2013 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA-CLASS traction control

COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS ................................................ 67
Distance warning function ...............65
Electronic Brake-force Distribution ..70
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram) ......................................... 68, 69
Important safety guidelines .............64
Driving safety systems
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) .......64
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ............................. 70
Adaptive brake lamps ......................68
BAS (Brake Assist System) ..............64
ETS (Electronic Traction System) .....68
Overview .......................................... 63
Steering assistant STEER CON-
TROL ................................................ 70
Driving system
Active Parking Assist .....................186
Driving systems
ATTENTION ASSIST ........................195
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 197
Cruise control ................................ 168
Display message ............................ 242
Distronic Plus ................................ 173
HOLD function ............................... 181
Lane Keeping Assist ......................199
Lane package ................................ 197
PARKTRONIC ................................. 182
Reversing camera ..........................191
Speed Limit Assist .........................196
SPEEDTRONIC ............................... 171
Driving tips
Aquaplaning ................................... 167
Automatic transmission .................154
Brakes ........................................... 166
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 180
Downhill gradient ........................... 166
Driving abroad ............................... 106
Driving in winter ............................. 167
Driving on flooded roads ................167
Driving on wet roads ......................167
General .......................................... 165
Icy road surfaces ........................... 168
Limited braking efficiency on sal-
ted roads ....................................... 167
New brake pads/linings ................167
Running-in tips ............................... 144
Snow chains .................................. 319Symmetrical dipped beam .............106
Towing a trailer .............................. 201
Wet road surface ........................... 166
DVD audio (on-board computer) ...... 215
E
EASY-VARIO-PLUS system Luggage compartment enlarge-
ment .............................................. 271
EBD (electronic brake force distri-
bution) Display message ............................ 229
Function/notes ................................ 70
ECO display
Function/notes ............................. 165
On-board computer .......................212
ECO start/stop function
Automatic engine start ..................149
Automatic engine switch-off ..........148
Deactivating/activating .................149
General information .......................148
Important safety notes ..................147
Introduction ................................... 147
Electrical fuses
see Fuses
Electromagnetic compatibility
Declaration of conformity ................23
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Emergency key
Unlocking the driver's door ..............83
Emergency key element
Function/notes ................................ 77
Locking vehicle ................................ 84
Emergency release
Driver's door .................................... 83
Emergency spare wheel
General notes ................................ 332
Important safety notes ..................331
Removing ....................................... 332
Technical data ............................... 332
Emergency unlocking
Boot ................................................. 86
Vehicle ............................................. 83
Engine
Display message ............................ 240
ECO start/stop function ................147
Index9ProCarManuals.com

Steering (display message) .............. 253
Steering wheel Adjusting (manually) ......................100
Button overview ............................... 33
Buttons (on-board computer) ......... 209
Cleaning ......................................... 293
Gearshift paddles ........................... 156
Important safety notes ..................100
Steering wheel gearshift paddles .... 156
Stowage areas ................................... 268
Stowage compartment Spectacles compartment ...............269
Stowage compartments
Armrest (front) ............................... 269
Armrest (under) ............................. 270
Centre console .............................. 269
Centre console (rear) .....................270
Cup holder ..................................... 274
Glove compartment .......................269
Important safety information .........268
Luggage net ................................... 271
Under driver's seat/front-
passenger seat .............................. 270
Stowage well beneath the boot
floor .................................................... 273
Summer tyres .................................... 318
Sun visor ............................................ 275
Supplemental Restraint System see SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System)
Surround lighting (on-board com-
puter) .................................................. 222
Switching off the alarm (ATA) ............ 71
T
Tail lamps Display message ............................ 238
see Lights
Tank
see Fuel tank
Technical data
Capacities ...................................... 336
Emergency spare wheel .................332
Information .................................... 334
Trailer loads ................................... 345
Tyres/wheels ................................. 329
Vehicle data ................................... 343
Telephone
Accepting a call ............................. 216
Display message ............................ 254
Menu (on-board computer) ............215
Number from the phone book ........ 216
Redialling ....................................... 217
Rejecting/ending a call .................216
Telephone compartment ................270
Temperature
Coolant .......................................... 208
Outside temperature ...................... 209
Setting (climate control) ................130
TEMPOMAT
Function/notes ............................. 168
Theft-deterrent system
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system) .........71
Immobiliser ...................................... 71
Through-loading ................................ 271
Through-loading feature ................... 271
Time see Separate Owner's manual
TIREFIT kit .......................................... 299
Top Tether ............................................ 55
Tow-away protection .......................... 71
Towing Important safety notes ..................308
Towing a trailer
Active Parking Assist .....................191
Axle load, permissible ....................345
Bulb failure indicator for LED lamps 206
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program) . 70
Pulling away with a trailer ..............147
Trailer tow hitch display message ..253
Towing away
Fitting the towing eye ....................310
Removing the towing eye ...............310
With both axles on the ground .......310
With front axle raised ..................... 310
Tow-starting
Emergency engine starting ............311
Fitting the towing eye ....................310
Important safety notes ..................308
Removing the towing eye ...............310
Traction control ................................... 68
Trailer coupling see Towing a trailer Index17ProCarManuals.com

Rstrong radar reflections, for example, in
multi-storey car parks
R a narrow vehicle travelling in front, e.g. a
motorcycle
R a vehicle travelling in front on a different
line
Following damage to the front end of the vehi-
cle, have the configuration and operation of
the radar sensor checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. This also applies to colli-
sions at slow speeds where there is no visible
damage to the front of the vehicle.
Adaptive brake lamps
Adaptive Brake Assist warns following traffic
in an emergency braking situation:
R by means of flashing brake lamps
R the hazard warning lamps are activated
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 50 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS
or BAS PLUS, the brake lamps flash rapidly.
In this way, traffic travelling behind you is
warned in an even more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warn-
ing lamps are activated automatically. If the
brakes are applied again, the brake lamps
light up continuously. The hazard warning
lamps switch off automatically if you travel
faster than 10 km/h . You can also switch off
the hazard warning lamps using the hazard
warning button ( Y page 110).
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y page 64).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between the tyres
and the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilise the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified to
keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP ®
assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise the vehicle during braking.
ETS (Electronic Traction System)
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y page 64).
ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
.
ETS brakes the drive wheels individually if
they spin. This enables you to pull away and
accelerate on slippery surfaces, for example
if the road surface is slippery on one side. In
addition, more drive torque is transferred to
the wheel or wheels with traction.
ETS remains active when you deactivate
ESP ®
.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilise the vehicle. In addition, other driving
safety systems are switched off. This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! When testing the electric parking brake
on a braking dynamometer, switch off the
ignition. Application of the brakes by
ESP ®
may otherwise destroy the brake sys-
tem.
When towing your vehicle with the front axle
raised, observe the notes on
ESP ®
(Y page 310).
ESP ®
is deactivated if the å ESP®
OFF
warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights
up continuously when the engine is running.
If the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp and the
å ESP®
OFF warning lamp are lit contin-
uously, ESP ®
is not available due to a mal-
function.
68Driving safety systemsSafety
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Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 318).
Driving with summer tyres
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 318).
Slippery road surfaces
GWARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
This increases the risk of skidding and having
an accident.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
XVehicles with manual transmission:
shift to neutral.XVehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position N.XTry to bring the vehicle under control by
using corrective steering.
You should drive particularly carefully on slip-
pery road surfaces. Avoid sudden accelera-
tion, steering and braking manoeuvres.
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges. You
should pay special attention to road condi-
tions when temperatures are around freezing
point.
i For more information on driving with
snow chains, see ( Y page 319).
Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. You must
select a lower gear in good time on long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden or towing a trailer. For vehi-
cles with automatic transmission, you need
to have selected manual drive program
M (Y page 156). By doing so, you will make
use of the braking effect of the engine. This
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 con-
ditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
store any road speed above 30 km/h.
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise
control can neither reduce the risk of an acci-
dent nor override the laws of physics. Cruise
control cannot take into account road,
weather or traffic conditions. Cruise control
is only an aid. You are responsible for the dis-
tance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed,
for braking in good time, and for staying in the
lane.
Do not use cruise control:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed
(e.g. in heavy traffic or on winding roads).
R on smooth or slippery roads. Braking or
accelerating can cause the drive wheels to
lose traction and the vehicle could then
skid.
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow.
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
168Driving systemsDriving and parking
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Apply the brakes yourself in these situations
and try to take evasive action.
! If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automati-
cally in certain situations. To prevent dam-
age to the vehicle, deactivate DISTRONIC
PLUS and the HOLD function in the follow-
ing or other similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
If you fail to adapt your driving style, DIS-
TRONIC PLUS can neither reduce the risk of
an accident nor override the laws of physics.
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot take road and
weather conditions or traffic conditions into
account. DISTRONIC PLUS is only an aid. You
are responsible for the distance to the vehicle
in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time, and for staying in the lane.
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed
(e.g. in heavy traffic or on winding roads)
R on smooth or slippery roads. Braking or
accelerating can cause the drive wheels to
lose traction and the vehicle could then
skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow.
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect narrow
vehicles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or
vehicles driving on a different line.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired in the case of:
R dirt on the sensors or the sensors are
obscured
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R the possibility of strong radar reflections,
for example, in multi-storey car parks
If DISTRONIC PLUS no longer detects a vehi-
cle in front, it may unexpectedly accelerate to
the speed stored.This speed can:
R be too high for a filter lane or a slip road
R be so high in the right lane that you pass
vehicles driving on the left
R be so high in the left lane that you pass
vehicles driving on the right
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored
Cruise control lever
With the cruise control lever, you can operate
DISTRONIC PLUS and variable SPEED-
TRONIC.
The LIM indicator lamp on the cruise control
lever indicates which system you have selec-
ted:
R LIM indicator lamp off: DISTRONIC PLUS
is selected.
R LIM indicator lamp on: variable SPEED-
TRONIC is selected.
:To store the current speed or a higher
speed;To set the specified minimum distance=LIM indicator lamp?To store the current speed and calling up
the last stored speedATo store the current speed or a lower
speedBTo switch between DISTRONIC PLUS and
variable SPEEDTRONICCTo deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS174Driving systemsDriving and parking
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Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsCheck tyresThe tyre pressure in one or more tyres has dropped significantly.
The wheel position is displayed in the multifunction display.
A warning tone also sounds.GWARNING
With tyre pressures which are too low, there is a risk of the fol-
lowing hazards:
R the tyres may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed
increase.
R the tyres may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may
greatly impair tyre traction.
R the driving characteristics, as well as steering and braking, may
be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
XStop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do
so.XSecure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y page 162).XCheck the tyres and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a
flat tyre ( Y page 298).XCheck the tyre pressure ( Y page 322).XIf necessary, correct the tyre pressure.Caution, tyre
defectThe tyre pressure in one or more tyres has dropped suddenly. The
wheel position is displayed in the multifunction display.GWARNING
If you drive with a flat tyre, there is a risk of the following hazards:
R a flat tyre affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
R you could lose control of the vehicle.
R continued driving with a flat tyre will cause excessive heat build-
up and possibly a fire.
There is a risk of an accident.
XStop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do
so.XSecure the vehicle against rolling away ( Y page 162).XCheck the tyres and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a
flat tyre ( Y page 298).Display messages249On-board computer and displaysZProCarManuals.com

ProblemPossible causes/consequences and M Solutions÷
The yellow ESP ®
warn-
ing lamp flashes while
the vehicle is in motion.ESP ®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of
skidding or at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.XOnly depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when
pulling away.XAccelerate more gently while the vehicle is in motion.XAdapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.XDo not deactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: ( Y page 68).å
The yellow ESP ®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while
the engine is running.ESP ®
and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are deactivated. ESP ®
will not
stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if a wheel starts to spin.GWARNING
If ESP ®
is switched off, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
XReactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: ( Y page 68).XAdapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
XHave ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.֌
The yellow ESP ®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running.ESP ®
, BAS, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST, COLLISION PRE-
VENTION ASSIST PLUS, PRE-SAFE ®
, the HOLD function, hill start
assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are
not available due to a malfunction.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.GWARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The braking distance may thus increase in an emergency braking
situation.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.XDrive on carefully.XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster259On-board computer and displaysZProCarManuals.com

Under these circumstances, you should also
restrict the maximum speed of the vehicle
using permanent SPEEDTRONIC so that it
does not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for the M+S tyres( Y page 173).
When you have fitted the M+S tyres:XCheck the tyre pressures ( Y page 319).XRestart the tyre pressure loss warning sys-
tem ( Y page 321).
For more information on driving with the
emergency spare wheel, see ( Y page 331).
Snow chains
GWARNING
If snow chains are fitted to the rear wheels,
they may scrape against the vehicle body or
chassis components. This could cause dam-
age to the vehicle or the tyres. There is a risk
of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R never fit snow chains on the rear wheels
R always fit snow chains in pairs to the front
wheels.
! Vehicles with steel wheels: if you wish
to fit snow chains to steel wheels, make
sure that you remove the respective
wheels' hubcaps first. The hubcaps may
otherwise be damaged.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains that
have been specially approved for your vehicle
by Mercedes-Benz, or that are of a corre-
sponding standard of quality.
If you intend to fit snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind:
R snow chains cannot be fitted to all wheel-
tyre combinations. Permissible wheel-tyre
combinations ( Y page 329).
R only use snow chains when the road sur-
face is completely snow-covered. Remove
the snow chains as soon as possible when
you come to a road that is not snow-cov-
ered.
R local regulations may restrict the use of
snow chains. Observe the appropriate reg-
ulations if you wish to fit snow chains.
R do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 50 km/h.
R when snow chains are fitted, never use
Active Parking Assist ( Y page 186).
i You may wish to deactivate
ESP ®
(Y page 68) when pulling away with
snow chains fitted. This way you can allow
the wheels to spin in a controlled manner,
achieving an increased driving force (cut-
ting action).
For more information on driving with the
emergency spare wheel, see ( Y page 331).
Tyre pressure
Tyre pressure specifications
GWARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tyres pose the
following risks:
R the tyres may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
R the tyres may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tyre
traction.
R the driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Observe the recommended tyre pressure and
check the tyre pressure of all the tyres includ-
ing the spare wheel:
R at least every two weeks
R when the load changes
R before embarking on a longer journey
R for changed operating conditions, e.g. off-
road driving
If necessary, correct the tyre pressure.
Tyre pressure319Wheels and tyresZProCarManuals.com