Mercedes-Benz 2008 C-Class Operator's Manual page 131

Controls in detail
Driving and parking
1 Release handle
2 Parking brake pedal
Release the parking brake by pulling on
release handle 1.
The indicator lamp ; (USA only)
or 3 (Canada only) in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
!
If you hear a warning signal, the red indica-
tor lamp 0 (USA only) or ! (Canada only)
in the instrument cluster flashes and the mes-
Release Parking Brake
sage
multifunction display when driving off, you have
forgotten to release the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.
130
i
At vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km/h), the automatic central locking system
engages and the locking knobs in the doors drop
down.
The automatic door lock feature can be deacti-
vated ( page 173).
You can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to do
so.
!
Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brakes reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.
!
Do not run a cold engine at high engine
speeds as this may shorten its service life.
appears in the
Manual transmission
Fully depress the clutch pedal.
!
In order to avoid damage to the transmis-
sion, place the gearshift lever to reverse gear
only when the vehicle is stopped.
Move gearshift lever to first gear to
drive forward, or to reverse gear to
drive in reverse.
Release the brake pedal.
Simultaneously slowly release the
clutch pedal and carefully depress the
accelerator pedal.
!
Shift gear in a timely manner and do not ex-
ceed the maximum permissible engine speed for
each gear.
Do not allow the wheels to spin as this could
damage the drive train.