Get Practical hints -> Flat tire Guide for Mercedes C Class 4 Door First Generation (2000-2006)

353

Practical hints

Flat tire

왔 Flat tire

Preparing the vehicle

왘 Park the vehicle as far as possible from

moving traffic on a hard surface.

왘 Turn on the hazard warning flasher

(컄 page 114).

왘 Turn the steering wheel so that the

front wheels are in a straight ahead

position.

왘 Set the parking brake (컄 page 54).

왘 Move the gear selector lever to P

(manual transmission to first or reverse

gear).

왘 Turn off the engine (컄 page 56).

왘 Remove the SmartKey from the starter

switch.

왘 Have any passenger exit the vehicle at

a safe distance from the roadway.

Mounting the spare wheel

Preparing the vehicle

Prepare the vehicle as described

(컄 page 353).

Vehicles with Minispare wheel:

왘 Take the wheel wrench, the wheel

bolts, and the jack out of the trunk

(컄 page 329).

왘 Take the Minispare wheel out of the

trunk (컄 page 333).

Vehicles with collapsible tire

(C 55 AMG only):

왘 Take the collapsible tire, wheel wrench,

wheel bolts, jack, and electric air pump

out of the trunk (컄 page 330).

Warning! G

The dimensions of the spare wheel

(Minispare or collapsible tire) are different

from those of the road wheels. As a result,

the vehicle handling characteristics change

when driving with a spare wheel mounted.

Adapt your driving style accordingly.

The spare wheel is for temporary use only.

When driving with spare wheel mounted,

ensure proper tire pressure and do not ex-

ceed a vehicle speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).

Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center

as soon as possible to have the spare wheel

replaced with a regular road wheel.

Never operate the vehicle with more than

one spare wheel mounted.

Open doors only when conditions are

safe to do so.

354

Practical hints

Flat tire

Lifting the vehicle

왘 Prevent the vehicle from rolling away

by blocking wheels with wheel chocks

or other sizable objects.

One wheel chock is included with the

vehicle tool kit (

컄 page 329).

When changing wheel on a level surface:

왘 Place the wheel chock in front of and

another sizable object behind the

wheel that is diagonally opposite to the

wheel being changed.

When changing wheel on a hill:

왘 Place the wheel chock and another

sizable object on the downhill side

blocking both wheels of the other axle.

왘 On wheel to be changed, loosen but do

not yet remove the wheel bolts

(approximately one full turn with

wrench).

Warning! G

The jack is designed exclusively for jacking

up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets

built into both sides of the vehicle. To help

avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift

the vehicle during a wheel change. Never

get beneath the vehicle while it is supported

by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from

the area under the lifted vehicle. Always

firmly set parking brake and block wheels

before raising vehicle with jack.

Do not disengage parking brake while the

vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is

always vertical (plumb line) when in use,

especially on hills. Always try to use the jack

on level surface. Make sure the jack arm is

fully seated in the jack take-up bracket. Al-

ways lower the vehicle onto sufficient ca-

pacity jackstands before working under the

vehicle.

355

Practical hints

Flat tire

The jack take-up brackets are located

directly behind the front wheel housings

and in front of the rear wheel housings.

1 Take-up bracket

2 Jack

왘 Place jack 2 on firm ground.

왘 Position jack 2 under take-up

bracket 1 so that it is always vertical

(plumb-line) as seen from the side,

even if the vehicle is parked on an

incline.

왘 Jack up the vehicle until the wheel is a

maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the

ground. Never start engine while

vehicle is raised.

Removing the wheel

1 Alignment bolt

왘 Unscrew upper-most wheel bolt and

remove.

왘 Replace this wheel bolt with alignment

bolt 1 supplied in the tool kit.

왘 Remove the remaining bolts.

왘 Remove the wheel.

Warning! G

The jack is intended only for lifting the

vehicle briefly for wheel changes. It is not

suited for performing maintenance work

under the vehicle.

앫 Never start the engine when the vehicle

is raised.

앫 Never lie down under the raised vehicle.

Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt.

This could result in damage to the bolts

and wheel hub threads.

356

Practical hints

Flat tire

Mounting the spare wheel

1 Wheel bolt for light alloy rims

2 Wheel bolt for Minispare wheel,

collapsible tire, or other steel rims

(located in trunk with spare wheel)

왘 Clean contact surfaces of wheel and

wheel hub.

왘 Guide spare wheel onto the alignment

bolt and push it on.

왘 Insert wheel bolts and tighten them

slightly.

Wheel bolts 2 must be used when

mounting the Minispare wheel,

collapsible tire, or other steel rims. The

use of any wheel bolts other than wheel

bolts 2 for the Minispare wheel,

collapsible tire, or other steel rims will

physically damage the vehicle’s

brakes.

To avoid paint damage, place wheel flat

against hub and hold it there while

installing first wheel bolt.

Warning! G

Always replace wheel bolts that are

damaged or rusted.

Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.

Damaged wheel hub threads should be

repaired immediately. Do not continue to

drive under these circumstances! Contact

an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call

Roadside Assistance.

Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-

ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to

come off. This could cause an accident.

Make sure to use the correct wheel bolts.

357

Practical hints

Flat tire

왘 Unscrew the alignment bolt, install last

wheel bolt and tighten slightly.

Inflating the collapsible tire

(C 55 AMG only)

왘 Take the electric air pump out of the

trunk (컄 page 331).

1 Flap

2 On/off switch

3 Electrical plug

4 Air hose with pressure gauge and vent

screw

5 Union nut

왘 Open flap 1 on electric air pump.

왘 Pull out electrical plug 3 and air hose

with pressure gauge 4.

왘 Remove the valve cap from the

collapsible tire valve.

Warning! G

Only use genuine equipment

Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts. Other wheel

bolts may come loose.

Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the

vehicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle

could fall of the jack.

Warning! G

Vehicles with collapsible tire

(C 55 AMG only):

Inflate collapsible tire only after the wheel is

properly mounted.

Inflate the collapsible tire using the electric

pump (

컄 page 357) before

lowering the

vehicle.

Warning! G

Observe instructions on air pump label.

Do not lower the vehicle before

inflating the collapsible tire. Otherwise

the rim may be damaged.

컄컄

358

Practical hints

Flat tire

왘 Screw air hose 4 onto the collapsible

tire valve.

왘 Insert electrical plug 3 into vehicle

cigarette lighter socket.

왘 Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch

to position 1.

왘 Press I on electric air pump switch 2.

The electric air pump should now

switch on and inflate the collapsible

tire.

왘 Inflate the tire to approximately 36 psi

(2.5 bar).

This takes about five minutes for the

collapsible tire. Air hose 4 and union

nut 5 can become hot duration infla-

tion. Exercise proper caution to avoid

burning yourself when using the equip-

ment.

왘 Press 0 on electric air pump switch 2.

왘 Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch

to position 0.

왘 If the tire pressure is above 36 psi

(2.5 bar), release excess tire pressure

using the vent screw.

왘 Detach the electric air pump.

왘 Store the electrical plug and the air

hose behind the flap and place the

electric air pump back in the trunk.

Do not operate the electric air pump

longer than six minutes without inter-

ruption. Otherwise it may overheat.

You may operate the electric air pump

again after it has cooled off.

Warning! G

Follow recommend inflation pressures.

Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires

can result in sudden deflation (blowout) be-

cause they are more likely to become punc-

tured or damaged by road debris, potholes,

etc.

Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires

wear unevenly, adversely affect handling

and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail

from being overheated.

컄컄

359

Practical hints

Flat tire

Lowering the vehicle

왘 Lower vehicle by turning crank

counterclockwise until vehicle is

resting fully on its own weight.

왘 Remove the jack.

1 - 5 Wheel bolts

왘 Tighten the five wheel bolts evenly,

following the diagonal sequence

illustrated (1 to 5), until all bolts are

tight. Observe a tightening torque

of 80 lb-ft (110 Nm).

Before storing the jack, it should be fully

collapsed, with handle folded in (storage

position) (

컄 page 331).

왘 Store the jack and the other vehicle

tools in the trunk.

Warning! G

Vehicles with collapsible tire

(C 55 AMG only):

Inflate collapsible tire only after the wheel is

properly mounted.

Inflate the collapsible tire using the electric

pump (

컄 page 357) before

lowering the ve-

hicle.

Warning! G

Have the tightening torque checked after

changing a wheel. The wheels could come

loose if they are not tightened to a torque

of 80 lb-ft (110 Nm).

Practical hints -> Flat tire for Your Mercedes C Class 4 Door First Generation (2000-2006)

Related Topics

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals