Mercedes-Benz 2003 S 500 - Manual (Page 163)

163
Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear selector lever position
Effect
P Park position
Selector position when the vehicle
is parked. Only place selector lever
in position P when vehicle is
stopped. The park position is not in-
tended to serve as a brake when
the vehicle is parked. Rather, the
driver should always set the park-
ing brake in addition to placing the
selector lever in position P to se-
cure the vehicle.
The SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the se-
lector lever in position P. With the
SmartKey removed, the selector le-
ver is locked in position P.
Effect
R Reverse gear
Place selector lever in position R only
when vehicle is stopped.
N Neutral
No power is transmitted from the en-
gine to the drive axle. When the
brakes are released, the vehicle can
be moved freely (pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the transmission,
never engage N while driving.
If the ESP is deactivated or malfunc-
tioning:
Only move selector lever to N if the
vehicle is in danger of skidding (e.g.
on icy roads).
D Drive
The transmission shifts automatical-
ly. All five forward gears are avail-
able.
!
Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any
other reason with selector lever in N
can result in transmission damage that
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the selector
lever not fully engaged in position P is dan-
gerous. Also, position P alone is not intend-
ed to or capable of preventing your vehicle
from moving, possibly hitting people or ob-
jects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to position P (
୴ page 44).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.