Page 13 of 288
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 13
2
IGNITION LOCK / STARTER SWITCH0 The steering wheel is locked when the key is removed
To remove the key, place the gear selector lever in
position "P"; rotate the key in the ignition lock to
position 0; and remove the key.
1 The steering wheel is unlocked
2 Preheating and driving position
3Start position To engage the steering wheel lock:
After removing the key, turn the steering wheel until
the steering wheel lock engages.
To release the steering wheel lock:
Turn the steering wheel slightly while turning the key
to position 1.
NOTE:
If the driver’s or passenger’s door is opened
with the key in position 0 or 1 in the ignition lock, a
warning buzzer sounds.
WARNING!
Do not remove the key from the ignition lock un-
less the vehicle is stationary. Always remove the
key from the ignition lock when leaving the ve-
hicle to prevent children or unauthorized per-
sons from starting the engine.
Page 63 of 288
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 63
3
Folding Seat at Partition (Optional)Key (1)
Seat cushion (2)
Fold down the seat cushion of the folding seat.
SEAT HEATER (OPTIONAL)The seat heater switch is located on
the center section of the dashboard.
The seat heater only works when the
key is in position 2 in the ignition
lock .
Low heating output, press top of the seat heater switch.
The left indicator lamp in the switch illuminates.
High heating output, press bottom of seat heater
switch. The right indicator lamp in the switch
illuminates.WARNING!
When folding down the seat cushion, make sure
that nobody can become trapped.
The risk of injury to the front-passenger is
increased in the event of sharp steering
movements or an accident if a key is inserted in
the passenger/cargo area sliding door lock.
Remove the key from the load compartment
sliding door before using the folding seat.
Page 87 of 288

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
4
CONTENTS
Instruments and Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Instrument Cluster and Indicator Lamps . . . . . . . 91Indicator Lamp Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93Multi-Function Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96Odometer and Trip Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Instrument and Display Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . 97Outside Temperature Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98Reversing Aid Distance Display (Optional) . . . 99Tachometer (Engine rpm) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101Fuel Gauge with Reserve Fuel Indicator
Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103Battery Charge Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . 104Water in Fuel Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104Engine Oil Level Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . 105Coolant Level Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106Engine Control Unit Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . 107
Switch Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
ASSYST Maintenance Computer (Optional). . . . 110Engine Oil Level – Display in Instrument
Cluster (Vehicles with ASSYST Maintenance
Computer only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112Displaying Engine Oil Level with
Engine Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Engine Oil Level Indicator in Instrument
Cluster (Vehicles without ASSYST Maintenance
Computer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Heating, Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117Air Recirculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118De-Fogging and De-Icing The Front
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119Side Air Vents and Center Air Vents . . . . . . . . 120
Page 88 of 288

88 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
Upper Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120Heated Rear Window (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . 121Windshield Heater (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121Residual Engine Heat Utilization (REST) . . . . 122
Air Conditioning, Regulated (Optional) . . . . . . 122Climate Control (on Vehicles with Air
Conditioning) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123Dehumidification
(on Vehicles with Air Conditioning) . . . . . . . . 124Air Conditioner for the Rear Passenger
Compartment (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125Air Recirculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126Air Strainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Electric Blower (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Heater Booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Auxiliary Heater – Water or Air Heater
(Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130Auxiliary Heater Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132Timer Auxiliary Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132Settings with the Auxiliary Heater
switched on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Auxiliary Heat Exchanger in Load
Compartment, only with Auxiliary Heater
(Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Auxiliary Heater – Tips for Coping with
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Page 90 of 288

90 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANELLegend For Instruments And Controls
1. Left-hand air vent.
2. Multifunction switch.
3. Speed control .
4. Hood release lever .
5. Instrument cluster, refer to "Instrument Cluster and Indicator Lamps".
6. Hazard warning flasher switch .
7. Steering wheel with horn, front driver airbag .
8. Fuse box .
9. Windshield wiper switch, refer to "Windshield Wiper Switch".
10. Ignition lock/starter switch .
11. Center air vents .
12. Upper air vents .
13. Radio, see individual manual. 14. Temperature control switch
.
15. Airflow control switch .
16. Air distribution switch .
17. Temperature sensor, automatic heating control / air conditioning, regulated .
18. Air conditioning switch .
19. Heater booster switch .
20. Residual engine heat utilization switch .
21. Gear selector lever (automatic transmission)
22. Timer for auxiliary heater .
23. Electrical outlet .
24. Ashtray .
25. Cup holder .
26. Front passenger airbag .
27. Right-hand air vent .
28. Glove compartment .
NOTE: For layout of switches, see previous page.
Page 93 of 288

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 93
4
Indicator Lamp Symbolsv
Acceleration skid control (ASR)
or electronic stabi lity program (ESP)*
or slippery surface warning.
1
Airbag Malfunction (USA only).
Parking brake applied.
A
High beam on, refer to "Multifunction Switch".
#
Battery not being charged,
refer to "Battery Charge Indicator Lamp".
Water in fuel filter, refer to "Water in Fuel
Indicator Lamp".
2
Brake pads worn.
:
Engine oil level too low,
refer to "Engine Oil Level Indicator Lamp".
/
Coolant level too low,
refer to "Coolant Level Indicator Lamp".
;
Brake fluid level too low and electronic brake force
distribution (EBD) malfunction (USA only).
*2500 Type Vehicles only.
3
Brake fluid level too low and electronic brake force
distribution (EBD) malfunction (Canada only).
<
Seat belt warning lamp.
-
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) malfunction.
Electronic stability program (ESP)* malfunction.
±
Engine control unit malfunction.
k
Acceleration skid control (ASR) malfunction
and brake assist system (BAS)
1malfunction.
™
Constant RPMs on.
W
Fluid level in windshield washer low.
q
Preheating.
Page 116 of 288
116 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANELHEATING, VENTILATIONTemperature control (1)
Airflow control (2)
Air distribution control (3) Z
Air to the windshield and from the air vents
X Air to the windshield and footwell and from
the air vents
Y Air to the footwell and from the air vents
h Air from the air vents
NOTE: If the vehicle interior has been heated up by
intense sunlight, ventilate the interior briefly before
driving the vehicle.
Only with automatic heater control (Optional):
The selected temperature is reached as quickly as
possible in heater mode and then held constant.
WARNING!
Follow the recommended settings for heating and
cooling given on the following pages. Otherwise
the windows could fog up, impairing visibility
and endangering you and others.
Page 118 of 288
118 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANELSelect air recirculation if dust or unpleasant odors
enter the vehicle.
NOTE: Prolonged air recirculation can worsen the air
quality and lead to fogging up of the windows. Shut off
air recirculation as soon as possible.
Only with automatic heat regulation and regulated air
conditioning (Optional):
Air recirculation is automatically switched off after
about 15 minutes or when engine is shut off.
Heating1. Set the airflow control (2) as required.
2. Set the temperature control (1) as required.
3. Set the air distribution control (3) between Y
and X .
4. Switch off air recirculation, refer to "Air
Recirculation".
5. Adjust the air vents as required, refer to "Side Air
Vents and Center Air Vents" .