Mercedes-Benz E 320 1994, Owner'S Manual

Page: 18 / 141

Driving Instructions
Power Assistance
Warning!
When the engine is not
running, the brake and
steering systems are without
power assistance. Under
these circumstances, a much
greater effort is necessary to
stop or steer the vehicle.
Brakes
Caution!
When driving down long and steep
grades, relieve the load on the
brakes by shifting into ” 3 ” or ” 2 ” .
This helps prevent overheating of
the brakes and reduces brake pad
wear. Do not exceed engine speed
limits (see Index).
After hard braking it is advisable
to drive on for some time, rather
than immediately parking, so the
air stream will cool down the
brakes faster.
Warning!
After driving in heavy rain for
some time without applying
the brakes or through water
deep enough to wet brake
components, the first braking
action may be somewhat re­
duced and increased pedal
pressure may be necessary.
Be sure to maintain a safe
distance from vehicles in
front.
The condition of the parking brake
system is checked each time the
car is in the shop for the required
maintenance.
Between maintenance checks, it is
a good practice to apply the park­
ing brake once or twice while
driving at approximately 30 mph
(50 km/h) on a dry straight road.
Apply parking brake lightly while
pulling the release handle out until
a slight drag on the wheels is felt.
Keep applying the brake for about
10 seconds while pulling the re­
lease handle out before releasing
the parking brake completely. This
practice will keep the parking
brake at maximum efficiency.
Warning!
The stop lamps will not come
on when applying the parking
brake only. Perform the pro­
cedure in the previous para­
graph only when the road is
clear of other traffic.
Resting your foot on the brake
pedal will cause excessive
and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes
overheating thereby signifi­
cantly reducing their effective­
ness. It may not be possible
to stop the car in sufficient
time to avoid an accident.
All checks and maintenance work
on the brake system should be
carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz dealer.
If the parking brake is released
and the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster stays on, the
brake fluid level in the reservoir is
too low.
16