Mercedes-Benz 300 TD-TURBO DIESEL 1984 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.

Owner’s Manual
300TD-
TURBO DIESEL
Chassis 123T
1984
Mercedes-Benz
®

O u r company and staff wish you many hours of
enjoyment with your new vehicle.
You have placed a lot of trust in our company name by
purchasing a MERCEDES, from which you may expect that it
will give you long service, with a minimum of trouble and that
it is easy to operate.
We have just one request to make, hoping that it will benefit
you as well:
Please do not put this manual aside without first carefully
reading it.
This manual contains many important recommendations that
could help you gain better control over your MERCEDES and
more pleasure while driving it.
We wish you many miles of motoring pleasure.
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 proce
dures.
The last page
What you should know at the
gas station
Vehicle Operation
Instruments and Controls ......... 8
Instrument Cluster ........................ 10
Keys, D oo rs ..................................... 12
Master and Supplementary
Keys .............................................. 12
Opening, Locking and
Unlocking of D oors .................... 12
Tailgate ....................................... 13
Central Lock System ................ 13
Seats ............................................. 14
Adjustment of Driver’s Seat
and Front Passenger Seat ... 14
Safety Head Restraints 15
Arm Rest (Front Seats) ......... 15
Seat Heater .............................. 16
Seat Belts ................................. 17
Rear Seat B en ch ...................... 19
Folding Seat Bench ............... 20
C ontrols ......................................... 21
Steering Lock .......................... 21
Lighting Switch ........................ 22
Combination Switch ............... 23
Rear Window Wiper ............... 24
Cruise C ontrol .......................... 24
Automatic Climate C ontrol 26
Various Equipment ...................... 31
Exterior M irrors ........................ 31
Inside Rear View Mirror ......... 31
Sun Visors ................................ 32
Heated Rear Window ............. 32
Interior Lam ps .......................... 33
Manual Sliding Roof ............... 33
Lighter ....................................... 34
Power Windows ...................... 34
Storage Space below
Cargo Space Floor ................. 35
Retractable partition net and
Luggage Cover ........................ 35
Radio ............................................. 36
Driving
Hood ............................................. 44
Regular Inspections .................... 45
Parking Brake .............................. 46
Starting and Turning off the
Engine ........................................... 46
Starting and Shifting Gears .... 48
Safe D riving ................................... 50
Brake Pad Wear Indicator
Lamp
......................................... 51
Brake Fluid .............................. 51
Charge Indicator Lam p 51
Fuel Reserve Warning Lamp . 51
Oil Pressure Gauge ............... 52
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 52
Emission Control ................... 52
Engine Oil Consumption .... 52
The First 1500 km/1000 Miles .. 53
Special Operating Conditions .. 53
Winter Driving .......................... 53
Hints for Driving ...................... 54
High Altitude Correction
Device ....................................... 54
Tire Chains .............................. 54
Traveling A broad ...................... 54
4

Contents
Vehicle Care
MERCEDES-BENZ
Maintenance System ................. 56
Spare Parts Service .................... 57
Cleaning and Care of the
Vehicle ........................................... 57
Jobs related to C a re ............... 58
Practical Hints
Ash trays ....................................... 62
Ski Rack, Roof Rack,
Integral Luggage Brace ............. 62
Bleeding the Fuel System ......... 63
Turning off Engine Manually .... 63
Jack, Vehicle Tools, First Aid Kit 64
Spare Wheel
................................ 64
Wheels, Tires, Changing
W heels ........................................... 65
Wheels, T ire s ............................ 65
Changing Wheels .................... 66
Tire Pressure ............................ 67
Checking Fuels, Coolants,
Lubricants, etc ............................... 68
Engine Oil Level Check ......... 68
Checking Coolant Level ......... 69
Adding C oolant ........................ 69
Automatic Transmission
Fluid Level ................................ 70
Reservoirs for Window
Washing Systems ................... 71
Electrical System ........................ 72
Headlamp Adjustment ........... 72
Replacing Bulbs ...................... 72
Fuses ............................................ 76
Battery .......................................... 76
Tow-starting and Towing
the V ehicle........................................ 77
Jump Starting
................................. 78
Unlocking of the Filler Flap .... 78
Technical Data — Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
Identification Plates ...................... 80
Vehicle Data Cards ........................ 81
Warranty Coverage ........................ 81
Technical D ata
................................. 82
Fuels, Coolants, Lubricants, etc. 84
Capacities ................................... 84
Engine Oils ................................. 86
Brake Fluid ................................. 86
Diesel F ue ls ................................. 87
Coolants ..................................... 88
Service Literature ........................... 89
Consumer Information .................. 90
Vehicle Operation
Driving
Vehicle Care
Practical Hints
Technical Data — Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
5

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 41)
3Parking brake release knob (page 46) 16 Switch for heated rear window (page 32)
4Hood lock release handle (page 44) 17 Automatic climate control (page 26)
5Parking brake pedal (page 46) 18 Radio (page 36)
6 Combination switch (page 23) 19 Ash tray with lighter (page 34,62)
7Lighting switch (page 22) 20 Switch for left front seat heater (page 16)
8Cruise control (page 24) 21 Switch for hazard warning flasher system
9Instrument cluster (page 10) 22 Switch for right front seat heater (page 16)
10 Horn control 23 Switch group for power windows (page 34)
11 Steering lock with preglow/starter switch
(page 21) 24 Adjusting lever for exterior mirror on
front passenger side (page 31)
12 Swivelling outlets for cooled air (page 26) 25 Loudspeaker — fader control
13 Switch for rear passenger compartment
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

nstruments and Controls
9

nstrument Cluster
1 Coolant temperature gauge (° C)
Up to red marking: Maximum permissible
temperature for an anti-corrosion/antifreeze-
blended fill protecting down to — 30° Cl — 22° F.
See page 52
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. See page 51
Fuel reserve and capacity, refer to page 85 and
last page
3 Oil pressure gauge (bar). See page 52
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 51
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 51
17 High beam indicator lamp (blue)

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 cannot be opened
from the outside or the inside when
the plungers are pushed down. They
can be opened after pulling plungers
up.
The tailgate can be locked and
unlocked from the outside using the
master key at any time.
The driver’s door can be locked only if
it is closed and the door lock has
properly engaged.
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 with master key prior to
washing the vehicle in an automatic
car wash. The washing brush could
otherwise cause it to open.
Central Lock System
The central lock system will lock or
unlock the vehicle doors, tailgate 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, and
unlocked with the master key, inde
pendently of the central lock system.
However, every time the driver’s door
lock is operated, the tailgate lock will
operate correspondingly.
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 or 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 78).

Seats
Adjustment of Driver’s Seat and
Front Passenger 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 forward; 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-most 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 rearview mirrors should
then be adjusted for adequate rear
ward vision. Fasten seat belts. Chil
dren under the age of six 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, head restraint, and rearview
mirror adjustments as well as fasten
ing of seat belts should only be
accomplished before the vehicle is
put into motion.
14

Seats
Safety Head Restraints
Adjust head restraint to support the
back of the head approximately at ear
level. Rear seat head restraints can
only be adjusted in height.
Height adjustment:
Pull head restraint slightly forward (1)
and slide up or down as required.
Removing front seat head restraints:
Pull head restraints up to the stop.
Depress release button (2) to be felt
under the backrest covering material
below the LH head restraint post and
pull up head restraint holding it by the
LH head restraint post (viewed in
driving direction). Finally pull out head
restraint with both hands.
Removing rear seat head restraints:
Pull out head restraint to the stop.
Release lock by pressing the visible
locking button below the LH head
restraint post and pull up head
restraint by LH head restraint post (as
seen in driving direction). Then pull
out head restraint with both hands.
Hint:
Do not interchange the head re
straints for front and rear seats.
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 extremely inclined
seat back.
For downward adjustment of the arm
rest, depress release button (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
►Seat Heater
The seat heater can be switched on
with the steering lock in positions
“ 1” or “ 2” .
Heater operation:
Push in upper switch portion; posi
tion 1 = normal heater operation, one
indicator lamp lights up.
Push in lower switch portion; posi
tion 2 = rapid heating, both indicator
lamps light up.
After approximately 5 minutes in the
rapid heating mode, the heater
automatically switches to normal
operation and only one control lamp
will stay on.
Turning off heater:
If one control lamp is on, press in
upper part of switch, position 1.
If both control lamps are on, press in
lower part of switch, position 2.
The heater automatically turns off
after approximately 30 minutes of
operation.
Note:
When in operation, the seat heater
consumes a large amount of power. It
is advisable not to use the seat heater
longer than necessary.
16

Seats
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.
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.
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 pulling the belt out
quickly.
17

Seats
>
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.
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. Children under the
age of six or under the weight of
23 kg/50 lb should be seated in the
back seat with an approved restraint
system properly secured.
After an accident, inspect the seat
belts and replace them, if required.
Child restraint systems recom
mended by us can be fastened to the
seat belts installed. Any
MERCEDES-BENZ service station will
gladly advise you accordingly.
The belt anchors in the vehicle should
also be checked.
Belts must not be routed via sharp
edges.
Replace damaged seat belts
immediately.
No modifications which may affect the
efficiency of the belts must be made.
For cleaning and care of belt web
bing, refer to page 58.
9747
18