2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS parking brake

252 OperationDriving instructionsDriving off
Apply the brakes to test them briefly after
driving off. Perform this procedure only
when the road is clear of other traffic.
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not
place full load on the engine until the oper-
ating temperature has been reached.
When starting off on a slippery surface, do
not allow one drive wheel to spin for an ex-
tended period with the ESP switched off.
Doing so may cause serious damage to the
drive train which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Parking
Tires
Tread wear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and be-
come visible at a tread depth of approxi-
mately
1⁄16
in (1.5 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be re-
placed.
!Set the parking brake whenever park-
ing or leaving the vehicle. In addition,
move selector lever to position P. In ad-
dition, when parking on hills, always set
the parking brake and turn front wheel
against curb.
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 positionP.


Slowly release brake pedal.


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


Turn the key to starter switch position0
and remove, or press KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*).


Take the key or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (if so equipped) with you
and lock vehicle when leaving.
Warning!
G
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or
ride disturbance, or you suspect that possi-
ble damage to your vehicle has occurred,
you should turn on the hazard warning flash-
ers, carefully slow down, and drive with cau-
ti o n t o an a r ea wh ic h is a s a fe d is ta n c e fr o m
the road.
Inspect the tires and under the vehicle for
possible damage. If the vehicle or tires ap-
pear unsafe, have it towed to the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Center or tire dealer for re-
pairs.
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291 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
3
(Canada only)
;
(USA only)The red brake warning lamp
lights up while driving and you
hear a warning sound.
You are driving with the parking brake set.
or
There is a malfunction in the SBC brake sys-
tem.

Release the parking brake.

Read and observe the message in the
display.
The red brake warning lamp
lights up while driving.
There is insufficient brake fluid in the reser-
voir.

Risk of accident! Carefully stop the
vehicle and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Do not add
brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with the last message displayed can
result in an accident. Have your brake sys-
tem checked immediately if the brake warn-
ing lamp stays on.
Don’t add brake fluid before checking the
brake system. Overfilling the brake fluid res-
ervoir can result in spilling brake fluid on hot
engine parts and the brake fluid catching
fire. You can be seriously burned.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.
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310 Practical hintsWhat to do if …F
Key recognized
in vehicle!
A KEYLESS-GO* key left in the vehi-
cle was recognized while locking the
vehicle from the outside.

Take the key out of the vehicle.
Key
Visit workshop!
The KEYLESS-GO* system is mal-
functioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Key
do not forget key
This display appears (for a maximum
of 60 seconds) if the driver’s door is
opened with the engine shut off and
no key in the starter switch.
This message is only a reminder.

Insert key in the starter switch.
_
Entry position
Do not drive!
Seat, mirrors and steering wheel
have not yet moved to their preset
driving positions.

Wait until the seat, mirrors and steering
wheel have moved to their driving positions.
The message disappears.
Except Canada:;Canada only:!
Release park. brake!
You are driving with the parking
brake set.

Release the parking brake (
page 45).
<
Visit workshop!
The seat belt system is malfunction-
ing.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Ê
Trunk open!
This message will appear whenever
the trunk lid is open.

Close the trunk lid.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
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333 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Rear lamps Notes on bulb replacement


Use only 12-volt bulbs of the same type
and with the specified watt rating.


Switch lights off before changing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.


Always use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.


Y o u r h a n d s s h o u l d b e d r y a n d f r e e o f o i l
and grease.


If the newly installed bulb does not light
up, visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.


Have the LEDs and bulbs for the follow-
ing lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center:

Additional turn signal lamps in the
exterior rear view mirrors


High mounted brake lamp


Bi-Xenon lamps


Front fog lamps
Lamp
Type
7
High mounted brake
lamp
LED
8
Tail, parking and
standing lamp
HiP
9
License plate lamps
C 5 W
Warning!
G
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing
a bulb.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A
bulb can explode if you:

touch or move it when hot


drop the bulb


scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Bi-Xenon lamps,
it is dangerous to replace the bulb or repair
the lamp and its components. We recom-
mend that you have such work done by a
qualified technician.
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338 Practical hintsFlat tire
Flat tirePreparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle as far as possible from
moving traffic on a hard surface.

Turn on the hazard warning flashers.

Engage the steering wheel lock in the
straight-ahead position and set the
parking brake.

Move the selector lever toP.

Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Mounting the spare wheel
Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described under
"Preparing the vehicle" on this page.
Take the spare wheel out of the trunk
(page 324).
Lifting the vehicle

Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
(not included) or other sizable objects.
When changing wheel on a level surface:

Place one chock in front of and one be-
hind the wheel that is diagonally oppo-
site to the wheel being changed.When changing wheel on a hill:

Place chocks on the downhill side
blocking both wheels of the other axle.

Take the two-piece wheel wrench and
the jack out of the trunk (
page 326).
Assemble wheel wrench.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into either side of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
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344 Practical hintsBatteries
Disconnecting the battery
Depress the parking brake firmly or
move the gear selector lever to
positionP.

Open the trunk (
page 261).

Disconnect battery negative lead1.

Remove cover2 from the positive ter-
minal.

Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing the battery
Remove the screw-nuts securing the
battery.

Remove the battery bracket.

Take out the battery.
Charging and reinstalling the battery
Charge battery in accordance with the
instructions of the battery charger
manufacturer.

Reinstall the charged battery. Follow
the previously described steps in re-
verse order.
!Never loosen or detach battery termi-
nal clamps while the engine is running
or the key is in the starter switch. Oth-
erwise the alternator and other elec-
tronic components could be severely
damaged.
Have the battery checked regularly by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Contact your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further infor-
mation.Warning!
G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof battery only to avoid the risk
of acid burns in the event of an accident.
Warning!
G
With a disconnected battery

the brake boosting effect is not avail-
able.
You need more power to brake and
brake pedal travel is increased. If neces-
sary, you must depress the brake pedal
with full power.


you can no longer turn the ignition key
or, in cars with KEYLESS-GO*, pressing
the KEY-LESS-GO button* on the gear
selector lever has no effect.


the gear selector lever is locked in
position P.
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347 Practical hints
Jump starting
The battery is located in the trunk on the
right hand side underneath the luggage
box (
page 325). Only jump start the ve-
hicle from the battery in the trunk.

Make sure that the two vehicles do not
touch.

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Apply parking brake.

Shift selector lever to positionP.1Positive terminal of charged battery
2Positive terminal of discharged battery
3Vehicle ground
4Negative terminal of charged battery

Connect positive terminals1 and2 of
the batteries with the jumper cables.
Clamp cable to charged battery1 first.

Start engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.

Connect negative terminal4 of the
charged battery and vehicle ground3
(lock ring of the trunk lid lock) in the
trunk with the jumper cable. Clamp ca-
ble to charged battery4 first.

Start the engine of the disabled vehi-
cle.
Now you can again turn on the electrical
consumers. Do not turn on the lights under
any circumstances.

Remove the jumper cables first from
vehicle ground3 and negative
terminal4 and then from positive
terminals1 and2.

Have the battery checked at the next
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 266).
iThe message
Malfunction - electric
consumers switched off
may appear
in the instrument cluster. It will disap-
pear as soon as the battery is suffi-
ciently charged.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Do not tow-start the vehicle.
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383 Index
Batteries, vehicle
Charging 344
Disconnecting 344
Messages in display 303, 304
Reconnecting 345
Removing 344
Service 343
Battery discharged
Jump starting 346
Bi-Xenon headlamps* 375
Blocking
Rear window operation 71
Brake assist system (BAS) 375
Brake pads
Message in display 305
Brakes
Warning lamp 291
Bulbs, replacing
Front lamps 332, 334
High beam bulb (Bi-Xenon* headlamps
only) 334
License plate lamps 336
Parking lamps 335
Standing lamps 335
Tail lamp assemblies 336C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 375
Calling up
Distronic* settings 128
Range (distance to empty) 147
CAN system 375
Cargo area see Trunk 88
Cargo tie-down rings 225
Cassette player
Operating 128
CD player*
Operating 127, 128
Center console
Lower part 26
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp 294
Upper part 25
Centigrade
Setting temperature units 134
Central locking
Automatic 99
From inside 100
Switch 100
Switching on/off (control
system) 142
Unlocking from inside 100Central locking switch 100
Changing
Batteries (SmartKey) 329
Key setting 143
Vehicle level 210
Charcoal filter 180
Charging
Vehicle batteries 344
Child safety 65
Airbags 58
Infant and child restraint systems 61,
65
Child safety switch see Blocking of rear
window operation 71
Cigarette lighter 232
Cleaning
Headlamps 158
Parktronic* system sensor 284
Windshield 48
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
Distronic system sensor 283
MB Tex upholstery 285
Climate control 162
Adjusting 166
Defrosting 167
Setting the temperature 165
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