Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 201 1987, Owner'S Manual

Page: 60 / 113

“ N” Neutral.
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the rear axle. When the
brakes are released, the vehicle
can be moved freely (pushed,
towed or tow-started). Do not
engage “ N” when driving except
when the vehicle is in danger of
skidding (e.g. on icy roads, see
page 18).
“ D” Drive.
Automatic upshifting to top gear.
Position “ D” affords optimum
driving characteristics under all
normal operating conditions.
“3” Upshift to 3rd gear only. Suitable
for medium range up or down­
grades.
“2” Upshift to 2nd gear only. For driv­
ing in mountainous regions. Since
transmission will not shift up
further, this gear selection will
make use of the engine’s braking
power.
Important!
Do not exceed the engine speed limits
for individual gear selections, which
are indicated by marks on the
speedometer.
Do not attempt downshifting to a lower
gear (braking effect) unless the
speedometer needle is below the
speed-limit-mark of that particular gear
range. Over-rewing could result in
damage to the engine.
On slippery road surfaces, it is not
recommended to downshift in order to
obtain braking action. This could result
in rear wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control.
Trailer operation
To prevent the engine from laboring at
low RPMs, do not allow the engine
speed to drop too low on uphill gra­
dients. Depending on the degree of the
incline, shift selector lever to position
“3 ” or “ 2” early enough to maintain
engine RPMs within best the torque
range.
Stopping
For brief stops, e.g. at traffic lights,
leave the transmission engaged and
control vehicle with the service brake.
For longer stops with the engine idling,
shift into “ N” or “ P” . When stopping the
car on a slope, do not hold it with the
accelerator, use the brake. This avoids
unnecessary transmission heat-up.
Maneuvering
To maneuver in tight areas, e.g. when
pulling into a parking space, control the
car speed by gradually releasing the
brakes.
Accelerate gently and do not pump the
accelerator. To rock a car out of soft
ground (mud or snow), alternately shift
from forward to reverse, while applying
partial throttle.
58