Mercedes-Benz 240 D 1979 User manual

You ha e chosen to dri e a MERCEDES-BENZ, a car in whose
construction and production we ha e taken great pains because
we belie e that quality is not a m atter of chance.
Perhaps you ha e already had experience w ith a MERCEDES,
maybe this is your first car from the DAIMLER-BENZ company.
In both cases — for your own benefit — please read this owner's
manual before putting it away. E en though you ha e been dri ing
a car for years, some things in this car may be new to you, and this
manual certainly contains a few hints which will help you to make
the m ost of your new car.
We wish you safe and pleasant m otoring.
DAIMLER-BENZ Aktiengesellschaft
3

Contents
This Owner's Manual also
describes optional extras as far as
an introduction on their handling
is required. /Is these extras need to
be ordered separately, the equip
ent of your vehicle ay deviate
fro the descriptions and illustra
tions to so e extent.
The last page
What you should know at the
gas station
Vehicle Operation
Instruments and Controls .... 8
Instrument Cluster ....................... 10
Keys, Doors ................................... 12
Master and Supplementary
Keys .......................................... 12
Opening, Locking and
Unlocking of Doors ................ 12
Master Lock System .............. 13
Seats .............................................. 14
Adjustment of Dri er's Seat
and Front Passenger Seat . . 14
Safety Headrest ....................... 15
Arm Rest (Rear Seat) ........... 15
Safety B elts .............................. 16
Controls ....................................... 18
Steering Lock ......................... 18
Idle Speed Adjuster ................ 18
Light Switch ............................ 19
Combination Switch .............. 20
Cruise Control ......................... 21
Various Equipment .................... 22
Interior Lights ........................ 22
Rear View Mirrors .................. 22
Sun V isor ................................... 23
Heated Rear Window ........... 23
Shelf below Rear Window . . 23
Electric Lighter ......................... 24
Sliding R oof .............................. 24
Electric Window Lifters .... 25
Heating and Ventilation 26
Air Conditioning System 28
Automatic Climate Control ... 30
Radio ............................................. 33
Driving
H ood ............................................ 38
Regular Inspections ................... 39
Parking Brake ............................ 40
Starting and Turning off the
Engine .......................................... 40
Starting and Shifting Gears ... 42
Manual Transmission 42
Automatic Transmission ... 42
Safe Dri ing .............................. 44
Brake Pad Wear Indicator . . 46
Brake Fluid .• .......................... 46
Charge Indicator L ig ht 46
Oil Pressure Gauge .............. 46
Coolant Temperature Gauge 46
Emission Control ................... 47
Dri ing Economically ................ 47
Fuel Consumption ................ 47
Engine Oil Consumption .... 47
The First 1,000 Miles
(1,500 k m ) ................................... 48
Special Operating Conditions . 48
Winter D ri ing........................ 48
Hints for Dri ing ................... 49
High Altitude Correction
D e ice ...................................... 49
Tire Chains ............................ 49
Tra elling Abroad ................ 49
4

Contents
Vehicle Care
MERCEDES-BENZ Main
tenance System ........................ 52
Se ere Operating
Conditions .............................. 52
Engine Oil Change and
Filter C hange .......................... 53
Automatic Transmission —
Fluid and Filter Change .... 53
Spare Parts Ser ice ................... 53
Cleaning and Care of the
Vehicle ........................................ 54
Jobs related to Care ............ 55
Practical Hints
Ash trays ..................................... 58
First Aid K it ................................. 58
Rear Seat Cushion ................... 59
Spare Wheel, Jack, Vehicle
Tool K it ........................................ 59
Luggage or Ski R acks .............. 59
Bleeding the Fuel System .... 60
Checking Fuels, Coolants,
Lubricants, etc ............................. 60
Engine Oil Le el Check .... 60
Replenishing Coolant 61
Fluid Le el — Automatic
Transmission .......................... 62
Wheels, Tires, Changing
Wheels ........................................ 63
Wheels, T ire s .......................... 63
Changing Wheels ................. 64
Tire Pressure .......................... 65
Electrical System ........................ 66
Replacing B ulbs ..................... 66
Fuses ........................................ 70
Battery ...................................... 70
Emergency Operation of
Sliding Roof ............................... 71
Unlocking of the Filler Flap .... 71
Emergency-starting and
Towing the V ehicle ................... 72
Turning off Engine Manually . . 73
echnical Data — Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
Identification Plates ................... 76
Vehicle Data Cards ................... 76
Technical Data .......................... 77
240 D ........................................ 77
300 D, 300 C D .......................... 79
Fuels, Coolants, Lubricants,
etc ................................................... 81
Capacities ............................... 81
Engine O ils ............................... 84
Brake Fluid ............................ 84
Diesel F uels ............................ 85
Coolants ................................. 86
Ser ice Literature ..................... 87
Vehicle Operation
Driving
Vehicle Care
Practical Hints
echnical Data — Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
5

Vehicle Operation

Instruments and Controls
For ore detailed descriptions see quoted pages.
1 Speaker grilles
2 Swi elling side entilation outlets (page 26)
3 Parking brake release knob (page 40)
4 Hood lock release handle (page 38)
5 Parking brake pedal (page 40)
6 Combination switch (page 20)
7 Light switch (page 19)
8 Cruise control (page 21)
9 Idle speed adjuster (page 18)
10 Instrument cluster (page 10)
11 Horn control
12 Steering lock (page 18)
Steering lock with preglow/starter switch
13 Swi elling outlets for nonheated fresh air
(page 26)
14 Le er for nonheated fresh air (page 26)
15 Switch for rear courtesy light
8
16 Switch for automatic antenna (page 35)
17 Air conditioner temperature switch (page 28)
18 Switch for electric sliding roof
(page 24)
19 Switch for heated rear window (page 23)
20 Air distribution le er (page 26)
21 Heater switch, left ehicle side (page 26)
22 Switch for air olume control and blower
(page 26)
23 Heater switch, right ehicle side (page 26)
24 Radio (page 33)
25 Ash tray with electric lighter (page 24, 58)
26 Speaker — fader control (page 34)
27 Switch group for window lifters (page 25)
28 Hazard warning flasher switch
Push switch = hazard warning flasher system
switched on
Push switch once more = hazard warning
flasher system switched off
29 Glo e compartment, illuminated
(only if steering lock is in position "1" or "2")
To open, mo e handle sideways

Instruments and Controls
9

Instrument Cluster
1 Coolant temperature gauge (° F)
Up to red marking: Maximum permissible
temperature for an antifreeze-blended fill
protecting down to —22° F (—30° C)
2 Fuel gauge with reser e warning light (red)
Fuel reser e for approx. 35 miles (55 km)
For capacity, refer to page 83
and last page
3 Oil pressure gauge
4 Turn signal indicator light, left (green)
5 Main odometer
6 Trip odometer
7 Turn signal indicator light, right (green)
8 Electric clock
9 Preglowing indicator light (orange)
10 Seat belt warning light (red)
11 Knob for clock adjustment
(press in for adjustments)
12 Knob for instrument lighting and trip
odometer
Rotate knob: instrument lighting is
infinitely ariable
Depress knob: trip odometer is turned back
13 Brake warning light (red) comes on if
• the parking brake is engaged
• too little brake fluid is in the reser oir
14 Brake pad wear indicator light (red):
Light comes on while braking and dri ing
if the front wheel brake pads are worn down.
Refer to page 46
15 Charge indicator light (red):
Comes on when the steering lock key is
mo ed to dri ing position "2" and must go
out when the engine is idling
16 High beam indicator light (blue)

11

Keys Doors
Master Key — square-headed —
fits all locks on the car.
Supplementary Key — rounded
head — fits only the door locks
and the steering lock. This key is
intended to be used whene er the
car is left with an attendant. Be
sure to lock glo e compartment
and trunk with the master key.
Opening the Doors
From outside: pull handle out
wards (1).
From the inside: pull handle in door
trim panel.
Locking and Unlocking of Doors
From the outside: turn key.
From the inside: actuate safety
plunger (sedan) or safety le er
(coupe).
2 Unlocking
3 Locking
When the rear door plunger's are
pushed down the rear doors
cannot be opened from the outside
or the inside. They can be opened
after pulling plungers up.
One cannot lock:
• the dri er's door if it is open
• any door if the door lock has
not engaged fully. In this case
open the door and close it again.
12

Keys Doors
Master Lock System
The master lock system simulta
neously locks or unlocks together
with the dri er's door all other
doors, fuel tank filler flap and trunk
lid. As the dri er's door plunger is
mo ed, the plungers of all other
doors must mo e at the same time.
If this is not the case, the lock of
the corresponding door has not en
gaged fully. Open the door once
more and close it correctly.
When the master lock system has
been applied, the lock plungers of
the front passenger door and the
rear doors can also be operated
manually from inside. In addition to
this, the front passenger door can
be locked or unlocked by means
of the key.
The master lock system can only
be applied by depressing the
plunger on the dri er's door. Lock
plungers of the other doors cannot
be depressed indi idually.
The trunk lid can also be unlocked
separately by turning master key
counterclockwise to the stop. Push
the trunk lock button in with it and
lift the lid. Return the key to its ini
tial position and withdraw it. To
lock the lid, close it firmly. It will
then be locked again by the master
lock system.
A pro ision has been made to
facilitate permanent locking of the
trunk lid for positi e pre ention of
access to trunk by unauthorized
persons.
Before lea ing ehicle with an at
tendant, lock trunk with mas
ter key (square head) by turning
key clockwise to stop (tumbler slot
ertical), then pro ide attendant
with round-headed supplementary
key. Thus, the trunk lock has been
excluded from the operation of the
master lock system and cannot be
opened except with the square
headed master key.
To re erse this, turn trunk lock
counterclockwise back to horizon
tal position of the tumbler slot
with master key. Lock will then be
reengaged in master lock system;
that is, it will automatically be
locked or unlocked depending on
whether the dri er's door is locked
or unlocked.
The master lock system operates
on acuum generated by the en
gine. A reser oir allows the master
lock system to be actuated about
fi e times after the engine is turned
off. If the system can then no
longer be engaged, idle engine for
a short period.
If no acuum is a ailable, doors
and trunk ha e to be locked indi id
ually in the normal manner. The
fuel tank filler flap, howe er,
remains unlocked.
Note:
If the filler flap cannot be opened
when the master lock system is
unlocked, refer to "Unlocking of
the Filler Flap" (page 71).

Seats
Adjustment of Driver's Seat and
Front Passenger Seat
Forward and backward adjustment:
lift handle (1); slide seat to desired
position and allow handle to re
engage.
Height of seat: raise le er (2);
to raise seat, mo e seat forward;
to lower seat, mo e seat backward;
allow le er to re-engage.
Seat back position: turn hand
wheel (3) forward or backward.
For full reclining of backrest, seat
should be mo ed to one of the for-
wardmost positions and headrest
remo ed. For dri ing, return
backrest to upright position and
push seat back. Replace headrest.
Note:
Prior to operating the ehicle,
the dri er should adjust the seat
height for proper ision as well as
fore-aft placement and seat back
angle to insure adequate control,
reach, operation, and comfort.
The headrest should also be
adjusted for proper height so that
when the cushion is tipped com
pletely forward, it should form a
cradle behind the seat occupant's
head. Both the inside and outside
rear iew mirrors should then be
adjusted for adequate rearward
ision. Fasten seat belts. Children
under the age of six or under the
weight of 50 lbs. (23 kg) should be
seated in the back seat with an
appro ed restraint system properly
secured. All seat, headrest, and
rear iew mirror adjustments as
well as fastening of seat belts
should be accomplished before the
ehicle is put into motion.
Coup6: When the doors are closed
the backrests are locked by means
of acuum. The locks can be
released by pushing button (4).
When the doors are opened the
backrests can be folded forward
readily.
14

Seats
Safety Headrest
Adjust headrest to support the
back of the head at the le el of the
upper end of the ear.
Height adjustment:
Press headrest slightly forward (1)
and reset upward or downward.
Detaching headrests:
Pull headrest out to the stop.
Release arrester by depressing
locking knob to be felt under the
backrest co ering material and pull
up headrest, holding it by the LH
headrest post ( iewed in dri ing
direction). Finally pull out headrest
completely with both hands.
The headrest locking knob of the
front seat is located below the LH
headrest post (2).
The headrest locking knob of the
rear seat is located between the
two headrest posts.
Arm Rest (Rear Seat)
A center arm rest is pro ided in the
rear seat which can be pulled out
with a loop.
When replacing, lift at the rear.
For the remo al of the rear seat
cushion see "Practical Hints".
15

Seats
I
Safety Belts
Warning system:
The indicator marked "FASTEN
SEAT BELTS" is illuminated for
4 — 8 seconds after turning the
steering lock key to position "2"
If the safety belt of the dri er's
seat is not fastened a warning
buzzer sounds simultaneously.
Fastening of front and rear outer
seat belts (with inertia reel):
• Pull belt with tongue (1) across
shoulder and lap. The belt must
not be twisted and must be
tight.
• Press tongue (1) into buckle (2)
and allow to engage audibly.
Unfastening, front and rear:
• Depress red button "PRESS" (3)
in buckle (2).
• Return tongue (1) to initial
position.
Fastening of rear center belt
(without inertia reel):
• Pull belt across the lap. It must
not be twisted and must be
tight.
• Press tongue into buckle and
allow to engage audibly.
Adjustment of rear center seat belt:
To lengthen, turn belt buckle (on
LH side of belt) to be at right angles
to the belt and pull the tongue.
To shorten, pull loose end of belt.
16

Seats
Operation of belts with inertia reel:
The safety belt inertia reel stops
the belt from unwinding further in
case of ehicle deceleration in any
direction or if the belt is pulled out
quickly.
Functional test:
The locking function of the inertia
reel can be tested by braking, dri 
ing around a bend or by pulling the
belt out quickly.
Note:
No safety belt can be used for more
than one person. Belts are not in
tended for children.
After an accident, inspect the
safety belts and replace them, if re
quired. The belt anchors in the
ehicle should also be checked.
Belt webbing must not be routed
ia sharp edges.
No modifications which may affect
the efficiency of the belts must
be made.
For cleaning and care of belt
webbing, refer to page 55.
17

Controls
8628
Steering Lock
0 Steering is locked when the key
is remo ed. Key can be re
mo ed only in this position.
Note:
Do not remo e key from steer
ing lock while the ehicle is in
motion as this will cause the
engagement of the steering
lock thus rendering the ehicle
inoperable.
1 Steering is unlocked.
(If necessary, mo e steering
wheel slightly to turn the key
clockwise to position "1".)
2 Preglowing and dri ing position.
Starting: continue turning key
clockwise to the stop. The
starter is engaged when the key
is pressed against the stop.
The starter nonrepeat unit
requires the key to be returned
to position "0" prior to
a new starting attempt. For
starting and turning off the en
gine, refer to page 40.
Notes:
The following items can be
operated with the key in steering
lock position "1":
Wiper, windshield washer, head
light flasher, electric lighter, glo e
compartment light, radio, electric
seat heater for front seats.
The power supply to the standing
lights is disrupted if the key in the
steering lock is in position "2".
A warning buzzer sounds when the
key has been left in steering lock
positions "1" or "0" and the dri er's
door is opened.
Idle Speed Adjuster
To increase idle speed, turn knob
counterclockwise.
To decrease idle speed, turn knob
clockwise.
18

Controls
8154
Light Switch
0 Off-position
1 Parking lights (includes side
marker lights, tail lights, license
plate lights, instrument panel
lights)
2 Same as pos. 1 plus headlights
3 Standing lights, right
4 Standing lights, left
A Turn to position 2 and pull out
to first detent = same as po
sition 2 plus fog lights
B A ailable for an option
Note:
With the steering lock key remo ed
and the dri er's door open a signal
sounds if the ehicle's exterior
lighting is not switched off (stand
ing lights excepted).
19