2001 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 ESP

222 Tele Aid
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Initiating an emergency call
Manually:
Briefly press on cover (1) – the cover will open.Press the emergency call switch (2) briefly (for longer
than 2 seconds). The indicator lamp in the emergency
call switch (2) will flash until the emergency call is
concluded. Wait for a voice connection to the Response
Center.
Close the cover (1) after the emergency call is
concluded.

223 Tele Aid
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Roadside Assistance button 
Located below the center armrest cover is the Roadside
Assistance button. Pressing and holding the
button (for longer than 2 seconds) will initiate a call to a
Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance dispatcher. The
button will flash while the call is in progress. The
Tele Aid system will transmit data generating the
vehicle identification number, model, color and location
(subject to availability of cellular and GPS signals).A voice connection between the Roadside Assistance
dispatcher and the occupants of the vehicle will be
established. The nature of the need for assistance can
then be described. Sign and Drive services (jump start, a
few gallons of fuel or the replacement of a flat tire with
the vehicle spare tire) are available.
If the vehicle requires more than Sign and Drive
services, the Mercedes-Benz Roadside assistance
dispatcher will either dispatch a qualified
Mercedes-Benz technician or arrange to tow your
vehicle to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center.
For other than Sign and Drive services, labor and / or
towing charges may apply. Refer to the Roadside
Assistance manual for more information.
Notes:
The indicator lamp in the Roadside Assistance
button remains illuminated in red for
approximately 5 seconds during the system self-check
after turning electronic key in starter switch to
position 2 (together with the “SOS” button and the
Information button¡).
See system self-check on page 220 when the indicator
lamp does not light up in red or stays on longer than
approximately 5 seconds.
Wa r n i n g !
If you feel at any way in jeopardy when in the
vehicle (e.g. smoke or fire in the vehicle, vehicle in
a dangerous road location), please do not wait for
voice contact after you have pressed the emergency
button. Carefully leave the vehicle and move to a
safe location. The Response Center will
automatically contact local emergency officials
with the vehicle’s approximate location if they
receive an “SOS” signal and cannot make voice
contact with the vehicle occupants.

224 Tele Aid
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Information button ¡
Located below the center armrest cover is the
Information button¡. Pressing and holding the
button (for longer than 2 seconds) will initiate a call to
the Client Assistance Center. The button will flash while
the call is in progress. The Tele Aid system will transmit
data generating the vehicle identification number,
model, color and location (subject to availability of
cellular and GPS signals).
A voice connection between the Client Assistance
Center representative and the occupants of the vehicle
will be established. Information regarding the operation
of your vehicle, the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center or
Mercedes-Benz USA products and services is available
to you.
If you have chosen the Route Guidance Service (an
optional service available at additional cost in the USA
only), your communication will be transferred to our
Response Center, who will provide the appropriate
information.
For more details concerning this optional service,
please contact the Response Center at 1-800-756-9018.Notes:
The indicator lamp in the Information button¡
remains illuminated in red for approximately 5 seconds
during the system self-check after turning electronic
key in starter switch to position 2 (together with the
“SOS” button and the Roadside Assistance button).
See system self-check on page 220 when the indicator
lamp does not light up in red or stays on longer than
approximately 5 seconds.
Important!
If the indicator lamps do not illuminate or remain
illuminated (in red) at any time, the Tele Aid system has
detected a fault or the service is not currently active,
and may not initiate a call. Visit your Mercedes-Benz
Center and have the system checked or contact the
Response Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or
1-888-923-8367 (in Canada) as soon as possible.

225 Tele Aid
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Upgrade Signals
Tele Aid system processes calls using the following
priority.
•Automatic emergency – First priority
•Manual emergency – Second priority
•Roadside assistance – Third priority
•Information – Fourth priority
Should a higher priority call be initiated while you are
connected, an upgrade (alternating) tone will be heard,
and the appropriate indicator lamp will flash. If certain
information such as vehicle identification number or
client information is not available, the operator may
need to retransmit. During this time you will hear a
chirp and voice contact will be interrupted. Voice
contact will resume once the retransmission is
complete. O n ce a c all i s c onc lud ed , a chir p will be heard ,
the appropriate indicator lamp will stop flashing and a
tone will be heard indicating that the system has reset.Important!
If the indicator lamp continues to flash or the system
does not reset, contact the Response Center at
1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or 1-888-923-8367 (in
Canada), or Mercedes-Benz Client Assistance at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372) in the USA or
Customer Service at 1-800-387-0100 in Canada.
Notes:
The indicator lamp in the respective button flashes until
the call is concluded and this can only be completed by
a Response Center or Client Assistance Center
representative.

226 Tele Aid
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Remote door unlock
In the case you have your vehicle locked unintentionally
(e.g. key inside vehicle), and the reserve key is not
handy, contact the Mercedes-Benz Response Center at
1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or 1-888-923-8367 (in
Canada). You will be asked to provide your password
which you provided when you completed the subscriber
agreement.
Then return to your vehicle and pull outside trunk
handle for a minimum of 20 seconds.
The Response Center will then unlock your vehicle with
the remote door unlocking feature.
Note:
The remote door unlock feature is available if the
relevant cellular phone network and GPS signals are
available.Vehicle location/stolen vehicle tracking services
Should you wish to locate your vehicle, contact the
Mercedes-Benz Response Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in
the USA) or 1-888-923-8367 (in Canada). You will be
asked to provide your password which you provided
when you completed the subscriber agreement.
In the event your vehicle was stolen, report the incident
to the police who will issue a numbered incident report.
Pass this number on to the Mercedes-Benz Response
Center.
The Response Center will then attempt to covertly
contact the vehicle’s Tele Aid system. The electronic key
in the starter switch must be in position 1 or 2 and the
cellular and GPS signals must be available. The
Response Center will contact you at the phone
number(s) provided in the agreement once the vehicle
is located. The Response Center will attempt to contact
the vehicle until located, up to a maximum of 14 days or
until the vehicle location incident report is cancelled by
you.

227 Tele Aid
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Starguide (except Canada)
(only vehicles with optional COMAND system)
If you have chosen Starguide Service, you can request
several individual informations, for example the latest
news or stock market reports, information about
weather and travel or get your e-mail on the COMAND.
For notes on operation see separate COMAND operator’s
manual.
For more details concerning this optional service,
please contact the Response Center at 1-800-756-9018
(in the USA).Important!
Tele Aid utilizes the cellular network for
communication and the GPS (Global Positioning
System) satellites for vehicle location. If either of these
signals are unavailable, the Tele Aid system may not
function and if this occurs, assistance must be
summoned by other means.
Wa r n i n g !
If the indicator lamp in the “SOS” button does not
illuminate during or remains illuminated after the
system self-check, have the system checked at the
nearest Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

230 Starter switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Starter switch
0The electronic key can be withdrawn in this position
only. The steering is locked when the electronic key
is removed from the starter switch. If necessary,
move steering wheel slightly to allow the locking
mechanism to engage.
In vehicles with automatic transmission, the
electronic key can be removed only with the selector
lever in position “P”. After removing the electronic key or with the electronic key in starter switch
position 0, the selector lever is locked in
position “P”.
1Gear selector lever is unlocked.
Most electrical consumers can be operated. For
detailed information see respective subjects.
2Driving position.
3Starting position.
See page 232 for instructions on starting and stopping
the engine.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
electronic key from the starter switch, and lock the
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may cause
serious personal injury.

233 Manual transmission
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Manual transmission
See illustration for gearshift lever positions
corresponding to the individual gears.Stop the vehicle completely before shifting into reverse;
to shift into reverse, pull the gearshift lever up.
Do not exceed the maximum engine speed in the
individual gears. Refer to tachometer (see page 91) for
engine speeds.
Important!
When vehicle is parked, always be sure to engage first
or reverse gear and firmly set parking brake.
When parked on an incline, also turn front wheel
towards the road curb.
Downshifting gears leading to overrevving the engine
can result in transmission damage that is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Do not exceed engine speed limits, see page 91.
Wa r n i n g !
On slippery road surfaces as well as high engine
speeds, never downshift in order to obtain braking
action. This could result in drive wheel slip and
reduced vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.