2008 MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK Owners Manual

Flat tyre
262
Lowe
ring the vehicle X
Place the ratchet ring spanner onto the
hexagon nut of the jack so that the lettering
AB is visible.
X Lower the vehicle by turning the ratchet
ring spanner until the vehicle is once again
standing firmly on the ground.
X Place the jack to one side. 1
–5 Wheel bolts
X Tighten the wheel bolts evenly in a cross-
wise pattern in the sequence indica-
ted (1 to5). The tightening torque is
130 Nm . G
Risk of accident
Have the tightening torque checked imme-
diately after a wheel is changed. The wheels could work loose if they are not tightened
to a torque of 130 Nm.
X Turn the jack back to its initial position and
store it and the rest of the vehicle tool kit
in the stowage compartment in the luggage
compartment.
i When you are driving with the "Minispare"
emergency spare wheel* fitted, the tyre
pressure loss warning system* cannot
function reliably. MOExtended run-flat system*
The MOExtended run-flat system may only be
used in conjunction with the tyre pressure
loss warning system.
! The maximum permissible distance which
can be driven in run-flat mode depends on
the load in the vehicle. It is 50 km if the
vehicle is partially laden and 30 km if fully
laden.
The maximum range that can be driven in
emergency operation is measured from the
point at which the pressure loss warning
message appears in the multi-function dis-
play. You must not exceed a maximum speed of
80 km/h. G
Risk of accident
The handling characteristics of your vehicle
deteriorate in run-flat mode, for example:
R when cornering
R when braking
R when accelerating rapidly
Adapt your driving style accordingly and
avoid sudden changes in direction and sud-
den acceleration, as well as driving over
obstacles (i.e. kerbs, potholes), and driving
off-road. This is particularly the case when
the vehicle is heavily laden.
The maximum permissible distance that
can be driven in run-flat mode depends to
a large extent on the loads placed on the
vehicle. It can be shorter due to high
speeds, a heavy load, sudden acceleration
and/or manoeuvring, the road surface con-
dition, outside temperature, etc., or further,
if you drive carefully and conservatively.
Do not continue to drive in run-flat mode if:
R you hear banging noises.
R the vehicle starts to shake.
R you see smoke and smell rubber. Practical advice
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Battery
263R
ESP ®
is intervening constantly.
R there are tears in the sidewalls of the
tyre.
After driving in run-flat mode, you must
have the wheel(s) checked for damage at a
qualified specialist workshop which has the
necessary specialist knowledge and tools
to carry out the work required. The faulty
tyre must be replaced in every case.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this
purpose. In particular, work relevant to
safety or on safety-related systems must be
carried out at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
i On a vehicle with MOExtended tyres, only
use MOExtended spare tyres. These must
be of the size specified for the vehicle. Battery
Notes on the vehicle battery
In order for the battery to achieve the maxi-
mum possible service life, it must always be
sufficiently charged.
Have the battery charge checked more fre-
quently if you use the vehicle mainly for short
trips or if you leave it standing idle for a
lengthy period.
To prevent damage from corrosion, only
replace the battery with one that has a central
ventilation cover.
Consult a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre if
you wish to leave your vehicle parked up for
a long period of time. G
Risk of injury
Comply with safety precautions and take
protective measures when handling batter-
ies. Risk of explosion
Fire, naked flames and
smoking are prohibited
when handling the bat- tery. Avoid creating
sparks.
Battery acid is caustic.
Avoid contact with the
skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective
clothing, in particular
gloves, an apron and a
face mask.
Immediately rinse acid
splashes off with clean
water. Consult a doctor if
necessary.
Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Owner's
Manual.
H
Environmental note
Do not dispose of batteries with the house-
hold rubbish. Dispose of defective batteries
in an environmentally responsible manner. Practical advice
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Battery
264 Take them to a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre or to a special collection point for
old batteries. G
Risk of injury
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use batteries which
have been tested and approved for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz. These batteries
provide increased impact protection to pre-
vent vehicle occupants from suffering acid
burns should the battery be damaged in the
event of an accident.
To prevent acid burns, observe the follow-
ing safety notes when handling batteries:
R Do not lean over batteries.
R Do not place any metal objects on a bat-
tery. You could otherwise cause a short
circuit and the battery's gas mixture
could ignite.
R Make sure that you do not create an elec-
trostatic charge, e.g. by wearing syn-
thetic clothing or as a result of friction on
fabrics. Therefore, you should not pull or
slide the battery over carpets or other
synthetic materials.
R Never touch the battery first. To dis-
charge a possible electrostatic charge, step out of the vehicle first and touch the
bodywork.
R Do not wipe the battery using a cloth. The
battery could be destroyed as a result of
electrostatic charge or due to flying
sparks.
! Switch off the engine and remove the key
before disconnecting or removing the ter-
minal clamps from the battery. You may
otherwise destroy electronic components,
such as the alternator.
i Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
have all work involving the battery, e.g.
removing, charging and replacing, carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g.
a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Installation location of the battery Your vehicle is equipped with a battery in the
footwell in front of the front-passenger seat.
The main fuse box is also located there. 1
Retaining screw
2 Cap
X Remove the floormat*.
X Remove retaining screw 1by turning it
anti-clockwise, e.g. by using a coin.
X Lift up cover 2. Practical advice
* optional
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Battery
2653
Negative terminal
4 Positive terminal Disconnecting the battery
G
Risk of accident
If the battery is disconnected:
R the brake boosting effect will not be avail-
able. Greater braking force will then be
required and the brake pedal travel will
be longer. If necessary, depress the
brake pedal with maximum force.
R you will no longer be able to turn the key
in the ignition lock.
R the selector lever is locked in position P
on vehicles with AUTOTRONIC*. !
Always disconnect the battery in the
order described below. Never swap the ter-
minal clamps. You may otherwise damage
the vehicle electronics.
X Apply the handbrake and shift the selector
lever to position Pon vehicles with AUTO-
TRONIC*.
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Turn the key to position 0(Y page 62) in
the ignition lock and remove it.
X Remove the negative terminal clamp from
the battery.
X Remove the cover from the positive termi-
nal clamp.
X Remove the positive terminal clamp from
the battery.
X Disconnect the breather hose. Removing the battery
X Disconnect the battery ( Ypage 265).
X Loosen the bolt which holds the battery in
place.
X Remove the battery. Charging and fitting the battery
G
Risk of injury
Only charge the battery in a well-ventilated
area. As the battery is being charged, gases
can escape and generate minor explosions.
This may injure you and other persons or
cause damage to the paintwork or acid cor-
rosion on the vehicle.
You can obtain information about battery
chargers which allow the battery to be
charged when still installed from a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. G
Risk of injury
There is a risk of acid burns during the
charging process due to the gases which
escape from the battery. Do not lean over
the battery during the charging process. Practical advice
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Jump-starting
266 G
Risk of injury
Battery acid is caustic. Avoid contact with
the skin, eyes or clothing.
! Only charge the installed battery with a
battery charger which has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. These battery
chargers allow the battery to be charged
while it is still installed. However, the bat-
tery must always be disconnected first.
! Only use battery chargers with a maxi-
mum charging voltage of 14.8 V.
X Charge the battery. Observe the notes in
the operating instructions for your battery
charger.
X Refit the charged battery.
To do this, follow the steps described in
"Removing the battery" (Y page 265) in
reverse order. Reconnecting the battery
! Always reconnect the battery in the
sequence described below. Never swap the
terminal clamps. You may otherwise dam-
age the vehicle electronics.
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Connect the positive terminal clamp and
secure the cover.
X Connect the negative terminal clamp.
X Connect the breather hose. Make sure that
a cell cap is fitted on the side.
i If the battery power supply has been inter-
rupted (e.g. if it has been reconnected), you
must carry out the following tasks:
R set the time (Y page 109).
R reset the function for folding the exterior
mirrors in/out automatically* by folding
the mirrors out once (Y page 72).
R reset the side windows ( Ypage 85) Jump-starting
If your vehicle's battery is discharged, the
engine can be jump-started from another
vehicle or from an external battery using jump
leads.
Observe the following points:
R Jump-starting may only be performed when
the engine and catalytic converter are cold.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is fro-
zen. Let the battery thaw first.
R Jump-starting may only be performed from
batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
R Only use jump leads which have a sufficient
cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.
i Jump leads and further information about
jump-starting can be obtained from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
! Avoid repeated and lengthy starting
attempts.
Never start the vehicle using a rapid battery
charger. Practical advice
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Jump-starting
267G
Risk of injury
There is a risk of acid burns when jump-
starting a vehicle due to the gases which
escape from the battery. Do not lean over
the battery while the engine is being jump-
started. G
Risk of explosion
Gases escaping from the battery during
jump-starting may cause minor explosions.
Avoid creating sparks. Keep naked flames
away from the battery, and do not smoke.
Comply with safety precautions and take
protective measures when handling batter-
ies. You will find these under "Battery" in
the index.
X Make sure that the two vehicles do not
touch.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Manual transmission: engage neutral.
X AUTOTRONIC*: move the DIRECT SELECT
selector lever to P.
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Open the bonnet (Y page 171). 1
Positive terminal of donor battery
2 Positive terminal on your vehicle
3 Negative terminal of donor battery
4 Negative terminal on your vehicle
X Open the battery cover (Y page 264).
X Connect positive terminal 2on your vehi-
cle to positive terminal 1of the donor bat-
tery using the jump lead, beginning with
your own battery.
X Start the engine of the donor vehicle and
run it at idling speed.
X Connect negative terminal 3of the donor
battery to negative terminal 4of your
vehicle's battery using the jump lead, con-
necting the jump lead to the donor battery
first.
X Start the engine. X
Electrical consumers can be switched on
again. Do not, however, switch on the lights
as this places too heavy a load on the bat-
tery.
X Remove the jump lead from earth
point 4and negative terminal 3first,
then from positive terminals 1and 2,
each time disconnecting from the battery
on your own vehicle first.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Practical advice
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Towing and tow-starting
268 Towing and tow-starting
Points to remember
G
Risk of accident
If you have the vehicle towed, you must use
a rigid towing bar if:
R the engine is not running.
R there is a brake system malfunction.
R there is a malfunction in the voltage sup-
ply or the vehicle's electrical system.
The electric power steering and the brake
force booster do not work when the engine
is not running. Greater braking force will
then be required and brake pedal travel will
be longer. If necessary, depress the brake
pedal with full force.
Do not tow the vehicle if the key cannot be
turned in the ignition lock. If this is the case,
the steering is locked and the vehicle can-
not be steered.
If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehi-
cle.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed. When towing, observe the legal requirements
in all countries concerned.
!
When towing, pull away slowly and with-
out jerking. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
! Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
as this could damage the vehicle. If in
doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum
of 50 km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
With towing distances over 50 km, the
entire vehicle needs to be lifted up and
transported.
! Only secure the tow cable or towing bar
to the towing eyes. You may otherwise
damage the vehicle.
R Vehicles with AUTOTRONIC* must not be
tow-started.
R If the engine does not start, try jump-start-
ing it (Y page 266).
R If it is not possible to jump-start the vehicle,
have it towed to the nearest qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. R
The selector lever must be in position N
when towing a vehicle with AUTO-
TRONIC*.
R If you are towing the vehicle over a consid-
erable distance, this must only be done
with the front axle raised.
R The ignition must be switched off if you are
towing the vehicle with the front/rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could other-
wise damage the brake system.
R Before towing the vehicle, make sure that
the battery is connected and charged. Oth-
erwise:
-you cannot switch on the ignition
- you cannot move the selector lever
to N(on vehicles with AUTOTRONIC*)
- you have no support when braking
i Switch off the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed (Y page 111).
You could otherwise be locked out when
pushing or towing the vehicle. Practical advice
* optional
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Towing and tow-starting
269Fitting the towing eye
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch: if you
intend to use the vehicle for towing, fit the ball
coupling (Y page 186) and connect the tow-
bar to this.
Opening the front cover The mountings for the removable towing eyes
are in the bumpers. They are located at the
front and rear behind covers on the right-hand
side of the vehicle when viewed in the direc-
tion of travel.
1
Cover
X Press cover 1back in the direction of the
arrow.
X Take cover 1off the opening. Opening the rear cover
1
Cover
X Press cover 1back in the direction of the
arrow.
X Take cover 1off the opening.
Securing the towing eye X
Take the towing eye and the wheel wrench
from the vehicle tool kit ( Ypage 200).
X Screw in the towing eye clockwise to the
stop.
X Insert the wheel wrench handle into the
towing eye and tighten it. Towing the vehicle
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum
of 50 km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
With towing distances over 50 km, the
entire vehicle needs to be lifted up and
transported.
! The engine must be switched off (key in
ignition lock in position 0or position 1) if
the vehicle is being towed with the front
axle raised or if the parking brake is being
tested on a dynamometer. Intervention by
ESP ®
could otherwise damage the brake
system.
Vehicles with manual transmission X
Turn the key to position 2(Y page 62) in
the ignition lock.
X Fully depress the clutch pedal.
X Shift to neutral. Practical advice
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