2003 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS air conditioning

Contents
Sun visors .................................... 172
Rear window sunshade* .............. 173
Rear door window sunshade* ...... 173
Automatic climate control ................. 174
Setting the temperature ............... 177
Adjusting air distribution .............. 178
Adjusting air volume .................... 179
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ....... 179
Defrosting .................................... 180
Air recirculation mode.................. 180
Charcoal filter .............................. 182
Rear window defroster ................. 183
Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 183
Air conditioning ............................ 184
Storage compartment ventilation. 184
Residual heat and ventilation ....... 185
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 186
Rear passenger compartment
climate control* ........................... 187
Power windows.................................. 188
Opening and closing the windows 188
Synchronizing power windows ..... 191Sliding/pop-up roof ............................ 192
Opening and closing the slid-
ing/pop-up roof ............................ 192
Synchronizing the sliding / pop-up
roof .............................................. 195
Driving systems .................................. 196
Cruise control ............................... 196
Distronic* ..................................... 199
AIRMATIC...................................... 211
Active Body Control (ABC)* .......... 213
Parktronic system* (Parking
assist) ........................................... 218
Loading............................................... 222
Roof rack* .................................... 222
Loading instructions ..................... 222
Cargo tie-down hooks ................... 223
Useful features ................................... 224
Interior storage spaces ................. 224
Ashtrays........................................ 232
Cigarette lighters .......................... 233
Heated steering wheel* ................ 235
Telephone* ................................... 236
Tele Aid ......................................... 237
Garage door opener ...................... 245
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 248
Operation.......................................... 249
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) .......... 250
Driving instructions ............................ 251
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 251
Drinking and driving...................... 251
Pedals ........................................... 251
Power assistance .......................... 251
Brakes .......................................... 252
Driving off ..................................... 253
Parking ......................................... 253
Tires.............................................. 254
Hydroplaning ................................ 255
Tire traction .................................. 255
Tire speed rating ........................... 255
Winter driving instructions ............ 256
Standing water ............................. 257
Passenger compartment............... 258
Driving abroad .............................. 258
Control and operation of radio
transmitters .................................. 258
Catalytic converter ....................... 259
Emission control ........................... 259
Coolant temperature .................... 260

Contents
Technical data................................. 357
Spare parts service ............................ 358
Warranty coverage............................. 359
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 359
Identification labels ........................... 360
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 361
S 430 / S 500.............................. 361
S 55 AMG..................................... 361
S 600 ........................................... 361
Engine................................................ 362
Rims and tires.................................... 364
Same size tires............................. 365
Mixed size tires ............................ 366
Spare wheel ................................. 367
Electrical system ............................... 368
Main dimensions ............................... 369
Weights.............................................. 370
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. .......... 371
Capacities .................................... 371
Engine oils.................................... 373
Engine oil additives ...................... 373
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 373
Brake fluid .................................... 373
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 374Fuel requirements ......................... 374
Gasoline additives......................... 374
Coolants ....................................... 375
Windshield and headlamp washer
system .......................................... 377
Consumer information ........................ 378
Uniform tire quality grading .......... 378
Technical terms................................ 381Index.................................................. 387

176 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlThe automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can
operate the climate control system in ei-
ther the automatic or manual mode. The
system cools or heats the interior depend-
ing on the selected interior temperature
and the current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the economy mode AC
OFF
is se-
lected (
page 184).
Warning!
G
When operating the automatic climate con-
trol, the air that enters the passenger com-
partment through the air vents in the
footwell can be very hot or very cold (de-
pending on the set temperature). This may
cause burn or frostbite to unprotected skin
in the immediate area of the air vents. Al-
ways keep sufficient distance between un-
protected parts of the body and the footwell
air vents. If necessary change the air flow
using the air distribution controls to direct
the air away from the footwell air vents
(page 178).
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iThe current climate control settings
(ON/OFF, temperature, air volume, ac-
tivated charcoal filter, etc.) are stored
for each SmartKey before it is removed
from the starter switch or when the ve-
hicle is locked using the KEYLESS-GO*
card (if so equipped) (
page 100).
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air volume by placing
objects on the air volume-through ex-
haust slots below the rear window.

178 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlAdjusting air distribution
Use air distribution controls12 and6
(page 175) to separately adjust the air
distribution on each side of the passenger
compartment. The following symbols are
found on the controls:Adjusting manually

Press button
U
.
The button emerges and the
h
,
V
, j
and
k
symbols become
visible.

Turn the marking on the regulator to
the desired symbol.
The air will be directed to the vents cor-
responding to this symbol.
Adjusting automatically

Press button
U
until it clicks in.
The
h
, V
, j
and
k
sym-
bols are no longer visible. The air distri-
bution is adjusted automatically.Windows fogged on the inside

Press button AC
OFF
to switch on the air
conditioning (
page 175).
The indicator lamp in the button goes
out.

Press button
O
to switch off the air
recirculation (
page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.

Adjust left and right air vents1 and6
upwards (
page 174).

Set blower to the maximum blower
speed.

Increase temperature setting.

Open side air vents9 and direct them
onto the side windows (
page 174).
Symbol
Function
h
Directs air through the cen-
ter air vents
j
Directs air to the windows
V
Directs air into the entire
vehicle interior
k
Directs air to the footwells

181 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Deactivating
Press button
O
(page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.The air recirculation mode is deactivated
automatically:


after five minutes if the outside temper-
ature is below approximately 41°F
(5 °C)


after five minutes if the air conditioning
is turned off


after 30 minutes if the outside temper-
ature is above approximately 41°F
(5 °C)
At outside temperatures above 79°F
(26 °C) the system will not automatically
switch back to outside air. A quantity of
outside air is added after approximately
30 minutes.
iThe air recirculation mode is activated
automatically:

at high outside temperatures


if the concentration of carbon mon-
oxide and nitrogen oxide in the out-
side air increases, for example in a
tunnel.
Please note that the charcoal filter
must be activated (
page 182) for
the air recirculation mode to be ac-
tivated automatically.
If you have turned off the air condition-
ing (
page 184) or the outside tem-
perature is below 41°F (5°C), the air
recirculation mode will not switch on
automatically.
iIf you keep button
O
pressed, the
side windows and the sliding/pop-up
roof return to their previous position.

184 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlAir conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while
the engine is running and cools the interior
air to the temperature you have set.
Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the automatic
climate control system. The air in the vehi-
cle will then no longer be cooled or dehu-
midified.
Press buttonAC
OFF
(page 175).
The indicator lamp on the
buttonAC
OFF
lights up.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.

PressAC
OFF
again (
page 175).
The indicator lamp on the AC
OFF
but-
ton goes out.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.
Storage compartment ventilation
The storage compartment below the front
armrest (
page 225) has its own air vent.
Ventilation of the storage compartment
below the front armrest is possible only
when the climate control system is on. The
air volume depends on the setting of the
air distribution control, the air volume con-
trol, and the air vents in the dashboard.
The switch is located inside the storage
compartment in the front armrest
(
page 225).
Opening air vent

Push upper portion of switch.
Closing air vent

Push lower portion of switch.
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.
!If the AC
OFF
button on the automatic
climate control panel starts to blink,
the air conditioning may be losing re-
frigerant. The compressor was turned
off. The air conditioning cannot be
turned on again.
Have the air conditioning checked at
the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

361 Technical data
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
S 430 / S 500
1Automatic belt tensioner
2Power steering pump
3Air conditioning compressor
4Crankshaft
5Coolant pump
6Generator (alternator)
7Idler pulley
S55AMGThe S 55 AMG has two poly-V-belts (belt one
shown in purple/belt two shown in black). 1Idler pulley
2Automatic belt tensioner
3Power steering pump
4Air conditioning compressor
5Crankshaft
6Coolant pump
7Generator (alternator)
8Idler pulley
9Automatic belt tensioner
10Super charger
S600
1Automatic belt tensioner
2Power steering pump
3Air conditioning compressor
4Crankshaft
5Coolant pump
6Generator (alternator)
7Idler pulley
8Idler pulley
9Idler pulley

372 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Brake system
0.7 US qt. (0.7 l)
MB Brake Fluid (DOT 4+)
Cooling system
S 430
S 500
S 55 AMG
S 600
approx. 12.1 US qt. (11.5 l)
approx. 12.1 US qt. (11.5 l)
approx. 14.3 US qt. (13.5 l)
approx. 12.9 US qt. (12.2 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion / Antifreeze
Low temperature cooling system
S 600
1.31 US qt. (1.24 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion / Antifreeze
Fuel tank
including a reserve of
S430, S500,
and
S55AMG
S600
23.2 US gal. (88.0 l)
2.9 US gal. (11.0 l))
Premium unleaded gasoline:
Posted Octane 91
(Avg.of96RON/86MON)
Posted Octane 93
(Avg.of98RON/88MON)
Air conditioning system
R-134a refrigerant and special PAG
lubricant oil (never R-12)
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning system:
7.1 US qt. (6.7 l)
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
1
1Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and water for temperatures above freezing or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and commercially available pre-
mixed windshield washer solvent / antifreeze for temperatures below freezing. Follow suggested mixing ratios (
page 377).