2004 MERCEDES-BENZ C320 COUPE brake system

315 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the follow-
ing:
With the automatic central locking acti-
vated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, the vehicle doors
lock if the left front wheel as well as the
right rear wheel are turning at vehicle
speeds of approx. 9 mph (15 km/h) or
more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 79).
To prevent the vehicle doors from lock-
ing, deactivate the automatic central
locking (
page 129).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to vehicle chassis,
frame or suspension parts.
iIf the battery is disconnected or dis-
charged

the SmartKey will not turn in the
starter switch. See notes on the
battery (
page 307) or on jump
starting (page 310).


the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP. See notes on
manual unlocking of gear selector
lever (
page 291).

332 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines. Therefore, use
only engine oils approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Information on approved
products is available in the Factory Ap-
proved Service Products pamphlet, or at
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Please follow FSS recommendations for
scheduled oil changes. Failure to do so
could result in engine damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil.
They may damage the engine.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from
blending oil additives are not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG
lubricating oil is used in the air condition-
ing system.Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based lu-
bricating oil. Otherwise damage to the
system will occur.
Brake fluid
During vehicle operation, the boiling point
of the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from
the atmosphere. Under extremely strenu-
ous operating conditions, this moisture
content can lead to the formation of bub-
bles in the system, thus reducing the sys-
tem’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be re-
placed every two years, preferably in the
spring.
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will pro-
vide you with additional information.
!Always check the oil filler cap
(page 240) for important informa-
tion pertaining to the engine oil need-
ing to meet a specific Mercedes-Benz
specification (e.g. MB 229.5). If such
information is printed on the oil filler
cap, only use an engine oil from the list
of approved engine oils in the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet
that meets the specification indicated
on the oil filler cap.
!Using engine oils of other specification
may cause the FSS to incorrectly deter-
mine the next service interval and will
result in engine damage not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

341 Technical terms
ABS
(A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)
Prevents the wheels from locking up
during braking so that the vehicle can
continue to be steered.
Alignment bolt
Metal pin with thread. The centering
pin is an aid used when changing a tire
to align the wheel with the wheel hub.
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system
This system detects if a special system
compatible child restraint seat is in-
stalled on the front passenger seat. The
system will automatically deactivate
the passenger front airbag when such a
seat is properly installed (indicator
lamp PASS. AIRBAG OFF in the center
console comes on). See your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for avail-
ability.BabySmart
TM compatible child seats
Special restraint system for children.
The sensor system for the passenger
seat prevents deployment of the pas-
senger front airbag if a BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat is installed.
BAS
(B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)
System for potentially reducing braking
distances in emergency braking situa-
tions. The system is activated when it
senses an emergency based on how
fast the brake is applied.
Bi-Xenon headlamps*
Headlamps which use an electric arc as
the light source and produce a more in-
tense light than filament headlamps.
Bi-Xenon headlamps produce low
beam and high beam.CAC
(C
ustomer A
ssistance C
enter)
Mercedes-Benz customer service cen-
ter, which can help you with any ques-
tions about your vehicle and provide
assistance in the event of a break-
down.
CAN system
(C
ontroller A
rea N
etwork)
Data bus network serving to control ve-
hicle functions such as door locking or
windshield wiping.
Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the passen-
ger compartment needed for vehicle
operation and monitoring.

344 Technical termsPower train
Collective term designating all compo-
nents used to generate and transmit
motive power to the drive axles, includ-
ing


engine


clutch/torque converter


transmission


transfer case


drive shaft


differential


axle shafts/axlesPoly-V-belt drive
Drives engine-components (alternator,
AC compressor, etc.) from the engine.
Program mode selector switch
Used to switch the automatic transmis-
sion between standard operation S and
winter operation C.
Remote Vehicle Diagnostics
Transmission of vehicle data and cur-
rent location to the Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance Center for sub-
scribers to Tele Aid service.
Restraint systems
Seat belts, belt tensioners, airbags and
child restraint systems. As indepen-
dant systems, their protective func-
tions complement one another.RON
(R
esearch O
ctane N
umber)
The Research Octane Number for gaso-
line as determined by a standardized
method. It is an indication of a gaso-
line's ability to resist undesired detona-
tion (knocking). The average of both
the ->MON (Motor Octane Number)
and RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as AN-
TI-KNOCK INDEX.
Shift lock
When the vehicle is parked, this lock
prevents the gear selector lever from
being moved out of positionP without
SmartKey turned and brake pedal de-
pressed.

348 IndexAir distribution
Adjusting 153
Air outlets
Rear passenger compartment 158
Air pressure see Tire inflation
pressure 245
Air recirculation mode 154
Activating 154
Deactivating 155
Air volume
Adjusting 153
Airbags 57
BabySmartTM
airbag deactivation system 67, 341
Children 58
Front 61
PASS.AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp 67, 263
Passenger 61
Safety guidelines 60
Side impact 61
Window curtain 61
Alarm
Audible 72, 79Canceling 79
Visual 78
Alarm system
Anti-theft 78
Alignment bolt 303
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 341
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 337
Antiglare
Automatic 146
Antilock brake system (ABS) 341
Anti-theft alarm system
Arming 78
Canceling alarm 79
Disarming 79
Anti-theft systems 78
Anti-theft alarm system 78
Immobilizer 78
Tow-away alarm 79
Aquaplaning 227
Armrest
Storage compartment in front of 201
Storage spaces 202Ashtray 203
ATF (automatic transmission fluid) 241
AUDIO menu 114
Selecting radio station 115
Audio system 159
Audio and telephone, operation 159
Button and soft key operation 162
Cassette operation 172
CD operation 175
Operating and display elements 160
Operating safety 159
Operation 162
Radio operation 165
Switching off 162
Switching on 162
Telephone operation 179
Automatic antiglare for
rear view mirror 146
Automatic central locking
Activating/deactivating
(control system) 129

349 Index
Automatic climate control
Deactivating 156
Automatic headlamp mode 99
Automatic lighting control
Activating 103
Deactivating 103
Automatic locking when driving 87
Automatic transmission 139
Accelerator position 145
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) 145
Fluid level 241
Gear ranges 141
Gear selector lever position 142
Gear shifting malfunctions 145
Kickdown 145
Manual shifting 140
One-touch gearshifting 140
Program mode selector switch 144
Selector lever position 139Starting with 45
Transmission fluid 241
Winter program mode 144
Auxiliary fuse box 318
B
BabySmartTM
Airbag deactivation system 67, 341
Compatible child seats 67, 341
Self-test 68
Backrest
Folding forward 198
Folding rearward 198
BAS 74, 341
Messages in display 265
Batteries, SmartKey
Changing 290
Check lamp 83
Checking 84
Battery discharged
Jump starting 310Battery, vehicle 242, 307
Charging 308
Disconnecting 308
Messages in display 269
Reconnecting 308
Reinstalling 308
Removing 308
Bi-Xenon headlamps* 341
Bi-Xenon type
Front lamp bulbs 296
Block heater 248
Bolts
For spare wheel 287
Brake assist system (BAS) 341
Brake fluid 234, 332
Brake lamp bulbs 294
Brake lamp, high mounted 294
Brake pads
Message in display 270
Brakes 224

350 Index
Warning lamp 259
Break-in period 222
Bulbs, replacing 293
Additional turn signals 293
Brake lamps 294
Fog lamps 293
Front lamps 293
High beam 293
High mounted brake lamp 294
License plate lamps 294, 299
Low beam 293
Parking lamps 293, 294, 296, 297
Rear fog lamp 294
Rear fog lamps 298
Side marker lamps 294, 298
Standing lamps 293, 294, 296, 297
Tail lamp assemblies 294, 298
Turn signal lamps 293, 294
Button
Audio system 162C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 341
Calling up
Range (distance to empty) 134
Service indicator 250
CAN system 341
Capacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 330
Cargo compartment
Lighting 104
Cassette operation
Playing cassettes 172
Cassette player
Operating 116
Catalytic converter 231
CD changer* 175
CD operation 175
CD player
Operating 116
Center console 25Lower part 26
PASS.AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp 263
Upper part 25
Centigrade
Setting temperature units 123
Central locking
From inside 88
Switch 88
Switching on/off
(control system) 129
Unlocking from inside 88
Central locking switch 88
Changing
Batteries (SmartKey) 290
Key setting 129
Changing CDs 175
Charging
Vehicle battery 308
CHECK ENGINE
malfunction indicator lamp 260
Check gas cap
Message in display 277

357 Index
Global Positioning System (GPS) 343
Glove box 21, 200
Closing 200
Opening 200
Good visibility 146
GPS 343
H
Halogen-type
Front lamp bulbs 295
Hands-free microphone 27
Hard plastic trim items
Cleaning 255
Hazard warning flasher 102
Switching off 102
Switching on 102
Head restraints 90
Manual seats 34
Power seats* 36Rear seats 91
Headlamp cleaning system 243
Headlamps
Automatic control 99
Bi-Xenon 341
Bi-Xenon type*
Replacing bulbs 296
Cleaning 253
Cleaning system 148, 243
Halogen-type
Replacing bulbs 295
Refilling washer fluid 243
Switching off 53
Switching on 48
Washer fluid 338
Washer system 338
Headliner and shelf below rear window
Cleaning 255
Heated seats 93Height adjustment
Head restraints 34, 36, 91
Seat belts 43
Steering wheel 37
High beam flasher 102
High beam headlamps
Messages in display 278
Replacing bulbs 293, 295
Switching on 102
High beam headlamps xenon type
Replacing bulbs 296
High mounted brake lamp 294
Hood 236
Closing 237
Message in display 277
Opening 236
Hydroplaning see Aquaplaning 227
I
Identification labels 322
Ignition 31
Switching on 45