2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230 page 63

36 Antitheft alarm system
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
The antitheft alarm is automatically armed or disarmed
with the remote control or any of your vehicle’s keys by
locking or unlocking the vehicle.
The antitheft alarm is armed within approximately
10 seconds after locking the vehicle.
A blinking lamp (1) indicates that the alarm is armed.
Operation:
Once the alarm system has been armed, the exterior
vehicle lamps will flash and an alarm will sound when
someone:
•opens a door,
•opens the trunk,
•opens the hood,
•opens the glove box,
•attempts to raise the vehicle.The alarm will last approximately 3 minutes in form of
flashing exterior lamps. At the same time an alarm will
sound for 30 seconds. The alarm will stay on even if the
activating element (a door, for example) is immediately
closed. If the alarm stays on for more than 20 seconds,
an emergency call is initiated automatically. See Tele
Aid on page 130.
Note:
We recommend that you carry the flat key with you and
keep it in a safe place (e.g. your wallet) so that it is
always handy. Never leave the f lat key in the vehicle.
When you unlock the driver’s door with the mechanical
key, the exterior lamps will flash and the alarm will
sound.
To cancel the alarm, insert the key in the steering lock
or press transmit buttonŒ or‹ on the key.

37 Tow-away alarm
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Tow - aw ay al a rm
The switch is located on the center console.
1Press to switch off
2Indicator lamp
Once the alarm system has been armed, the exterior
vehicle lamps will flash and an alarm will sound when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.The alarm will last approximately 3 minutes in form of
flashing exterior lamps. At the same time an alarm will
sound for 30 seconds. The alarm will stay on even if the
vehicle is immediately lowered. To cancel the alarm,
insert the key in the steering lock or press transmit
buttonŒ or‹ on the key.
If the alarm stays on for more than 20 seconds, an
emergency call is initiated automatically. See Tele Aid
on page 130.
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm feature, switch
off the tow-away alarm before towing the vehicle, or
when parking on a surface subject to movement, such
as a ferry or auto train.
To do so, turn key in steering lock to position 0 or 1, or
remove key from steering lock. Press tow-away alarm
switch (1). The indicator lamp (2) illuminates brief ly.
Exit vehicle, and lock vehicle with key or remote
control.
The tow-away alarm remains switched off until the
vehicle is locked again with key or remote control, at
which time it is automatically reactivated.
1
2P54.25-2227-26

44 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Seat belts and integrated restraint system
Your vehicle is equipped with lap-shoulder seat belts,
emergency tensioning retractors for the seat belts, front
and side airbags for driver and passenger, as well as a
knee bolster for the driver’s seat.
Seat belts
Important!
Laws in most states and all Canadian provinces require
seat belt use.
All states and provinces require use of child restraints
that comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213.
All child restraint systems are designed to be secured in
vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-
shoulder belt.
For your safety and that of your passenger we strongly
recommend their use.Note:
For cleaning and care of the seat belts, see page 240.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
this vehicle, except in a Mercedes-Benz authorized
BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, which operates
with the BabySmart
TM system installed in the
vehicle to deactivate the passenger front airbag
when it is properly installed. Otherwise they will
be struck by the airbag when it inflates in a crash.
If this happens, serious or fatal injury will result.
Infants and small children must be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system, which
is properly secured with the vehicle’s seat belt,
fully in accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints are
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is
not properly secured in the child restraint.

47 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care IndexTighten the lap portion to a snug fit by pulling shoulder
portion up.
The shoulder portion of the seat belt must be pulled
snug and checked for snugness immediately after
attaching it.
Adjust seat belt so that shoulder portion is located as
close as possible to the middle of your shoulder (it
should not touch the neck).
Caution!
For safety reasons, avoid adjusting the seat or seat back
into positions which could affect the correct seat belt
positioning.
Note:
For cleaning and care of the seat belts, see cleaning and
care of the vehicle on page 240.

52 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Supplemental restraint system (SRS)
Airbags are intended as a supplement to seat belts.
Airbags alone cannot protect as well as airbags plus
seat belts in impacts for which the airbags were
designed to operate, and do not afford any protection
whatsoever in crashes for which the airbags are not
designed to deploy.
The SRS uses two crash severity levels (thresholds) to
activate either the Emergency Tensioning Retractor
(ETR) or front airbag or both. Activation depends on the
direction and severity of the impact exceeding the
preset thresholds and whether the seat belt is fastened.
Seat belt fastened
•first threshold exceeded:
ETR activates
•second threshold exceeded:
airbag also activates
Seat belt not fastened
•first threshold exceeded:
airbag activates, but not ETR
Driver and passenger systems operate independently of
each other.Emergency tensioning retractor (ETR)
The seat belts are equipped with emergency tensioning
retractors. These tensioning retractors are located in
each belt’s inertia reel and become operationally ready
with the key in steering lock position 1 or 2.
The emergency tensioning retractors are designed to
activate only when the seat belts are fastened during
frontal and front-angled impacts and rear impacts
exceeding the first threshold of the SRS and in rear
impacts exceeding a preset severity level. They remove
slack from the belts in such a way that the seat belts fit
more snugly against the body restricting its forward
movement as much as possible.
In cases of other frontal impacts, roll-overs, certain side
impacts, rear collisions or other accidents without
sufficient frontal or rear impact forces, the emergency
tensioning retractors will not be activated. The driver
and passenger will then be protected by the fastened
seat belts and inertia reel in the usual manner.
For seat belt and emergency tensioning retractor safety
guidelines see page 60.

69 Instrument cluster
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Coolant temperature gauge, see page 73
2Fuel gauge with reserve and fuel cap placement
warning lamp, see page 181
3Outside temperature indicator, see page 73
4Push button for activating the instrument cluster,
intensity of instrument lamps, for trip odometer, and
for Flexible service system (FSS) indicator, see
pages 72, 74 and 75
5Left turn signal indicator lamp, see combination
switch on page 81
6Electronic stability program (ESP) warning lamp,
system is adjusting to road conditions, see page 1817Right turn signal indicator lamp, see combination
switch on page 81
8Speedometer
9Trip odometer, see page 74
10Main odometer, Flexible service system (FSS)
indicator, see page 75
11Push button for setting clock, see page 74
12Tachometer, see page 74
13Clock, see page 74
14Gear range indicator display, see selector lever
position, page 147

70 Instrument cluster
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
High beam
ABS malfunction, see page 182
Brake fluid low (except Canada).
Parking brake engaged, see page 179
Brake fluid low (Canada only).
Parking brake engaged, see page 179
BAS malfunction, see page 181
ESP malfunction, see page 181
ESP. Adjust driving to road condition,
see page 181
Fasten seat belts, see page 180
Fluid level for windshield and headlamp
washer system low, see page 183
Coolant level low, see page 183
Engine oil level low, see page 184Brake pads worn down, see page 180
Battery not being charged properly,
see page 184
Exterior lamp failure, see page 185
Telescoping steering column not locked,
see page 182
SRS malfunction, see page 180
Engine malfunction indicator lamp. If the
malfunction indicator lamp comes on when
the engine is running, it indicates a
malfunction of the fuel management system,
emission control system, systems which
impact emissions, or the fuel cap is not
c l o se d t i g h t. I n a l l c a se s, w e r e c o m m e n d t h a t
you have the malfunction checked as soon as
possible, see page 178
Function indicator lamp on the center console
Front passenger airbag automatically
switched off, see page 185
ABS
AIRBAGOFF

71 Instrument cluster
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Additional function indicator lamps
(in the odometer display)
FSS indicator (distance, Service A),
see page 75
FSS indicator (distance, Service B),
see page 75
FSS indicator (days, Service A),
see page 75
FSS indicator (days, Service B),
see page 75The symbols appear in the main odometer display field
prior to the next suggested service. Depending on
operating conditions throughout the year, the next
service is calculated and displayed in days or distance
remaining. See page 75 for notes on the flexible service
system (FSS).