Mercedes-Benz 300 TE, Owner'S Manual

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Driving Instructions
P ow er a ssista n c e
W hen th e e n gine is n o t run ning, the
bra ke and s te e rin g s y s te m s are w ith ­
o u t p o w e r a s s is ta n c e . U n d e r th e se
c irc u m s ta n c e s , a m uch g re a te r e ffo rt
is n e c e s s a ry to s to p o r s te e r the v e h i­
cle.
Brakes
C aution!
W hen d riv in g d o w n lo ng and ste e p
g rades, relieve th e b ra k e s by s h iftin g
in to “ 3 ” o r “ 2 ” . This he lp s p re v e n t
o v e rh e a tin g o f th e b ra k e s and
re d u c e s bra ke pad wear. Do n o t
ex c e e d e n gine sp e e d lim its (see
page 67).
A fte r hard b ra kin g it is ad visable to
drive on fo r s o m e tim e so th e air
s tre a m w ill c o o l d o w n th e bra kes
fa ste r.
W arning!
A fte r driving in heavy rain for
so m e tim e w ith o u t applying the
brakes or through w a te r d eep
enough to w e t brake co m p o ­
nents, th e first braking action
may be so m e w h a t reduced and
increased pedal p ressure may be
necessary. Be sure to m aintain a
safe d is tan ce from vehicles in
front.
The c o n d itio n o f th e p a rk in g brake
s y s te m is c h e c k e d each tim e th e ca r
is in th e s h o p f o r m a inten ance .
B e tw e e n m a in te n a n c e c h e c k s it is a
g o o d p ra c tic e to ap ply th e p a rkin g
bra ke o n c e o r tw ic e w h ile d riv in g at
a p p ro x im a te ly 50 k m /h (30 m ph) on a
d ry s tra ig h t road. A p p ly bra ke lig h tly
un til a s lig h t dra g on the w h e e ls is felt.
K eep a p p lyin g b ra ke fo r a b o u t
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s e c o n d s w h ile p u llin g th e release
handle o u t b e fo re rele a sin g the p a rk ­
ing b ra ke c o m p le te ly . T his p ra c tic e
w ill k e e p th e p a rk in g b ra ke at m axi­
m um e ffic ie n c y .
W arning!
The s to p lam ps will not co m e on
when applying th e parking brake
only. Perform th e p ro ced u re in
th e previous p aragraph only w hen
th e road is c le a r of o th e r traffic.
C aution!
R e sting y o u r fo o t on th e b ra ke pedal
w ill cau se e x c e s s iv e and p re m a tu re
w e a r o f th e b ra ke pads.
A ll c h e c k s and m a in te n a n c e w o rk on
th e b ra ke s y s te m s h o u ld be c a rrie d
o u t by an a u th o riz e d M ERC E D E S -
B E N Z dealer.
If th e p a rk in g b ra ke is relea sed and
th e b ra ke w a rn in g lam p in th e in s tru ­
m e n t c lu s te r sta y s on, th e b ra ke flu id
level in th e re s e rv o ir is to o low.
B rake pad w e a r o r a leak in th e s y s ­
te m m ay be the rea son fo r lo w brake
flu id in th e rese rvoir.
Have th e bra ke sy s te m in s p e c te d at
an a u th o riz e d M E R C E D E S -B E N Z
d e a le r w ith o u t delay.
Install o n ly bra ke pads and bra ke flu id
re c o m m e n d e d by M E R C E D E S -B E N Z .
If o th e r tha n re c o m m e n d e d brake
pa ds are insta lle d, th e b ra k in g p ro ­
p e rtie s o f th e v e h ic le can be a ffe c te d
to an e x te n t th a t th e sa fe ty is s u b ­
s ta n tia lly im paired.
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