Driving and operating109the starter, running the fuel tank
dry and starting the engine by
pushing or towing.
In the event of misfiring, uneven
engine running, a reduction in engine
performance or other unusual
problems, have the cause of the fault
rectified by a workshop as soon as
possible. In an emergency, driving
can be continued for a short period,
keeping vehicle speed and engine
speed low.
Manual transmission
To engage reverse, with the vehicle
stationary, wait 3 seconds after
depressing the clutch pedal, pull up
the collar on the selector lever and
engage the gear.
If the gear does not engage, set the
lever to neutral, release the clutch
pedal and depress again; then repeat
gear selection.
Do not slip the clutch unnecessarily.
When operating, depress the clutch
pedal completely. Do not use the
pedal as a foot rest.
Caution
It is not advisable to drive with the hand resting on the selector lever.
When gearshifting is recommended
to improve fuel economy, control
indicator [ or Ò illuminates in the
Driver Information Centre 3 76.
Driving and operating119
■ The rear doors / tailgate are open.
■ An object was hanging out of the rear doors / tailgate during the last
drive cycle. Once the object has been removed, the parking assist
will return to normal operation.
■ An object or cover is attached to the
rear of the vehicle.
■ The bumper is damaged. Take the vehicle to a workshop to repair the
system.
■ Other conditions, such as vibrations from a jackhammer, are
affecting system performance.
In the event the system still does not
work properly, seek the assistance of
a workshop.
A warning chime is also sounded
briefly if a fault is present when
reverse gear is engaged 3 86.
Notice
The volume of the warning chime
can also be adjusted via the Driver
Information Centre 3 80.Important hints for using the
parking assist systems9 Warning
Under certain circumstances,
various reflective surfaces on
objects or clothing as well as
external noise sources may cause the system to fail to detect
obstacles.
Special attention has to be paid to
low obstacles which can damage
the lower part of the bumper. If
such obstacles leave the detection area of the sensors during
approach of the vehicle, a
continuous warning tone will
sound.
Caution
Performance of the sensor can be reduced when sensors are
covered, e.g. by ice or snow.
Performance of the parking assist
systems can be reduced due to
heavy loading.
Special conditions apply if there
are taller vehicles involved (e.g.
off-road vehicles, mini vans,
vans). Object identification in the upper part of these vehicles
cannot be guaranteed.
Objects with a very small reflection
cross section, like objects of
narrow size or soft materials, may
not be detected by the system.
Parking assist will not avoid a
collision with objects which are out
of the detection range of the
sensors.
Notice
The parking assist system
automatically detects factory-fitted
towing equipment. It is deactivated
when the connector is plugged in.
The sensor may detect a non-
existent object (echo disturbance)
caused by external acoustic or
mechanical disturbances.
Driving and operating121
Fuel selector
Pressing button Y in the centre
console switches between petrol and
natural gas operation. The LED 1
status shows the current operating
mode.
1 off=natural gas
operation.1 illuminates=petrol operation.
As soon as the natural gas tanks are
empty, petrol operation is
automatically engaged. Control
indicator Y illuminates in the Driver
Information Centre 3 80 until the
ignition is switched off.
A slight loss of power and torque can be expected in petrol operation. You
must therefore adapt your driving style (e.g. during overtaking
manoeuvres) and vehicle loads (e.g.
towing loads) accordingly.
Every six months run the petrol tank
down until control indicator §
illuminates and then refuel. This is
necessary to maintain fuel quality as
well as system function necessary for
petrol operation.
Fill the tank completely at regular intervals to prevent corrosion in the
tank.
Refuelling
Fuel filler flap is located at left rear side of vehicle.9 Danger
Before refuelling, switch off engine
and any external heaters with
combustion chambers. Switch off
any mobile phones.
Follow the operating and safety
instructions of the filling station
when refuelling.9 Danger
Fuel is flammable and explosive.
No smoking. No naked flames or
sparks.
If you can smell fuel in your
vehicle, have the cause of this
remedied immediately by a
workshop.
Caution
In case of misfuelling, do not
switch on ignition.
Release the fuel filler flap by pulling
the flap by hand.
Insert key into fuel filler cap and turn
anticlockwise to unlock.
To remove fuel filler cap, rotate
anticlockwise.
124Driving and operating
The figures are provided only for the
purpose of comparison between different vehicle variants and mustnot be taken as a guarantee for the
actual fuel consumption of a
particular vehicle.
Additional equipment may result in
slightly higher results than the stated
fuel consumption and CO 2 figures.
Furthermore, fuel consumption is dependent on personal driving style
as well as road and traffic conditions.
Natural gas
The fuel consumption information
was obtained using reference fuel
G20 (methane proportion
99 - 100 mol%) under prescribed
driving conditions. When using
natural gas with a lower proportion of
methane, the fuel consumption can
differ from the specified values.Trailer hitch
General information
Only use towing equipment that has
been approved for your vehicle.
Vehicles with natural gas engine may
require special towing equipment.
Entrust retrofitting of towing
equipment to a workshop. It may be
necessary to make changes that
affect the cooling system, heat
shields or other equipment.
Fitting of towing equipment could
cover the opening of the towing eye.
If this is the case use the coupling ball
bar for towing. Always keep the
coupling ball bar in the vehicle.
Driving characteristics and
towing tips Before attaching a trailer, lubricate
the coupling ball. However, do not do
so if a stabiliser, which acts on the coupling ball, is being used to reduce
snaking movements.For trailers with low driving stability
and caravan trailers with a permitted
gross vehicle weight of more than
1300 kg the use of a stabiliser is
strongly recommended when driving
above 50 mph.
If the trailer starts snaking, drive more slowly, do not attempt to correct the
steering and brake sharply if
necessary.
When driving downhill, drive in the
same gear as if driving uphill and
drive at a similar speed.
Adjust tyre pressure to the value
specified for full load 3 172.
Trailer towing Trailer loads The permissible trailer loads are
vehicle and engine-dependent
maximum values which must not be
exceeded. The actual trailer load is
the difference between the actual
gross weight of the trailer and the
actual coupling socket load with the
trailer coupled.
Driving and operating125
The permissible trailer loads are
specified in the vehicle documents. In general, they are valid for gradients
up to max. 12 %.
The permitted trailer load applies up to the specified incline and up to an
altitude of 1000 metres above sea
level. Since engine power decreases
as altitude increases due to the air
becoming thinner, therefore reducing
climbing ability, the permissible gross
train weight also decreases by 10 % for every 1000 metres of additional
altitude. The gross train weight does
not have to be reduced when driving
on roads with slight inclines (less than
8 %, e.g. motorways).
The permissible gross train weight
must not be exceeded. This weight is specified on the identification plate
3 164.
Vertical coupling load
The vertical coupling load is the load
exerted by the trailer on the coupling
ball. It can be varied by changing the
weight distribution when loading the
trailer.The maximum permissible vertical
coupling load (75 kg) is specified on
the towing equipment identification
plate and in the vehicle documents.
Always aim for the maximum load,
especially in the case of heavy
trailers. The vertical coupling load
should never fall below 25 kg.
Rear axle load The permissible axle loads (see
identification plate or vehicle
documents) must not be exceeded.
126Vehicle careVehicle careGeneral Information...................126
Vehicle checks ........................... 127
Bulb replacement .......................133
Electrical system ........................139
Vehicle tools .............................. 143
Wheels and tyres .......................144
Jump starting ............................. 155
Towing ....................................... 156
Appearance care .......................158General 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.
■ 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 to prevent the vehicle
from rolling.
■ Do not apply the parking brake.
156Vehicle care
3. Connect the black lead to thenegative terminal of the booster
battery.
4. Connect the other end of the black
lead to a vehicle grounding point,
such as the engine block or an
engine mounting bolt. Connect as far away from the discharged
battery as possible, however at
least 60 cm.
Route the leads so that they cannot
catch on rotating parts in the engine
compartment.
To start the engine: 1. Start the engine of the vehicle providing the jump.
2. After 5 minutes, start the other engine. Start attempts should be
made for no longer than
15 seconds at an interval of 1 minute.
3. Allow both engines to idle for approx. 3 minutes with the leads
connected.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
Release the cap by carefully lifting
with a screwdriver. To prevent
damage, it is recommended to place
a cloth between the screwdriver and
the frame.
The towing eye is stowed with the vehicle tools 3 143.
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 towing eye.
Vehicle care157Caution
The towing eye must only be usedfor 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.
Notice
If neutral cannot be selected on
vehicles with manual transmission
automated (MTA), the vehicle must
only be towed with the drive wheels
raised off the ground.
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.
To prevent the entry of exhaust gases from the towing vehicle, switch on the
air recirculation and close the
windows.
Seek the assistance of a workshop.
After towing, unscrew the towing eye
and replace the cap.
Towing another vehicle
Insert a screwdriver in the slot at the
side of the cap. Release the cap by
carefully levering the screwdriver. To
prevent damage it is recommended to place a cloth between the screwdriver
and the frame.
The towing eye is stowed with the vehicle tools 3 143.
Screw in the towing eye as far as it will
go until it stops in a horizontal
position.
Attach a tow rope – or even better a tow bar – to the towing eye.
The towing eye must only be used for
towing and not for recovering a
vehicle.Caution
Drive slowly. Do not drive jerkily.
Excessive tractive force can
damage the vehicle.
After towing, unscrew the towing eye.
Insert cap.