Operation
Driving tips
Driv
in
g thr
ough flooded roads
Fig. 180 Driving through water.
To prevent the vehicle from being damaged
when driv
in
g thr
ough water (i.e. flooded
roads), please observe the following:
●
Determine the depth of the water before
entering. Water can reach a maximum height
of below the door sill ››› Fig. 180.
●
Drive at a maximum pace of walking speed.
Driving at a higher speed can cause a wave
in front of the vehicle, which can cause water
to enter the engine air intake system or other
parts of the vehicle.
●
Never stop in the water, never reverse and
never stop the engine.
●
Before driving through water deactivate the
Start-Stop system ››› page 181.
WARNING
●
Driving thr
ough water, dirt and mud can re-
duce braking capability and prolong the brak-
ing distance – Risk of accident!
●
Do not carry out any sudden or strong brak-
ing manoeuvres after driving through water.
●
Clean and dry the brakes as soon as possi-
ble after driving through water by breaking
intermittently. Carry out braking in order to
dry the brakes and clean the brake discs only
if traffic so permits. Do not put other drivers
at risk.
CAUTION
●
In the event of
driving through water, parts
of the vehicle can be seriously damaged,
such as the engine, gearbox, catalytic con-
verter, suspension or the electrical system.
●
Oncoming vehicles that drive through wa-
ter can cause waves that exceed your vehi-
cle's permitted level for driving through wa-
ter.
●
There may be pot-holes mud or rocks under
the water that can hinder or prevent driving
through water.
●
Do not drive through salt water. The salt
can cause rust. All components that are ex-
posed to salt water must be rinsed immedi-
ately with fresh water.
Note
After driving through water we recommend
that
you contact a specialised service for an
inspection.
Preventing damage to the vehicle
In order to prevent damage to the vehicle,
take s
pecial care:
●
on roads that are in poor condition,
●
when mounting kerbs,
●
when approaching very steep ramps, etc.,
●
with the parts of the vehicle situated on the
lower p
art of the vehicle, i.e. the spoiler, the
exhaust pipe.
This applies especially to vehicles with a very
low suspension (sport) and when the vehicle
is fully loaded.
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