Towing And Tow-Starting - Mercedes-Benz CLS 280 2008 Owner's Manual

Towing and tow-starting

Points to remember
G Risk of accident
If you tow the vehicle, you must use a rigid
towing bar if:
the engine is not running
R
there is a brake system malfunction
R
the voltage supply or the vehicle's elec-
R
trical system is damaged
There is no power assistance for the steer-
ing when the engine is not running.
G Risk of accident
The vehicle is braked when HOLD is activa-
ted. Therefore, deactivate HOLD if the vehi-
cle is to be towed.
If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehi-
cle.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
When towing, observe the legal requirements
in all countries concerned.
! When towing, pull away slowly and with-
out jerking. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged. Do not use
the towing eye for recovery.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum
of 50 km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
With towing distances over 50 km, the
entire vehicle needs to be lifted up and
transported.
! Only secure the tow cable or towing bar
to the towing eyes. You may otherwise
damage the vehicle.
Vehicles with an automatic transmission
R
must not be tow-started.
If the engine does not start, try jump-start-
R
ing it ( Y page 291).
If it is not possible to jump-start the vehicle,
R
have it towed to the nearest qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
If the vehicle has suffered transmission
R
damage, only tow it with the propeller shaft
disconnected.
The selector lever must be in position N on
R
vehicles with automatic transmission.
Practical advice
Towing and tow-starting
If you are towing the vehicle over a consid-
R
erable distance, this may only be done with
the rear axle raised.
The ignition must be switched off if you are
R
towing the vehicle with the front/rear axle
®
raised. Intervention by ESP
wise damage the brake system.
Before towing the vehicle, make sure that
R
the battery is connected and charged. Oth-
erwise:
You cannot switch on the ignition
-
You cannot move the selector lever to N
-
You have no support when braking
-
i Switch off the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed (
You could otherwise be locked out when
pushing or towing the vehicle.
could other-
Y page 127).
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