How to Check Transmission Fluid in a Ml320 Benz

1. Look up your local Mercedes dealership in the phone directory and give their service department a call. Inquire about ordering your own transmission fluid dipstick for the ML320, and be sure to tell them your model year. They should be able to quote you a price and help you arrange the purchase over the phone.
2. Drive the car for about ten miles or 20 minutes. Be sure to take your dipstick and rag along with you for the ride. If possible, spend part of the drive on a high-speed road so that you can cycle through all of your gears during the trip. This is to warm up the engine and transmission, lubricate the entire transmission and bring the transmission fluid up to warm volume levels.
3. Park the car on a flat surface, put it in neutral and apply the parking break. Pull the hood release lever and leave the engine running.
4. Open the hood and prop it up with the support arm.
5. Look just to the right side of the air filter compartment, which is the long black plastic compartment just behind the engine. You should see a small plastic tube with a red plastic cap. This is the transmission fluid dipstick tube.
6. Move the red plastic cap to the side, then carefully feed the dipstick all the way into the tube. When it's all the way in, carefully pull it all the way out. Be careful of the tip, which should be covered in transmission fluid.
7. Check the reading on the dipstick. The proper line to read should be clearly marked as 'WARM FULL.'
8. Replace the red cap on the dipstick tube and close the hood.

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How to Compare Small Station Wagon Fuel amp; Performance

1. Compare fuel economy independently of all other considerations. In its 'EPA Class Size' listing, the US Department of Energy includes 19 small station wagon models produced in 2010. This list rates the Audi A3 and Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen as offering the highest fuel economy in their class at 34 mpg combined city-highway; however, it does not include other factors, such as the initial price of the vehicle, yearly maintenance fees and insurance costs, or performance.
2. Eliminate certain models from consideration by price. If you can't afford a car's sticker price, it doesn't matter how much it will save you at the pump. The 2010 Jetta SportWagen started at $24,310, and the Honda Fit had a starting MSRP of $14,900, while the Cadillac models cost a minimum of $37,955.
3. Rank small station wagons by performance indicators such as horsepower and acceleration. The BMW wagon delivers an estimated 21 mpg combined city-highway while cranking out 230 horsepower and sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in 7.26 seconds. A similarly priced and comparatively fuel efficient Audi A4 Avant produces 211 horsepower from a smaller engine while accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 8.77 seconds.
4. Segregate car choices based on the drive configuration offered. If you want a car with all-wheel drive, that criterion narrows your selection to models such as the Audi, Cadillac, Subaru Impreza, Suzuki SX4, Volvo and Infiniti EX35. The center differential in an all-wheel-drive vehicle distributes torque to each wheel or axle to prevent wheel slippage and enable better handling in inclement weather.
5. Rate small station wagons by overall handling characteristics. The 2010 BMW 328 wagon featured a sports suspension that gave it a lateral acceleration of 0.85 g and enabled it to take the 600-foot slalom at an average speed of 59 mph. A modestly-priced 2010 Honda Fit had a lateral acceleration of 0.80 g and moved through the slalom course at a 60 mph average speed.
6. Differentiate models by emission level. The Environmental Protection Agency designates only a few of the 2010 small station wagons by the EPA's ULEV, or Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle standard. The Toyota Matrix earned this designation, while the 2010 Nissan Cube qualified for the EPA's SULEV, or Super-Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle rating.

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How to Clean an Audi Engine

1. Cover any exposed electrical components with plastic. Also, put plastic or aluminum foil over the spark plug recesses or coils if they are exposed.
2. Use a hose with a medium pressure setting to rinse off the engine compartment and remove any loose debris, dirt and leaves. Try not to point the stream of water at major electrical components such as fuse boxes.
3. Spray a mild, citrus-based engine degreaser onto the entire surface of the engine bay. Let the degreaser soak in for a few minutes, particularly on areas where there are oil and grease built up.
4. Scrub areas that are very dirty with a stiff bristled brush. The fender wells in particular can get very dirty in an engine bay.
5. Rinse the engine bay with the hose. Wipe the engine down with a rag and a cleaner such as Simple Green after the majority of the degreaser has been removed.
6. Apply vinyl and plastic protectant such as Armor All (or your preferred brand) to any plastic components such as the engine cover, fuse box, air box and fresh air ducting. Some newer Audis have plastic fender liners in the engine bay that need to be wiped with the Armor All.
7. Apply wax to the insides of the wheel arches. Wipe the wax on and then buff it off with a clean rag. There are also spray-on waxes available that can make getting to areas further down in the engine bay a little easier.

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How to Reset a Flexible Service System in a Mercedes C280

1998-2002 Vehicles
1. Turn the ignition to the 'On' position but do not start the vehicle.
2. Press the FSS button twice within four seconds. The button may have a '1' or a '0' imprinted on or near it. This will show the days or mileage remaining until the next service is due.
3. Turn the ignition key to the 'Lock' position within 10 seconds. This is one position back from the 'On' position.
4. Depress and hold the FSS button while turning the ignition to the 'On' position. Do not start the vehicle. This will show the days or mileage remaining until service is due again. Continue to hold the button for 10 seconds until you hear a tone. The display will indicate '10,000 miles and 365 days to next service.'
5. Release the FSS button and turn the ignition to the 'Lock' position. The reset procedure is now complete.
2003-2007 Vehicles
6. Turn the ignition to the 'On' position but do not start the vehicle.
7. Press the 'FSS' button for about three seconds. The display will read: 'DO YOU WANT TO RESET THE SERVICE INTERVAL? CONFIRM BY PRESSING R,' or it will read, 'SERVICE INTERVAL? RESET WITH BUTTON.'
8. Press and hold the 'FSS' reset button until a tone sounds. The FSS will now display the reset interval.
9. Release the 'FSS' button then turn the ignition off. The reset procedure is now complete.

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1995 Mercedes C

1. Drive your Mercedes up on a set of car ramps and use a flashlight to inspect as much of the electrical harness wiring as possible. Most Mercedes-Benz vehicles manufactured between 1993 and 1997 have been known for having a faulty electrical harness that have caused fires or stalling out and loss of power while driving. If the wiring harness begins to disintegrate or degrade, have the entire harness replaced, as the problem will only continue to worsen, increasing the risk of driving the vehicle.
2. Disconnect the negative cable from your Mercedes C280 car battery and remove the throttle body hose clamp with a screwdriver. The throttle body is located between the intake manifold and the air filter cabin. Wearing rubber gloves and safety glasses, spray throttle-body cleaner into the air duct and use gentle brushing to dislodge any grime present in the component. If you hear cracking sounds coming from the throttle body when cold-starting the C280, you may need to replace the entire throttle body if the cleaner does not improve its performance.
3. Use an OBD II scanner to check the Mercedes-Benz engine troubleshoot codes. Locate the C280's OBD II terminal, which is located at the bottom left part of the steering column and plug in the OBD II scanner. Turn on the OBD II scanner and turn the ignition to the accessories position. Record the codes from the OBD II scanner and look them up on websites such as AutoZone or OBD II Codes.
4. Test electrical connections leading to any sensors that come up on the OBD II scanner before replacing the sensors themselves. Turn the ignition key to the 'On' position without cranking the engine and apply the probes of a multimeter, set to voltage, to the electrical harness connection. If the connection reads between 4.0 and 5.0 volts, then the sensor needs replacement.
5. Clean your MAF (mass air flow) sensor if you are experiencing rough idling or stalling out. DIsconnect the MAF sensor, which is located between the air filter cabin and the throttle body, by using a Torx screwdriver. Unplug the connector and clean it with MAF cleaner. Allow the MAF sensor to air dry before reinserting it into the MAF housing. Replace the MAF with a new sensor if the engine continues to run poorly.
6. Use a computer with internet access to look for potential problems through TSBs (technical service bulletins) or recalls. Currently, as of 2011, there are no recalls on the 1995 C280. However, there are 56 TSB summaries, which could help point out areas to troubleshoot when experiencing problems with your Mercedes.

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How Do You Remove the Seats on a 2003 Mercedes Benz 110 CDI Van?

Removing Single Seats
1. Find the release lever for the front legs of the seat, located underneath the seat.
2. Lift the lever upward to release the front legs from the floor.
3. Lift the lever to fold the seat forward, located behind the seat near the bottom. This will lift the rear legs.
4. Fold down the seat back so the chair is as small as possible.
5. Carefully lift the seat out of the car, making sure not to scratch any interior trim or paintwork with the mechanism underneath the seat.
6. Repeat Steps 1 to 5 for each seat you want to remove.
Removing Rear Bench Seat
7. Fold the release handle located behind the bench seat upward.
8. Push the bench seat forward so the rear legs leave the floor of the car.
9. Lift all 3 front leg release levers upward. These levers are attached to each seat leg and are accessed from the footwell of the rear bench seat.
10. Tip the bench seat forward to remove it from the floor.
11. Carefully lift the seat out of the car via the back door, making sure not to scratch any interior trim or paintwork with the mechanism underneath the seat.

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How to Repair an Instrument Cluster LED

1. Open the hood of your vehicle and locate the battery. Disconnect the positive and negative cables from the battery, removing the clamp bolts on each terminal with a wrench.
2. Enter the driver's side of your vehicle and move the steering wheel to its lowest possible position within the steering column.
3. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the two screws that hold the rubber bezel in place around the instrument panel. Pull the bezel away from the dash and place in a safe area for reattachment later.
4. Unscrew the three mounting bolts which hold the instrument panel in the dash. Slide the panel part of the way out of the dash. Reach around behind the instrument panel and disconnect the electrical connector attached to the rear. Fully remove the panel and place it on a safe work area.
5. Unscrew the damaged LED bulbs in a counterclockwise direction until they come free from the instrument panel. Insert the new bulbs and turn them in the opposite direction until they become fixed in place. Reattach the instrument panel following the removal steps in reverse. Reattach the battery cables and turn on the engine to check that all the LED bulbs on the instrument panel now work correctly.

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How to Replace an Audi A4 Serpentine Belt

1. Loosen the bolt on the tension pulley using a belt tensioner.
2. Pull the belt off of the alternator, water pump, tension pulley and any other devices it is attached to using your hands.
3. Inspect the new belt to make sure there are no breaks or cracks on either side of it.
4. Place the new belt over all of the pulleys that you removed the old belt from. Double check to make sure that the raised parts of the belt are properly seated in all the grooves of the pulleys.
5. Tighten the bolt on the tension pulley using the belt tensioner.

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How to Change the Headlamp on an Audi A4

1. Check your manual for the specific model number of your Audi A4. Go to your local auto store and pick up a replacement headlamp which is the correct make for your vehicle.
2. Locate the mounting bolts for the headlamp on the front bumper. Use a socket wrench to remove the bolts. Ensure you don't lose any of the bolts as you will need to reattach them later.
3. Pull the headlamp away from the light casing. Use a flat-head screwdriver to pry it out of its socket and disconnect the battery connector.
4. Unscrew the two screws on the headlamp to gain access to the bulb. Unclip or unscrew the bulb depending on the model of headlamp. Insert the new bulb, ensuring it is firmly locked in place.
5. Reattach the headlamp to the Audi A4 following the removal steps in reverse. Turn on the vehicle's engine and engage the headlamps to ensure they are now working correctly.

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How to Troubleshoot a BMW Cooling System

1. Replace the coolant. By replacing the coolant at regular intervals as suggested by your BMW owner's manual, you can resolve many potential issues with the cooling system. The manual will give you the exact amounts and procedures for your particular model BMW.
2. Examine the water pump drive belt. The driving belt controls the operation of the water pump. The belt may need a tension adjustment or a replacement if it has stopped working. It's a common cause of BMW cooling system issues.
3. Check the hoses of the cooling system. Look for any holes, cracks or leaks. If you find any of these issues, order replacement hoses (hoses should be changed every two years as a part of your BMW maintenance schedule). Check the other parts of the cooling system for leaks and clogs as well, including the radiator, heater valve and control valves.
4. Get a reading from the thermostat of your BMW cooling system. If the temperature gauge drops suddenly from high to low, then this could indicate that you have a sticking thermostat or a problem with your fan clutch.
5. Review the speed and efficiency of the fan of your BMW cooling system. Use the auxiliary fan switch on your BMW to check the functionality of the fan to determine if this could possibly be the issue.

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