Get Driving and parking -> Automatic transmission Guide for Mercedes C Class 4 Door Second Generation (2007-2013)

Problem Possible causes/consequences and M Solutions

The engine is not

running smoothly and

is misfiring.

There is a malfunction in the engine electronics or in a mechanical

component of the engine management system.

Only depress the accelerator pedal slightly.

Have the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist

workshop.

Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic

converter and damage it.

The coolant

temperature gauge

shows a value above

248 ‡ (120 †).

The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine

is no longer being cooled sufficiently.

Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant

to cool down.

Check the coolant level (Y page 286). Observe the warning

notes as you do so and add coolant if necessary.

Automatic transmission

Important safety notes

WARNING

If the engine speed is above the idling speed

and you engage transmission position D or

R, the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There

is a risk of an accident.

When engaging transmission position D or R,

always firmly depress the brake pedal and do

not simultaneously accelerate.

WARNING

The automatic transmission switches to

neutral position N when you switch off the

engine. The vehicle may roll away.There is a

risk of an accident.

After switching off the engine, always switch

to parking position P. Prevent the parked

vehicle from rolling away by applying the

parking brake.

Selector lever

Overview of transmission positions

Example: selector lever

Park position with selector lever lock

Reverse gear

Neutral

Drive

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Automatic transmission

Driving and parking

Transmission position and drive

program display

Transmission positiondisplay

;

Drive program display

The current position of the selector lever is

shown by the indicators nextto the selector

lever.

The indicators light up when the SmartKey is

inserted into the ignition lock. The indicators

go out when the SmartKey is removed from

the ignition lock.

Transmission positions

Park position

Do not shift the transmission into

position P(Y page 158) unless the

vehicle is stationary. The parking

lock should not be used as a brake

when parking. Always apply the

parking brake in addition to the

parking lock in order to secure the

vehicle.

The SmartKey can only be removed

if the transmission is in position P.

If the SmartKey is removed from

the ignition lock, the selector lever

is locked.

If the vehicle electronics are

malfunctioning, the selector lever

may be locked in position P. To

release a locked selector lever, see

"Manual override of parking lock"

(Y page 155).

Reverse gear

Only shift the transmission to R

when the vehicle is stationary.

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149

Driving and parking

Neutral

Do not shift the transmission to N

while driving. The transmission

could otherwise be damaged.

No power is transmitted from the

engine to the drive wheels.

Releasing the brakes will allow you

to move the vehicle freely, e.g.to

push it or tow it.

If ESP

is deactivated or faulty:

only shift the transmission to

position N if the vehicle is in danger

of skidding, e.g. on icy roads.

Rolling in neutral N can damage

the drive train.

Drive

The automatic transmission

changes gear automatically. All

forward gears are available.

Changing gear

The automatic transmission shifts to the

individual gears automatically when it is in

transmission position D.This automatic

gearshifting behavior is determined by:

a shift range restriction, if selected

the selected drive program: (Y page 150)

the position of the accelerator pedal

the road speed

Driving tips

AMG vehicles

When shifting down, the double-clutch

function is active regardless of the currently

selected drive program. The double-clutch

function reduces load change reactions and

is conducive to a sporty driving style. The

sound generated by the double-clutch

function depends on the drive program

selected.

Kickdown

Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.

Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the

pressure point.

The automatic transmission shifts to a

lower gear depending on the engine speed.

Ease off the accelerator pedal once the

desired speed is reached.

The automatic transmission shifts back up.

Program selector button

General notes

The program selector button allows you to

choose between different driving

characteristics.

Example: program selector button

E Economy Comfortable, economical

driving

S Sport Sporty driving style

M Manual Manual gear shifting

For further information on the automatic

drive program, see (Y page 151).

Only change from automatic drive program

E or S to manual drive program M when the

vehicle is stationary.

Press program selector button :

repeatedly until the letter for the desired

gearshift program appears in the

multifunction display.

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Automatic transmission

Driving and parking

When the engine is started, the automatic

transmission always switches to automatic

drive program E (drive program C in AMG

vehicles).

AMG vehicles

Drive program selectorwith manual drive program

C Controlled

Efficiency

Comfortable, economical

driving

S Sport Sporty driving style

S+ SportPlus Extremely sporty driving

style

M Manual Manual gear shifting

RS RACE

START

Optimal vehicle

acceleration from a

standstill

For further information on the automatic

drive program, see (Y page 151).

Only change from automatic drive program C,

S or S+ to manual drive program M when the

vehicle is stationary.

Turn drive program selector : until the

desired drive program appears in the

multifunction display in the speedometer.

The drive program indicator on drive

program selector : lights up in red.

The automatic transmission shifts to

automatic drive program C each time the

engine is started.

RS cannot be selected during normal

driving. For further information on RACE

START, see (Y page 177).

Steering wheel paddle shifters

Left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter

;

Right-hand steering wheel paddle shifter

In the automatic drive program, you can

restrict or derestrict the shift range by using

the steering wheel paddle shifters

(Y page 152).

In the manual drive program, you can change

gear using the steering wheel paddle shifters

or the selector lever (Y page 153).

You can only change gear with the

steering wheel paddle shifters when the

transmission is in position D.

Automatic drive program

Drive program E (drive program C on AMG

vehicles) is characterized by the following:

comfort-oriented engine and automatic

transmission settings

optimal fuel consumption resulting from

the automatic transmission shifting up

sooner

the vehicle pulling away more gently in

forward and reverse gears, unless the

accelerator pedal is depressed fully

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151

Driving and parking

increased sensitivity. This improves driving

stability on slippery road surfaces, for

example

the automatic transmission shifting up

sooner. This results in the vehicle being

drivenatlower engine speeds and the

wheels being less likely to spin

Drive program S (drive programs S and S+ on

AMG vehicles) is characterized by the

following:

sporty engine and automatic transmission

settings

the vehicle pulling away in first gear

the automatic transmission shifting up

later

the fuel consumption possibly being higher

as a result of the later automatic

transmission shift points

Shift ranges

Introduction

When the automatic transmission is in

position D, it is possible to restrict or

derestrictthe shift range (Y page 152).

The shift range selected is shown in the

multifunction display. The automatic

transmission shifts only as far as the selected

gear.

Shift range:

You can use the engine's braking

effect

You can use the braking effect of

the engine on downhill gradients

and for driving:

on steep mountain roads

in mountainous terrain

in arduous conditions

To use the braking effect of the

engine on extremely steep downhill

gradients and on long downhill

stretches

Restricting the shift range

Press the selector lever to the left towards

D–.

Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle

shifter.

The automatic transmission shifts down

one gear and restricts the shift range to the

relevant gear.

If the engine exceeds the maximum

engine speed when shifting down, the

automatic transmission protects against

engine damage by not shifting down.

If the maximum engine speed for the shift

range is reached and you continue to

accelerate, the automatic transmission

shifts up, even if the shift range is

restricted. This prevents the engine from

overrevving.

Extending the shift range

Briefly press the selector lever to the right

towards D+.

Pull the right-hand steering wheel paddle

shifter.

The shift range is derestricted.

Clearing the shift range restriction

Press and hold the selector lever towards

D+ until D is shown once more in the

multifunction display.

Pull and hold the right-hand steering wheel

paddle shifter until D is shown again in the

multifunction display.

The automatic transmission shifts from the

current shift range directly to D.

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Automatic transmission

Driving and parking

Selecting the ideal shift range

Press the selector lever to the left towards

D– and hold it in position.

Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle

shifter and hold it in position.

The automatic transmission shifts to the

gear which allows optimum acceleration

and deceleration. To do this, the automatic

transmission shifts down one or more

gears.

Manual drive program

Switching on the manual drive program

The manual drive program is only available for

vehicles with the dynamic handling package

and for AMG vehicles.

Manual drive program M differs from drive

program S (or, in the case of AMG vehicles,

drive programs S and S+) with regard to:

spontaneity

responsiveness

smoothness of the gear changes

Press the program selector button

(Y page 150) repeatedly until M appears in

the multifunction display.

AMG vehicles: turn the drive program

selector (Y page 151) until M appears in the

multifunction display.

The indicator M on the drive program

selector lights up in red.

Upshifting

Vehicles with the dynamic handling

package: if the maximum engine speed for

the shift range is reached and you continue

to accelerate, the automatic transmission

shifts up. If manual drive program M has

been selected, the automatic transmission

does not switch up.

Briefly press the selector lever to the right

towards D+.

Pull the right-hand steering wheel paddle

shifter (Y page 151).

The automatic transmission shifts up to the

next gear.

AMG vehicles

In manual drive program M, the automatic

transmission does not shift up

automatically even when the engine

limiting speed for the current gear is

reached. When the engine limiting speed is

reached, the fuel supply is cut to prevent

the engine from overrevving. Always make

sure that the engine speed does not reach

the red area of the tachometer. There is

otherwise a risk of engine damage.

Before the engine speed reaches the red area,

an upshift indicator appears in the

multifunction display.

Gear indicator

;

Upshift indicator

Downshifting

Briefly press the selector lever to the left

towards D–.

Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle

shifter (Y page 151).

The automatic transmission shifts down to

the next gear.

If you brake the vehicle or stop without

shifting down, the automatic transmission

will shift down to a gear that will allow the

vehicle to accelerate or pull away again.

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153

Driving and parking

Vehicles with the dynamic handling

package: to avoid overrevving the engine

when downshifting, the automatic

transmission does not shift to a lowergear

if this would result in the maximum engine

speed being exceeded.

If you desire maximum acceleration, push

the selector lever to the left or pull and hold

the left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter

until the transmission shifts to the optimal

gear for the currentspeed.

Kickdown

AMG vehicles: it is not possible to use

kickdown in manual drive program M.

You can also use kickdown for maximum

acceleration in manual drive program M.

Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the

pressure point.

The automatic transmission shifts to a

lower gear depending on the engine speed.

During kickdown, you cannot change gear

using the steering wheel paddle shifters or

the selector lever.

Switching off the manual drive program

Vehicles with the dynamic handling

package: press the program selector

button (Y page 150). M is no longer shown

in the multifunction display.

AMG vehicles: turn the drive program

selector (Y page 151) until C, S or S+

appears in the multifunction display.

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Automatic transmission

Driving and parking

Problems with the transmission

Problem Possible causes/consequences and M Solutions

The transmission has

problems shifting gear.

The transmission is losing oil.

Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist

workshop immediately.

The acceleration ability

is deteriorating.

The transmission no

longer changes gear.

The transmission is in emergency mode.

It is only possible to shift into second gear and reverse gear.

Stop the vehicle.

Shift the transmission to position P.

Switch off the engine.

Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.

Shift the transmission to position D or R.

If D is selected, the transmission shifts into second gear; if R is

selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.

Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist

workshop immediately.

Releasing the parking lock manually

In the event of an electrical malfunction, it is

possible to release the selector lever lock

manually to move it out of position P.This is

the case, for example, if you wish to tow the

vehicle away.

Do not use any sharp-edged objects to

remove the selector lever gaiter from the

center console. This could damage the

selector lever gaiter.

Apply the parking brake.

Pry off selector lever gaiter : with a flat,

blunt object (e.g. a screwdriver wrapped in

cloth) from the right-hand edge. Pull

selector lever gaiter : up and out.

Press release button ; down and

simultaneously move the selector lever out

of position P.

The selector lever can now be moved freely

until it is returned to position P.

Transfer case

This section is only valid for vehicles with 4-

wheel drive (4MATIC). Power is always

transmitted to both axles.

Performance tests may only be carried

out on a 2-axle dynamometer. The brake

system or transfer case could otherwise be

damaged. Contact a qualified specialist

workshop for a performance test.

If the parking brake is being tested on a

brake dynamometer, the ignition must be

switched off (SmartKey or Start/Stop

button in position 0 or 1), as ESP

will

Automatic transmission

155

Driving and parking

Driving and parking -> Automatic transmission for Your Mercedes C Class 4 Door Second Generation (2007-2013)

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