
3 Contents 
DrivingControl and operation of 
radio transmitters  ..................... 176
The first 1 000 miles 
(1 500 km)  ................................. 177
Maintenance  ................................... 177
Catalytic converter  ........................ 178
Emission control  ............................ 179
Tele Aid  ........................................... 180
Steering lock  ................................... 190
Starting and turning off 
the engine  .................................. 192
Automatic transmission  ............... 193
Parking brake  .................................202
Driving instructions  ......................203
Drive sensibly – save fuel  .........203
Drinking and driving .................203
Pedals  ...........................................203
Power assistance  ........................204
Brakes  ..........................................204Driving off ................................... 205
Parking  ........................................ 206
Tires  ............................................. 206
Snow chains  ............................... 209
Winter driving 
instructions  ................................ 209
Deep water  ...................................210
Passenger compartment  ............ 211
Traveling abroad  ......................... 211
Cruise control  .................................212
Brake assist system 
(BAS)  ...........................................214
Antilock brake system 
(ABS)  ........................................... 216
Electronic stability program 
(ESP)  ............................................ 218
What you should know 
at the gas station  ...................... 222
Check regularly and 
before a long trip  ...................... 224
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and 
indicator lamps in the 
instrument cluster  ....................226
On-board diagnostic system 
Check engine malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................226
Brake warning lamp  ..................227
Supplemental restraint system 
(SRS) indicator lamp ..................228
Fuel reserve and fuel cap 
placement warning  ....................228
Electronic stability program 
(ESP) — warning lamp  ...............229
BAS/ESP malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................229
ABS malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................229
Telescoping steering column – 
indicator lamp .............................230
Seat belt warning lamp  .............230
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4 Contents 
Malfunction and 
indicator lamps in the 
center console  ........................... 231
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp ..... 231
Malfunction and 
warning messages in the 
multifunction display  ...............232
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(engine control unit) ..................233
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(several systems)  ........................233
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR  ...........234
ABS-SYSTEM  ...............................235
BRAKE ASSIST  ...........................235
BRAKE LINING WEAR  ..............236
BRAKE FLUID  .............................236
PARKING BRAKE  .......................237
ENGINE FAN  ...............................237
COOLANT 
(coolant level)  .............................238
COOLANT TEMP. 
(coolant temperature)  ................239
LIGHTING SYSTEM  ....................240
LIGHT SENSOR ........................... 241STEER. WHEEL ADJUST.  .......... 241
ENGINE OIL LEVEL  ................... 242
ELEC. STABIL. PROGRAM. 
(Electronic stability 
program)  ..................................... 243
REMOVE KEY  ............................. 243
WASHER FLUID  ......................... 244
TELE AID ..................................... 245
Practical hintsFirst aid kit  ..................................... 248
Shelf below rear window .............. 248
Stowing things in 
the vehicle  ................................. 248
Fuses  ............................................... 249
Hood  ................................................ 251
Checking engine oil level ............. 253
Automatic transmission 
fluid level  ................................... 254
Coolant level ................................... 254
Adding coolant  ........................... 255
Windshield washer / headlamp 
cleaning system  ........................ 256Windshield and headlamp 
washer fluid mixing ratio  .........256
Spare wheel, vehicle tools, 
storage compartment ................257
Vehicle jack .....................................258
Wheels  .............................................259
Tire replacement  ........................259
Rotating wheels  ..........................260
Spare wheel  .................................... 261
Changing wheels  ...........................262
Tire inflation pressure  ..................267
Battery  .............................................268
Jump starting  ..................................270
Towing the vehicle .........................272
Transmission selector lever, 
manually unlocking  ................... 274
Exterior lamps  ................................275
Headlamp assembly ................... 276
Taillamp assemblies  ..................278
Adjusting headlamp aim ...............280
Changing batteries in 
the electronic key  .....................283
Synchronizing remote 
control  ..........................................285
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24 Central locking system
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical 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 steering lock, 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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86 Instrument cluster
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
High beam
ABS malfunction, see page 229
Brake fluid low (except Canada), 
Parking brake engaged, see page 236
Brake fluid low (Canada only), 
Parking brake engaged, see page 236
BAS malfunction, see page 229
ESP malfunction, see page 229
ESP. Adjust driving to road condition, 
see page 229
Fasten seat belts, see page 230Telescoping steering column not locked, 
seepage230
SRS malfunction, see page 228
Engine malfunction indicator lamp. If the 
“CHECK ENGINE” 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 
m alf unc ti on che cked as s oon as  p oss ible,  s ee 
page 228
Function indicator lamp on the center console
Front passenger airbag automatically 
switched off, see page 231
ABSBRAKEBAS
ESP
SRSCHECK
ENGINE
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172 Ski sack
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Unloading and folding
1. Loosen strap, open clasp by pressing tabs (arrows) 
together, and unload skis.
2. Close flap in trunk.
3. Disconnect snap hook from eye located on center 
tunnel in front of rear seat bench.4. Fold and flatten ski sack lengthwise.
5. Wrap strap with snap hook around ski sack.
6. Fold back the reinforced ski sack tip (8), then 
continue to roll up the ski sack tightly.
P91.10-2048-26
8
P91.10-2058-26
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175 Contents – Driving
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of 
radio transmitters  ..................... 176
The first 1 000 miles 
(1 500 km)  ................................. 177
Maintenance  ................................... 177
Catalytic converter  ........................ 178
Emission control  ............................ 179
Tele Aid  ........................................... 180
Steering lock  ................................... 190
Starting and turning off 
the engine  .................................. 192
Automatic transmission  ............... 193
Parking brake  .................................202Driving instructions ...................... 203
Drive sensibly – save fuel  ........ 203
Drinking and driving  ................ 203
Pedals  .......................................... 203
Power assistance ........................ 204
Brakes .......................................... 204
Driving off ................................... 205
Parking  ........................................ 206
Tires  ............................................. 206
Snow chains  ............................... 209
Winter driving 
instructions  ................................ 209
Deep water  ...................................210
Passenger compartment  ............ 211
Traveling abroad  ......................... 211Cruise control  ................................. 212
Brake assist system 
(BAS)  ........................................... 214
Antilock brake system 
(ABS)  ........................................... 216
Electronic stability program 
(ESP)  ........................................... 218
What you should know 
at the gas station  .......................222
Check regularly and 
before a long trip  ......................224
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195 Automatic transmission
Technical
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. 
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 202 for parking brake. When parked on an incline, also turn front wheel 
against curb.Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
electronic 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 gear selector lever from 
position “P”, which could result in an accident or 
serious personal injury.
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198 Automatic transmission
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Press and hold selector lever in the æ 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.During the brief warm-up period this delayed upshift 
and increased engine noise might be perceived as a 
malfunction. However, neither the engine nor 
transmission are negatively affected by this mode of 
operation.
The delayed upshift is effective with vehicle speeds 
below 31 mph (50 km/h) at partial throttle and engine 
temperatures below 95
°F (35
°C).
To avoid overrevving the engine when the selector lever 
is m ove d to a lower  gear  range , t he tran smi ss ion  will n ot 
shift to a lower gear, if the engine’s revolutions per 
minute limit would be exceeded. In this case there will 
be no downshift, even when the vehicle speed reaches 
the engine’s RPM limit of that gear, e.g. by applying the 
service brakes.
To prevent the engine from laboring at low RPM when 
driving uphill gradients or with your vehicle heavily 
loaded, the automatic transmission will downshift when 
necessary to maintain engine RPM within the best 
torque range.
Wa r n i n g !
O n  s l i p p e ry  ro a d  s u rfa c es ,  n eve r d ow n s h i f t  i n  o rd e r  
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.
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