Mercedes-Benz 300 TD 123 T 1983 User manual

Mercedes-Benz

Drive Sensibly-Savc., Uv,
Fuel consumption depends to a great
e tent on driving habits and operating
conditions.
In order to save fuel you should:
• ensure that tire pressures are
correct
• not carry unnecessary loads
• remove ski racks or roof-m ounted
luggage racks when not in use
• not warm up your engine at idle
and with the vehicle at standstill
• avoid frequent acceleration and
deceleration
• avoid frequent braking
• avoid unnecessarily high speeds
• have all the maintenance jobs
specified by us carried out at
regular intervals by a
MERCEDES-BENZ service station.
Driving in low temperature weather, in
stop-and-go city traffic and on short
hops, and in hilly country as well,
increases fuel consumption.

300 TD-
TURBO DIESEL
Type 123 T
1983

You have chosen to drive a MERCEDES-BENZ, a car in whose
construction and production we have taken great pains because we
believe that quality is not a matter of chance.
Perhaps you have already had e perience with 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. Even though you have been driving 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 most of
your new car.
We wish you safe and pleasant motoring.
DAIMLER-BENZ Aktiengesellschaft
3

Contents
Special equipment is also described
in this manual, including operating
instructions wherever necessary.
Since there are special-order items,
the descriptions and illustrations
herein may vary slightly from the
actual equipment of your vehicle.
If there are any equipment details that
are not shown or described in this
Owners Manual, your MERCEDES-
BENZ dealer will be glad to inform
you of correct care and operating
procedures.
The last page
What you should know at the
gas station
Vehicle Operation
Instruments and C ontrols 8
Instrument C luster ............................. 10
Keys, D o o rs ........................................ 12
Master and Supplementary
Keys ................................................. 12
Opening, Locking and
Unlocking of D o ors ...................... 12
Tailgate ............................................. 13
Central Lock System ................... 14
S ea ts ...................................................... 14
Adjustment of Driver's Seat
and Front Passenger Seat ... 14
Arm Rest (Front S eats) 15
Safety Headrests .......................... 16
Seat B e lts ........................................ 16
Seat Heater .................................... 18
Rear Seat B e n c h .......................... 19
Folaing Seat B en c h ..................... 20
C o n tro ls ............................................... 21
Steering Lo ck ................................. 21
Lighting Switch ............................ 22
Combination Switch ................... 23
Rear W indow W ip e r ..................... 24
Cruise C o n trol ............................... 24
Automatic Climate C o ntro l 26
Various Equipment .......................... 31
E terior M irro rs ............................ 31
Inside RearView M irro r 31
Sun Visors ...................................... 32
Heated Rear W indow ................... 32
Interior L a m p s ............................... 33
Manual Sliding R oof ................... 33
Electric Lighter ............................ 34
Electric Window L ifte rs 34
Storage Space below
Cargo Space Floor ..................... 35
Retractable partition net and
Luggage Cover ............................ 35
Radio ................................................... 36
Driving
H o o d ................................................... 46
Regular Inspections ....................... 47
Parking Brake ................................... 48
Starting and Turning off the
Engine ................................................. 48
Starting and Shifting G ears 50
Safe Driving ..................................... 52
Brake Pad Wear Indicator
La m p .............................................. 54
Brake F luid ................................... 54
Charge Indicator L a m p 54
Oil Pressure G auge .................. 54
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 54
Emission C on tro l ....................... 55
Engine Oil Consum ption 55
The First 1500 km/1000 M ile s ... 55
Special Operating C onditions... 56
Winter D riving .............................. 56
Hints for Driving .......................... 56
Tire C hains ................................... 57
High Altitude Correction
D evice ............................................ 57
Traveling A b ro a d ....................... 57
4

Vehicle Care
MERCEDES-BENZ
Maintenance S ystem .....................
Severe Operating
C ond ition s ...................................
Engine Oil Change and
Filter C hange
..............................
Automatic Transmission —
Fluid and Filter Change ...........
Spare Parts Service .......................
Cleaning and Care of the
Vehicle ..............................................
Jobs related to C a re ................
Practical Hints
Ash trays ..........................................
Bleeding the Fuel System ............
Turning off Engine Manually
Jack, Vehicle Tools, First Aid Kit
Spare W heel .....................................
Wheels, Tires, Changing
W he e ls ..............................................
Wheels, T ire s ..............................
Changing W heels .......................
Tire P ressure ..............................
Checking Fuels, Coolants,
Lubricants, etc ..................................
Engine Oil Level C heck ............
Checking Coolant Level .........
Replenishing Coolant ..............
Fluid Level — Automatic
Transm ission .....................
Reservoirs for Window
Washing Systems ............
Electrical S ystem ...................
Replacing B ulbs ................
Fuses ...................................
Battery .................................
Tow-starting and Towing
the V eh icle ..............................
Jump Starting ..........................
Unlocking of the Filler Flap .
Technical Data — Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
Identification P lates ..............
Vehicle Data Cards ..............
Warranty Coverage ..............
Technical D a ta .......................
Fuels, Coolants, Lubricants,
Capacities ............................
Engine O ils ..........................
Brake F lu id ..........................
Diesel F u els .......................
C oola nts ..............................
Service Literature ...................
Consumer Information
60
60
61
61
61
62
63
66
67
67
68
68
69
69
70
71
72
72
73
73
Contents
74
75
7 5 Vehicle Operation
76
80
80
81
82
82
. . 84
. . 85
, . 85
... 86
tc. 88
90
91
92
93
94
Drivin
Vehicle Care
QQ Practical Hints
90
Technical Data — Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
5 A

Vehicle Operation

Instruments and Controls
For more detailed descriptions see quoted pages.
1Speaker grilles 14 Switches for rear window wiper (page 24)
2Swivelling side ventilation outlets (page 26) 15 Switch for automatic antenna (page 38)
3Parking brake release knob (page 48) 16 Switch for heated rear window (page 32)
4Hood lock release handle (page 46) 17 Automatic climate control (page 26)
5Parking brake pedal (page 48) 18 Radio (page 36)
6Combination switch (page 23) 19 Ash tray with electric lighter (page 34, 66)
7Lighting switch (page 22) 20 Switch for left front seat heater (page 18)
8Cruise control (page 24) 21 Switch for hazard warning flasher system
9Instrument cluster (page 10) 22 Switch for right front seat heater (page 18)
10 Horn control 23 Switch group for window lifters (page 34)
11 Steering lock (page 21)
Steering lock with preglow/starter switch 24 Adjusting lever for e terior mirror on
front passenger side (page 31)
12 Swivelling outlets for cooled air (page 26) 25 Loudspeaker — fader control
13 Switch for rear passenger com partm ent
lamp (page 33) and switch for rear window
wiper (page 24)
26 Glove compartment, illuminated
(only if steering lock is in position “ 1” or “ 2” )
To open, move handle sideways

Instruments and Controls
9734
20121(221
4
9

Instrument Cluster
1 Coolant temperature gauge (° C)
Up to red marking: Ma imum permissible
temperature for an antifreeze-blended fill
protecting down to —30° C/ —22° F. See page 54
2 Fuel gauge with reserve warning lamp (yellow)
Comes on when the steering lock key is moved to
driving position “ 2” and must go out when the
engine is idling.
Fuel reserve and capacity, refer to page 89 and
last page
3 Oil pressure gauge (bar). See page 54
4 Turn signal indicator lamp, left (green)
5 Main odometer
6 Trip odometer
7 Turn signal indicator lamp, right (green)
8 Tachometer
9 Electric clock
10 Preglowing indicator lamp (yellow)
11 Seat belt warning lamp (red)
12 Knob for clock adjustment
(press in for adjustments)
13 Knob for instrument lamps and trip
odometer
Rotate knob: instrument lamps intensity are
infinitely variable
Depress knob: trip odometer is turned back
14 Brake warning lamp (red) comes on if
• the parking brake is engaged
• too little brake fluid is in the reservoir
15 Brake pad wear indicator lamp (yellow):
Lights up during braking if the front wheel brake
pads are worn down. See page 54
16 Charge indicator lamp (red):
Comes on when the steering lock key is
moved to driving position “ 2” and must go
out when the engine is idling. See page 54
17 High beam indicator lamp (blue)

Instrument Cluster
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 whenever the car is left with
an attendant. Be sure to lock glove
compartment and tailgate with the
master key.
Openin the Doors
Side door
From outside: pull handle (1).
From inside: pull handle in door trim
panel.
Tailgate
From outside: push button (1).
From inside: pull handle in door trim
panel.
Lockin and Unlockin of Doors
From the outside: turn key.
From the inside: actuate safety
plunger.
2 Unlocking
3 Locking
The rear doors and the tailgate cannot
be opened from the outside or the
inside when the plungers are pushed
down. They can be opened after
pulling plungers up.
One cannot lock:
• the driver’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.
9031
12

Keys Doors
Tail ate
Only drive with the tailgate closed as
otherwise e haust fumes may enter
the vehicle interior.
The rear license plate can be seen
correctly only when the tailgate is
closed.
To close the tailgate, take hold of
grabstrip and press down.
The rear compartment lamp will be
switched off by the contact switch
only if the tailgate is fully closed.
Note:
Lock tailgate with master key prior to
washing the vehicle in an automatic
car wash. The washing brush could
otherwise cause it to open.

Keys Doors Seats
Central Lock System
The central lock system will lock or
unlock the vehicle doors and the tank
filler flap whenever the driver’s door is
locked or unlocked.
As the driver’s door button is moved
the buttons of all other doors must
move at the same time. If this is not
the case, the lock of the correspond
ing door has not engaged fully. Open
the door once more and close it
correctly.
With the central lock system engaged
the safety buttons of the front
passenger door, the rear doors and
the tailgate can also be actuated
manually. The front passenger door
and the tailgate can in addition be
locked and unlocked with the master
key.
The central lock system can only be
applied by depressing the button of
the driver’s door. Lock buttons of the
other doors cannot be depressed
individually.
The tailgate can also be locked
independently of the central lock
system. Turn the master key clock
wise as far as it will go and withdraw.
Every time the driver’s door is
unlocked, however, the tailgate lock
will unlock and can be locked again
with the master key if needed.
The central lock system operates on
vacuum generated by the engine. A
reservoir allows the central lock
system to be actuated about five
times after the engine is turned off. If
the system can then no longer be
engaged, idle engine for a short
period.
If no vacuum is available, doors and
tailgate have to be locked individually
using a key and depressing the
button. The fuel tank filler flap,
however, remains unlocked.
Note:
If the filler flap cannot be opened
when the central lock system is
unlocked, refer to “ Unlocking of the
Filler Flap” (page 82).
Adjustment of Driver’s Seat and
Front Passen er Seat
Fore/aft adjustment: lift handle (1);
slide seat to desired position and
allow handle to reengage.
Height of seat: raise lever (2); to raise
seat, slide seat forw ard; to lower seat,
slide seat backward; allow lever to
reengage.
Seat back position: turn hand
wheel (3). For full reclining of back
rest, seat should be moved to one of

the forward-m ost positions and head
rest removed. For driving, return
backrest to upright position and push
seat back. Replace headrest.
Note:
Prior to operating the vehicle, the
driver should adjust the seat height
for proper vision as well as fore-aft
placement and seat back angle to
insure adequate control, reach, oper
ation, and comfort. Be certain seat is
“ locked in” by sliding front/rear until
full engagement is assured.
The headrest should also be adjusted
for proper height so that when the
cushion is tipped completely forward,
it should form a cradle behind the
seat occupant's head. Both the inside
and outside rear view mirrors should
then be adjusted for adequate rear
ward vision. Fasten seat belts. Chil
dren under the age of si or under the
weight of 23 kg/50 lb should be
seated in the back seat with an
approved restraint system properly
secured.
All seat, headrest, and rear view
mirror adjustments as well as fasten
ing of seat belts should only be
accomplished before the vehicle is
put into motion.
Arm Rest (Front Seats)
The arm rest engages in 3 positions.
Position 1 = arm rest folded up.
Position 2 = for normally inclined
seat back.
Position 3 = for e tremely inclined
seat back.
For downward adjustment of the arm
rest, depress release button (4).
Seats
4
Note:
The arm rest does not suffice as a
child restraint system. In case of a
frontal collision a child can be
catapulted forward over the locked
arm rest.
15

Seats
»
Safety Headrests
Adjust headrest to support the back
of the head appro imately at ear level.
Rear seat headrests can only be
adjusted in height.
Height adjustment:
Pull headrest slightly forward (1) and
slide up or down as required.
Removing front seat headrests:
Pull headrests up to the stop.
Depress release button (2) to be felt
under the backrest covering material
below the LH headrest post and pull
up headrest holding it by the LH
headrest post (viewed in driving
direction). Finally pull out headrest
with both hands.
Removing rear seat headrests:
Pull out headrest to the stop. Release
lock by pressing the visible locking
button below the LH headrest post
and pull up headrest by LH headrest
post (as seen in driving direction).
Then pull out headrest with both
hands.
Hint:
Do not interchange the head re
straints for front and rear seats.
9742
Seat Belts
Warning system:
The indicator is illuminated for
4 - 8 seconds after turning the steer
ing lock key to position “ 2” . If the
seat belt of the driver’s seat is not
fastened a warning buzzer sounds
simultaneously.
Fastening:
• Pull belt with latch plate (1) over
shoulder and lap. The belt must
not be twisted.
16

Seats
• Press latch plate (1) into buckle (2)
and allow to engage audibly.
• The belt must be tight and must be
checked for tightness immediately
after fastening and regularly during
the trip. If required, tighten lap belt
by pulling up on the upper belt
section.
Unfastening:
• Depress red button (3) in buckle.
• Return latch plate (1) to initial
position.
4
Operation:
The seat belt inertia reel stops the
belt from unwinding further in case of
vehicle 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, driving
around a bend or by pulling the belt
out quickly.
Lap belt in the rear:
To fasten the lap belt, pull belt end
across your lap and insert the latch
plate in the buckle. The belt must not
be twisted and must be tight.
To shorten the belt, pull the loose belt
end. To lengthen the belt, turn latch
plate so that it is at right angles to the
belt webbing and pull the belt.
17

Seats
>
Before folding down the rear seat
backrest, slip belt webbing into belt
retainers (4) and return latch plate of
buckle upward to belt webbing outlet.
If the folding seats are not being
used, engage belt webbing into
brackets (5).
Note:
No seat belt can be used for more
than one person. Belts are not
intended for children.
After an accident, inspect the seat
belts and replace them, if required.
The belt anchors in the vehicle should
also be checked.
Replace damaged seat belts
immediately.
Belts must not be routed via sharp
edges.
No modifications which may affect the
efficiency of the belts must be made.
For cleaning and care of belt web
bing, refer to page 63.
Seat Heater
The seat heater can be switched on
with the steering lock in positions
“ 1” or “ 2” .
Push switch to position 1 = contin
uous operation. The indicator lamp in
the switch comes on.
Push switch to position 2 = rapid
heating. Both indicator lamps in the
switch come on.
Switch in center position = seat
heater off.
Due to the relatively high power
consumption of the seat heater a
heavy load is placed on the battery.
For this reason the switch should not
be left in position 2 any longer than is
absolutely necessary while the engine
is switched off.
9747 9044
18