2001 MERCEDES-BENZ C320 Page 14

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.

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.

232 Starting and turning off the enginge
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Starting and turning off the engine
Before starting
Ensure that parking brake is engaged and that selector
lever is in position “P” or “N” (gearshift lever in
neutral). Turn electronic key in starter switch to
position 2.
Starting
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Do n ot de pr ess accelerato r. B rie f ly turn electron ic key i n
starter switch clockwise to the stop and release. The
starter will engage until the engine is running.
If engine will not run, and the starting procedure stops,
turn electronic key completely to the left and repeat
starting the engine.
After several unsuccessful attempts, have the system
checked at the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.Vehicles with manual transmission:
Do not depress accelerator. Fully depress clutch pedal,
otherwise the engine cannot be started due to the
integrated safety interlock.
Turn electronic key in starter switch clockwise to the
stop. Release only when the engine is firing regularly.
Important!
Due to the installed starter non-repeat feature, the
electronic key must be turned completely to the left
before attempting to start the engine again.
In areas where temperatures frequently drop below -4
°F
(-20
°C) we recommend that an engine block heater be
installed. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
advise you on this subject, see page 251.
Turning off
Turn the electronic key in the starter switch to
position 0 to stop the engine.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
The electronic key can only be removed with the
selector lever in position “P”.

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.

236 Automatic transmission
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Stopping
For brief stops, e.g. at traffic lights, leave the
transmission in gear and hold vehicle with the service
brake.
For longer stops with the engine idling, shift into “N”
or “P” and hold the vehicle with the service brake.
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill gradient, do not
hold it with the accelerator, use the brake. This avoids
unnecessary transmission heat build up.
Maneuvering
To maneuver in tight areas, e.g. when pulling into a
parking space, control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes. Accelerate gently and never
abruptly step on the accelerator.
To rock a vehicle out of soft ground (mud or snow),
alternately shift from forward to reverse, while applying
slight partial throttle.Rocking a vehicle free in this manner may cause the
ABS or traction system malfunction indicator lamp to
come on. Turn off and restart the engine to clear the
malfunction indication.
Wa r n i n g !
Getting out of your vehicle with the selector lever
not fully engaged in position “P” is dangerous.
A ls o, w hen pa rked on a n in c li ne, pos i tion “P” a lon e
may not prevent your vehicle from moving,
possibly hitting people or objects.Always set the parking brake in addition to shifting
to position “P”, see page 243 for parking brake. When parked on an incline, also turn front wheel
against curb.

237 Automatic transmission
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Selector lever position
1Program mode indicator,
see page 241
2Gear range indicators
The current selector lever position is highlighted in the
gear range indicator display (2), as well as shown by a
red indicator light next to the gear selector lever. The
automatic gear shifting process can be adapted to
specific operating conditions using the selector lever.Park position
The park position is to be used when parking the
vehicle. Engage only with the vehicle stopped.
The park position is not intended to serve as a
brake when the vehicle is parked. Rather, the
driver should always use the parking brake in
addition to placing the selector lever in park to
secure the vehicle.
Note:
The electronic key can only be removed from the
starter switch with the selector lever in
position “P”. With the electronic key removed, the
selector lever is locked in position “P”.
Reverse gear
Shift to reverse gear only with the vehicle
stopped.
Dependent on the program mode selector switch
position “S” or “W” the maximum speed in the
reverse gear is different. However, it is not
possible to change the program mode while in
reverse.

238 Automatic transmission
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the engine to the
drive axle. When the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely (pushed or towed). Do
not engage “N” while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skidding (e.g. on
icy roads, see page 250 for winter driving
instructions).
Important!
Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any other
reason with selector lever in “N” can result in
transmission damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
The transmission automatically upshifts through
5th gear. Position “D” provides optimum driving
characteristics under all normal operating
conditions.Gear selection for special circumstances
The transmission gear ranges for special circumstances
can be selected by pressing the selector lever to the
right or the left with the selector lever in position “D”.
The gear range currently selected is highlighted in the
instrument cluster display.
Briefly press selector lever in the ç direction:
The transmission downshifts, one gear at a time, in the
order “4”, “3”, “2”, “1”.
Press and hold selector lever in the ç direction:
The selector lever position display will switch to the
gear range currently selected by the automatic
transmission.
The transmission will only shift down one gear if the
gear range currently selected has already shifted to its
highest possible gear.
Briefly press selector lever in the æ direction:
The transmission will shift from the current gear range
to the next higher gear range. If the transmission is
already in gear range “D”, an additional upshift of one
gear is possible.