
Starting-off and Driving101
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Starting the engine
General
You can only start the engine only using an original ignition key.
•Place the gearshift lever into neutral (or place the selector lever to the position
P or N in the case of an automatic gearbox) and put on the handbrake firmly before
starting the engine.
•The clutch pedal should be fully depressed when starting the engine which
means that the starter only has to crank the engine.
•Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts otherwise there may be damage
to the starter.
The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after
starting the cold engine until oil pressure can be built up in the hydraulic valve
clearance compensation. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.
If the engine does not start ...
You can use the battery of anothe r vehicle as a jump-start aid ⇒page 215.
It is only possible to tow-start vehicl es fitted with a manual gearbox. The tow-
starting distance must not be more than 50 metres ⇒page 217.
WARNING
•Never run the engine in non ventilat ed or enclosed areas. The exhaust
gases of the engine contain besides the odorless and colourless carbon
monoxide a poisonous gas - hazard! Carbon monoxide can cause uncon-
sciousness and death.
•Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.
Caution
•The starter may only be operated (ignition key position ), if the engine is not
running. If the starter is immediately oper ated after switching off the engine, the
starter or the engine can be damaged.
•Avoid high engine revolutions, full throttle and high engine loads as long as the
engine has not yet reached it s normal operating temperature - risk of damaging the
engine!
•Vehicles which are fitted wi th an exhaust gas catalytic converter should not be
tow-started over a distance of more than 50 metres.
For the sake of the environment
Never warm up the engine when the vehicle is standing. Drive off right away.
Through this the engine reaches its operating temperature more rapidly and the
pollutant emissions are lower.
Petrol engines
These engines are fitted with a starter system which selects the correct fuel/air
mixture for every external air temperature.
•Do not operate accelerator before and when starting engine.
•Interrupt the attempt at starting after 10 seconds if the engine does not start
right awayand wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the attempt.
•It is possible that the fuse on the electric al fuel pump is defect if the engine still
does not start. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary ⇒page 220.
•If the engine does not start, contact th e nearest specialist garage to obtain
professional assistance.
It may be necessary, if the engine is very hot, to slightly depress the accelerator
after the engine has started.
Diesel engines
Glow plug system
Diesel engines are equipped with a glow plug system, the preglow period being
controlled automatically in line with the coolant temperature and outside temper-
ature.
The preglow indicator light
comes on after the ignition has been switched on.
A3
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Starting-off and Driving
102
You should not switch on any major elec trical components during the heating
period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
•You should start the engine immediately after the glow plug warning light
has gone out.
•The glow plug warning light will come on for about one second if the engine is
at a normal operating temperature or if the outside temperature is above +5°C. This
means that you can start the engine right away.
•Interrupt the attempt at starting after 10 seconds if the engine does not start
right awayand wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the attempt.
•It is possible that the fuse on the diesel preglow system is defect if the engine
still does not start. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary ⇒page 220.
•If the engine does not start, contact th e nearest specialist garage to obtain
professional assistance.
Starting the engine after fuel tank has run dry
It may take longer than normal to start the engine after refuelling if the fuel tank has
run completely dry - up to one minute. This is because the fuel system must first of
all be filled while the attempting to start the engine.
Switching the engine off
– Turn the ignition key into position ⇒page 100, fig. 114 .
WARNING
•Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary - risk of acci-
dent!
•The brake booster only operates when the engine is running. Greater
physical effort for braking is required when engine is switched off. Because
if you do not stop as normal, this can cause an accident and severe injuries.
Caution
you should not switch the engine off right away at the end of your journey after the
engine has been operated for a lengthy peri od at high loads but should be allowed
it to run at idling speed for about 2 minut es. This prevents any accumulation of heat
when the engine is switched off.
Note
•The radiator fan may continue running for a further 10 minutes or so after the
engine and the ignition have been switched off. The coolant fan may, however, also
switch on again after some time if the coolant temperature rises because of an
accumulation of heat in the engine or if the engine is warm and the engine
compartment is additionally heated by strong sunlight.
•This is why particular care is required when carrying out any work in the engine
compartment ⇒ page 185, “Working in the engine compartment”.
A1
NKO B5 20.book Page 102 Friday, March 2, 2007 1:46 PM

Towing a trailer
170
should be attached to folding arms. Adjust the mirrors so that they provide you with
an adequate field of view to the rear.
Headlights
Before starting off with a hitched trailer, also check the setting of the headlights.
Alter the setting as necessary with the aid of the headlight beam adjuster
⇒ page 48.
Detachable ball head
The ball rod is detachable on vehicles wh ich feature a factory-fitted towing device.
It is stowed together with separate fitting instructions in the spare wheel well in the
luggage compartment of the vehicle.
Further information on the towing device ⇒page 171.
Note
•We recommend that you also have yo ur vehicle inspected between service
intervals if you tow a trailer frequently.
•The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be put on when coupling and
decoupling the trailer.
Driving Tips
Particular caution is required when towing a trailer.
– Do not, as far as possible, drive with your vehicle unladen and the
trailer laden.
– Do not make full use of the legal maximum speeds. This applies in
particular to downhill sections.
– Apply the brakes in good time.
– Keep a check on the coolant temper ature gauge if the outside temper-
ature is high.
Distribution of weight
The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the trailer
is laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this
combination.
Driving speed
Do not drive faster than 80 km/h for safety reasons. This also applies for countries
in which higher speeds are allowed.
The fact that the driving stability of the vehicle + trailer combination reduces with
increasing speed means that the legally allowed speed should not be used when
there are unfavourable road, weather or wind conditions, particularly near accident
black spots.
You must always reduce your speed immedi ately as soon as you detect even just
the slightest swaying of the trailer. On no account attempt to stop the trailer from
“swaying” by accelerating.
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the
brakes gently at first and then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from
the trailer wheels locking. Shift down gears in good time before negotiating a down-
hill section to allow the engine to also act as a brake.
Engine overheating
Please keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if you have to negotiate a
lengthy slope in a low gear at a high engi ne speed when the outside temperature is
very high ⇒page 12.
If the needle of the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand area or
even the red area of the scale, reduce yo ur speed immediately. Stop and switch off
the engine if the warning light
in the instrument cluste r begins flashing. Wait a
few minutes and check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle
⇒ page 190, “Inspecting the coolant level”.
Please refer to the following guidelines ⇒page 26, “Coolant temperature, Coolant
quantity ”.
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.
Any increase in the cooling effect of the coolant fan through shifting down a gear
and increasing the engine speed is not possible since the fan speed is independent
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Inspecting and Replenishing191
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
system with water and as soon as possible arrange adjustment to correct the mixing
ratio of water and coolant additive again by a specialist garage.
Only use fresh coolant for topping up the system.
Do not fill up over the “MAX” marking! Exce
ss coolant which is heated up is forced
out of the cooling system through the pressu re relief valve in the cap of the coolant
compensation bottle.
Wait until the engine has cooled down for a system which has suffered a major loss
of coolant before pouring in coolant. Th is is necessary to avoid engine damage.
WARNING
•The cooling system is pressurized! Do not open the cap of the coolant
expansion bottle if the engine is still hot - risk of scalding!
•The coolant additive and thus all of the coolant is harmful to your health.
Avoid contact with the coolant. Coolant vapours are also harmful to the
health. It is important, therefore, to always safely store any coolant additive
in its original container out of the reach of children - risk of poisoning!
•If any splashes of coolant get into yo ur eyes, rinse out your eyes immedi-
ately with clear water and contact a doctor as soon as possible.
•You should also consult a doctor without delay if you have inadvertently
swallowed coolant.
Caution
Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible under the
conditions prevailing to top up with coolant. Switch the engine off and obtain
professional assistance from a specialist garage, otherwise it could lead to severe
engine damage.
For the sake of the environment
Do not re-use coolant if it is necessary to drain the coolant in the system. It should
be collected and disposed of in comp liance with environmental protection
regulations.
Radiator fan
The radiator fan may switch on suddenly.
The radiator fan is driven by an electr ic motor and controlled by a thermostat
according to the coolant temperature.
The radiator fan may conti nue running for up to 10 mi nutes after the engine has
been switched off - even if the ignition is also off. It may also switch on suddenly
after a certain time, if
•the coolant temperature has risen because of an accumulation of heat or
•the warm engine compartmen t is heated up additionally by strong sunlight.
WARNING
You must therefore be aware when working in the engine compartment that
the fan may switch on suddenly - risk of injury!
Brake fluid
Inspecting the brake fluid level
You can also see the location of the brake fluid reservoir in the engine
compartment from the general view of the engine compartment
B1Z-0042HB1Z-0042H
Fig. 177 Engine
compartment: Brake
fluid reservoir
NKO B5 20.book Page 191 Friday, March 2, 2007 1:46 PM

Index
250
CargoFlex folding box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
CD changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
unlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Changing Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Changing bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Changing oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Changing wheels around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Charging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Check engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 Side airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Child safety lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Child safety seat on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Safety information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Use of child safety seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Child seat protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Classification into groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
ISOFIX system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Children and safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Chrome parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Cigarette lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Climatronic
Air outlet vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Blower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Defrosting windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
economic use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Keeping windows demisted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Operational faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Recirculated air mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Setting temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Climatronic (automatic air co nditioning) . . . . . . . . 93
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Clothes hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Cockpit General view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Coming Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Convenience operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Converting/masking over headlights . . . . . . . . . . 168
Cool box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 replenishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Coolant level Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Coolant quantity Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Coolant temperature gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Coolant temperatur e/coolant level
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Cooling
Air conditioning system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Correct seated position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Counter for distance driven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Cruise control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Cup holder front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
D
Deactivatingan airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Deactivating an airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Defrosting rear window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Defrosting windows Air conditioning system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Defrosting windscreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
De-icing the windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Detachable towing device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Diesel engines Starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Diesel particle filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Digital clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Direction indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Disconnecting and reconnecting the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
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