2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 transmission

3 ContentsCoat hooks ...................................... 192
Cup holder ...................................... 193
Ashtrays .......................................... 196
Lighter ............................................. 198
Parcel net in trunk ........................ 199
Cargo tie-down hooks ....................200
Parcel net in front
passenger footwell ....................200
Telephone, general ........................ 201
Garage door opener .......................202
Infrared reflecting windshield ....206
DrivingControl and operation of radio
transmitters ...............................208
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) .................................209
Maintenance ...................................209
Tele Aid ........................................... 210
Catalytic converter ........................220
Emission control ............................221
Starter switch .................................222
Starter switch – KEYLESS-GO ......224Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 227
Automatic transmission ............... 229
Parking brake ................................ 238
Driving instructions ...................... 239
Drive sensibly – save fuel ........ 239
Drinking and driving ................ 239
Pedals .......................................... 240
Power assistance ........................ 240
Brakes .......................................... 240
Driving off ................................... 241
Parking ........................................ 242
Tires ............................................. 243
Snow chains ............................... 245
Winter driving instructions ..... 246
Deep water .................................. 248
Passenger compartment ........... 248
Traveling abroad ........................ 249
Cruise control ................................ 250
Distronic (DTR) .............................. 253
Brake assist system
(BAS) .......................................... 268
Antilock brake system
(ABS) .......................................... 269Electronic stability program
(ESP) ........................................... 271
Active body control (ABC) ............275
Level control system ...................... 276
Parking assist (Parktronic) ..........279
What you should know
at the gas station .......................284
Check regularly
and before a long trip ...............287
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator
lamps in the
instrument cluster ....................290
On-board diagnostic system .....290
Check engine malfunction
indicator lamp .............................290
Brake warning lamp ..................292
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS)
indicator lamp .............................293
Fuel reserve warning .................293
ABS malfunction
indicator lamp .............................294

4 Contents
Electronic stability program
(ESP) — warning lamp ...............295
Distronic (DTR) —
warning lamp ..............................295
Seat belt nonusage
warning lamp ..............................296
Malfunction and indicator
lamp in the center console ......296
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp .....296
Malfunction and
warning messages in the
multifunction display ...............297
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
(engine control unit) ..................298
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
(several systems) ........................298
BATTERY /ALTERNATOR ..........299
ENTRANCE POSITION ..............300
BRAKE ASSIST ...........................300
BRAKE LINING WEAR .............. 301
BRAKE FLUID ............................. 301
PARKING BRAKE .......................302
TRUNK OPEN .............................302ELEC. STABIL. PROG.
(Electronic stability
program) ..................................... 303
COOLANT (coolant level) ......... 304
COOLANT
(coolant temperature) ............... 305
LIGHTING SYSTEM ................... 306
LIGHT SENSOR .......................... 308
SEAT BELT SYSTEM .................. 308
TELEPHONE – FUNCTION ....... 309
CRUISE CONTROL ..................... 309
ACTIVE BO DY CO NTROL
(ABC) ............................................ 310
TIRE PRESSURE .........................312
ENGINE OIL LEVEL .................... 314
SEAT BACKREST ......................... 315
KEY ...............................................316
DOOR ............................................ 316
HOOD ............................................ 317
TELE AID ......................................317
ENGINE OIL LEVEL .................... 318
WASHER FLUID ..........................319
LIGHT SENSOR .......................... 320
DISTRONIC (DTR) ...................... 321
Practical hintsFirst aid kit .....................................324
Fuses ................................................325
Shelf below rear window ..............327
Hood .................................................328
Checking engine oil level ............. 331
Automatic transmission
fluid level ...................................332
Active b od y control
(ABC) fluid level ........................332
Coolant level ...................................333
Adding coolant ...........................333
Windshield and headlamp
washer system ...........................334
Windshield and headlamp
washer fluid mixing ratio .........334
Spare wheel, vehicle tools,
storage compartment ................335
Jack ...................................................336
Wheels .............................................337
Tire Replacement .......................337
Rotating wheels ..........................338
Spare wheel ....................................338

25 Instruments and controls
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 12Ashtray, see page 196
Lighter, see page 198
13Start-/Stop button
Starter switch for KEYLESS-GO only, see page 224
14Automatic transmission, see page 22915AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp, see page 296
16Distronic (DTR) – switch for distance notification
function, see page 265
17Distronic (DTR) – thumbwheel for setting distance,
seepage265

206 Infrared reflecting windshield
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Infrared reflecting windshield
1Mounting location for electronic toll collection
devices (infrared transparent)
2Infrared transparent area (pass-through for
electronic signals)
331.5 i n ( 8 0 c m )
419 . 0 i n ( 4 8 c m )
51.75 in (4.5 cm)Your vehicle is equipped with infrared reflecting glass
which reduces the amount of radiated heat entering the
interior through the windows.
The infrared reflecting glass also prevents the
transmission of signals through the glass by in-vehicle
electronic devices (e.g. electronic toll collection
devices).
To allow the use of these devices in the vehicle, two
infrared transparent areas (1 and 2) are placed in the
windshield.
3
1
3
4
125

207 Contents - Driving
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of radio
transmitters ...............................208
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) .................................209
Maintenance ...................................209
Tele Aid ........................................... 210
Catalytic converter ........................220
Emission control ............................221
Starter switch .................................222
Starter switch – KEYLESS-GO ......224
Starting and turning off
the engine ..................................227
Automatic transmission ...............229
Parking brake .................................238Driving instructions ...................... 239
Drive sensibly – save fuel ........ 239
Drinking and driving ................ 239
Pedals .......................................... 240
Power assistance ........................ 240
Brakes .......................................... 240
Driving off ................................... 241
Parking ........................................ 242
Tires ............................................. 243
Snow chains ............................... 245
Winter driving instructions ..... 246
Deep water .................................. 248
Passenger compartment ........... 248
Traveling abroad ........................ 249
Cruise control ................................ 250Distronic (DTR) ..............................253
Brake assist system
(BAS) ...........................................268
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ...........................................269
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ........................................... 271
Active body control (ABC) ............275
Level control system ...................... 276
Parking assist (Parktronic) ..........279
What you should know
at the gas station .......................284
Check regularly
and before a long trip ...............287

217 Tele Aid
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index During this time you will hear a chirp and voice contact
will be interrupted. Voice contact will resume once the
retransmission is completed. Once a call is concluded, a
chirp will be heard and the appropriate indicator lamp
will stop flashing. The COMAND system operation will
resume.
Important!
If the indicator lamp continues to flash or the system
does not reset, contact the Response Center at
1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or 1-888-923-8367 (in
Canada), or Mercedes-Benz Client Assistance at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372) in the USA or
Customer Service at 1-800-387-0100 in Canada.Notes:
The indicator lamp in the respective button flashes until
the call is concluded. Calls can only be terminated by a
Response Center or Client Assistance Center
representative except Roadside Assistance and
Information calls, which can also be terminated by
pressing ìbutton on the multifunction steering
wheel.
When a Tele Aid call has been initiated, the COMAND
system audio is muted and the selected mode (radio,
tape or CD) pauses. The optional cellular phone (if
installed) switches off. If you must use this phone, the
vehicle must be parked. Disconnect the coiled cord and
place the call. The navigation system (if engaged) will
continue to run. The display in the instrument cluster is
available for use and spoken commands are only
available by pressing the RPT button on the COMAND
unit. A pop-up window will appear in the COMAND
display to indicate that a Tele Aid call is in progress.

229 Automatic transmission
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Automatic transmissionThe automatic transmission selects individual gears
automatically, dependent upon
•Selector lever position, see page 232
•Program mode selector, see page 236
•Accelerator position
•Vehicle speed
The gear shifting process is continuously adapted,
dependent on the driving style, the driving situation
and the road characteristics.
Important!
When parking the vehicle or before working on the
vehicle with the engine running, firmly depress the
parking brake pedal and shift the selector lever into “P”.

230 Automatic transmission
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Driving
The selector lever is automatically locked while in
position “P”. To move the selector lever out of
position “P”, the service brake pedal must be firmly
depressed before the shift lock will release.
Shift selector lever to the desired position only when the
engine is idling normally and the service brake is
applied. Do not release the brake until ready to drive.
The vehicle may otherwise start creeping when the
selector lever is in drive or reverse position.Important!
After selecting any driving position from “N” or “P”,
wait a moment to allow the gear to fully engage before
accelerating, especially when the engine is cold.
Accelerator position
Partial throttle = early upshifting = normal acceleration
Full throttle = later upshifting = rapid acceleration
Kickdown (depressing the accelerator beyond full
throttle) = downshifting to a lower gear = maximum
acceleration. Once the desired speed is attained, ease up
on the accelerator — the transmission shifts up again.
Wa r n i n g !
It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out of “P”
or “N” if the engine speed is higher than idle speed.
If your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could accelerate quickly forward on in
reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and
hit someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when your
right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.