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150Driving and operating
Inserting the coupling ball bar
Insert the coupling ball bar into the
coupling housing and push firmly
downwards until the coupling ball bar
audibly engages. If it does not
engage, repeat fitting procedure.
Do not swing the coupling ball bar to
the left or right, or upwards and
downwards, to avoid disrupting
correct fitting.
Lock coupling ball bar by turning the supplied key in the lock cylinder of the coupling ball bar. Remove key.
Check that the coupling ball bar is
correctly attached:
■ Green marking must be visible on lever.
■ Coupling ball bar must be seated firmly in coupling housing.
Coupling ball bar must be locked and key must be removed.
9 Warning
Towing a trailer is permitted only
when the coupling ball bar is fitted correctly. If the coupling ball bar
cannot be properly attached, seek the assistance of a workshop.
Eye for break-away stopping cable
In the case of trailers with brakes,
attach the break-away stopping cable
to the eye - not to the coupling ball
bar.
Dismounting the coupling ball bar
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Driving and operating151
Unlock coupling ball bar and remove
key. Push lever to the left, towards the
coupling ball bar and turn it
downwards. Pull coupling ball bar out of coupling housing.
Remove any rust or dirt from area
around the coupling housing and
coupling ball bar connection before
inserting sealing plug in the hole.
Place the coupling ball bar in the bag supplied, fasten it with the strap and
stow it below the floor cover in the
load compartment.
Do not use steam-jet cleaners or
other high-pressure cleaners to clean
the coupling ball bar.
Trailer stability assist If the system detects snaking
movements, engine power is reduced
and the vehicle/trailer combination is
selectively braked until the snaking ceases. While system is working keep steering wheel as still as possible.
Trailer stability assist (TSA) is a
function of the Electronic Stability
Control 3 139.
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152Vehicle careVehicle careGeneral Information...................152
Vehicle checks ........................... 153
Bulb replacement .......................161
Electrical system ........................167
Vehicle tools .............................. 175
Wheels and tyres .......................177
Jump starting ............................. 190
Towing ....................................... 192
Appearance care .......................194General 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 and wax the vehicle.
■ Have the wax in the engine compartment and underbody
checked.
■ Clean and preserve the rubber seals.
■ 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 move selector lever
to P. Prevent the vehicle from
rolling.
■ Do not apply the electrical parking brake.
Page 178 of 223
176Vehicle care
To remove the jack and vehicle tools,open the tailgate.
Push both levers on the floor cover
towards the handle and pull up the
cover by the handle.
Where present, hang the hook to the
upper part of the tailgate opening.
Remove wing bolt from the jack by
rotating it anticlockwise and remove
the jack and wheel wrench bag.
Remove straps holding the bag
containing the wheel wrench.
Remove wheel wrench from the bag.
Wheel changing 3 186.
Spare wheel 3 189.
Vehicles with tyre repair kit
In vehicles with a tyre repair kit, there may not be a jack and vehicle tool kit.
The tyre repair kit is in a storage
compartment below the floor cover in the load compartment.
Page 190 of 223

188Vehicle care
5. Attach wheel wrench to eye ofthreaded rod and rotate wrench
clockwise to raise vehicle.
If this is not the case, carefully
lower the vehicle immediately and
reposition the jack. Raise the
vehicle until the wheel is just clear of the ground.
6. Unscrew wheel nuts completely and wipe clean with a cloth.
Do not grease the threads. Put
wheel nuts somewhere where the threads will not be soiled.
7. Change the wheel. Notes on spare wheel 3 189.
8. Screw on the wheel nuts and
tighten slightly by hand by turning
clockwise until wheel is held
against the hub.
9. Rotate wrench anticlockwise and lower vehicle to the ground.
10. Install the wheel wrench ensuring that it locates securely and tighten
each wheel nut in a crosswise
sequence. Tightening torque is
140 Nm.
11. Stow the replaced wheel 3 189
and the vehicle tools 3 175.
12. Check the tyre pressure of the installed tyre as soon as possible.
Have the defective tyre renewed and
replace temporary spare wheel with a
full specification wheel without delay.
Jacking position for lifting platform
Rear arm position of the lifting
platform centrically under the recess
of the sill.
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Vehicle care189
Front arm position of the lifting
platform centrically under the recess
of the sill.
Spare wheel
Temporary spare wheel
Some vehicles are equipped with a
tyre repair kit instead of a spare
wheel.
The temporary spare wheel is
designed for use on your vehicle only.
If mounting a spare wheel which is
different from the other wheels, this
wheel might be classified as a
temporary spare wheel and the
corresponding speed limits apply,
even though no label indicates this.
Seek the assistance of a workshop to
check the applicable speed limit.
Use of the temporary spare wheel
could affect driveability, particularly if
using winter tyres. Have the defective
tyre renewed as soon as possible and
have the wheel balanced and fitted to the vehicle.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.The temporary spare wheel is located in the load compartment below the
floor cover and is secured with a
screw-in retainer.
Push both levers on the floor cover
towards the handle and pull up the
cover by the handle. Hang the hook
to the upper part of the tailgate
opening.
Vehicle tools 3 175.
Remove the retainer by rotating it
anticlockwise and remove temporary
spare wheel from the spare wheel
well.
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192Vehicle care
4. Switch on electrical consumers(e.g. headlights, heated rear
window) of the vehicle receiving
the jump start.
5. Operate discharged vehicle for approx. 20 minutes to allow for
adequate battery recharging.
6. Reverse above sequence exactly when removing leads.Towing
Towing the vehicle
Remove the spoiler lip from the front
left-hand side of the vehicle by
unfastening the six screws located on the underside of the vehicle. Then
attach the towing eye.
The towing eye is stowed with the
vehicle tools 3 175.
Screw in the towing eye 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 front towing eye, never to
the bumper or front suspension units.
Do not tow the vehicle from the rear.
The front towing eye must only be
used for towing and not recovering a
vehicle.
Switch on ignition to release steering wheel lock and to permit operation of
brake lights, horn and windscreen
wiper.
Transmission in neutral.
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Vehicle care193
Turn key to ignition switch position
ACC and release the electrical
parking brake before towing the
vehicle.Caution
Drive slowly. Do not drive jerkily.
Excessive tractive force can
damage the vehicle.
When the engine is not running,
considerably more force is needed to
brake and steer.
Keep tow rope clear of front bumper, and ensure it is securely fixed to the
towing eye at both ends. Pull on the tow rope to check.
To prevent the entry of exhaust gases from the towing vehicle, switch on the
air recirculation system 3 116 and
close the windows.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
The vehicle must be towed facing
forwards. The maximum speed is
55 mph. In all other cases, and when
the transmission is defective, the front axle must be raised off the ground.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Do not tow the vehicle using the
towing eye. Towing with a tow rope
could cause severe damage to the
transmission. When towing a vehicle
with automatic transmission, use flat
bed or wheel lift equipment.
Seek the assistance of a workshop.
After towing, unscrew the towing eye
and replace the spoiler lip. Store
towing eye in the storage
compartment below the floor cover in the load compartment.
Vehicle tools 3 175.Towing another vehicle
Remove the cover located on the rear
bumper by pressing the lower part of
the cover.
The rear towing eye attachment is
stored below the floor cover in the
load compartment.
Screw the rear towing eye attachment
anticlockwise using a suitable
screwdriver, until it is firmly in place
and stops in a horizontal position.
Attach a tow rope – or better still a tow
rod – to the rear towing eye.