2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK55AMG snow chains

3 Contents
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters ..................... 176
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 177
Maintenance ................................... 177
Catalytic converter ........................ 178
Emission control ............................ 179
Tele Aid ........................................... 180
Steering lock ................................... 190
Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 192
Automatic transmission ............... 193
Parking brake .................................202
Driving instructions ......................203
Drive sensibly – save fuel .........203
Drinking and driving .................203
Pedals ...........................................203
Power assistance ........................204
Brakes ..........................................204Driving off ................................... 205
Parking ........................................ 205
Tires ............................................. 206
Snow chains ............................... 209
Winter driving
instructions ................................ 209
Deep water ...................................210
Passenger compartment ............ 211
Traveling abroad ......................... 211
Cruise control .................................212
Brake assist system
(BAS) ...........................................215
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ...........................................217
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ............................................ 219
What you should know
at the gas station ...................... 223
Check regularly and
before a long trip ...................... 225
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator
lamps in the
instrument cluster ....................228
On-board diagnostic system
Check engine malfunction
indicator lamp .............................228
Brake warning lamp ..................229
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS)
indicator lamp .............................230
Fuel reserve and fuel cap
placement warning ....................230
Electronic stability program
(ESP) — warning lamp ............... 231
BAS/ESP malfunction
indicator lamp ............................. 231
ABS malfunction
indicator lamp ............................. 231
Telescoping steering column –
indicator lamp .............................232
Seat belt warning lamp .............232

175 Contents – Driving
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters ..................... 176
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 177
Maintenance ................................... 177
Catalytic converter ........................ 178
Emission control ............................ 179
Tele Aid ........................................... 180
Steering lock ................................... 190
Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 192
Automatic transmission ............... 193
Parking brake .................................202Driving instructions ...................... 203
Drive sensibly – save fuel ........ 203
Drinking and driving ................ 203
Pedals .......................................... 203
Power assistance ........................ 204
Brakes .......................................... 204
Driving off ................................... 205
Parking ........................................ 205
Tires ............................................. 206
Snow chains ............................... 209
Winter driving
instructions ................................ 209
Deep water ...................................210
Passenger compartment ............ 211
Traveling abroad ......................... 211Cruise control ................................. 212
Brake assist system
(BAS) ........................................... 215
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ........................................... 217
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ........................................... 219
What you should know
at the gas station .......................223
Check regularly and
before a long trip ......................225

209 Driving instructions
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Snow chains
Use only snow chains that are tested and recommended
by Mercedes-Benz. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center will be glad to advise you on this subject.
Chains should only be used on the rear wheels. Follow
the manufacturer’s mounting instructions.
Snow chains should only be driven on snow covered
roads at speeds not to exceed 30 mph (50 km/h).
Remove chains as soon as possible when driving on
roads without snow.
When driving with snow chains, press the ESP control
switch to OFF, refer to page 221.
Use of snow chains is only permissible when winter
tires are mounted, see technical data on page 303.
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy roads is to
drive sensibly and to avoid abrupt acceleration, braking
and steering maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding, move
selector lever to position “N”. Try to keep the vehicle
under control by corrective steering action.Road salts and chemicals can adversely affect braking
efficiency. Increased pedal force may become necessary
to produce the normal brake effect. We therefore
recommend depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn roads. This can
bring road salt impaired braking efficiency back to
normal. A prerequisite is, however, that this be done
without endangering other drivers on the road.
If t he veh icle is pa rked af te r b eing driven on sal t trea ted
road s, th e braking ef f ic iency should be tested as soon a s
possible after driving is resumed while observing the
safety rules in the previous paragraph.
Wa r n i n g !
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make sure
that snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe and
from around the vehicle with engine running.
Otherwise, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in unconsciousness
and death.To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open a
window slightly on the side of the vehicle not
facing the wind.

210 Driving instructions
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Winter driving
Have your vehicle winterized at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center before the onset of winter.
•Change the engine oil if the engine contains an oil
which is not approved for winter operation. For
viscosity (SAE/CCMC class) and filling quantity,
see page 305.
•Check engine coolant anticorrosion/antifreeze
concentration.
•Additive for the windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system: Add MB Concentrate “S” to a
premixed windshield washer solvent/antifreeze
which is formulated for below freezing
temperatures, see page 256.
•Test battery: Battery capacity drops with decreasing
ambient temperature. A well charged battery helps
to ensure that the engine can be started, even at low
ambient temperatures.
•Tires: We recommend M+S rated radial-ply tires on
all four wheels for the winter season. Observe
permissible maximum speed for M+S rated
radial-ply tires and the legal speed limit.In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the
antilock brake system (ABS) or of the electronic stability
program (ESP) can only be achieved with M+S rated
radial-ply tires and / or snow chains recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. Snow chains maximize performance.
For driving instructions with snow chains see page 209.
Deep water
Caution!
Do not drive t hrou gh f lood ed a rea s or water of u nk nown
depth.
If you must drive through deep water, drive slowly to
prevent water from entering the engine compartment or
passenger compartment, being ingested by the air
intake, possibly causing damage to electrical
components or wiring, to engine or transmission that is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

220 Driving systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Notes:
The malfunction indicator lamp¿ for the ESP is
combined with that of the BAS.
The yellow BAS/ESP malfunction indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster and the yellow ESP warning
lampv in the speedometer dial come on with the
electronic key in steering lock position 2. They should
go out with the engine running.
If the BAS/ESP malfunction indicator lamp comes on
continuously with the engine running, a malfunction
has been detected in either system. Only partial engine
output will be available.
If the BAS malfunctions, the brake system functions in
the usual manner, but without BAS.
If the ESP warning message is displayed, have the BAS
or ESP checked at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
For ESP warning message, see page 244.
With the ABS malfunctioning, the ESP is also switched
off.Driving the vehicle with varied size tires will cause the
wheels to rotate at different speeds, therefore the ESP
may activate (yellow ESP warning lamp in speedometer
dial comes on). For this reason, all wheels, including the
spare wheel, must have the same tire outside diameter.
When testing the parking brake on a brake test
dynamometer, the engine must be shut off. Otherwise,
the ESP will immediately be engaged and will apply the
rear wheel brakes.
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the
ESP is only achieved with Mercedes-Benz recommended
M+S rated radial-ply tires and / or snow chains.
Synchronizing ESP
If the power supply was interrupted (battery
disconnected or empty), the BAS/ESP malfunction
indicator lamp may be illuminated with the engine
running.
Turn steering wheel completely to the left and then to
the right. The BAS/ESP malfunction indicator lamp
should go out.

302 Technical data
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Rims – Tires
1 Also permissible 225/45 ZR 17.
2 Also permissible 245/40 ZR 17.
3
3 Must not be used with snow chains.4 Also permissible 225/45 R 17 91 W.
5 Also permissible 245/40 R 17 91 W.
3
Model CLK 430 CLK 55 AMG
Rims front axle
(AMG light alloy)
Wheel offset7
1/2 J x 17 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)7
1/2 J x 17 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)
Rims rear axle
(AMG light alloy)
Wheel offset8
1/2 J x 17 H 2
1.18 in (30 mm)8
1/2 J x 17 H 2
1.18 in (30 mm)
Radial-ply tires
Summer tires, front axle:
Summer tires, rear axle:225/45 R 17 91 W
1
245/40 R 17 91 W
2, 3
225/45 ZR 17
4
245/40 ZR 17
5, 3
Spare wheel
Rim (light alloy)
Wheel offset7
1/2 J x 17 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)7
1/2 J x 17 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)
Summer tire:
Radial-ply tires 225/45 R 17 91 W
1
225/45 R 17 91 W
1

321 Index
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex Reporting Safety Defects ................................................ 15
Reserve key ....................................................................... 26
Residual engine heat utilization (REST) .................... 127
Roadside assistance ......................................................... 10
Roadside assistance call
See Tele Aid ............................................................... 180
Roof rack .........................................................................289
SSafety guidelines for the seat belt, emergency
tensioning retractor and airbag ................................ 73
Seat belts ........................................................................... 58
Fastening ...................................................................... 60
Seat belt nonusage warning system ........................ 59
Unfastening .................................................................. 62
Warning lamp ............................................................232
Seat belts and integrated restraint system (SRS) ....... 58
Service indicator
See flexible service system (FSS) ............................ 111
Setting the audio volume ...............................................110
Shelf below rear window ..............................................248
Side marker lamp ..........................................................279
Ski sack ........................................................................... 170Sliding/pop-up roof ........................................................149
Emergency operation .............................................. 286
Express opening ........................................................ 150
Opening and closing ...................................................32
Synchronizing ........................................................... 150
Snow chains ................................................................... 209
SOS-call
See Tele Aid ............................................................... 180
Spare parts service ....................................................... 298
Spare wheel ........................................................... 257, 261
Special settings (Automatic climate control) ............ 125
SRS indicator lamp ....................................................... 230
SRS malfunction ............................................................... 68
Start lock-out .....................................................................27
Starting and turning off the engine ............................ 192
STEER. WHEEL ADJUST. - malfunction
and warning messages ............................................ 242
Steering column, adjustable ...........................................78
Steering lock ................................................................... 190
Storage compartment
Trunk floor ................................................................ 257
Storage compartments
Center console ........................................................... 154
Glove box .................................................................... 154