another vehicle too closely, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The
capabilities of a hydraulic brake assistant
equipped vehicle must never be exploited
in a reckless or dangerous manner which
could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.
Activating the hazard warning flasher
after an emergency braking maneuver
If you bring the vehicle to a complete stop
by strongly braking at a speed of more than
43 mph (70 km/h), the hazard warning
flasher automatically comes on as soon as
the vehicle is at a standstill. The hazard
warning flasher will remain on until it is
switched off using the hazard warning
flasher switch ( Y page 66) or until the
speed of the vehicle has exceeded 6 mph
(10 km/h).
Anti-theft systems
Electronic immobilizer
The electronic immobilizer prevents
unauthorized persons from starting your
vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
key with you and lock the vehicle. The
engine can be started by anyone with a key
that is left inside the vehicle.
XActivating: Remove the key from the
starter switch.XDeactivating: Insert the key in the
starter switch.XTurn the key to starter switch position 1.Anti-theft warning system*
Once the anti-theft warning system has
been armed, a visual and audible alarm is
triggered when
R someone opens a door or the tailgate
R someone enters the vehicle’s interior
R there is motion inside the vehicle
R someone attempts to raise the vehicle
The alarm will also be triggered when
unlocking and opening the driver’s door
with the key.
i The alarm will stay on, even if the
driver’s door is immediately closed. For
canceling the alarm, see ( Y page 48).
Close the windows and the tailgate before
arming the alarm system. Make sure there
are no moving objects inside the vehicle.XArming: Lock the vehicle using the
remote control.
Warning system indicator lamp 0046
flashes rapidly. The anti-theft warning
system arms after about 25 seconds. When
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warning system indicator lamp 0046
flashes about every three seconds.
i You can also arm the anti-theft warning
system by locking the vehicle without
using the remote control ( Y page 162).
XDisarming: Unlock the vehicle using the
remote control.
The anti-theft warning system is
disarmed. Warning system indicator
lamp 0046 stops flashing.
Canceling the alarm
XInsert the key in the starter switch.XTurn the key to starter switch position 1.
or
XPress button 0034 or 0038 on the key.
Tow-away alarm* and interior motion
sensor*
Once the anti-theft warning system has
been armed, a visual and audible alarm is
triggered when someone attempts to raise
the vehicle or if motion is detected inside
the vehicle.
XArming: Lock the vehicle using the
remote control.
The tow-away protection and the interior
motion sensor are armed after about
25 seconds.XDisarming: Unlock the vehicle using the
remote control.
The tow-away protection and the interior
motion sensor are disarmed.
Canceling the alarm
XInsert the key in the starter switch.XTurn the key to starter switch position 1.
or
XPress button 0034 or 0038 on the key.Switching off tow-away protection and
interior motion sensor
Switch off the tow-away protection and the
interior motion sensor when locking the
vehicle and
R transporting the vehicle,
R board, e.g. a ferry or auto train,
R there are people or animals in the
vehicle,
R the side windows remain open.
This prevents any false alarm.
XRemove the key from the starter switch.XPress switch 0046 within 60 seconds.
Indicator lamp 0047 comes on.XExit the vehicle.XLock the vehicle using the remote
control.
i The tow-away protection and the
interior motion sensor remain switched
off until you lock your vehicle again.
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GWarning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key 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
result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
Opening and closing the retractable
soft top (cabriolet only)
You can fully open the retractable soft top
with the key.
Key with remote control
00460038 Lock button00470035 Opening the retractable soft top008A0034 Unlock buttonXOpening: Press button 0035 on the key for
approximately two seconds.
The retractable soft top opens.
i Pressing symbols 0034, 0038 or 0035 on the
key with remote control while opening
the retractable soft top will interrupt
the opening procedure.
XClosing: Press symbol 0055 on the
retractable soft top switch
( Y page 71).GWarning!
When closing the retractable soft top, make
sure there is no danger of anyone being
harmed by the closing procedure.
i The remote control has an operating
range of approximately 50 ft (15 meters).
Take care that you do not open your
vehicle’s retractable soft top
inadvertently.
Opening the tailgate on the cabriolet
GWarning!
Make sure the tailgate is closed when the
engine is running and while driving.
Among other dangers, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle
interior resulting in unconsciousness and
death.
GWarning!
High outside temperature, stop-and-go
traffic, driving on long uphill grades, or
driving at high engine speed may increase
the temperature in the engine
compartment. Therefore the area around the
air slots in the rear apron may be hot. Let
the engine cool off before touching this
area to prevent burns.
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0046Interior lamp0047Switching on the automatic control008AOff0088Continuous operation
Automatic control
XSet the rocker switch to position 0047.
The interior lamp comes on for a period
of time.
Switching off
XSet the rocker switch to position 008A.
The interior lamp is permanently
switched off.
Continuous operation
XSet the rocker switch to position 0088.
The interior lamp is permanently
switched on.
! When leaving the vehicle, make sure the
interior lamp is not set to continuous
operation and none of the doors is left
open for a long period of time.
Doing otherwise could result in a
discharged battery.
Windshield wipers
Switching windshield wipers on and off
005DWindshield wipers off004AIntermittent wiping004BSlow continuous wiping004CFast continuous wipingXMake sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.XSwitching on: Turn the wiper switch to
position 004B or 004C depending on the
intensity of the rain.
! Do not operate the windshield wipers
when the windshield is dry. Dust that
accumulates on a windshield might
scratch the glass and/or damage the
wiper blades when wiping occurs on a dry
windshield. If it is necessary to operate
the windshield wipers in dry weather
conditions, always operate the
windshield wipers with windshield
washer fluid.
! If anything blocks the windshield
wipers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch them
off immediately.
For safety reasons, stop the vehicle in a
safe location and
R -
remove the key from the starter
switch
- engage the parking brake
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Opening and closing the power windows
This feature is only available on the model
passion and BRABUS.
GWarning!
Do not keep any part of your body up against
the side window pane when opening a
window. The downward motion of the pane
may pull that part of your body down between
the window pane and the door frame and trap
it there. If there is a risk of entrapment,
release the switch and pull up the top of the
switch to close the window.
GWarning!
When closing the windows, make sure there
is no danger of anyone being harmed by the
closing procedure.
The closing of the side windows can be
immediately stopped by releasing the
switch.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key 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
result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
The switches for both power windows are on
the driver’s door. In addition, there is a
switch for the passenger side on the
passenger door.
0046Side window driver’s door0047Side window passenger doorXMake sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.XOpening: Press the top of the respective
switch to the resistance point.
The corresponding side window moves
downwards until you release the switch.XClosing: Pull the top of the respective
switch to the resistance point.
The corresponding side window moves
upwards until you release the switch.XAutomatic opening: Press the top of the
respective switch briefly.
The corresponding side window opens
completely.XStopping during automatic opening:
Press or pull the top of the respective
switch again.
The corresponding side window stops
immediately.
Driving and parking
Starting
GWarning!
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals’ range of motion.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats* or
carpets in the footwell, make sure the
pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden acceleration or braking
maneuvers, the objects could get caught
between or beneath the pedals and restrict
your ability to brake or accelerate. This
could lead to accidents and/or injury.
GWarning!
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains
carbon monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can
cause unconsciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
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fumes are entering the vehicle while
driving, have the cause determined and
corrected immediately. If you must drive
under these conditions, drive only with at
least one window fully open at all times.
Gearshift pattern for transmission
0046Release button0060Park position0061Reverse gear005FNeutral position005EDrive position0066Manual gear shifting0067Upshifting0044Downshifting
Starting the engine
! Shift the transmission into park
position P or reverse gear R only when the
vehicle is stopped in order to avoid
damaging the transmission.
XMake sure the gear selector lever is set
to park position P.
The transmission position indicator
should be on P.XDo not depress the accelerator pedal.XTurn the key to starter switch position
2 and release it.
The engine starts automatically (“touch-
start” function).DrivingXDepress the brake pedal.XPress release button 0046 (Y page 76) to
disengage the gear selector lever lock.XMove the gear selector lever to drive
position D.
D appears in the transmission position
indicator.XRelease the brake pedal.XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.GWarning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This
could result in drive wheel slip and
reduced vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS
will not prevent this type of loss of control.
GWarning!
It is dangerous to shift the transmission
out of park position P or neutral position
N if the engine speed is higher than idle
speed. If your foot is not firmly on the brake
pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly
forward or in reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your
right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
! Do not run a cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service
life of the engine.
! Simultaneously depressing the
accelerator pedal and applying the
brakes reduces engine performance and
causes premature brake and drivetrain
wear.
Reversing the vehicle
! Shift the transmission into reverse
gear R only when the vehicle is stopped
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in order to avoid damaging the
transmission.
You can drive in reverse gear at a speed
of up to 9 mph (15 km/h).XDepress the brake pedal.XPress the release button ( Y page 76) to
disengage the gear selector lever lock.XMove the gear selector lever to reverse
gear R.
R appears in the transmission position
indicator.XRelease the brake pedal.XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.
Parking
GWarning!
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system. These materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
Vehicle movement can cause serious
personal injury or damage to the vehicle or
the vehicle drivetrain. Therefore, always
do the following before turning off the
engine and leaving the vehicle:
R Keep right foot on the brake pedal.
R Engage the parking brake.
R Move the gear selector lever to park
position P.
R Slowly release the brake pedal.
R When parked on an incline, always turn
the front wheels towards the curb.
R Turn the key to starter switch position 0
and remove the key from the starter
switch.
R Take the key with you and lock the vehicle
when leaving.
GWarning!
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 vehicle.
Adapt your driving accordingly.
XProperly stop and park the vehicle.XDepress the brake pedal.XEngage the parking brake ( Y page 77).
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the brake warning
lamp 0027 (USA only) or 004D (Canada
only) in the instrument cluster comes on.XRelease the brake pedal.
Parking brake
The parking brake serves to secure the
vehicle against rolling away when it is
stationary or parked.
GWarning!
Engaging the parking brake while the
vehicle is in motion can cause the rear
wheels to lock up. You could lose control of
the vehicle and cause an accident. In
addition, the vehicle’s brake lights do not
light up when the parking brake is engaged.
XReleasing: Depress the brake pedal.XPull up slightly on parking brake
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GWarning!
In the event of the vehicle needing to be
towed, a significantly greater amount of
pedal pressure will be required when the
engine is switched off.
Turning off the engine
GWarning!
Do not turn off the engine before the
vehicle has come to a complete stop. 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 vehicle.
XDepress the brake pedal.XPress the release button ( Y page 76) to
disengage the gear selector lever lock.XMove the gear selector lever to park
position P.
!
Always engage the parking brake in
addition to shifting to park position P.
XRelease the brake pedal.XTurn the key to starter switch position
0 .XRemove the key from the starter switch.
The electronic immobilizer is
activated.
Transmission
Introduction
Your vehicle is equipped with a 5‑speed
automated transmission with manual or
automatic mode. For information on
driving with the transmission see also
“Starting” ( Y page 75).
GWarning!
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals’ range of motion.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats* or
carpets in the footwell, make sure the
pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden acceleration or braking
maneuvers, the objects could get caught
between or beneath the pedals and restrict
your ability to brake or accelerate. This
could lead to accidents and/or injury.
Gear selector lever
Gearshift pattern for transmission
0046Release button0060Park position0061Reverse gear005FNeutral position005EDrive position0066Manual gear shifting0067Upshifting0044Downshifting
The current gear selector lever position
appears in the transmission position
indicator. When M is selected the currently
selected gear appears ( Y page 85).
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