Online Owner's Manual [In depth | Driving and parking

Important safety notes

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WARNING

Flammable materials introduced through environmental influence or by animals can ignite if in contact with the exhaust system or parts of the engine that heat up. There is a risk of fire.

Carry out regular checks to make sure that there are no flammable foreign materials in the engine compartment or in the exhaust system.

WARNING

If you switch off the ignition while driving, safety-relevant functions are only available with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake boosting effect. You will require considerably more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an accident.

Do not switch off the ignition while driving.

WARNING

If the parking brake has not been fully released when driving, the parking brake can:

overheat and cause a fire
lose its hold function.

There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release the parking brake fully before driving off.

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Key positions

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To insert/remove the key, lock the steering wheel

To unlock the steering wheel, power supply for some consumers (e.g. the radio)

To switch on the ignition. Power supply for all consumers. Preglow

[1] and drive position

To start the engine

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To unlock the steering, move the steering wheel slightly while turning the key to position 1.

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Preparing for a journey

Visual check of the vehicle exterior

In particular, check the following components on the vehicle, and on the trailer as necessary:

licence plates, vehicle lighting, turn signals, brake lamps and wiper blades for dirt and damage
tyres and wheels for firm seating, correct tyre pressure and general condition
trailer tow hitch for play and security

The trailer tow hitch is one of the most important components on the vehicle with regard to road safety. The separate instructions issued by the manufacturer pertaining to operation, care and maintenance should be observed.

Rectify any noticeable defects before commencing the journey.

Checks in the vehicle

Emergency equipment/first-aid kit

Check the equipment to make sure that it is accessible, complete and ready for use.

The first aid and breakdown assistance equipment is located:

in the front door stowage compartments
in the base of the co-driver's seat
in the rear stowage compartment on the right-hand side of the vehicle more

Vehicle lighting

Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition lock.

Check with the help of another person that the lighting system is working correctly.

Replace defective bulbs more.

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Before pulling away

WARNING

Objects in the driver's footwell can impede pedal travel or block a pedal which is depressed. This jeopardises safe operation of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.

Stow all objects in the vehicle safely, so that they cannot reach the driver's footwell. Make sure the floormats and carpets are properly secured so that they cannot slip and obstruct the pedals. Do not lay several floormats or carpets on top of one another.

WARNING

Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage of the pedals, e.g.:

shoes with thick soles
shoes with high heels
slippers

There is a risk of an accident.

Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct usage of the pedals.

Secure the load as per the loading guidelines more.

Make sure that the floormats and carpets are properly secured so that they cannot slip and obstruct the pedals.

Close all the doors.

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Starting the engine

Important safety notes

WARNING

Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave the engine running in enclosed spaces without sufficient ventilation.

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Do not depress the accelerator pedal when starting the engine.

Before starting the engine, make sure that:

all the doors are closed
all the vehicle occupants are wearing their seat belts correctly
the parking brake is applied

If you depress the brake pedal before starting the engine, the pedal travel is short and pedal resistance is high.

If you depress the brake pedal again after starting the engine, pedal travel and resistance will be back to normal again.

Manual transmission

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Gearshift pattern

Reverse gear

-	Forward gears

Reverse gear pull ring

You can only start the engine if the clutch pedal is depressed completely.

Depress the brake pedal and keep it depressed.

Depress the clutch pedal completely.

Shift the manual transmission into neutral.

If, when starting the engine on vehicles with a diesel engine, the clutch pedal is not depressed or is not sufficiently depressed:

on vehicles without steering wheel buttons, the indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights up
on vehicles with steering wheel buttons, the Depress clutch message appears in the display

Automatic transmission

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Gearshift pattern

Park position with parking lock

Reverse gear

Neutral

Drive

Move the selector lever to position P.

The display in the instrument cluster shows P:

on vehicles with steering wheel buttons more
on vehicles without steering wheel buttons more

You can also start the engine in neutral N.

Starting the engine

The "touch-start" function is available on vehicles with automatic transmission. To use this function, turn the key to position 3 in the ignition lock and release it immediately. The engine starts automatically.

To start a petrol engine: turn the key to position 3 in the ignition lock more and release it as soon as the engine is running.

To start a diesel engine: turn the key to position 2 more in the ignition lock.

The preglow indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights up briefly.

Once the preglow indicator lamp goes out, turn the key to position 3 in the ignition lock and release it as soon as the engine is running.

You can start the diesel engine without preglow when the engine is warm.

If the diesel engine is cold, the engine idling speed may be higher than normal after starting the engine. The increased engine idling speed will be automatically reduced to the normal engine idling speed within several seconds.

The preglow system is malfunctioning if the preglow indicator lamp lights up for approximately 1 minute:

after the ignition is switched on
while the (diesel) engine is running

At extremely low outside temperatures, you may then no longer be able to start the diesel engine. Have the fault rectified at a qualified specialist workshop.

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Pulling away

Manual transmission

Pulling away

Change gear in good time and avoid spinning the wheels. Otherwise, you could damage the vehicle.

Depress the brake pedal and keep it depressed.

Depress the clutch pedal completely.

Shift to first gear or reverse gear.

Release the parking brake more.

The indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.

Release the brake pedal.

Release the clutch pedal slowly and accelerate carefully.

On vehicles with start-off assist, the brake pressure is automatically maintained for a further 2 seconds after the brake pedal is released. This makes it possible to pull away without the vehicle immediately rolling.

The vehicle locks centrally once you have pulled away. The locking knobs in the doors drop down. You can open the doors from the inside at any time.

You can also deactivate the automatic locking feature more.

Gearshift recommendation

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Gearshift recommendation (example: vehicles without steering wheel buttons) images/img47da7a3387a9541c351f191568310f91_1_--_--_JPG72.jpg

Gearshift recommendation (example: vehicles with steering wheel buttons)

The gearshift recommendation in the display indicates that it is possible to upshift and shows the recommended gear . Follow the shift recommendations in the display for an economical driving style.

If your vehicle is fitted with the ECO Start function, a gearshift recommendation to shift to neutral is also shown more.

Engaging reverse gear

Only shift into reverse gear R when the vehicle is stationary. Otherwise, you could damage the transmission.

Draw the pull ring upwards and hold it in this position more.

Move the gear lever as far as possible to the left and then push it down.

Release the pull ring.

On vehicles with a reverse warning feature, a warning signal sounds when reverse gear is engaged to alert other road users more.

Automatic transmission

WARNING

If the engine speed is above the idling speed and you engage transmission position D or R, the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is a risk of an accident.

When engaging transmission position D or R, always firmly depress the brake pedal and do not simultaneously accelerate.

Only shift into reverse gear R when the vehicle is stationary. Otherwise, you could damage the transmission.

Depress the brake pedal and keep it depressed.

The selector lever lock is released.

Move the selector lever to position D or R.

On vehicles with a reverse warning feature, a warning signal sounds when reverse gear R is engaged to alert other road users more.

Release the parking brake more.

The indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.

Release the brake pedal.

Carefully depress the accelerator pedal.

On vehicles with start-off assist, the brake pressure is automatically maintained for a further 2 seconds after the brake pedal is released. This makes it possible to pull away without the vehicle immediately rolling more.

The vehicle locks centrally once you have pulled away. The locking knobs in the doors drop down. You can open the doors from the inside at any time.

You can also deactivate the automatic locking feature more.

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Start-off assist

When the engine is running, start-off assist automatically maintains the brake pressure for about another 2 seconds after the brake pedal is released.

This makes it possible to pull away without the vehicle immediately rolling away on slight uphill gradients.

Start-off assist will not function if:

you are pulling away on a level road or a downhill gradient
the transmission is in neutral or neutral position N
the parking brake is applied
ESP® is malfunctioning

Vehicles without steering wheel buttons: if the indicator lamp is lit continuously when the engine is running, there is a malfunction more.

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Reverse warning device

WARNING

Other road users may ignore or fail to hear the warning tone of the reverse warning feature. There is a risk of injury if you fail to ensure that the area in which you are manoeuvring is clear.

Make sure that there are no persons or objects in the area in which you are manoeuvring. It may be necessary to enlist the help of a second person when manoeuvring.

The reverse warning feature is a system designed to assist you in ensuring the safety of other road users.

A warning signal sounds to alert other road users when reverse gear is engaged. The volume of the warning tone can be reduced for night-time driving.

To reduce the volume of the warning tone: engage reverse gear twice in quick succession.

The warning tone is now quieter.

The warning tone sounds at a normal volume by default. The volume of the warning tone has to be reduced each time you engage reverse gear if necessary.

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ECO Start on Euro 5 engines

General notes

WARNING

If ECO Start is activated, the engine can be started unintentionally, e.g. by accidentally depressing the clutch pedal. If work is being carried out on the engine under these circumstances, there is a risk of injury from moving engine parts.

Deactivate ECO Start before work is carried out on the engine.

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Messages in the display (example: vehicles without steering wheel buttons) images/img9c5b77cf6e3d1cde351f191549bd07a0_1_--_--_JPG72.jpg

Messages in the display (example: vehicles with steering wheel buttons)

ECO Start is automatically activated each time the engine is switched on. The indicator lamp in the button flashes.

ECO Start turns the engine off automatically when the vehicle comes to a stop. When pulling away again, the engine starts automatically. ECO Start thereby helps you to reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of your vehicle.

When symbol is shown in the display, ECO Start is operational.

The following conditions must also be fulfilled:

the indicator lamp in the button is lit more
the engine has reached its operating temperature
the bonnet is closed
you have shifted up a gear since pulling away
the outside temperature is above 0
the charge status of the battery is sufficient

When ECO Start is operational and you stop the vehicle, a gearshift recommendation to engage neutral N is shown in the display.

If ECO Start is deactivated manually more or due to a malfunction, the symbol is not shown.

Automatic engine switch-off

ECO Start switches the engine off automatically when:

the display shows the symbol more
the vehicle is stationary
you have engaged neutral N
the clutch pedal is not depressed

If the charge status of the battery is no longer sufficient, the symbol flashes in the display. For the automatic engine start, depress the clutch pedal as far as it will go.

Automatic engine start

ECO Start starts the engine, provided it has been switched off automatically, when:

you depress the clutch pedal.
the vehicle begins to roll.

The automatic engine start is blocked if you engage a gear without depressing the clutch pedal. For the automatic engine start, depress the clutch pedal as far as it will go.

If you open the bonnet after an automatic engine switch-off, automatic engine start is deactivated. Once the bonnet is closed, you have to start the engine manually.

Activating/deactivating ECO Start

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Press the button when the engine is running.

If the indicator lamp in the button is off, ECO Start is deactivated. The engine will then not be switched off automatically when the vehicle stops.

ECO Start is automatically reactivated once the engine has been restarted.

If the indicator lamp in the button does not light up after the engine is started, ECO Start is malfunctioning and cannot be activated.

If you press the button after an automatic engine switch-off, ECO Start is deactivated. However, you can start the engine once more by depressing the clutch pedal.

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Problems with the engine

Problem	Possible causes/consequences and Solutions
The engine does not start. The starter motor can be heard.	There is air in the fuel system. Turn the key back to position 0 in the ignition lock before attempting to start the engine again. Start the engine again. Please bear in mind that lengthy and frequent starting attempts will drain the battery. If the engine does not start after several attempts: Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
The engine does not start. The starter motor can be heard. The reserve fuel warning lamp is lit and the fuel gauge is at 0.	The fuel tank has run dry. Refuel the vehicle. Vehicles with a diesel engine: if you drive until the fuel tank is completely empty, air may get into the fuel system. If the engine does not start after refuelling, bleed the fuel system as follows: Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition for approximately 10 seconds. Start the engine continuously for a maximum of 60 seconds. If the engine does not start: Wait approximately 2 minutes. Start the engine continuously for a maximum of 60 seconds again. If the engine still fails start, do not continue trying to start it. Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
The engine does not start. The starter motor cannot be heard.	The on-board voltage is too low. The battery is too weak or discharged. Jump-start the vehicle more. If the engine cannot be jump-started, the starter motor is faulty. Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
The engine does not start. The starter motor cannot be heard.	The battery is discharged or faulty. Check the battery for damage. Charge the battery more.
Vehicles with a petrol engine: The engine is not running smoothly and is misfiring.	There is a malfunction in the engine electronics or a mechanical component of the engine management system. Only depress the accelerator pedal slightly. Unburnt fuel may otherwise get into the catalytic converter and damage it. Have the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist workshop.

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