Breakdown assistance
254
– Release the clutch particularly gent ly when starting off or depress the
accelerator particularly gently if yo ur vehicle is fitted with an auto-
matic gearbox.
Driver of the towed vehicle
– Switch the ignition on so that the steering wheel is not blocked and you can also operate the turn signal lights, the headlight flasher, the
windscreen wipers and wi ndscreen washer system.
– Take the vehicle out of gear or move the selector lever into position N
if your vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
– Note that the brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the engine is running. You will require si gnificantly greater physical force
to depress the brake pedal and to steer the vehicle if the engine is not
running.
– Ensure that the tow rope is always kept taught.
Tow rope or tow bar
A tow bar is safest way of towing a vehicle and also minimizes any shocks. You can
use a tow rope only if a suitable tow bar is not available.
The tow rope must be elastic to protect the vehicle. Thus one should only use
plastic fibre rope or a rope made out of a similarly elastic material.
Only attach the tow rope to the towing eyes provided for this purpose ⇒page 254
and ⇒page 255.
Driving style
Towing another vehicle requires a certain amount of practice. Both drivers should
be familiar with the particular points about towing a vehicle. Unskilled drivers
should not attempt to tow in another vehicle or to be towed in.
One should be constantly vigilant not to allow impermissibly high towing forces or
jerky loadings. There is always a risk of excessive stresses and damage resulting at
the points to which you attach the tow ro pe or tow bar when you attempt to tow a
vehicle which is not standing on a paved road.
Caution
If the gearbox of your vehicle no longer contains any oil because of a defect, your
vehicle must only be towed in with the driven wheels raised clear of the ground, or
on a special vehicle transporter or trailer.
Note
•Please comply with any legal requirements particularly regarding the switched
on signal systems, when towing in or tow-starting another vehicle.
•The tow rope must not be twisted as it may in certain circumstances result in the
front towing eye being unscrewed out of your vehicle.
Front towing eye
The towing eye is stored in the box for the vehicle tool kit.
Fig. 231 Front bumper:
Protective grille
20A5Facelift.book Page 254 Saturday, September 6, 2008 2:13 PM
Breakdown assistance255
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Carefully remove the cover as follows.
– Insert the fingers in the opening ⇒page 254, fig. 231 .
– By pulling in the direction of arrow , first of all slacken the cover in the upper area on the side to the fog lights.
– Afterwards, also slacken the cover on the other side in the direction of arrow and remove it.
– Screw in the towing eye anticlockwise down to the stop ⇒fig. 232 and
tighten up using the wheel wrench (push the wheel wrench through
eye).
– The cover can be reinstalled after screwing out the towing eye starting on the side of the marking. Then press the cover closed on the side to
the fog lights. The cover must engage firmly.
Rear towing eye
– Take the cover out of the bumper ⇒fig. 233.
– Screw in the towing eye anticlockwise down to the stop ⇒ fig. 234 and
tighten up using the wheel wrench (push the wheel wrench through
eye).
– The cover can be reinstalled after sc rewing out the towing eye starting
on the upper side of the cover. The cover must engage firmly.
Fig. 232 Front bumper:
Installing the towing eye
AA
A1
A2
Fig. 233 Rear bumper:
Removing cover
Fig. 234 Rear bumper:
Installing the towing eye
20A5Facelift.book Page 255 Saturday, September 6, 2008 2:13 PM
