2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 starting

433 Practical hints
Batteries
Batteries
Your vehicle is equipped with two batter-
ies:

Main battery (battery for starter and
electrical consumers; located in the
trunk).


Auxiliary battery (back-up battery; sta-
bilizes the electrical system if the main
battery is discharged; located in the en-
gine compartment)
The main battery is in the trunk under the
luggage box. Remove the luggage box
(
page 408).
Vehicles with spare wheel1Negative terminal
2Positive terminalWarning!
G
Jump starting must only be done using the
main battery in the trunk.
Warning!
G
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injury or death.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 309).
Never lean over batteries while connecting,
you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking etc.

436 Practical hintsJump starting
If the battery is discharged, the engine can
be started with jumper cables and the bat-
tery of another vehicle. Observe the follow-
ing:

Jump starting should only be performed
when the engine and catalytic convert-
er1 are cold.


Do not start the engine if the battery is
frozen. Let the battery thaw out first.


Only jump start from batteries with the
same voltage rating (12 V). Jump start-
ing with a more powerful battery could
damage the vehicle’s electrical system,
which will not be covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.


Use only jumper cables with sufficient
cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.


Always make sure the jumper cables
are not on or near pulleys, fans or other
parts that move when the engine is
started or running.
Warning!
G
Failure to follow these directions will cause
damage to the electronic components, and
can lead to a battery explosion and severe
injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting
or jump starting, you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water, and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and very explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc.
Attempting to jump start a frozen battery
can result in it exploding, causing personal
injury.
Read all instructions before proceeding.
1Vehicles with gasoline engine only
!Jump starting may only be performed
on the main battery installed in the
trunk.
Avoid repeated and lengthy starting at-
tempts.
Do not attempt to start the engine us-
ing a battery quick charge unit.
If the engine does not run after several
unsuccessful starting attempts, have it
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Excessive unburned fuel generated by
repeated failed starting attempts may
damage the catalytic converter1.
Make sure the jumper cables do not
have loose or missing insulation.
Make sure the cable clamps do not
touch any other metal part while the
other end is still attached to a battery.

437 Practical hints
Jump starting
The battery is located in the trunk under-
neath the luggage box (
page 408). Only
jump start the vehicle from the battery in
the trunk.

Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Apply parking brake.

Shift gear selector lever to positionP.

Connect positive terminals1 and3
of the batteries with the jumper cable.
Clamp cable to charged battery3
first.
1Positive terminal of discharged battery
2Negative terminal of discharged bat-
tery
3Positive terminal of charged battery
4Negative terminal of charged battery
Warning!
G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 309).
!Never invert the terminal connections!

438 Practical hintsJump starting
Start engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.

Connect negative terminals4 and2
of the batteries with the jumper cable.
Clamp cable to charged battery4
first.

Start the engine of the disabled vehi-
cle.Now you can again turn on the electrical
consumers. Do not turn on the lights under
any circumstances.

Remove the jumper cables first from
negative terminals2 and4 and then
from positive terminals1 and3.
Now you can turn on the lights.

Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iThe message
Malfunction - electric
consumers switched off
may appear
in the instrument cluster. It will disap-
pear as soon as the battery is suffi-
ciently charged.
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.

441 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
iTo signal turns while being towed with
the hazard warning flasher in use, turn
SmartKey in starter switch to
position2 and activate the combina-
tion switch for the left or right turn sig-
nal in the usual manner – only the
selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the haz-
ard warning flasher will operate again.
!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, or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel
as well as the right rear wheel are turn-
ing at vehicle speeds of approximately
9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 95).
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (
page 118).
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 the vehicle chas-
sis, frame or suspension parts.
iThe selector lever will remain locked in
positionP and the SmartKey will not
turn in the starter switch if the battery
is disconnected or discharged. For
more information see “Battery”
(page 433) or “Jump starting”
(page 436).
Manual unlocking of the transmission
selector lever (
page 412).

479 Index
Automatic climate control (4-zone*) 204
Adjusting air distribution 210
Adjusting air volume 211
Air conditioning 214
Air recirculation mode 212
Deactivating 209
Defrosting 211
Maximum cooling MAX COOL 212
Rear air conditioning 216
Residual heat and ventilation 215
Setting the temperature 210
Automatic climate control (Dual-zone)
Adjusting air distribution 198
Adjusting air volume 198
Air conditioning 201
Air recirculation mode 199
Defrosting 199
Heater booster system 203
Residual ventilation 202
Setting the temperature 197
Automatic climate control*
Rear window defroster 191
Automatic headlamp mode 134Automatic lighting control
Activating 139
Automatic locking when driving 118
Automatic transmission 174
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 185
Gear ranges 177
Gear selector lever position 178
Gear shifting malfunctions 185
Manual shift program mode
(E 55 AMG) 183
Manual shifting 176
One-touch gearshifting 176
Program mode selector switch 179
Selector lever position 174
Starting the engine 46
Winter program mode 179
Automatic transmission*
Accelerator position 180
Kickdown 180
Kickdown, manual shift program (E 55
AMG only) 185B
Backrest
Folding forward 257
Folding rearward 258
Bar 337
BAS 87, 471
Batteries, SmartKey
Changing 415, 416
Check lamp 100, 106
Checking 101, 107
Batteries, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Changing 415, 416
Checking 101, 107
Batteries, vehicle
Charging 435
Disconnecting 434
Messages in display 370, 378, 379
Reconnecting 435
Removing 435
Service 433

480 IndexBattery discharged
Jump starting 436
Bead 337
Bi-Xenon headlamps* 471
Bleeding the fuel system 432
Block heater* 342
Blocking
Rear window operation 83
Brake assist system (BAS) 471
Brake fluid 301, 382
Brake pads
Message in display 380
Brakes
Warning lamp 358
Break-in period 286Bulbs, replacing
Additional turn signals 417
Fog lamps 417
Front lamps 417, 420
High beam 418
High mounted brake lamp 418
License plate lamps 418, 422
Low beam 418
Parking lamps 418
Side marker lamps 417, 422
Standing lamps 418
Tail lamp 418
Tail lamp assemblies 422
Turn signal lamp 417
C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 471
Calling up
Distronic* settings 152
Maintenance service indicator 345
Range (distance to empty) 171
CAN system 471
Cargo tie-down rings 261
CD player
Operating 151Center console
Lower part 28
PASS AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp 365
Upper part 27
Centigrade
Setting temperature units 157
Central locking
From inside 119
Switch 119
Switching on/off (control
system) 166
Unlocking from inside 119
Central locking switch 119
Changing
Batteries (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 415, 416
Batteries (SmartKey) 415, 416
SmartKey setting 167
Vehicle level 249
Charging
Vehicle batteries 435
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 359, 360

483 Index
Delayed switch-off
Interior lighting 165
Department of Transportation see DOT
Dialing
A number (telephone) 172
Diesel fuel 300
Difficulties
While driving see Problems while
driving 53
With starting 48
Digital speedometer 150
Direction of rotation (tires) 314
Discharged battery
Jump starting 436
Disconnecting
Vehicle battery 434
Display
Selecting 158, 159Displays
Digital speedometer 150
Distronic* 237
Maintenance service indicator 343
Messages 305
Selecting 158
Showing malfunctions 153
Distance
Decreasing in Distronic* 243
Increasing in Distronic* 243
Warning function 243
Distance to empty (range)
Calling up 170
Distance warning function* 243
Activating 244
Deactivating 244
DTR* warning lamp 243
Intermittent warning sound 243
Symbol in multifunction display 152Distronic* 235, 472
Activated 239
Activating 240
Calling up settings 152, 238
Cleaning system sensor 351
Cruise control lever 239
Deactivated 239
Deactivating 242
Deceleration 238
Decreasing distance 243
Displays in the speedometer dial 237
Distance warning function 243
Driving hints 244
Increasing distance 243
Intermittent signal tone 237
Menu 238
Messages in display 370
Sensor cover 351
Setting a higher speed 240
Setting a slower speed 241
Setting the current speed 240
Setting the following distance in
Distronic 242
Warning and indicator lamps 237
Door control panel 30
Door entry lamps 140