Driving Instructions - Mercedes-Benz 600 SEL 1993 Owner's Manual

Driving Instructions

Power Assistance
When the engine is not running,
the brake and steering systems
are without power assistance.
Under these circumstances, a
much greater effort is necessary to
stop or steer the vehicle.
Brakes
Caution!
When driving down long and steep
grades, relieve the load on the
brakes by shifting into " 3 " , "2" or
" B" . This helps prevent overheat­
ing of the brakes and reduces
brake pad wear. Do not exceed
engine speed limits (see Index).
After hard braking, it is advisable
to drive on for some time, rather
than immediately parking, so the
air stream will cool down the
brakes faster.
16
Warning!
After driving in heavy rain for
some time without applying
the brakes or through water
deep enough to wet brake
components, the first braking
action may be somewhat re­
duced and increased pedal
pressure may be necessary.
Be sure to maintain a safe
distance from vehicles in
front.
The condition of the parking
brake system is checked each
time the car is in the shop for the
required maintenance.
Between maintenance checks, it
is a good practice to apply the
parking brake once or twice while
driving at approximately 30 mph
(50 km /h) on a dry straight road.
Apply parking brake lightly while
pulling the release handle out
until a slight drag on the wheels
is felt. Keep applying the brake
for about 10 seconds while pull­
ing the release handle out before
releasing the parking brake com­
pletely. This practice will keep the
parking brake at maximum
efficiency.
Warning!
The stop lamps will not come
on when applying the parking
brake only. Perform the pro­
cedure in the previous para­
graph only when the road is
clear of other traffic.
Resting your foot on the brake
pedal will cause excessive
and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes
overheating thereby signifi­
cantly reducing their effective­
ness. It may not be possible
to stop the car in sufficient
time to avoid an accident.
All checks and maintenance work
on the brake system should be
carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz dealer.