2003 MERCEDES-BENZ C320 4MATIC WAGON stop start

138 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission*Gear selector lever position
Effect
P
Park position
Selector position when the vehicle is
parked. Only place selector lever in
positionP when vehicle is stopped.
The park position is not intended to
serve as a brake when the vehicle is
parked. Rather, the driver should al-
ways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to placing the selector lever in
positionP to secure the vehicle.
The key can only be removed from
the starter switch with the selector
lever in positionP. With the key re-
moved the selector lever is locked in
positionP.
Effect
R
Reverse gear
Place selector lever in positionR only
when vehicle is stopped.
N
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the en-
gine to the drive axle. When the
brakes are released, the vehicle can
be moved freely (pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the transmission,
never engageN while driving.
If ESP is deactivated or malfunction-
ing:
Only move selector lever toN if the
vehicle is in danger of skidding (e.g.
on icy roads).
D
Drive
The transmission shifts automatical-
ly. All five forward gears are avail-
able.
!Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any
other reason with selector lever inN
can result in transmission damage that
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the selector
lever not fully engaged in positionP is dan-
gerous. Also, positionP alone is not intend-
ed to or capable of preventing your vehicle
from moving, possibly hitting people or ob-
jects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 51).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 138 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM

140 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission*Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the transmis-
sion’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
The transmission shifts into a lower
gear.

Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode only second gear and reverse gear
can be activated.
Stop the vehicle.

Move selector lever toP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least ten seconds before re-
starting.

Restart the engine.

Move selector lever to positionD (for
second gear) orR.

Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 140 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM

171 Controls in detail
Audio system
Cassette eject
Press the eject button
Ø
.
The display will fold down and the cas-
sette will be ejected. The system will
switch back to radio mode automatical-
ly.

Fold the display back up.Track search
Track search forward

Press the
f
button.
SEEK FWD
will appear in the display. The
track search will run the tape forward
to the start of the next track and switch
to play.Track search backward

Press the
e
button.
SEEK RWD
will appear on the display.
The track search will run the tape back-
ward to the start of the track currently
playing and switch to play.
Stopping track search

Press the
d
, c
, f
or
e

button.
The cassette will switch over to Play.
iThe cassette will not be ejected when
the system is switched off or switched
to another operating mode.
iThe cassette will not be ejected when
the system is switched off or switched
to another operating mode.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 171 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM

172 Controls in detailAudio systemScanning
Press the
2
button.
SC will appear on the display.
Each track on the cassette will be
played briefly in ascending order.
Stopping scan:

Press the
2
, d
, c
, f
or
e
button.
The system will switch to Play.Fast forward/reverse
Starting cassette fast forward mode:

Press the
d
button.
FORWARD
will appear on the display.
Starting cassette fast reverse mode:

Press the
c
button.
REWIND
will appear on the display.
The cassette will automatically switch over
to the play mode at the end or beginning of
the tape.Stopping the cassette fast forward/re-
verse mode:

Press the
d
, c
, f
or
e

button.
The cassette will switch over to the
play mode.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 172 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM

184 Controls in detailPower windows
Power windowsOpening and closing the windows
The side windows can be opened and
closed electrically. The switches for all the
side windows are on the driver’s door. The
switches for the respective windows are
on the front passenger and the rear doors.
1Left front window
2Right front window
3Switch for rear door window override
(
page 71)
4Right rear window
5Left rear window

Turn key in the starter switch to
position1 or2.
Opening the windows

Press switch to resistance point.
The window will move downwards until
you release the switch.
Warning!
G
When closing the windows, make sure that
there is no danger of anyone being injured
by the closing procedure.
The closing of the door windows can be im-
mediately halted by releasing the switch or,
if switch was pulled past the resistance
point and released, by either pressing or
pulling the respective switch.
If the window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you pulled the switch past the resistance
point and released it to close the window,
the automatic reversal function will stop the
window and open it slightly.
If the window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you are closing the window by pulling the
switch and holding it there, or by pressing
and holding button
‹
on the SmartKey,
the automatic reversal function will not op-
erate.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from starter switch, and lock your vehi-
cle. Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment
may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 184 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM

220 Controls in detailUseful featuresCanadian programming
During programming, your hand-held
transmitter may automatically stop trans-
mitting. 
Continue to press and hold the inte-
grated remote control transmitter but-
ton (refer to steps two through four in
the “Programming” portion) while you
press and re-press (“cycle”) your
hand-held transmitter every two sec-
onds until the frequency signal has
been learned.
Upon successful training, the indicator
lamp will flash slowly and then rapidly
after several seconds.Operating the remote control

Turn key in starter switch to position1
or2.

Select and press the appropriate but-
ton to activate the remote controlled
device.
The integrated remote control trans-
mitter continues to send the signal as
long as the button is pressed – up to
20 seconds.Erasing the remote control memory

Turn key in starter switch to position1
or2.

Simultaneously hold down the left and
right side buttons for approximately
20 seconds, or until the indicator lamp
blinks rapidly.
The codes of all three channels are
erased.iIf you sell your vehicle, erase the codes
of all three channels.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 220 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM

234 OperationEngine compartment
Engine compartmentHood
Opening
1Hood release
Pull lever1 downwards.
The hood is unlocked.2Handle for opening the hood

Pull handle2 to its stop out of the radi-
ator grill.

Pull up on the hood and then release it.
The hood will be automatically held
open at shoulder height by gas-filled
struts.
Warning!
G
Do not pull the release lever while the vehi-
cle is in motion. Otherwise the hood could
be forced open by passing air flow.
!To avoid damage to the windshield wip-
ers or hood, never open the hood if the
wiper arms are folded forward away
from the windshield.
Warning!
G
To help prevent personal injury, stay clear of
moving parts when the hood is open and the
engine is running. Make sure the hood is
properly closed before driving. When closing
the hood, use extreme caution not to catch
hands or fingers.
The radiator fan may continue to run for ap-
proximately 30 seconds or even restart af-
ter the engine has been turned off. Stay
clear of fan blades.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 234 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM

263 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
#
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The battery was charged with a battery
charger or jump started.

Have the battery checked at a service
station.
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning


broken poly-V-belt

Stop immediately and check the
poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:

Do not continue to drive. Otherwise
the engine will overheat due to an in-
operative water pump which may re-
sult in damage to the engine. Notify an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:

Drive immediately to the nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
3
(Canada only)
;
(USA only)
BRAKE PAD WEAR
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The brake pads have reached their wear lim-
it.

Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Service book-
let.
S203 MY03_A.book Page 263 Tuesday, January 28, 2003 2:22 PM