Mercedes-Benz E-Class Quiz
Maintenance and care

Engine compartment. Hood

In this manual: Maintenance and care
Introduction — 5At a glance — 6Safety — 25Opening and Closing — 17Seats, steering wheel and mirrors — 12Lights and windshield wipers — 11Climate Control — 11Driving and parking — 44On-board computer and displays — 29Stowing and Useful Information. Good to Know — 1Stowing and Useful Information. Storage Options — 10Stowage and convenience features. Convenience features — 7Maintenance and care — 11Roadside assistance — 13Wheels and tires — 13Technical data — 13
~6min read

The hood of the Mercedes E-Class (4th generation, W212, model years 2009–2016) involves numerous safety aspects that must be observed when opening and closing it. This section explains how to avoid injuries and how to use functions such as the active hood for pedestrian protection correctly.

Important Safety Notes

WARNING

An unlatched hood can open while driving and block your view. There is a risk of accident!

Never unlatch the hood while driving. Always make sure the hood is latched before every trip.

WARNING

The hood may snap into its end position when opening and closing. There is a risk of injury to persons in the hood's swing area!

Open and close the hood only when no person is within its swing area.

WARNING

If you open the hood when the engine is overheated or there is a fire in the engine compartment, you may come into contact with hot gases or other escaping operating fluids. There is a risk of injury!

Let an overheated engine cool down before you open the hood. In the event of a fire in the engine compartment, keep the hood closed and call the fire department.

WARNING

Components in the engine compartment move. Certain components can continue running or restart unexpectedly even when the ignition is off, e.g. the radiator fan. There is a risk of injury!

If you need to work in the engine compartment,

  • switch off the ignition
  • never reach into the danger zone of moving components, e.g. the rotating area of the fan
  • Remove jewelry and watches.
  • Keep clothing and hair, for example, away from moving parts.

WARNING

The ignition system and fuel injection system operate at high voltage. Touching live components can cause an electric shock. There is a risk of injury!

Never touch ignition system or fuel injection system components while the ignition is switched on.

WARNING

Hybrid vehicles: be sure to read the supplementary "HYBRID" manual. Otherwise you may not recognize hazards.

Active hood (pedestrian protection)

Operating principle

Note

An triggered active hood must be repaired at a qualified workshop. After that, the active hood function is available again. The additional pedestrian protection provided by the active hood is restored.

Do not try to press down the raised hood in the rear area. Otherwise the hood may be damaged.

Info

The active hood is only available in certain countries. It is available for all models except AMG vehicles.

In certain accident situations, the active hood can reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians. Raising the active hood creates clearance to hard components, e.g. the engine.

Aktive Motorhaube (Fußgängerschutz)

If the active hoodhas been triggered, the rear of the hood is raised by approx. 50 mm. The coversare then not seated on the housings. The active hood is triggered pyrotechnically.

You can reset a triggered active hood yourself.

You can continue driving with the active hood triggered and have it reset at a qualified workshop. If you pull the hood release handle, you must reset the hood before driving on.

Resetting

WARNING

Certain components in the engine compartment can become very hot, e.g. the engine, radiator and parts of the exhaust system. Risk of injury when working in the engine compartment!

If possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described below.Zurückstellen

Open the hood.

Swing the hood up with both hands in the center.If the two hood prop coversdo not move, the hood is open far enough.

A distinct resistance can be felt when the covers are pressed back.

Hoodrelease.

Check that the hood prop coversare seated on the housings(arrow).

The covers of the hood props are not seated: The hoodSeated: The hoodClose the hood.

or

The covers of the hood props are not seated: The hoodfirst on the left sideand then on the right sideswing up. The hoodswing up until the corresponding cover of the hood propno longer moves.
  • The covers of the hood props are not seated: The hoodmust now be seated on the housings(arrow).

    HoodClose the hood.

    If the hoodcannot be closed or the symbolappears in the multifunction display, repeat the steps.

    If the hood still does not latch properly or the symbolappears in the multifunction display, do not drive on. Contact a qualified workshop.

    If the active hoodhas been triggered, the rear of the hood is raised by approx. 50 mm. The coversare then not seated on the housings. The active hood is triggered pyrotechnically.

    Opening the hood

    WARNING

    Certain components in the engine compartment can become very hot, e.g. the engine, radiator and parts of the exhaust system. Risk of injury when working in the engine compartment!

    If possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described below.

    WARNING

    If the wipers start moving while the hood is open, you can get caught in the wiper linkage. Risk of injury!

    Always switch off the wipers and the ignition before opening the hood.

    NOTE

    Make sure the wiper arms are not folded away from the windshield. Otherwise you may damage the wiper arms or the hood.Motorhaube öffnen

    Make sure the wipers are switched off.

    Pull the hood releasehandle.

  • The hood is unlocked.Motorhaube öffnen

    Reach into the gap and press thehood safety catch upward and lift the hood.

    Once you have raised the hood approx. 40 cm, the hood is opened and held automatically by the gas-pressure spring dampers.

    Closing the hood

    Lower the hood and let it drop from approx. 20 cm with some momentum.Check that the hood is properly latched.
  • If you can lift the hood a little, it is not properly latched. Open it again and let it drop with some momentum.

    Radiator

    Vehicles with diesel engine: Do not cover the radiator. Do not use thermal mats, insect protection covers or similar either. Otherwise values of the on-board diagnostics system will be falsified. Some of these values are required by law and must always be correct.

    The notes on the hood of the Mercedes E-Class W212 (model years 2009–2016) illustrate how important it is to handle this component safely. Whether opening, closing or resetting the active hood, precision and caution prevent accidents and damage.

    The pedestrian protection provided by the active hood, which reduces the risk of injury in collisions, deserves special attention. Mercedes combines safety, technology and responsibility at the highest level here.

    These solutions underline the premium character of the E-Class and its pioneering role in occupant protection.

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