Mercedes-Benz Metris Operator's Manual page 103

Also observe the notes on regularly inspecting
wheels and tires ( page 202).
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N N o o t t es on dr es on driving t iving thr hrough w ough wat ater on r
Water which has entered the vehicle can damage
the engine, electrics and transmission.
Water can also enter the air intake installation of
the engine and cause engine damage.
Observe the following if you must drive through
water:
The water, when calm, may only reach the
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lower edge of the vehicle body.
Drive at walking pace at most; water can other-
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wise enter the vehicle interior or engine com-
partment.
Vehicles traveling in front, or oncoming vehi-
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cles, can create waves which may exceed the
maximum permissible height of the water
The braking e ect of the brakes is reduced a er
fording. Brake carefully while paying attention to
the tra c conditions until braking power has been
fully restored.
Inf Infor ormation about dr mation about driving iving o -r o -road
& W W ARNING
ARNING Risk of accident if you do not
keep to line of fall on inclines
If you drive at an angle or turn on an incline,
the vehicle could slip sideways, tip and rollover.
Always drive on inclines in the line of fall
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(straight up or down) and do not turn.
& W W ARNING
ARNING Risk of injury from acceleration
forces during o -road driving
You could be thrown from your seat, for exam-
ple.
Always wear your seat belt even when
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driving o -road.
& W W ARNING
ARNING Risk of injury to the hands when
driving over obstacles
If you drive over obstacles or in tire ruts, the
steering wheel may whip around.
The steering wheel must always be held
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securely with both hands.
Always hold the steering wheel so that
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your thumbs are on the outer rim of the
steering wheel.
When driving over obstacles, expect
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increased steering forces at short notice.
& W W ARNING
er on roads oads
* N N O O TE TE Damage to the vehicle a er driving
oad
When driving o -road and on construction sites,
sand, mud and water, for example, also mixed with
oil, can get into the brakes. This may lead to a
reduction in braking e ect or total brake failure,
including as a result of increased wear. The brak-
ing characteristics will vary depending on the
material that has got into the system. Clean the
brakes a er driving o -road. If you then notice a
reduced braking e ect or hear scraping noises,
have the brake system checked immediately at a
quali ed specialist workshop. Adjust your driving
style to the changed braking characteristics.
Driving o -road or on construction sites increases
the possibility of vehicle damage which may in turn
lead to the failure of certain major assemblies and
systems. Adapt your driving style to the o -road
Driving and parking 101
ARNING Risk of re caused by amma-
ble material on hot exhaust system com-
ponents
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of the exhaust system.
When driving on an unpaved road or o -
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road, check the vehicle underside regu-
larly.
In particular, remove trapped plant parts
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or other ammable material.
If there is damage, consult a quali ed
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specialist workshop immediately.
o -road
Foreign bodies, such as stones and branches,
could become trapped on the vehicle under-
side or on wheels and tires while you are driv-
ing and cause damage to the vehicle.
Foreign bodies could cause the following dam-
age:
Damage the suspension, the fuel tank or
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the brake system
Cause imbalances and thus vibrations
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Regularly remove any trapped foreign
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bodies, e.g. stones and branches.
A er driving o -road, check carefully
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whether there is any damage to the vehi-
cle.
If there is damage, have the vehicle
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checked at a quali ed specialist work-
shop.
101