2004-2011 Mercedes A Class 4 Door Operation -> Driving tips User Manual
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Operation -> Driving tips for Your Mercedes A Class 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2011)

OperationDriving tipsDownhill gradientsX Vehicles with manual transmission: engageDriving long and steep downhill stretches, espe-Rolling with the engine switched offX Vehicles with AUTOTRONIC*: shift thecially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer,selector lever to N.G Risk of accidentyou must shift to a lower gear in good time or,X Try to bring the vehicle under control usingNever switch the engine off while the vehi-on vehicles with AUTOTRONIC*, select shiftcorrective 1, 2 or 3.cle is in is no power assistance for the steer-i This also applies if you have activateding and the service brake when the enginecruise control* or Speedtronic*.is not will use the braking effect of the engine,You will require considerably more effort toso less braking will be required to maintainsteer and brake and, therefore, you couldthe speed. This relieves the load on the brakelose control of the vehicle and cause ansystem and prevents the brakes from and wearing too quickly. If you needadditional braking, depress the brake pedalrepeatedly rather than Risk of accidentHeavy and light loadsDo not change down for additional engineIf the brakes have been subjected to a heavybraking on a slippery road surface. Thisload, do not stop the vehicle immediately, butcould cause the drive wheels to lose theirdrive on for a short while. This allows the air-grip and the vehicle could to cool the brakes more quickly.G Risk of accidentG Risk of accidentMake sure that other road users are notNever depress the brake pedal continu-endangered by your while the vehicle is in motion, cause the brakes to rub by applyingconstant slight pedal pressure. This causesZthe brake system to overheat, increases* optional183
Operation
Driving tips
Downhill gradients
X Vehicles with manual transmission: engage
Driving tips
neutral.
On long and steep downhill stretches, espe-
Rolling with the engine switched off
X Vehicles with AUTOTRONIC*: shift the
cially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer,
selector lever to N.
G Risk of accident
you must shift to a lower gear in good time or,
X Try to bring the vehicle under control using
Never switch the engine off while the vehi-
on vehicles with AUTOTRONIC*, select shift
corrective steering.
range 1, 2 or 3.
cle is in motion.
There is no power assistance for the steer-
i This also applies if you have activated
ing and the service brake when the engine
cruise control* or Speedtronic*.
is not running.
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
You will require considerably more effort to
so less braking will be required to maintain
steer and brake and, therefore, you could
the speed. This relieves the load on the brake
lose control of the vehicle and cause an
system and prevents the brakes from over-
accident.
heating and wearing too quickly. If you need
additional braking, depress the brake pedal
repeatedly rather than continuously.
Braking
G Risk of accident
Heavy and light loads
Do not change down for additional engine
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
braking on a slippery road surface. This
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
could cause the drive wheels to lose their
drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
grip and the vehicle could skid.
flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
G Risk of accident
G Risk of accident
Make sure that other road users are not
Never depress the brake pedal continu-
endangered by your braking.
ously while the vehicle is in motion, e.g.
never cause the brakes to rub by applying
constant slight pedal pressure. This causes
Z
the brake system to overheat, increases
* optional
183
OperationDriving tipsG Risk of accidentthe braking distance and can lead to thecantly longer braking distance, which couldbrakes failing to an brake pads/linings only reach theirTo avoid this danger, you should:optimum braking effect after several hun-If the brakes have been used only moderately,dred kilometres of driving. Before this opti-R occasionally brake carefully, without put-you should occasionally test their effective-mum braking effect is reached, you shouldting other road users at risk, when youness. To do this, brake more firmly from acompensate for the reduced braking effectare driving on salted roads. This helps tohigher speed. This improves the grip of theby applying greater pressure when any salt that may have started also applies after the brake discs or thebuild up on the brake discs and the brakebrake pads/linings have been roadsR maintain a greater distance to the vehicleIf driving in heavy rain for a prolonged periodahead and drive with particular gripof time without braking, there may be aR carefully apply the brakes at the end of adelayed reaction from the brakes, when brak-G Risk of accidenttrip and immediately after commencing aing for the first time. You must brake the vehicle can be fully controllednew trip, so that salt residues areYou must therefore maintain a greater dis-at a certain speed on dry roads, you mustremoved from the brake from the vehicle in your speed on wet or icy roads toBrake firmly after driving on a wet road. Thisachieve the same road safety. Otherwise,New brake pads/liningsway the brake discs will become warm, dryingyou could cause an quickly, which will protect them againstPay particular attention to the road condi-For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz at temperatures around freezingmends that you only have brake pads/ to your vehicle w
Operation
Driving tips
G Risk of accident
the braking distance and can lead to the
cantly longer braking distance, which could
brakes failing completely.
lead to an accident.
New brake pads/linings only reach their
To avoid this danger, you should:
optimum braking effect after several hun-
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
dred kilometres of driving. Before this opti-
R occasionally brake carefully, without put-
you should occasionally test their effective-
mum braking effect is reached, you should
ting other road users at risk, when you
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
compensate for the reduced braking effect
are driving on salted roads. This helps to
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
by applying greater pressure when braking.
remove any salt that may have started to
brakes.
This also applies after the brake discs or the
build up on the brake discs and the brake
brake pads/linings have been replaced.
pads/linings.
Wet roads
R maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period
ahead and drive with particular care.
Tyre grip
of time without braking, there may be a
R carefully apply the brakes at the end of a
delayed reaction from the brakes, when brak-
G Risk of accident
trip and immediately after commencing a
ing for the first time. You must brake harder.
Whereas the vehicle can be fully controlled
new trip, so that salt residues are
You must therefore maintain a greater dis-
at a certain speed on dry roads, you must
removed from the brake disc.
tance from the vehicle in front.
reduce your speed on wet or icy roads to
Brake firmly after driving on a wet road. This
achieve the same road safety. Otherwise,
New brake pads/linings
way the brake discs will become warm, drying
you could cause an accident.
more quickly, which will protect them against
Pay particular attention to the road condi-
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
corrosion.
tions at temperatures around freezing
mends that you only have brake pads/linings
point.
fitted to your vehicle which have been
Limited braking performance on salted
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
If ice has formed on the road surface (e.g.
roads
which correspond to an equivalent quality
from fog), a light film of water rapidly forms
standard. Brake pads/linings which have not
on the ice when you brake, considerably
G Risk of accident
been approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
reducing tyre grip. Drive with particular
The layer of salt on the brake discs and the
which are not of an equivalent quality could
care in such weather conditions.
brake pads/linings may cause a delay in
affect your vehicle's operating safety.
the braking effect, resulting in a signifi-
184

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