2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C240 4MATIC WAGON windshield wipers

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting Safety Defects ............... 18
At a glance.......................................... 19
Cockpit ................................................. 20
Instrument cluster ................................ 22
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 24
Center console ..................................... 25
Upper part ...................................... 25
Lower Part ...................................... 26
Overhead control panel ........................ 27
Door control panel................................ 28
Getting started................................... 29
Unlocking ............................................. 30
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 30
Adjusting .............................................. 32
Seats .............................................. 32
Steering wheel ................................ 36
Mirrors ............................................ 38
Driving .................................................. 40
Fastening the seat belt ................... 40
Starting the engine ......................... 43
Switching on headlamps ................. 46
Turn signals and high beam ............ 46
Windshield wipers ........................... 47
Rear window wiper/washer ............ 49
Problems while driving.................... 50
Parking and locking .............................. 51
Parking brake ................................. 51
Switching off headlamps................. 52
Turning off engine ........................... 53

Contents
Automatic transmission ..................... 139
One-touch gearshifting................. 140
Gear ranges ................................. 141
Gear selector lever position ......... 142
Program mode selector switch..... 143
Accelerator position ..................... 144
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 144
Good visibility .................................... 145
Windshield wipers ........................ 145
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 145
Rear view mirrors ......................... 146
Sun visors .................................... 148
Rear window defroster ................. 149
Climate control .................................. 150
Setting the temperature ............... 152
Adjusting air distribution and
volume ......................................... 153
Defrosting .................................... 154
Air recirculation mode.................. 154
Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 155
Air conditioning ............................ 156
Ventilated storage compartment . 156
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents...................... 157Automatic climate control* ................ 158
Setting the temperature................ 161
Adjusting air distribution............... 162
Adjusting air volume ..................... 162
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 163
Defrosting ..................................... 163
Air recirculation mode .................. 163
Charcoal filter ............................... 165
Air conditioning............................. 166
Residual heat and ventilation* ...... 167
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 168
Audio system ...................................... 169
Audio and telephone, operation .... 169
Operating safety ........................... 169
Operating and display elements.... 170
Button and soft key operation....... 172
Operation ...................................... 172
Radio operation ............................ 175
Satellite radio (SAT)* (USA only)... 178
Cassette operation ....................... 182
CD changer* operation ................. 185
Telephone* operation ................... 189
Power windows .................................. 196
Opening and closing the windows. 196
Synchronizing power windows ...... 198Sliding/pop-up roof*.......................... 199
Opening and closing
the sliding/pop-up roof ................ 199
Synchronizing
the sliding/pop-up roof ................ 201
Driving systems .................................. 202
Cruise control ............................... 202
Loading .............................................. 205
Roof rack* .................................... 205
Ski sack* ...................................... 205
Parcel net in cargo compartment . 208
Storage compartment under
cargo compartment floor .............. 209
Retractable luggage cover and
partition net .................................. 209
Split rear bench seat .................... 211
Loading instructions ..................... 213
Cargo tie-down rings..................... 214
Useful features ................................... 215
Interior storage spaces ................. 215
Ashtrays........................................ 219
Cigarette lighter ............................ 220
Electrical outlet............................. 221
Telephone* ................................... 221
Tele Aid* ....................................... 222
Garage door opener ...................... 230

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch

Turn signals
46


Windshield wipers
47


High beam
46
2
Cruise control lever
202
3
Instrument cluster
22,
107
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
24,
112
5
Lever for voice control
system*, see separate
operating instructions
Item
Page
6
Overhead control panel
27
7
Glove box lid release, glove
box lock
215
8
Glove box
215
9
Center console
25
a
Starter switch
31, 43
b
Horn
c
Steering wheel adjustment
handle (manual)
37
d
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk (electrical)*
37
Item
Page
e
Hood lock release
252
f
Parking brake pedal
44, 51
g
Door control panel
28
h
Parking brake release
44
j
Exterior lamp switch
46,
100
k
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
38, 99
l
Headlamp washer switch*
145

47 Getting started
Driving
High beam
Push combination switch forward.
The high beam symbolA in the
instrument cluster comes on.
For more information on high beam, see
“Combination switch” (
page 103).
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Single wipe
2Switching on windshield wipers 
Make sure the ignition is switched on.Switching on windshield wipers

Turn the combination switch to the
desired position depending on the
intensity of the rain.
0Windshield wipers off
IIntermittent wiping
IINormal wiper speed
IIIFast wiper speed
iTo signal minor directional changes,
move combination switch to point of
resistance only and release. The turn
signal flashes three times.
iVehicles without rain sensor*:
Fast wiper speedIII goes to settingII
when the vehicle is standing still.
Vehicles with rain sensor*:
Intermittent wiping interval is depen-
dent on wetness of windshield. Wiping
will not occur with a front door open.

48 Getting startedDriving
Single wipe
Press combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow1.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Push combination switch in direction of
arrow1 past the resistance point.
The windshield wipers operate with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 259).
!Vehicles with rain sensor*:
Do not leave windshield wipers in inter-
mittent setting when the vehicle is tak-
en to an automatic car wash or during
windshield cleaning. Wipers will oper-
ate in the presence of water sprayed on
the windshield, and wipers may be
damaged as a result.
The switch should not be left in inter-
mittent setting as the wipers will wipe
the windshield once every time the en-
gine is started. Dust that accumulates
on the windshield might scratch the
glass and/or damage the wiper blades
when wiping occurs on a dry wind-
shield.
!If anything blocks the windshield
wipers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch
them off immediately.

For safety reasons, withdraw
SmartKey from starter switch
before attempting to remove any
blockage.


Remove blockage.


Turn the windshield wipers on
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at
all in switch positionI,


set the combination switch to the
next highest wiper speed


have the windshield wipers
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center

49 Getting started
Driving
Rear window wiper/washer
The switch is located on the center
console.
1Intermittent wipe
2Indicator lamp
3Rear window washer system

Make sure the ignition is switched on.Activating intermittent wipe

Press upper switch position1.
Indicator lamp2 comes on.
Deactivating intermittent wipe

Press upper switch position1 again.
Indicator lamp2 goes out.
Wiping with window washer fluid

Press and hold lower switch
position3.
The wiper operates with washer fluid.
More information on windshield wipers can
be found in the “Controls in detail” section
(
page 145).
iThe rear window wiper will also auto-
matically engage if

the windshield wiper is engaged


the gear selector lever is placed
inR “Reverse”

145 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Good visibility
Windshield wipers
More information on the windshield wipers
can be found in the “Getting started”
section (
page 47).
Intermittent wiping
Windshield wipers with rain sensor*
A rain sensor automatically controls the
windshield wipers depending on how wet
the windshield is.

Switch on ignition.

Set the wiper switch to positionI
(page 47).
After the initial wipe, pauses between
wipes are automatically controlled by the
rain sensor.
Headlamp cleaning system*
The switch is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer switch
Switch on ignition.

Press switch1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 259).
iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when
the vehicle is at a standstill and a front
door is opened.
!Do not leave windshield wipers in
intermittent setting when the vehicle is
taken to an automatic car wash or
during windshield cleaning. Wipers will
operate in the presence of water
sprayed on the windshield, and wipers
may be damaged as a result.
The switch should not be left in
intermittent setting as the wipers will
wipe the windshield once every time
the engine is started. Dust that
accumulates on the windshield might
scratch the glass and/or damage the
wiper blades when wiping occurs on a
dry windshield.

153 Controls in detail
Climate control
Increasing
Turn the temperature control2 or3
slightly to the right.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing

Turn the temperature control2 or3
slightly to the left.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution and volume
Use air distribution control4
(page 151) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are found on the
controls:
Use the air volume control1
(page 151) to adjust the air volume. You
can select between six air volume speeds.Adjusting manually

Press buttonU (
page 151).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.

Select any of the six air volume speeds
and the air distribution.
Adjusting automatically

Press buttonU (
page 151).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air distribution and
volume is adjusted automatically.
Windshield fogged on the outside

Switch the windshield wipers on
(page 47).

Switch to manual mode.

Turn the air distribution control
toa orY.
iWhen operating the climate control
system in automatic mode, you will
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.
Symbol
Function
a
Directs air through the center,
side and rear passenger
compartment air vents
Z
Directs air to the windows
X
Directs air into the entire
vehicle interior
Y
Directs air to the footwells