2002 MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS COUPE ABS

3
Contents Maintenance ................................... 227
Tele Aid............................................ 228
Catalytic converter......................... 238
Emission control ............................ 239
Starter switch ................................. 240
Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 242
Manual transmission .................... 244
Automatic transmission................ 246
Parking brake ................................. 256
Driving instructions ...................... 257 Drive sensibly – Save Fuel........ 257
Drinking and driving................. 257
Pedals ........................................... 257
Power assistance ........................ 258
Brakes .......................................... 258
Driving off ................................... 259
Parking ........................................ 260
Tires ............................................. 261
Snow chains ................................ 263
Winter driving instructions ...... 264
Deep water .................................. 266
Passenger compartment............ 267
Traveling abroad......................... 267 Cruise control ................................ 268
Brake assist system (BAS)............ 271
Antilock brake system (ABS)....... 272
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ........................................... 274
What you should know at the gas station ...................... 278
Check regularly and before a long trip .................................. 280
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator
lamps in the instrument
cluster......................................... 282
On-board diagnostic system......... 283 Check engine malfunction
indicator lamp ............................ 283
Brake warning lamp .................. 284
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS) indicator lamp .... 285
Fuel reserve warning ................ 286
ABS malfunction indicator
lamp ............................................. 287 Electronic stability program
(ESP) — warning lamp ............... 288
Seat belt nonusage warning lamp ............................................288
Malfunction and indicator lamp in the center console ...... 289
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp..... 289
Malfunction and warning messages in the
multifunction display ............... 290
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE ................ 291
BATTERY / ALTERNATOR........ 292
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM..... 293
BRAKE ASSIST ........................... 293
BRAKE PAD WEAR .................... 294
BRAKE FLUID ............................. 294
PARKING BRAKE ....................... 295
SEAT BELT SYSTEM................... 295
ELEC. STABIL. PROG.
(Electronic stability program) .. 296
COOLANT (coolant level) .......... 297
COOLANT
(coolant temperature) ................ 298
ENGINE OIL LEVEL ................... 299

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Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
DrivingInstrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Ve h i c l e k e y s
Included with your vehicle are 2 electronic keys with
integrated radio frequency and infrared remote controls
plus removable mechanical key.
The locking tabs for the mechanical key portion of the
two electronic keys are a different color to help
distinguish it.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
electronic key from the starter switch, and lock
your 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.

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Instrument cluster
Te ch n i c a l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
DrivingInstrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Indicator lamps in the instrument cluster High beam, see page 148
ABS malfunction, see page 287
Brake fluid low (except Canada).
Parking brake engaged, see page 284
ESP. Adjust driving to road condition,
see page 288
Fasten seat belts, see page 288
SRS malfunction, see page 285 Engine malfunction indicator lamp. If the
malfunction indicator lamp comes on when
the engine is running, it indicates a
malfunction of the fuel management system,
emission control system, systems which
impact emissions, or the fuel cap is not
closed tight. In all cases, we recommend that
you have the malfunction checked as soon as
possible, see page 283
ABS

225
Contents - Driving
Te ch n i c a l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
DrivingInstrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters ..................... 226
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ................................. 227
Maintenance ................................... 227
Tele Aid............................................ 228
Catalytic converter......................... 238
Emission control ............................ 239
Starter switch ................................. 240
Starting and turning off the engine .................................. 242
Manual transmission .................... 244
Automatic transmission................ 246 Parking brake ................................ 256
Driving instructions...................... 257
Drive sensibly – Save Fuel ....... 257
Drinking and driving ................ 257
Pedals .......................................... 257
Power assistance........................ 258
Brakes .......................................... 258
Driving off................................... 259
Parking ........................................ 260
Tires ............................................. 261
Snow chains................................ 263
Winter driving instructions ..... 264
Deep water .................................. 266
Passenger compartment ........... 267
Traveling abroad ........................ 267 Cruise control ................................. 268
Brake assist system (BAS) ............ 271
Antilock brake system (ABS) ....... 272
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ........................................... 274
What you should know at the gas station ....................... 278
Check regularly and before a long trip ................................... 280

245
Manual transmission
Te ch n i c a l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
DrivingInstrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Wa r n i n g !
For vehicles equipped with a manual transmission,
getting out of your vehicle with the gearshift lever
not engaged in 1st or reverse gear and parking
brake engaged is dangerous.
Also, when parked on an incline, an engaged 1st or
reverse gear alone may not prevent your vehicle
from moving, possibly hitting people or objects.Always set the parking brake in addition to
engaging 1st or reverse gear, see page 256 for
parking brake. When parked on an incline, also turn front wheel
towards the road curb.When leaving the vehicle always remove the key
from the steering lock, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Children could move
the gearshift lever, which could result in an
accident or serious injury.
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.

248
Automatic transmission
Te ch n i c a l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
DrivingInstrument
cluster display Practical 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.
Also, when parked on an incline, position “P” alone
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 256 for parking brake. When parked on an incline, also turn front wheel
towards the road curb.When leaving the vehicle always remove the key
from the steering lock, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Children could move
the selector lever from position“P”, which could
result in an accident or serious injury.

251
Automatic transmission
Te ch n i c a l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
DrivingInstrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
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 “D –” direction:
The transmission will shift from the current gear range
to the next lower gear range.
Press and hold selector lever in the “D –” direction:
The selector lever position display will switch to the
gear range currently selected by the automatic
transmission.
Shifting into another gear range that allows for quicker
acceleration or to slow the vehicle down is possible.
Downshifts can also be performed.
Note:
To avoid overrevving the engine when the selector lever
is moved in “D –” direction, the transmission will not
shift to a lower gear if the engine’s revolutions per
minute limit would be exceeded.
Briefly press selector lever in the “D +” 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.
Press and hold selector lever in the “D +” direction:
The transmission will shift from the current gear
directly to gear range “D”.
Important!
With transmission in gear range “D”, “4” or “3”,
upshifting from 1st to 2nd to 3rd gear is delayed
depending on vehicle speed and engine temperature.
This allows the catalytic converter to heat up more
quickly to operating temperatures.
Wa r n i n g !
On slippery road surfaces, 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.

265
Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
DrivingInstrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Winter driving
Have your vehicle winterized at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center before the onset of winter.
• Change the engine oil if the engine contains an oil
which is not approved for winter operation. For
viscosity (SAE / CCMC class) and filling quantity,
seepage379.
• Check engine coolant anticorrosion / antifreeze
concentration.
• Additive for the windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system: Add MB Concentrate “S” to a
premixed windshield washer solvent / antifreeze
which is formulated for below freezing
temperatures, see page 320.
• Test battery: Battery capacity drops with decreasing
ambient temperature. A well charged battery helps
to ensure that the engine can be started, even at low
ambient temperatures.
• Tires: We recommend M+S rated radial-ply tires on
all four wheels for the winter season. Observe
permissible maximum speed for M+S rated
radial-ply tires and the legal speed limit. Note:
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the
antilock brake system (ABS) and electronic stability
program (ESP) can only be achieved with M+S rated
radial-ply tires and / or snow chains recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. Snow chains maximize performance.