2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C320 4MATIC check oil

249 Operation
Vehicle care
Vehicle care
Cleaning and care of vehicle
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subject to varying external influ-
ences 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.
A n y d a m a g e s h o u l d b e r e p a i r e d a s s o o n a s
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.

270 Practical hintsWhat to do if …ESP
ESP
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The ESP is deactivated because of a
malfunction.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of accident.
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The ESP or the ESP display is
malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of accident.
:
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
STOP, ENGINE OFF!
There is no oil in the engine. There is a
danger 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 236) 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 catalytic converter.

Have oil siphoned. Observe all legal
requirements with respect to its
disposal.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution

271 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 has dropped to approx-
imately the minimum mark on the dipstick.
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 service station where the
engine oil should be topped to the “full”
mark on the dipstick with an approved oil.
:
ENGINE OIL
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The engine oil has dropped to a critical
level.

Check the engine oil level
(page 236) 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.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
!The engine oil level warnings should
not be ignored. Extended driving with
the symbol displayed could result in
serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

276 Practical hintsWhat to do if …<
PASSENGER SEAT BELT
FASTEN SEAT BELT!
The display reminds you and your
passengers to fasten seat belts.

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

Lock steering column (
page 37).
POWER STEERING FLUID
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The steering gear oil level is too low.
There is a danger of steering gear
damage.

Have the system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
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.

336 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants etc.Coolants
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion / antifreeze, which pro-
vides:

Corrosion protection


Freeze protection


Boiling protection (by increasing the
boiling point)
The cooling system was filled at the factory
with a coolant providing freeze protection
to approximately -22°F (-30°C) and corro-
sion protection.
If the antifreeze mixture is effective
to -22°F (-30°C), the boiling point of the
coolant in the pressurized cooling system
is reached at approximately 266°F
(130°C).The coolant solution must be used
year-round to provide the necessary corro-
sion protection and increase boil-over pro-
tection. You should have it replaced every
15 years or 150 000 miles (250 000 km),
whichever comes first. Coolant system
design and coolant used stipulate the
replacement interval. The above replace-
ment interval is only applicable if
MB 325.0 anticorrosion/antifreeze
solution or other Mercedes-Benz approved
products of equal specification (see
Factory Approved Service Products pam-
phlet) are used to renew the coolant con-
centration or bring it back up to the proper
level.
To provide important corrosion protection,
the solution must be at least 45% anticor-
rosion/antifreeze [equivalent to freeze
protection to approx. -22°F (-30°C)]. If you use a solution that is more than 55%
anticorrosion/antifreeze [freeze protec-
tion to approx. -49°F (-45°C)], the engine
temperature will increase due to the lower
heat transfer capability of the solution.
Therefore, do not use more than this
amount of anticorrosion/antifreeze.
If the coolant level is low, water and
MB 325.0 anticorrosion /antifreeze should
be used to bring it up to the proper level
(have cooling system checked for signs of
leakage). Please make sure that the mix-
ture is in accordance with label instruc-
tions.
The water in the cooling system must meet
minimum requirements, which are usually
satisfied by normal drinking water. If you
are not sure about the water quality, con-
sult your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

350 IndexButton
Audio system 168
C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 341
California
Important notice 11
Calling up
Range (distance to empty) 133
Service indicator 248
CAN system 341
Capacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 329
Cargo area see Trunk 86
Casette mode
Playing cassettes 174
Cassette player
Operating 118
Catalytic converter 231
CD changer* 178
CD mode 178
CD player*
Operating 117
Center console 25
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp 260
Lower part 26
Upper part 25Centigrade
Setting temperature units 123
Central locking
Automatic 91
From inside 92
Switch 92
Switching on/off
(control system) 129
Unlocking from inside 92
Central locking switch 92
Certification label 318
Changing
Batteries (SmartKey) 287
Key setting 129
Changing CDs 178
Charcoal filter 161
Charging
Vehicle battery 304
CHECK ENGINE malfunction
indicator lamp 259
Checking
Brake fluid 234
Coolant level 234, 238
Oil level 234, 236
Tire inflate pressure 234
Vehicle lighting 234Child safety 65
Airbags 58
Infant and child restraint
systems 62, 65
LATCH child seat anchors 69
Child safety switch see Blocking of
rear door window operation 71
Child seat anchors
see LATCH child seat anchors 70
Cigarette lighter 208
Cleaning
Cup holder 252
Gear selector lever 252
Hard plastic trim items 252
Headlamps 146
Headliner 252
Instrument cluster 252
Leather upholstery 253
Light alloy wheels 252
MB Tex upholstery 253
Plastic and rubber parts 252
Seat belts 252
Steering wheel 252
Windows 251
Windshield 49
Wiper blades 251

353 Index
Driving
Driving abroad 230
General instructions 41, 223
Hydroplaning 227
In winter 228
Problems 49
Safety systems 73
Through standing water 229
Driving abroad 230
Driving instructions 223
Driving off 225
Driving safety systems
4MATIC 78
ABS 73
BAS 74
ESP 75
Driving systems 193
Cruise control 193
Driving safety systems 73
E
Easy-entry/exit feature* 93
Activating 129
Interrupting movement 93, 130
Electrical fuses 312
Electrical system
Technical data 326Electronic Stability Program
see ESP 23, 75, 342
Emergency call system* 210
Emergency calls
Initiating an emergency call 212
Telephone* 185
With Tele Aid* 211
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) 143
Emergency operations
Closing sliding/pop-up roof* 289
Locking the vehicle 286
Opening sliding/pop-up roof* 289
Releasing trunk lid from inside 89
Remote door unlock 216
Unlocking the vehicle 285
Emergency tensioning device
see ETD 64, 342
Emission control 231
Emission control label 318
Ending
A call (telephone) 135
Engine 320
Compartment 235
Message in display 259Starting with automatic
transmission 44
Starting with manual
transmission 44
Starting with the key 44
Turning off with the key 53
Engine cleaning 250
Engine compartment 235
Fuse box in 312
Hood 235
Engine malfunction indicator
lamp 23, 259
Engine number 342
Engine oil 236, 332
Adding 237
Additives 332
Checking level 236
Consumption 236
Display messages 270
Filler neck 237
Messages in display 238, 270
Viscosity 342
Engine oil level see Oil level 234
ESP 23, 75, 342
Four wheel electronic traction
system with ESP 78

359 Index
Mechanical key 285
Memory function* 98, 343
Recalling positions from memory 99
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking positions 100
Storing key dependent settings 99
Menus 112
AUDIO 116
Control system 343
In control system 114, 115
Malfunction memory 118
NAVI* 118
Settings menu 119
Standard display 116
Submenus 113
TEL* 134
Trip computer 132
Microphone
Hands-free microphone 27
Miles/kilometers in speedometer
Setting 123
Minispare wheel 300
Bolts 284
Removing 283Mirrors
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position* 145
Adjusting 39
Automatic antiglare* for inside
mirror 144
Automatic antiglare* for rear view
mirror 144
Exterior rear view mirror 39
Exterior rear view mirror parking
positions 131
Inside rear view mirror 39
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position* 100
MON (Motor Octane Number) 234, 343
Mph or km/h in speedometer 123
Multicontour seat* 96
Multifunction display 111, 343
Selecting language 124
Standard display 115
Multifunction display messages
ABS 262
BAS 263
Battery 278
Brake fluid 265
Brake pads 265Check engine 259
Coolant 267
Coolant level 266
Display 278
Doors 272
Engine 259
Engine oil level 270
ESP 269
Fuel reserve tank 272
Hood 272
Key 272
Lamps 272–275
Parking brake 264
Steering column not properly
locked 276
Steering gear oil level 276
Tele Aid* 277
Telephone* 277
Trunk lid 272
Washer fluid 278
Multifunction steering
wheel 24, 112, 343
Buttons 112