2014 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS SALOON brake

Warning/
indicator
lamp
N N
Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
MSolutions J
N
The red brake warning lamp is on. A warning tone also sounds.
G Risk of accident
RBS is malfunctioning.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying attention to
road and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving under any circumstan-
ces.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction display. Driving systems
Warning/
indicator
lamp
N N
Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
MSolutions ·
N
The red distance warning lamp lights up while the vehicle is in motion.
The distance to the vehicle in front is too small for the speed selected.
X Increase the distance. ·
N
The red distance warning lamp lights up while the vehicle is in motion. A
warning tone also sounds.
You are approaching a vehicle or a stationary obstacle in your line of travel at too high a speed.
X Be prepared to brake immediately.
X Pay careful attention to the traffic situation. You may have to brake or take
evasive action.
Further information on PRE ‑SAFE®
Brake (Y page 82).
For further information about the distance warning function of COLLISION
PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, see (Y page 77). Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
363On-board computer and displays Z

Have service work carried out as described
in the Service Booklet. This may otherwise
lead to increased wear and damage to the
major assemblies or the vehicle.
A qualified specialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre, will reset the ASSYST PLUS service interval display after
the service work has been carried out. You
can also obtain further information on main-
tenance work, for example.
Special service requirements The prescribed service interval is based on
normal operation of the vehicle. Service work
will need to be performed more often if the
vehicle is operated under arduous conditions or increased loads, for example:
R regular city driving with frequent intermedi-
ate stops
R if the vehicle is primarily used for travelling
short distances
R for frequent operation in mountainous ter-
rain or on poor road surfaces
R if the engine is often left idling for long peri-
ods
In these or similar operating conditions, have
the air filter, engine oil and oil filter, for exam-
ple, changed more frequently. The tyres must be checked more frequently if the vehicle is
operated under increased loads. Further
information can be obtained at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
Driving abroad An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network
is also available in other countries. You can
obtain further information from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Care
General notes
H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man- ner.
! For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any
of the following:
R dry, rough or hard cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective
films with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces and protective film.
! Do not park up the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly after having cleaned the wheels with wheel cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after clean-
ing. Braking heats the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings, thus drying them. The
vehicle can then be parked up.
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents rec-
ommended and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash G
WARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after the vehicle has been washed. There is a risk of an acci-
dent. 396
CareMaintenance and care

After washing the vehicle, brake carefully
while paying attention to the traffic conditions in order to restore full braking efficiency.
! 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
! Make sure:
R the side windows and sliding sunroof are
closed completely.
R the blower for the ventilation/heating is
switched off (OFF button is depressed).
R the windscreen wiper switch is at posi-
tion 0
R the 360° camera or reversing camera is
switched off.
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
! If the key is within the rear detection
range of KEYLESS-GO, the following situa-
tions, for example, could lead to the boot lid
opening unintentionally:
R using a car wash
R using a high-pressure cleaner
Make sure that the key is at least 3 m away
from the vehicle.
! Make sure that the automatic transmis-
sion is in neutral position Nwhen washing
your vehicle in a tow-through car wash. The
vehicle may otherwise be damaged.
R Operating with the key:
Do not remove the key from the ignition
lock. Do not open the driver's door when
the engine is switched off or at very low
speeds. Otherwise, when in transmission position Dor Rthe automatic transmis-
sion will automatically switch to park
position Pand block the wheels.
R Operating with the Start/Stop button: Do not open the driver's door when the
engine is switched off or at very low
speeds. Otherwise, when in transmission
position Dor Rthe automatic transmis-
sion will automatically switch to park
position Pand block the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in position N
neutral:
Operating with the key:
X Make sure the ignition is switched on.
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Select neutral N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake, if nec-
essary.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the key in
the ignition lock.
Operating with the Start/Stop button:
X Make sure the ignition is switched on.
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Select park position P.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Remove Start/Stop button from ignition
lock (Y page 181).
X Insert the key into the ignition lock.
X Switch on the ignition.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Select neutral N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake, if nec-
essary.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the key in
the ignition lock.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
Wash off excess dirt before cleaning the vehi-
cle in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windscreen and the wiper Care
397Maintenance and care Z

X
Soak bird droppings with water and rinse
off the treated areas afterwards.
X Remove coolant, brake fluid, tree resins,
oils, fuels and greases by rubbing gently
with a cloth soaked in petroleum ether or
lighter fluid.
X Use tar remover to remove tar stains.
X Use silicone remover to remove wax.
Care and treatment of matt paintwork !
Never polish the vehicle or the light alloy
wheels. Polishing makes the paintwork
shiny.
! The following may cause the paint to
become shiny and thus reduce the matt
effect:
R Vigorous rubbing with unsuitable mate-
rials.
R Frequent use of car washes.
R Washing the vehicle in direct sunlight.
! Never use paint cleaner, buffing or pol-
ishing products, or gloss preserver, e.g.
wax. These products are only suitable for
high-gloss surfaces. Their use on vehicles
with matt finish leads to considerable sur-
face damage (shiny, spotted areas).
Always have paintwork repairs carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop.
! Do not use wash programs with a hot wax
treatment under any circumstances.
Observe these notes if your vehicle has a
clear matt finish. This will help you to avoid
damage to the paintwork due to incorrect
treatment.
These notes also apply to light-alloy wheels
with a clear matt finish.
The vehicle should preferably be washed by
hand using a soft sponge, car shampoo and
plenty of water.
Use only insect remover and car shampoo
from the range of approved Mercedes-Benz
care products. Cleaning vehicle parts
Cleaning the wheels G
WARNING
The water jet of circular-jet nozzles (dirt grind- ers) can cause damage not visible from the
outside to tyres or chassis components. Com-
ponents damaged in this way can unexpect-
edly fail. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with circu-
lar-jet nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have dam- aged tyres or chassis components replaced
immediately.
! Do not use acidic wheel cleaning products
to remove brake dust. This could damage
wheel bolts and brake components.
! Do not park up the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly after having cleaned the wheels with wheel cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after clean-
ing. Braking heats the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings, thus drying them. The
vehicle can then be parked up.
Cleaning the windows G
WARNING
If the windscreen wipers are set in motion
when cleaning the windscreen or wiper
blades, you could become trapped. There is a danger of injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windscreen orwiper blades.
! Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,
solvents or cleaning agents containing sol- vents to clean the inside of the windows. Do
not touch the insides of the windows with
hard objects, e.g. an ice scraper or ring.
There is otherwise a risk of damaging the
windows. Care
399Maintenance and care Z

Do not use a rapid charging device to start the vehicle. If your vehicle's battery is discharged,
the engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a second battery using jump
leads. Observe the following points:
R The battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible,
jump-start the vehicle using a second battery or a jump-starting device.
R Vehicles with a petrol engine: only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust
system are cold.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
R Jump-starting may only be performed using batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
R Only use jump leads that have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps.
R If the battery is fully discharged, leave the battery that is being used to jump-start connected
for a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the empty battery a little.
R Make sure that the two vehicles do not touch.
Make sure that:
R The jump leads are not damaged.
R Non-insulated parts of the terminal clamps do not come into contact with other metal parts
while the jump leads are connected to the battery.
R The jump leads cannot come into contact with parts which can move when the engine is
running, such as the V-belt pulley or the fan.
X Secure the vehicle by applying the electric parking brake.
X Automatic transmission: shift the transmission to position P.
X Manual transmission: depress the clutch pedal fully and shift to neutral.
X Make sure the ignition is switched off (Y page 181). All indicator lamps in the instrument
cluster must be off. When using the key, turn the key to position 0in the ignition lock and
remove it (Y page 181).
X Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g. rear window heating, lighting etc.
X Open the bonnet. Jump-starting
419Breakdown assistance Z

Position number
Bidentifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-
starting device.
X Slide cover Aof positive terminal :in the direction of the arrow.
X Connect positive terminal :on your vehicle to positive terminal ;of donor battery B
using the jump lead. Always begin with positive terminal :on your own vehicle first.
X Start the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.
X Connect negative terminal =of donor battery Bto earth point ?of your vehicle using the
jump lead, connecting the jump lead to donor battery Bfirst.
X Start the engine.
X Before disconnecting the jump leads, let the engines run for several minutes.
X First, remove the jump leads from earth point ?and negative terminal =, then from pos-
itive clamp :and positive terminal ;. Begin each time at the contacts on your own vehicle
first.
X Close cover Aof positive clamp :after removing the jump leads.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Hybrid vehicles: if your vehicle has been jump-started, it may not be possible to use the
electric drive for approximately 30 minutes.
Jump-starting is not considered to be a normal operating condition.
i Jump-starting cables and further information regarding jump starting can be obtained at
any qualified specialist workshop. Towing away and tow-starting
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Safety relevant functions are restricted or no
longer available if:
R the engine is not running
R the brake system or power steering is mal-
functioning
R there is a malfunction in the voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system
When your vehicle is towed away or towed
started, you may require considerably more
effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such cases use a rigid towing bar. Before
being towed away or tow started, make sure
the steering moves freely. G
WARNING
If the steering wheel lock is engaged, the vehi- cle can no longer be steered. There is a risk of
an accident.
Always switch on the ignition when towing
with a tow rope or a towing bar. G
WARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible gross weight of your vehicle, the:
R towing eye may be torn off
R car/trailer combination may swerve or
even overturn
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per- missible gross weight of your vehicle. 420
Towing away and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

!
When COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS, DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD func- tion is activated, the vehicle brakes auto-
matically in certain situations. To avoid
damage to the vehicle, deactivate these
systems in the following or similar situa-
tions:
R when towing away
R in a car wash
! Make sure that the electric parking brake
is released. If the electric parking brake is
faulty, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
! Only secure the tow cable or tow bar to
the towing eyes or, if available, to the trailer
tow hitch. You could otherwise damage the
vehicle.
! Observe the following points when towing
with a tow rope:
R secure the tow rope on the same side on
both vehicles.
R make sure that the tow rope is not longer
than legally permitted. Mark the tow rope
in the middle, e.g. with a white cloth
(30 x 30 cm). This makes other road
users aware that a vehicle is being
towed.
R only secure the tow rope to the towing
eye.
R observe the brake lamps of the towing
vehicle while driving. Always maintain a
distance so that the tow rope does not
sag.
R do not use steel cables or chains to tow
your vehicle. You could otherwise dam-
age the vehicle.
! Do not use the towing eyes for recovery
purposes as this could damage the vehicle.
If in doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
! Pull away smoothly when towing away or
tow-starting a vehicle. If the tractive power
is too high, the vehicles could be damaged.
! Shift the automatic transmission to
Nand
do not open the driver's or front passeng- er's door during towing. The automatic
transmission may otherwise shift to posi-
tion
P, which could damage the transmis-
sion.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum of
50km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must not
be exceeded.
For towing distances over 50 km, the entire vehicle must be lifted up and transported.
! If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per- missible gross vehicle weight of your vehi-
cle.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle
weight of your vehicle can be found on the
vehicle identification plate (Y page 468).
Observe the legal requirements for the rele-
vant countries when towing.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
If the vehicle has suffered transmission dam-
age, have it transported on a transporter or
trailer.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
when towing a vehicle, the automatic trans-
mission must be in position N. If the auto-
matic transmission cannot be shifted to posi- tion N, have the vehicle transported on a
transporter or trailer.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2
R cannot release the electric parking brake
R cannot shift the transmission to position N
on vehicles with automatic transmission
Deactivate the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed (Y page 98). You
could otherwise be locked out when pushing
or towing the vehicle.
Deactivate tow-away protection (Y page 86)
before the vehicle is towed. Towing away and tow-starting
421Breakdown assistance Z

Fitting/removing the towing eye
Fitting the towing eye The brackets for the screw-in towing eyes are
located in the bumpers. They are at the rear
and at the front, under covers :.
X Remove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit/stowage tray (Y page 407).
X Press the mark on cover :inwards and
remove.
X Screw the towing eye in clockwise to the
stop and tighten it.
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch do not have a
bracket at the back for the screw-in towing
eye. Connect the towbar to the trailer tow
hitch (Y page 284).
Removing the towing eye X
Loosen the towing eye and unscrew it.
X Attach cover :to the bumper and press
until it engages.
X Place the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit/
stowage tray. Towing the vehicle away with the rear
axle raised
Hybrid vehicles: towing the vehicle with the
rear axle raised should only be carried out by
professional recovery companies.
Only vehicles without 4MATIC can be
towed with the rear axle raised.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised; otherwise, the transmission may be damaged.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may either be towed
away with both axles on the ground or be loa-
ded up and transported.
! The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could other-
wise damage the brake system.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 137).
X Move the front wheels to the straight-
ahead position.
X If necessary, turn the key in the ignition
lock to position 0and remove the key from
the ignition lock.
X When leaving the vehicle, take the key with
you.
When towing your vehicle with the rear axle
raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions (Y page 420). Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
Hybrid vehicles: hybrid vehicles may not be
towed away with both axles on the ground if:
R the multifunction display is not working or
R the multifunction display shows the ~
Malfunction Malfunction or
R d Malfunction Malfunction is displayed
If the vehicle is in a dangerous location it may
be towed from the danger zone with both
axles on the ground. In this case, the towing
distance may not be greater than 50 m and 422
Towing away and tow-startingBreakdown assistance