2002 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 Owner's Manual

262 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Activation of Distronic
Any given speed above approximately 25 mph
(Canada: 40 km/h) can be maintained:
•Normally the vehicle is accelerated to the desired
speed with the accelerator.•Speed is set by briefly moving the control lever to
position 1 or 2.
The stored speed is displayed in the multifunction
display for approx. 5 seconds (see also page 273),
and one or two segments around the stored speed
light up on the speedometer dial (see also page 274).
•Remove foot from the accelerator.
•When briefly lifting the control lever to position 1,
the vehicle speed will increase in increments of
5mph (Canada:10km/h).
The stored speed is displayed in the multifunction
display for approx. 5 seconds (see also page 273),
and one or two segments around the stored speed
light up on the speedometer dial (see also page 274).
•When briefly lowering the control lever to
position 2, the vehicle speed will decrease in
increments of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).
The stored speed is displayed in the multifunction
display for approx. 5 seconds (see also page 273),
and one or two segments around the stored speed
light up on the speedometer dial (see also page 274).
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263 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index •For a more precise setting the speed can be
increased in increments of 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
by briefly pulling the control lever in direction (4).
Caution!
If the driver’s foot is not fully removed from the
accelerator pedal, the message “DISTRONIC OVERRIDE”
is displayed while the Distronic control system is being
overridden and it will not regulate the preset vehicle
speed and following distance. The vehicle speed and
following distance will be determined only by the
accelerator pedal position.Invalid attempts to activate
The multifunction display will show “–––MPH” during
invalid attempts to activate Distronic. Distronic will not
activate in the following situations:
•below a speed of approx. 25 mph
(Canada: 40 km/h),
•while the electronic stability program (ESP) is
switched off – ESP warning lampv in
speedometer dial is illuminated, see page 114,
•by moving the distronic control lever in “RESUME”
direction (4) when no speed is stored in memory,
•during the initialization and self-test phase after the
engine is started – this can take up to 2 minutes,
•while depressing the service brake pedal,
•while the parking brake is set – check ;warning
lamp (Canada: !) in instrument cluster, see
page 114,
•with the gear selector lever in position “P”, “R”
or “N” – check gear range indicator display in
instrument cluster, see page 114.
See page 327 for malfunction and warning messages if
the Distronic is malfunctioning.
Wa r n i n g !
Distronic brakes (up to 20% of vehicle braking
power) the vehicle to restore the preset distance or
to maintain the speed. The brake pedal is
automatically applied as this happens.Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, including
the area under the brake pedal. Objects stored in
this area may impair pedal movement which could
interfere with the braking ability of the Distronic
system.Do not place your foot under the brake pedal – your
foot could become caught.
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264 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Deactivation of Distronic
Briefly move the distronic control lever in “OFF”
direction (3) – the stored speed remains in the memory
until the electronic key in the starter switch is turned to
position 1 or 0.
Distronic is also deactivated if:
•the service brake pedal is depressed,
•the parking brake is activated,
•the vehicle decelerates to less than approximately
25 mph (Canada: 40 km/h), e.g. while maintaining
the distance to the vehicle ahead.•the gear selector lever is moved to position “N”,
•the electronic stability program (ESP) is active,
•the electronic stability program (ESP) is switched off
manually,
Note:
A signal sounds and the message “DISTRONIC OFF”
appears for 5 seconds in the multifunction display
everytime Distronic is deactivated (except when moving
distronic control lever in “OFF” direction).
Wa r n i n g !
The Distronic switches off and releases the brakes
when the vehicle decelerates below the minimum
speed of 25 mph (Canada: 40 km/h) by operation of
the system. At that time, the driver must apply the
brakes in order to reduce vehicle speed further or
bring it to a stop.
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265 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Driving with Distronic activated
With the electronic key in starter switch position 2, the
distance warning lampl in the speedometer dial
comes on and goes out with the engine running.
If the distance sensor detects a slower vehicle moving in
front, your vehicle speed will be reduced by
deceleration and braking of up to 20% of the vehicle
braking capacity, so that you follow the vehicle ahead at
the preset distance, see page 271. Segments in the
speedometer illuminate to indicate the speed range from the speed of the vehicle in front up to your
vehicle’s selected speed. See also page 273 for notes on
the multifunction displays.
Wa r n i n g !
Distronic brakes (up to 20% of vehicle braking
power) the vehicle to restore the preset distance or
to maintain the speed. The brake pedal is
automatically retracted as this happens.Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, including
the area under the brake pedal. Objects stored in
this area may impair pedal movement which could
interfere with the braking ability of the Distronic
system.Do not place your foot under the brake pedal – your
foot could become caught.
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266 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
The distance warning sound continues until the driver
activates the brake pedal, or the preset distance is
obtained. As soon as the preset distance is obtained, the
distance warning lamp goes out.Caution!
If the driver’s foot is not fully removed from the
accelerator pedal, the message “DISTRONIC OVERRIDE”
appears in the multifunction display. The Distronic
control system will be overridden and it will not
regulate the preset vehicle speed and following
distance. The vehicle speed and following distance is
determined only by the accelerator pedal position.
Distronic works on steep uphill and downhill gradients
by downshifting gears and applying the brakes to
maintain the speed selected by the driver. The
transmission will upshift again once the gradient evens
out.
The speed can be increased (e.g. for passing) by using
the accelerator. After the accelerator is released, the
previously set speed will be resumed automatically.
Distronic is deactivated if a vehicle in front causes your
vehicle to slow down to less than approx. 25 mph
(Canada: 40 km/h). A signal sounds and the message
“DISTRONIC OFF” appears for 5 seconds in the
multifunction display.
The vehicle speed displayed can briefly vary from the
speed setting of the distronic system.
Wa r n i n g !
An intermittent warning sounds and the distance
warning lamp in the speedometer dial is
illuminated if the Distronic system calculates that
the distance to the vehicle ahead and your vehicle’s
current speed indicate that Distronic will not be
capable of slowing the vehicle sufficiently to
maintain the preset following distance, which
creates a danger of a collision.Immediately brake the vehicle to increase the
distance to the vehicle in front of you. The warning
sound is intended as a final caution that you have
not interceded with your own braking inputs to
avoid a potentially dangerous situation. Do not wait
for the operation of the warning signal to intercede
with your own braking as that will result in
potentially dangerous emergency braking which
will not always result in an impact being avoided.Tailgating increases the risk of an accident.
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267 Driving systems
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data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Additional driving hints
Important!
When starting the engine, Distronic goes through an
initialization and self-test phase – this can take up to
2minutes.
The most likely cause for a malfunctioning system is a
by a dirty sensor (located behind the hood grille),
especially at times of snow and ice or heavy rain. In
such a case, Distronic will switch off, and the message
“DISTRONIC – CLEAN SENSOR!” appears in the
multifunction display.
For cleaning and care of the Distronic sensor see
page 384.
Restart the engine after cleaning the sensor.
The following are some sample situations which may
influence the functions of Distronic.
Wa r n i n g !
Distronic works to maintain the speed selected by
the driver unless a moving obstacle proceeding
directly ahead of it in the same travel direction is
detected (e.g. following another vehicle ahead at a
distance set by Distronic). This means that:• your vehicle can pass another vehicle after you
change lanes,• while in a sharp turn or if the vehicle in front
is in a sharp turn, Distronic could lose sight of
a vehicle traveling in front of it, then your
vehicle could accelerate to the previously
selected speed.Distronic regulates only the distance between your
vehicle and those directly ahead, but does not
register stationary objects in the roadway, e.g.:
• a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam.
• a disabled vehicle.
• an oncoming vehicle.
The driver must always be on the alert and observe
all traffic and intercede with steering and braking
inputs as necessary.Wa r n i n g !
Distronic should not be used in snowy or icy road
conditions.
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268 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Traveling through turns or bends in the roadway may
result in Distronic detecting a moving vehicle traveling
in front but not in your lane of travel, causing your
vehicle to brake late or unexpectedly. You must be
prepared to intercede with accelerator or brake
application as necessary.The Distronic system’s detection zone is relatively
narrow at the start and becomes broader as it senses
further from the vehicle. Thus, Distronic may not
recognize another vehicle coming into your path close
to the front of your vehicle. You must be prepared to
intercede with braking or steering as necessary.
A vehicle not traveling directly in front of you could
cause detection problems, the actual distance to that
vehicle really being much shorter.
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269 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index A vehicle changing lanes at close range is only
recognized when entering the area scanned by
Distronic. You must apply the service brakes to gain
sufficient distance to the vehicle ahead.A narrow vehicle (e.g. a motorcycle) is only recognized
when entering the area scanned by Distronic. You must
apply the service brakes to gain sufficient distance to
the vehicle ahead.
P54.70-2164-26
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