2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS COUPE stop start

38 Getting startedAdjustingSteering wheel adjustment, manual1 Release handle
To unlock the steering column, pull
handle 1 out until its stop limit.

Adjust the steering wheel to the de-
sired position.

To lock, press handle 1 all the way in
until it engages.
The steering wheel is once again
locked into position. Steering wheel adjustment, electrical*

Turn the key in the
starter switch to
position 1 or 2.
or

Open the driver’s door.
The switch is located on the steering col-
umn (lower left).
1 Steering column, lengthen or shorten
2 Steering column, height
!Do not drive the vehicle until you have
properly locked the steering column.
If the warning message
STEERING
WHEEL ADJUST - LOCK! is displayed
while the engine is running, the steer-
ing column is not locked (page 268).

50 Getting startedDrivingProblems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.


The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.


Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.

Give very little gas.

Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.The coolant temperature is over 248°F
(120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.

Stop the vehicle as soon as possible
and turn off the engine. Allow engine
and coolant to cool.

Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 229).
In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:

Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.

Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the


major assemblies


fuel system


engine mount

Start the engine in the usual manner.

51
Getting started
Parking and locking
Parking and locking
You have now completed your first drive.
You have properly stopped and parked
your vehicle. End your drive as follows.
Parking brake
1 Release handle
2 Parking brake
Step firmly on parking brake 2.
When the engine is running, the indica-
tor lamp
;
(USA only) or
3
(Canada only) in the instrument cluster
will be illuminated.
Warning!
G
Wait until the vehicle is stationary before re-
moving the key from the starter switch. The
vehicle cannot be steered when the key is
removed.Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
system. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to stop or steer the vehi-
cle.
Warning!
G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re-
sult of vehicle movement, before turning off
the engine and leaving the vehicle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.


Firmly depress parking brake pedal.


Move the selector lever to position P
(manual transmission: first or reverse
gear).


Slowly release brake pedal.


When parked on an incline, turn front
wheels towards road curb.


Turn the key to starter switch position 0
and remove.


Take the key and lock vehicle when leav-
ing.

90 Controls in detailSeatsHead restraints
Information on head restraint adjustment
can be found in the “Getting started” sec-
tion (
page 32).Front seat head restraints, manual seat
Removing front head restraints

Pull head restraint to its highest posi-
tion.

Push button
1 and pull out head re-
straint.
Installing front head restraints

Insert head restraint and push it down
to the stop.

Push button 1 and adjust head re-
straint to desired position. Front seat head restraints, power seat*
Removing front head restraints

Press switch
1 upwards and hold until
the head restraint is fully extended.

Pull out head restraint.
Installing front head restraints

Press switch 1 upwards and hold for
about five seconds.

Push the head restraint down until it
engages.

Adjust head restraint to desired posi-
tion.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of
the head approximately at ear level.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.iTilt the backrest to the rear for easier
removal and installation of the head re-
straints.

94 Controls in detailMemory function*1Memory button
2 Stored position button
Make sure that the ignition is switched
on or the relevant door is open and the
SmartKey is inserted in the starter
switch.
Storing positions into memory
Adjust the seats, steering wheel and
rear view mirrors to the desired posi-
tion (
page 32).

Turn button 2 to selected memory po-
sition.

Press memory button 1.

Release memory button and push
button 2 within three seconds.
All the settings are stored at the select-
ed position.
Recalling positions from memory
Turn button 2 to selected memory po-
sition.

Press and hold button 2 until the seat,
steering wheel and rear view mirrors
have fully moved to the stored posi-
tions.iReleasing the button immediately
stops movement to the stored posi-
tions.Warning!
G
Do not operate the power seats using the
memory button if the seat backrest is in an
excessively reclined position. Doing so
could cause damage to front or rear seats.
First move backrest to an upright position.

96 Controls in detailLighting
LightingFor notes on how to switch on the head-
lamps and use the turn signals, see the
“Getting started” section (
page 47).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel
M
Off
U
Automatic headlamp mode
C
Parking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
Canada only: When engine is run-
ning, the low beam is also switched
on.
B
Low beam plus parking lamps or
high beam headlamps (combination
switch pushed forward).
ˆ
Standing lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚
Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
iIf you remove the key and open the
driver’s door while the parking lamps or
low beam headlamps are switched on,
then

a warning sounds


$
appears in the multifunction
display


the message
TURN OFF LAMPS
ap-
pears in the multifunction display
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, the
low beam headlamps cannot be
switched off manually.

103
Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position
1 or 2.
Call up the trip odometer and main
odometer by pressing button
è

or
ÿ
on the multifunction steering
wheel (page 106).

Press button
j
or
k
until the
coolant temperature gauge appears. During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Trip odometer
Check to see that the trip odometer
and main odometer (
page 105) ap-
pear in the multifunction display.

Press and hold the reset knob on the in-
strument cluster (
page 22) until the
trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
iExcessive coolant temperatures trigger
a warning in the multifunction display
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

126 Controls in detailControl systemResetting fuel consumption statistics
Press button
ÿ
or
è
repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
Trip computer menu.

Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see the reading that you want
to reset in the display.

Press and hold the reset knob in the in-
strument cluster (
page 22) until the
value is reset to
0. Call up range (distance to empty)

Press button
ÿ
or
è
repeatedly
until you see the firs t function of the
Trip computer menu.

Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
RANGE
.
In the display you will see the calculat-
ed range based on the current fuel tank
level.
TEL menu*
iAll statistics stored since the last en-
gine start will be reset approximately
four hours after the key in the starter
switch is turned to position 0 or re-
moved from the starter switch.
Resetting will not occur if you turn the
key back to position 1 or 2 within this
time period.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road must always
be his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we rec-
o m m e n d t h a t y o u p u l l o v e r t o a s a f e l o c a t i o n
and stop before placing or taking a tele-
phone call. If you choose to use the tele-
phone while driving, please use the
hands-free device and only use the tele-
phone when weather, road and traffic condi-
tions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a cellular telephone while driving a ve-
hicle.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of approximately
44 feet (approximately 13.5 m) every sec-
ond.