2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C COUPE service indicator

Contents
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 320
Tire ply material ........................... 322
Tire and loading terminology ........ 323
Rotating tires ............................... 326
Winter driving .................................... 328
Winter tires .................................. 328
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 329
Snow chains................................. 329
Maintenance...................................... 330
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator........................... 331
Maintenance service term
exceeded ..................................... 331
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator........................... 331
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 332
Vehicle care ....................................... 333
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 333
Practical hints.................................. 339
What to do if … ................................... 340
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 340
Lamp in center console................. 345
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display..................... 347
Where will I find ...? ............................ 373
First aid kit.................................... 373
Vehicle tool kit .............................. 373
Spare wheel .................................. 375
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 377
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 377
Locking the vehicle ....................... 379
Fuel filler flap ................................ 379
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever ................................ 380
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 381
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel* ......................... 381
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 382
SmartKey ...................................... 383
Replacing bulbs .................................. 384
Bulbs ............................................. 384
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 386
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 390Replacing wiper blades ...................... 393
Removing ...................................... 393
Installing ....................................... 393
Flat tire............................................... 394
Preparing the vehicle .................... 394
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 394
Battery ............................................... 401
Disconnecting the battery ............ 402
Removing the battery ................... 402
Charging and reinstalling battery .. 402
Reconnecting the battery ............. 403
Jump starting...................................... 404
Towing the vehicle.............................. 406
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 409
Fuses.................................................. 410
Aids for changing fuses ................ 410
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 411
Fuse box in engine compartment . 411
Fuse box in trunk .......................... 412

73 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Occupant Classification System
The Occupant Classification System (OCS)
automatically turns the front passenger
front air bag on or off based on the classi-
fied occupant weight category determined
by weight sensor readings from the front
passenger seat.
Occupants must sit properly belted in a
nearly upright position with their back
against the seat backrest and feet on the
floor to be correctly classified. If the occu-
pant's weight is transferred to another
object in the vehicle (e.g. by leaning on
armrests), the OCS may not be able to
properly approximate the occupant’s
weight category. Both driver and the front passenger should
always use the 56indicator lamp
as an indication of whether or not the front
passenger is properly positioned.
iThe system does not deactivate the
front passenger side impact air bag,
the window curtain air bag and the
emergency tensioning device.
iIf your seat, including your trim cover
and cushion needs to be serviced in
any way, take the vehicle to your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Only seat accessories approved by
Mercedes-Benz may be used. Warning!
G
If the 56indicator lamp illuminates
when an adult or someone larger than a
small individual is in the front passenger
seat, have the front passenger re-position
himself or herself in the seat until the
56indicator lamp goes out.
More information about air bag display mes-
sages (
page 349).
In the event of a collision, the air bag control
unit will not allow front passenger front air
bag deployment when the OCS classified
the front passenger seat occupant as being
up to or less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child re-
straint or if the front passenger seat is
sensed as being empty.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat occupant is classified as being up
to or less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child re-
straint, the 56indicator lamp will il-
luminate when the engine is started and
remain illuminated, indicating that the front
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat is classified as being empty, the
56indicator lamp will illuminate
when the engine is started and remain illu-
minated, indicating that the front passenger
front air bag is deactivated.


86 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsImmobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Deactivating


Switch on the ignition.
Anti-theft alarm system*
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door


the trunk lid


the hood.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when


someone attempts to raise the vehicle
(page 87).


opening the vehicle with the
mechanical key.Arming the alarm system
The indicator lamp is in the switch for the
tow-away alarm* in the center console.
1Indicator lamp
iStarting the engine will also deactivate
the immobilizer.
In case the engine cannot be started
(yet the vehicle’s battery is charged),
the system is not operational. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the
USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
iThe alarm system will rearm automati-
cally after approximately 40 seconds if
a door or the trunk lid is not opened.
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
Tele Aid system* (
page 261) provid-
ed Tele Aid service was subscribed to
and properly activated, and that neces-
sary cellular service and GPS coverage
are available.

87 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems

Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The turn signal lamps flash three times
to indicate that the alarm system is
activated. Indicator lamp1 begins to
flash after approximately 30 seconds
after arming the alarm system.Disarming the alarm system

Unlock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The turn signal lamps flash once to
indicate that the alarm system is deac-
tivated.
Canceling the alarm
To cancel the alarm:

Press the Œ or ‹ button on the
SmartKey.
or

Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
Tow-away alarm*
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual
and audible alarm will be triggered when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.
iIf the turn signal lamps do not flash
three times one of the following ele-
ments may not be properly closed:

a door


the trunk lid


the hood
Close the respective element and lock
the vehicle again.
iThe alarm system will rearm automati-
cally after approximately 40 seconds if
a door or the trunk lid is not opened.
iThe tow away protection alarm is
triggered, for example, if the vehicle is
lifted on one side.
If the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
Tele Aid system* (
page 261) provid-
ed Tele Aid service was subscribed to
and properly activated, and that neces-
sary cellular service and GPS coverage
are available.

123 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1. The control system
enables you to

call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control
system to find out when your vehicle is
next due for service, to set the language
for messages in the instrument cluster
display, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
3Current program mode (automatic
transmission*)
4Current gear selector lever
position/gear range (automatic trans-
mission*)
5Digital clock
6Status indicator (outside tempera-
ture/digital speedometer)
iThe displays for the audio systems
(radio and CD player) will appear in
English, regardless of the language
selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.

263 Controls in detail
Useful features
Emergency calls
An emergency call is initiated automatical-
ly following an accident in which the emer-
gency tensioning devices (ETDs) or air
bags deploy.
An emergency call can also be initiated
manually by opening the cover next to the
interior rear view mirror labeled SOS, then
briefly pressing the button located under
the cover. See (
page 264) for instruc-
tions on initiating an emergency call man-
ually.
Once the emergency call is in progress, the
indicator lamp in the SOS button will begin
to flash. The message
Connecting call

appears in the multifunction display and
the audio system is muted. When the con-
nection is established, the message
Call connected
appears in the multifunc-
tion display. All information relevant to the
emergency, such as the location of the
vehicle (determined by the GPS satellite
location system), vehicle model, identifica-
tion number and color are generated.A voice connection between the Response
Center and the occupants of the vehicle
will be established automatically soon
after the emergency call has been initiat-
ed. The Response Center will attempt to
determine more precisely the nature of the
emergency provided they can speak to an
occupant of the vehicle.
The Tele Aid system is available if:


it has been activated and is operation-
al. Activation requires a subscription
for monitoring services, connection
and cellular air time


the relevant cellular phone network
and GPS signals are available and pass
the information on to the Response
Center
Warning!
G
If the indicator lamps in the SOS button, in
the Roadside Assistance button and/or in
the Information button remain illuminated
constantly in red and/or the message Tele Aid malfunction. Drive to
workshop
is displayed in the multifunction
display after the system self-check, a mal-
function in the system has been detected.
If a malfunction is indicated as outlined
above, the system may not operate as
expected. Have the system checked at the
nearest Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
iLocation of the vehicle on a map is only
possible if the vehicle is able to receive
signals from the GPS satellite network
and pass the information on to the
Response Center.

265 Controls in detail
Useful features
Roadside Assistance button•
The Roadside Assistance button• is
located below the center armrest cover.
Press and hold the button (for longer
than two seconds).
A call to a Mercedes-Benz Roadside As-
sistance dispatcher will be initiated.
The button will flash while the call is in
progress. The message
Connecting
call
will appear in the multifunction
display and the audio system is muted.
When the connection is established, the
message Call connected
appears in the
multifunction display. The Tele Aid system
will transmit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and lo-
cation (subject to availability of cellular
and GPS signals).
A voice connection between the Roadside
Assistance dispatcher and the occupants
of the vehicle will be established.

Describe the nature of the need for
assistance.The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
dispatcher will either dispatch a qualified
Mercedes-Benz technician or arrange to
tow your vehicle to the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Center. For services such
as labor and/or towing, charges may ap-
ply. Refer to the Roadside Assistance man-
ual for more information.
The following is only available in the USA:


Sign and Drive services: Services such
as jump start, a few gallons of fuel or
the replacement of a flat tire with the
vehicle spare tire are obtainable.
iThe indicator lamp in the Roadside As-
sistance button• remains illumi-
nated in red for approximately
ten seconds during the system
self-check after switching on ignition
(together with the SOS button and the
Information button¡).
See system self-check (
page 262)
when the indicator lamp does not come
on in red or stays on longer than
approximately ten seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Roadside
Assistance button• is flashing con-
tinuously and there was no voice con-
nection to the Response Center
established, then the Tele Aid system
could not initiate a Roadside Assis-
tance call (e.g. the relevant cellular
phone network is not available). The
message
Call failed.
appears in the
multifunction display.

266 Controls in detailUseful featuresInformation button¡
The Information button¡ is located
below the center armrest cover.
Press and hold the button (for longer
than two seconds).
A call to the Customer Assistance Cen-
ter will be initiated. The button will
flash while the call is in progress. The
message
Connecting call
will appear
in the multifunction display and the au-
dio system is muted.
When the connection is established, the
message
Call connected
appears in the
multifunction display. The Tele Aid system
will transmit data generating the vehicle identification number, model, color and lo-
cation (subject to availability of cellular
and GPS signals).
A voice connection between the Customer
Assistance Center representative and the
occupants of the vehicle will be estab-
lished. Information regarding the operation
of your vehicle, the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Center or Mercedes-Benz
USA products and services is available to
you.
For more details concerning the Tele Aid
system, please visit www.mbusa.com and
use your ID and password (sent to you
separately) to learn more (USA only). Roadside Assistance calls can be
terminated using the tbutton on
the multifunction steering wheel or the
respective button for ending a tele-
phone call on the audio system or
COMAND* head unit.
iThe indicator lamp on the Information
button¡ remains illuminated in red
for approximately ten seconds during
the system self-check after switching
on ignition (together with the “SOS”
button and the Roadside Assistance
button•).
See System self-check (
page 262)
when the indicator lamp does not come
on in red or stays on longer than ap-
proximately ten seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Information
button¡ is illuminated continuous-
ly and there was no voice connection to
the Response Center established, then
the Tele Aid system could not initiate
an Information call (e.g. the relevant
cellular phone network is not avail-
able). The message
Call failed.

appears in the multifunction display.
Information calls can be terminated
using the tbutton on the multi-
function steering wheel or the respec-
tive button for ending a telephone call
on the audio system or COMAND*
head unit.