2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CL55AMG keyless

226 Starter switch — KEYLESS-GO
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data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
•Do not forget, the engine can be started by anyone if
a KEYLESS-GO-card is left inside the vehicle.
•To be able to operate the vehicle in the case of a
malfunction in the KEYLESS-GO-system (e.g. strong
radio frequency disturbance), we recommend that
you carry the electronic key plus mechanical key
with you and keep them in a safe place so that they
are always handy. Never leave the electronic key in
the vehicle.
•To av oi d r a d io t r a n s m is s i on i n te rf e r e n c e , n e ve r sto r e
the KEYLESS-GO-card together with other electronic
items (e.g. cellular telephones, other KEYLESS-GO-
cards) or metallic objects (e.g. coins, metal foil).Notes:
With the engine at idle speed, the charging rate of the
alternator (output) is limited.
It is therefore recommended that you turn off
unnecessary electrical consumers while driving in stop-
and-go tra f f ic. Th is pre cau tion h elps to avoid draining of
the battery.
Unnecessary strain on the battery and charging system
may be minimized by turning off the following power
consumers, for example:
Heated seats, rear window defroster. In addition, the
automatic climate air volume control should be set to
the lowest position.

227 Starting and turning off the engine
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Starting and turning off the engine
Before starting
Ensure that parking brake is engaged and that selector
lever is in position “P” or “N”.
Starting
Important!
In areas where temperatures frequently drop below -4°F
(-20°C) we recommend that an engine block heater be
installed. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
advise you on this subject.
Starting the engine with electronic key:
Do not depress accelerator.
Turn electronic key in starter switch to position 2.
Briefly turn electronic key in starter switch clockwise to
the stop and release. The starter will engage until the
engine is running.
If engine will not run, and the starting procedure stops,
turn electronic key completely to the left and repeat
starting the engine.After several unsuccessful attempts, have the system
checked at the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Important!
Due to the installed starter non-repeat feature, the
electronic key must be turned completely to the left
before attempting to start the engine again.
Starting the engine with KEYLESS-GO:
Note:
For improved recognition of the chip card the doors
should be closed when pressing the start-/stop button.
Depress brake pedal during the starting procedure.
Briefly press start-/stop button on gear selector lever.
The starter will engage until the engine is running.
If engine will not run, and the starting procedure stops,
press start-/stop button on gear selector lever and repeat
starting the engine.
After several unsuccessful attempts, have the system
checked at the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

228 Starting and turning off the engine
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Turning off
Turning off the engine with electronic key:
Put the selector lever in position “P” and turn the
electronic key in the starter switch to position 0 to stop
the engine.
The electronic key can only be removed with the
selector lever in position “P”.
Turning off the engine with KEYLESS-GO:
Stop the vehicle and put the selector lever in
position “P”.
Press start-/stop button on the selector lever until the
engine stops. With the driver’s door closed the starter
switch is set to the “On” position (starter switch
position 1). With the driver’s door opened the starter
switch is set to the “Off” position (starter switch
position 0, same as electronic key removed from starter
switch).Note:
The engine can only be turned off with selector lever in
position “P”. If attempting to turn off the engine while
the selector lever is in any other position than “P” a
signal sounds and the message “SELECTOR LEVER
TO P” appears in the multifunction display as a
reminder to move the selector to position “P”.

231 Automatic transmission
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Stopping
For brief stops, e.g. at traffic lights, leave the
transmission in gear and hold vehicle with the service
brake.
For longer stops with the engine idling, shift into “N”
or “P” and hold the vehicle with the service brake.
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill gradient, do not
hold it with the accelerator, use the brake. This avoids
unnecessary transmission heat build up.
Maneuvering
To maneuver in tight areas, e.g. when pulling into a
parking space, control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes. Accelerate gently and never
abruptly step on the accelerator.
To rock a vehicle out of soft ground (mud or snow),
alternately shift from forward to reverse, while applying
slight partial throttle.Rocking a vehicle free in this manner may cause the
ABS or traction system malfunction indicator lamp to
come on. Turn off and restart the engine to clear the
malfunction indication.
Wa r n i n g !
Getting out of your vehicle with the selector lever
not fully engaged in position “P” is dangerous.
Also, w hen parked on an incline, posi tion “P” alone
may not prevent your vehicle from moving,
possibly hitting people or objects.Always set t he parki ng brake in addi tion to sh ifting
to position “P”, see page 238 for parking brake. When parked on an incline, also turn front wheel
against curb.Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
electronic key from the starter switch, take the
KEYLESS-GO-card (if so equipped) with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
ve h i c l e . C h i l dr e n c o u l d m ove t h e ge a r s e l e c t or lev e r
from position “P”, which could result in an
accident or serious injury.

238 Parking brake
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and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Parking brakeTo engage, firmly depress parking brake pedal. When
the electronic key is in starter switch position 2, the
brake warning lamp in the instrument cluster should
come on brightly.
To rel ease t he parking bra ke, pull h andl e on instru ment
panel. The brake warning lamp in the instrument
cluster should go out.
A warning sounds and the parking brake warning
message (see page 302) appears in the multifunction
display, if you start to drive without having released the
parking brake.
Also see brake warning lamp on page 292.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
electronic key from the starter switch, take the
KEYLESS-GO-card (if so equipped) with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Children could release the parking brake,
which could result in an accident or serious injury.

242 Driving instructions
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Parking Important!
It is advisable to set the parking brake whenever
parking or leaving the vehicle. In addition, move
selector lever to position “P”.
When parking on hills, always set the parking brake.
Wa r n i n g !
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a result of
vehicle m ovement, before
turning off the engine
and leaving the vehicle always:
1. Keep right foot on service brake pedal.
2. Firmly depress parking brake pedal.
3. Move the selector lever to position “P”.
4. Slowly release service brake pedal.
5. Turn front wheels towards the road curb.
6. Turn the electronic key to starter switch
position 0 and remove, or press start-/stop
button (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO).
7. Take the electronic key and the KEYLESS-GO-
card (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO) and lock
vehicle when leaving.

318 Malfunction and warning messages
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CHIP-CARD (KEYLESS-GO)
* C = Category, see page 297.1 Check battery of KEYLESS-GO-card, see page 366.
2 The KEYLESS-GO-card cannot be recognized by the running
engine (e.g. strong radio-frequency interference) or the card is not
in the vehicle.
Stop immediately and search for the KEYLESS-GO-card or continue
to operate the vehicle with the electronic key, otherwise the vehicle
cannot be centrally locked or the engine started again after the
engine stops automatically. See page 38.
3 The KEYLESS-GO-card was momentarily not recognized. If
message repeats, place card in a different position or continue to
operate the vehicle with the electronic key, see page 38.
4 A KEYLESS-GO-card left inside the vehicle has been recognized
while locking the vehicle from the outside, see page 38.
5 The message appears for a maximum 60 seconds each time the
driver’s door is opened, as long as no electronic key is in the
starter switch. The message appears regardless of the past
operation method (electronic key or KEYLESS-GO-card), see
page 38. Line 1 Line 2 C*
CHIP-CARD CHECK BATTERY!
1
2
CHIP-CARD NOT RECOGNIZED!
2
1
CHIP-CARD NOT RECOGNIZED!
3
2
CHIP-CARD STILL IN VEHICLE!
4
1
CHIP-CARD DO NOT FORGET!
5
1

319 Malfunction and warning messages
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index SELECTOR LEVER
(Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO only)Place selector lever in position “P”.
The message appears when attempting to turn off the
engine while the selector lever is in any other position
than “P”, see page 228.