Lights and visibility
Windscreen wiper and rear win-
do w w
iper sy s
tems
Control lamp*
It lights up
Windscreen wiper fluid level too low
This serves as a reminder to fill up the reser-
voir at the e
arlie
st opportunity ››› page 210.
Windscreen wipers Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
p
age 23 WARNING
● Worn and dirty w
iper blades reduce visibili-
ty and safety levels while driving.
● In cold conditions you should not use the
wash/wipe sy
stem unless you have warmed
the windscreen with the heating and ventila-
tion system. The windscreen washer fluid
could otherwise freeze on the windscreen and
obscure your view of the road.
● Always note the corresponding warnings
››› p
age 54. WARNING
The rain sensor* may not detect enough rain
to swit c
h on the wipers.
● If necessary, switch on the wipers manually
when water on the wind
screen obstructs visi-
bility. CAUTION
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper
bla de
s are not frozen to the glass before us-
ing the wipers for the first time. If you switch
on the windscreen wipers when the wiper
blades are frozen to the windscreen, you
could damage both the wiper blades and the
wiper motor. Note
● The winds c
reen wipers will only work when
the ignition is switched on.
● The heat output of the heated jets* is con-
troll
ed automatically when the ignition is
switched on, depending upon the outside
temperature.
● In certain versions of vehicles with alarms,
the windsc
reen wiper will only work in inter-
val/rain sensor mode when the ignition is on
and the bonnet closed.
● When the interval wipe function is on, the
interva
ls are directly proportional to the
speed. This way, the higher the vehicle speed
the shorter the intervals. ●
If y ou s
top the vehicle with the windscreen
wiper in position 1 or 2, it will automatically
change to a lower position speed. The set
speed will be resumed when the vehicle pulls
away.
● The windscreen will be wiped again after
approx
imately five seconds once the “auto-
matic wash/wipe system” has been activa-
ted, provided the vehicle is moving (drip func-
tion). If you activate the wipers less than 3
seconds after the drip function, a new wash
sequence will begin without performing the
last wipe. For the “drip” function to work
again, you have to turn the ignition off and
then on again.
● Do not put stickers on the windscreen in
front of the
rain sensor*. This may cause sen-
sor disruption or faults. Rear window wiper
Fig. 138
Windscreen wiper lever: rear window
w iper
. » 125
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
Switching on the interval wipe – Press the lever forward to position 6›››
Fig. 138. The w
iper w i
ll wipe the window
approximately every 6 seconds.
Switching off the interval wipe function
– Pull the lever back from position 6 toward
the s t
eerin g wheel
. The wiper will continue
to function for a short period if you switch
off whilst the wipers are in motion.
Switching on the window wiper and washer
system – Press the lever fully forwards to position 7›››
Fig. 138 . The wiper and w a
sher operate
at the same time. The rear window wash
system will function as long as you hold the
lever in this position.
– Release the lever. The washer system stops
and the wipers c
ontinue until the end of
the cycle.
– Move the lever towards the steering wheel
to switc
h off. WARNING
● Worn and dirty w
iper blades reduce visibili-
ty and safety levels while driving.
● Always note the corresponding warnings
››› p
age 54. CAUTION
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper
bla de i
s not frozen to the glass before using
the wiper for the first time. If you switch on
the wiper when the wiper blade is frozen to
the glass, this could damage both the wiper
blade and the wiper motor. Note
● The rear w indo
w wiper will only work when
the ignition is switched on.
● Depending on the version of the model,
when you eng
age reverse gear and with the
headlight wiper activated, this can start a
wipe. Headlight washer*
The headlight washers clean the headlight
l
en
ses.
The he
adlight washers are activated auto-
matically when the windscreen washer is
used and the window wiper lever is pulled to-
wards the steering wheel for at least 1.5 sec-
onds – provided the dipped beam headlights
or main beams are switched on. Clean off
stubborn dirt (insects, etc.) from the head-
lights at regular intervals, for instance when
filling the fuel tank. Note
● To ens ur
e that the headlight washers work
properly in winter, keep the nozzle holders in
the bumper free of snow and remove any ice
with a de-icer spray.
● To remove water, the windscreen wipers
will
be activated from time to time, the head-
light washers will be activated every three cy-
cles. Rear view mirrors
Int erior mirr
or It is dangerous to drive if you cannot see
c
l
e arly
through the rear window.
Interior mirror with automatic anti-dazzle
function*
The anti-dazzle function is activated every
time the ignition is switched on.
When the anti-dazzle function is enabled, the
interior rear vision mirror will darken auto-
matically according to the amount of light it
receives. The anti-dazzle function is cancel-
led if reverse gear is engaged. Note
● The automatic anti-d
azzle function will only
work properly if the sun blind* for the rear 126
Operation
Air conditioning
He atin
g, v
entilation and cool-
ing
General notes Read the additional information carefully
›››
p
age 39
Pollution filter
The pollution filter (a combined particulate
filter and active carbon filter) serves as a bar-
rier against impurities in the outside air, in-
cluding dust and pollen.
For the climate control system to work with
maximum efficiency, the pollution filter must
be replaced at the specified intervals in the
Maintenance Programme.
If the filter loses efficiency prematurely due
to use in areas reaching very high pollution
levels, the pollen filter must be changed
more frequently than stated in the Service
Schedule. WARNING
Reduced visibility through the windows in-
cre a
ses the risk of serious accidents.
● Always ensure that all windows are free of
ice and snow
, and that they are not fogged, so as to maintain good visibility of everything
outside.
●
The m ax
imum heat output required to de-
frost
windows as quickly as possible is only
available when the engine has reached its
normal running temperature. Only drive when
you have good visibility.
● Always ensure that you use the heating
system, fr
esh air system, air conditioner and
the heated rear window to maintain good visi-
bility to the outside.
● Never leave the air recirculation on for a
long period of time. If the c
ooling system is
switched off and air recirculation mode
switched on, the windows can mist over very
quickly, considerably limiting visibility.
● Switch air recirculation mode off when it is
not required. WARNING
Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and re-
duce driver c onc
entration possibly resulting
in a serious accident.
● Never leave the fresh air fan turned off or
use the air recir
culation for long periods of
time; the air in the vehicle interior will not be
refreshed. CAUTION
● If y ou s
uspect that the air conditioner is
damaged, switch it off with the A/C button to prevent further damage and have it checked
by a s
pec
ialised workshop.
● Repairs to the air conditioner require spe-
ciali
st knowledge and special tools. There-
fore, we recommend you to take the vehicle
to a specialised workshop. Note
● If the humidity and t emper
ature outside the
vehicle are high, condensation can drip off
the evaporator in the cooling system and
form a pool underneath the vehicle. This is
normal and does not indicate a leak.
● Keep the air intake slots in front of the
windsc
reen free of snow, ice and leaves to en-
sure heating and cooling are not impaired,
and to prevent the windows from misting
over.
● The air from the vents flows through the ve-
hicle interior and i
s extracted by slots in the
luggage compartment designed for this pur-
pose. Therefore, you should avoid obstruct-
ing these slots with any kind of object.
● The air conditioner operates most effective-
ly with the windo
ws and the sliding/tilting
sunroof* closed. However, if the temperature
inside the vehicle is excessive because of the
sun, the air inside can be cooled faster by
opening the windows for a short time.
● Do not smoke while air recirculation mode
is on, as
smoke drawn into the air condition-
ing system leaves residue on the evaporator,
producing a permanent unpleasant odour. 140
Operation
Air distributionSymbol ››› page 142
CMain air output through out-
lets
1, 2
5
1, 2, 5
3, 4
Outlets
3 and
4 can be closed or opened
separat ely
using the slats and the air flow di-
rected as required.
Heating and fresh air
Contro l
s Fig. 165
Heating controls on the dash panel. ●
Use t
urn c ontr
ols A ,
B and
C
› ››
Fig. 165
t o a dju
st the temperature, blower speed and
air distribution.
● Press the D button to switch air recircula-
tion mode on or off .
When the f u
nction is ac-
tivated, a warning light on the button is
turned on.
Temperature
Switch A adjusts temperature. The desired
t emper
atur
e inside the vehicle cannot be
lower than the ambient temperature. Maxi-
mum heat output, which is needed to defrost
the windows quickly, is only available when
the engine has reached its operating temper-
ature.
Blower
The air flow can be set at four speeds with
switch B . The blower should always be set
at the lo
we
st speed when driving slowly.
Air distribution
Control C for setting the flow of air in the re-
quir ed dir
ection.
– Air di
stribution 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 footwel
l. WARNING
● For y our s
afety, 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
● Plea se c
onsider the general notes
››› page 140. Air recirculation
Air recirculation prevents unpleasant smells
fr
om ent
ering the int
erior.
Connecting the recirculation
In any position of rotary switch C except
th a
w:
● Pr e
ss button D
› ›
›
Fig. 165
and the lamp in
the button will illuminate.
Disconnecting the recirculation
● If the lamp is on, press button D and the
l amp w
il
l go off, indicating that the entry of
outside air has been activated.
142
Air conditioning
● Pr e
ss
the AUTO button
13
› ››
Fig. 167
.
● Adju s
t vents 3 and 4 ››› p
age 141 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
butt
ons
held down for 2 seconds at the same time.
The data is displayed on the screen in the
units required. Note
● A vi s
it to the specialised service once a
year is recommended to clean the Climatronic
system.
● The interior temperature sensor 11›››
Fig. 167 is at the bott
om. 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 t
emperature 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).
● Adjust vents 3 and 4 ›››
p
age 141 so that
the air flow is directed slightly upwards. ●
Press
the AUTO button
13
› ››
Fig. 167
and
AUTO dis
played 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 used 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 auto-
matically. 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 extremes, Climatronic works
at maximum cooling or heating power, re-
spectively. The temperature 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. Air recirculation Air recirculation prevents unpleasant smells,
e.g. when pa
s
sing through a tunnel or in
queuing traffic, from entering the interior.
Switching on air recirculation mode
● Press button
17
››› Fig. 167 and the
symbo
l is displayed on the screen.
Switching off air recirculation mode
● Press button
17
› ›
› Fig. 167 and the
symbol disappears from the screen. WARNING
Read and observe the safety warnings ››› in
General not
es on page 140. Note
If air recirculation mode remains on for 15 mi-
nutes, the
symbol will start to flash on
the screen to indicate prolonged air recircula-
tion. If air recirculation is not switched off,
the symbol will continue to flash for about 5
minutes. Blower selection
Climatronic automatically regulates blower
s
peed ac
cor
ding to the interior temperature. »
147
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
Braking and stability systems El ectr
onic
Stability Control (ESC)*This Electronic Stability System reduces the
risk of
sk
idding and improves the vehicle's
stability and ability to hold the road.
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) contains
the electronic differential lock (EDL) and the
traction control system (ASR). The ESC works
together with the ABS. Both control lamps
will light up if the ESC or ABS systems are
faulty.
The ESC system is started automatically
when the engine is started.
The ESC system is always active and cannot
be switched off. With the Easy Connect sys-
tem it is only possible to deactivate the ASR
or else select Sport mode.
The ASR can be deactivated when wheel spin
is desirable ›››
page 156.
For example:
● When driving with snow chains.
● When driving in deep snow or on loose sur-
face s.
● When the
vehicle is stuck, to rock it back-
wards
and forwards.
Press the button to switch the ASR back on
when you no longer need wheel spin. Electronic Stability Control (ESC)*
The ESC reduc
es the risk of skidding by brak-
ing the wheels individually.
The system uses the steering wheel angle
and road speed to calculate the changes of
direction desired by the driver, and constant-
ly compares them with the actual behaviour
of the vehicle. When irregularities occur, for
example, if the vehicle begins to skid, the
ESC brakes the appropriate wheel automati-
cally.
The forces acting on the braked wheel bring
the vehicle back to a stable condition. If the
vehicle tends to oversteer (the rear end
slides out), the system will act on the front
wheel on the outside of the turn.
Control lamp
There are two control lamps for the electronic
stability control. The lamp provides infor-
mation concerning function and disconnec-
tion status.
Both control lamps light up together when
the ignition is switched on and should turn
off after approximately 2 seconds. This is the
time taken for the function check.
This programme includes the ABS, EDL and
ASR. It also includes emergency braking as-
sistance (BAS). The control lamp
has the f ollowing func-
tions:
● It flashes whilst driving when the ASR/ESC
is activat
ed.
● It will light up if there is a fault in the ESC.
● As the ESC operates in conjunction with the
ABS, the ESC light w
ill also come on if a fault
should occur in the ABS.
If the ESC control lamp lights up and stays
on after the engine is started, this may mean
that the control system has temporarily
switched off the ESC. In this case the ESC can
be reactivated by switching the ignition off
and then on again. If the control lamp goes
out, this means the system is fully functional.
The lamp provides information about the
disconnection status of the system:
● It stays lit when the ASR is disconnected on
press
ing the switch or if we select ESC
Sport mode, only by means of Easy Connect. WARNING
● Do not for g
et that the electronic stability
control ESC cannot defy the laws of physics.
This should be kept in mind, particularly on
slippery and wet roads and when towing a
trailer.
● Always adapt your driving style to suit the
condition of the ro
ads and the traffic situa-
tion. The greater safety provided by the ESC
should not encourage you to run any risks. » 155
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
grip on the front axle, resulting in understeer
or “l en
gthenin
g” of the trajectory.
The XDS system can detect and correct this
effect via the sensors and signals of the ESC.
Via the ESC, the XDS will brake the inside
wheel and counter the excess driving torque
of that wheel. This means that the driver's
desired trajectory is much more precise.
The XDS system works in combination with
the ESC and is always active, even when ASR
traction control is disconnected or the ESC is
in Sport mode.
Brake servo The brake servo increases the pressure you
ap
p
ly t
o the brake pedal. It works only when
the engine is running .
If the brake servo is not functioning, e.g. due
to a malfunction, or if the vehicle is being
towed, you will have to press the brake pedal
considerably harder to make up for the lack
of servo assistance. WARNING
The braking distance can also be affected by
extern a
l factors.
● Never let the vehicle coast with the engine
switched off
. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in an accident. The braking dis- tance is increased considerably when the
brake ser
v
o is not active.
● If the brake servo is not working, for exam-
ple when the v
ehicle is being towed, you will
have to press the brake pedal considerably
harder than normal. Hill driving assistant*
This function is only included in vehicles with
ESC.
The hil l
driving assistant helps the driver to
move off and upward on a hill when the vehi-
cle is stationary.
The system maintains brake pressure for ap-
proximately two seconds after the driver
takes his foot off the brake pedal to prevent
the vehicle from lurching backward when it is
started. During these 2 seconds, the driver
has enough time to release the clutch pedal
and accelerate without the vehicle moving
and without having to use the handbrake,
making start-up easier, more comfortable
and safer.
These are the basic operation conditions:
● being on a ramp or hill/slope,
● doors closed,
● vehicle completely stationary,
● engine running and foot on the brake, ●
beside s
having a gear engaged or being in
neutral for manual gear change and with the
selector lever at position S, D or R for an au-
tomatic gearbox.
This system is also active when reversing up-
hill. WARNING
● If y ou do not
start the vehicle immediately
after taking your foot off the brake pedal, the
vehicle may start to roll back under certain
conditions. Depress the brake pedal or use
the hand brake immediately.
● If the engine stalls, depress the brake ped-
al or use the h
and brake immediately.
● When following a line of traffic uphill, if you
want to pr
event the vehicle from rolling back
accidentally when starting off, hold the brake
pedal down for a few seconds before starting
off. Note
The Official Service or a specialist workshop
can tel l
you if your vehicle is equipped with
this system. 160
Driving
Manual gearbox Driv in
g w ith m
anual gearboxRead the additional information carefully
›››
p
age 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 is ru
nning, 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 is
in motion. Risk of accident. Note
● Do not re s
t 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 chan gin
g 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 pres
sure 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 Valid for vehicles: with a manual gearbox
The r ec
ommended 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
par
ticulate 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 170. WARNING
The gear change indicator is only an auxiliary
function and in no c a
se should be a substi-
tute for careful driving.
● The responsibility of choosing the correct
gear depending on the s
ituation (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 clut c
h pedal is pressed. Automatic gearbox*
Driv ing pr
ogr
ammes Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
p
age 38
The automatic gearbox has got two gearbox
programmes. »
161
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety