2012 MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK steering

Function Page
:
Overhead control panel 36
;
PARKTRONIC warning dis-
play 182
=
Combination switch 107
?
Instrument cluster 30
A
Horn
B
DIRECT SELECT lever 151
C
Steering wheel gearshift
paddles
156
D
Light switch 105 Function Page
E
Electric parking brake 163
F
Opening the bonnet 285
G
Diagnostics connection 23
H
Ignition lock 143
I
Adjusting the steering
wheel
98
J
Cruise control lever 169
K
Climate control systems 122Cockpit
29At a glance

Multifunction steering wheel
Function Page
:
Multifunction display 210
;
Audio/COMAND display;
see the separate operating
instructions = ?
Switches on LINGUA-
TRONIC; see the separate
operating instructions ? ~
Rejects or ends a call 215
Exits telephone book/
redial memory
6
Makes or accepts a call
Switches to the redial mem-
ory WX
Adjusts the volume
8
Mute Function Page
A =;
Selects a menu 209
9:
Selects a submenu or
scrolls through lists
209
a
Confirms the selection 209
Hiding display messages 229
B %
Back 209
Switches off LINGUA-
TRONIC; see the separate
operating instructionsMultifunction steering wheel
33At a glance

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els, series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. National variations are pos- sible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all of the functions descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 24). Occupant safety
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If service work is not carried out correctly, the operating safety of your vehicle may be affec-
ted. This could cause you to lose control of
your vehicle and cause an accident. More-
over, the safety systems may no longer be
able to protect you or others as they are
designed to do.
Always have service work carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
Modifications to or work performed incor-
rectly on the following parts can result in the
restraint systems not functioning as intended:
R the restraint system, consisting of seat
belts and their anchorage points, belt ten-
sioners, belt force limiters and airbags
R the wiring
R networked electronic systems
Airbags and belt tensioners could fail to
deploy or be triggered in an accident despite
the deceleration force being sufficient to trig-
ger the systems, or could be triggered unin-
tentionally. For this reason, never make any
modifications to the restraint systems.
Therefore, you must not tamper with elec-
tronic components or their software. The seat belts, together with SRS (Supple-
mental Restraint System), are complemen-
tary, co-ordinated restraint systems
(Y
page 41). They reduce the risk of injury in
specific, pre-defined types of accident situa-
tions and thereby increase occupant safety.
However, seat belts and airbags generally do
not protect against objects penetrating the
vehicle from the outside.
To ensure that the restraint systems can
deliver their full potential protection, make
sure that:
R the seat and head restraint are adjusted
properly (Y page 92)
R the seat belt has been fastened properly
(Y page 46)
R the airbags can inflate unrestricted if
deployed (Y page 42)
R the steering wheel is adjusted properly
(Y page 98)
R the restraint systems have not been modi-
fied
An airbag increases the protection of vehicle
occupants wearing a seat belt. However, air-
bags are only an additional restraint system
which complements, but does not replace,
the seat belt. All vehicle occupants must wear their seat belt correctly at all times, even if thevehicle is equipped with airbags. The airbags
are not deployed in all types of accidents. For example, if the protective capacity of cor-
rectly fastened seat belts is not increased by
deploying the airbags, the airbags will not
deploy.
Airbag deployment only provides increased
protection if the seat belt is worn correctly.
The seat belt helps, firstly, to keep the vehicle
occupant in the best position in relation to the airbag. Secondly, in a head-on collision, for
example, the seat belt prevents the vehicle
occupant from being propelled towards the
point of impact. 40
Occupant safetySafety

R
do not lean forwards, e.g. over the cover of
the driver's/front-passenger front airbag,
particularly when the vehicle is in motion.
R do not put your feet on the dashboard.
R only hold the steering wheel on the outside.
This allows the airbag to be fully deployed.
You could be injured if the airbag is
deployed and you are holding the inside of
the steering wheel.
R do not lean on the doors from inside the
vehicle.
R make sure that there are no people, ani-
mals or objects between the vehicle occu-
pants and the area where the airbags are
deployed.
R do not place any objects between the seat
backrest and the door.
R do not hang any hard objects, e.g. coat
hangers, on the grab handles or coat hooks.
R do not attach accessories, e.g. cup holders,
to the doors.
It is not possible to rule out a risk of injury
being caused by an airbag, due to the high
speed at which the airbag must be deployed. G
WARNING
Airbag functionality can only be assured if the following parts are not covered and no badgesor stickers are attached to them:
R padded steering wheel boss
R kneebag cover below the steering column
R front-passenger airbag cover
R outer side of front seat bolsters
R side trim next to the rear seat backrest
R roof frame cover between the front A-pillar
and the C-pillar in the rear compartment G
WARNING
When an airbag deploys, a small amount of
powder is released. The powder may cause
short-term breathing difficulties to persons
suffering from asthma or other pulmonary
conditions. In order to prevent potential breathing diffi-
culties, you should leave the vehicle as soon
as it is safe to do so. You can also open the
window to allow fresh air to enter the vehicle
interior. The powder does not constitute a
health hazard and does not indicate that there
is a fire in the vehicle. G
WARNING
The airbag parts are hot after the airbag has
been deployed. Do not touch them as you
could burn yourself.
Have the airbags replaced at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Otherwise, occupants are
not protected by the airbags in the event of
another accident.
Airbag deployment slows down and restricts
the movement of the vehicle occupant.
If the airbags are deployed, you will hear a
bang and a small amount of powder may also
be released. Only in rare cases will the bang
affect your hearing. The powder that is
released generally does not constitute a
health hazard. The 6SRS warning lamp
lights up.
The airbag installation locations are identified
by the AIRBAG symbol.
Front airbags !
Do not place heavy objects on the front-
passenger seat. The system may then
detect that the seat is occupied and if there
is an accident, the restraint systems on the front-passenger side could be deployed.
Have restraint systems that have been trig-
gered replaced. Occupant safety
43Safety Z

Driver's airbag
:deploys in front of the
steering wheel; front-passenger front air-
bag ;deploys in front of and above the glove
compartment.
The front airbags increase protection for the
driver's and front-passenger's head and
chest.
They are deployed:
R at the start of an accident with a high rate of
vehicle acceleration or deceleration in a
longitudinal direction
R if the system determines that airbag
deployment can offer additional protection to that provided by the seat belt
R depending on whether the seat belt is being
used
R independently of other airbags in the vehi-
cle
If the vehicle overturns, the front airbags are
generally not deployed.
Vehicles with automatic child seat recog-
nition in the front-passenger seat: front-
passenger airbag ;is only activated if the
system determines that the front-passenger
seat is occupied. The 4PASSENGER AIR-
BAG OFF indicator lamp on the centre con-
sole does not light up (Y page 52).If a child restraint system is fitted to the front-
passenger seat and the PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF 4 indicator lamp on the centre con-
sole is not on:
R a child restraint system without a trans-
ponder for automatic child seat recognition
has been fitted or
R a child restraint system with a transponder
has been fitted incorrectly
Driver's kneebag Driver's kneebag
:deploys under the steer-
ing column. The driver's kneebag is triggered
together with the front airbag. The driver's
kneebag is designed to operate together with the front airbag in frontal impacts if certain
thresholds are exceeded. The driver's knee-
bag operates best in conjunction with cor-
rectly positioned and fastened seat belts.
Driver's kneebag :increases the driver's
protection against:
R knee injuries
R thigh injuries
R lower leg injuries
Sidebags G
WARNING
If you wish to use seat covers, Mercedes-Benz recommends that, for safety reasons, you
only use seat covers that have been approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The seat covers must have a special tear seam
for sidebags. Otherwise, the sidebags cannot 44
Occupant safetySafety

ally, further driving safety systems are deac-
tivated. There is an increased danger of skid- ding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
If ABS is malfunctioning, other systems,
including driving safety systems, will also
become inoperative. Observe the information on the ABS warning lamp (Y page 258) and
display messages which may be shown in the
instrument cluster (Y page 230).
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi-
cle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h
upwards, regardless of road-surface condi-
tions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even
when you only brake gently.
The ! ABS warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched on. It goes out when the engine is running.
Braking X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit- uation is over.
X To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force.
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a
pulsing in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions, and func-
tions as a reminder to take extra care while
driving. BAS (Brake Assist)
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 61). G
WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,
BAS automatically boosts the braking force,
thus shortening the stopping distance.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
General notes COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST consists of
the adaptive Brake Assist and the distance
warning signal, which are described in the
following.
Distance warning function Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion for driving safety systems (Y page 61). G
WARNING
The distance warning function does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
Thus, the distance warning function cannot
provide a warning in all critical situations.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake. G
WARNING
The distance warning function cannot always
clearly identify objects and complex traffic
situations. 62
Driving safety systemsSafety

If the
÷ ESP®
warning lamp and the å
ESP ®
OFF warning lamp are lit continuously,
ESP ®
is not available due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 260) and display messages which
may be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 230).
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
Characteristics of ESP ®General notes
If the
÷ ESP warning lamp goes out before
beginning the journey, ESP ®
is automatically
active.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ESP®
warning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X When pulling away, only depress the accel-
erator pedal as far as is necessary.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
ECO start/stop function
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle stops
moving. When pulling away again, the engine
starts automatically. ESP ®
remains in its pre-
viously selected status. Example:if ESP®
was deactivated before the engine was
switched off, ESP ®
remains deactivated when
the engine is switched on again.
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle stops
moving. When pulling away again, the engine
starts automatically. ESP ®
remains in its pre-
viously selected status. Example:if ESP®
was deactivated before the engine was
switched off, ESP ®
remains deactivated when
the engine is switched on again. Deactivating/activating ESP
®
(AMG
vehicles) Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 61).
You can select between the following states
of ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated.
R SPORT handling mode is activated.
R ESP ®
is deactivated. G
WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated,
there is a greater risk of skidding and acci-
dents.
Only activate SPORT handling mode in the sit- uations described in the following. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
In the following situations, it may be better to activate SPORT handling mode or deactivate
ESP ®
:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
R on specially designated roads when the
vehicle's own oversteering and understeer-
ing characteristics are desired
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP ®
requires an extremely qualified and
experienced driver.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehi-
cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin. 66
Driving safety systemsSafety

Observe information regarding indicator and
warning lamps (Y page 258) as well as dis-
play messages (Y page 232).
EBD monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure on the rear wheels to improve driving
stability while braking. ADAPTIVE BRAKE
ADAPTIVE BRAKE enhances braking safety
and offers increased braking comfort. In addi-
tion to the braking function, ADAPTIVE BRAKE
also has the HOLD function (Y page 180) and
hill start assist (Y page 145). For further
information, see Driving tips (Y page 166).STEER CONTROL
STEER CONTROL helps you by transmitting a noticeable steering force to the steering
wheel in the direction required for vehicle
stabilisation.
This steering support is provided in particular
if:
R both right wheels or both left wheels are on
a wet or slippery road surface when you
brake
R the vehicle starts to skid.
If there is an ESP ®
malfunction, you will not
receive any steering support from STEER
CONTROL. Power steering will, however, con-
tinue to function. Anti-theft systems
Immobiliser
The immobiliser prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct key.
X To activate: remove the key from the igni-
tion lock.
X To deactivate: switch on the ignition.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
with you and lock the vehicle. The engine can be started by anyone with a valid key that is
left inside the vehicle.
i The immobiliser is always deactivated
when you start the engine. ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
X
To prime: lock the vehicle with the key.
Indicator lamp :flashes. The alarm sys-
tem is primed after approximately
15 seconds.
X To deactivate: unlock the vehicle with the
key.
or X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is primed and you open: R the vehicle with the emergency key ele-
ment
R a door
R the tailgate
R the bonnet
X To stop the alarm: insert the key into the
ignition lock.
The alarm is switched off.
or X Press the %or& button on the key.
The alarm is switched off.
The alarm is not switched off, even if you
close the open door that has triggered it, for
example. Anti-theft systems
69Safety Z