Jump-starting
For the jump-starting procedure, use only the jump-starting connection point, consisting of a
positive terminal and an earth point, in the engine compartment.
GWARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There isarisk of injury.
Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean over
the battery. Keep children away from batteries. Wash battery acid immediately with water and
seek medical attention.
GWARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive gases can escape from the battery. There isarisk
of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, open flames, creating sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient
ventilation while charging and jump-starting. Do not lean overabattery.
GWARNING
During the charging process,abattery produces hydrogen gas. Ifashort circuit occurs or sparks
are created, the hydrogen gas can ignite. There isarisk of an explosion.
RMake sure that the positive terminal ofaconnected battery does not come into contact with
vehicle parts.
RNever place metal objects or tools onabattery.
RIt is important that you observe the described order of the battery terminals when connecting
and disconnectingabattery.
RWhen jump-starting, make sure that the battery poles with identical polarity are connected.
RIt is particularly important to observe the described order when connecting and disconnecting
the jumper cables.
RNever connect or disconnectthe battery terminals while the engine is running.
GWARNING
Adischarged battery can freeze at temperatures below freezingpoint.When jump-starting the
vehicle or charging the battery, gases can escape from the battery. There isarisk of an explosion.
Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before charging it or jump-starting.
!Avoid repeated and lengthy startingattempts. Otherwise, the catalytic converter could be
damaged by the non-combusted fuel.
Do not start the vehicle usingarapid charging device. If your vehicle's battery is discharged,
the engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or fromasecond battery using jumper
cables. Observe the following points:
RThe battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible,
jump-start the vehicle usingasecond battery orajump-starting device.
RYou may only jump-start thevehiclewhen theengineand exhaust system are cold.
RDo notstart theengineifthebattery is frozen.Let thebattery thaw first.
326Jump-starting
Breakdown assistance
when adjustingthetirepressure
(Ypage 338).
iThe actual values for tires are vehicle-
specific and may deviatefromthe values in
the illustration.
Checking the tire pressures
Important safety notes
Observe the notes on tire pressure
(Ypage 338).
Information on air pressure for the tires on
your vehicle can be found:
Ron the vehicle's Tire and Loading
Information placard on the B-pillar
(Ypage 345)
Ron the tire pressure label on the fuel filler
flap (Ypage 165)
Rin the "Tire pressure" section
Runder "Tire pressure" (Ypage 338)
Checking tire pressures manually
To determine and set the correct tire
pressure, proceed as follows:
XRemove the valve cap of the tire that is to
be checked.
XPress the tire pressure gauge securely onto
the valve.
XRead the tire pressure and compare it with
the recommended value on the Tire and
Loading Information placard (Ypage 338).
XIf the tire pressure is too low, increase it to
the recommended value.
XIf the tire pressure is too high, release air
by pressing down the metal pin in the valve.
Use the tip ofapen, for example. Then,
check the tire pressure again using the tire
pressure gauge.
XScrew the valve cap onto the valve.
XRepeatthese steps for the other tires.
Tire pressureloss warning system
(Canada only)
General notes
While the vehicle is in motion, the tire
pressure loss warning system monitors the
set tire pressure using the rotational speed of
the wheels. This enables the system to detect
significant pressure loss inatire. If the speed
of rotation ofawheel changes asaresult of
aloss of pressure,acorresponding warning
message will appearinthe multifunction
display.
You can recognizethe tire pressure loss
warning by theRun Flat Indicator
Active Press 'OK' to Restartmessage
which appears in theServ.menu of the
multifunction display. Further information on
the message displaycan be found under
"Restarting the tire pressure loss warning
system" section (Ypage 342).
Important safety notes
The tire pressure warning system does not
warn you of an incorrectly set tire pressure.
Observe the notes on the recommended tire
pressure (Ypage 338).
The tire pressure loss warning does not
replace the need to regularly check the tire
pressure. An even loss of pressure on several
tires at the same time cannot be detected by
the tire pressure loss warning system.
The tire pressure monitor is not able to warn
you ofasudden loss of pressure, e.g. if the
tire is penetrated byaforeign object.Inthe
event ofasudden loss of pressure, bring the
vehicle toahalt by braking carefully. Avoid
abrupt steering maneuvers.
The function of the tire pressure loss warning
system is limited or delayed if:
Rsnow chains are mounted on your vehicle's
tires.
Rroad conditionsare wintry.
Ryou are driving on sand or gravel.
Check341
Wheels and tires
Z
100 kilopascals (kPa)are the equivalent of
1bar.
DOT (Department of Transportation)
DOT marked tires fulfill the requirements of
the United States Department of
Transportation.
Normal occupant weight
The numberofoccupants for which the
vehicleisdesigned multipliedby
68 kilograms (150 lb).
Uniform Tire Quality GradingStandards
Auniform standard to grade the quality of
tireswithregards to treadquality,tire traction
and temperaturecharacteristics. Ratingsare
determinedbytire manufacturersusing U.S.
government testing procedures. The ratings
aremoldedinto the sidewall of the tire.
Recommendedtire pressure
The recommendedtire pressure appliesto
the tiresmounted at the factory.
The Tire and Loading Informationplacard
containsthe recommendedtirepressures for
cold tires onafully loaded vehicle and for the
maximum permissible vehicle speed.
The tirepressure table containsthe
recommendedpressures for cold tires for
various operating conditions, i.e. differing
load and speed conditions.
Increased vehicle weight duetooptional
equipment
This is the combined weight of all standard
and optional equipmentavailablefor the
vehicle, regardless of whetheritisactually
installed on the vehicle or not.
Rim
This is the part of the wheel on which the tire
is mounted.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
The GAWR is the maximum gross axle weight
rating. The actual load on an axle must never
exceed the gross axle weight rating. The
gross axle weight rating can be found on the
vehicle identification plate on the B-pillar on
the driver's side.
Speed rating
The speed rating is part of the tire
identification. It specifies the speed range for
which the tire is approved.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
The gross vehicle weight includes the weight
of the vehicle including fuel, tools, the spare
wheel, accessories installed, occupants,
luggage and the drawbarnoseweight, if
applicable. The gross vehicle weight must not
exceed the gross vehicle weight rating GVWR
as specified on the vehicle identification plate
on the B-pillar on the driver's side.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
The GVWR is the maximum permissible gross
weight ofafully loaded vehicle (the weight of
the vehicle including all accessories,
occupants, fuel, luggage and the drawbar
noseweight, if applicable). The gross vehicle
weight rating is specified on the vehicle
identification plate on the B-pillar on the
driver's side.
Maximumloaded vehicle weight
The maximum weight is thesum of:
Rthecurbweight of thevehicle
Rtheweight of theaccessories
Rtheload limit
Rtheweight of thefactory installedoptional
equipment
Kilopascal (kPa)
Metric unit for tirepressure. 6.9kPa
correspondsto1psi. Another unit for tire
pressure is bar. Thereare 100kilopascals
(kPa) to1bar.
Load index
In addition to theload-bearing index,theload
index may also be imprinted on thesidewall
of thetire. This specifiesthe load-bearing
capacity more precisely.
All about wheels and tires355
Wheels and tires
Z
Curbweight
The weight ofavehicle with standard
equipment includingthemaximum capacity
of fuel, oil and coolant.Italso includes the air-
conditioningsystem and optional equipment
if these are installed in the vehicle, but does
not include passengers or luggage.
Maximumload rating
The maximum tireload is the maximum
permissible weight in kilograms or lbs for
whichatireisapproved.
Maximumpermissible tirepressure
Maximum permissible tirepressure for one
tire.
Maximumload on one tire
Maximum load on one tire. This is calculated
by dividingthe maximum axle load of one axle
by two.
PSI (pounds per squareinch)
Astandardunitofmeasure for tire pressure.
Aspect ratio
Relationship between tire height and tire
width in percent.
Tirepressure
This is pressure inside the tire applying an
outward forcetoeach square inch of the tire's
surface. The tire pressure is specified in
pounds per square inch (psi), in kilopascal
(kPa) or in bar. The tire pressure should only
be corrected when the tires are cold.
Cold tirepressure
The tires are cold:
Rif the vehicle has been parked without
direct sunlight on the tires for at least three
hours and
Rif the vehicle has been driven for less than
1mile (1.6 km).
Tread
The part of the tire that comes intocontact
with the road.
Bead
The tire bead ensures that the tire sits
securely on the wheel. There are several steel
wires in the bead to preventthe tire from
comingloose from the wheel rim.
Sidewall
The part of the tire between the tread and the
bead.
Weight of optional extras
The combined weight of those optional extras
that weigh more than the replaced standard
parts and more than 2.3 kilograms (5 lbs).
These optional extras, such as high-
performance brakes, level control,aroof rack
orahigh-performancebattery, are not
included in the curb weight and the weight of
the accessories.
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
This isaunique identifier which can be used
byatire manufacturer to identify tires, for
example foraproduct recall, and thus identify
the purchasers. The TIN is made up of the
manufacturer's identity code, tire size, tire
type code and the manufacturing date.
Load bearing index
The load bearing index (also load index) is a
code that contains the maximum load bearing
capacity ofatire.
Traction
Traction is the result of friction between the
tires and the road surface.
Treadwear indicators
Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are
distributed over the tire tread. If the tire tread
is level with the bars, the wear limit of in
(1.6 mm) has been reached.
356All about wheels and tires
Wheels and tires