
Passive Safety
144
must always be correctly fastened in order to provide an optimal
protection for you and your occupants.
•The driver must maintain a distan ce of at least 25 cm to the
steering wheel ⇒page 143, fig. 116 . Not maintaining this minimum
distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to prop-
erly protect you - hazard!
•When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on
the outer edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. Never hold
the steering wheel firmly in the 12 o'clock position or in another
way (e.g. in the middle of the steering wheel or at the inner steering
wheel edge). In such cases, injuries to the arms, the hands and the
head can occur when the driver airbag is deployed.
•The backrests must not be angled too far back when driving
otherwise this will affect proper operation of the seat belts and of
the airbag system - risk of injury!
•Ensure that there are no objects in the footwell as any objects
may get behind the pedals during a driving or braking manoeuvre.
You would then no longer be able to operate the clutch, to brake or
accelerate.
Correct seated position for the front passenger
The front passenger must maintain a distance of at least
25 cm from the dash panel so that the airbag offers the
greatest possible safety when an airbag is deployed.
For the safety of the front passenger and to reduce the risk of injury in the
event of an accident, we recommend the following setting.
•Adjust the front passenger seat as far as possible to the rear.
•Adjust the head restraint so that the top edge of the head restraint is
at the same level as the upper part of your head ⇒page 143, fig. 117 .
•Fasten the seat belt correctly ⇒page 150, “How are seat belts
correctly fastened?”.
In exceptional cases the front passenger airbag can be deactivated
⇒ page 163, “Deactivating an airbag”.
Adjusting the passenger seat ⇒page 69, “Adjusting the front seats”.
WARNING
•The front seats and the head restraints must always be adjusted
to match the body size of the seat occupant as well as the seat belts
must always be correctly fastened in order to provide an optimal
protection for you and your occupants.
•The front passenger must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm
to the dash panel. Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean
that the airbag system will not be able to properly protect you -
hazard!
•Always keep your feet in the footwell when the car is being
driven - never place your feet on the instrument panel, out of the
window or on the surfaces of the seats. You will be exposed to
increased risk of injury if it becomes necessary to apply the brake
or in the event of an accident. If an airbag is deployed, you may
suffer fatal injuries when adopting an incorrect seated position!
•The backrests must not be angled too far back when driving
otherwise this will affect proper operation of the seat belts and of
the airbag system - risk of injury!
WARNING (continued)
NKO 20 A05.book Page 144 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM

Breakdown assistance245
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
out the battery being ignited by the strong spark which results from
the engine being started.
•Do not affix the cable end to parts of the fuel and brake
system.
•Run the jump-start cables so that they cannot be caught by any
rotating parts in the engine compartment.
•Do not bend over the batteries - risk of caustic burns!
•The vent screws of the battery cells must be tightened firmly.
•Keep any sources of ignition (naked flame, smouldering ciga-
rettes etc.) away from the battery - risk of an explosion!
Tow-starting and towing vehicle
General
Please pay attention to the following instructions if you are going
to use a tow rope:
Driver of the towing vehicle
– Do not drive off until the tow rope is taught.
– Release the clutch particularly gently when starting off. Driver of the towed vehicle
– Switch the ignition on so that the steering wheel is not blocked
and you can also operate the turn signal lights, the headlight
flasher, the windscreen wipers and windscreen washer
system.
– Take the vehicle out of gear or move the selector lever into position N if your vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
– Note that the brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the engine is running. You will require significantly greater
physical force to depress the brake pedal and to steer the
vehicle if the engine is not running.
– Ensure that the tow rope is always kept taught.
Tow rope or tow bar
A tow bar is safest way of towing a vehicle and also minimizes any
shocks. You can use a tow rope only if a suitable tow bar is not available.
The tow rope must be elastic to protect the vehicle. Thus one should only
use plastic fibre rope or a rope made out of a similarly elastic material.
Attach the tow rope or the tow bar only to the towing eyes provided for
this purpose ⇒page 246, “Front towing eye” and ⇒page 247, “Rear
towing eye”.
Driving style
Towing another vehicle requires a certain amount of practice. Both drivers
should be familiar with the particular points about towing a vehicle.
Unskilled drivers should not attempt to tow in another vehicle or to be
towed in.
One should be constantly vigilant not to allow impermissibly high towing
forces or jerky loadings. There is always a risk of excessive stresses and
WARNING (continued)
A4
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Breakdown assistance247
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Installing the towing eye
– Grasp the protective grille at the point marked with the arrow
and take it out ⇒fig. 175 .
– Screw in the towing eye by hand to the left up to the stop ⇒fig. 176 .
– Tighten up the towing eye using the wheel wrench (push the wheel wrench through eye).
Removal of the towing eye
– Unscrew the towing eye.
– Put the protective grille in place on the side opposite the marking.
– Press into place the protective grille onto the side facing the marking.
– The protective grille must engage firmly.Rear towing eye
The rear towing eye is located below the rear bumper on the right
⇒ fig. 177 .
Tow-starting a vehicle
If the engine does not start, we generally do not recommend to
tow-start your vehicle. One should attempt to start the engine
using jump start cables ⇒page 243 or call on the services of the
SERVICE mobile.
If your vehicle has to be towed:
– Engage 2nd or 3rd gear with the vehicle stationary.
– Depress the clutch pedal fully and keep it depressed.
Fig. 177 Rear towing
eye
NKO 20 A05.book Page 247 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM

Breakdown assistance
248
– Switch on the ignition.
– Wait until both vehicles are moving then release the clutch pedal slowly.
– Depress the clutch pedal fully when the engine fires and take the vehicle out of gear.
WARNING
There is high risk of having an accident when tow-starting a
vehicle, when for example the towed vehicle runs into the towing
vehicle.
Caution
Vehicles which are fitted with a catalytic converter should not be tow-
started over a distance of more than 50 metres. Unburnt fuel may get into
the catalytic converter and damage it.
Towing in a vehicle fitted with a manual gearbox
Please refer to the notes ⇒page 245.
The car can be towed in with a tow bar or a tow rope or with the front or
rear wheels raised. The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h.
Towing of a vehicle with an automatic gearbox
Please refer to the notes ⇒page 245. The car can be towed in with a tow bar or a tow rope. Refer at the same
time to the following guidelines:
•Move
selector lever into N .
•The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h.
•The maximum permissible towing distance is 50 km. The gear oil
pump does not operate when the engine is not running and the gear would
not be adequately lubricated at higher speeds and over longer towing
distance.
Caution
If the vehicle is towed in by a recovery vehicle, it should only be towed in
with the front wheels raised. If the vehicle is raised at rear, the automatic
gearbox is damaged!
Note
The vehicle must be transported on a special vehicle or trailer if it is not
possible to tow in the vehicle in the way described or if the towing distance
is greater than 50 km.
NKO 20 A05.book Page 248 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM

Fuses and light bulbs251
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
9Operating controls for the heating, control unit for air
conditioning system, parking aid, control unit for cor-
nering lights5
10PCV valve7,5
11Electrically adjustable rear mirror, power windows7,5
12Reversing light10
13Engine control unit (for vehicles with automatic gear-
box)10
14Motor for cornering lights10
15Navigation PDA5
16Not assigned
17Left parking light, licence plate light5
18Right parking light5
19Radio, central control unit5
20Instrument cluster, steering angle sender, ESP5
21Brake lights10
22Operating controls for the heating, control unit for air
conditioning system, parking aid, mobile phone7,5
23Lighting interior, storage compartment and luggage
compartment10
24Tailgate lock10
25Seat heaters20
26Heatable windscreen washing nozzles, windscreen
cleaning system15
27Not assigned
No.Power consumerAmperes
28Petrol engine: AKF valve, petrol engine: Control flap10
29Injection - 1.2 ltr. engine10
30Fuel pump - petrol engine15
31Lambda probe10
32Diesel engine: Switch for brake light and clutch
pedal, cruise control system, fuel pump relay and
glow plug system relay5
33Engine control unit - diesel engine30
34Engine control unit 1.4 ltr.; 1.6 ltr. engine30
Fuel pump - diesel engine15
35Not assigned
36Main beam15/5
37Rear fog light7,5
38Fog lights10
39Blower25
40Rear window wiper10
41Not assigned
42Rear window heater25
43Horn20
44Front window wiper20
45Central control unit for convenience system15
46Engine control unit 1.4 ltr.; 1.6 ltr. petrol engine5
47Cigarette lighter, power socket in the luggage com-
partmenta)15
No.Power consumerAmperes
NKO 20 A05.book Page 251 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM