Page 55 of 330
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 55
2
NOTE: Use neither elastic fastening straps nor nets
when lashing down the load. These are only intended
as anti-slip protection for lighter loads.
The means used to tie down the load must not be run
over sharp edges or corners. Sharp edges or corners
should be given protective padding. Observe the
operating instructions for the material used to tie down
the material. Spread the load evenly between the
anchorages. If using a tensioning device, do not
overstress the lashing rings.
WARNING!
If you tension the tensioning belts between the
sidewalls, the maximum permissible load for the
lashing rings could be exceeded if the brakes are
applied suddenly or in the event of an accident.
The load would no longer be secured, which could
result in serious injuries caused by the load slip-
ping.
For this reason, do not tension a tensioning belt
between the side walls.
Observe the loading guidelines.
Page 60 of 330

60 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
SEAT ADJUSTMENT
Driver’s and Front Passenger’s Seat
WARNING!
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving. Ad-
just the seat only while the vehicle is parked.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle. The seat belt
might not be properly adjusted and you could be
injured. Avoid seat positions in which you cannot
wear your seat belt correctly. They are a safety
hazard and must therefore be avoided; refer to
"Seat Belts".
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the backrest
reclined. Sitting in an excessively reclined position
can be dangerous. You could slide under the seat
belt in a collision. If you slide under it, the belt
would apply force at the abdomen or neck as this
could result in severe personal injuries and death.
The backrest and seat belt provide the best
restraint when the wearer is in an upright position
and the belt is properly positioned on the body.
Use the recliner only when the vehicle is parked.
WARNING!
Never place hands under seat or near any moving
parts while a seat is being adjusted. If the seat is
moved, to ensure engagement, the seat catches
must be heard.
The arms should be slightly bent when you are
holding the steering wheel. The distance from the
pedals should be such that you can depress them fully.
The rear area of the vehicle should not be used as
a play area by children when the vehicle is in
motion. They could be seriously injured in an
accident. Children should be seated and using the
proper restraint system.
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these area are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed.
Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat belts.
Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a seat belt properly.
Page 62 of 330
62 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
Armrest (Optional)
Tilt adjustment (1)
By adjusting the tilt adjustment (thumbwheel) (1) the
tilt of the armrest can be changed.Head Restraint
If you need to remove the head restraint, press the
catch at the head restraint socket and pull the head
restraint up and out.
WARNING!
You should never drive the vehicle if the head re-
straint has been removed for an occupied seat. This
could result in severe personal injuries and death in
case of an accident. Adjust the head restraint so that
it touches the back of the head at about ear level.
Page 63 of 330
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 64 of 330
64 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
REAR SEAT BENCH REMOVAL AND
INSTALLATION
Unlocked (1)
Locked (2)
To remove:
1. Turn all release levers on the legs of the appropriate
rear bench seat up. The rear bench seat can then
move in the seat mounting cups.
2. Lift the rear bench seat up and out of the seat
mounting cups.
WARNING!
The integrated seat belt can only offer the degree
of protection for which it is designed if you install
the specified rear bench seats correctly. Never op-
erate vehicle unless all rear bench seats are prop-
erly installed and all release levers are locked.
When retrofitting seat benches, make sure that the
exterior seat shells have four cross-ribs.
Keep the seat bench mounting cups in the vehicle
floor free from dirt and foreign objects. This is the
only way to guarantee that the locking
mechanisms will engage securely.
Page 66 of 330

66 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
HOODTo open:
1. Pull the release lever (1).
The hood then opens slightly and is restrained by
the safety catch.
WARNING!
When the hood is open, there is a risk of injury due
to very hot engine components.
When the engine is running or the key is in
position 2 in the ignition lock, there is a risk of
injury due to moving engine components and the
electrical system.
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage it is
dangerous to touch any components (ignition coils,
spark plug sockets, diagnostic socket) of the
ignition system with the engine running, while
starting or if the ignition is on and the engine is
turned manually.
To help prevent severe personal injuries and death,
stay clear of moving parts when the hood is open
and the engine is running.
If you see flames or smoke coming from the engine
compartment, or if the coolant emperature gauge
indicates that the engine is overheated, do not open
the hood. Move away from vehicle and do not open
the hood until the engine has cooled. If necessary,
call the fire department.WARNING!
Do not pull the release lever (1) while the vehicle
is in motion. Otherwise the hood could be forced
open by passing air flow.
Page 68 of 330

68 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
HEADLAMP RANGE CONTROL
See Section 4, Understanding Your Instrument Panel,
for switch locations.
The range of the headlamps can be
adjusted to the load in the vehicle.
Turn the thumbwheel down to
headlamp beam down.
Turn the thumbwheel up to
headlamp beam up.
When the vehicle is not loaded (driver only), the
thumbwheel must be in position 0.Where necessary, adjust the headlamp range with the
thumbwheel to 82 yards (75 m).
Always keep the headlamp range less than 110 yards
(100 m), so that oncoming traffic is not blinded.
FOG LAMP SWITCH (OPTIONAL)
See Section 4, Understanding Your Instrument Panel,
for switch locations.
Lamp switch position õ
To switch on:
Press the upper section of the switch.
To switch off:
Press the lower section.
WARNING!
Be sure the hood is properly closed before driving.
If the hood is not fully latched, it could fly up
when the vehicle is moving and block your for-
ward vision. Be sure all hood latches are latched
fully before driving.
When closing the hood, use extreme caution not to
catch hands or fingers.
Page 73 of 330
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 73
3
Lamp switch (3)
CSide lamps, license plate and instrument
lighting
õLow beam headlamps, high beam
headlamps
ƒMarker lamps, right, combination switch
up (1)
Marker lamps, left, combination switch
down (2)High beam headlamps (lamp switch positionõ) (4)
Headlamp flasher (also when turn signals are on) (5)
NOTE: When the key is in the ignition lock in the 0
position and the driver’s or passenger’s door is open, a
warning buzzer sounds, if the vehicle exterior lighting
(except for the marker lamps) has been switched on.
On vehicles with automatic switching-off of high
beam, with the key in 0 position and the lamp switch
position õ on low and high beam, parking lamps
are automatically switched on. When the driver’s or
passenger’s door is opened, a warning buzzer also
sounds.
For high beam (4) and headlamp flasher (5), the
indicator lamp A in the combination instrument
lights up.