
If and when
288Towing and tow-startingTo w - s t a r t i n g
The use of jump leads is preferable to tow-starting.We recommend that you do not tow-start your vehicle. Jump-starting
is preferable ⇒ page 285.
However, if your vehicle has to be tow-started:
– Engage the 2
nd or the 3
rd gear.
– Keep the clutch pressed down.
– Switch the ignition on.
– Once both vehicles are moving, release the clutch.
– As soon as the engine starts, press the clutch and move the gear lever into neutral. This helps to prevent driving into the towing
vehicle.
WARNING
The risk of accidents is high when tow-starting. The vehicle being towed
can easily collide with the towing vehicle.
Caution
When tow-starting, fuel could enter the catalytic converter and damage it.
CommentsPlease observe the following points if you use a tow-rope:
Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
– Drive slowly at first until the tow-rope is taut. Then accelerate gradually.
– Begin and change gears cautiously. If you are driving an auto- matic vehicle, accelerate gently.
– Remember that the brake servo and power steering are not working in the vehicle you are towing. Brake earlier than you
would normally, but with a more gentle pressure on the brake.
Notes for the driver of the towed vehicle
– Ensure that the tow-rope remains taut at all times when towing.Tow-rope or tow-bar
It is easier and safer to tow a vehicle with a tow-bar. You should only use a
tow-rope if you do not have a tow-bar.
A tow-rope should be slightly elastic to reduce the loading on both vehicles.
It is advisable to use a tow-rope made of synthetic fibre or similarly elastic
material.
Attach the tow-rope or the tow-bar only to the towing eyes provided or a
towing bracket.
Driving style
Towing requires some experience, especially when using a tow-rope. Both
drivers should be familiar with the technique required for towing. Inexperi-
enced drivers should not attempt to tow-start or tow away another vehicle.
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 288 Donnerstag, 3. September 2009 12:24 12

General notes on the technical data
294Towing a trailerTrailer weightsTrailer weights
The trailer weights and drawbar loads approved are selected in intensive
trials according to precisely defined criteria. The approved trailer weights are
valid for vehicles in the EU for maximum speeds of 80 km/h (in certain
circumstances up to 100 km/h). The figures may be different in other coun-
tries. All data in the official vehicle documents take precedence over these
data ⇒ .
Drawbar load
The maximum permitted weight exerted by the trailer drawbar on the ball joint
of the towing bracket must not exceed 75 kg.
In the interest of road safety, we recommend that you always tow
approaching the maximum drawbar load. The response of the trailer on the
road will be poor if the drawbar load is too small.
If the maximum permissible drawbar load cannot be met (e.g. with small,
empty and light-weight single axle trailers o r ta n d e m a x l e t r a i l e r s wi t h a n a x le
base of less than 1 metre), at least 4% of the actual trailer weight is a legal
stipulation for a drawbar load.
WARNING
•For safet y reas ons , d o not excee d the 8 0 k m/h limit . Th is is als o valid in
countries where higher speeds are permitted.•Never exceed the maximum trailer weights or the draw bar loading. If
the permissible axle load or the permissible total weight is exceeded, the
driving characteristics of the vehicle may change, leading to accidents,
injuries and damage to the vehicle.
WheelsTyre pressure, snow chains, wheel boltsTyre pressures
The sticker with the tyre pressure values can be found on the inside of the
tank flap. The tyre pressure values given there are for cold tyres. The slightly
raised pressures of warm tyres must not be reduced. ⇒
Snow chains
Snow chains may be fitted only to the front wheels.
Consult the chapter “wheels” of this manual.
Wheel bolts
After the wheels have been changed, the tightening torque of the wheel bolts
s ho uld b e che cke d as s o on as p ossible wit h a to rqu e w re nch ⇒ . The tight-
ening torque for steel and alloy wheels is 120 Nm.
WARNING
•Check the tyre pressure at least once per month. Checking tyre pressure
value is very important. If the tyre pressure is too high or too low, there is
an increased danger of accidents, particularly at high speeds.•If the torque of the wheel bolts is too low, they could loosen while the
vehicle is in motion. Risk of accident! If the tightening torque is too high,
the wheel bolts and threads can be damaged.Note
We recommend that you ask your Authorised Service Centre for information
about appropriate wheel, tyre and snow chain size.
ExeoST_EN.book Seite 294 Donnerstag, 3. September 2009 12:24 12

Index307
DDanger of fitting a child seat on the front passenger
seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Dash panel cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Data entry control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Date display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Daytime running lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Diesel engine Winter driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Diesel engine particulate filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Diesel particulate filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Digital clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Dipped headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
DIS Average fuel consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Average speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Driving time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Instantaneous fuel consumption . . . . . . . . . 85
Disabling front passenger airbag Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Disabling the airbag Disabling front passenger airbag . . . . . . . . . 44
Disposal Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Distance covered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Distance display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Door catch/ tailgate warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Door lock cylinders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Doors
Childproof lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Locking the doors manually if the central lock-ing fails to work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Driver information system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Ambient temperature display . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Auto-check system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
CD and radio display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Door catch/ tailgate warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Driver messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Handbrake warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Menu display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
On-board computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Red symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Speed warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Warning messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Yellow symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Driver messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Driver's seat Assigning the key to the seat . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Enabling stored settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
With memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Driving Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Economically / With Respect for the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Driving safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Dynamic gear control program . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
EEconomical driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Possible malfunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Switch on font passenger's door . . . . . . . . 110
Switch on rear doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Switches in the driver's door . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Electrical power point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Electronic differential lock How it works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Electronic immobiliser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Electronic stabilisation programme Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
How the system works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Emergencies Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Disconnecting the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251, 256
Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
tyre mobility system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Engine Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Engine compartment Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
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