Stowage compartment in the rear
compartment
Opening/closing the stowage compart-
ment
Stowage compartment in the rear compartment
on the right-hand side of the vehicle
X To open: turn top rotary catch : clockwise
and bottom rotary catch : counter-clock-
wise.
X Remove cover ;.
X To close: insert cover ;.
X Turn top rotary catch : counter-clockwise
and bottom rotary catch : clockwise.
X Fold down the rear seat.
Removing/stowing vehicle tool kit and
jack
Depending on the equipment version of the
vehicle, the vehicle tool kit and the jack are
stowed either in a stowage tray or in a tool
holder with a cover. Stowage compartment with stowage tray X
To remove tools: open the stowage com-
partment.
X Open clamping strap = and remove
jack ? by pulling it upwards at an angle
from the stowage tray compartment.
X Remove vehicle tool bag A upwards from
the stowage tray compartment.
X To stow tools: insert vehicle tool bag A
into the front compartment of the stowage
tray.
X Before stowing, wind jack ? to the fully
closed position and place it so that the hand
wheel is facing downwards and the plate is
facing inwards at an angle.
X Insert jack ? into the back compartment of
the stowage tray.
X Press jack ? into the upper holder and fas-
ten clamping strap =.
The jack is secured.
X Close the stowage compartment. Stowage compartment with tool holder
X To remove tools: open the stowage com-
partment.
X Remove clamping strap C.
X Remove tool holder cover B.
X Carefully pull the tool kit and jack out of the
stowage compartment. Lift the jack slightly
before removing it and turn it to a diagonal
position in the stowage compartment.
X To stow tools: before stowing, wind the
jack to the fully closed position and place it
so that the hand wheel is facing forwards
and the plate is facing inwards.
X Place the jack and vehicle tool kit into the
tool holder.
X Replace tool holder cover B.
X Tighten clamping strap C.
X Close the stowage compartment. Where will I find...?
271Breakdown assistance
G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of
injury.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do
not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean
over the battery. Keep children away from
batteries. Wash away battery acid immedi-
ately with plenty of clean water and seek
medical attention. G
WARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at tempera-
tures below freezing point. When jump-start-
ing the vehicle or charging the battery,
gases can escape from the battery. There is
a risk of an explosion.
Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before
charging it or jump-starting.
! Vehicles with a gasoline engine:
avoid
repeated and lengthy starting attempts. Oth-
erwise, the catalytic converter could be
damaged by non-combusted fuel.
If the indicator and warning lamps in the
instrument cluster do not light up at low tem-
peratures, the discharged battery may have
frozen. In this case you may neither charge the
battery nor jump-start the vehicle. The service
life of a thawed battery may be shorter. Start-
up behavior may deteriorate, in particular at
low temperatures. Have the thawed battery
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not use a rapid charging device to start the
vehicle. If your vehicle's battery is discharged,
the engine can be jump-started from another
vehicle or from a donor battery using jumper
cables. For this purpose, the vehicle has a
jump-starting connection point in the engine
compartment.
When jump-starting, observe the following
points:
R The battery is not accessible in all vehicles.
If the other vehicle's battery is not accessi-
ble, jump-start the vehicle using a donor
battery or a jump-starting device.
R You may only jump-start the vehicle when
the engine and exhaust system are cold.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is fro-
zen. Let the battery thaw first. R
Jump-starting may only be performed from
batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
R Only use jumper cables that have a suffi-
cient cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.
R If the battery is fully discharged, attach the
battery of another vehicle for a few minutes
before attempting to start. This charges the
empty battery a little.
R Make sure that the two vehicles do not
touch.
Make sure that:
R The jumper cables are not damaged.
R Bare parts of the terminal clamps do not
come into contact with other metal parts
while the jumper cables are connected to
the battery.
R The jumper cables cannot come into contact
with parts such as the V-belt pulley or the
fan. These parts move when the engine is
started and while it is running.
Jumper cables and further information regard-
ing jump starting can be obtained at any quali-
fied specialist workshop. Before connecting the jumper cables
X Apply the parking brake.
X Shift the transmission to position j.
X Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g.
audio equipment, blower.
X Turn the key to position u in the ignition
lock and remove it .
X Open the hood (Y page 251). Connecting the jumper cable Jump-starting
273
Breakdown assistance Z
X
Push contact protection cover : of the
jump-starting connection point backwards
against the spring force as far as it will go.
The jump-starting connection point is visi-
ble. Terminal connecting plan
X Remove the cover from positive terminal =
of the donor vehicle's battery.
X Connect the positive terminal clamp of the
jumper cable to positive terminal = of the
donor vehicle's battery, and then to positive
terminal A of the jump-starting connection
point.
X Run the donor vehicle's engine at idling
speed.
X Connect the negative terminal clamp of the
jumper cable to negative terminal ; of the
donor vehicle's battery, and then to ground
contact ? of your own vehicle.
X Insert the key into the ignition lock and start
the engine.
You can now switch electrical consumers
back on except the lighting system.
X Before disconnecting the jumper cables, let
the engine run for several minutes.
X Disconnect the negative terminal of the
jumper cable from ground contact ? and
then from negative terminal ; of the donor
vehicle's battery.
X Disconnect the positive terminal clamp of
the jumper cable from positive terminal A
on the jump-starting connection point, and
then from positive terminal = of the donor
vehicle's battery.
Contact protection cover : is automatically
returned forwards to its original position by
the spring force and the jump-starting con-
nection point is closed. X
Position the cover on positive terminal = of
the donor vehicle's battery.
You can now switch on the lighting system.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Tow-starting and towing away
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longer available if:
R the engine is not running.
R the brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning.
R there is a malfunction in the voltage sup-
ply or the vehicle's electrical system.
If your vehicle is being towed, much more
force may be necessary to steer or brake.
There is a risk of an accident.
In such cases, use a tow bar. Before towing,
make sure that the steering moves freely. G
WARNING
You can no longer steer the vehicle if the
steering wheel lock has been engaged.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always switch off the ignition when towing
the vehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar. G
WARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissi-
ble gross weight of your vehicle, the:
R the towing eye could detach itself
R the vehicle/trailer combination could roll-
over.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehi-
cle, its weight should not be greater than
the permissible gross weight of your vehicle.
Information on the gross vehicle weight can be
found on the vehicle identification plate
(Y page
304).274
Tow-starting and towing away
Breakdown assistance
Important notes on tire pressure
G
WARNING
If the tire pressure drops repeatedly, the
wheel, valve or tire may be damaged. Tire
pressure that is too low may result in a tire
blow-out. There is a risk of an accident. R Check the tire for foreign objects.
R Check whether the wheel is losing air or
the valve is leaking.
If you are unable to rectify the damage, con-
tact a qualified specialist workshop.
Use a suitable pressure gauge to check the
tire pressure. The outer appearance of a tire
does not permit any reliable conclusion about
the tire pressure. On vehicles equipped with
the electronic tire pressure monitor, the tire
pressure can be checked using the on-board
computer.
The tire temperature and pressure increase
when the vehicle is in motion. This is depend-
ent on the driving speed and the load.
Therefore, you should only correct tire pres-
sure when the tires are cold.
The tires are cold: R if the vehicle has been parked for at least
three hours without direct sunlight on the
tires, and
R if the vehicle has not been driven further
than
1 mile (1.6 km)
Tire temperature changes depending on the
ambient temperature, driving speed and tire
load. If the tire temperature changes by 18 ‡
(10 †), the tire pressure changes by approx-
imately 10 kPa (0.1 bar/1.5 psi). Take this into
account when checking the pressure of warm
tires. Only correct the tire pressure if it is too
low for the current operating conditions. If you
check the tire pressure when the tires are
warm, it results in a higher value than when
the tires are cold. This is normal. Do not under
any circumstances release the air in order to
adjust the pressure to the prescribed value for
cold tires. The tire pressure would otherwise
be too low.
Observe the recommended tire pressure for
cold tires on the tire pressure table in the fuel
filler flap. Driving with tire pressure that is too high or
too low can:
R shorten the service life of the tires
R cause increased tire damage
R have a negative effect on handling charac-
teristics and thus the driving safety (e.g.
hydroplaning) Underinflated or overinflated tires
Underinflated tires: G
WARNING
Tires with pressure that is too low can over-
heat and burst as a consequence. In addi-
tion, they also suffer from excessive and/or
irregular wear, which can severely impair the
braking properties and the driving character-
istics. There is a risk of an accident.
Avoid tire pressures that are too low in all
the tires, including the spare wheel.
Underinflated tires can:
R fail from being overheated
R adversely affect handling
R wear excessively and/or unevenly
R have an adverse effect on fuel consumption
Overinflated tires G
WARNING
Tires with excessively high pressure can
burst because they are damaged more eas-
ily by road debris, potholes etc. In addition,
they also suffer from irregular wear, which
can severely impair the braking properties
and the driving characteristics. There is a
risk of an accident.
Avoid tire pressures that are too high in all
the tires, including the spare wheel.
Overinflated tires can:
R increase the braking distance
R adversely affect handling
R wear excessively and/or unevenly
R adversely affect ride comfort
R be more susceptible to damage284
Tire pressure
Wheels and tires
For further information on displaying the cur-
rent tire pressures, refer to "Checking the tire
pressure electronically"
(Y page 287).
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Risk of accident due to incorrect tire
pressure
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recommen-
ded by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehi-
cle placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If
your vehicle has tires of a different size than
the size indicated on the vehicle placard or
the tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure
for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitor-
ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly under-inflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu-
minates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a signifi-
cantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-
inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehicle's han-
dling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substi-
tute for proper tire maintenance, and it is
the driver's responsibility to maintain cor-
rect tire pressure, even if under-inflation has
not reached the level to trigger illumination
of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined
with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale
will flash for approximately one minute and
then remain continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subsequent
vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction
exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illumina-
ted, the system may not be able to detect or
signal low tire pressure as intended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety of rea-
sons, including the installation of replace-
ment or alternate tires or wheels on the
vehicle that prevent the TPMS from func-
tioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale
after replacing one or more tires or wheels
on your vehicle to ensure that the replace-
ment or alternate tires and wheels allow the
TPMS to continue to function properly.
It is the driver's responsibility to set the tire
pressure to the recommended cold tire pres-
sure suitable for the operating conditions
(Y page
282).
Note that the correct tire pressure for the cur-
rent operating conditions must first be pro-
gramed into the tire pressure monitor. If a sub-
stantial pressure loss occurs, the warning
threshold for the warning message is aligned
to the taught-in reference values. Restart the
tire pressure monitor after adjusting the cold
tire pressure ( Y page 288). The current pres-
sures are saved as new reference values. This
will ensure that a warning message will only
appear if the tire pressure drops significantly.
The tire pressure monitor does not warn you if
a tire pressure is incorrect. Observe the notes
on the recommended tire pressure
(Y page 282).
The tire pressure monitor is not able to warn
you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. following
penetration by a foreign object. In this event,
brake the vehicle until it comes to a standstill.
Avoid sudden steering movements.
The tire pressure monitor has a yellow h
warning lamp in the instrument cluster for indi-
cating pressure loss/malfunctions (USA) or
pressure loss (Canada). Depending on how the
warning lamp flashes or lights up, an underin-
flated tire or a malfunction in the tire pressure
monitor is displayed:
R if the h warning lamp is lit continuously,
the tire pressure on one or more tires is sig- 286
Tire pressure
Wheels and tires
nificantly too low. The tire pressure monitor
is not malfunctioning.
R USA only: if the h warning lamp flashes
for
60 seconds and then remains lit con-
stantly, the tire pressure monitor is malfunc-
tioning.
The display also shows a message:
R on vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Y page 207)
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 224)
USA only: if the tire pressure monitor is mal-
functioning, it may be more than ten minutes
before the malfunction is shown. The h tire
pressure warning lamp flashes for 60 seconds
and then remains lit. When the malfunction
has been rectified, the h tire pressure
warning lamp goes out after a few minutes of
driving.
The tire pressure values indicated by the on-
board computer may differ from those meas-
ured at a gas station with a pressure gauge.
The tire pressures shown by the on-board
computer refer to those measured at sea level.
At high altitudes, the tire pressure values indi-
cated by a pressure gauge are higher than
those shown by the on-board computer. In this
case, do not reduce the tire pressures.
If radio transmitting equipment (e.g. wireless
headphones, two-way radios) is operated
inside the vehicle or in the vicinity of the vehi-
cle, this can interfere with the operation of the
tire pressure monitor.
Checking the tire pressure electroni-
cally on vehicles with steering wheel
buttons You can only check the tire pressure electroni-
cally on vehicles with steering wheel buttons.
Using the steering wheel buttons
X Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.
X Press the = or ; button to select the
Service menu.
X Use the 9 or : button to select
Tire Pressure.
X Press a to confirm.
The current tire pressure of each wheel is
shown in the display. If the vehicle has been parked for over
20 minutes
, the Tire pressure will be
displayed after driving a few minutes
message appears.
After a teach-in period, the tire pressure moni-
tor automatically detects new wheels or new
sensors. As long as a clear allocation of the
tire pressure value to the individual wheels is
not possible, the Tire Pressure Monitor
Active message is shown instead of the tire
pressure display. The tire pressures are
already being monitored.
Tire pressure monitor warning mes-
sages If the tire pressure monitor detects a loss in
pressure in one or more tires, a warning mes-
sage is shown in the display. The h warn-
ing lamp lights up.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons
R If the Correct Tire Pressure message is
shown in the display, the tire pressure in at
least one tire is too low. The tire pressure
must be corrected at the next opportunity.
R If the Check Tire Pressure Soon mes-
sage is shown in the display, the tire pres-
sure in one or more tires has dropped signif-
icantly. The tires must be checked.
R If the Warning Tire Malfunc. message is
shown in the display, the tire pressure in
one or more tires has dropped suddenly.
The tires must be checked.
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons
R If the Adjust Tire Pressure message is
shown in the display, the tire pressure in at
least one tire is too low. The tire pressure
must be corrected at the next opportunity.
R If the Check Tires message is shown in the
display, the tire pressure in one or more
tires has dropped significantly. The tires
must be checked.
R If the Warning Tire Malfunction mes-
sage is shown in the display, the tire pres-
sure in one or more tires has dropped sud-
denly. The tires must be checked. Tire pressure
287
Wheels and tires Z
ing the tire traction on snow. They have
been especially developed for driving on
snow.
Further information on the reading of tire infor-
mation can be obtained at any qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Load index Load index (example)
In addition to the load-bearing index, load rat-
ing : may be imprinted after the letters that
identify speed rating on the sidewall of the tire
(Y page
293).
R If no specification is given: no text (as in the
example above), represents a standard load
(SL) tire
R RF or Reinforced: represents a reinforced
tire. Alternatively, depending on the manu-
facturer, the designation XL (Extra Load) can
be used.
R Light Load: represents a light load tire
R C, D, E: represents a load range that
depends on the maximum load that the tire
can carry at a certain pressure
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate from the data in the example. Maximum tire load Example: maximum tire load
Maximum tire load : is the maximum permis-
sible weight for which the tire is approved.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit. The maximum permissible
load can be found on the vehicle's Tire and
Loading Information placard on the B-pillar
on
the driver's side (Y page 289).
i The actual values for tires are specific to
each vehicle and may deviate from the val-
ues in the illustration.
DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN) U.S. tire regulations stipulate that every tire
manufacturer or retreader must imprint a TIN
in or on the sidewall of each tire produced. The TIN is a unique identification number. The
TIN enables the tire manufacturers or retread-
ers to inform purchasers of recalls and other
safety-relevant matters. It makes it possible
for the purchaser to easily identify the affected
tires.
The TIN is made up of manufacturer identifica-
tion code ;, tire size =, tire type code ?
and manufacturing date A. 294
What you should know about wheels and tires
Wheels and tires
Wheel rim
The part of the wheel on which the tire is
mounted.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) GAWR is the maximum gross axle weight rat-
ing. The actual load on an axle must never
exceed the gross axle weight rating. You can
find the maximum gross axle weight rating on
the
B-pillar on the driver's side ( Y page 304).
Speed index The speed index is part of the tire identifica-
tion. It specifies the speed range for which the
tire is approved.
GTW (Gross Trailer Weight) GTW is the total of weight of a trailer and the
weight of the load, accessories etc. on the
trailer.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
The gross vehicle weight includes the weight
of the vehicle including fuel, tools, spare
wheel, accessories installed, occupants, lug-
gage and the drawbar noseweight if applica-
ble. The gross vehicle weight must never
exceed the permissible gross weight (GVWR)
specified on the B-pillar on the driver's side
(Y page 304).
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) The GVWR is the maximum permitted gross
weight of the fully laden vehicle (weight of the
vehicle including all accessories, occupants,
fuel, luggage and the drawbar noseweight if
applicable). The permissible gross weight is
specified on the vehicle identification plate on
the B-pillar on the driver's side (Y page 304).
Maximum weight of the laden vehicle
The maximum weight is the sum of:
R the curb weight of the vehicle
R the weight of the accessories
R the load limit
R the weight of the factory installed optional
equipment
Kilopascal (kPa) Metric unit for tire pressure. 6.9 kPa are the
equivalent of 1 psi. Another tire pressure unit
is bar. 100 kilopascals (kPa) are the equivalent
of 1 bar. Load index
In addition to the load bearing index, a load
index can be stamped onto the sidewall of the
tire. It specifies the load-bearing capacity of
the tire more precisely.
Curb weight The weight of a vehicle with standard equip-
ment including the maximum filling capacity of
fuel, oil, and coolant. It also includes the air-
conditioning system and optional equipment if
these are installed on the vehicle, but does not
include passengers or luggage.
Maximum tire load
The maximum tire load in kilograms or pounds
is the maximum weight for which a tire is
approved.
Maximum permissible tire pressure
Maximum permissible tire pressure for one
tire.
Maximum load on one tire
Maximum load on one tire. This is calculated
by dividing the maximum axle load of one axle
by two.
PSI (Pounds per square inch)
Standard unit of measurement for tire pres-
sure.
Aspect ratioRelationship between tire height and width in
percent.
Tire pressure
Pressure inside the tire applying an outward
force to every square inch of the tire's surface.
Tire pressure is specified in pounds per square
inch (psi), in kilopascal (kPa) or in bar. Tire
pressure should only be corrected when the
tires are cold.
Cold tire pressure The tires are cold:
R if the vehicle has been parked for at least
three hours without direct sunlight on the
tires, and
R if the vehicle has not been driven further
than
1 mile (1.6 km)296
What you should know about wheels and tires
Wheels and tires