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Earth point cover (example: left-hand drive)
X Turn fasteners :one Õturn and remove.
X Right-hand drive: remove the cover.
X Left-hand drive: remove the cover whilst pressing down on cover plate ;of the washer
fluid reservoir. (Example: left-hand-drive vehicle)
Position number Didentifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-
starting device.
i Right-hand-drive vehicle:
the positive terminal and earth point are on the opposite side
of the vehicle.
X Slide cover Cof positive terminal =in the direction of the arrow.
X Connect positive terminal =on your vehicle to positive terminal ?of donor battery D
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 Aof donor battery Dto earth point Bof your vehicle using the
jump lead, connecting the jump lead to donor battery Dfirst.
X Start the engine.
X Before disconnecting the jump leads, let the engines run for several minutes. 366
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X
First, remove the jump leads from earth point Band negative terminal A, then from pos-
itive clamp =and positive terminal ?. Begin each time at the contacts on your own vehicle
first.
X Close cover Cof positive clamp =after removing the jump leads.
X Replace the earth point cover. Make sure all mountings for the fasteners are positioned
precisely beneath the corresponding recesses in the cover.
X Press fasteners :into the mountings until they engage.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
i 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 and tow-starting
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Safety-relevant functions are restricted or not
available if:
R the engine is not running.
R the brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning
R the voltage supply or the vehicle's electrical
system is malfunctioning.
If your vehicle is towed, significantly greater
force may be required to steer the vehicle or
to brake. There is a risk of an accident.
In such circumstances, use a towing bar.
Make sure that the steering is moving freely
before towing. 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
If the weight of the vehicle to be towed or tow- started is greater than the permissible gross
weight of your vehicle:
R the towing eye could detach itself
R the vehicle/trailer combination could over-
turn.
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.
! 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.
! Secure the tow rope or tow bar to the
towing eye only. The vehicle may otherwise
be damaged. Towing and tow-starting
367Breakdown assistance Z
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!
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.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. 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.
Information on your vehicle's gross vehicle
weight rating can be found on the vehicle
identification plate (Y page 402). 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.
The automatic transmission must be in posi-
tion Nwhen the vehicle is being towed.
If the automatic transmission cannot be shif-
ted to position N, have the vehicle transpor-
ted 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 automatic transmission to
position N
i Deactivate the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed (Y page 92). You
could otherwise be locked out when push-
ing or towing the vehicle.
i Deactivate tow-away protection
(Y page 81) before the vehicle is towed. 368
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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 front and at the rear under covers :.
X Remove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit/stowage tray (Y page 355).
X Press the mark on cover :inwards in the
direction of the arrow.
X Remove cover :from the opening.
X Screw the towing eye in clockwise to the
stop and tighten it.
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 with the rear axle
raised
Only vehicles without 4MATIC can be
towed with the rear axle raised.
! 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.
! 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.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 126).
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 367). Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(Y page 367).
The automatic transmission automatically
shifts to position Pwhen you open the driver's
or front-passenger door or when you remove the key from the ignition lock.
In order to ensure that the automatic trans-
mission stays in position Nwhen towing the
vehicle, you must observe the following
points:
X You must use the key instead of the Start/
Stop button (Y page 159).
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
that the key is in position 0in the ignition
lock.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal. Towing and tow-starting
369Breakdown assistance Z
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X
Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Leave the key in position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 126).
i In order to signal a change of direction
when towing the vehicle with the hazard
warning lamps switched on, use the com-
bination switch as usual. In this case, only
the turn signals for the desired direction
flash. When you reset the combination
switch, the hazard warning lamps start
flashing again. Transporting the vehicle
! You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as
axle or steering components. Otherwise,
the vehicle could be damaged.
The towing eye can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a trailer or transporter for transporta-
tion.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N.
As soon as the vehicle is loaded: X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake.
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock and remove it.
X Secure the vehicle. Notes for 4MATIC vehicles
! 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.
If the vehicle has transmission damage or
damage to the front or rear axle, have it trans-
ported on a transporter or trailer.
In the event of damage to the electrical
system: if the battery is defective, the auto-
matic transmission will be locked in position
P. To shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N, you must provide power to the vehi-
cle's electrical system in the same way as
when jump-starting (Y page 364).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter
or trailer. Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
! Do not tow-start vehicles with automatic
transmission. You could otherwise damage the automatic transmission.
i Information on "Jump-starting"
(Y page 364). Electrical fuses
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you manipulate, bridge or replace a faulty
fuse with a fuse of a higher amperage, the
electric cables could be overloaded. This may result in a fire. There is a risk of an accident
and injury.
Always replace faulty fuses with specified new fuses of the correct amperage.
Blown fuses must be replaced with fuses of
the same rating, which you can recognise by 370
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the colour and fuse rating. The fuse ratings
are listed in the fuse allocation chart.
The fuse allocation chart is on the fuse box in
the boot (Y page 372).
If the newly inserted fuse also blows, have the cause traced and rectified at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Ser-
vice Centre.
! Only use fuses that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and which
have the correct fuse rating for the system
concerned. Otherwise, components or sys-
tems could be damaged.
The fuses in your vehicle disconnect faulty
circuits. If a fuse blows, all the components on the circuit and their functions will fail. Before replacing a fuse
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 178).
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Make sure that the ignition is switched off
(Y page 159).
or
X When using the key, turn the key to position
0 in the ignition lock and remove it
(Y page 159).
All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
must be off.
The fuses are located in various fuse boxes:
R Fuse box on the driver's side of the dash-
board
R Fuse box in the front-passenger footwell
R Fuse box in the engine compartment on the
left-hand side of the vehicle, when viewed
in the direction of travel
R Fuse box in the boot on the right-hand side
of the vehicle, when viewed in the direction
of travel Dashboard fuse box
! Do not use a pointed object such as a
screwdriver to open the cover in the dash-
board. You could damage the dashboard or
the cover.
! Make sure that no moisture can enter the
fuse box when the cover is open.
! When closing the cover, make sure that it
is lying correctly on the fuse box. Moisture seeping in or dirt could otherwise impair
the operation of the fuses. X
Open the driver's door.
X To open: pull cover :outwards in the
direction of the arrow and remove it.
X To close: clip in cover :on the front of the
dashboard.
X Fold cover :inwards until it engages. Fuse box in the front-passenger foot-
well
! Make sure that no moisture can enter the
fuse box when the cover is open.
! When closing the cover, make sure that it
is lying correctly on the fuse box. Moisture seeping in or dirt could otherwise impair
the operation of the fuses. Electrical fuses
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X
Open the front-passenger door.
X Fold cover :down and remove it. Fuse box in the engine compartment
G
WARNING
When the bonnet is open, and the windscreen wipers are set in motion, you can be injured by
the wiper linkage. There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
the ignition before opening the bonnet.
! Make sure that no moisture can enter the
fuse box when the cover is open.
! When closing the cover, make sure that it
is lying correctly on the fuse box. Moisture
seeping in or dirt could otherwise impair
the operation of the fuses. X
Open the bonnet.
X To open: release retaining clamps :and
remove cover ;. X
Remove any existing moisture from the
fuse box using a dry cloth.
X Undo screws =on the fuse box.
X Remove fuse box cover ?forwards.
X To close: check whether the seal is lying
correctly in cover ?.
X Insert cover ?at the rear of the fuse box
into the retainer.
X Fold down cover ?of the fuse box and
tighten screws =.
X Insert cover ;and secure with retaining
clamps :.
X Close the bonnet. Fuse box in the boot
! Make sure that no moisture can enter the
fuse box when the cover is open.
! When closing the cover, make sure that it
is lying correctly on the fuse box. Moisture seeping in or dirt could otherwise impair
the operation of the fuses. 372
Electrical fusesBreakdown assistance
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X
Open the boot lid.
X To open: release cover :at the top right
and left-hand sides with a flat object.
X Open cover :downwards in the direction
of the arrow.
i The fuse allocation chart is in a recess on
the side of the fuse box. You can find the
corresponding fuse rating and fuse type on the fuse allocation chart. Electrical fuses
373Breakdown assistance Z