Driving Instructions - Mercedes-Benz 300 TE Owner's Manual

Driving Instructions

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W hen the en gine is n o t running, the
brake and s te e rin g sys te m s are w ith ­
o u t p o w e r assista n ce . U n de r the se
c irc u m s ta n c e s , a m uch g re a te r e ffo rt
is ne ce ssa ry to s to p o r s te e r the ve h i­
cle.
Brakes
C aution!
W hen d riving do w n long and stee p
grades, relieve th e bra ke s by sh iftin g
in to " 3 " o r " 2 " . This he lp s pre ve n t
o v e rh e a tin g o f th e bra ke s and
re d u c e s brake pad wear. Do n o t
exce ed en gine sp e e d lim its (see
page 67).
A fte r hard bra kin g it is advisable to
drive on fo r so m e tim e so the air
stream w ill co o l do w n th e bra kes
faster.
W arning!
A fte r driving in heavy rain for
som e tim e w ith o ut applying the
brakes or through w a te r deep
enough to w e t brake co m p o ­
nents, th e first braking action
may be so m ew hat reduced and
increased pedal pressure may be
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necessary. Be sure to m aintain a
safe d istan ce from vehicles in
front.
The c o n d itio n o f th e p a rkin g brake
syste m is ch e c k e d each tim e th e car
is in th e sh o p fo r m aintenance.
B etw e e n m ainten ance c h e c k s it is a
g o o d p ra c tic e to apply th e pa rkin g
brake o n ce o r tw ic e w h ile d riving at
a p p ro xim a te ly 50 k m /h (30 m ph) on a
d ry s tra ig h t road. A p p ly bra ke lig h tly
until a s lig h t drag on the w h e e ls is felt.
Keep ap plying bra ke fo r a b o u t
10
s e c o n d s w h ile pu llin g th e release
handle o u t b e fo re relea sing the p a rk­
ing bra ke co m p le te ly. This p ra ctice
w ill kee p th e pa rkin g bra ke at m axi­
m um efficie n cy.
W arning!
The sto p lam ps will not com e on
when applying th e parking brake
only. Perform th e p ro ced u re in
th e previous paragraph only when
the road is cle ar of o th e r traffic.
C aution!
R esting y o u r fo o t on th e bra ke pedal
w ill cause e xce ssive and pre m a tu re
w e ar o f th e bra ke pads.
All c h e c k s and m ainten ance w o rk on
th e bra ke s ys te m sho uld be carried
o u t by an a u th o rize d M ERC EDES-
BENZ dealer.
If th e pa rkin g bra ke is released and
th e bra ke w a rn in g lam p in th e in s tru ­
m en t c lu s te r stays on, th e bra ke fluid
level in th e re s e rv o ir is to o low.
B rake pad w e ar o r a leak in the sys­
te m may be the reason fo r lo w brake
fluid in th e rese rvoir.
Have th e bra ke system in s p e c te d at
an a u th o rize d M E R C ED ES-BEN Z
d e aler w ith o u t delay.
Install o n ly brake pads and bra ke flu id
re c o m m e n d e d by M ER C ED ES-BEN Z.
If o th e r than re co m m e n d e d brake
pads are installed, th e b ra kin g p ro ­
p e rtie s of th e veh icle can be a ffe cte d
to an e x te n t th a t the sa fe ty is s u b ­
stan tially im paired.