2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS COUPE Owners Manual

48 Getting startedDrivingStarting the engineManual transmission
Gearshift pattern for manual transmissionFor more information, see “Manual trans-
mission” (
page 157).Starting

Depress brake pedal.

Make sure the gearshift lever is in neu-
tral position (no gear selected).

Fully depress clutch pedal.
Otherwise the engine cannot be start-
ed due to the integrated safety inter-
lock.

Do not depress accelerator.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position
3 and hold until the engine
starts (
page 33).
For information on turning off the engine,
see “Turning off the engine” (
page 58).
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon-
sciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as garage) which are not properly ven-
tilated. If you think that exhaust gas fumes
are entering the vehicle while driving, have
the cause determined and corrected imme-
diately. If you must drive under these condi-
tions, drive only with at least one window
fully open.

49
Getting started
Driving
Automatic transmission*Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmissionP
Park position with gear selector lever
lock
R Reverse gear
N Neutral
D Drive position
For more information, see “Automatic
transmission*” (
page 159). Starting

Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to
P.

Do not depress accelerator.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position 3 and hold until the engine
starts (
page 33).

Depress brake pedal.
The selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine
with the SmartKey, see “Turning off the en-
gine” (
page 58). Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:

Turn SmartKey in starter to position
0
and repeat starting procedure.
Remember that extended starting
attempts can drain the battery.

Get a jump start (
page 404).
If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the
fuel supply system.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iYou can also use the “touch-start”
function. Turn the SmartKey to
position 3 and release it again immedi-
ately. The engine then starts automati-
cally.

50 Getting startedDrivingParking brake 1 Release handle
2 Parking brake

Release the parking brake by pulling on
handle 1.
The indicator lamp ; (USA only) or
3 (Canada only) in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Driving

Depress brake pedal.

Move gear selector lever to position D
or R (manual transmission: first or re-
verse gear).

Release the brake pedal.

Carefully depress the accelerator
pedal.
Once the vehicle is in motion, the auto-
matic central locking system engages
and the locking knobs drop down.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Children
could release the parking brake, which
could result in an accident and/or serious
injury.
iVehicles with automatic transmission*:
Wait for the gear selection process to
complete before setting the vehicle in
motion.
iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open doors only when condi-
tions are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic lock-
ing using the control system
(page 148).
!Simultaneously depressing the acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear.!If you hear a warning signal when driv-
ing off, you have forgotten to release
the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.

51
Getting started
Driving
After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution.
This allows the catalytic converter to reach
its operating temperature earlier.
For more information on driving, see “Driv-
ing instructions” (
page 277).
Switching on headlamps
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 110).
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
Exterior lamp switch1 Off
2 Low beam headlamps on
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.!Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
Place the gear selector lever in
position P or R only when the vehicle is
stopped in order to avoid damaging the
transmission.
!Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
speeds may shorten the service life of
the engine.Warning!
G
Vehicles with automatic transmission*: It is
dangerous to shift the gear selector lever
out of P or N if the engine speed is higher
than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on
the brake pedal, the vehicle could acceler-
ate quickly forward or in reverse. You could
lose control of the vehicle and hit someone
or something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

52 Getting startedDriving
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
The low beam headlamp indicator
lamp B in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).
High beam
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch1 High beam
2 High beam flasher

Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow 1.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lamp A in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).
For more information on headlamps, see
“Combination switch” (
page 114).
Turn signals
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1 Turn signals, right
2 Turn signals, left

Press combination switch in direction
of arrow 1 or 2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lamp L or K in the instrument
cluster flashes.
The combination switch resets auto-
matically after major steering wheel
movements.iTo signal minor directional changes,
such as changing lanes, press combi-
nation switch only to point of resis-
tance and release. The corresponding
turn signal will flash three times.

53
Getting started
Driving
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1
Single wipe
2 Switching on windshield wipers 
Switch on the ignition (
page 33). Switching on windshield wipers

Turn the combination switch to the
desired position depending on the
intensity of the rain.
0
Windshield wipers off
I Intermittent wiping
II Normal wiper speed
III Fast wiper speediVehicles without rain sensor*:
When the vehicle is standing still, the
wiper speed returns to the next lower
setting.
Vehicles with rain sensor*:
Intermittent wiping interval is depen-
dent on wetness of windshield. After
the initial wipe, pauses between wipes
are automatically controlled by the rain
sensor.
!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
engine is started. Dust that accumu-
lates on the windshield might scratch
the glass and/or damage the wiper
blades when wiping occurs on a dry
windshield.

54 Getting startedDrivingIntermittent wiping
Set the wiper switch to positionI.
Single wipe

Press switch briefly in the direction of
arrow 1.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid. Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Push switch in the direction of
arrow
1 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 299).
iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when
the vehicle is at a standstill and a door
is opened.
!If anything blocks the windshield wip-
ers (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 position I,


set the combination switch to the
next highest wiper speed


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

55
Getting started
Driving
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.


The engine electronics may not be
operating properly.


Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.

Give very little gas.

Have the problem repaired by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
The coolant temperature is over 248°F
(120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.

Stop the vehicle as soon as possible
and turn off the engine. Allow engine
and coolant to cool.

Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 296).
In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:

Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.

Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be
determined:

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the


major assemblies


fuel system


engine mount:

Start the engine in the usual manner.