2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS Owners Manual

Important safety notes
GWARNING
If theengineisswitched off automatically and
you exit thevehicle, theengine is restarted
automatically. The vehiclemay beginmoving.
There isarisk of accident and injury.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, alwaysturn off
the ignition and secure the vehicle against
rolling away.
General notes
ECO start/stop display
If thesymbol is shown in green in the
multifunction display,the ECO start/stop
function switches the engine off
automatically if the vehicle stops moving.
Every time you switch on the engine using the
SmartKey or the Start/Stop button,the ECO
start/stop function is activated.
If the ECO start/stop function has been
manually deactivated (Ypage 152) or a
malfunction has caused the system to be
deactivated, thesymbol is not
displayed.
AMG vehicles:theStop/Start activeor
Stop/Start inactivemessage in the AMG
menu in the multifunction display goes out.
AMG vehicles:the ECO start/stop function
is only available in drive programC.
For further information on automatic engine
switch-off (Ypage 151) and automatic
engine start (Ypage 152).
Automatic engine switch-off
General notes
If the vehicle is braked toastandstill inDor
N,the ECO start/stop function switches off
the engine automatically.
The ECO start/stop function is operational
and thesymbol is displayed in green in
the multifunction display,if:
Rthe indicator lamp in the ECO button is lit
green.
Rthe outside temperature is within the
comfortrange.
Rthe engine is at normal operating
temperature.
Rthe set temperature for the vehicle interior
has been reached.
Rthe battery is sufficiently charged.
Rthe system detectsthat the windshield is
not fogged up when the air-conditioning
system is switched on.
Rthe hood is closed.
Rthe driver's door is closed and the driver's
seat belt is fastened.
If conditions for automatic engine switch-off
have not been fulfilled, thesymbol will
be shown in yellow.
AMG vehicles:the AMG menu in the
multifunction display also shows theStop/
Start inactivemessage.
iIf you shift the transmission fromRtoD,
the ECO start/stop function is available
again once thesymbol reappears in
green in the multifunction display.
iAll of the vehicle's systems remain active
when the engine has been stopped
automatically.
iAll vehicles (apartfrom AMG
vehicles):automatic engine switch-off can
take placeamaximum of four times
consecutively (initial stop then repeated
three times). Thesymbol is shown in
yellow in the multifunction display after the
engine has been started automatically for
Driving151
Driving and parking
Z

the fourth time. When thesymbolis
shown in green in the multifunctiondisplay,
automatic engine switch-off is again
possible.
iAMG vehicles:times which the engine
can be automatically switched off.
iThe HOLDfunction can also be activated
if the engine has been switched off
automatically. It is thennot necessary to
continue applying the brakes duringthe
automatic stop phase. When you depress
the accelerator pedal, the engine starts
automatically and the braking effect of the
HOLDfunction is deactivated.
Automatic engine start
The engine startsautomatically if:
Ryou switchoff the ECO start/stop function
by pressing the ECO button.
Ryou release the brakes when in
transmission positionDorNand when the
HOLDfunction is not active.
Ryou depressthe accelerator pedal.
Ryou engage reverse gearR.
Ryou movethe transmission out of position
P.
Ryou switchtodrive programS,S+orM
(AMG vehicles).
Ryou unfasten your seat belt or open the
driver's door.
Rthe vehicle startstoroll.
Rthe brakesystem requiresthis.
Rthe temperature in the vehicle interior
deviates fromthe set range.
Rthe system detectsmoisture on the
windshield when the air-conditioning
system is switched on.
Rthe charge level of the battery is too low.
iShiftingthe transmission to positionP
does not start the engine.
iIf you shift the transmission fromRtoD,
the ECO start/stop function is available
again once thesymbol reappears in
green in the multifunction display.
Deactivating/activating the ECO start/
stop function
ECO button
XTo switch off (except AMG vehicles):
press button.
Indicator lampand thesymbol in
the multifunction displaygoout.
XTo switch on (except AMG vehicles):
press button.
Indicator lamplights up. If all conditions
for automatic engine switch-off
(Ypage 151) are fulfilled,thesymbol
is shown in green in the multifunction
display.
If not all conditionsfor automatic engine
switch-off (Ypage 151) are fulfilled,the
symbol is shown in yellow in the
multifunction display. If this is the case, the
ECO start/stop function is not available.
XTo switch off (AMG vehicles):press
buttonin drive programC.
or
XSwitch to drive programS,S+orM
(Ypage 159).
Indicator lampand thesymbol in
the multifunction displaygoout.
TheStop/Start activeorStop/Start
inactivemessage in the AMG menu in the
multifunction displaygoes out.
152Driving
Driving and parking

XTo switchon(AMG vehicles):press
button.
Indicator lamplights up. If drive
programS,S+orMis active, the automatic
transmission switches to drive programC.
If all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off (Ypage 151) are fulfilled, the
symbol is shown in green in the
multifunction display. In addition, the
Stop/Start activemessage is shown in
the AMG menu in the multifunction display.
If conditions for automatic engine switch-
off (Ypage 151) have not been fulfilled, the
symbol will be shown in yellow. If this
is the case, the ECO start/stop function is
not available. In addition, theStop/Start
inactivemessage is shown in the AMG
menu in the multifunction display.
iIf indicator lampis off, the ECO start/
stop function has been deactivated
manually or as the result ofamalfunction.
The enginewill then not be switched off
automatically when the vehicle stops.
Driving153
Driving and parking
Z

Problems with the engine
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andSolutions
The engine does not
start. The starter motor
can be heard.
RThere isamalfunction in the engine electronics.
RThere isamalfunction in the fuel supply.
XBefore attempting to start the engine again, turn the SmartKey
in the ignition back to position0or press the Start/Stop button
repeatedly until all indicator lamps in the instrumentcluster go
out.
XTry to start the engine again (Ypage 149). Avoid excessively
long and frequent attemptstostart the engine as these will drain
the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
XConsultaqualified specialist workshop.
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-startthe vehicle (Ypage 326).
If the engine does not start despite attemptstojump-start it:
XConsultaqualified specialist workshop.
The starter motor was exposed toathermal 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:
XConsultaqualified specialist workshop.
The engine is not
running smoothly and
is misfiring.
There isamalfunction in the engine electronics or inamechanical
componentofthe engine management system.
XOnly depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
XHave the cause rectified immediately ataqualified specialist
workshop.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic
converter and damage it.
The coolant
temperature gauge
showsavalue above
248‡(120 †).
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 (Ypage 308). Observe the warning
notes as you do so and add coolant if necessary.
154Driving
Driving and parking

Automatictransmission
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If theenginespeedisabovetheidlingspeed
and you engage transmission positionDor
R,thevehiclecould pull away suddenly. There
isariskofanaccident.
When engagingtransmission positionDorR,
always firmly depress thebrakepedal and do
notsimultaneously accelerate.
GWARNING
The automatic transmission switches to
neutral positionNwhen you switchoff the
engine. The vehicle may roll away. There is a
risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking positionP.Prevent the parked
vehicle fromrolling away by applying the
parking brake.
Selector lever
Overview of transmission positions
Selector lever in AMG vehicles withPbutton
Park position with parking lock
\nReverse gear
Neutral
Drive
Transmission position and drive
program display
!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
transmission positionDand drive program
C.Donot restrictthe shift range.
Transmission position display
Drive program display
The current position of the selector lever is
shown by the indicators next to the selector
lever.
The indicators light up when the SmartKey is
inserted into the ignition lock. The indicators
go out when the SmartKey is removed from
the ignition lock.
DIRECT SELECTlever
Overview of transmission positions
Park position with parking lock
\nReverse gear
Neutral
Drive
Automatic transmission155
Driving and parking
Z

The DIRECT SELECT lever is on the right of the
steeringcolumn.
iThe DIRECT SELECT lever alwaysreturns
to its original position. The current
transmission positionP,R,NorDappears
in the transmission position display
(Ypage 155) in the multifunction display.
Transmission position and drive
program display
!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
transmission positionDand drive program
EorS.Donot restrict the shift range.
Transmission position display
Drive program display
The currenttransmission position and drive
programappear in the multifunction display.
iThe arrows in the transmission position
display show how and intowhich
transmission positionsyou can change
using the DIRECT SELECT lever.
Engaging parkposition P
!If theengine speed is toohigh or the
vehicle is moving, do not shift the
automatic transmission directly fromDto
R,fromRtoDor directly toP.The
automatic transmission could otherwise be
damaged.
Park position with parking lock
\nReverse gear
Neutral
Drive
XPush the DIRECT SELECT lever in the
direction of arrowP.
iThe automatic transmission shifts into
park positionPautomatically:
Rif you open the driver's door while the
vehicle is stationary in transmission
positionDorR
Rif you open the door while traveling at
very low speeds in transmission position
DorR
HOLD function or DISTRONIC PLUS:if the
vehicle is braked using the HOLD function or
DISTRONIC PLUS, the automatic
transmission shifts automatically to
transmission positionP.Inaddition,atleast
one of the following conditionsmust be
fulfilled:
Rthe engineisswitched off.
Rthe driver'sdoor is open and the seat belt
is not in the buckle.
156Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Engaging park positionPinAMG
vehicles
XWhen thevehicle is stationary, pressP
button.
Engaging reversegear R
!Only shiftthe automatic transmission to
Rwhen the vehicle is stationary.
XWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
XPush the DIRECT SELECT lever up past the
first point of resistance.
Shifting to neutralN
GWARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
Ropen the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
Rget out and disrupt traffic.
Roperate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshift the automatic transmission out of
parking position P.
Rstartingthe engine.
There isarisk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children.
XWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
XPush the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down
to the first point of resistance.
If the engine has been switched off, the
automatic transmission automatically shifts
toN.
If the automatic transmission is to remain in
neutralN,e.g. for washing the vehicle in car
washes withatowing device, please observe
the following instructions:
Using the SmartKey:
RMake sure that the ignition is switched on.
RWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
RShift to neutralN.
RRelease the brake pedal.
RIf the parking brake is engaged, release it.
RSwitch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the ignition lock.
Using KEYLESS-GO:
RMake sure that the ignition is switched on.
RWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
REngage park positionP.
RRelease the brake pedal.
RRemove the Start/Stop button from the
ignition lock.
RInsert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
RSwitch on the ignition.
RDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
RShift to neutralN.
RRelease the brake pedal.
RIf the parking brake is engaged, release it.
RSwitch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the ignition lock.
Automatic transmission157
Driving and parking
Z

Engaging drive position D
XWhen thevehicle is stationary, depress the
brakepedal.
XPush theDIRECT SELECT leverdown past
the first point of resistance.
Transmission positions
\rPark position
Do not shift the transmission into
positionP(Ypage 167) unless the
vehicle is stationary. The parking
lock should not be used asabrake
when parking. In addition to
engaging the parking lock, you
must always apply the parking
brake to secure the vehicle.
If the vehicle electronics are
malfunctioning, the transmission
may be locked in positionP.
Have the vehicle electronics
checked immediately ataqualified
specialist workshop.
Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission toR
when the vehicle is stationary.
Neutral
Do not shift the transmission toN
while driving. The transmission
could otherwise be damaged.
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it or tow it.
If ESP®is deactivated or faulty:
only shift the transmission to
positionNif the vehicle is in danger
of skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
!Rolling in neutralNcan damage
the drive train.
Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the
individual gears automatically when it is in
transmission positionD.This automatic
gearshifting behavior is determined by:
Rashift range restriction, if selected
Rthe selected drive program (Ypage 159)
Rthe position of the accelerator pedal
Rthe road speed
Driving tips
AMG vehicles
When shifting down, the double-clutch
function is active regardless of the currently
selected drive program. The double-clutch
function reduces load change reactions and
is conducive toasporty driving style. The
sound generated by the double-clutch
function depends on the drive program
selected.
158Automatic transmission
Driving and parking