Vehicle care189Vehicle careGeneral Information...................190
Accessories and vehicle modifications .......................... 190
Vehicle storage ........................190
End-of-life vehicle recovery .....190
Vehicle checks ........................... 191
Performing work ......................191
Bonnet ..................................... 191
Engine oil ................................. 192
Engine coolant ......................... 193
Washer fluid ............................ 195
Brakes ..................................... 195
Brake fluid ............................... 195
Vehicle battery ......................... 195
Diesel fuel system bleeding .....197
Wiper blade replacement ........197
Bulb replacement .......................198
Halogen headlights ..................198
Xenon headlights .....................201
Fog lights ................................. 202
Front turn signal lights .............202
Tail lights ................................. 202
Side turn signal lights ..............204
Centre high-mounted brake light ......................................... 205Number plate light...................205
Interior lights ............................ 205
Instrument panel illumination ...205
Electrical system ........................206
Fuses ....................................... 206
Engine compartment fuse box . 207
Instrument panel fuse box .......209
Vehicle tools .............................. 211
Tools ........................................ 211
Wheels and tyres .......................212
Winter tyres ............................. 212
Tyre designations ....................212
Tyre pressure .......................... 212
Tyre pressure monitoring system .................................... 213
Tread depth ............................. 217
Changing tyre and wheel size . 218
Wheel covers ........................... 218
Tyre chains .............................. 218
Tyre repair kit .......................... 219
Wheel changing .......................224
Spare wheel ............................ 226
Jump starting ............................. 228
Towing ....................................... 230
Towing the vehicle ...................230
Towing another vehicle ...........231Appearance care .......................232
Exterior care ............................ 232
Interior care ............................. 234
Vehicle care211Vehicle tools
Tools
Vehicles with tyre repair kit
The tools are located together with
the towing eye and tyre repair kit in the load compartment below the floor cover.
On VXR or LPG version or versions
with rear carrier system or double
load-bay floor, the tools are located
together with the towing eye and tyre
repair kit on the right side of the load
compartment, behind a cover.
Vehicles with spare wheel
The jack, wheel bolt wrench and
some tools are located on the right
side of the load compartment, behind a cover 3 70.
Vehicle care227Caution
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.
3-door/5-door hatchback
The spare wheel is located in the load
compartment beneath the floor
covering. It is secured with a wing nut.
Fitting a double load-bay floor in this
case in the upper position 3 70.
To remove, unscrew wing nut, lift
spare wheel, move to a vertical
position and remove from above.
When stowing the replaced wheel or
the temporary spare wheel back in
the spare wheel well, always secure
with the wing nut.Delivery van
Remove load floor.
The spare wheel is screwed down
together with the floor cover.
Unscrew wing nut and lift load cover.
Remove spacer above the spare
wheel, lift the wheel, move to a
vertical position and remove from
above.
When stowing the replaced wheel or
the temporary spare wheel back in
the spare wheel well, always insert
the adapter and secure the load cover with the wing nut.
Depending on the defective replaced
wheel, the spacer can be omitted if
necessary, or the wheel can be bolted down without the floor cover.
228Vehicle careTemporary spare wheelCaution
The use of the temporary spare
wheel could affect driveability.
Have the defective tyre renewed
or repaired as soon as possible.
Only mount one temporary spare
wheel. The permissible maximum
speed on the label on the temporary
spare wheel is only valid for the
factory-fitted tyre size.
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 size tyre in the
rear.
Tyre chains 3 218.
Spare wheel with directional tyre If possible, 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 a 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.
● Never expose the battery to naked flames or sparks.
230Vehicle care4. 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 3 211.
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.
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.
Vehicle care231Caution
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.
Vehicles with automatic transmission: the vehicle must be towed facing
forwards, not faster than 50 mph nor
further than 60 miles. In all other
cases and when the transmission is
defective, the front axle must be
raised off the ground.
Vehicles with manual transmission
automated: the vehicle must only be
towed facing forwards with the front
axle raised off the ground.
Seek the assistance of a workshop. After towing, unscrew the towing eye.
Insert cap at the top and engage
downwards.
Towing another vehicle
Insert a screwdriver in the slot at the
lower bend of the cap. Release the
cap by carefully moving the
screwdriver downwards.
The towing eye is stowed with the
vehicle tools 3 211.
Screw in the towing eye as far as it will
go until it stops in a horizontal
position.
The lashing eye at the rear
underneath the vehicle must never be used as a towing eye.
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.
232Vehicle careCaution
Drive slowly. Do not drive jerkily.
Excessive tractive force can
damage the vehicle.
After towing, unscrew the towing eye.
Insert cap at the top and engage
downwards.
Appearance care
Exterior care Locks
The locks are lubricated at the factory using a high quality lock cylinder
grease. Use a de-icing agent only
when absolutely necessary, as this
has a degreasing effect and impairs
lock function. After using a de-icing
agent, have the locks regreased by a workshop.
Washing
The paintwork of your vehicle is
exposed to environmental influences. Wash and wax your vehicle regularly.
When using automatic vehicle
washes, select a programme that
includes waxing. Restrictions for
filmed or matt painted body parts or
decor tapes, see "Polishing and
waxing".
Bird droppings, dead insects, resin,
pollen and the like should be cleaned
off immediately, as they contain
aggressive constituents which can
cause paint damage.If using a car wash, comply with the
car wash manufacturer's instructions.
The windscreen wiper and rear
window wiper must be switched off.
Remove antenna and external
accessories such as roof racks etc.
If you wash your vehicle by hand,
make sure that the insides of the
wheel housings are also thoroughly
rinsed out.
Clean edges and folds on opened
doors and the bonnet as well as the
areas they cover.
Clean bright metal mouldings with a
cleaning solution approved for
aluminium to avoid damages.Caution
Always use a cleaning agent with
a pH value of four to nine.
Do not use cleaning agents on hot surfaces.
Have the door hinges of all doors
greased by a workshop.
Do not clean the engine compartment with a steam-jet or high-pressure jet
cleaner.
234Vehicle carePaintwork damageRectify minor paintwork damage with
a touch-up pen before rust forms.
Have more extensive damage or rust
areas repaired by a workshop.
Underbody Some areas of the vehicle underbody
have a PVC undercoating while other
critical areas have a durable
protective wax coating.
After the underbody is washed, check
the underbody and have it waxed if
necessary.
Bitumen/rubber materials could
damage the PVC coating. Have
underbody work carried out by a
workshop.
Before and after winter, wash the
underbody and have the protective
wax coating checked.Liquid gas system9 Danger
Liquid gas is heavier than air and
can collect in sink points.
Take care when performing work
at the underbody in a pit.
For painting work and when using a
drying booth at a temperature above
60 °C, the liquid gas tank must be
removed.
Do not make any modifications to the
liquid gas system.
Towing equipment
Do not clean the coupling ball bar with a steam-jet or high-pressure jet
cleaner.
Rear carrier system Clean the rear carrier system with a
steam-jet or high-pressure jet cleaner
at least once a year.
Operate the rear carrier system
periodically if not in regular use, in
particular during winter.
Interior care
Interior and upholstery Only clean the vehicle interior,
including the instrument panel fascia
and panelling, with a dry cloth or
interior cleaner.
Clean the leather upholstery with
clear water and a soft cloth. In case of
heavy soiling, use leather care.
The instrument cluster and the
displays should only be cleaned using
a soft damp cloth. If necessary use a
weak soap solution.
Clean fabric upholstery with a
vacuum cleaner and brush. Remove
stains with an upholstery cleaner.
Clothing fabrics may not be
colourfast. This could cause visible
discolourations, especially on light- coloured upholstery. Removable
stains and discolourations should be
cleaned as soon as possible.
Clean seat belts with lukewarm water or interior cleaner.