2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C230 COUPE oil

229 Operation
Engine compartment

Screw the cap back on the filler neck.
Other display messages
If there is excessive engine oil with the en-
gine at normal operating temperature, the
following message will appear:
ENGINE OIL LEVEL - REDUCE OIL LEVEL
Have excess oil siphoned.
If the key is not turned to position 2 in the
starter switch:
FOR ENGINE OIL LEVEL IGNITION ON
PLEASE!
Switch on the ignition.
If you see the message:
OBSERVE WAITING PERIOD
Wait five minutes before repeating
check procedure.
If you see the message:
ENGINE OIL LEVEL - NOT WHEN ENGINE ON!
Turn off the engine. If engine is at nor-
mal operating temperature, wait five
minutes before checking oil. If the en-gine is not yet at normal operating tem-
perature, you must wait 30 minutes
before checking oil.
If a proper oil level check cannot be per-
formed, the following message will appear:
ENGINE OIL LEVEL - MASURING NOT POS-
SIBLE
Repeat the engine oil level check after
a short while.
See “Practical hints” (
page 262) if an en-
gine oil level indicator appears on the dis-
play when the engine is running.
More information on engine oil can be
found in the “Technical data” section
(
page 317).
Transmission fluid level
The transmission fluid level does not need
to be checked. If you notice transmission
fluid loss or gear shifting malfunctions,
have an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
check the transmission.Coolant level
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion/antifreeze. To check
the coolant level, the vehicle must be
parked on level ground and the engine
must be cool.
The coolant expansion tank is located on
the passenger side of the engine compart-
ment.

234 OperationTires and wheelsLife of tire
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including but not limited to:

Driving style


Tire pressure


Distance driven
Direction of rotation
Unidirectional tires offer added advantag-
es, such as better aquaplaning perfor-
mance. To benefit, however, you must
ensure that the tires rotate in the direction
specified.
An arrow on the sidewall indicates the in-
tended direction of tire rotation.Checking tire inflation pressure
Correct the tire pressure only when tires
are cold.
Regularly check your tire pressure at inter-
vals of no more than 14 days. If the tires are warm you should only cor-
rect the tire pressure if it is too low for cur-
rent operating conditions.
A table on the fuel filler flap lists the spec-
ified tire inflation pressures for warm and
cold tires as well as for various operating
conditions.
Warning!
G
Tires and spare tire should be replaced after
six years, regardless of the remaining tread.!Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as
possible. Protect tires from contact
with oil, grease and gasoline.
Warning!
G
If the tire pressure repeatedly drops

check the tires for punctures from for-
eign objects


check to see whether air is leaking from
the valves or from around the rim
iThe pressures listed for light loads are
minimum values offering high driving
comfort.
Increased inflation pressures listed for
heavier loads may also be used for light
loads. These higher pressures produce
favorable handling characteristics. The
ride of the vehicle, however, will be
somewhat harder. Never exceed the
max. values or inflate tires below the
min. values listed in the fuel filler flap.

239 Operation
Maintenance
The Mercedes-Benz Center will reset the
service indicator following a completed
service.Calling up the service indicator
Switch ignition on.
The standard display of the control sys-
tem appears (
page 105).

Press button
k
or
j
on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel until the FSS
indicator appears in the multifunction
display.
Resetting the service indicator
In the event that the service on your vehi-
cle is not carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, you can reset the
service indicator yourself.
Switch ignition on.
The standard display of the control sys-
tem appears (
page 105).

Press button
k
or
j
on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel until the FSS
indicator appears in the display.

Press the reset knob for about four
seconds.
This message appears in the display:DO YOU WANT TO RESET SERVICE INTER-
VAL? CONFIRM BY PRESSING RESET (R)
BUTTON

To confirm, hold down the reset knob
for about four seconds.
The service indicator now displays the
reset interval.
iIf the battery is disconnected, the days
of disconnection will not be included in
the count shown by the service indica-
tor. To arrive at the true service dead-
line, you will need to subtract these
days from the days shown in the ser-
vice indicator.
Do not confuse the service indicator
with the engine oil level indicator
:
.
iIf the service indicator was inadvertent-
ly reset, have a Mercedes-Benz Center
correct it.
Only reset if the proper service has
been performed. Resetting the system
without performing the proper service
as called for by the FSS will cause the
FSS to incorrectly determine the next
service interval which will result in en-
gine damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

240 OperationVehicle care
Vehicle careCleaning and care of vehicle
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external in-
fluences which, if gone unchecked, can at-
tack the paintwork as well as the
underbody and cause lasting damage.
Such damage is caused not only by ex-
treme and varying climatic conditions, but
also by:

Air pollution


Road salt


Tar, gravel and stone chippingTo avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:


Grease and oil


Fuel


Coolant


Brake fluid


Insects


Tree resins etc.
Frequent washing reduces and / or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.
More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:


Near the ocean


In industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)


During winter operationYou should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
Any damage should be repaired as soon as
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others ap-
plied later.
We have selected car-care products and
compiled recommendations which are
specially matched to our vehicles and
which always reflect the latest technology.
You can obtain Mercedes-Benz approved
car-care products at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not de-
signed for cleaning your vehicle.

244 OperationVehicle careHard plastic trim items
Pour Mercedes-Benz approved Interior
Care onto soft lint-free cloth and apply
with light pressure.
Headliner
Clean with soft bristle brush, or use a
dry-shampoo cleaner in case of excessive
dirt.
Seat belts
The webbing must not be treated with
chemical cleaning agents. Use only clear,
lukewarm water and soap. Do not dry the
webbing at temperatures above 176°F
(80°C) or in direct sunlight.Leather upholstery
Using aftermarket seat covers or wearing
clothing that have the tendency to give off
coloring (e.g. when wet etc.) may cause
the upholstery to become permanently dis-
colored. By lining the seats with a proper
intermediate cover, contact-discoloration
will be prevented.
Wipe leather upholstery with a damp cloth
and dry thoroughly or clean with
Mercedes-Benz approved Leather Care.
Exercise particular care when cleaning per-
forated leather as its underside should not
become wet.
MB Tex upholstery
Pour Mercedes-Benz approved Interior
Care onto soft lintfree cloth and apply with
light pressure.
Plastic and rubber parts
Do not use oil or wax on these parts.Warning!
G
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.

262 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
:
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
STOP, ENGINE OFF!
There is no oil in the engine. There is a dan-
ger of engine damage.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt as
soon as possible.

Turn off the engine.

Add engine oil.
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
CHECK LEVEL!
The engine oil level is too low.

Check the engine oil level
(page 227) and add oil as required.
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
REDUCE OIL LEVEL!
You have added too much engine oil. There
is a risk of damaging the engine or the cat-
alytic converter.

Have oil siphoned. Observe all legal
requirements with respect to its dis-
posal.
ENGINE OIL
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The engine oil has dropped to a critical lev-
el.

Check the engine oil level
(page 227) and add oil as required.

If you must add engine oil frequently,
have the engine checked for possible
leaks.
There is water in the oil.

Have the oil checked.
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The measuring system is malfunctioning.

Have the measuring system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

263 Practical hints
What to do if …
When the “ENGINE OIL LEVEL – CHECK
LEVEL!” message appears while the engine
is running and at operating temperature,
the engine oil level is low.
When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.If no oil leaks are noted, continue to drive
to the nearest gas station where the en-
gine oil should be filled up with an ap-
proved oil (
page 227).
!The engine oil level warnings should
not be ignored. Extended driving with
the symbol displayed could result in se-
rious engine damage that is not cov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
A
RESERVE FUEL
VISIT FILLING STATION!
The fuel level has dropped below the re-
serve mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 224).
Y
HOOD OPEN!
You are driving with the hood open.

Close the hood (
page 226).
I
REPLACE KEY
VISIT WORKSHOP!
No additional code available for SmartKey.

Change the batteries (
page 294).
AUTOM. LIGHT ON
REMOVE KEY!
You have forgotten to remove the key.

Remove the key from the starter
switch.
.
LAMP SENSOR
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The lamp sensor is malfunctioning. The
headlamps switch on automatically.

Set lamp operation to manual.

Switch on headlamps using the exte-
rior lamp switch.

268 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
<
FRT. PASSENGER SEAT
LOOK!
The display reminds you and your passen-
ger to fasten the seat belt.

Fasten the seat belts.
DRIVER’S SEAT BELT
FASTEN SEAT BELT!
The display reminds you to fasten the seat
belt.

Fasten the seat belts.
_
STEERING WHEEL ADJUST
LOCK!
The steering column is not properly locked.

Lock the steering column properly
(page 38).
POWER STEERING FLUID
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The power steering gear oil level is too low.
There is a danger of steering gear damage.

Have the system checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the level of steering gear oil in reservoir is
too low, the steering power assistance could
fail. Much greater effort will then be needed
to turn the steering wheel.
Do not add steering oil without checking the
steering system.
Do not drive the vehicle. Have the system
checked at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.