1999 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS display

Automatic Climate Control


The system is always at operational readiness, except when manually
switched off. The automatic climat e control only operates with the
engine running. The temperature selector should be left
at the desired temperature setting.
The temperature selected is reached as quickly as possible. The
system will not heat or cool any quicker by setting a higher or lower
temperature.



1. Air volume control for center air outlet,
turn wheel up to open

2. Air volume control for right air outlet.
To open air outlets:
Turn wheel to position

3. Center air outlets, adjustable
4. Side air outlets, adjustable
5. Display and Controls



The automatic climate control removes considerable moisture from the air during operation in the cooling mode.
It is normal for water to drip on the ground through ducts in the underbody.

Important !
This vehicle is equipped with an air conditioner system t hat uses HFC-134a (ozone-friendly hydrofluorocarbon) as a
refrigerant. Repairs should always be performed by a qualif ied technician, and refrigerant should be collected in a
recovery system for recycling.


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Display and Controls
Press to activate, indicator lamp is on while activated.
Automatic mode Air recirculation
Raise temperature
Air distribution, manual
Lower temperature
Economy mode
Defrost Air volume, manual
Rear window defroster
Residual engine heat
utilization Basic Setting - Automatic Mode

Press for automatic mode.
Simultaneously press both
landfor temperature setting of 72°F.



Air volume and distribution are controlled
automatically. This setting can be used all year
around.


Economy
The function of this setting corresponds to the
automatic mode. However, because the air
conditioning compressor will not engage (fuel
savings), it is not possible to air condition in this
setting.

Press button to activate.
Press
button once again to return to previous
setting.


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Special Settings
(use only for short duration)
Defogging Windows
Switch off
button.
Press
. button.
Press
button repeatedly until
air is directed upward.

Turn wheels (2) to position

to open left and right air outlets (4).
Adjust air outlets upward.

Defrosting
Turn wheels (2) to position to

open left and right air outlets (4).
Adjust air outlets upward.
Press
button. Maximum heat-
ed and automatically controlled
amount of air is directed to the
windshield and side windows.

Press button once again to
return to previous setting. Rear Window Defroster

Turn key in steering lock to position 2.
To select, press
button.
To cancel, press
button again.
Note:
Heavy accumulation of snow and
ice should be removed before
activating the defroster.
The rear window defroster uses a
large amount of power. To keep
the battery drain to a minimum, turn
off the defroster as soon
as the window is clear.
The defroster is automatically turned
off after a maximum of
12 minutes of operation.
If several power consumers are
turned on simultaneously, or the
battery is only partially charged, it
is possible that the defroster will
automatically turn itself off. When
this happens, the indicator lamp
inside the switch starts blinking.
As soon as the battery has
sufficient voltage, the
defroster automatically turns
itself back on. Air Distribution


Press
button repeatedly until
the requested symbol is displayed.

Air Volume
Press - or + side of rocker switch
until the requested blower
speed is attained.
A choice of 7 blower speeds is
available. To switch the
automatic climate control off,
press - side of rocker switch
until symbol OFF is displayed.

The fresh air supply to the car interior
is shut off.
While driving, use this setting only
temporarily, otherwise the
windshield could fog up.
To switch the automatic climate
control on again, press

or + side of

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Instrument Lamps
Press + or - button to vary intensity of instrument lamps.


Display illumination
The display for temperature, odometer, oil level indicator, FSS indicator and clock is illuminated briefly when
opening the driver door. The display illumination brightness responds automatically according to changes in the
surrounding light sensitivity. To briefly illuminate the display (with electronic key
removed or in steering lock position 0 or 1), press button O, +,- , h or m.


Trip Odometer
• To reset:
• Press button O once and hold (with display illuminated).
• Press button O twice and hold (with display not illuminated).


Clock
Adjusting clock (display illuminated): Press button m or h briefly. The disp lay flashes to indicate that the clock
can be adjusted.
Minute: Press button m briefly.
Minutes: Press and hold button m.
Hour: Press button h briefly.
Hours: Press and hold button h .


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Charge Indicator Lamp
Should the charge indicator lamp fail to come on prior to starting when the electronic key is in steering lock position 2
or should it fail to go out after starting or during operati on, this indicates a fault which must be repaired at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer immediately.
If the charge indicator lamp comes on while the engine is ru nning, this may indicate that the poly-V-belt has broken.
Should this condition occur, the poly-V-bel t must be replaced before continuing to operate the vehicle. Otherwise, the
engine will overheat due to an inoperative water pump which may result in damage to the engine.
Do not continue to drive the vehicle with the charge indicator lamp illuminated. Doing so could result in serious engine
damage that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

Low Engine Oil Level Warning Lamp
With the electronic key in steering lock position 2, the o il level warning lamp comes on. It should go out immediately
when the engine is running.
If the warning lamp does not go out after starting the engi ne, or comes on with the engine running and at operating
temperature, the engine oil level has dropped to approximately the minimum mark on the dipstick.
When this occurs, the warning lamp will first come on intermittently and then stay on if the oil level drops further.
If no oil leaks are noted, continue to drive to the nearest service station where the engine oil should be topped to the
"full" mark on the dipstick with an approved oil.
The low engine oil level warning light should not be ignored. Extended driving with the light illuminated could result in
serious engine damage that is not covered by the Mercedes -Benz Limited Warranty. In addition to the warning lamp,
the engine oil level should be periodically checked with the di pstick (or via the odometer display - Model 280 only), for
example during a fuel stop, or before a long trip (see Index)


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Outside Temperature Indicator
The temperature sensor is located in the front bumper area. Due to its location, the sensor can be affected by road or
engine heat during idling or slow driving. This means that the accuracy of the displayed temperature can only be
verified by comparison to a thermometer placed next, to the sensor, not by comparison to external displays (e.g. bank
signs etc.).
Adaptation to ambient temperature takes place in steps and depends on the prevailing driving conditions (stop-and-
go or moderate, constant driving) and amount of temperature change.

Warning !
The outside temperature indicator is not designed to serve as an Ice-Warning Device and is therefore un-
suitable for that purpose. Indicated temperatures just above the freezing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice.


Coolant Temperature Gauge
If the antifreeze mixture is effective to -22°F (-30°C), the boiling point of the c oolant in the pressurized cooling system
of your vehicle is approx. 266°F (130°C). During severe operating conditions and stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant
temperature may rise close to the red marking. The engine should not be operated with the coolant temperature in
the red zone. Doing so may cause serious engine damage wh ich is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

Warning !
• Driving when your engine is badly overheated can cause some fluids which may
have Beaked into the engine compartment to catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.
• Steam from an overheated engine can cause serious burns and can occur just by
opening the engine hood. Stay away from the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the car and do not stand near the car until it cools down.


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Flexible Service System (FSS)




The FSS permits a flexible service schedule that is dire
ctly related to the operating conditions of the vehicle.
The symbol
or appears in the main odometer field prior to the next suggested service. Depending on operating
conditions throughout the year, the nex t service is calculated and displayed in days or distance remaining. The
message is displayed for approx. 10 seconds when turning the electronic key in steering lock to position 2, or it can
be canceled manually by pressing button 0. Once the suggested term has passed, the message plus symbol
or
, preceded by a - (minus symbol) blinks, when turning t he electronic key to position 2. The FSS display can also
be called up for approx.10 seconds with display illuminated by pressing button 0 twice. Following a completed service
the Mercedes-Benz dealer sets the counter to 10 000 miles (Canada: 15 000 km) and 365 days.

The counter can also be set by any individual. To do so:
1 . Turn electronic key in steering lock to position 2.
2 . Within 4 seconds press button 0 twice.
3 . The present status for days or distance is displayed. Within 10 seconds turn electronic key in steering lock to
position 0.
4 . Press and hold button 0, while turning electronic key in steering lock to position 2 again. The present status for
days or distance is displayed once more. Continue to hold button 0 After approx. 10 seconds a signal sounds, and the
display shows 10 000 miles (Canada: 15000 km).
5 . Release button 0. If the FSS counter was inadvertently reset, have a Mercedes -Benz dealer correct it.

Notes:
When disconnecting vehicle battery for one or more days at a time, such days will not be counted. Any such days not
counted by the FSS can be added by your Mercedes-Benz de aler. The interval between services is determined by
the kind of vehicle operation. Driving at extreme speeds, and cold starts combined with short distance driving in which
the engine does not reach normal operating temperat ure, reduce the interval between services.

Model C 230:
The FSS allows for distances between 10 000 miles (Canada: 15 000 km) and 15 000 miles (Canada: 22 500 km),
or from 365 to 730 days between services.

Models C 280 and C 43 AMG:
The FSS allows for distances between 10 000 miles (Canada: 15 000 km) and 20 000 miles (Canada: 30 000 km),
or from 365 to 730 days between services. However you choose to set your reference numbers, the scheduled
services as posted in the Service Booklet must be followed to properly care for your vehicle.


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Odometer Display Field
(Models C 280 and C 43 AMG)

Turn electronic key in steering lock to position 2 and wait until the symbols
and appears in the
odometer display field. Within 1 second press button 0 twice.


The following messages are available:
"OK"
"-1.0 Q" (Canada: -1.0 L)
"-1.5 Q" (Canada: -1.5L)
"-2.0 Q" (Canada: -2.0 L)
Add oil to upper (max) mark of the dipstick."HI"

Do not overfill the engine.
Excessive oil must be drained or siphoned. It could caus e damage to engine and catalytic converter not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limi ted Warranty. The symbol
flashes in the odometer field if a proper oil level check
cannot be performed. The oil level check
can be repeated after a short while. Perform the oil level check with the dipstick, if it cannot be completed via the
odometer display field. In this case we recommend that you have the system checked at a Mercedes-Benz dealer.


Automatic Transmission Fluid Level
The transmission has a permanent fill of automatic tran smission fluid. Regular automatic transmission fluid
level checks and changes are not required. For this reason the dipstick is omitted. If you notice fluid leaks or
gear shifting malfunctions, have your authorized Mercede s-Benz dealer check the transmission fluid level.


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