2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 Starting engine

451 Practical hints
Jump starting
Jump starting
If the battery is discharged, the engine can
be started with jumper cables and the
battery of another vehicle. Observe the
following:

Jump starting should only be performed
when the engine and catalytic
converter are cold.

Do not start the engine if the battery is
frozen. Let the battery thaw out first.

Only use a12-volt battery to jump start
your vehicle. Jump starting with a high-
er voltage battery could damage the ve-
hicle’s electrical system, which will not
be covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

Only use jumper cables with sufficient
cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.

Always make sure the jumper cables
are not on or near pulleys, fans or other
parts that move when an engine is
started or running.
Warning!G
Failure to follow these directions will cause
damage to the electronic components, and
can lead to a battery explosion and severe
injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting
or jump starting, you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water, and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and very explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc.
Attempting to jump start a frozen battery
can result in it exploding, causing personal
injury.
Read all instructions before proceeding.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission*
and/or 4MATIC:
Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!Avoid repeated and lengthy starting
attempts.
Do not attempt to start the engine using a bat-
tery quick charge unit.
If engine does not run after several unsuccessful
starting attempts, have it checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Excessive unburned fuel generated by repeated
failed starting attempts may damage the catalyt-
ic converter and may present a fire risk.
Make sure the jumper cables do not have loose
or missing insulation.
Make sure the cable clamps do not touch any
other metal part while the other end is still at-
tached to a battery.
Warning!G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(
page 446).

452 Practical hints
Jump starting
The battery is located in the engine com-
partment on the right hand side. For jump
starting, use the under hood terminals in
front of the battery.
Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.
Turn off all electrical consumers,
except hazard warning flashers or work
lights.
Apply the parking brake (page 134).
Make sure gear selector lever* is set to
positionP (manual transmission to
Neutral).
Open the hood (page 326).
Slide red cover2 from positive under
hood terminal3 in direction of arrow. 1Positive terminal of charged battery
2Positive under hood terminal cover
3Positive under hood terminal in front of
discharged battery
4Negative under hood terminal
5Negative terminal of charged battery
Connect positive terminal1 of the
charged battery with positive under
hood terminal3 in front of the dis-
charged battery with the jumper cable.
Clamp cable to charged battery1
first.
Start the engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.
Connect negative terminal5 of the
charged battery to jumper cables and
attach other end to negative under
hood terminal4 on the vehicle. Clamp
cable to charged battery5 first
Start the engine of the disabled
vehicle.
You can now turn on the electrical con-
sumers. Do not switch on the headlamps
under any circumstances.
Remove the jumper cables first from
the negative terminals4 and5 and
then from the positive terminals3
and1.
You can now switch on the headlamps.
Slide red cover2 from positive under
hood terminal3 back.
Close the hood (page 326).
Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
!Never invert the terminal connections.

454 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Warning!G
Without the engine running, there is no pow-
er assistance for the brake and steering sys-
tems. In this case, it is important to keep in
mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
iWhen towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, please note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and
the SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) in starter switch position 2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel as well as
the right rear wheel are turning at vehicle speeds
of approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle doors from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking
(
page 173).
!If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised (not permissible for vehicles with
4MATIC), the gear selector lever must be in
positionN (manual transmission: gear shift lever
in neutral position) and the engine must be shut
off (SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) in starter switch position0 or1).
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system.
While towing, the battery must be connected and
charged. Otherwise:

you will not be able to switch on the ignition

you will not be able to engage the automatic
transmission* in positionN (
page 127)
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the gear selector lever must be in
positionN (manual transmission: gear shift lever
in neutral position) and the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only)
must be in starter switch position2.
!Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt.
Never attach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to
vehicle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
iTo signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, turn SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) in
starter switch to position2 and activate the
combination switch for the left or right turn sig-
nal in the usual manner – only the selected turn
signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard
warning flasher will operate again.
!Make sure the parking brake is released.
iIf the battery is disconnected or discharged

the SmartKey or SmartKey with KEY-
LESS-GO* (Canada only) will not turn in the
starter switch

Vehicles with automatic transmission*: the
gear selector lever will remain locked in
positionP (
page 127).
For more information see “Battery”
(
page 446) and see “Jump starting”
(
page 451).

483 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Switching fuels
For best performance and driveability it is
recommended to use either one or the oth-
er fuel. A refueling pattern that alternates
between the two different fuels should be
avoided if possible.
When switching fuels, make sure:

Fuel level is below half full.

Fuel level is above reserve (reserve
warning lamp is not lit).

Amount of added fuel is more than
5 gallons (20 liters).

Ignition is off during refill.

Immediately after refueling engine is
started and operated for at least five
minutes.
These precautions and recommendations
are supposed to prevent any difficulties
when starting and operating the engine
which otherwise may be experienced
before the engine has fully adapted to the
different fuel.If in spite of these recommendations the
engine does not perform properly, adding
more gasoline (at least 3 gallons
[12 liters]) to the fuel may improve the
engine behavior.
Cruising range
E85 fuel contains less energy per gallon
than gasoline. To ensure that engine per-
formance with Ethanol fuel is similar to
that when using gasoline, the engine must
burn more Ethanol fuel. As a result, it is to
be expected that the fuel consumption will
increase when using E85 compared to
gasoline operation.
Maintenance
Please inform your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center if you use or have
used E85 fuel when your vehicle is deliv-
ered for maintenance or repairs.Cold weather performance
It is possible that starting times will signif-
icantly increase at temperatures below
32°F (0°C). At low temperatures the use
of a block heater is recommended (see an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for fur-
ther information). Rough idling may also be
experienced at such temperatures before
the engine is fully warmed up.
Hot weather performance
At ambient temperatures above 95°F
(35°C) start times may increase and be
accompanied by a rough idle following the
start.iUse of E85 may reduce your driving range.
!E85 fuel is unsuitable for use when ambient
temperatures fall below 14°F (-10°C).

488 Index
Phone cook 233
Radio operation 194
Satellite radio* operation 200
Sound settings 189
Surround sound* (Canada only) 190
SYS menu 192
SYS menu, Bluetooth
® settings 192
SYS menu, display settings 192
SYS menu, language settings 193
SYS menu, reset to factory
settings 193
Telephone menu* 222
Volume 189
Auto-dimming*, Rear view mirrors 100
Automatic central locking 80
Activating/deactivating
(Control system) 173
Automatic climate control (3-zone) see Cli-
mate control system
Automatic headlamp mode 109, 172
Automatic lighting control, Interior
lighting 115
Automatic shift program 144Automatic transmission
Accelerator position 142
Emergency operation (limp-home
mode) 146
Fluid 476, 477
Fluid level 328
Gear ranges 143
Gear shifting malfunctions 146
Hill start assist system 246
Kickdown 142
Shifting procedure 139
Starting the engine 127
Transmission fluid 328
Automatic transmission*
Automatic shift program 144
Gear selector lever 138
Gear selector lever control one-touch
gearshifting 145
Gear selector lever positions 140
Program mode selector switch 144
Aux socket 220B
Backrest 281
Backup lamps
Replacing bulbs 430, 431
Bar 356
BAS 60
Batteries, SmartKey
Checking battery condition 78
Replacing 428
Batteries, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only)
Checking battery condition 78
Replacing 428
Battery 448
Battery, vehicle 446
Charging 449
Discharged, Jump starting 451
Disconnecting 448
Message in display 399
Reconnecting 450
Removing 449
Bead 356
Beverage holder see Cup holder

492 Index
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Maximum cooling MAX COOL 256
Dual-zone automatic climate control see
Climate control system
E
Easy-entry/exit feature*
(Canada only) 95, 174
EBP 61
Electrical fuses see Fuses
Electrical outlet
Glove box 293
Rear passenger compartment 293
Electrical system, Technical Data 473
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Electronic traction system 63
Emergency call system 295
Emergency calls, Tele Aid* 296
Emergency operation (Limp-Home
Mode) 146Emergency operations
Gear selector lever*, Unlocking 426
Locking the vehicle 424
Releasing from inside 271
Remote door lock* 302
Remote door unlock* 301
Unlocking the trunk 425
Unlocking the vehicle 424
Emergency tensioning device see ETD
Emergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 451
First aid kit 420
Flat tire 440
Fuses 456
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 374–383
Roadside Assistance 12
Roadside Assistance* (Tele
Aid*) 299
Towing the vehicle 453
Emission control 320
Emission control information label 463
Emission control system warranties 10Engine
Adding engine oil 328
Belt layout 464
Cleaning 366
Compartment 325
Coolant 329, 478, 484
Malfunction indicator lamp 27, 378
Number 462, 463
Oil 327, 476, 480
Residual heat and ventilation 266
Starting 127
Technical data 465
Turning off 134
Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 327
Adding 328
Additives 480
Checking level (Dipstick) 327
Consumption 327
Dipstick 327
Filler neck 327, 328
Recommended engine oils and oil
filters 476

496 Index
Interior rear view mirror
Adjusting 97
Auto-dimming 99, 100
Interior storage spaces see
Storage compartments
J
Jack 421
Jump starting 451K
Key, Mechanical 424
Loss of 79
Key, SmartKey 70
Battery check lamp 70, 72
Factory setting 71
Global locking and unlocking 71
Lock button 70
Locking and unlocking 70
Loss of 79
Messages in display 408
Opening button for trunk 70
Panic button 58
Remote control 70
Restoring to factory setting 73
Selective setting 72
Starting the engine 127
Steering wheel lock 82
Switching on ignition with 82
Turning off engine 135
Unlock button 70Key, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 73
Battery check lamp 73, 77
Closing, Trunk 269
Factory setting 76
Global locking and unlocking 77
Important notes on using
KEYLESS-GO* 75
Locking and unlocking 73
Opening button for trunk 73
Panic button 58
Restoring to factory setting 78
Selective setting 77
Starting the engine 128
Switching on ignition with 84
Unlock button 73
Key, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only)
Lock button 73
Loss of 79
Messages in display 407
Remote control 73
Turning off engine 135
Kickdown 142
Kilopascal 357

498 Index
M
Maintenance 11, 362
Automatic Call (Tele Aid*) 302
Calling up service indicator
display 363
Clearing service indicator
message 362
Maintenance System 362
Resetting service indicator 363
Service indicator message 362
Service term exceeded 363
Vehicles with E85 fuel 483
Manual headlamp mode 108
Manual transmission 136, 137
Gearshift lever 126, 137
Shift positions 137
Starting the engine 127
Maximum load rating, Tires 357
Maximum loaded
vehicle weight 340, 357
Maximum tire
inflation pressure 354, 357
Maximum tire load rating 353
Memory function* (Canada only) 102
Menus see Control systemMessages in display see
Multifunction display messages
Microphone, Hands-free 31
Minispare wheel 422, 471
Mounting 441
Mirrors
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position*
(Canada only) 101
Adjusting 97
Auto-dimming* for rear view
mirrors 100
Exterior rear view mirrors 97
Interior rear view mirror 97
Modifications and alterations,
Operating safety 15
MON 478
MP3
Playback options 220
Selecting a folder 219
Selecting a track 219
Multifunction display 151
Changing settings see Control system
menus and Control system sub-
menusMultifunction display messages
ABS 389, 398
Battery, vehicle 399
Brake fluid 400
Brake pads 399
Coolant 402
Coolant level 405
Doors 406
EBP (Electronic Brake
Proportioning) 401
ESP
®389, 397, 398
Fog lamps 410
Front passenger front air bag 393
Fuel cap 406
Gear selector lever 392
Headlamps 411
Hood 406
Key, SmartKey 408
Key, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) 407
Lamps, exterior 409
License plate lamps 411
Light sensor 409
Low tire pressure 418
Parking brake 401
Parking lamps 411