2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class Comand Manual

736 Practical hintsJump starting
Remove red cover from positive
terminal 1.

Connect positive terminal2 of the
charged battery with positive
terminal1 of the discharged battery
with the jumper cable. Clamp cable to
charged battery2 first.

Connect negative terminal3 of
charged battery to jumper cables and
attach other end4 to a suitable
ground point on the vehicle.

Get into vehicle and start engine within
30 seconds.
If the starting attempt does not suc-
ceed: 
Turn the SmartKey in starter switch
to position 0.

Take out the SmartKey.

Turn off engine of donor vehicle, re-
start it and let it run at idle speed
for several minutes.

Disconnect the jumper cable during
this time.

Reconnect jumper cable as de-
scribed before.

Restart engine.

While the engine is running, switch off
several electrical consumers such as
the blower.

Disconnect jumper cables first from
ground point4 and negative
terminal3, then from positive
terminals1 and2.

Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
!
Never invert the terminal connections.


737 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the
vehicle be transported with all wheels off
the ground using flatbed or appropriate
wheel lift/dolly equipment. This method is
preferable to other types of towing.
When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the
vehicle may be towed with all wheels on
the ground or front wheels raised (except
vehicles with 4MATIC) only so far as neces-
sary to have the vehicle moved to a safe
location where the recommended towing
methods can be employed.!
To prevent damage during transport, do not
tie down vehicle by its chassis or suspension
parts.
!
Before towing the vehicle observe the fol-
lowing instructions:


Do not tow-start the vehicle.


Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment
with the ignition switched off.


Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Tow-
ing with sling-type equipment over bumpy
roads will damage radiator and supports.


Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt.
Never attach a tow cable, tow rope or tow
rod to the vehicle chassis, frame or suspen-
sion parts. For more information see “Install-
ing towing eye bolt” (
page 740).
i
If the battery is disconnected or discharged


the SmartKey will not turn in the starter
switch


the automatic transmission will remain
locked in park positionP.
For more information see “Batteries”
(
page 729) or “Jump starting” (
page 734).

738 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleTowing with front wheels raised

Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Remove
the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
from the starter switch (
page 371).

Insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch.

Switch on the ignition.

Switch off the automatic central lock-
ing (
page 267).

Depress the brake pedal.

Shift the automatic transmission to
neutral positionN.

If engaged, manually release the
electronic parking brake.

Switch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
!
Vehicles with 4MATIC:
Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing so could
damage the transfer case, which is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
All wheels must be on or off the ground. Observe
instructions for towing the vehicle with all
wheels on the ground (
page 739).
Warning!
G
When leaving the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* in the starter switch, do
not leave children unattended in the vehicle.
It is possible for children to switch on the
ignition which could result in unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment. Unsupervised use
of vehicle equipment could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
!
Keep in mind that it is important for the
SmartKey to be left in starter switch with the ig-
nition switched off. As soon as the SmartKey is
removed from the starter switch the automatic
transmission will shift to park positionP.
!
Make sure that the ignition is switched off.
If the starter switch is in position2, active brak-
ing action through the ESP
® may otherwise seri-
ously damage the brake system.
!
The vehicle may be towed only for distances
up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to ex-
ceed 30 mph (50 km/h).

739 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing with all wheels on the ground

Switch on the ignition.

Shift the automatic transmission to
neutral positionN.

If engaged, manually release the
electronic parking brake.
Warning!
G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:

the engine will not run


there is a malfunction in the brake
system


there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
This is necessary to adequately control the
towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain the SmartKey is in
starter switch position2.
Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
!
Keep in mind that it is important to have the
ignition switched on. As soon as the SmartKey is
removed from the starter switch or the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* is removed from the vehicle,
the automatic transmission will shift to park
positionP.
!
The vehicle may be towed only for distances
up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to ex-
ceed 30 mph (50 km/h).
i
To signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, the ignition must
be switched on. You can then activate the com-
bination switch for the left or right turn signal in
the usual manner – only the selected turn signal
will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard warn-
ing flasher will operate again.

740 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleInstalling towing eye bolt
1Cover on right side of front bumper
1Cover on right side of rear bumperRemoving cover

Press mark on cover1 in the direction
of arrow.

Lift cover off to reveal the threaded
hole for towing eye bolt.
Installing towing eye bolt

Take towing eye bolt and wheel wrench
out of the vehicle tool kit in the trunk
(page 705).

Screw towing eye bolt clockwise into
its stop and tighten with wheel wrench.Removing towing eye bolt

Loosen towing eye bolt counterclock-
wise with wheel wrench.

Unscrew towing eye bolt.

Store towing eye bolt and wheel
wrench in the vehicle tool kit in the
trunk.
Installing cover

Fit cover1 and snap into place.

741 Practical hintsFuses
Fuses
The electrical fuses in your vehicle serve to
switch off malfunctioning power circuits.
If a fuse is blown, the component(s) and
systems secured by that fuse will stop op-
erating.
If a newly inserted fuse blows again, have
the cause determined and rectified by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
A fuse chart explains the fuse allocation
and fuse amperages. It is located in the
trunk with the vehicle tool kit
(
page 705).The electrical fuses are located in different
fuse boxes:


in the dashboard on the passenger side
(page 743)


in the dashboard on the driver’s side
(page 743)


behind the rear center armrest
(page 744)


on the driver’s side of the engine com-
partment (
page 742)


on the passenger side of the engine
compartment (
page 743)
Warning!
G
Only use fuses approved by Mercedes-Benz
with the specified amperage for the system
in question and do not attempt to repair or
bridge a blown fuse. Using other than ap-
proved fuses or using repaired or bridged
fuses may cause an overload leading to a
fire, and/or cause damage to electrical
components and/or systems. Have the
cause determined and remedied by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.!
Switch off the vehicle’s internal electrical
functions (
page 732) when you are working on
the fuses.
i
A blown fuse must be replaced by an appro-
priate spare fuse (recognizable by its color or the
fuse rating given on the fuse) of the amperage
recommended in the fuse chart.
Any Mercedes-Benz Center will be glad to advise
you on this subject.
i
In case of a blown fuse contact Roadside As-
sistance or an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

742 Practical hintsFusesBefore replacing fuses:
Engage the electronic parking brake
(page 422).

Make sure the automatic transmission
is set to park positionP (
page 426).
The gear position indicator in the multi-
function display should be on park po-
sition P.

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Turn off the engine (
page 424).

Switch off the vehicle’s internal electri-
cal functions (
page 732).
Fuse boxes in engine compartment
Open the hood (
page 573).
Box on the driver’s side
Example illustration from S 55014 screws
2Cover
3JumperOpening

Take the crank from the Operator’s
Manual pouch.

Loosen screws1 with crank.

Remove jumper3.

Remove cover2.
Closing

Attach cover2.

Attach jumper3.

Tighten screws1 with crank.
!
The cover must fit properly, as otherwise
moisture or dirt may impair the functionality of
the fuses.

743 Practical hintsFuses
Box on the front passenger sideExample illustration from S 5501Retaining lugs
2Cover
Opening
Press retaining lugs1.

Remove cover2.
Closing

Attach cover2.

Press cover2 down manually.
Fuse boxes in passenger compartment
Fuse boxes in dashboard
1Cover1Cover
Opening

Open the respective door.

Using your hands, pull cover1 in the
direction of the arrow and remove.
Closing

Hook cover1 into the opening at the
front.

Press cover1 back on until it
engages.
!
The cover must fit properly, as otherwise
moisture or dirt may impair the functionality of
the fuses.
!
Do not use sharp objects such as a screw
driver to open the fuse box cover in the dash-
board, as this could damage it.