
4 Contents 
Malfunction and 
indicator lamps in the 
center console  ........................... 231
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp ..... 231
Malfunction and 
warning messages in the 
multifunction display  ...............232
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(engine control unit) ..................233
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(several systems)  ........................233
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR  ...........234
ABS-SYSTEM  ...............................235
BRAKE ASSIST  ...........................235
BRAKE LINING WEAR  ..............236
BRAKE FLUID  .............................236
PARKING BRAKE  .......................237
ENGINE FAN  ...............................237
COOLANT 
(coolant level)  .............................238
COOLANT TEMP. 
(coolant temperature)  ................239
LIGHTING SYSTEM  ....................240
LIGHT SENSOR ........................... 241STEER. WHEEL ADJUST.  .......... 241
ENGINE OIL LEVEL  ................... 242
ELEC. STABIL. PROGRAM. 
(Electronic stability 
program)  ..................................... 243
REMOVE KEY  ............................. 243
WASHER FLUID  ......................... 244
TELE AID ..................................... 245
Practical hintsFirst aid kit  ..................................... 248
Shelf below rear window .............. 248
Stowing things in 
the vehicle  ................................. 248
Fuses  ............................................... 249
Hood  ................................................ 251
Checking engine oil level ............. 253
Automatic transmission 
fluid level  ................................... 254
Coolant level ................................... 254
Adding coolant  ........................... 255
Windshield washer / headlamp 
cleaning system  ........................ 256Windshield and headlamp 
washer fluid mixing ratio  .........256
Spare wheel, vehicle tools, 
storage compartment ................257
Vehicle jack .....................................258
Wheels  .............................................259
Tire replacement  ........................259
Rotating wheels  ..........................260
Spare wheel  .................................... 261
Changing wheels  ...........................262
Tire inflation pressure  ..................267
Battery  .............................................268
Jump starting  ..................................270
Towing the vehicle .........................272
Transmission selector lever, 
manually unlocking  ................... 274
Exterior lamps  ................................275
Headlamp assembly ................... 276
Taillamp assemblies  ..................278
Adjusting headlamp aim ...............280
Changing batteries in 
the electronic key  .....................283
Synchronizing remote 
control  ..........................................285
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191 Steering lock
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Important!
If the electronic key is left in the steering lock position 0 
for an extended period of time, it can no longer be 
turned in the lock. In this case, remove electronic key 
from steering lock and reinsert.
Caution!
To prevent accelerated battery discharge and a possible 
dead battery, always remove the electronic key from the 
steering lock. Do not leave the electronic key in steering 
lock position 0.Notes:
A warning sounds when the driver’s door is opened 
while the electronic key is in steering lock position 1 
or 0.
If the electronic key cannot be turned in the steering 
lock,  the vehic le b attery  may  no t b e suf f i cien tly  charged . 
See battery on page 268 or jump starting on page 270.
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 traf fic. This precaution helps 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.
The steering lock can only be unlocked with the vehicle 
battery properly charged and connected.
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225 Contents – Instrument cluster display
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and 
indicator lamps in the 
instrument cluster  ....................226
On-board diagnostic system 
Check engine malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................226
Brake warning lamp  ..................227
Supplemental restraint system 
(SRS) indicator lamp ..................228
Fuel reserve and fuel cap 
placement warning  ....................228
Electronic stability program 
(ESP) — warning lamp  ...............229
BAS/ESP malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................229
ABS malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................229
Telescoping steering column – 
indicator lamp .............................230
Seat belt warning lamp  .............230Malfunction and 
indicator lamps in the 
center console  ........................... 231
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp  .... 231
Malfunction and 
warning messages in the 
multifunction display  .............. 232
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(engine control unit)  ................. 233
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(several systems)  ....................... 233
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR  .......... 234
ABS-SYSTEM  .............................. 235
BRAKE ASSIST ........................... 235
BRAKE LINING WEAR .............. 236
BRAKE FLUID  ............................ 236
PARKING BRAKE  ....................... 237
ENGINE FAN ............................... 237
COOLANT 
(coolant level)  ............................. 238
COOLANT TEMP. 
(coolant temperature)  ............... 239LIGHTING SYSTEM ....................240
LIGHT SENSOR ........................... 241
STEER. WHEEL ADJUST. ........... 241
ENGINE OIL LEVEL  ...................242
ELEC. STABIL. PROGRAM. 
(Electronic stability 
program)  ......................................243
REMOVE KEY  .............................243
WASHER FLUID  .........................244
TELE AID  .....................................245
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234 Malfunction and warning messages
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
BATTERY/ALTERNATORThis message indicates a malfunction which must be 
repaired immediately.
It may indicate that the poly-V-belt has broken. Should 
this condition occur, the poly-V-belt must be replaced 
before continuing to operate the vehicle. Otherwise, the 
engine will overheat due to an inoperative water pump 
which may result in damage to the engine.
Do not continue to drive the vehicle with this message 
displayed.
Doing so could result in serious engine damage that is 
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Line 1 Line 2
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR VISIT WORKSHOP!
OVERVOLTAGE VISIT WORKSHOP!
UNDERVOLTAGE CONSUMER DEFECTIVE!
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300 Technical data
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
3VIN, visible (lower edge of windshield)
4Engine number
5Body number and paintwork number
6Emission control label
7Information label, California version
Vacuum line routing for emission control systemLayout of poly-V-belt drive
1Automatic belt tensioner
2Crankshaft
3Air conditioner compressor
4Coolant pump
5Generator (alternator)
6Idler pulley 
7Power steering pump
6
5
7
3
4
J_C208_II.book Seite 300 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10 

303 Technical data
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Rims – Winter tires
Electrical system Model CLK 430 CLK 55 AMG
Rim (light alloy)
Wheel offset7 J x 16 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)7
1/2 J x 17 H 2
1.46 in (37 mm)
Winter tires:
Radial-ply tires 205/55 R 16 91 H M+S 225/45 R 17 91 W M+S
Model CLK 430 CLK 55 AMG
Generator (alternator) 14 V/150 A 14 V/150 A
Starter motor 12V/1.7 kW 12V/1.7 kW
B a t t e r y 12 V / 10 0   A h12 V / 10 0   A h
Spark plugs
Electrode gap
Tightening torqueBosch F 8 DPER
Beru 14 FGH 8 DPUR X 2
0.039 in (1.0 mm)
15–22ft.lb (20–30Nm)NGK PFR 5-11
0.039 in (1.0 mm)
15–22ft.lb (20–30Nm)
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314 Index
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
Basic setting  .............................................................. 124
Defogging windows  .................................................. 125
Defrosting ................................................................... 125
Display and controls  ................................................. 124
Dust filter  ................................................................... 128
Economy  ..................................................................... 125
Rear window defroster  ............................................. 126
Residual engine heat utilization (REST)  ............... 127
Special settings  ......................................................... 125
Automatic transmission  ............................................... 193
Emergency Operation  .............................................. 201
Fluid level ...................................................................254
Program mode selector switch  ............................... 200
Selector lever position .............................................. 196
Transmission selector lever, 
manually unlocking ............................................. 274
BBabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system ..................... 65
Self-test  ......................................................................... 66
Backrest, front seat .......................................................... 54
BAS (Brake assist system)  ............................................ 214
Malfunction indicator lamp ..................................... 229Battery  ............................................................................ 268
Battery recycling  ...................................................... 269
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR - 
malfunction and warning messages  ..................... 234
Block heater  .................................................................... 211
BRAKE ASSIST - malfunction 
and warning messages  ............................................ 235
Brake assist system (BAS)  ............................................ 214
Malfunction indicator lamp  .................................... 229
Brake fluid  .................................................... 204, 227, 307
Capacity  ..................................................................... 305
BRAKE FLUID - malfunction 
and warning messages  ............................................ 236
BRAKE LINING WEAR - malfunction 
and warning messages  ............................................ 236
Brake pad wear .............................................................. 236
Brake warning lamp  ..................................................... 227
Brake fluid low  ......................................................... 227
Brakes  .................................................... 202, 204, 214, 219
Bulbs
See Replacing bulbs ................................................. 275
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319 Index
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
KKeys, changing battery  ................................................. 283
Keys, vehicle  ..................................................................... 24LLamps, exterior  .............................................................. 275
Fog lamps  ....................................................................116
Headlamp, adjusting  ................................................280
Headlamps  ...................... 116, 240, 241, 276, 280, 294
Low and high beam  .......................................... 119, 277
Parking lamp  ..................................................... 116, 277
Replacing bulbs ......................................................... 275
Side marker lamp, front  ........................................... 279
Standing lamp  ................................................... 116, 277
Taillamp assemblies  ......................................... 116, 278
Turn signal lamp  ............................................... 119, 277
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ............................................ 300
LIGHT SENSOR - malfunction 
and warning messages  ............................................ 241
Lighter  ............................................................................. 159
LIGHTING SYSTEM - malfunction 
and warning messages  ............................................ 240
Limp home mode (Automatic transmission)  ............. 201
Loading instructions  ..................................................... 162Locking and unlocking .................................................... 29
Low engine coolant level warning  .............................. 238
MMaintenance  ................................................................... 177
Malfunction and indicator lamps 
in the instrument cluster  ........................................ 226
Malfunction and warning messages  .......................... 232
ABS-SYSTEM  ............................................................. 235
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR  ......................................... 234
BRAKE ASSIST  ......................................................... 235
BRAKE FLUID  ........................................................... 236
BRAKE LINING WEAR  ............................................ 236
COOLANT (coolant level)  ........................................ 238
COOLANT TEMP. 
(coolant temperature)  ......................................... 239
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(engine control unit) ........................................... 233
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(several systems)  ................................................. 233
ELEC. STABIL. PROGR.  ............................................ 243
ENGINE FAN  ............................................................. 237
ENGINE OIL LEVEL  ................................................. 242
LIGHT SENSOR .......................................................... 241
LIGHTING SYSTEM  .................................................. 240
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