2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 Esp warning

243 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1SegmentsCanceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel the cruise
control:
Step on the brake pedal.
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or
Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3 (
page 242).
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
iOn uphill grades, the cruise control may not
be able to maintain the set speed. Once the
grade eases, the set speed will be resumed.
On downhill grades, the cruise control maintains
the set speed by braking with the vehicle’s
braking system. In addition, on longer downhill
grades the automatic transmission* will down-
shift automatically.
iVehicles with manual transmission:
If you depress the clutch pedal when shifting into
another gear, the engine speed may increase.

Always drive at sufficient, but not excessive,
engine speed.

Shift gear in a timely manner.

Avoid shifting down more than one gear if at
all possible.
iThe last stored set speed is canceled when
the engine is turned off.
iThe cruise control switches off
automatically and the segments in the multifunc-
tion display go out when

you step on the brake pedal.

you press the parking brake pedal.
The cruise control switches off automatically,
the segments in the multifunction display go out
and an acoustic warning sounds when

the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h).

the ESP® is in operation or switched off with
the ESP® switch (page 63).

Vehicles with manual transmission:
you engage neutral or depress the clutch
pedal for more than 6 seconds during shift-
ing into another gear.

Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
you move the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving.
Observe additional messages in the
multifunction display that may appear.

246 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Briefly pull the cruise control lever in
the direction of arrow4 (
page 242).
The cruise control resumes to the last
set speed or if no speed is stored, it will
set and store the current speed.
Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The last set speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately
5 seconds, and the corresponding
speedometer segments from the se-
lected speed to the vehicle maximum
speed are illuminated.
Hill start assist system
On uphill grades with a gradient angle of
more than 5°, the hill start assist system
maintains the pressure in the brake sys-
tem for approximately 1 second after you
have released the brake pedal. Therefore,
you can start off smoothly without the
vehicle moving immediately after releasing
the brake pedal.
Depress the brake pedal
Manual transmission: Engage for-
ward or reverse gear.
Slowly release the clutch pedal, remov-
ing your foot from the brake pedal at
the same time, and carefully depress
the accelerator pedal.
Automatic transmission*: Move the
gear selector lever to position Dor R.
Remove your foot from the brake pedal
and carefully depress the accelerator
pedal.
The hill start assist system is inactive

when starting off on a level road or
downhill grades

vehicles with automatic transmission*
with the gear selector lever in
positionN

with the parking brake depressed

if the ESP® has switched off due to a
malfunction
iThe last stored set speed is deleted when
the engine is turned off.
Warning!G
The hill start assist system is not designed
to function as an parking brake and does not
prevent the vehicle from moving when
parked on an incline.
Always depress the parking brake in
addition to shifting to park positionP.
iWhen you remove your foot from the accel-
erator, the vehicle will remain stationary for ap-
prox. 1 second.

257 Controls in detail
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Deactivating: Press button¯
(
page 250).
The indicator lamp in the button goes
out.
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.Activating: Press button,
(
page 250).
The indicator lamp in the button comes
on.
Deactivating: Press button,
(
page 250) again.
The indicator lamp in the button goes
out.
iThe rear window defroster is automatically
deactivated after some time of operation de-
pending on the outside temperature.
iIf the rear window defroster switches off too
soon and the indicator lamp goes out, this indi-
cates that too many electrical consumers are op-
erating simultaneously and the load on the
battery is reducing available voltage. The system
responds automatically by deactivating the rear
window defroster.
Warning!G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 258) is activated, or
press buttony.
iThe air recirculation mode is activated auto-
matically at high outside temperatures.
The indicator lamp in button, is not lit when
the air recirculation mode is automatically
switched on.
A quantity of outside air is added after approxi-
mately 30 minutes.
iThe air recirculation mode is deactivated au-
tomatically:

after 5 minutes if the outside temperature is
below approximately 41°F (5°C)

after 5 minutes if the air conditioning is
turned off

after 30 minutes if the outside temperature
is above approximately 41°F (5°C)

265 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control* (Canada only)
Rear window defroster
Activating: Switch on the ignition.
Press button¯ (page 259).
The indicator lamp in the button comes
on.
Deactivating: Press button¯
(
page 259).
The indicator lamp in the button goes
out.
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.
!The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep battery drain to a min-
imum, switch off the defroster as soon as the
rear window is clear.
iThe rear window defroster is automatically
deactivated after some time of operation de-
pending on the outside temperature.
Warning!G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.
iIf the rear window defroster switches off too
soon and the indicator lamp goes out, this indi-
cates that too many electrical consumers are op-
erating simultaneously and the load on the
battery is reducing available voltage. The system
responds automatically by deactivating the rear
window defroster.
Warning!G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 267) is activated, or
press buttony.

268 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control* (Canada only)
Rear climate control
The rear climate control panel is located in
the rear center console.
Setting temperature
Use temperature control 5 to adjust the
air temperature in the rear passenger com-
partment. You should raise or lower the
temperature setting in small increments,
preferably starting at 22°C (72°F). The cli-
mate control will adjust to the set temper-
ature as fast as possible.Increasing/decreasing: Press the re-
spective temperature control
button5.
The 3-zone automatic climate control
system will correspondingly adjust the
temperature in the rear passenger
compartment.
Adjusting air volume
Use button· orQ (
page 268) to
adjust the air volume.
Press button· to decrease, or
buttonQ to increase air volume to
the desired level.
The air volume is adjusted correspond-
ing to the set blower speed.
Warning!G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling as given in the instructions
for the front 3-zone automatic climate con-
trol (
page 259). Otherwise the windows
could fog up, impairing visibility for the driv-
er and endangering you and others.
Item
1Decreasing/increasing air volume
for rear center air vents
2Right rear center air vent, adjustable
3Decreasing/increasing air volume
for rear center air vents
4Display
5Temperature control
6Left rear center air vent, adjustable
iAt low outside temperatures or if you have
switched off the cooling function, you cannot
cool the rear passenger compartment.
iIf you have switched off the cooling function
with the front 3-zone automatic climate control
panel, the cooling of the rear passenger com-
partment is also switched off. Adjusting with the
rear control panel is not possible.

270 Controls in detail
Trunk
Closing trunk Closing trunk from outside manually
1Handles
Lower trunk lid by pulling firmly on
handles1 or2.
Close the trunk with hands placed flat
on the trunk lid.
iDo not place the SmartKey in the open
trunk. You may lock yourself out.
iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the trunk will lock automatically after
closing it. All turn signal lamps flash three times
and an acoustic signal sounds three times to
confirm locking.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only): To
prevent a possible inadvertent lockout, the trunk
will open automatically if a SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) is recognized
inside the vehicle or in the trunk.
The vehicle is only locked when the turn signals
flash three times and an acoustic signal sounds
three times. If you are carrying a second
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) with
you, you can still lock the vehicle.
Warning!G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the trunk
lid opening when closing the trunk. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
(Canada only) from the starter switch, take
it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. A child’s
unsupervised access to a vehicle could re-
sult in an accident and/or serious personal
injury.

282 Controls in detail
Loading and storing
Setting up rear seat backrest
1Rear seat backrests
Fold backrest1 rearward until it en-
gages.
Check for secure locking by pushing
and pulling on the backrest.
Loading instructions
The total load weight including vehicle
occupants and luggage/cargo should not
exceed the load limit or vehicle capacity
weight as indicated on the corresponding
placard located on the driver’s door B-pillar
(
page 334).
The handling characteristics of a fully load-
ed vehicle depend greatly on the load dis-
tribution. It is therefore recommended to
load the vehicle according to the illustra-
tions shown, with the heaviest items being
placed towards the front of the vehicle.
!Take care not to clamp the seat belt.
Warning!G
Always lock backrest in its upright position
when rear seat bench is occupied, or the ex-
tended trunk compartment is not in use.
Check for secure locking by pushing and
pulling on the backrest.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when transporting cargo.
iTo prevent unauthorized persons from ac-
cess to the trunk, always lock backrest in its up-
right position.

287 Controls in detail
Loading and storing
Cup holders
Cup holder in front center console
1Cup holderCup holder in rear center armrest
1Release button
2Cup holder
Opening: Pull down the armrest.
Pull the release catch and swing the
armrest storage compartment cover
upward.
Press release button1.
Cup holder2 swing out and open au-
tomaticaly.
Warning!G
In order to help prevent spilling liquids on
vehicle occupants and/or vehicle equip-
ment, only use containers that fit into the
cup holder. Use lids on open containers and
do not fill containers to a height where the
contents, especially hot liquids, could spill
during braking, vehicle maneuvers, or in an
accident. Liquids spilled on vehicle occu-
pants may cause serious personal injury.
Liquids spilled on vehicle equipment may
cause damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
When not in use, keep the cup holders
closed. An open cup holder may cause injury
to you or others when contacted during
braking, vehicle maneuvers, or in an
accident.
Keep in mind that objects placed in the cup
holder may come loose during braking, vehi-
cle maneuvers, or in an accident and be
thrown around in the vehicle interior.
Objects thrown around in the vehicle interi-
or may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
iYou can now close the armrest storage
compartment.