Air conditioning
Blower
The air flo w c
an be set
at four speeds with
switch B . The blower should always be set
at the lo
w
est speed when driving slowly.
Air distribution
Control C for setting the flow of air in the re-
quir ed dir
ection.
– Air distribution towards the windscreen
in order to demist. For safety reasons, it is
not recommended to switch air recirculation
on.
– Air distribution to upper body.
– Air distribution to footwell
– Air distribution to the windscreen and
the footwell. WARNING
● For y
our safety, the windows should never
be fogged up or covered with snow or ice.
This is essential to ensure good visibility.
Please familiarise yourself with the correct
operation of the heating and ventilation sys-
tem, including the demist/defrost functions
for the windows. Note
● Ple a
se consider the general notes
››› page 144. Air recirculation
Air recirculation prevents unpleasant smells
from ent
erin
g the interior.
Connecting the recirculation
In any position of rotary switch C except
tha w:
● Pr
ess button D
››› Fig. 165 and the l
amp in
the button will illuminate.
Disconnecting the recirculation
● If the lamp is on, press button D and the
l amp w
i
ll go off, indicating that the entry of
outside air has been activated.
If the rotary switch C
› ›
›
Fig. 165 is in the
thaw position, the recirculation flap will al-
ways be open and air will always enter from
the outside.
If the rotary switch C is switched from any
po s
ition t
o the thaw position, recirculation
will be automatically deactivated. WARNING
● In air rec ir
culation mode, no cold air from
the outside enters the vehicle interior. The
windows can quickly fog over if the heating is
switched off. Therefore, never leave the air re-
circulation mode switched on for a long time
(risk of accident). Vehicle ventilation or heating
Ventilating the vehicle interior
– Turn the temperature selector ›››
Fig. 165
A anticlockwise.
– Turn blower switch B to any of the head
setting s
1 -4.
– Set the airflow to the desired direction us-
ing air dis
tribution control C .
– Open the relevant air outlets.
Interior he atin
g
– Turn the temperature selector ›››
Fig. 165
A clockwise to select the desired tempera-
t ur
e.
– T
urn blower switch B to any of the head
settin g
s
1 -4.
– Set the airflow to the desired direction us-
ing air dis
tribution control C .
– Open the relevant air outlets.
D efr
o
sting the windscreen
– Turn the temperature selector ›››
Fig. 165
A clockwise to reach the maximum tem-
per at
ur
e.
– Turn the blower switch B to setting 4.
– Turn air distribution control to .
– Close outlet 3 .
»
147
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Air conditioning
Vehicle interior heating or cooling
sy s
t
em Interior heating
– Turn off the cooling system using the
›› ›
Fig. 166 A/C button (the button light
turn s
off).
– Turn the temperature selector A to set the
des ir
ed temperature inside the vehicle.
– Turn the blower switch to any of the set-
tings
1-4.
– Set the air distribution control C to the air
flo w c
onfigur
ation desired: (towards the
w ind
s
creen), (towards the chest),
(towards the footwell) and
(towards the
w ind
s
creen and footwell areas).
Interior cooling
– Turn off the cooling system using the A/Cbutton (the button light turns on).
– Turn the temperature control switch until
the de s
ir
ed interior temperature is reached.
– Turn the blower switch to any of the set-
tings
1-4.
– Set the air distribution control to the air
flow configur
ation desired: (towards the
w ind
s
creen), (towards the chest),
(towards the footwell) and
(towards the
w ind
s
creen and footwell areas). Heating
Maximum he
at output, which is needed to
defrost the windows quickly, is only available
when the engine has reached its operating
temperature.
Coolant system
When the air conditioning is switched on, the
temperature and the air humidity go down.
This way, if the outside humidity is extreme,
the air conditioning prevents the misting of
the windows and therefore, comfort is im-
proved.
If the air conditioning does not work, this
may be due to the following reasons:
● The engine is stationary.
● The fan blower is switched off.
● The outside temperature is lower than ap-
prox
imately +3°C (+37°F).
● The air conditioning system compressor
has
been temporarily switched off because of
an increased engine coolant temperature.
● The air conditioner fuse is faulty.
● Another fault in the vehicle. Have the air
conditioning c
hecked by a specialised work-
shop. Air recirculation
Air recirculation prevents unpleasant smells,
e.g. when p
a
ssing through a tunnel or in
queuing traffic, from entering the interior.
If the rotary switch C
››› Fig. 166 i
s in the
thaw position, the recirculation flap will al-
ways be open (button light off).
If the rotary switch C is switched from any
pos ition t
o the thaw position, recirculation
will be automatically deactivated.
Connecting the recirculation
In any position of rotary switch C except
th a
w:
● Pr
ess button D
› ›
› Fig. 166
, the switch's
lamp will light up, indicating that air recircu-
lation inside the vehicle has been activated.
Disconnecting the recirculation
In any position of rotary switch C except
th a
w:
● Pr
ess button D again and the button's
l amp w
i
ll go off, indicating that air recircula-
tion from the outside has been activated.
In the thaw position of rotary switch C , the
entr y
of
air into the vehicle interior is always
from the outside. »
149
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Air conditioning
Climatronic description
C oo
lin
g only works if the following conditions
are met:
● The engine is running
● the outside temperature is above +2°C
(+36°F);
● A/C
18
› ››
Fig. 167
sw
itched on.
Starting the Climatronic
The corresponding function will be switched
on when a button is pressed, turning on the
air conditioniNG if it was switched off, with
the exception of button 17
› ›
› Fig. 167
(recir-
culation)
Switching off the Climatronic
● Turn control 10 to the left until the seg-
ments of
c
olumn 9
› ›
› Fig. 167 switch off.
● After 1 second has elapsed, turn the control
again t
o switch off the display.
In order to ensure engines subject to heavy
loads are cooled, the air conditioning com-
pressor is switched off in the event of high
coolant temperatures.
Recommended setting for all seasons of the
year
● Set the required temperature. We recom-
mend +22 °C (72°F).
● Pre
ss the AUTO button
13
› ›
› Fig. 167
.●
Adjust
vents 3 and 4 ››› page 146 so that
the air flow is directed slightly upwards.
Change between degrees Centigrade and de-
grees Fahrenheit
Keep the AUTO and
A/C
› ››
Fig. 167
b
uttons
held down for 2 seconds at the same time.
The data is displayed on the screen in the
units required. Note
● A v i
sit to the specialised service once a
year is recommended to clean the Climatronic
system.
● The interior temperature sensor 11 ›››
Fig. 167 is at
the bottom. Do not cover it
with stickers or the like, as this could have a
negative effect on Climatronic operations. Automatic mode
Automatic mode is used to maintain a con-
s
t
ant
temperature and demist the windows
inside the vehicle.
Switching on automatic mode
● Set the interior temperature between +16°C
(+64°F) and +29°C (+84°F).
● Adjus
t vents 3 and 4 ›››
page 146 so that
the air flow is directed slightly upwards. ●
Pres
s the AUTO button
13
› ››
Fig. 167
and
AUTO di
splayed on the screen.
Automatic mode is switched off by pressing
the air distribution buttons or increasing or
decreasing the blower speed. However, the
temperature remains regulated.
Adjusting the temperature ●
When you switch on the ignition, control 1 ›››
Fig. 167 can be u sed t
o set the required in-
terior temperature.
It is possible to select interior temperatures
from +16°C (+64°F) to +29°C (+84°F). In this
range the temperature is regulated automati-
cally. If a temperature below +16°C (+64°F) is
selected, “LO” is displayed on the screen. If a
temperature above +29°C (+84°F) is selected,
“HI” is displayed on the screen. At both ex-
tremes, Climatronic works at maximum cool-
ing or heating power, respectively. The tem-
perature is not regulated.
In the event of prolonged, irregular distribu-
tion of the air flow from the outlets (particu-
larly the footwells) and significant differen-
ces in temperature, e.g. on leaving the vehi-
cle, sensitive people may catch cold.
151
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
could be engaged and vehicle steering would
not w
ork. Note
The ignition of the vehicle being towed must
be sw itc
hed on to prevent the steering wheel
from locking and also to allow the use of the
turn signals, horn, windscreen wipers and
washers. Information relating to different vehi-
c
l
e pr
ocesses. In order to make the vehicle more difficult to
s
t
e
al, you should always lock the steering be-
fore leaving the vehicle.
Mechanical steering lock
The steering column is locked when the key
is removed from the ignition lock and the ve-
hicle is stationary.
Activating the steering lock
● Park the vehicle ›››
page 156.
● Remove the ignition key.
● Turn the steering wheel slightly until the
steerin
g lock has engaged. Deactivating the steering lock
●
Turn the steering wheel slightly to release
the lock.
● Inser
t the key in the ignition lock.
● Hold the steering wheel in this position
and switc
h on the ignition.
Electromechanical steering
In vehicles with electromechanical steering,
the assisted steering function automatically
adjusts according to vehicle speed, steering
wheel torque and wheel orientation. The
power steering only works when the engine
is running.
You should take into account that you will
need considerably more power than normal
to steer the vehicle if the power steering is
not working correctly or at all.
Power-assisted steering
Power-assisted steering helps the driver in
critical situations. In counter-steering, it as-
sists by applying additional torque ››› .
WARNING
Power-assisted steering, together with the
ESC, help s
the driver to control vehicle steer-
ing in critical situations. However, the driver
is ultimately responsible for steering the ve-
hicle at all times. Power-assisted steering
does not remove this responsibility. Starting and stopping the en-
gine
Ignition k ey
po
sitions Fig. 168
Ignition key positions. Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 20
Ignition switched off, steering lock 1 In this position
››
›
Fig. 168, the ignition and
the engine are OFF and the steering may be
locked.
For the Steering lock to operate without the
ignition key, turn the steering wheel until it
locks with an audible sound. You should al-
ways lock the steering wheel when you leave
your vehicle. This will help prevent vehicle
theft ››› .
»
153
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
WARNING
● Never s t
art or run the engine in unventila-
ted or closed rooms. The exhaust gases con-
tain carbon monoxide, an odourless and col-
ourless poisonous gas. Risk of fatal acci-
dents. Carbon monoxide can cause loss of
consciousness and result in death.
● Never leave the vehicle unattended if the
engine is
running.
● Never use “cold start sprays”, they could
explode or c
ause the engine to run at high
revs. Risk of injury. CAUTION
● When the engine i s
cold, you should avoid
high engine speeds, driving at full throttle
and over-loading the engine. Risk of engine
damage.
● The vehicle should not be pushed or towed
more than 50 metr
es to start the engine. Un-
burnt fuel could enter the catalytic converter
and damage it.
● Before attempting to push-start or tow a ve-
hicle in or
der to start it, you should first try to
start it using the battery of another vehicle.
Please observe and follow the notes on the
››› page 52, How to jump start. For the sake of the environment
Do not warm-up the engine by running the
engine w ith the
vehicle stationary. Start off
immediately, driving gently. This helps the engine reach operating temperature faster
and reduc
e
s emissions. Starting diesel engines
The engine can only be started using a genu-
ine S
EA
T key with its correct code.
– Move the gearbox lever to the neutral posi-
tion and depres
s the clutch pedal thor-
oughly and hold it in this position for the
starter to turn the engine on.
– Turn the ignition key to position ›››
Fig. 168
2 . The warning lamp
wi
l l light for en-
gine pre-heating.
– When the lamp turns off, turn the ignition
key t
o position 3 to start the engine. Do
not pr
e
ss the accelerator.
– Release the ignition key as soon as the en-
gine star
ts. The starter motor should not
turn at the same time.
When starting a cold engine, it may be a little
noisy for the first few seconds until oil pres-
sure has built up in the hydraulic valve com-
pensators. This is quite normal, and no cause
for concern.
If there are problems starting the engine, see
the ›››
page 52. Glow plug system for the diesel engine
To avoid u
nnecessary discharging of the bat-
tery, do not use any other major electrical
equipment while the glow plugs are pre-heat-
ing.
Start the engine as soon as the glow plug
warning lamp goes out.
Starting a diesel engine after the fuel tank
has been completely run dry
If the fuel tank has been completely run dry,
it may take longer than normal (up to one mi-
nute) to start a diesel engine after refuelling.
This is because the fuel system must elimi-
nate air first. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Starting
petro l
engines on page 155. CAUTION
● When the engine i s
cold, you should avoid
high engine speeds, driving at full throttle
and over-loading the engine. Risk of engine
damage.
● The vehicle should not be pushed or towed
more than 50 metr
es to start the engine. Un-
burnt fuel could enter the catalytic converter
and damage it.
● Before attempting to push-start or tow a ve-
hicle in or
der to start it, you should first try to » 155
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
the brakes to overheat and the braking
dis
t
ance will increase. Apply and then release
the brakes alternately.
● Never let the vehicle run with the engine
switc
hed off. The braking distance is in-
creased considerably when the brake servo is
not active.
● If the brake fluid loses its viscosity and is
subj
ected to heavy use, vapour bubbles can
form in the brake system. This reduces the ef-
ficiency of the brakes.
● Non-standard or damaged front spoilers
coul
d restrict the airflow to the brakes and
cause them to overheat. Before purchasing
accessories please observe the relevant in-
structions ››› page 190, Modifications.
● If a brake system circuit fails, the braking
dist
ance will be increased considerably. Con-
tact a specialised workshop immediately and
avoid unnecessary journeys. Handbrake
Fig. 169
Handbrake between the front seats. The handbrake should be applied firmly to
pr
ev
ent
the vehicle from accidentally rolling
away. Always apply the handbrake when you
leave your vehicle and when you park.
Applying the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up firmly
›››
Fig. 169.
Releasing the handbrake
– Pull the lever up slightly and press the re-
lea
se knob in the direction of the arrow
››› Fig. 169 and guide the handbrake lever
down fully ››› .
A lw
a
ys pull the handbrake all the way up, so
there is less risk of driving off with it still en-
gaged ››› .The handbrake warning lamp lights
up
when the h andbr
ake is applied and the igni-
tion switched on. The warning lamp turns off
when the handbrake is released. WARNING
● Never u se the h
andbrake to stop the vehi-
cle when it is in motion. The braking distance
is considerably longer, because braking is
only applied to the rear wheels. Risk of acci-
dent!
● If the handbrake is only partially released,
this w
ill cause the rear brakes to overheat,
which can impair the function of the brake
system and could lead to an accident. This al-
so causes premature wear on the rear brake
pads. CAUTION
Always apply the handbrake before you leave
the v ehic
le. Put it in 1st gear as well. In vehi-
cles with an automatic gearbox, place the
gear lever in position P. Parking
The handbrake should always be firmly ap-
p
lied when the
v
ehicle is parked.
Always note the following points when park-
ing the vehicle: – Use the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. »
157
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
Manual gearbox Driv in
g w
ith manual gearboxRead the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 37
Certain versions of the model may include a
6-speed manual gearbox, and its diagram is
shown on the gearbox lever.
The reverse gear can only be engaged when
the car is stationary. When the engine is run-
ning and before engaging this gear, wait
about 6 seconds with the clutch pressed
down thoroughly in order to protect the gear-
box.
The reverse lights switch on when the reverse
gear is selected and the ignition is on. WARNING
● When the engine i s
running, the vehicle
will start to move as soon as a gear is engag-
ed and the clutch released.
● Never select the reverse gear when the ve-
hicle i
s in motion. Risk of accident. Note
● Do not r e
st your hand on the gear lever
while driving. The pressure of your hand
could cause premature wear on the selector
forks in the gearbox. ●
When ch an
ging gear, you should always
depress the clutch fully to avoid unnecessary
wear and damage.
● Do not “slip” the clutch to hold the vehicle
on a hill
. This causes premature wear and
damage to the clutch.
● Do not leave your foot on the clutch pedal;
although the pre
ssure may seem insignifi-
cant, it can cause the premature wear of the
clutch plate. Use the foot rest when you do
not need to change gear. Gear-change indicator
3 V
alid for vehicles: with a manual gearbox
The r
ecommended gear for saving fuel is in-
dicated on the dash screen of certain vehi-
cles during driving.
DisplayMeaning
The optimal gear is selected.
Changing to a higher gear is recommended.
Changing to a lower gear is recommended.
Information regarding the “cleanliness” of
the die
sel
p
articulate filter
The exhaust system manager detects that the
diesel particulate filter is nearly saturated
and contributes to self-cleaning by recom-
mending the optimal gear. For this purpose, it might be necessary to drive momentarily
with a high rpm
››
› page 101. WARNING
The gear change indicator is only an auxiliary
fu nction and in no c
ase should be a substi-
tute for careful driving.
● The responsibility of choosing the correct
gear dependin
g on the situation (e.g. over-
taking, driving up or down a slope or towing a
trailer) lies with the driver. For the sake of the environment
Selecting the correct gear can help to save
fuel . Note
The recommended gear display is switched
off when the c lut
ch pedal is pressed. Automatic gearbox*
Driv ing pr
ogrammes Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 38
The automatic gearbox has got two gearbox
programmes. »
159
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
press the brake pedal to change the selector
l ev
er fr
om position N to position D.
S - Standard driving position (Sport pro-
gramme)
When the selector lever is in position S, it will
automatically change up into a higher gear
later, and change down into a low gear, if
compared with position D. This way, it is pos-
sible to take full advantage of the engine re-
serve power, depending on the engine de-
mand, driving style and speed. The braking
effect of the engine when driving downhill is
very limited. On the instrument panel display
the selected gear is shown as well as the se-
lector lever to position S.
To select gear range S, press the lock button
on the selector lever. WARNING
● As a driv er
, you should never leave your ve-
hicle if the engine is running and a gear range
is engaged. If you have to leave your vehicle
while the engine is running, you must apply
the parking brake and put the selector lever
in position P.
● If the engine is running and if D or R is en-
gaged,
you will need to hold the car on the
foot brake. The car will creep forward as the
power transmission is not fully interrupted
even when the engine is idling.
● Never accelerate when moving the selector
lever or
you may cause an accident. ●
Never mo v
e the selector lever to R or P
when driving. Risk of accident!
● Before driving down a long, steep slope, it
is a
dvisable to reduce speed and change into
a lower gear.
● If you stop the vehicle up hill, always hold
the foot br
ake strongly depressed down to
stop it from rolling back.
● Never allow the brake to rub and do not use
the brake ped
al too often or for long periods.
Constant braking will cause the brakes to
overheat and will considerably reduce the
brake effect. This increases the braking dis-
tance and could cause the brake system to
fail.
● Never allow the car to roll down a gradient
with the ge
ar in neutral N, or in selector lever
position D, even if the engine is not running.
● If the vehicle moves with no control, an ac-
cident and seriou
s injury may occur. WARNING
Never switch the engine off until the vehicle
is s
tationary. You could lose control of your
vehicle. This could cause an accident and se-
rious injury.
● The airbags and belt tensioners do not
work when the ignition i
s switched off.
● The brake servo does not work with the en-
gine off. Y
ou need more force to stop the vehi-
cle. ●
Po w
er steering does not work when the en-
gine is not running. That is why it is much
more difficult to turn the steering wheel.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehic
le is in motion. The steering lock
could suddenly engage, and you would not be
able to steer the vehicle. CAUTION
If you allow the vehicle to move when the en-
gine i s sw
itched off or with the selector lever
in position “N”, take your foot off the acceler-
ator and wait until the engine starts idling
before returning to position “D”. Selector lever lock
Fig. 170
Automatic gearbox The selector lever lock in position P or N pre-
v
ents
g
ears from being engaged inadvertent-
ly, which would cause the vehicle to move. »
161
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety