2012 MERCEDES-BENZ A CLASS tow

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsVehicles with Becker
®
MAP PILOT: if the Becker ®
MAP PILOT is
not connected, the radar sensor system is deactivated automati-
cally.
Blind Spot Assist is not available.
X Connect the Becker ®
MAP PILOT; see the separate operating
instructions. Lane Keeping
Assist currently
unavailable See
Owner's Manual Lane Keeping Assist is deactivated and temporarily inoperative.
Possible causes:
R
the windscreen is dirty in the camera's field of vision.
R visibility is impaired due to heavy rain, snow or fog.
R there are no lane markings for a longer period.
R the
lane markings are worn, dark or covered, e.g. by dirt or snow.
Once the causes listed above no longer apply, the display message
goes out.
Lane Keeping Assist is operational again.
If the display message does not disappear:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y page 162).
X Clean the windscreen. Lane Keeping
Assist inoperative Lane Keeping Assist is faulty.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Blind Spot Assist
currently unavail‐
able See Owner's
Manual Blind Spot Assist is temporarily inoperative.
You

have established the electrical connection between the trailer
and your vehicle.
X Press a on the steering wheel to confirm the display mes-
sage.
Blind Spot Assist is deactivated while towing a trailer. Display messages
247
On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutionsj
Check trailer
hitch lock The trailer tow hitch is not correctly engaged.
A warning tone also sounds.
X
Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Apply the electric parking brake.
X Engage the trailer coupling's ball coupling in the end position
(Y page 203).
Otherwise, the trailer may detach itself. Ð
Power
steering mal‐
function See Own‐
er's Manual The power steering assistance is faulty.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
You will need to use more force to steer.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Check whether you are able to apply the extra force required.
X If you are able to steer safely:
carefully drive on to a qualified
specialist workshop.
X If you are unable to steer safely:
do not drive on. Contact the
nearest qualified specialist workshop. &
inoperative Bat‐
tery low You have attempted to switch on the auxiliary heating or to acti-
vate

a departure time using the on-board computer after operating
the auxiliary heating twice.
X Let the engine run for 10 seconds.
The auxiliary heating is operational again. The on-board voltage is too low. The auxiliary heating has switched
itself off or cannot be switched on

(Y page 134).
X Drive for a longer distance.
The

battery is being charged. The auxiliary heating is operational
again as soon as the on-board electrical system voltage is suf-
ficient. &
inoperative

Refuel
vehicle There is too little fuel in the fuel tank. The auxiliary heating cannot
be switched on (
Y page 134).
X Refuel at the nearest filling station. Display messages
255
On-board computer and displays Z

Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
Seat belts
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutionsü
Only for certain coun-
tries: the red seat belt
warning lamp lights up
for six seconds after
the engine starts.
The seat belt warning lamp reminds the driver and front passenger
to fasten their seat belts.
X
Fasten your seat belt ( Y page 46).ü
Only for certain coun-
tries: the red seat belt
warning lamp lights up
after the engine starts.
In addition, a warning
tone sounds for up to
six seconds.
The driver's seat belt is not fastened.
X
Fasten your seat belt ( Y page 46).
The warning tone ceases. ü
The red seat belt warn-
ing lamp lights up after
the engine starts, as
soon as the driver's or
the front-passenger
door is closed.
The driver or front passenger has not fastened their seat belt.
X
Fasten your seat belt ( Y page 46).
The warning lamp goes out. There are objects on the front-passenger seat.
X
Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow
them in a secure place.
The warning lamp goes out. ü
The red seat belt warn-
ing
lamp flashes and an
intermittent audible
warning sounds. The driver or front passenger has not fastened their seat belt. At
the
same time, you are driving faster than 25 km/h or have briefly
driven faster than 25 km/h.
X Fasten your seat belt ( Y page 46).
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. There are objects on the front-passenger seat. At the same time,
you are driving faster than 25 km/h or have briefly driven faster
than 25 km/h

.
X Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow
them in a secure place.
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
257
On-board computer and displays Z

Useful information ............................
268
Loading guidelines ............................268
Stowage areas .................................. 269
Features ............................................. 275 267Stowing and features

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). Loading guidelines
G
WARNING
If objects, luggage or loads are not secured or
not secured sufficiently, they could slip, tip
over

or be flung around and thereby hit vehicle
occupants. There is a risk of injury, especially
when braking or abruptly changing directions.
Always store objects so that they cannot be
flung around. Secure objects, luggage or
loads against slipping or tipping before the
journey. G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases
such as carbon monoxide. If the tailgate
is open when the engine is running, particu-
larly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust fumes
could enter the passenger compartment.
There is a risk of poisoning.
Turn off the engine before opening the tail-
gate. Never drive with the tailgate open.
The handling characteristics of a laden vehi-
cle are dependent on the distribution of the
load within the vehicle. For this reason, you
should observe the following notes when
transporting a load:
R when transporting a load, never exceed the
maximum permissible gross vehicle weight or the permissible axle loads for the vehicle
(including occupants).
R the luggage compartment is the preferred
place to carry objects.
R position

heavy loads as far forwards as pos-
sible and as low down in the luggage com-
partment as possible.
R the load must not protrude above the upper
edge of the seat backrests.
R always place the load against the rear or
front seat backrests. Make sure that the
seat backrests are securely locked into
place.
R always place the load behind unoccupied
seats if possible.
R use the lashing eyelets and the luggage
nets to transport loads and luggage.
R only use lashing eyelets and fastening com-
ponents that are suitable for the weight and
size of the load.
R the maximum load capacity of the stowage
well under the luggage compartment floor
is 25 kg.
R secure the load with sufficiently strong and
wear-resistant lashing material. Pad sharp
edges for protection.
i Lashing material is available at any quali-
fied specialist workshop.
! Do not position the load on one part of the
folding luggage compartment floor only.
The maximum load capacity of the folding
luggage compartment floor is 100 kg.
Spread the weight evenly to avoid damag-
ing the luggage compartment floor. Place a
solid board under the load if necessary.
Please note that the load on the luggage
compartment floor will be increased when
the load is lashed down. 268
Loading guidelines
Stowing and features

Stowage areas
Stowage spaces
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you do not correctly store objects in the
vehicle interior, they can slip or be flung
around, thus striking vehicle occupants.
There
is a risk of injury, especially when brak-
ing or abruptly changing directions.
R Always store objects so that they cannot be
flung around in these or in similar situa-
tions.
R Always make sure that objects do not pro-
trude from stowage compartments, lug-
gage nets or stowage nets.
R Close lockable stowage compartments
while driving.
R Stow and secure objects that are heavy,
hard, pointy, sharp-edged, fragile or too
large in the luggage compartment.
Observe the loading guidelines (Y page 268).
Front stowage compartments Glove compartment
X
To open: pull handle : and open glove
compartment flap ;.
X To close: fold glove compartment flap ;
upwards until it engages.
i There is a pen holder at the top of the
glove compartment flap. Spectacles compartment
X
To open: press marking :.
Make sure that the spectacles compartment
is
always closed while the vehicle is in motion.
Stowage compartment in the centre con-
sole X
To open: press the marking on cover :.
i Depending on the vehicle's equipment,
there is an open instead of a closed stow-
age compartment or an ashtray in the
centre console. Stowage areas
269
Stowing and features Z

Stowage compartment in front of the arm-
rest (vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion)
X
To open: press the marking on cover :.
i You can remove the non-slip mat and the
insert for cleaning. When removing the
insert you will have to overcome some
slight resistance.
Stowage compartment/telephone com-
partment under the armrest X
To open: on vehicles with moveable armr-
ests, make sure that the armrest is in the
rearmost position.
X Press button : and fold the armrest up.
i Depending on the vehicle's equipment, a
USB port and an AUX-IN jack or a Media
Interface

are installed in the stowage com-
partment. A Media Interface is a universal
interface for portable audio equipment, e.g.
for an iPod ®
or MP3 player (see the sepa-
rate Audio or COMAND Online operating
instructions). Stowage compartment under the driver's
and front-passenger seat G
WARNING
If you exceed the maximum permitted load of
the stowage compartment, the cover is
unable to restrain the objects. Objects may
be thrown out of the stowage compartment
and

hit vehicle occupants as a result. There is
a risk of injury, particularly in the event of
sudden braking or a sudden change in direc-
tion.
Always observe the maximum load of the
stowage compartment. Stow and secure
heavy objects in the luggage compartment.
The maximum permissible load of the stow-
age compartment is 1.2 kg. X
To open: pull handle : up and fold
cover ; forwards.
i On vehicles with a fire extinguisher
instead

of a stowage compartment, the fire
extinguisher is installed under the driver's
seat. 270
Stowage areas
Stowing and features

Rear stowage compartments
Stowage compartment in the rear centre
console
X
To open: pull down the top of stowage
compartment :
by the edge of the handle.
i Depending on the vehicle's equipment,
there

may be an open stowage space above
the stowage compartment. Luggage nets
! The

maximum load that may be placed on
the luggage net under the rear shelf is
2.5 kg.
Luggage nets are located:
R in the front-passenger footwell
R on the back of the driver's and front-
passenger seat
R beneath the parcel shelf
R on the left and right-hand side in the lug-
gage compartment
Observe the loading guidelines ( Y page 268)
and the safety notes regarding stowage
spaces ( Y page 269). Through-loading facility in the rear
compartment
Observe

the loading guidelines (Y page 268). X
To open: fold down seat armrest :.
X Pull the cover, which can now be seen, for-
wards by the grip until it lies on arm-
rest :.
X Pull the centre head restraint on the rear
bench seat into the uppermost position
(Y page 94). X
Slide locking mechanism = in the direc-
tion of the arrow.
X Swing flap ; fully to the side.
Flap ; is held open by a magnet.
X To close:
swing flap ; in the luggage com-
partment back until it engages.
X Fold the cover forwards until it engages into
armrest :.
X Fold armrest : up fully if necessary. Stowage areas
271
Stowing and features Z