2008 MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK Owners Manual

Transmission
94 AUTOTRONIC* (continuously variable
automatic transmission)
AUTOTRONIC is an electronically controlled,
continuously variable automatic transmis-
sion. The transmission ratio is changed con-
tinuously. This enables it to be ideally adapted
to your individual driving styles and to provide
increased driving comfort. 1
Drive program (C/S)or(C/S/M)*
2 Gear indicator
If you have selected one-touch gearshifting or
selector lever position D, you can see the cur-
rently engaged gear in the multi-function dis-
play.
You can influence the AUTOTRONIC trans-
mission ratio when the selector lever is in
position Dby changing gear yourself―see
One-touch gearshifting ( Ypage 95). Selector lever positions ì
Park position
Prevents the vehicle from rolling
away when stopped. Only move the
selector lever to
Pwhen the vehicle
is stationary.
The key can only be removed when
the selector lever is in position P. If
the key is removed from the igni-
tion lock, the selector lever is
locked in position P. í
Reverse gear
Only move the selector lever to
R
when the vehicle is stationary. Controls
* optional
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Transmission
95ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels. Releas-
ing the brakes will allow you to
move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it or tow it.
If ESP
®
is deactivated or faulty:
only move the selector lever to Nif
the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
e.g. on icy roads. ê
Drive
The transmission selects the opti-
mum gear ratio automatically for
forward mode.
One-touch gearshifting (manual opera-
tion) When the selector lever is in position
D, you
can select the seven gears yourself.
Activating manual operation
X Press the selector lever lightly to the left
towards D-or to the right towards D+.
M is shown in the multi-function display.
Manual operation is activated. X
To shift down: briefly press the selector
lever to the left towards D–.
The transmission shifts down to the next
gear, depending on the gear currently
selected.
i To prevent the engine from overrevving,
the transmission does not shift down if you
push the selector lever towards D–while
driving at too high a speed.
i AUTOTRONIC shifts down automatically if
the engine speed reaches the lower speed
range for the gear currently selected.
X To shift up: briefly press the selector lever
to the right towards D+.
The transmission shifts up to the next gear,
depending on the gear currently selected.
i If the upper engine speed limit for the gear
currently engaged is reached and you con-
tinue to accelerate, AUTOTRONIC shifts up
automatically.
X To select the ideal gear: press and hold
the selector lever to the left towards D–.
The transmission will shift to a range which
allows ideal acceleration and deceleration.
To do this, the transmission will shift down
one or more gears. Deactivating manual operation
X Press and hold the selector lever towards
D+ until Dis shown again in the multi-func-
tion display.
The transmission shifts from the current
gear to D.
Or:
X Briefly press the program selector button
next to the selector lever.
The letter for the last selected drive pro-
gram Cor Sis shown again in the multi-
function display. The transmission shifts
from the current gear to D.
i If you restart the engine and Mmanual
operation is selected, AUTOTRONIC shifts
into the automatic drive program Cor S. If
automatic drive program Cor Shas been
selected, the automatic transmission will
resume the relevant drive program when
you restart the engine. Controls
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Transmission
96
Program selector button The button is on the lower section of the
centre console. 1
Program selector button C
Comfort comfortable driving style
S
Sport sporty driving style
The selected drive program
(C/S)is shown in
the multi-function display (Y page 94).
X Press program selector button 1repeat-
edly until the letter for the desired drive
program appears in the multi-function dis-
play (Y page 94).
Comfort mode Cis characterised by the fol-
lowing: R
the vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears, unless the
accelerator pedal is depressed fully.
R an increase in traction: this improves the
driving stability of the vehicle on slippery
road surfaces, for example.
R the transmission shifting up sooner: the
vehicle is driven at lower engine speeds
and the wheels are less likely to spin.
Driving tips Accelerator pedal position
Your style of driving influences how AUTO-
TRONIC shifts gear:
R
little throttle: early upshifts
R more throttle: late upshifts
Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The transmission shifts back up. Trailer towing
X
Drive in the middle of the engine speed
range on uphill gradients.
X Shift down to 3rdor2nd gear depending
on the incline of the uphill or downhill gra-
dient( Ypage 95), even if cruise control is
activated.
Working on the vehicle G
Risk of accident
Apply the handbrake and move the selector
lever to Pwhen working on the vehicle.
Otherwise, the vehicle could roll away. Controls
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Instrument cluster
97Instrument cluster
Points to remember
You will find an illustration of the instrument
cluster in the "At a glance" section
(Y page 26). G
Risk of accident
No further messages can be displayed if the
instrument cluster and/or the multi-func-
tion display fails.
This means that you will not see information
about the driving situation, such as the
speed, outside temperature, warning/indi-
cator lamps, display messages or system
failures. The vehicle's handling character-
istics may be affected. Adjust your driving
style and speed accordingly.
Immediately consult a qualified specialist
workshop which has the necessary special-
ist knowledge and tools to carry out the
work required. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre for this purpose. In particu-
lar, work relevant to safety or on safety-
related systems must be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. Activating the multi-function display
X Switch on the ignition. The multi-function display is also activated
when you:
R
switch on the lights
R press reset button 1
R open the driver's door Adjusting the instrument cluster
ligh
ting
X Brighter or dimmer: briefly turn reset but-
ton 1clockwise or anti-clockwise to the
stop and release.
The brightness of the instrument cluster
lighting changes by one level. There are
several possible levels. Coolant temperature gauge
The coolant temperature gauge is in the
instrument cluster on the left-hand side.
Under normal operating conditions and with
the specified coolant level, the coolant tem-
perature may rise to 120 †. The coolant tem-
perature may rise to the top end of the scale
at high outside temperatures and on long
uphill stretches. Controls
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On-board computer
98 Resetting the trip meter
X Select the Standard display menu
(Y page 103).
X Press and hold the reset button on the left-
hand side of the instrument cluster until the
trip meter is reset. Rev counter
The red band in the rev counter indicates the
engine's overrevving range. The fuel supply is
interrupted to protect the engine when the
red band is reached.
! Do not drive in the overrevving range.
Doing so will damage the engine. H
Environmental note
Avoid driving at high engine speeds, as this
increases your vehicle's consumption
unnecessarily and pollutes the environ-
ment through increased emissions. Clock
On vehicles without an audio system or with
Audio 5*/Audio 20*, you can set the time
using the on-board computer (Y page 109). Outside temperature display
G
Risk of accident
The road surface may be icy, especially in
wooded areas or on bridges, even if tem-
peratures are just above freezing point. The
vehicle could skid if you fail to adapt your
driving style. You should therefore always
adapt your driving style and speed to suit
the weather conditions.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay. On-board computer
Points to remember
The on-board computer is activated as soon
as you turn the key to position 1in the ignition
lock. You can use the on-board computer to
call up information relating to your vehicle
and to make and adjust settings. G
Risk of accident
Only use the on-board computer when road
and traffic conditions permit. You would
otherwise be distracted and unable to con-
centrate properly on driving, and could
cause an accident. Multi-function steering wheel
You can control the multi-function display and
the settings in the on-board computer using
the buttons on the multi-function steering
wheel. Controls
* optional
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On-board computer
991
Multi-function display
2
æç
R
Selects submenus in the Set-
tings menu
R Changes values
R Adjusts the volume 3
st
Accepts or rejects/ends a call* 4
jk
Scrolls back/forth within a menu
jkAudio 5*:
Press briefly:
in theAudio* menu,
selects an audio track or, depending
on the settings, selects a stored or
the next/previous station. jkAudio 20*, Audio 50
APS* and COMAND APS*:
Press briefly:
in theAudio*/
DVD*menu, selects a stored station,
an audio track or a video scene*.
In the Telephone* menu: switches
to the phone book and selects a
name or a telephone number. jkAudio 20*, Audio 50
APS* and COMAND APS*:
Press and hold:
in theAudio*/
DVD* menu, selects the next/previ-
ous station or selects an audio track
using rapid scrolling.
In the Telephone* menu: starts
rapid scrolling through the phone
book. 5
èÿ
Selects a menu: scrolls back and
forth
Several functions are combined thematically
in the menus.
In the Audio*/DVD* menu you will find func-
tions used to operate the radio* or CD
player*, for instance. The functions can be
used either to call up information or to change
settings for your vehicle.
You can think of the configuration of the
menus and the functions within a menu as a
circle:
X Press the èorÿ button repeatedly
to call up individual menus in sequence.
X Press the korj button to call up
the functions within a menu. Controls
* optional
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On-board computer
100
Unlike other menus, the
Settingsmenu con-
tains a number of submenus ( Ypage 106). Multi-function display
Values, settings and display messages are
shown in the multi-function display. 1
Display area for menus or submenus
2 Status bar with outside temperature or
speed (Y page 108) Controls
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On-board computer
101Menus and submenusControls
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