Mersedes-Benz 280 SE 1978 Owner'S Manual Download Page 35

Catalytic Converter Cautions

Your MERCEDES-BENZ is equipped 
with a  m onolythic catalytic  con­

verter,  one  im portant elem ent to 
achieve substantial control of ex­

haust emissions with  improved fuel 

economy.  Keep your vehicle in 

proper operating condition  by fo l­
lowing  our  recommended  main­

tenance instructions as outlined  in 
your  maintenance  booklet.

Should any noticeable irregularities 

in the engine operation o ccur such 

as m isfiring of one or more 

cylinders, indicated  by audible signs 

o r rough idle o r loss of perform ­

ance, excessive unburned fuel  may 

reach the converter causing  it to 

overheat.  Continued operation of 
your vehicle can  result in damage to 
the converter and the vehicle.

For the same reason we caution

 

against:

•   Misuse or abuse of your vehicle 

engine

•   Coasting with  ignition off
•   Going down steep grades in gear 

with  ignition off

•   Excessive  idling  with  cold  engine
•   Push or tow  starting your vehicle 

with  hot  engine

As with any vehicle, do not idle or 

park or operate this vehicle in areas 

where com bustible materials such 
as grass, hay or leaves can come 

into contact with a hot exhaust 

system, as these m aterials could  be 
ignited.
We urge your cooperation  by fo llo w ­

ing the above instructions to 

achieve cleaner a ir and  high fuel 
economy.

Summary of Contents for 280 SE 1978

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Page 2: ...SKf 280 SE 450 SE Type 116 1978...

Page 3: ......

Page 4: ...ybe this is your first car from the DAIM LER BENZ com pany In both cases fo r your own benefit please read this o w n er s manual before putting it away Even though you have been driving a car fo r ye...

Page 5: ...w itch 17 Combination S w itc h 18 Cruise C o n tro l 19 Automatic Climate Control 20 Various E quipm ent 24 Interior Lights 24 Rear View M irro rs 24 Sun V is o r 24 Electric Window Lifters 25 L ig...

Page 6: ...related to C are 47 Practical Hints Ash tra ys 50 Rear Seat C ushion 50 First Aid K it 51 Vehicle Tool K it 51 Luggage or Ski R acks 51 Wheels Tires Changing Wheels 52 Wheels T ire s 52 Changing W hee...

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Page 8: ...Vehicle Operation...

Page 9: ...Steering lock with ignition starter switch page17 14 Adjustable louvers for cooled air page 20 15 Switch for rear passenger compartment light 16 Switch for automatic antenna page 29 17 Switch for heat...

Page 10: ...Instruments and Controls 15 16 1 7 18 IMHiWHMIMI C onme i 9...

Page 11: ...signal indicator light right green 11 Catalyst replacement indicator only California vehicles of type 280 SE When the indicator light comes on the catalyst must be replaced 12 Seat belt warning 13 Br...

Page 12: ...Instrument Cluster i 8891 11...

Page 13: ...rs From outside pull handle outwards 1 From inside pull handle in door trim panel Locking and Unlocking of Doors From the outside turn key From the inside actuate plunger 2 Unlocking 3 Locking When th...

Page 14: ...system A provision has been made to facilitate permanent locking of the trunk lid for positive prevention of access to trunk by unauthorized persons Before leaving vehicle with an attendant lock trunk...

Page 15: ...adjusted for proper height so that when the cushion is tipped completely for ward it should from a cradle behind the seat occupant s head Both the inside and outside rear view mirrors should then be a...

Page 16: ...s after turning the steering lock key to position 2 If the safety belt of the driver s seat is not fastened a warning buzzer sounds simultaneously Fastening of front and rear outer seat belts with ine...

Page 17: ...engage audibly Adjustment of rear center seat belt To lengthen turn belt buckle on LH side of belt to be at right angles to the belt and pull the tongue To shorten pull loose end of belt Note No safe...

Page 18: ...arter is engaged as long as the key is held up to the stop Due to the starter non repeat unit the key must be returned to position 1 or 0 before making another starting attempt With the key in positio...

Page 19: ...changes of the vehicle press combination switch to the point of resistance only and hold it there 6 Control for windshield washer system When the washer system is switched on the wipers also operate...

Page 20: ...ed remains constant 3 Cancelling To cancel the cruise control briefly push lever to position 3 The cruise control will also be cancelled if the brake pedal is actuated or if the vehicle speed drops on...

Page 21: ...7 3 AUTO LO button 8 4 AUTO HI button 9 5 BI LEVEL button DEF button Refrigerant compressor switch Adjustable louvers for cooled air Adjustable louvers for side ventilation 10 Lever for side ventilati...

Page 22: ...off This position can be briefly selected in the case of odorous or dust annoyances or when passing through an auto matic car wash 3 AUTO LO button Normal vehicle operation This setting will provide...

Page 23: ...windows Independent of the position of the temperature selector wheel air heated to maximum tempe rature is channelled to the windshield For the side windows open swivelling outlets 9 7 Refrigerant co...

Page 24: ...rough an opening in front of the wind shield keep free of snow and is emitted through ventilation Automatic Climate Control ports below the rear window if the windows are closed Do not cover up the ve...

Page 25: ...switch in each light Rear View Mirrors Outside rear view mirror Outside rear view mirror 2 can be rand omly adjusted from inside by means of lever 1 If the mirror housing has been forcibly removed fro...

Page 26: ...ressing one of the switches 1 4 one for each window located in a switch group in front of the oddments tray 2 By actuation of the individual switches 5 under each rear side window If safety switch S i...

Page 27: ...When the rear window heater is engaged the white indicator light in the switch 1 comes on A heavy load is imposed on the battery due to the high power requirement For this reason switch off the heate...

Page 28: ...selection only on radios with built in cassette player 4 Manual tuning control 5 Search sensitivity switch 6 Automatic tuning bar Mexico models only 7 Cassette release 8 Fast forward 9 Fast rewind 10...

Page 29: ...pull station buttons 3 carefully tune in the desired station push button slowly and firmly all the way in then release Automatic station tuning on signal seeking radios only is accompli shed by momen...

Page 30: ...ts may cause cancellations or loss of the signal as well as strong signal over loading or capture Lowering the antenna height in strong signal areas may eliminate many of the resulting problems and re...

Page 31: ...play the other side remove the cassette from the radio turn it upside down and reinsert through the slot To manually eject the cassette push the release bar 7 When the cassette is ejected the unit wil...

Page 32: ...Driving 31...

Page 33: ...d lift hood Windshield wiper arms must not be folded forward Closing Firmly depress hood Depress parking brake pedal 1 When the steering lock key is in position 2 the brake warning light in the instru...

Page 34: ...Automatic Transmission See Checking Fuels Coolants Lubri cants etc Fuels Coolants Lubricants etc and last page 4 Coolant Level See Checking Fuels Coolants Lubri cants etc Fuels Coolants Lubricants etc...

Page 35: ...excessive unburned fuel may reach the converter causing it to overheat Continued operation of your vehicle can result in damage to the converter and the vehicle For the same reason we caution against...

Page 36: ...nt Temperatures about 59 F 95 F 15 C 35 C Turn the key in steering lock clock wise to the stop Start without actuating accelerator Release key only when the engine is running smoothly Turning off Turn...

Page 37: ...ent upon selector lever position vehicle speed and accelerator position Hint If repairs are carried out on the vehicle with the engine running depress the parking brake pedal and shift selector lever...

Page 38: ...gear only this position permits the utilization of the engine braking effect With the selector lever in position S and the acceler ator depressed to full throttle 2nd gear covers a wider speed range...

Page 39: ...nger stops with the engine idling shift selector lever to posi tion N When stopping the car on a slope do not hold it by means of the accelerator but use the brake This avoids unnecessary heat up of t...

Page 40: ...some time so the air stream will cool down the brakes faster When driving in heavy rain for some time without applying the brakes the first braking action may be somewhat retarded and increased pedal...

Page 41: ...5 kp sq cm if the engine is at operating temper ature This will not jeopardize its operational reliability Pressure must however rise immediately upon acceleration Coolant Temperature Gauge Due to th...

Page 42: ...2 h of maxi mum permissible speed in each gear and do not force the engine to labor at low engine speed Avoid accelerating by kickdown It is not recommended to brake vehicle by means of manually shift...

Page 43: ...0 km h On clear roads remove the chains as soon as practicable Adhere to the manu facturer s mounting instructions High Altitude Engine Adjustment above 4 000 ft 1 219m Federal regulations previously...

Page 44: ...Vehicle Care 43...

Page 45: ...fluids The vehicle must receive the prescribed maintenance and or lubrication work at the specified intervals as listed in the mainte nance booklet Verification of performance of such maintenance lub...

Page 46: ...12 500 miles 20 000 km without filter change All MERCEDES BENZ service stations store the MERCEDES BENZ original spare parts required for maintenance and repair work In addition depots are provided a...

Page 47: ...sed by thrown up gravel or other defects Any dam age should be repaired as soon as possible particularly before the onset of the winter Your vehicle has received a rust proofing treatment in productio...

Page 48: ...of the wheels Tar Stains Quickly remove tar stains before they dry and become more difficult to remove Window Cleaning Use a window cleaning solution on very dirty or oil stained windows Clean windsh...

Page 49: ...or example by using a hair dryer If in doubt please consult your MERCEDES BENZ service station Paintwork Do not apply wax if your car is parked in the sun or if the hood is still hot For maximum prote...

Page 50: ...Practical Hints i 49...

Page 51: ...ning and remove Installation front and rear Position ash tray squarely and push in Rear Seat Cushion Removal Push in left and right spring clamps 1 slightly raise rear seat cushion at the front side a...

Page 52: ...signed exclusively for jacking up the vehicle Jack stands must be used when working under the vehicle Luggage or Ski Racks The only type of rack to be mount ed on the roof we recommend is the drip rai...

Page 53: ...becomes visible at a mileage of 3 000 6 000 miles 5 000 10 000 km as otherwise the driving properties deteriorate Slowly leaking air e g due to a nail in the tire may cause damage to the tire such as...

Page 54: ...l bolts 5 Clean jack supporting tube if necessary Jack tubes are be hind the front wheel housings and in front of the rear wheel housing 6 Insert jack arm into the tube hole up to the stop Position th...

Page 55: ...ads and are perfectly 10 Lower car and remove jack Tighten the five bolts evenly by going around the wheel and tightening every other bolt until all the bolts are tight Observe a tightening torque of...

Page 56: ...with the engine at operating temperature and shut off 1 Dipstick 2 Pour in engine oil The vehicle should be parked on level ground and the oil level must be somewhere between the lower and the upper m...

Page 57: ...e brands refer to Fuels Coolants Lubricants etc 280 SE The coolant level must reach when the coolant is cold to the visible marking in the radiator filler neck when the coolant is hot to about 0 4 in...

Page 58: ...uid only pour it through a fine mesh filter into the dipstick opening Even the slightest impurity may cause operational troubles The oil level in the transmission is dependent upon the oil tempera tur...

Page 59: ...heck and readjust headlights at regular inter vals and invariably when a lamp has been replaced Front Lights Sealed Beam Version USA Specifications 1 Cover 2 Securing screws for cover 3 Horizontal aim...

Page 60: ...engages behind bracket 13 14 Bulb for fog light Loosen securing screws 15 and remove housing Detach holding spring 16 remove bulb 14 and disconnect plug 17 Tail Light Assembly Remove both knurled nuts...

Page 61: ...red that the lug in the lens is on the L H side Courtesy Lights To replace the bulb press courtesy light slightly toward the left 1 lift off at right hand side 2 and pull out to the right The same app...

Page 62: ...it has been disconnected from the vehicle s electrical circuit Note Battery terminals must not be loosened or detached while the engine is running as otherwise the three phase alternator will be dest...

Page 63: ...ment on RH side in trunk If the electric drive fails the sliding roof can also be moved by hand For this purpose a manual drive 1 is provided on the drive motor LH side of trunk The manual drive can b...

Page 64: ...seconds return the selector lever from L to N as otherwise the transmission may be damaged For another starting attempt tow car again for a short while with the selector lever in position N and then r...

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Page 66: ...Technical Data Fuels Coolants Lubricants etc i 65...

Page 67: ...fication plates are arranged accordingly 1 Certification Tag left door pillar 3 Chassis No 2 Identification Tag left window 4 Body No and Paintwork No post 5 Engine No 280 SE front left Emission Cont...

Page 68: ...the key number and should never be left in the car Submit this card to your MERCEDES BENZ service station to request a replacement key in case of loss Card No 2 on which the key number was made illeg...

Page 69: ...ne Exhaust 0 010 in 0 25 mm Firing o rd e r 1 5 3 6 2 4 The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle See a MERCEDES BENZ service station fo r the corresponding data of all special bodies and spe...

Page 70: ...W festoon lamp Tail and standing lig h ts 5 W 4cp Backup lig h ts 21 W 32 cp License plate lig h ts 5 W festoon lamp Interior lig h ts 10 W festoon lamp Reading lights re a r 4 W 2 cp Trunk lig h t 1...

Page 71: ...The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle See a MERCEDES BENZ service station for the corresponding data of all special bodies and special equipment V belts Water pump fan power steering pump...

Page 72: ...festoon lamp Tail and standing lig h ts 5 W 4 cp Backup lig h ts 21 W 32 cp License plate lig h ts 5 W festoon lamp Interior lig h ts 10 W festoon lamp Reading lights re a r 4 W 2 cp Trunk lig h t 10...

Page 73: ...vice station Type Capacity Total oil capacity in case of engine oil and filter change 280 SE 7 5 7 US Imp qts 6 5 1 450 SEL 8 4 7 US Imp qts 8 0 1 Total oil capacity in case of engine oil change witho...

Page 74: ...id change 5 6 4 6 US Imp qts 5 3 1 8 3 6 9 US Imp qts 7 9 1 Rear axle 280 SE 2 1 1 8 US Imp pts 1 01 Hypoid gear oil SAE 90 450 SEL 2 7 2 3 US Imp pts 1 31 Accelerator control linkage Hydraulic fluid...

Page 75: ...mp pts 0 5 I Brake fluid Windshield washer system approximately 4 4 3 5 US Imp qts 4 0 I Water plus windshield detergent Fuel tank including a reserve of approximately 25 3 21 1 US Imp gals 96 I appro...

Page 76: ...operation oil in the factory or in a MERCEDES BENZ service station This oil is specially developed for the specific operating conditions during the first 300 600 miles 500 1 000 km A recommended engi...

Page 77: ...sible propor tion of disolved materials potable water quality Antifreeze in the coolant should ensure minimum protection to 4 F 2 0 C If no antifreeze is available add a treating agent to the cooling...

Page 78: ...Mercedes Benz of N A Inc One Mercedes Drive P O Box 350 Montvale New Jersey 07645 Att Technical Publications Tel 201 573 0600 for Canada Mercedes Benz of Canada 849 Eglinton Ave East Toronto 17 Ont Ca...

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Page 81: ...ght to m odify the technical details of the vehicle as given in the data and illustrations of this Owner s Manual s e e o No part of this manual may be reproduced or translated w ithout prior authoriz...

Page 82: ...t s 2 0 I A u t o m a t i c t r a n s m i s s i o n f l u i d A T F F o r l e v e lc h e c k sa n dr e p l e n i s h m e n t r e f e r t op a g e 5 7 F o r n o r m a lr e p l e n i s h m e n t u s e...

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