2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C280 key battery

Contents
Maximum tire load ....................... 327
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 328
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 328
Tire ply material ........................... 330
Tire and loading terminology ........ 331
Rotating tires ............................... 335
Winter driving .................................... 336
Winter tires .................................. 336
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 337
Snow chains................................. 337
Maintenance...................................... 338
Maintenance service indicator
message....................................... 338
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display............... 339
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 340
Vehicle care ....................................... 341
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 341
Practical hints.................................. 349
What to do if … ................................... 350
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 350
Lamp in center console................. 356
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display..................... 358
Where will I find ...? ............................ 383
First aid kit.................................... 383
Vehicle tool kit .............................. 383
Minispare wheel............................ 386
Spare wheel bolts ......................... 388
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 389
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 389
Locking the vehicle ....................... 390
Fuel filler flap ................................ 391
Manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever ... 392
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 393
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ........... 393
Resetting activated head restraints .... 394
Resetting activated head
restraints ...................................... 394
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 395
SmartKey ...................................... 396Replacing bulbs .................................. 397
Bulbs............................................. 398
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 400
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 403
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 405
Removing wiper blades ................. 405
Installing wiper blades .................. 405
Flat tire............................................... 406
Preparing the vehicle .................... 406
Mounting the Minispare wheel...... 406
MOExtended system* ................... 411
Battery ............................................... 412
Disconnecting the battery ............ 413
Removing the battery ................... 413
Charging and reinstalling the
battery .......................................... 414
Reconnecting the battery ............. 414
Jump starting...................................... 415
Towing the vehicle.............................. 417
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 420
Fuses.................................................. 421
Aids for replacing fuses ................ 421
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 422
Fuse box in engine compartment . 422
Fuse box in trunk .......................... 423

34 Getting startedUnlocking
iWhen you switch on ignition, the
indicator and warning lamps (except
low beam headlamp indicator lamp,
high beam headlamp indicator lamp,
and turn signal indicator lamps unless
activated) in the instrument cluster
come on. The indicator and warning
lamps (except low beam headlamp in-
dicator lamp, high beam headlamp indi-
cator lamp, and turn signal indicator
lamps if activated) will go out when the
engine is running. This indicates that
the respective systems are operational.iVehicles with automatic transmission*:
The SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in positionP.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the battery may not be
sufficiently charged.

Check the battery and charge it if
necessary (
page 412).


Get a jump start (
page 415).
To prevent accelerated vehicle battery
discharge or a completely discharged
battery, always remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch when the en-
gine is not in operation.

50 Getting startedDrivingStarting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
Turn the SmartKey in starter switch to
position0 and repeat the starting
procedure (
page 48).
Remember that extended starting
attempts can drain the vehicle battery.

Get a jump start (
page 415).
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.
Parking brake
1Release handle
2Parking brake pedal

Release parking brake by pulling on
handle1.
The warning lamp; (USA only)
or3 (Canada only) in the
instrument cluster goes out.
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.

93 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Deactivating

Switch on the ignition (
page 33).
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


the hood
The alarm system will also be triggered
when


someone attempts to raise the vehicle


opening the vehicle with the
mechanical key


someone opens a door from the inside


someone opens the trunk with the
emergency release button
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 will stay on even if the acti-
vating element (e. g. a door) is immedi-
ately closed.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 265) provid-
ed Tele Aid service was subscribed to
and properly activated, and that neces-
sary cellular service and GPS coverage
are available.

98 Controls in detailIn the “Controls in detail” section you will
find detailed information on how to oper-
ate the equipment installed on your vehi-
cle. If you are already familiar with the
basic functions of your vehicle, this section
will be of particular interest to you.
To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba-
sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the
“Getting started” section of this manual.
The corresponding page numbers are giv-
en at the beginning of each segment.
For more information on locking and
unlocking, see “Getting started”
(page 32) and (
page 57).
Locking and unlocking
SmartKey
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys, each with remote control and
a removable mechanical key.
The locking tabs for the mechanical key
portion of the two SmartKeys are a
different color to help distinguish each
SmartKey unit.
The SmartKey provides an extended oper-
ating range. To prevent theft, however, it is
advisable to only unlock the vehicle when
you are in close proximity to it.
The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks:

the doors


the trunk


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with remote control1‹ Lock button
2Š Opening button for trunk
3Mechanical key locking tab
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button* (
page 86)
iCanada only:
Only vehicles equipped with an
anti-theft alarm system* have
SmartKeys with integrated panic
button6.

100 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingFactory setting
Global unlocking
Press buttonŒ.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system* is
disarmed.
The vehicle will lock again automatically
and reactivate the anti-theft alarm
system* within approximately 40 seconds
of unlocking if:


neither a door nor the trunk is opened


the SmartKey is not inserted in the
starter switch


the central locking switch is not
activatedGlobal locking

Press button‹.
With the hood, trunk and all doors
closed, all turn signal lamps flash three
times. The locking knobs in the doors
move down. The anti-theft alarm sys-
tem* is armed.
Selective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish
to reprogram the SmartKey so that
pressingŒ only unlocks the driver’s
door and the fuel filler flap.

Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about 5 seconds.
Battery check lamp5 flashes twice.The SmartKey will then function as follows:
Unlocking driver’s door and fuel filler
flap

Press buttonΠonce.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knob in the driver’s door moves
up. The anti-theft alarm system* is
disarmed.
Global unlocking

Press buttonΠtwice.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system* is
disarmed.

101 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Global locking
Press button‹.
With the trunk and all doors closed, all
turn signal lamps flash three times. The
locking knobs in the doors move down.
The anti-theft alarm system* is armed.
Restoring to factory setting

Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about 6 seconds un-
til battery check lamp5 flashes twice.
The SmartKey is set to factory setting
again.Checking the batteries

Press button‹ orŒ.
Battery check lamp5 comes on
briefly to indicate that the SmartKey
batteries are in order.
!If you can no longer lock or unlock the
vehicle with the SmartKey, then either
the batteries in the SmartKey are dis-
charged, the SmartKey is malfunction-
ing or the vehicle battery is drained.

Check the batteries in the
SmartKey (
page 101) and
replace them if necessary
(
page 396).


Use the mechanical key to unlock
the driver’s door (
page 389) and
the trunk (
page 390).


Use the mechanical key to lock the
driver’s door (
page 390) and the
trunk (
page 106).


Have the vehicle battery and the
battery connections checked
(page 412).
If the SmartKey is malfunctioning,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iIf battery check lamp5 does not
come on briefly during check, then the
SmartKey batteries are discharged.
Replace the batteries (
page 396).
You can obtain the required batteries
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iIf the batteries are checked within
signal range of the vehicle, pressing
the‹ orŒ button will lock or
unlock the vehicle accordingly.

106 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingIllumination of the emergency release
button:

The button flashes 30 minutes after
opening the trunk.


The button flashes 60 minutes after
closing the trunk.
Valet locking
The lock is located next to the handle
above the rear license plate recess.
1Neutral position
2Locked
Close the trunk (
page 104).
iThe emergency release button unlocks
and opens the trunk while the vehicle is
standing still or in motion.iThe emergency release button does
not open the trunk lid if the vehicle
battery is discharged or disconnected.
iIf the vehicle has previously been
locked with the SmartKey, opening the
trunk from the inside using the emer-
gency release button will trigger the
anti-theft alarm system*.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the
following:

Press buttonŒ or‹ on the
SmartKey.


Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
iTo deny any unauthorized person ac-
cess to the trunk, lock it separately
with the mechanical key. Leave only
the SmartKey less its mechanical key
with the vehicle.