Get Operation -> Engine compartment Guide for Mercedes A Class 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2011)

Operation

Engine compartment

Vehicles with a petrol engine:

Make sure that the windscreen wipers are

The electronic ignition system uses high

switched off and that the key has been

Bonnet

voltage. For this reason, you must never

pulled out of the ignition lock before open-

touch components of the ignition system

ing the bonnet.

G Risk of accident

(ignition coil, ignition cable, spark plug con-

Do not pull the release lever while the vehi-

The bonnet release lever is located in the

nector or test socket) when:

cle is in motion. The bonnet may otherwise

driver's footwell.

R the engine is running

open and block your view.

R the engine is being started

Opening

R the ignition is switched on and the engine

G Risk of injury

is being cranked by hand

There is a risk of injury if the bonnet is open,

Vehicles with a diesel engine:

even if the engine is not running.

The electronic injection control uses high

Some engine components can become

voltage. Therefore, never touch fuel injec-

very hot.

tion system components when:

To avoid the risk of burns, only touch those

R the engine is running

components described in the Operating

R the engine is being started

1 Bonnet release lever

Instructions and observe the relevant

R the ignition is switched on

safety notes.

X Pull bonnet release lever 1.

G Risk of injury

The bonnet is released.

X Make sure that the windscreen wipers are

The radiator fan between the radiator and

switched off.

! Make sure that the windscreen wipers

the engine can start automatically, even if

G Risk of injury

are not folded out from the windscreen.

the key has been removed from the ignition

You could otherwise damage the wind-

The windscreen wipers and wiper linkage

lock. For this reason you must not reach

screen wipers or the bonnet.

could be set in motion.

into the turning area of the fan. You can

When the bonnet is open, you or others

otherwise be injured.

could be injured by the wiper rods.

171

Operation

Engine compartment

The handle for opening the bonnet is located

X Lower the bonnet and let it fall from a

above the radiator grille.

height of approximately 20 cm.

X Check that the bonnet has engaged prop-

erly.

i If the bonnet can be raised slightly, it is

not properly engaged. Open it again and

close it with a little more force.

Engine oil

3 Recess

Depending on driving style, the vehicle con-

4 Support strut

sumes a maximum of 0.8 l oil per 1,000 km.

The oil consumption may be higher than this

2 Bonnet catch handle

5 Bracket

when the vehicle is new or if you frequently

X Pull handle 2 of the bonnet catch out-

X Pull support strut 4 out of bracket 5.

drive at high engine speeds. You can only

wards from the radiator grille and lift the

X Swing support strut 4 upwards and insert

estimate the oil consumption after you have

bonnet from underneath by the radiator

driven a considerable distance.

it into yellow recess 3.

grille.

For further information on engine oil see

( Y page 296).

Closing

G Risk of injury

Make sure that nobody can become trap-

ped as you close the bonnet.

X Raise the bonnet slightly and remove sup-

port strut 4 from yellow recess 3.

X Swing support strut 4 down and press it

into bracket 5 until it engages.

172

Operation

Engine compartment

Checking the engine oil level

Eng. oil level

Reduce oil level

To do so:

X Have excess oil siphoned off.

R the vehicle should be parked on level

ground

! There is a risk of damage to the engine or

the catalytic converter if there is excess oil

R the engine should be switched off for at

in the engine.

least five minutes if the engine was at nor-

mal operating temperature.

If the Switch ignition on to check

engine oil level message appears:

R the engine should be switched off for at

least 30 minutes if the engine was not at

X Turn the key to position 2 ( Y page 62) in

operating temperature (i.e. if you only star-

the ignition lock.

The measurement takes a few seconds. You

ted the engine briefly)

You will see the following message if you did

will see one of the following messages in the

not observe the required waiting period:

display:

Using the on-board computer*

Observe waiting period

R Engine oil level OK

i Only possible on vehicles with a diesel

X Repeat the measurement after about five

R Add 1.0 litre to reach maximum oil

engine. A dipstick is used to check petrol

minutes if the engine is at normal operating

level

engines ( Y page 174).

temperature.

R Add 1.5 litres to reach maximum oil

X Repeat the measurement after about

X Make sure that the key is in position

level

30 minutes if the engine is not at normal

2 ( Y page 62) in the ignition lock.

R Add 2.0 litres to reach maximum oil

operating temperature (if the engine was

X Press the j or k button to select the

level

only started briefly).

following message:

X Top up the oil if necessary ( Y page 174).

The following message appears if the engine

is running:

Other messages in the multi-function dis-

Engine oil level Not when engine on

play

X Switch off the engine and wait for five

If the engine is at normal operating tempera-

minutes if the engine is at normal operating

ture and there is too much oil, you will see the

temperature, or for about 30 minutes if the

following message:

engine is not at normal operating temper-

* optional

173

Operation

Engine compartment

Topping up the engine oil

ature (if the engine was only started

briefly), before measuring.

i If you wish to cancel the measurement,

press the k or j button on the multi-

function steering wheel.

Using the oil dipstick

Example: vehicles with a turbo/diesel engine

1 Oil dipstick

Example: vehicles with a petrol/diesel engine

2 Maximum mark

1 Cap

3 Minimum mark

X Unscrew cap 1 and remove it.

X Pull oil dipstick 1 out of the oil dipstick

X Top up with the required amount of oil

tube.

( Y page 296).

X Wipe off oil dipstick 1.

Example: vehicles with a petrol engine

i The difference in quantity between the

X Insert oil dipstick 1 into the oil dipstick

1 Oil dipstick

minimum mark and the maximum mark is

tube to the stop, and take it out again.

2 Maximum mark

approximately 1.2 litres. On the A 160 CDI

The oil level is correct if the level is between

3 Minimum mark

it is approximately 1.5 litres.

minimum mark 3 and maximum mark

! Do not add too much oil. If too much oil

X Top up the oil if necessary.

is added (oil level is above the maximum

mark on the dipstick) the engine or cata-

lytic converter could be damaged. Have

excess oil siphoned off.

X Screw cap 1 onto the filler neck.

174

Operation

Engine compartment

Checking the coolant level

H Environmental note

X Top up the coolant if necessary.

X Replace cap 1 and tighten all the way to

When topping up the oil, take care not to

The coolant expansion tank is located in the

the stop.

spill any. Oil must not be allowed to escape

engine compartment on the right when

into the soil or waterways. You would oth-

For further information on coolant see

viewed in the direction of travel.

erwise be damaging the environment.

( Y page 297) .

For further information on engine oil

Windscreen washer system/head-

( Y page 296).

lamp cleaning system*

Coolant

The washer fluid reservoir is located in the

engine compartment on the left-hand side of

G Risk of injury

the vehicle when viewed in the direction of

The cooling system is pressurised. There-

travel. The headlamp cleaning system is also

fore, only unscrew the cap once the engine

supplied from the washer fluid reservoir.

has cooled down. The coolant temperature

gauge must display less than 70 °C. You

1 Cap

could otherwise be scalded by escaping hot

2 Coolant expansion tank

coolant.

3 Marker bar

Coolant consists of water and antifreeze/cor-

X Slowly turn cap 1 half a turn anti-clock-

rosion inhibitor. Only check the coolant level

wise to allow excess pressure to escape.

when the vehicle is on a level surface and the

X Turn cap 1 further anti-clockwise and

engine has cooled down.

remove it.

There is sufficient coolant in expansion

tank 2 if the coolant is level with marker

1 Cap

bar 3 in the filler neck when cold or

approximately 1.5 cm higher when hot.

X Add windscreen washer concentrate to the

washer fluid all year round.

* optional

175

Operation -> Engine compartment for Your Mercedes A Class 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2011)

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