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178Driving and operating
Insert the tensioned coupling ball bar
in the opening and push firmly
upwards until it audibly engages.
The rotary handle snaps back into its
original position resting against the
coupling ball bar without a gap.9 Warning
Do not touch rotary handle during
insertion.
Lock the coupling ball bar by turning
the key to position e. Remove the key
and close the protective flap.
Eye for break-away stopping cable
Attach breakaway stopping cable to
eye.
Check that the coupling ball bar is correctly installed
■ Green marking on rotary knob must
point towards green marking on
coupling ball bar.
■ There must be no gap between the
rotary handle and the coupling ball
bar.
■ The coupling ball bar must be firmly
engaged in the opening.
■ The coupling ball bar must be locked and the key removed.9 Warning
Towing a trailer is permitted only
when a coupling ball bar is fitted correctly. If the coupling ball bardoes not engage correctly, seekthe assistance of a workshop.
Dismounting the coupling ball
bar
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180Vehicle careVehicle careGeneral Information...................180
Vehicle checks ........................... 181
Bulb replacement .......................188
Electrical system ........................196
Vehicle tools .............................. 201
Wheels and tyres .......................202
Jump starting ............................. 216
Towing ....................................... 218
Appearance care .......................220General Information
Accessories and vehicle
modifications
We recommend the use of genuine parts and accessories and factory
approved parts specific for your
vehicle type. We cannot assess or
guarantee reliability of other products
- even if they have a regulatory or
otherwise granted approval.
Do not make any modifications to the electrical system, e.g. changes of
electronic control units (chip tuning).Caution
When transporting the vehicle on
a train or on a recovery vehicle, the
mud flaps might be damaged.
Vehicle storage
Storage for a long period of time
If the vehicle is to be stored for several months:
■ Wash the vehicle. Wax painted parts of the vehicle. Exterior care
3 220.
■ Have the wax in the engine compartment and underbody
checked.
■ Clean and preserve the rubber seals.
■ Fill up fuel tank completely.
■ Change the engine oil.
■ Drain the washer fluid reservoir.
■ Check the coolant antifreeze and corrosion protection.
■ Adjust tyre pressure to the value specified for full load.
■ Park the vehicle in a dry, well ventilated place. Engage first orreverse gear or set selector lever to P . Prevent the vehicle from rolling.
■ Do not apply the parking brake.
Page 203 of 247
Vehicle care201
No.Circuit16Seat ventilation, rear view
camera, soft top control module17–18–19Steering wheel heating20–21Seat heating22–23Soft top control module, power
rail left24–25–26Jumper fuse for non logistic
mode27Passive entry28–29Hydraulic unit30–No.Circuit31–32Flex RideVehicle tools
Tools
Vehicles with spare wheel
Open the load floor cover. The jack,
the tools and a strap for securing a
damaged wheel are in the tool box
below the spare wheel in the load
compartment. The wheel wrench and the towing eye are in the tool bag
located in the spare wheel well near
the tool box. Spare wheel 3 213.
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202Vehicle care
Vehicles with tyre repair kit
Some tools and the towing eye are
located together with the tyre repair
kit in a tool box in the load
compartment below the floor cover.
Vehicles with tyre repair kit and
flat load compartment floor
Some tools and the towing eye are
located together with the tyre repair
kit in a bag, which is fixed at the front left lashing eye in the load
compartment.
Wheels and tyres
Wheels
On vehicles with Diesel engines no
steel rims and only special, for this
vehicle approved alloy wheels are
permitted.
Tyre condition, wheel condition
Drive over edges slowly and at right
angles if possible. Driving over sharp
edges can cause tyre and wheel
damage. Do not trap tyres on the kerb when parking.
Regularly check the wheels for
damage. Seek the assistance of a
workshop in the event of damage or
unusual wear.
Winter tyres Winter tyres improve driving safety attemperatures below 7 °C and should
therefore be fitted on all wheels.
All tyre sizes are permitted as winter
tyres 3 236.
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214Vehicle care
The spare wheel has a steel rim.Caution
The use of a spare wheel that issmaller than the other wheels or in combination with winter tyres
could affect driveability. Have the defective tyre replaced as soon as
possible.
Removing the spare wheel and
stowing a damaged wheel in the load compartment
The spare wheel is located in the
spare wheel well beneath the floor
cover.
The spare wheel well is not designed
for other tyre sizes than spare wheel.
To remove: 1. Close the soft top and fold in the load compartment partition by
pushing at the loop area upwards
to the inside 3 71.
2. Remove the floor cover.
3. The spare wheel is secured with a
wing nut in the well. Untwist nut,
remove conus and take out the
spare wheel.
Under the spare wheel there is a
box and a bag with vehicle tools.
4. Change the damaged wheel 3 211 and stow the tools back in
the tool box and the bag. Remove
the strap from the box and put
aside.
5. Secure the tool box by turning right back the wing nut with the
conus. Put the bag in the well.
6. Stow the damaged wheel outside up in the well.
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Vehicle care215
7. Place the loop end of the strapthrough the left rear lashing eye.
8. Place the hook end of the strap through the loop and pull it until
the strap is fastened securely to
the lashing eye.9. Insert the strap through the spokes of the wheel as shown in
the illustration.
10. Mount the hook to the right rear lashing eye.
11. Tighten the strap and secure it using the buckle.
12. Deposit the floor cover on the wheel.
13. If equipped, secure coupling ball bar in the bag at a lashing eye in
the load compartment.
14. Fold out the load compartment partition before opening the soft
top.
Stowing the spare wheel back in
the well after replacing the
damaged wheel
1. Close the soft top and fold in the load compartment partition.
2. Remove floor cover, untwist and remove wing nut and conus.
3. Stow the tools in the tool box and the bag.
4. Place spare wheel outside up in the well.
5. Insert and turn the excentricconus in the recess of the spare
wheel so that the wheel is
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216Vehicle care
positioned as far as possible to
the front. Secure the wheel by
turning the wing nut clockwise.
6. Insert and close floor cover.9 Warning
Storing a jack, a wheel or other
equipment in the load
compartment could cause injury if they are not fixed properly. During a sudden stop or a collision, loose
equipment could strike someone.
Store jack and tools always in the
respective storage compartments
and secure them by fixing.
Damaged wheel placed in the load
compartment must always be
secured by the strap.
Temporary spare wheel
Caution
The use of a spare wheel that is smaller than the other wheels or in combination with winter tyres
could affect driveability. Have thedefective tyre replaced as soon as
possible.
Only mount one temporary spare
wheel. Do not drive faster than
50 mph. Take curves slowly. Do not
use for a long period of time.
If your vehicle gets a flat tyre on the
rear while towing another vehicle,
mount the temporary spare wheel in
the front and the full tyre in the rear.
Tyre chains 3 207.
Directional tyres Fit directional tyres such that they roll
in the direction of travel. The rolling
direction is indicated by a symbol
(e.g. an arrow) on the sidewall.
The following applies to tyres fitted
opposing the rolling direction:
■ Driveability may be affected. Have the defective tyre renewed or
repaired as soon as possible.
■ Drive particularly carefully on wet and snow-covered road surfaces.
Jump starting
Do not start with quick charger.
A vehicle with a discharged vehicle
battery can be started using jump
leads and the vehicle battery of
another vehicle.9 Warning
Be extremely careful when starting
with jump leads. Any deviation
from the following instructions can
lead to injuries or damage caused
by battery explosion or damage to the electrical systems of both
vehicles.
9 Warning
Avoid contact of the battery with
eyes, skin, fabrics and painted
surfaces. The fluid contains
sulphuric acid which can cause
injuries and damage in the event
of direct contact.
Page 220 of 247
218Vehicle care
4. Switch on electrical consumers(e.g. headlights, heated rear
window) of the vehicle receiving
the jump start.
5. Reverse above sequence exactly when removing leads.Towing
Towing the vehicle
Insert a screwdriver in the slot at the
lower part of the cap. Release the cap
by carefully moving the screwdriver
downwards.
The towing eye is stowed with the
vehicle tools 3 201.
Screw in the towing eye anticlockwise
as far as it will go until it stops in a
horizontal position.
Attach a tow rope – or better still a tow rod – to the towing eye.
The towing eye must only be used for
towing and not for recovering the
vehicle.
Switch on ignition to release steering
wheel lock and to permit operation of
brake lights, horn and windscreen
wiper.
Transmission in neutral.