User manual MERCEDES S320

[. . . ] Mercedes-Benz Operator's Manual S 320 S 420 S 500 1 Product information Kindly observe the following in your own best interest: We recommend using Mercedes-Benz original parts as well as conversion parts and accessories explicitly approved by us for your vehicle model. We have tested these parts to determine their reliability, safety and their special suitability for MercedesBenz vehicles. We are unable to make an assessment for other products and therefore cannot be held responsible for them, even if in individual cases an official approval or authorization by governmental or other agencies should exist. Use of such parts and accessories could adversely affect the safety, performance or reliability of your vehicle. [. . . ] To move the selector lever out of position "P", the service brake pedal must be firmly depressed before the shift lock will release. Shift selector lever to the desired driving position only when the engine is idling and the service brake is applied. Do not release the brake until ready to 79 Note: The key can be removed from the steering lock only with the selector lever in position "P". With the key removed, the selector lever is locked in position "P". Do not engage "N" while driving except to coast when the vehicle is in danger of skidding (e. g. Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any other reason with selector lever in "N", can result in transmission damage that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. D The transmission automatically upshifts through 5th gear. Position "D" provides optimum driving characteristics under all normal operating conditions. To shift from position "D" to "4", push selector lever to the left. Since the transmission does not shift higher than 3rd gear, this gear selection will allow use of the engine's braking power downhill. For driving in mountainous regions or under extreme operating conditions. This gear selection will allow use of the engine's braking power when descending steep grades. 1 In this position, the engine's braking effect is utilized by shifting into 1st gear. Use this position while descending very steep or lengthy downgrades and only at speeds below 40 mph (60 km/h). Selector Lever Positions The automatic gear shifting process can be adapted to specific operating conditions using the selector lever. The parking position is not intended to serve as a brake when the vehicle is parked. Rather, the driver should always use the parking brake in addition to placing the selector lever in park to secure the vehicle. 80 Important!With selector lever in position "D", "4" or "3", upshifting from 1st to 2nd to 3rd gear is delayed depending on vehicle speed and engine temperature. This allows the catalytic converter converter to heat up more quickly to operating temperatures. During the brief warm-up period this delayed upshift and increased engine noise might be perceived as a malfunction. However, neither the engine nor transmission are negatively affected by this mode of operation. The delayed upshift is effective with vehicle speeds below 31 mph (50 km/h) at partial throttle and engine temperatures below 95°F (35°C). To avoid overrevving the engine when the selector lever is moved to a lower driving range, the transmission will not shift to a lower gear as long as the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit of that gear. To prevent the engine from laboring at low RPMs, do not allow the engine speed to drop too low on uphill gradients. Depending on the degree of the incline, shift selector lever to a lower gear range early enough to maintain engine RPM within the best torque range. [. . . ] The following text is published as required of manufacturers under Title 49, Code of U. S. Federal Regulations, Part 575 pursuant to the "National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966". Reporting Safety Defects If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying Mercedes-Benz of North America Inc. . If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. [. . . ]