Mercedes-Benz 300 TD-TURBO DIESEL 1982 User manual

Drive Sensibly-Save Fuel
Fuel consumption depends to a great
extent 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-mounted
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-
■RJRBO DIESEL Mercedes-Benz

Drive Sensibly-Save Fuel
Fuel consumption depends to a great
extent 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-mounted
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 Mercedes-Benz

Drive Sensibly-Save Fuel
Fuel consumption depends to a great
extent 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-mounted
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
982

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 experience 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
This Owner's Manual also describes
optional extras as far as an introduc
tion on their handling is required. As
these extras need to be ordered
separately the equipment of your
vehicle may deviate from the descrip
tions and illustrations to some 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
Tailgate ....................................... 13
Master Lock System ................. 14
Seats ............................................... 15
Adjustment of Driver's Seat
and Front Passenger Seat ... 15
Safety Headrests ....................... 16
Seat Belts ................................... 16
Seat Heater ............................... 18
Rear Seat Bench ....................... 19
Folding Seat Bench ................... 20
Controls ......................................... 21
Steering Lock ............................. 21
Lighting Switch ......................... 22
Combination Switch ................. 23
Rear Window W iper ................... 24
Cruise Control ........................... 24
Automatic Climate Control 26
Various Equipment ....................... 31
Interior Lamps ........................... 31
Sliding R oof ............................... 31
Outside Rear View Mirror .... 32
Inside Rear View Mirror 32
Sun V isor ................................... 32
Electric Lighter ........................... 33
Heated Rear Window .............. 33
Electric Window Lifters 34
Storage Space below
Cargo Space Floor .................. 35
Retractable partition net and
Luggage Cover ........................ 35
Radio ............................................ 36
Driving
Hood ............................................ 46
Regular Inspections .................... 47
Parking Brake .............................. 48
Starting and Turning off the
Engine .......................................... 48
Starting and Shifting Gears 50
Safe Driving ................................ 52
Brake Pad Wear Indicator
Lamp ........................................ 54
Brake Fluid .............................. 54
Charge Indicator Lam p 54
Oil Pressure Gauge ................ 54
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 54
Emission Control .................... 55
Engine Oil Consumption 55
The First 1500 km/1000 Miles ... 55
Special Operating Conditions... 56
Winter Driving .......................... 56
Hints for Driving ...................... 56
Tire Chains .............................. 57
High Altitude Correction
Device ...................................... 57
Traveling Abroad .................... 57
4

Contents
Vehicle Care
MERCEDES-BENZ
Maintenance System .................. 60
Severe Opeiating
Conditions .............................. 60
Engine Oil Change and
Filter Change .......................... 61
Automatic Transmission —
Fluid and Filter Change 61
Spare Parts Service .................... 61
Cleaning and Care of the
Vehicle ........................................ 62
Jobs related to C are .............. 63
Practical Hints
Ash trays .................................... 66
Bleeding the Fuel System 67
Turning off Engine Manually .... 67
Jack, Vehicle Tools, First Aid Kit 68
Spare Wheel ................................ 68
Wheels, Tires, Changing
Wheels ........................................ 69
Wheels, Tires .......................... 69
Changing Wheels .................... 70
Tire Pressure .......................... 71
Checking Fuels, Coolants,
Lubricants, etc .............................. 72
Engine Oil Level Check 72
Checking Coolant Level ........ 73
Replenishing Coolant ............ 73
Fluid Level — Automatic
Transmission .......................... 74
Reservoirs for Window
Washing Systems .................. 75
Electrical System ........................ 76
Replacing Bulbs ...................... 76
Fuses ....................................... 79
Battery .................................... 79
Tow-starting and Towing
the Vehicle .................................. 80
Jump Starting .............................. 81
Unlocking of the Filler Flap 81
Technical Data — Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
Identification Plates .................... 84
Vehicle Data Cards .................... 85
Warranty Coverage ..................... 85
Technical Data ............................. 86
Fuels, Coolants, Lubricants, etc. 88
Capacities ................................. 88
Engine O ils ............................... 90
Brake Fluid ............................... 90
Diesel Fuels............................. 91
Coolants ................................... 92
Service Literature ......................... 93
Vehicle Operation
Driving
Vehicle Care
Practical Hints
Technical Data — Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
5

Vehicle Operation

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

nstruments and Controls
9

nstrument Cluster
^ 1 Coolant temperature gauge (° C)
BA Up to red marking: Maximum permissible
k temperature for an antifreeze-blended fill
protecting down to —30° C/ —22° F. See page 54
2 Fuel gauge with reserve warning lamp (yellow)
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)
10
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)
Note
A stop is provided on the speedometer at the
138 km/h/85 mph reading. Speeds in excess of
138 km/h/85 mph will no longer be recorded.

nstrument 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.
Opening 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.
Locking and Unlocking 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.
8637
12

Keys Doors
Tailgate
Only drive with the tailgate closed as
otherwise exhaust 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 prior to washing the
vehicle in an automatic car wash. The
washing brush could otherwise cause
it to open.

Keys Doors
Master Lock System
The master 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 plunger is
moved, the plungers of all other doors
must move at the same time. If this is
not the case, the lock of the
corresponding door has not engaged
fully. Open the door once more and
close it correctly.
With the master lock system engaged
the safety plungers 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 key.
The master lock system can only be
applied by depressing the plunger of
the driver’s door. Lock plungers of
the other doors cannot be depressed
individually.
The tailgate can also be locked
independently of the master lock
system. Turn the main key clockwise
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 main
key if needed.
The master lock system operates on
vacuum generated by the engine. A
reservoir allows the master 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
in the normal manner. The fuel tank
filler flap, however, 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 81).