Heavy And Light Loads; Wet Roads; Limited Braking Performance On Salt-Treated Roads; Servicing The Brakes - Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 2019 Operator's Manual

take advantage of engine braking. For this
you must first activate manual gearshifting.
This helps you to avoid overheating the
brakes and wearing them out excessively.
When you take advantage of engine braking,
it is possible that a drive wheel will not
rotate for some time, e.g. on a slippery road
surface. This could cause damage to the
drive train. This type of damage is not cov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty.
Briefly depressing the accelerator pedal on
downhill gradients while the manual drive pro-
gram M is temporarily activated: the automatic
transmission may switch to the last active
automatic drive program E or S. The automatic
transmission may shift to a higher gear. This
can reduce the engine's braking effect.

Heavy and light loads

G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving, the braking system can over-
heat. This increases the stopping distance
and can even cause the braking system to
fail. There is a risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest.
Never depress the brake pedal and the
accelerator pedal at the same time.
!
Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately.
Drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
flow to cool the brakes more quickly.

Wet roads

If you have driven for a long time in heavy rain
without braking, there may be a delayed reac-
tion from the brakes when braking for the first
time. This may also occur after the vehicle has
been washed or driven through deep water.
You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehi-
cle washed, brake firmly while paying attention
to the traffic conditions. This will warm up the
brake discs, thereby drying them more quickly
and protecting them against corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads
If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt resi-
due may form on the brake discs and brake
pads. This can result in a significantly longer
braking distance.
In order to prevent any salt build-up, apply
R
the brakes occasionally while paying atten-
tion to the traffic conditions.
Carefully depress the brake pedal and the
R
beginning and end of a journey.
Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
R
ahead.

Servicing the brakes

!
The brake fluid level may be too low, if:
if the red brake warning lamp lights up in
R
the instrument cluster and
you hear a warning tone while the engine
R
is running
Observe additional warning messages in the
multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immedi-
ately. Consult a qualified specialist work-
shop to arrange this.
!
A function or performance test should only
be carried out on a 2-axle dynamometer. If
you wish to operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult a qualified
specialist workshop in advance. You could
otherwise damage the drive train or the
brake system.
!
®
As the ESP system operates automati-
cally, the engine and the ignition must be
switched off (the SmartKey must be in posi-
tion u or 1 in the ignition lock), if the
electric parking brake is tested on a braking
dynamometer (maximum 10 seconds).
Braking triggered automatically by ESP
may cause severe damage to the brake sys-
tem.
All checks and maintenance work on the brake
system must be carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Driving tips
151
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