2012 MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK wipers

Combination switch
1
$ Windscreen wipers off
2 Ä Intermittent wipe, low (rain sensor
set to low sensitivity)
3 Å Intermittent wipe, high (rain sensor
set to high sensitivity)
4 ° Continuous wipe, slow
5 ¯ Continuous wipe, fast
B í Single wipe/ îto wipe the wind-
screen using washer fluid
X Turn the key to position 1or 2in the ignition
lock.
X Turn the combination switch to the corre-
sponding position.
! Vehicles with a rain sensor: if the wind-
screen becomes dirty in dry weather con-
ditions, the windscreen wipers may be acti-
vated inadvertently. This could damage the windscreen wiper blades or scratch the
windscreen.
For this reason, you should always switch
off the windscreen wipers in dry weather.
Vehicles with a rain sensor: in theÄor
Å position, the appropriate wiping fre-
quency is automatically set according to the
intensity of the rain. In the Åposition, the
rain sensor is more sensitive than in the Ä
position, causing the windscreen wipers to
wipe more frequently.
If the wiper blades are worn, the windscreen
will no longer be wiped properly. This could
prevent you from observing the traffic condi-
tions. Replace the wiper blades twice a year,
ideally in spring and autumn. Switching the rear window wiper on/
off Combination switch
:
è Switch
2 ô To wipe with washer fluid
3 ITo switch on intermittent wiping
4 0To switch off intermittent wiping
5 ô To wipe with washer fluid
X Turn the key to position 1or 2in the ignition
lock.
X Turn switch :on the combination switch
to the corresponding position.
When the rear window wiper is switched on,
the icon appears in the instrument cluster. Replacing the wiper blades
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the windscreen wipers begin to move while
you are changing the wiper blades, you can be trapped by the wiper arm. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
ignition before changing the wiper blades.
! To avoid damaging the windscreen wiper
blades, make sure that you touch only the
wiper arm of the windscreen wiper.
! Never open the bonnet/tailgate if a wiper
arm is folded away from the windscreen/
rear window. Windscreen wipers
117Lights and windscreen wipers Z

Never fold a windscreen wiper arm without
a wiper blade back onto the windscreen/
rear window.
Hold the windscreen wiper arm firmly when you change the wiper blade. If you release
the wiper arm without a wiper blade and it
falls onto the windscreen/rear window, the
windscreen/rear window may be damaged
by the force of the impact.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have the wiper blades changed at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Replacing the windscreen wiper blades Removing the wiper blades
X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Fold the wiper arm away from the wind-
screen. X
Press both release clips ;.
X Fold wiper blade :in the direction of
arrow =away from wiper arm ?.
X Remove wiper blade :in the direction of
arrow A. Fitting the wiper blades X
Position new wiper blade :with recess B
on lug A.
X Fold wiper blade :in the direction of
arrow =onto the wiper arm, until retaining
clips ;engage in bracket ?.
X Make sure that wiper blade :is seated
correctly.
X Fold the wiper arm back onto the wind-
screen.
Replacing the rear window wiper blade Removing the wiper blades
X
Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Fold wiper arm :away from the rear win-
dow until it engages.
X Position wiper blade ;at a right angle to
wiper arm :.
X Hold wiper arm :and press wiper
blade ;in the direction of the arrow until
it releases.
X Remove wiper blade ;.118
Windscreen wipersLights and windscreen wipers

Fitting the wiper blades
X Place new wiper blade ;onto wiper
arm :.
X Hold wiper arm :and press wiper
blade ;in the opposite direction to the
arrow until it engages.
X Make sure that wiper blade ;is seated
correctly.
X Position wiper blade ;parallel to wiper
arm :.
X Fold wiper arm :back onto the rear win-
dow. Windscreen wipers
119Lights and windscreen wipers Z

Problems with the windscreen wipers
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The windscreen wipers
are jammed. Leaves or snow, for example, may be obstructing the windscreen
wiper movement. The wiper motor has been deactivated.
X For safety reasons, you should remove the key from the ignition
lock.
X Remove the cause of the obstruction.
X Switch the windscreen wipers back on. The windscreen wipers
fail completely. The windscreen wiper drive is malfunctioning.
X Select another wiper speed on the combination switch.
X Have the windscreen wipers checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. The spray nozzles are
misaligned. The windscreen washer fluid from the spray nozzles no longer hits
the centre of the windscreen. The spray nozzles are misaligned.
X Have the spray nozzles adjusted at a qualified specialist work-
shop. 120
Windscreen wipersLights and windscreen wipers

Windows misted up on the outside
X
Activate the windscreen wipers.
X Set the air distribution to PorO.
i You should only select this setting until
the windscreen is clear again. Rear window heating
Switching on/off The rear window heating has a high current
draw. You should therefore switch it off as
soon as the window is clear. It otherwise
switches off automatically after several
minutes.
If the battery voltage is too low, the rear win-
dow heating may switch off.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 143).
X Press the ¤button.
The indicator lamp in the ¤button lights
up or goes out. Operating the climate control system
131Climate control

more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off.
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only set the automatic transmission to the
respective drive positions when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. Otherwise, you could damage the
drive train.
! AMG vehicles:
avoid full-load operation
and engine speeds greater than 5000 rpm
when the engine is cold. This helps to pro-
tect the engine and avoids uncomfortable
driving. Key positions
g
To remove the key
1 Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windscreen wipers 2
Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
3 To start the engine
Vehicles with manual transmission: the
steering is locked when the key is taken out of
the ignition lock.
i If the key does not belong to the vehicle, it
can still be turned in the ignition lock. How- ever, the ignition will not be switched on.
The engine cannot be started. Starting the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation. G
WARNING
Flammable materials introduced through
environmental influence or by animals can
ignite if in contact with the exhaust system or parts of the engine that heat up. There is a risk
of fire.
Carry out regular checks to make sure that
there are no flammable foreign materials in
the engine compartment or in the exhaust
system.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine.
i Vehicles with a petrol engine:
the
engine runs at a higher engine speed during the cold start procedure so that the cata-
lytic converter can reach operating tem-
perature more quickly. The sound of the
engine may change as a result. Driving
143Driving and parking Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions &
inoperative See inoperative See
Owner's Man. Owner's Man. The auxiliary heating has a temporary malfunction or is faulty.
X When the vehicle is on a level surface and the engine has cooled
down, make up to four attempts to switch on the auxiliary heat- ing, waiting several minutes between each attempt
(Y page 134).
X If the auxiliary heating does not switch on, consult a qualified
specialist workshop. Telephone No ser‐ Telephone No ser‐
vice vice Your vehicle is outside the network provider's transmitter/
receiver range.
X Wait until the mobile phone operational readiness symbol
appears in the multifunction display. ¥
Top Top
up
upwasher
washer fluid
fluid The washer fluid level in the washer fluid reservoir has dropped
below the minimum.
i If, during the winter months, you do not add antifreeze to the
washer fluid, it may freeze in the washer fluid container. In this
case, the Top Topup
upwasher
washer fluid
fluiddisplay message may appear
in the multifunction display.
X Top up the washer fluid (Y page 289).Wiper malfunction‐
Wiper malfunction‐
ing ing The windscreen wipers are defective.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Hazard warning
Hazard warning
lamps malfunction‐ lamps malfunction‐
ing ing The hazard warning lamps are faulty.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Key
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions +
Key does not Key does not
belong to vehicle belong to vehicle You have put the wrong key in the ignition lock.
X Use the correct key. +
Replace key Replace key The key needs to be replaced.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 256
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays

Raising the active bonnet increases the clear-
ance to hard components, such as the engine.
If the active bonnet has been triggered, it is
raised at the rear in the area around the hinge by approximately 60 mm.
For the drive to the workshop, reset the trig-
gered active bonnet yourself. If the active
bonnet has been triggered, pedestrian pro-
tection may be limited.
Resetting G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment could be very hot, e.g. the engine, the
radiator and parts of the exhaust system.
There is a risk of injury when accessing the
engine compartment.
As far as possible, allow the engine to cool
down and only touch the components descri- bed in the following. X
With your hand flat, push down active bon-
net :in the area around the hinges on
both sides (arrows) until you feel it engage.
If you can raise the active bonnet slightly in
the area around the hinges, it is not engaged correctly. Repeat the step.
If the bonnet can then still be raised, drive
directly to a qualified specialist workshop. Do
not drive faster than 100 km/h. Opening the bonnet G
WARNING
When the bonnet is open, and the windscreen wipers are set in motion, you can be injured by
the wiper linkage. There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
the ignition before opening the bonnet.
! Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
not folded away from the windscreen. Oth-
erwise, you could damage the windscreen
wipers or the bonnet. X
Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off.
X Pull release lever :on the bonnet.
The bonnet is released. X
Reach into the gap between the bonnet and
the radiator trim and press bonnet catch
lever ;to the left.
X Raise the bonnet. Engine compartment
285Maintenance and care Z