2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class engine overheat

Refueling
Important safety notes
GWarning
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flames or smoking
materials near gasoline.
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and any skin or clothing
contact.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation of fuel vapors are damaging to your
health.
GWarning
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create
pressure in the system which could cause a
gas discharge. This could cause the gasoline
to spray back out when removing the fuel
pump nozzle, which could cause personal
injury.
GWarning!
C 300 and C 300 Sport with automatic
transmission:
Flexible Fuel Vehicles (identified by a label
reading Premium gasoline or E85 only! on
the fuel filler flap):
Ethanol fuel (E85) and its fumes are highly
flammable, poisonous and burn easily.
Ethanol fuel can cause serious injuries if
ignited or if you come into contact with it or
inhale fumes of it. Avoid inhalation of ethanol
fumes and skin contact with ethanol.
Extinguish all open flames before refueling.
Never smoke or create sparks close to
ethanol.
! Do not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
gasoline engine. Even small amounts of the
wrong fuel result in damage to the fuel
system and engine.
! Do not switch on the ignition if you
accidentally refuel with the wrong fuel.
Otherwise, the fuel will enter the fuel lines.
Notify a qualified specialist workshop and
have the fuel tank and fuel lines drained
completely.
gasoline
Fuel grade
! You should only refuel with unleaded
premium-grade gasoline as this avoids
damaging the catalytic converter.
Flexible fuel vehicles (recognizable by the
sticker Premium gasoline or E85 only! on
the inside of the fuel filler flap) can be
refueled with E85. For further information
on flexible fuel, see "Fuel".
If engine running problems are apparent,
have the cause checked immediately and
repaired. Excess unburned fuel can
otherwise enter the catalytic converter,
leading to overheating and possibly
causing a fire.
i Only refuel with unleaded premium-grade
gasoline with a specified minimum octane
number of 91 (average value of 96 RON/
86 MON).
Usually you will find information about the
fuel grade on the pump. If you cannot find
the label on the gasoline pump, ask the gas
station staff.
C 300 and C 300 Sport with automatic
transmission: you can recognize flexible
fuel vehicles by the sticker Premium
gasoline or E85 only! on the inside of the
fuel filler flap.
You can find further information under
"Fuel" ( Y page 306), by consulting an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
visiting http://www.mbusa.com (USA
only).
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Downhill gradients
! On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the cargo on the brakes by shifting
to a lower gear in good time. This allows
you to take advantage of engine braking
and helps you to avoid overheating the
brakes and wearing them out excessively.
When you take advantage of engine
braking, a drive wheel may not turn for
some time, e.g. on a slippery road surface.
This could cause damage to the drive train.
Such damage is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz warranty.
Heavy and light loads
GWarning
Depressing the brake pedal constantly results
in excessive and premature wear to the brake
pads.
It may also cause the brakes to overheat,
seriously impairing their effectiveness. It may
then not be possible to stop the vehicle in
sufficient time to avoid an accident.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
cargo, do not stop the vehicle immediately,
but drive on for a short while. This allows the
airflow to cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads
GWarning
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through water
deep enough to wet brake components, the
first braking action may be somewhat
reduced. You have to depress the brake pedal
more firmly. Maintain a safe distance from
vehicles in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the
vehicle washed, brake firmly while paying
attention to the traffic conditions. This will
warm up the brake discs, thereby drying them
more quickly and protecting them against
corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt
treated roadsGWarning
The layer of salt on the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings may cause a delay in the
braking effect, resulting in a significantly
longer braking distance, which could lead to
an accident.
To avoid this danger, you should:
R occasionally brake carefully, without
putting other road users at risk, when you
are driving on salted roads. This helps to
remove any salt that may have started to
build up on the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings.
R maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead and drive with particular care.
R carefully apply the brakes at the end of a
trip and immediately after commencing a
new trip, so that salt residues are removed
from the brake discs.
Maintenance of the brakes
! If the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and you hear a
warning tone while the engine is running,
the brake fluid level may be too low.
Observe additional warning messages in
the multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked
immediately. This work should be carried
out at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
All checks and maintenance work on the
brake system must be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. This work
should be carried out at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Only install brake pads and use brake fluid
recommended by Mercedes-Benz.
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in the "Service24h" section of the Service
Booklet.
Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden, you must shift to a lower gear
in good time or select shift range 1, 2 or 3 in
vehicles with automatic transmission. By
doing so, you will make use of the braking
effect of the engine, which relieves the load
on the brake system and prevents the brakes
from overheating and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
GWarning
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle's speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road, traffic,
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on winding roads or in heavy
traffic because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid
changes in tire traction can result in wheel
spin and loss of control.
R Deactivate the cruise control when driving
in fog.
The "Resume" function should only be
operated if the driver is fully aware of the
previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.GWarning!
The cruise control brakes automatically so
that the set speed is not exceeded.
Cruise control lever
:To store the current speed or a higher
speed;To store the current speed or a lower
speed=To deactivate cruise control?To store the current speed or to call up
the last stored speed
When you activate cruise control, the stored
speed is shown in the multifunction display
for five seconds. In the multifunction display,
the segments between the stored speed and
the maximum speed light up.
Storing and maintaining the current
speed
You can store the current speed if you are
driving faster than 20 mph (30 km/h).
XAccelerate the vehicle to the desired
speed.XBriefly press the cruise control lever
up : or down ; to the pressure point.XRemove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated. The vehicle
automatically maintains the stored speed.156Driving systemsDriving and parking
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Vehicle equipment
i This manual describes all the standard
and optional equipment of your vehicle
which was available at the time of
purchase. Country-specific differences are
possible. Bear in mind that your vehicle
may not feature all functions described
here. This also refers to safety-related
systems and functions.
Important safety notes
You will find an illustration of the instrument
cluster in the "At a glance" section
( Y page 26).
GWarning
A driver's attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions permit
it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h ), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximately
14 m) every second.
GWarning!
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving conditions,
such as
R speed
R outside temperature
R warning/indicator lamps
R malfunction/warning messages
R failure of any systems
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with added
caution. Contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible.GWarning
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are
intentionally not very detailed. The
malfunction and warning messages are
simply a reminder with respect to the
operation of certain systems. They do not
replace the owner's and/or driver's
responsibility to maintain the vehicle's
operating safety. Have all required
maintenance and safety checks performed on
the vehicle. Bring the vehicle to an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center to address the
malfunction and warning messages.
Displays and operation
Coolant temperature gauge
GWarning
Driving when your engine is overheated can
cause some fluids which may have leaked into
the engine compartment to catch fire. You
could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns which can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of the
vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.
The coolant temperature gauge is in the
instrument cluster on the right-hand side.
Under normal operating conditions and with
the specified coolant level, the coolant
temperature may rise to 248 ‡ (120 †).
! If the coolant temperature is too high a
display message is shown.
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GWarning
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which may burn
if it comes into contact with hot engine parts. You could be seriously burned.
! The coolant level is too low. Avoid making long journeys with too little coolant in the cooling
system. The engine will otherwise be damaged.
The display messages and the corresponding symbol that indicate that the coolant level is
too low must not be ignored.
Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M Solutions?
Coolant Level Low
Stop Vehicle Turn
Engine OffThe coolant is too hot.XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.XMake sure that the air supply to the radiator is not blocked, e.g.
by snow, slush or ice.XWait until the display message disappears before restarting the
engine. There is otherwise a risk of engine damage.XPay attention to the coolant temperature display.XIf the temperature increases again, visit a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.The poly-V-belt may have torn.XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.XOpen the hood.XCheck whether the poly-V-belt is torn.
If the poly-V-belt is torn:
! Do not continue driving. The engine could otherwise overheat.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the poly-V-belt is OK:
XWait until the display message disappears before restarting the
engine. There is otherwise a risk of engine damage.XPay attention to the coolant temperature display.XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.GWarning
Driving when your engine is overheated can cause some fluids which may have leaked into the
engine compartment to catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause serious burns which can occur just by opening the
engine hood. Stay away from the engine if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of the
vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle until the engine has cooled down.
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! If the coolant temperature exceeds 248 ‡(120 †) do not continue driving. The engine will
otherwise be damaged.Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M Solutions?The engine fan is faulty.XAt coolant temperatures below 248 ‡ (120 †), continue driving
to the next qualified specialist workshop.XAvoid subjecting the engine to heavy loads, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain, and stop-start driving.#The battery is not being charged.
Possible causes are:
R a faulty alternator
R a torn poly-V-belt
R a malfunction in the electronicsXPull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.XOpen the hood.XCheck whether the poly-V-belt is torn.
If the poly-V-belt is torn:
! Do not continue driving. The engine could otherwise overheat.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the poly-V-belt is OK:
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.4
Check Engine Oil
At Next
Refueling Check
Engine Oil at Next
RefuelingThe engine oil level has dropped to a critical level.
A warning tone also sounds.XCheck the oil level ( Y page 239).XIf necessary, add the engine oil ( Y page 240).XHave the engine checked for leaks if engine oil has to be added
more often than usual.
Information on approved engine oils can be obtained from any qualified specialist workshop
or on the Internet at http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
! The oil level is too low. Avoid long journeys with too little engine oil. There is a risk of
engine damage.
The display messages and the corresponding symbol that indicate that the oil level is too
low must not be ignored.
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ProblemPossible causes/consequences and M Solutionsä
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp flashes
while the vehicle is in
motion.At least one wheel is spinning and ETS (Electronic Traction
System) is deactivated to prevent the brakes on the drive wheels
from overheating.XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
ETS switches back on again as soon as the brakes have cooled
down.
The display message disappears and the ä warning lamp goes
out.
å
The yellow ESP ®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while
the engine is running. GRisk of accident
ESP ®
is deactivated. ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle if it starts
to skid or if a wheel starts to spin.
XReactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: ( Y page 63).XAdapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
XHave ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.M (C 63 AMG only)
The yellow SPORT
handling mode warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. GRisk of accident
SPORT handling mode is activated. ESP ®
only stabilizes the vehicle
in extreme situations. ESP ®
intervention may not be able to
provide sufficient assistance in such situations, and the vehicle
may start to skid.
XReactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: ( Y page 63).
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
XHave ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.208Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays
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ProblemPossible causes/consequences and M Solutions?
The red coolant
warning lamp comes on
while the engine is
running.The coolant level is too low.
If the coolant level is correct, the airflow to the radiator may be
blocked or the electric radiator fan may be malfunctioning.
The coolant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled
sufficiently.XPull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.XAllow the engine and coolant to cool.XCheck the coolant level and add the coolant ( Y page 240).
Observe the warning notes.XIf the coolant needs adding more often than usual, have the
engine coolant system checked.XMake sure that the air supply to the radiator is not blocked, e.g.
by snow, slush or ice.XAt coolant temperatures below 248 ‡ (120 †), continue driving
to the next qualified specialist workshop.XAvoid subjecting the engine to heavy loads, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain, and stop-start driving.?
The red coolant
warning lamp comes on
while the engine is
running. A warning tone
also sounds.The coolant has exceeded a temperature of 248 ‡ (120 †). The
airflow to the radiator may be blocked or the coolant level may be
too low.
The engine is not being cooled sufficiently and may be damaged.XPull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.XAllow the engine and coolant to cool.GWarning
Driving when your engine is overheated can cause some fluids which may have leaked into the
engine compartment to catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause serious burns which can occur just by opening the
engine hood. Stay away from the engine if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of the
vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle until the engine has cooled down.
! If the coolant temperature exceeds 248 ‡(120 †) do not continue driving. The engine will
otherwise be damaged.
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