2013 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA warning

Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe auxiliary heating cannot be switched on or has switched itself
off.
There is too little fuel in the fuel tank.XRefuel at the nearest filling station.XMake another attempt to switch on the auxiliary heating using
the remote control.The auxiliary heating cannot be switched on or has switched itself
off.
The auxiliary heating is faulty.XHave the auxiliary heating checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.Adjusting the air vents
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Very hot or very cold air can flow from the air
vents. This could result in burns or frostbite in
the immediate vicinity of the air vents. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that all vehicle occupants always
maintain a sufficient distance to the air out-
lets. If necessary, redirect the airflow to
another area of the vehicle interior.
In order to ensure the direct flow of fresh air
through the air vents into the vehicle interior,
please observe the following notes:
R keep the air inlet between the windscreen
and the bonnet free of blockages, such as
ice, snow or leaves.
R never cover the vents or ventilation grilles
in the vehicle interior.
i Move the adjusters for the air vents ver-
tically or horizontally, to set the direction of
the airflow.
i Optimal climate control function is ach-
ieved by opening the air vents fully and set-
ting the adjusters to the middle position.
Setting the centre air ventsXTo open the centre air vent: turn the
adjuster in one of centre air vents : anti-
clockwise.XTo close the centre air vent: turn the
adjuster in one of centre air vents : clock-
wise until it engages.Adjusting the air vents141Climate controlZ

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).
Running-in notes
Important safety notes
New or replaced brake pads/linings and
discs only reach their optimum braking effect
after several hundred kilometres of driving.
Compensate for the reduced braking effect
by applying greater force to the brake pedal.
The first 1,500 km
If you treat the engine with sufficient care
from the very start, you will be rewarded with
excellent performance for the remainder of
the engine's life.
R Drive at varying vehicle speeds and engine
speeds for the first 1,500 km.
R Avoid overstraining the vehicle during this
period, e.g. driving at full throttle.
R Change gear in good time, before the rev
counter needle is Ô of the way to the red
area of the rev counter.
R Do not shift down a gear manually in order
to brake.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
R Try to avoid depressing the accelerator
pedal beyond the point of resistance (kick-
down).
After 1,500 km, you may gradually bring the
vehicle up to full road and engine speeds.
i You should also observe these notes on
running-in if the engine or parts of the drive
train on your vehicle have been replaced.
Driving
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell can restrict the
pedal travel or obstruct a depressed pedal.
The operating and road safety of the vehicle
is jeopardised. There is a risk of an accident.
Make sure that all objects in the vehicle are
stowed correctly, and that they cannot enter
the driver's footwell. Fit the floormats
securely and as specified in order to ensure
sufficient clearance for the pedals. Do not use
loose floormats.
GWARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage
of the pedals, e.g.:
R shoes with thick soles
R shoes with high heels
R slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals.
GWARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
144DrivingDriving and parking

GWARNING
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.
Key positions
gTo remove the key1Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windscreen wipers2Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position3To 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.
However, the ignition will not be switched
on. The engine cannot be started.
Starting the engine
Important safety notesGWARNING
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.
GWARNING
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.
Manual transmission
XDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.XDepress the clutch pedal fully.XShift to neutral N.
i
You can only start the engine when the
clutch pedal is fully depressed.
Automatic transmission
XShift the transmission to position P.
Transmission position display P is shown in
the multifunction display.Driving145Driving and parkingZ

Pulling away with a trailer
To ensure that you do not roll backwards
when pulling away on an uphill slope, engage
the electric parking brake.
XPress and hold handle :.
The electric parking brake continues to
brake and prevent the vehicle from rolling
backwards.
The red ! indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster remains lit.XDepress the accelerator pedal.XAs soon as the vehicle/trailer combination
is held by the driving force of the engine,
release lever :.
The electric parking brake is released.
The red ! indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
i For further information on the electric
parking brake, see ( Y page 163).
Hill start assist
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient.
It holds the vehicle for a short time after you
have removed your foot from the brake pedal.
This gives you enough time to move your foot
from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal
and depress it before the vehicle begins to
roll.
GWARNING
After a short time, hill start assist will no lon-
ger brake your vehicle and it could roll away.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, quickly move your foot from the
brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. Never
leave the vehicle when it is held by hill start
assist.XRemove your foot from the brake pedal.
The vehicle is then held for about a second.XPull away.
Hill start assist is not active if:
R you are pulling away on a level road or a
downhill gradient.
R on vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission is in position N.
R the electric parking brake is engaged.
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning.
Further information on holding the vehicle
stationary on uphill gradients ( Y page 154).
ECO start/stop function
Introduction
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle is stop-
ped under certain conditions.
When pulling away again, the engine starts
automatically. The ECO start/stop function
thereby helps you to reduce the fuel con-
sumption and emissions of your vehicle.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If the engine is switched off automatically and
you exit the vehicle, the engine is restarted
automatically. The vehicle may begin moving.
There is a risk of accident and injury.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
the ignition and secure the vehicle against
rolling away.
Driving147Driving and parkingZ

Problems with the engineProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe engine does not
start.The HOLD function or DISTRONIC PLUS is activated.XDeactivate the HOLD function ( Y page 181) or DISTRONIC
PLUS ( Y page 173).XTry to start the engine again.The engine does not
start. The starter motor
can be heard.R There is a malfunction in the engine electronics.
R There is a malfunction in the fuel supply.XTurn the key back to position 0 in the ignition lock before
attempting to start the engine again.XTry to start the engine again ( Y page 145). Avoid excessively
long and frequent attempts to start the engine, as this will drain
the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.The engine does not
start. The starter motor
can be heard. The
reserve fuel warning
lamp is lit and the fuel
gauge display shows 0.The fuel tank is empty.XRefuel the vehicle.The engine does not
start. You cannot hear
the starter motor.The on-board voltage is too low because the battery is too weak
or discharged.XJump-start the vehicle ( Y page 306).
If the engine does not start despite attempts to jump-start it:
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.The starter motor was exposed to a thermal load that was too high.XAllow the starter motor to cool down for approximately two
minutes.XTry to start the engine again.
If the engine still does not start:
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.150DrivingDriving and parking

ProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsVehicles with a petrol
engine:
The engine is not run-
ning smoothly and is
misfiring.There is a malfunction in the engine electronics or in a mechanical
component of the engine management system.XOnly depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic con-
verter and damage it.XHave the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.The coolant tempera-
ture display is showing
more than 120 †. The
coolant warning lamp
may also be on and a
warning tone may
sound.The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled sufficiently.XStop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant
to cool down.XCheck the coolant level ( Y page 285). Observe the warning
notes as you do so and top up the coolant if necessary.If the coolant level is correct, the engine radiator fan may be faulty.
The coolant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled
sufficiently.XIf the coolant temperature is below 120 †, you can continue
driving to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.XAvoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain and stop-start traffic.Manual transmission
Gear lever
! Only engage gear when the clutch pedal
is depressed.
! When shifting to 5th and 6th gear, you
must press the shift lever to the right. Oth-
erwise, you could shift unintentionally into
3rd or 4th gear and damage the engine or
transmission.
If you shift down at too high a speed (trans-
mission braking), this can cause the engine
to overrev, leading to engine damage.
Do not use the clutch bite point to keep the
vehicle stationary on uphill gradients.
There is otherwise a risk of damaging the
clutch.
! On long and steep downhill gradients,
especially if the vehicle is laden or towing
a trailer, you must shift into gear 1, 2 or 3
in good time. This uses the engine's braking
effect. This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from over-
heating and wearing too quickly.
Gear lever
kReverse gear1 to 6Forward gearsManual transmission151Driving and parkingZ

Shifting to neutral (N)XDepress the clutch pedal fully.XMove the gear lever to position N : .
Engaging reverse gear
! Only shift into reverse gear R when the
vehicle is stationary. Otherwise, you could
damage the transmission.
XPull the gear lever up, push it to the left and
then pull it back.
i The ECO start/stop function is not avail-
able when reverse gear is engaged.
For further information on the ECO start/
stop function, see ( Y page 148).
Gearshift recommendation
The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec-
ommended gear is shown in the multifunction
display.
XShift gear according to gearshift recom-
mendation : when shown in the multi-
function display of the instrument cluster.
Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position D or
R , the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There
is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position D or R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate.
GWARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position N when you switch off the engine.
The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of
an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parking
brake.
i Bear in mind that the power transmission
between the engine and the transmission
is interrupted when the engine is switched
off.
To prevent the vehicle from rolling away:
R when the engine is switched off and the
vehicle is stationary, shift the automatic
transmission to park position P and
R apply the electric parking brake
DIRECT SELECT lever
Overview of transmission positions
The DIRECT SELECT lever is on the right of the
steering column.
152Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

jPark position with parking lockkReverse geariNeutralhDrive
iThe DIRECT SELECT lever always returns
to its original position. The current trans-
mission position P, R , N or D appears in the
transmission position display
( Y page 153) in the multifunction display.
Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display
The current transmission position and drive
program appear in the multifunction display.
:Transmission position display;Drive program display
i The arrows in the transmission position
display show how and into which transmis-
sion positions you can change using the
DIRECT SELECT lever.
! If the transmission position display in the
multifunction display is not working, you
should pull away carefully to check whether
the desired transmission position is
engaged. Ideally, you should select trans-
mission position D and drive program E or
S .
Engaging park position PXPush the DIRECT SELECT lever in the direc-
tion of arrow P.
Transmission position display P is shown in
the multifunction display.
i When you engage park position P, make
sure that the transmission position display
shows P in the multifunction display.
i You can only engage park position P when
the vehicle is stationary.
i The automatic transmission shifts into
park position P automatically:
R if you open the driver's door while the
vehicle is stationary in transmission posi-
tion D or R
R if you open the door while travelling at
very low speeds in transmission position
D or R
In addition, a warning tone sounds and a
display message is shown.
i Depressing the brake and pushing the
DIRECT SELECT lever up or down disen-
gages the parking lock. The transmission is
in N neutral.
At transmission fluid temperatures below
Ò 20 †, you can only shift out of park posi-
tion P into another transmission position
when the engine is running.
In order to shift from park position P
directly into R or D:
R depress the brake pedal and
R push the DIRECT SELECT lever up or
down past the first point of resistance
! If the engine speed is too high, do not shift
the automatic transmission directly from
D to R, from R to D or directly to P. Other-
wise, the automatic transmission could be
damaged.
Automatic transmission153Driving and parkingZ