2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C280 heating

197 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control* (Canada only)
Residual heat and ventilation
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.Activating

Switch off the ignition (
page 33).

Press button9 (
page 187).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating

Press button9 (
page 187).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The residual heat is automatically turned
off:


when the ignition is switched on


after about 30 minutes


if the battery voltage dropsRear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents
The air conditioning for the rear passenger
compartment is controlled via the auto-
matic climate control panel (
page 187).
iHow long the system will provide
heating depends on

the coolant temperature


the temperature set by the operator
The blower will run at speed setting 1
regardless of the air distribution
control setting.
iThe temperature at the center air vents
for the rear passenger
compartment1 and3 i s t h e s a m e a s
at the dashboard center air vents.

262 Controls in detailUseful featuresRemoving ashtray insert
Push button1 to disengage ashtray
insert2 and remove it.
Reinstalling ashtray insert

Push the ashtray insert2 down into
the retainer until it engages.

Push at top of cover3 to close
ashtray.
Cigarette lighter
Switch on the ignition (
page 33).1Cover plate
2Cigarette lighter

Briefly press the bottom of cover
plate1.
The cover plate opens automatically.

Push in cigarette lighter2.
The cigarette lighter will pop out
automatically when hot.
Warning!
G
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the lighter; they are extremely hot. Hold the
knob only.
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. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.

263 Controls in detail
Useful features

Push down cover plate1 to close
ashtray.
The cover plate engages.
Power outlet
The power outlet is located in the rear pas-
senger compartment.
1Power outlet
2Cover

Switch on the ignition (
page 33).

Pull at top of cover2.

Flip cover1 to the left and insert
electrical plug (cigarette lighter type).
!The lighter socket can be used to ac-
commodate 12V DC electrical acces-
sories (up to a maximum of 85 W)
designed for use with the standard
“cigarette lighter” plug type. Keep in
mind, however, that connecting acces-
sories to the lighter socket (for exam-
ple extensive connecting and
disconnecting, or using plugs that do
not fit properly) can damage the lighter
socket. With the socket damaged, the
lighter may no longer be able to be
placed in the heating (pushed-in) posi-
tion, or the lighter may pop out too ear-
ly with the lighter not hot enough.
To help avoid damaging the cigarette
lighter socket, we recommend con-
necting 12V DC electrical accessories
designed for use with the standard
“cigarette lighter” plug type to the 12V
power outlets (
page 263) in your ve-
hicle whenever possible.
iThe power outlet can be used to
accommodate 12V DC electrical ac-
cessories (e.g. air pump, auxiliary
lamps) up to a maximum of 180 W.

284 OperationDriving instructionsBrakesTo help prevent brake disk corrosion after
driving on wet road surfaces (particularly
salted roads), it is advisable to brake the
vehicle with considerable force prior to
parking. The heat generated serves to dry
the brakes.
If your brake system is normally only
subject to moderate loads, you should
occasionally test the effectiveness of the
brakes by applying above-normal braking
pressure at higher speeds. This will also
enhance the grip of the brake pads.
Refer to the description of the Brake Assist
System (BAS) (
page 88).If the parking brake is released and the
brake warning lamp in the instrument
cluster stays on, the brake fluid level in the
reservoir is too low.
Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may
be the reason for low brake fluid in the
reservoir.
Have the brake system inspected
immediately. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Only install brake pads and brake fluid
recommended by Mercedes-Benz.
Warning!
G
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through wa-
ter deep enough to wet brake components,
the first braking action may be somewhat
reduced and increased pedal pressure may
be necessary to obtain expected braking ef-
fect. Maintain a safe distance from vehicles
in front.
Resting your foot on the brake pedal will
cause excessive and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes overheating,
thereby significantly reducing their effec-
tiveness. It may not be possible to stop the
vehicle in sufficient time to avoid an acci-
dent.
Warning!
G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking ma-
neuvers.

285 Operation
Driving instructions
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
park, so that the air stream will cool down
the brakes faster.
Driving off
Apply the brakes to test them briefly after
driving off. Perform this procedure only
when the road is clear of other traffic.
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not
place full load on the engine until the
operating temperature has been reached.
When starting off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an
extended period with the ESP
® switched
off. Doing so may cause serious damage to
the drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Parking
Warning!
G
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired. This
could result in an accident.!When driving down long and steep
grades, relieve the load on the brakes
by shifting into a lower gear to use the
engine’s braking power. This helps
prevent overheating of the brakes and
reduces brake pad wear.
!Simultaneously depressing the
accelerator pedal and applying the
brake reduces engine performance and
causes premature brake and drivetrain
wear.
!Set the parking brake whenever park-
ing or leaving the vehicle. In addition,
move gear selector lever to positionP
(manual transmission: first or reverse
gear).
When parking on hills, always turn front
wheels towards the road curb.Warning!
G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re-
sult of vehicle movement, before
turning off
the engine and leaving the vehicle always:


Keep right foot on brake pedal.


350 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during thebulb self-check when switching on the
ignition, have the respective bulb checked
and replaced if necessary.Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
-
The yellow ABS indicator lamp
comes on while driving.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and
has switched off. The BAS and the ESP
®
are also switched off (see messages in dis-
play).
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning,
other systems such as the navigation
system* or the automatic transmission*
may also be malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.

Read and observe messages in the dis-
play (
page 358).

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below ten
volts. The ABS has switched off.
The battery might not be charged suffi-
ciently.

Switch off electrical consumers that are
currently not needed, e.g. seat heating*.

If necessary, have the generator
(alternator) and battery checked.
When the voltage is above this value again,
the ABS is operational again.

361 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ESP
unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
The ESP
® was deactivated because of a
malfunction or interrupted power supply. The
BAS and the Run Flat Indicator* are also deac-
tivated.
The ABS might not be operational.
The brake system is still functioning normally
but without the systems specified above.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
If the yellow ESP
® warning lampv flashes
while driving and this message appears, the
electronic traction system has switched off to
prevent overheating of the drive wheel brakes.
As soon as the brakes have cooled off, the
electronic traction system switches on
again.
The self-diagnosis has not been completed
yet.
The ESP
®, BAS and the Run Flat Indicator* are
temporarily deactivated.
The brake system is still functioning normally
but without the systems specified above.
The display will clear after driving a short
distance at more than 12 mph (20 km/h).

468 IndexS
Safety
Driving safety systems 87
Occupant 62
Reporting defects 18
Safety belts see Seat belts
Satellite radio* 211
Seat belt force limiter 72
Seat belts 69
Children in the vehicle 74
Cleaning 347
Fastening 45
Height adjustment 47
Message in display 381
Proper use of 47, 70
Safety guidelines 66
Telltale 25, 381
Seat heating* 114
Seating capacity 309
Seats, 35, 109
Heating* 113, 114
Lumbar support* 112
Manual 36, 109
Memory function*
(Power seats*) 115Multicontour seat*
(Canada only) 113
Power* 38, 109
Rear bench seat* 253
Securing cargo 256
Selector lever see gear selector lever
Self-test
OCS 81
Tele Aid* 266
Service and Warranty Booklet
Loss of 427
Service and warranty information 10
Service intervals see Maintenance service
indicator 338
Service life (tires) 305
Service see Maintenance Service system
see FSS (Canada vehicles) or Mainte-
nance System (U.S. vehicles) 338
Service System see FSS
Service, Parts 426
Settings
Control system menus and
submenus 133, 134
Date 147, 148
Factory, SmartKey 100Individual, SmartKey 100
Individual, Vehicle 140
Lighting (control system) 149
Memory function* 115
Menus and submenus 132
Resetting all (control system) 140
Selective, SmartKey 100
Time 145, 146
Shelf below rear window, cleaning 347
Shift lever position indicator 130, 163
Shift lock 453
Shift program mode, Automatic
transmission* 130
Shifting
Automatic transmission* 49, 162
Into optimal gear range
(automatic transmission*) 169
Into reverse (manual
transmission) 161
Manual transmission 48, 161
Side impact air bags (front and rear*) 68
Side marker lamps
Cleaning lenses 344
Messages in display 377
Replacing bulbs 403
Side windows see Power windows