2012 MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK wiper fluid

Trailer towing ................................. 199
Bonnet
Active bonnet (pedestrian protec-tion) ............................................... 284
Closing ...........................................2 86
Display message ............................ 254
Important safety notes .................. 284
Opening ......................................... 285
Boot
see Tailgate
Boot load (maximum) ........................ 346
Brake Assist System
see BAS (Brake Assist System)
Brake fluid
Display message ............................ 236
Notes ............................................. 344
Brake lamps
Adaptive .......................................... .64
Changing bulbs .............................. 115
Display message ............................ 240
Brakes
ABS .................................................. 61
Adaptive Brake Assist ...................... 63
BAS .................................................. 62
Brake fluid (notes) ........................ .344
Display message ............................ 230
Driving tips ................................... .166
Important safety notes .................. 166
Parking brake ................................ 163
Warning lamp ................................. 258
Breakdown
see Flat tyre
see Towing away/tow-starting
Bulbs
see Replacing bulbs C
Calling up a fault see Display messages
Car
see Vehicle
Car wash (care) ................................. 291
Care
Automatic car wash ....................... 291
Carpets .......................................... 296
Display .......................................... .295
Exhaust pipe .................................. 294 Exterior lighting ............................
.293
Gear or selector lever .................... 295
High-pressure cleaner .................... 291
Interior .......................................... .295
Matt paintwork .............................. 292
Notes ............................................. 290
Paint .............................................. 292
Plastic trim ................................... .295
Reversing camera .......................... 294
Roof lining ...................................... 296
Seat belt ........................................ 296
Seat cover ..................................... 296
Sensors ......................................... 294
Steering wheel ............................... 295
Trim pieces ................................... .295
Washing by hand ........................... 291
Wheels .......................................... .292
Windows ........................................ 293
Wiper blades .................................. 293
Wooden trim .................................. 295
Central locking
Automatic locking (on-board com-
puter) ............................................. 223
Locking/unlocking (key ).................. 75
Centre console
Lower section .................................. 35
Upper section .................................. 34
Changing bulbs
Brake lamps ................................... 115
Cornering light function ................. 114
Dipped-beam headlamp s............... 113
Main-beam headlamp s................... 114
Rear foglamp ................................. 115
Reversing lamps ............................ 115
Tail lamps ...................................... 115
Turn signals (front) ......................... 114
Turn signals (rear) .......................... 115
Child seat
Automatic recognition ..................... 52
ISOFIX .............................................. 53
On the front-passenger sea t............ 51
Problem (malfunction) ..................... 56
Recommendations ........................... 58
Suitable positions ............................ 56
Top Tether ....................................... 54
Child-proof locks
Important safety notes .................... 60
Rear doors ....................................... 60 6
Index

Windowbag
Display message ............................ 239
Operation ......................................... 45
Windows
Cleaning ......................................... 293
see Side windows
Windscreen
Demisting ...................................... 130
Windscreen washer fluid
see Windscreen washer system
Windscreen washer system
Notes ............................................. 345
Topping up .................................... .289
Windscreen wipers
Display message ............................ 256
Problem (malfunction) ................... 120
Rear window wiper ........................ 117
Replacing the wiper blades ............ 117
Switching on/off ........................... 116
Windscreen wipers
see Windscreen
Winter driving
General notes ................................ 320
Winter operation
Slippery road surfaces ................... 168
Snow chains .................................. 321
Winter tyres
Limiting the speed (on-board com-
puter) ............................................. 223
M+S tyres ...................................... 320
Wiper blades
Cleaning ......................................... 293
Important safety notes .................. 117
Replacing (on the rear window) ..... 118
Replacing (windscreen) .................. 118
Wooden trim (cleaning instruc-
tions) ................................................. .295
Workshop
see Qualified specialist workshop Z
ZONE function Switching on/off ........................... 129 20
Index

i
Vehicles with Adaptive Highbeam Assist:
when Adaptive Highbeam Assist is active, it controls activation of the main-beam head-lamps (Y page 109).
Headlamp flasher X
To switch on: turn the key in the ignition
lock to position 1or 2, or start the engine.
X Pull the combination switch in the direction
of arrow =. Hazard warning lamps
The hazard warning lamps switch on auto-
matically if:
R an airbag is deployed or
R the vehicle decelerates rapidly from a
speed of more than 70 km/h and comes to
a standstill
X To switch on the hazard warning lamps:
press button :.
All turn signals flash. If you now switch on a turn signal using the combination switch,
only the turn signal lamp on the corre-
sponding side of the vehicle will flash.
X To switch off the hazard warning lamps:
press button :.
The hazard warning lamps switch off auto-
matically if the vehicle reaches a speed of
over 10 km/h again after a full brake appli-
cation.
i The hazard warning lamps still operate if
the ignition is switched off. Headlamp cleaning system
If the "Wipe with washer fluid" function is
operated five times (Y page 116) while the
lights are on and the engine is running, the
headlamps are cleaned automatically. When
you switch off the ignition, the automatic
headlamp cleaning system is reset and count-
ing is resumed from 0. Intelligent Light System
General notes The Intelligent Light System is a system that
adjusts the headlamps automatically to suit
the prevailing driving and weather conditions.
It offers advanced functions for improved illu-
mination of the road surface, e.g. depending
on the vehicle speed or weather conditions.
The system includes the active light function, cornering light function, motorway mode and
extended range foglamps. The system is only active when it is dark.
You can activate or deactivate the "IntelligentLight System" using the on-board computer
(Y page 221).
Active light function The active light function is a system that
moves the headlamps according to the steer-
ing movements of the front wheels. In this
way, relevant areas remain illuminated while
driving. This allows you to recognise pedes-
trians, cyclists and animals.
Active: when the lights are switched on. 108
Exterior lightingLights and windscreen wipers

Lamp cluster
X
Remove plastic nut ?using a suitable
item, e.g. a coin.
X Release attachments =.
X Remove the bulb holder from the lamp clus-
ter. Bulb holder
A
Tail lamp/brake lamp
B Reversing lamp
C Rear foglamp
D Tail lamp
E Turn signals
X Tail lamp/brake lamp/rear foglamp/
reversing lamp: remove the correspond-
ing bulb from the bulb holder.
X Insert the new bulb into the bulb holder.
X Turn signal lamp: lightly press the bulb
into the bulb holder, turn it anti-clockwise
and remove it from the bulb holder. X
Insert the new bulb into the bulb holder and
turn it clockwise.
X Secure the bulb holder to attachments =
on the lamp cluster and tighten plastic
nuts ?. X
Insert the lamp cluster into the vehicle and
make sure that it sits correctly in guides F.
X Tighten wing nut ;and re-establish con-
tact with connector :.
X Close the side trim panel (Y page 115). Windscreen wipers
Switching the windscreen wipers on/
off
! Do not operate the windscreen wipers
when the windscreen is dry, as this could
damage the wiper blades. Moreover, dust
that has collected on the windscreen can
scratch the glass if wiping takes place when the windscreen is dry.
If it is necessary to switch on the wind-
screen wipers in dry weather conditions,
always operate them using washer fluid.
! If the windscreen wipers leave smears on
the windscreen after the vehicle has been
washed in an automatic car wash, this may
be due to wax or other residue. Clean the
windscreen with washer fluid after an auto- matic car wash. 116
Windscreen wipersLights and windscreen 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

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

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