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires or the traction. The BAS cannot prevent accidents, including those resulting from excessive speed in turns, following an- other vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents. The capabilities of a BAS equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous manner which could jeopardize the user’s safety or the safety of others. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) monitors the vehicle's traction (force of adhesive friction between the tires and the road surface) and handling. The ESP recognizes when a wheel is spin- ning or if the vehicle starts to skid. By ap- plying brakes to the appropriate wheel and by limiting engine output, the ESP works to stabilize the vehicle. The ESP is especially useful while driving off and on wet or slip- pery road surfaces. The ESP warning lamp v in the speed- ometer dial flashes when the ESP is en- gaged. The warning lamp v in the speedome- ter dial lights up when you turn the key in the starter switch to position 2. It goes out when the engine is running. Safety and Security Driving safety systems Warning! Never switch off the ESP when you see the ESP warning lamp v flashing in the speedometer dial. In this case proceed as follows: 앫 While driving off, apply as little throttle as possible. 앫 While driving, ease up on the accelera- tor. 앫 Adapt your speed and driving style to the prevailing road conditions. Failure to observe these guidelines could cause the vehicle to skid. The ESP cannot prevent accidents resulting from excessive speed. 75 Safety and Security Driving safety systems Warning! The ESP cannot prevent the natural laws of physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase the traction afforded. The ESP cannot prevent accidents, including those resulting from excessive speed in turns, or hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca- pabilities of an ESP equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a reckless or danger- ous manner which could jeopardize the us- er’s safety or the safety of others. 76 Because of the ESP’s automatic opera- tion, the engine must be shut off (key in starter switch position 0 or 1) when 앫 the parking brake is being tested on a brake test dynamometer 앫 the vehicle is being towed with the front axle raised Active braking action through the ESP may otherwise seriously damage the rear axle brake system. The ESP will only function properly if you use wheels of the recommended tire size. More information can be found in the “Practical hints” section (컄 page 246). Switching off the ESP Warning! The ESP should not be switched off during normal driving other than in the circum- stances described below. Disabling of the system will reduce vehicle stability in stan- dard driving maneuvers. To improve the vehicle’s traction, turn off the ESP in driving situations where it would be advantageous to have drive wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for better grip such as: 앫 starting out on slippery surfaces and in deep snow in conjunction with snow chains 앫 sand or gravel Safety and Security Driving safety systems If one or more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP warning lamp v in the speed- ometer dial flashes, regardless of the speed. Traction control brakes a spinning wheel even when ESP is deactivated. ESP always operates when you are brak- ing, even when it has been deactivated. Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended period with the ESP switched off. This may cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. Warning! When the ESP warning lamp v is illuminated continuously, the ESP is switched off. Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail- ing road conditions and to the non-operating status of the ESP. Switching on the ESP 왘 Press lower half 2 of the switch. The ESP warning lamp v in the speedometer goes out. You are now again in normal driving mode. The switch is located on the center con- sole. 1 ESP off 2 ESP on 왘 Press upper half 1 of the switch. The ESP warning lamp v in the speedometer dial comes on. ESP is deactivated. 77 Safety and Security Anti-theft systems Anti-theft systems Immobilizer The immobilizer prevents unauthorized persons from starting your vehicle. Activating 앫 Removing the key from the starter switch activates the immobilizer. Deactivating 앫 Inserting the key in the starter switch deactivates the immobilizer. In case the engine cannot be started (yet the vehicle’s battery is charged), the system is not operational. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call 1-800-FOR-MER-Cedes (in the USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada). 78 Anti-theft alarm system* Once the alarm system has been armed, a visual and audible alarm is triggered when someone opens 앫 a door 앫 the trunk lid 앫 the hood. The alarm will stay on even if the activating element (a door, for example) is immedi- ately closed. The alarm system will also be triggered when 앫 someone attempts to raise the vehicle 앫 the vehicle is opened with the mechan- ical key. If the alarm stays on for more than 20 seconds, an emergency call is initi- ated automatically by the Tele Aid sys- tem* provided Tele Aid service was subscribed to and properly activated, and that necessary cellular service and GPS coverage are available. Arming the alarm system The alarm system is armed after locking the vehicle with the SmartKey. The turn signal lamps blink three times to indicate that the alarm system is activated. The in- dicator lamp in the switch for the tow-away alarm will blink after approximately 10 sec- onds when the alarm system is completely armed (컄 page 80). If the turn signal lamps do not blink three times one of the following ele- ments may not be properly closed: 앫 a door 앫 the trunk lid 앫 the hood Close the respective element and lock the vehicle again. Disarming the alarm system The alarm system is disarmed when you unlock your vehicle with the SmartKey. The turn signal lamps blink once to indicate that the alarm system is deactivated. The alarm system will rearm automati- cally after approximately 40 seconds if a door or the trunk is not opened. Canceling the alarm To cancel the alarm: 왘 Insert the key in the starter switch. or 왘 Press the Œ or ‹ button. Tow-away alarm* Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual and audible alarm will be triggered when someone attempts to raise the vehicle. The tow-away protection alarm is trig- gered, for example, if the vehicle is lift- ed on one side. If the alarm stays on for more than 20 seconds, an emergency call is initi- ated automatically by the Tele Aid sys- tem provided Tele Aid service was subscribed to and properly activated, and that necessary cellular service and GPS coverage are available. Safety and Security Anti-theft systems Arming tow-away alarm When you lock your vehicle, the tow-away alarm is automatically armed after about 30 seconds. When you unlock your vehicle, the tow-away protection disarms automatical- ly. 79 i You cannot disarm the tow-away alarm if the ignition is turned on. 왘 Press upper half 1 of the switch. Indicator lamp 2 in the switch lights up briefly. 왘 Lock your vehicle with the key. The tow-away alarm remains disarmed un- til you lock your vehicle again. Safety and Security Anti-theft systems Disarming tow-away alarm To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm feature, switch off the tow-away alarm be- fore towing the vehicle, or when parking on a surface subject to movement, such as a ferry or auto train. 1 Tow-away alarm off switch 2 Indicator lamp The switch is located on the center con- sole. 왘 Turn off the ignition and remove the key. 80 Controls in detail Locking and unlocking Seats Memory function* Lighting Instrument cluster Control system Manual transmission Automatic transmission* Good visibility Climate control Automatic climate control* (Canada only) Audio system Power windows Panorama sliding/pop-up roof* Driving systems Loading Useful features 81 Controls in detail Locking and unlocking In the “Controls in detail” section you will find detailed information on how to oper- ate the equipment installed on your vehi- cle. If you are already familiar with the basic functions of your vehicle, this section will be of particular interest to you. To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba- sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the “Getting started” section of this manual. The corresponding page numbers are giv- en at the beginning of each segment. 82 Locking and unlocking Information on locking and unlocking can be found in the “Getting started” section on (컄 page 30) and (컄 page 51). SmartKey Your vehicle comes supplied with two SmartKeys with remote controls and a re- movable mechanical key. The locking tabs for the mechanical key portion of the two keys are a different color to help distin- guish each key unit. The remote control key provides an ex- tended operating range. To prevent theft, however, it is advisable to only unlock the vehicle when you are in close proximity to it. The key centrally locks and unlocks: 앫 the doors 앫 the trunk lid 앫 the fuel filler flap SmartKey with remote controls 1 ‹ Lock button 2 Mechanical key locking tab 3 Œ Unlock button 4 Battery check lamp 5 Â Panic button* (컄 page 72) Canada only: Only vehicles equipped with an anti-theft alarm system* have SmartKeys with integrated panic button* 5. i You can also open and close the power windows (컄 page 183) and panorama sliding/pop-up roof (컄 page 185) from outside using the SmartKey. To prevent possible malfunction, avoid exposing the key to high levels of elec- tromagnetic radiation. Factory setting Global unlocking 왘 Press button Œ. All turn signal lamps blink once. The locking knobs in the doors move up. The vehicle will lock again automatically within approximately 40 seconds of un- locking if neither door nor trunk lid is opened, the SmartKey is not inserted in the starter switch, or the central locking switch is not activated. Global locking 왘 Press button ‹. All turn signal lamps blink three times. The locking knobs in the doors move down. Selective setting If you frequently travel alone, you may wish to reprogram the key so that pressing Œ only unlocks the driver’s door and the fuel filler flap. 왘 Press and hold buttons Œ and ‹ simultaneously for about five seconds until battery check lamp 4 blinks twice. The key will then function as follows: Unlocking driver’s door and fuel filler flap 왘 Press button Œ once. Global unlocking 왘 Press button Œ twice. Global locking 왘 Press button ‹. Controls in detail Locking and unlocking Restoring to factory setting 왘 Press and hold buttons Œ and ‹ simultaneously for about six seconds until battery check lamp 4 blinks twice. Warning! When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key from the starter switch and lock the ve- hicle. Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. It is possible for children to open a locked door from the inside, which could re- sult in an accident and/or serious injury. 83 Checking the batteries 왘 Press button ‹ or Œ. Battery check lamp 4 lights up briefly to indicate that the key batteries are in order. If battery check lamp 4 does not light up briefly during check, then the key batteries are discharged. Replace the batteries (컄 page 276). You can obtain the required batteries at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen- ter. Loss of SmartKey or mechanical key If you lose a SmartKey or mechanical key, you should do the following: 왘 Have the SmartKey deactivated by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 왘 Report the loss of the SmartKey or the mechanical key immediately to your car insurance company. 왘 If necessary, have the mechanical lock replaced. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will be glad to supply you with a replace- ment. Controls in detail Locking and unlocking If you can no longer lock or unlock the vehicle with the key, then either the batteries in the SmartKey are dis- charged or the key is malfunctioning or the vehicle battery is drained. 앫 Check the batteries in the key and replace them if necessary (컄 page 276). or 앫 Check the vehicle battery (컄 page 294). or 앫 Use the mechanical key to unlock the doors (컄 page 274) as required. Lock the vehicle using the mechan- ical key (컄 page 275). If the key is malfunctioning, contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 84 Opening the doors from the inside You can open a locked door from the in- side. Open door only when conditions are safe to do so. If the vehicle has previously been locked from the outside with the re- mote control, opening a door from the inside will trigger the alarm. To cancel the alarm, do one of the fol- lowing: 앫 Press button Œ or‹ on the SmartKey. 앫 Insert the SmartKey in the starter switch. 1 Locking knob 2 Inside door handle 왘 Pull on door handle 2. If door was locked, locking knob 1 will move up. Controls in detail Locking and unlocking Opening the trunk lid 1 Handle 왘 Pull handle 1 in direction of arrow to open the trunk lid. The trunk lid swings open upwards. Always make sure that there is sufficient overhead clearance. The vehicle must be unlocked. 85 Controls in detail Locking and unlocking Closing the trunk lid 1 Handle 왘 Lower trunk lid by pulling firmly on grip 1. 왘 Close trunk lid with hands placed flat on it. Warning! To prevent possible personal injury, always keep hands and fingers away from the trunk lid opening when closing the trunk lid. Be es- pecially careful when small children are around. 86 Warning! 앫 The button will blink for 60 minutes af- ter closing the trunk lid. Only drive with the trunk closed as, among other dangers such as visibility blockage, exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle interi- or. 왘 Briefly press the emergency release button. The trunk unlocks and the trunk lid opens. Trunk lid emergency release The emergency release button is located in the trunk lid. Illumination of the emergency release but- ton: 앫 The button will blink for 30 minutes af- ter opening the trunk lid The emergency release button does not open the trunk lid if the vehicle bat- tery is discharged or disconnected. If the emergency release button is pressed and the vehicle was centrally locked, the exterior lamps will flash and the alarm will sound as the trunk lid opens. To cancel the alarm, insert the key in the starter switch or press button Œ or‹ on the key. Automatic central locking The doors and the trunk lid automatically lock when the ignition is switched on and the wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more. You can open a locked door from the in- side. Open door only when conditions are safe to do so. The doors unlock automatically after an accident if the force of the impact ex- ceeds a preset threshold. The vehicle automatically locks when the ignition is switched on and the wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more. You could therefore lock yourself out when the vehicle 앫 is pushed 앫 is on a test stand You can deactivate the automatic locking using the control system (컄 page 122). Controls in detail Locking and unlocking Locking and unlocking from the inside You can lock or unlock the doors and the trunk lid from inside using the central lock- ing switch. This can be useful, for example, if you want to lock the vehicle before start- ing to drive. The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or un- locked with the central locking switch. Warning! When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key from the starter switch and lock the ve- hicle. Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip- ment may cause an accident and/or serious personal injury. 87 Controls in detail Locking and unlocking The switch is located in the center console. Central locking switch 1 Locking 2 Unlocking Locking 왘 Press upper half 1 of the central lock- ing switch. If both front doors are closed, the vehi- cle locks. 88 Unlocking 왘 Press lower half 2 of the central lock- ing switch. The vehicle unlocks. You can open a locked door from in- side. Open door only when conditions are safe to do so. If the vehicle was previously centrally locked using the SmartKey, it will not unlock using the central locking switch. If the vehicle was previously locked with the central locking switch 앫 while in the selective remote con- trol mode, only the door opened from the inside is unlocked. 앫 while in the global remote control mode, the complete vehicle is un- locked when a door is opened from the inside. Seats Information on seat adjustment can be found in the “Getting started” section (컄 page 32). Easy-entry/exit feature* With the easy-entry/exit feature activated, the steering wheel tilts upwards and the driver’s seat moves to the rear. This allows easier entry into and exit from the vehicle when the driver’s door is opened. However, the engine must be turned off. When the SmartKey is inserted in the start- er switch and the driver’s door is closed, the steering wheel and the driver’s seat re- turn to their last set position. Warning! You must make sure that no one can be- come trapped or injured by the moving steering wheel and the driver’s seat when the easy-entry/exit feature* is activated, the driver’s door is being opened and the en- gine is turned off or the SmartKey is re- moved from the starter switch. Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper- vised use of vehicle equipment may cause an accident and/or serious personal injury. Do not leave children unattended in the ve- hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Children could open the driver’s door and unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit feature*, which could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury. Controls in detail Seats You can activate the following functions: 앫 Steering column: Only the steering column is adjusted. 앫 Steering column and seat: The steering column and the seat are adjusted. The easy-entry/exit feature can be switched on or off in the individual setting menu of the control system (컄 page 123). 89 Controls in detail Seats Head restraints Front seat head restraints, manual seat Front seat head restraints, power seat* Information on head restraint adjustment can be found in the “Getting started” sec- tion (컄 page 32). Warning! For your protection, drive only with properly positioned head restraints. Adjust head restraint to support the back of the head approximately at ear level. Do not drive the vehicle without the seat head restraints. Head restraints are intend- ed to help reduce injuries during an acci- dent. Tilt the backrest to the rear for easier removal and installation of the head re- straints. 90 Removing front head restraints 왘 Pull head restraint to its highest posi- tion. Removing front head restraints 왘 Press switch 1 upwards and hold until the head restraint is fully extended. 왘 Push button 1 and pull out head re- 왘 Pull out head restraint. straint. Installing front head restraints 왘 Insert head restraint and push it down to the stop. 왘 Push button 1 and adjust head re- straint to desired position. Installing front head restraints 왘 Press switch 1 upwards and hold for about five seconds. 왘 Push the head restraint down until it engages. 왘 Adjust head restraint to desired posi- tion. Controls in detail Seats Rear seat head restraints Warning!

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2003 Mercedes-benz C Class Coupe Owners Manual