2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 4MATIC WAGON tailgate

79 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating

Removing the key from the starter
switch activates the immobilizer.
Deactivating


Inserting the key in the starter switch
deactivates the immobilizer.
Anti-theft alarm system*
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door


the tailgate


the hood.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when


someone attempts to raise the vehicle


the vehicle is opened with the mechan-
ical key.Arming the alarm system
The alarm system is armed after locking
the vehicle with the remote control. The
turn signal lamps blink three times to indi-
cate that the alarm system is activated.
A red lamp in the switch for the tow-away
alarm will blink after approximately
10 seconds when the alarm system is
completely armed.
iIn case the engine cannot be started
(yet the vehicle’s battery is charged),
the system is not operational. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the
USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
20 seconds, an emergency call is initi-
ated automatically by the Tele Aid* sys-
tem (
page 211) provided Tele Aid*
service was subscribed to and properly
activated, and that necessary cellular
service and GPS coverage are avail-
able.
iIf the turn signal lamps do not blink
three times, the tow-away sensor* is
malfunctioning or one of the following
elements may not be properly closed:

a door


the tailgate


the hood
Close the respective element and lock
the vehicle again.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 79 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM

80 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsDisarming the alarm system
The alarm system is disarmed when you
unlock your vehicle with the remote con-
trol. The turn signal lamps blink once to in-
dicate that the alarm system is
deactivated.
Canceling the alarm
Insert the key in the starter switch.
or

Press the
Œ
or
‹
button.
Tow-away alarm*
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual
and audible alarm will be triggered when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.Arming tow-away alarm
When you lock your vehicle, the tow-away
alarm is automatically armed after about
30 seconds.
When you unlock your vehicle, the tow-
away protection disarms automatically.
iThe alarm system will rearm automati-
cally after approximately 40 seconds if
one of a door or the tailgate is not
opened.
iThe tow-away protection alarm is trig-
gered, for example, if the vehicle is lift-
ed on one side.
If the alarm stays on for more than
20 seconds, an emergency call is initi-
ated automatically by the Tele Aid* sys-
tem (
page 211) provided Tele Aid*
service was subscribed to and properly
activated, and that necessary cellular
service and GPS coverage are avail-
able.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 80 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM

84 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingIn the “Controls in detail” section you will
find detailed information on how to oper-
ate the equipment installed on your vehi-
cle. If you are already familiar with the
basic functions of your vehicle, this section
will be of particular interest to you.
To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba-
sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the
“Getting started” section of this manual.
The corresponding page numbers are giv-
en at the beginning of each segment.
Locking and unlockingInformation on locking and unlocking can
be found in the “Getting started” section
on (
page 30) and (
page 51).
Keys
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys with remote controls and a re-
movable mechanical key. The locking tabs
for the mechanical key portion of the two
keys are a different color to help distin-
guish each key unit.
The remote control key provides an ex-
tended operating range. To prevent theft,
however, it is advisable to only unlock the
vehicle when you are in close proximity to
it.
The key centrally locks and unlocks:

the doors


the tailgate


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with remote control1‹
Lock button
2Mechanical key locking tab
3
Œ
Unlock button
4Battery check lamp
5
Â
Panic button (
page 72)
iCanada only:
Only vehicles equipped with an
anti-theft alarm system* have
SmartKeys with integrated panic
button*5.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 84 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM

85 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Factory setting
Global unlocking
Press button
Œ
.
All turn signal lamps blink once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The vehicle will lock again automatically
within approximately 40 seconds of un-
locking if neither door nor tailgate is
opened, the SmartKey is not inserted in
the starter switch, or the central locking
switch is not activated.Global locking

Press button
‹
.
All turn signal lamps blink three times.
The locking knobs in the doors move
down.
Selective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish
to reprogram the key so that
pressing
Œ
only unlocks the driver’s
door and the fuel filler flap.

Press and hold buttons
Œ
and
‹

simultaneously for about five seconds
until battery check lamp4 blinks twice.
The key will then function as follows:
Unlocking driver’s door and fuel filler
flap

Press button
Œ
once.
Global unlocking

Press button
Œ
twice.
Global locking

Press button
‹
.Restoring to factory setting

Press and hold buttons
Œ
and
‹

simultaneously for about six seconds
until battery check lamp4 blinks twice.
iYou can also open and close the power
windows (
page 186) and slid-
ing/pop-up roof (
page 188) using
the SmartKey.
!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid
exposing the key to high levels of elec-
tromagnetic radiation.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, and lock the ve-
hicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. It is possible for children to open a
locked door from the inside, which could re-
sult in an accident and/or serious injury.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 85 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM

87 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Opening the tailgate
The handle is located above the rear li-
cense plate recess.
1Handle
Lift the tailgate.
The tailgate swings open upwards. Always
make sure that there is sufficient overhead
clearance.
Closing the tailgate
1Handle
Lower tailgate by pulling firmly on
grip1.
iThe vehicle must be unlocked.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the tail-
gate opening when closing the tailgate. Be
especially careful when small children are
around.Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as,
among other dangers such as visibility
blockage, exhaust fumes may enter the ve-
hicle interior.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 87 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM

88 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingOpening the doors from the inside
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
1Locking knob
2Inside door handle
Pull on door handle2.
If door was locked, locking knob1 will
move up.
Automatic central locking
The doors and the tailgate automatically
lock when the ignition is switched on and
the wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.Information on towing the vehicle can be
found in the “Practical hints” section
(
page 310).
You can deactivate the automatic locking
using the control system (
page 125).
iIf the vehicle was previously been
locked from the outside with the
SmartKey, opening a door from the in-
side will trigger the alarm.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the fol-
lowing:

Press button
Œ
or
‹
on the
SmartKey.


Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
iThe doors unlock automatically after an
accident if the force of the impact ex-
ceeds a preset threshold.
The vehicle automatically locks when
the ignition is switched on and the
wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or
more. You could therefore lock yourself
out when the vehicle

is pushed or towed


is on a test stand
S203 MY03_A.book Page 88 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM

89 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Locking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the
tailgate from inside using the central lock-
ing switch. This can be useful, for example,
if you want to lock the vehicle before start-
ing to drive.
The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or un-
locked with the central locking switch.The switch is located in the center console.
Central locking switch1Locking
2Unlocking
Locking
Press upper half1 of the central lock-
ing switch.
If both front doors are closed, the vehi-
cle locks.Unlocking

Press lower half2 of the central lock-
ing switch.
The vehicle unlocks.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, and lock the ve-
hicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.
If the vehicle was previously centrally
locked using the SmartKey, it will not
unlock using the central locking switch.
If the vehicle was previously locked
with the central locking switch

while in the selective remote con-
trol mode, only the door opened
from the inside is unlocked.


while in the global remote control
mode, the complete vehicle is un-
locked when a door is opened from
the inside.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 89 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM

102 Controls in detailLightingInterior lighting
The controls are located in the overhead
control panel.
1Rear interior lights
2Right front reading lamp
3Rocker switch: Automatic control off
4Rocker switch: Automatic control on
5Rocker switch: Front interior lights on
6Left front reading lampActivating automatic control

Press the rocker switch to the center
position4.
Interior lamps are switched on in dark-
ness, when

unlocking the vehicle


opening a door


removing the SmartKey from start-
er switch


opening the tailgate
The interior lamps are switched off follow-
ing an adjustable time delay (
page 124).Deactivating automatic control

Press the rocker switch to the right
position3.
The interior lighting remains switched
off, even when

centrally unlocking the vehicle


opening a door


removing the SmartKey from the
starter switch


opening the tailgate
Manual control
Switching rear interior lights on and off

Press button1.
The lights in the rear passenger com-
partment go on.

Press button1 again.
The lights in the rear passenger com-
partment go out.
iIf the door remains open, the interior
lamps switch off automatically after ap-
proximately five minutes, when the key
is removed or in the starter switch
position0.
An interior lamp switched on manually
does not go out automatically.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 102 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM