document_0900452a81793dcc.book Seite 121 Mittwoch, 21. März 2007 5:42 17
Driving
121
The effect is the same as an emergency stop (full brake application)
⇒
Note
For safety reasons the parking brake will only release automatically
if the driver's seat belt is engaged in its buckle.
To prevent the emergency braking function from being used acci-
dentally, a warning buzzer sounds when the switch is operated. The
brakes are released immediately when you release the switch or
press down the accelerator.
Driving away when towing a trailer
Please note the following points to prevent the vehicle
from rolling back unintentionally on a gradient.
WARNING
You should only use the emergency braking function in a real
emergency, for example if the brake system should fail or if the
brake pedal is obstructed. If you use the emergency braking func-
tion by activating the parking brake switch, the effect is similar to
a full brake application (emergency stop). Please remember that
the ESP (with its combined ABS, EDL and traction control func-
tions) is still subject to certain physical limits. In a corner or in bad
road or weather conditions an emergency stop can cause the
vehicle to skid or lose steering control.
– Pull and hold the parking brake switch and press the
accelerator. The parking brake will remain engaged and
prevent any tendency to roll back down the slope.
– You can release the parking brake switch as soon as the
engine is delivering enough power to the wheels.
Depending on the weight of the vehicle and trailer and the steep-
ness of the slope, there may be a tendency to roll back downhill
when driving away from a standstill. You can prevent this by pulling
out the parking brake switch as you press the accelerator (in the
same way as with a conventional handbrake).
Driver messages in the instrument cluster
display
Caution: Vehicle parked too steep
Emergency braking function
This message can appear when you apply the parking brake if the
car is parked on a gradient steeper than about 30%.
This feature enables you to stop the vehicle if the main
brake system should fail or if the pedal is obstructed.
In this case the parking brake may not be strong enough to prevent
the vehicle from rolling back accidentally.
– Pull out and hold the parking brake switch to stop the
vehicle with the parking brake in an emergency.
Please release parking brake
– The brakes will be released immediately if you release the
switch or press down the accelerator.
However, please remember that, for safety reasons, the parking
brake will only release automatically if the driver's seat belt is
buckled.
If you pull out and hold the parking brake switch at a road speed
above about 8 km/h, this will initiate an emergency brake applica-
tion. The brakes are then applied hydraulically at all four wheels.
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