
Checking and refilling levels227
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Liquid coolant losses
Any loss of liquid coolant normally indicates a
leak in the cooling system. In
this case the cooling system should be inspected by a specialist garage
without delay. It is not sufficient merely to top up the liquid coolant.
If there are no leaks in the system, a loss of liquid coolant can only occur if
the coolant boils and is forced out of the system as a result of overheating.
Caution
Radiator sealants must not be added to the liquid coolant. Such additives
could seriously impair the function of the cooling system.Topping up the liquid coolant
Be careful when topping up with liquid coolant.– Switch the engine off.
– Wait for the engine to cool down.
– Cover the cap on the expansion tank ⇒page 226, fig. 172 with a
cloth, and carefully unscrew the cap anti-clockwise ⇒.
– Add liquid coolant.
– Screw on the cap tightly.Make sure that the liquid coolant meets the required specifications
⇒page 225, “Liquid coolant”. Do not use a different type of anti-freeze if
anti-freeze G12++ is not available. In this case, use only water and bring the
anti-freeze concentration back up to the correct level as soon as possible.
Always top up with new liquid coolant. Do not fill above the “max” mark. Excess liquid coolant is forced out of the
system through the valve in the filler cap when the engine gets hot.
If a lot of liquid coolant has been lost, wait for the engine to
cool down before
putting in cold coolant. Failure to do so could result in serious engine
damage.
WARNING
•The cooling system is under pressure. Do not unscrew the cap on the
expansion tank when the engine is hot. Failure to comply could result in
burns.•The anti-freeze and liquid coolant can be a health hazard. Therefore,
the anti-freeze should be stored in the original container in a safe place out
of reach of children. Failure to comply could result in poisoning.For the sake of the environment
Drained off coolant should not be used again. Drain off the used coolant into
a suitable container and dispose of it in the proper manner (observe environ-
mental regulations).Radiator fan
The radiator fan can start running spontaneously.The auxiliary fan can continue to run for as long as 10 minutes after stopping
the engine – even after the ignition is switched off. It may also start running
suddenly ⇒ after some while if•stored heat raises the coolant temperature, or•the hot engine compartment is additionally heated up by the sun.
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Checking and refilling levels229
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Changing windscreen wiper blades
If the windscreen wiper blades are in perfect condition, you
will benefit from an improved visibility. Damaged wiper
blades should be replaced immediately.
Removing the wiper blade
– Lift the wiper arm away from the windscreen.
– Slide the retainer catch on the wiper blade in the direction indi-
cated ⇒fig. 174 . Hold onto the wiper blade at the same time.
– Pull the wiper blade out of its mounting on the wiper arm.
Fitting the wiper blade
– Slide back the retainer catch on the new wiper blade. The mounting on the wiper blade should now be visible.
– Fit the new wiper blade into the mounting on the wiper arm ⇒fig. 175 .
– Slide the retainer catch on the wiper blade in direction so that it clicks into place on the wiper arm.
– Fold the wiper arm back down onto the glass.If the windscreen wipers smear , t h e y s h o u l d b e r e p la ce d i f t h e y a r e d a m a ge d ,
or cleaned if they are soiled.
If this does not produce the desired results, the setting angle of the wind-
screen wiper arms might be incorrect. They should be checked by a qualified
workshop and corrected if necessary.
WARNING
Do not drive unless you have good visibility through all windows!•The ignition must not be switched on while the front wiper arms are in
a raised position. The wipers would return to their park position and
damage the paintwork on the bonnet.
Fig. 174 Removing the
wiper bladeFig. 175 Fitting the wiper
blade
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Checking and refilling levels231
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Topping up and changing the brake fluid
It is best to have the brake fluid changed by a professional.Brake fluid absorbs damp. Therefore, in the course of time it will absorb water
from the ambient air. If the water content in the brake fluid is too high, the
brake system could corrode. In addition, the boiling point of the brake fluid
will be considerably reduced. This could adversely affect the braking ability in
certain circumstances.
For this reason the brake fluid must be changed periodically.
Your vehicle's Service Schedule will tell you when the brake fluid has to be
renewed.
We recommend you have the brake fluid changed as part of a regular Inspec-
tion Service at your garage. They are familiar with the procedure and have the
necessary special tools and spare parts as well as the proper facilities for
disposing of the old fluid.
Use only the genuine brake fluid specified by the factory Specialist garages
know that the brake fluid -DOT 4- is factory approved. The brake fluid must be
new.
WARNING
•Therefore, it must always be kept closed in its original container. Keep
out of the reach of children. Failure to comply could result in poisoning.•Heavy use of the brakes may cause a vapour lock if the brake fluid is left
in the system for too long. This would seriously affect the efficiency of the
brakes and the safety of the car, leading to the risk of accident.Caution
Please note that brake fluid will attack the paintwork on contact.
For the sake of the environment
If the fluid has to be drained out of the brake system, use an appropriate
container to catch the used brake fluid and dispose of it in the proper
manner.BatteryGeneral notes
All work on batteries requires specialist knowledge.The battery is virtually maintenance-free and is checked in the Inspection
Services.
We recommend that you replace a battery once it is older than 5 years.
Disconnecting the battery
If the battery is disconnected, some of the vehicle's functions will become
inoperative (e.g. electric windows). These functions will require resetting
after the battery is reconnected. For this reason, the battery should only be
disconnected from the vehicle's electrical system when absolutely necessary.
Long periods of non-use
The battery will gradually lose its charge because certain electrical equip-
ment continues to draw current even when the ignition is off. If you park the
vehicle for long periods of time in winter you should take the battery out of
the vehicle and keep it in a frost-proof room. Store the battery in a place
where it cannot “freeze up” and become damaged. At warm outside temper-
atures it is sufficient to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery. Even
when the battery is not connected you should charge it from time to time.
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Checking and refilling levels233
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
•A highly explosive mixture of gases is released when the battery is
under charge. The batteries should be charged in a well-ventilated room
only.•Keep children away from acid and batteries.•Before working on the electrical system, you must switch off the
engine, the ignition and all consumers. The negative cable on the battery
must be disconnected. When a light bulb is changed, you need only switch
off the light.•Deactivate the anti-theft alarm by unlocking the vehicle before you
disconnect the battery! The alarm will otherwise be triggered.•When disconnecting the battery from the vehicle electrical system,
disconnect first the negative cable and then the positive cable.•Switch off all electrical consumers before reconnecting the battery.
Reconnect first the positive cable and then the negative cable. Never
reverse the polarity of the connections. This could cause an electrical fire.•Never charge a frozen battery, or one which has thawed. This could
result in explosions and chemical burns. Always replace a battery which
has frozen. A flat battery can freeze at temperatures around 0°.•Ensure that the vent hose is always connected to the battery.•Never use a defective battery. This may be fatally explosive. Replace a
damaged battery immediately.Caution
•Never disconnect the battery if the ignition is switched on or if the engine
is running. This could damage the electrical system or electronic compo-
nents.•Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight over a long period of time, as
the intense ultraviolet radiation can damage the battery housing.•If the vehicle is left standing in cold conditions for a long period, protect
the battery from frost. If it “freezes” it will be damaged.
Charging the battery
A fully-charged battery is important for reliable starting.–Note the warnings ⇒ in “Important safety warnings for
handling a car battery” on page 232 and ⇒.
– Switch off the ignition and all electrical equipment.
– Only if “fast-charging”: both battery cables must be discon- nected (first the “negative” cable, then the “positive” cable).
– Connect the charger cables to the battery terminals, noting the colour code (red is used for “positive”, black or brown for “nega-
tive”).
– Now connect the battery charger to the power point and switch on.
– After charging the battery: switch off the battery charger and disconnect the power point cable.
– Finally disconnect the charger cables from the battery.
– If necessary, reconnect both battery cables to the battery (first the “positive” cable, then the “negative” cable).When charging with a low current (for instance with a small battery charger)
the battery does not normally have to be disconnected. However, both
battery cables must be disconnected before “ fast-charging” the battery with
a high current. However, always follow the instructions given by the manufac-
turer of the battery charger.
The fast-charging procedure for a battery is dangerous ⇒ in “Important
safety warnings for handling a car battery” on page 232, as it requires a
WARNING (continued)
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Wheels and tyres237
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Significant tyre pressure lossThe tyre symbol
is displayed and indicates that the tyre pressure for a least
one tyre is insufficient.
- Stop the vehicle.
- Switch the engine off.
- Check the tyre(s).
- Change the wheel if necessary.
Tyre pressure monitoring (RKA+)*
The type pressure monitor display on the instrument panel
indicates that the pressure is too low.The tyre pressure monitoring system makes use of the ABS sensors to
compare the rolling circumference and the frequency characteristics of the wheels. If the rolling circumference or frequency characteristic changes on
one or more wheels, the tyre pressure warning lamp
will light up. The fault
will also be indicated by a warning buzzer. The position of the affected tyre
will also be shown (if only one tyre is affected) on the centre display of the
instrument panel.
The rolling circumference and frequency characteristics can change if:
•the tyre pressure is too low.•the tyre has suffered structural damage.•the wheels or the inflation pressures have been changed without initial-
ising the system (see Adjusting the tyre pressure settings).•there is a greater load on the wheels of one axle (e.g. if you are carrying
more passengers or luggage).•the road surface under the left wheels is different to the road surface
under the right wheels for a long period.•when driving with snow chains.
Adjusting the tyre pressure settings (initialising the tyre pressure
monitoring system)
After any incident regarding the wheels of your vehicle, e.g. after modify the
tyre pressure ⇒page 238 or after changing of swapping around wheels ⇒
page 180 - with the vehicle at a standstill and the engine running - press
⇒ fig. 177 . The yellow warning lamp
will light up. Hold the button down
for 2 seconds until the warning lamp goes out and an acoustic warning is
given. You can now release the button.
If the wheels are subjected to extremely stress (e.g. heavy load), the tyre pres-
sure must be increased to the recommended value for the maximum load
(see the adhesive label on the inside of the fuel tank flap) and then initialise
the system.
Tyre pressure warning lamp on
When you switch on the ignition, the tyre pressure warning lamp
will light
up for about 2 seconds. There is a fault in the system if the indicator stays on
permanently after switching on the ignition. The instrument panel also
Fig. 177 Detailed view of
the centre console: Button
for the tyre pressure
monitoring system
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If and when255
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
FusesChanging fuses
If a fuse has blown, it must be replaced.
– Switch off the ignition and its failed electrical component.
– Remove the fuse cover using a screwdriver ⇒fig. 190 .
– Identify the fuse for the failed component ⇒page 256, “Fuse
assignment”.
– Take the plastic clip from inside the fuse cover, fit it onto the blown fuse, and pull the fuse out.
– Replace the blown fuse (which will have a melted metal strip) with a new fuse of the same amp rating.
–Fit the fuse cover back on.The individual electrical circuits are protected by fuses. The fuses are located
behind a cover at the left-hand end of the instrument panel.
Two spare fuses and a sticker identifying the fuses are provided on the inside
of the fuse cover. There is also a crank handle for operating the sun roof* by
hand (if the electrical system fails).
Caution
Never “repair” damaged fuses and never replace them with fuses with a
higher rating. Failure to comply could result in fire. It could also cause
damage to other parts of the electrical system.
Note
If a newly replaced fuse blows again after a short time, the electrical system
must be checked by a qualified workshop as soon as possible.
Fig. 190 Left side of dash
panel: Fuse box coverFig. 191 Schematic
drawing of fuse box at the
left-hand end of instru-
ment panel: Fuses
(without fuse cover)
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If and when
258•Bulbs are highly sensitive to pressure. The glass can break when you
touch the bulb, causing injury.•The high voltage element of gas discharge lamps* (xenon light) must
be handled correctly. Otherwise, there is a risk of death.•When changing bulbs, please take care not to injure yourself on sharp
parts in the headlight housing.Caution
•Remove the ignition key before working on the electric system. If not, a
short circuit could occur.•Switch off the lights or parking lights before you change a bulb.For the sake of the environment
Please ask your specialist retailer how to dispose of used bulbs in the proper
manner.
Note
•Depending on weather conditions (cold or wet), the front lights, the fog
lights, the rear lights and the indicators may be temporarily misted. This does
not affect the useful life of the lighting system. By switching on the lights, the
area through which the beam of light is projected will quickly be demisted.
However, the edges may continue to be misted.•Please check at regular intervals that all lighting (especially the exterior
lighting) on your vehicle is functioning properly. This is not only in the interest
of your own safety, but also in that of all other road users.•Before changing a bulb, make sure you have the correct new bulb.•Do not touch the glass part of the bulb with your bare hands, use a cloth
or paper towel instead. Otherwise, the fingerprints left on the glass will vaporise as a result of the heat generated by the bulb, be deposited on the
reflector and impair its surface.
Removing the air duct
The air duct has to be removed to gain access to the bulbs for
the right-side headlight.–Unscrew bolts ⇒
fig. 192.
– Detach air duct from guide and take it out.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 192 Air duct on right
side of vehicle
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If and when
260Changing the turn signal bulb
The procedure for changing the bulbs on the front
passenger's side is the same as on the driver's side.– Switch off the ignition and the lights.
– Raise the bonnet.
– Turn the bulb holder anti-clockwise, pulling it by the grip
⇒fig. 195 and removing the bulb holder and the bulb.
– Replace the blown bulb in the bulb holder (press and turn anti- clockwise to remove) with a new bulb (press and turn clockwise
to insert).
– Installation is in the reverse order.
– Check whether the new bulb is working. Note
Although it is not necessary, previously remove the rigid cover
⇒page 262,
fig. 198 for easier turn signal bulb changes.
Fig. 195 Indicator bulb
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