Towing The Vehicle - Mercedes-Benz 2009 S-Class Operator's Manual

Practical hints

Towing the vehicle

negative clamp to a suitable ground
1
point on the vehicle.
X
Get into vehicle and start engine within
30 seconds.
If the starting attempt does not succeed:
X
Turn the SmartKey in starter switch to
position 0.
X
Take out the SmartKey.
X
Turn off engine of donor vehicle, restart it
and let it run at idle speed for several
minutes.
X
Disconnect the jumper cable during this
time.
X
Reconnect jumper cable as described
before.
X
Restart engine.
If the starting attempt is succeed:
X
While the engine is running, switch off
several electrical consumers such as the
blower.
X
Remove the jumper cables first from
negative clamp from ground point and
1
negative terminal 2, then from positive
terminals and 3.
4
X
Have the battery checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
580
Towing the vehicle
Safety notes
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the vehicle
be transported with all wheels off the ground
using flatbed or appropriate wheel lift/dolly
equipment. This method is preferable to other
types of towing.
! To prevent damage during transport, do
not tie down vehicle by its chassis or
suspension parts.
If circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehicle
may be towed with all wheels on the ground
or front axle raised (except vehicles with
4MATIC) only so far as necessary to have the
vehicle moved to a safe location where the
recommended towing methods can be
employed.
! Before towing the vehicle observe the
following instructions:
Do not tow-start the vehicle. You could
R
otherwise seriously damage the
automatic transmission which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
R
Towing with sling-type equipment over
bumpy roads will damage radiator and
supports.
Towing of the vehicle should only be
R
done using the properly installed towing
eye bolt. Never attach a tow cable, tow
rope or tow rod to the vehicle chassis,
frame or suspension parts.
i If the battery is disconnected or
discharged
the SmartKey will not turn in the starter
R
switch
the automatic transmission will remain in
R
park position P
For more information see
R
Y
"Battery" ( page 576) or "Jump
starting" ( Y page 578).