Haynes Mercedes-Benz A-Class Owners Workshop Manual

Introduced in 1997, the original A-Class was a ground breaking package, boasting new technology, newly developed transmissions and a wide range of petrol and diesel engines. It was the first front wheel drive ‘baby’ model from Mercedes-Benz and proved an instant success, selling over one million units worldwide in its first 7 years of production (over 88,000 in the UK alone).

Initially it gained some notoriety when it rolled over during the Swedish “Moose test” (a manoeuvre where the driver swerves violently as if avoiding a moose) but Mercedes-Benz turned the situation to their advantage by halting sales, recalling all the cars sold and installing an electronic stability control system which fixed the problem.

The innovative A-Class is a close relation of the B-Class. A cross between a compact MPV and a conventional ‘supermini’, it features great handling, good fuel efficiency, low emissions and fine performance – the perfect city car. The A-Class is a well-proven design and, provided regular maintenance is carried out, unlikely to give trouble. It is therefore good news for owners that a Haynes Owners Workshop Manual for the A Class has just been published.

When it comes to maintenance, Haynes manuals can help you get the best value from your vehicle - and can do in several ways. It can help you decide what work must be done (even should you choose to get it done by a garage). It provides information on routine maintenance and servicing, and gives a logical course of action and diagnosis when random faults occur; it also helps to deal with common roadside emergencies and breakdowns.

It is hoped that you will use the manual by tackling the work yourself. On simpler jobs it may even be quicker than booking the car into a garage. Perhaps most importantly though, a lot of money can be saved by avoiding the costs a garage must charge to cover its labour and overheads.

Rightly, Haynes manuals have an enviable reputation worldwide for precise, extensively illustrated instructions. Each manual has drawings and descriptions to show the function of the various components, so that their layout can be understood. The tasks are described and photographed in a clear step-by-step sequence. There are sections on daily, weekly and routine maintenance plus instructions for straightforward jobs such as wiper blade and bulb replacements. Also included is advice on preparing for the MOT test, fault-finding charts and useful guidance for driving economically.

The new A-Class Mercedes Benz manual was written and illustrated following the complete stripdown and re-assembly of a car. The models covered in this manual are: A140, A160, A170, A190 & A210 Hatchback (W168 series), including special/limited editions. Petrol: 1.4 litre (1397cc), 1.6 litre (1598cc), 1.9 litre (1898cc) & 2.1 litre (2084cc). Turbo-Diesel: 1.7 litre (1689cc).

There are sections on:

Maintenance – simple weekly checks to keep you on the road
Servicing – complete, fully illustrated step-by-step guides
Overhaul – everything from fitting a new oil seal to rebuilding the engine
Fault-finding – information helping you to pinpoint specific problems easily
Brakes – safety checks and repairs for the home mechanic
Haynes Tips – valuable short cuts to make many tasks easier.
Difficulty ratings – every task is graded from ‘beginner’ to ‘expert’
Details of tools required

Haynes Manuals retail at £19.99 (hardback) and are available from haynes.co.uk or from all good automotive accessory retailers and bookshops including Halfords and Motor World.