2002 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS towing

226 Towing the vehicle
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
SLK 32 AMGThe threaded hole for the towing eye bolt is located on
the passenger-side behind the grille in the bumper
panel (3). The towing eye bolt is stored with the jack in
the trunk.
Installing towing eye:
Grille removal for SLK 32 AMG. Hold grille (arrow) and
pull forward to remove. Screw towing eye bolt into its
stop and tighten with lug wrench.
Removing towing eye bolt:
Unscrew towing eye bolt and store in trunk. Fit grille
into bumper and snap into place.
P88.20-2166-26
3

227 Towing the vehicle
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index We recommend that the vehicle be transported using
flat bed equipment. This method is preferable to other
types of towing.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Front towing
with sling-type equipment over bumpy roads will
damage radiator and supports. Rear towing with sling-
type equipment over bumpy roads will damage the
lower edge of the front bumper cover.
Use wheel lift, dolly, or flat bed equipment, with key in
steering lock turned to position 0.
Towing restrictions for vehicles with automatic
transmission: The vehicle may be towed with all wheels
on the ground and the selector lever in position “N” for
distances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km / h). The key must be in steering
lock position 2.
To be certain to avoid a possibility of damage to the
transmission, however, we recommend the drive shaft
be disconnected at the rear axle drive flange for any
towing beyond a short tow to a nearby garage.Important!
When towing the vehicle, please, note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and the
key in steering lock position 2, the vehicle doors lock if
the left front wheel as well as the right rear wheel are
turning at vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km / h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking.
Wa r n i n g !
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground make certain that the electronic key is in
steering lock position 2.
With the engine not running, there is no power
assistance for the braking and steering systems. In
this case, it is important to keep in mind that a
considerably higher degree of effort in necessary to
brake and steer the vehicle.

228 Towing the vehicle
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Note:
To signal turns while being towed with hazard warning
flasher in use, turn key in steering lock to position 2 and
activate combination switch for left or right turn signal
in usual manner – only the selected turn signal will
operate. Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard
warning flasher will operate again.Caution!
If the vehicle is towed with the front axle raised, the
engine must be shut off (key in steering lock position 0
or 1). Otherwise, the ESP will immediately be engaged
and will apply the rear wheel brakes. Switch off the
tow-away alarm as well as the automatic central locking,
see page 37 and page 31.

229 Towing the vehicle
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index Transmission selector lever, manually unlocking
In the case of power failure the transmission selector
lever can be manually unlocked, e.g. when towing the
vehicle.To do so, insert a pin (1), e.g. ball point pen, into the
covered opening below the position “D” of the shift
pattern. While pushing the pin down, move selector
lever from position “P”.
After removal of the pin from the opening, the cover will
not close fully. Only after moving the selector lever to
positions “D+” and “D–” does the cover return to its
closed position.
P27.60-2101-26
1

281 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
SSafety guidelines for the seat belt,
emergency tensioning retractor and airbag ........... 61
Seat belts ........................................................................... 44
Fastening ...................................................................... 46
Seat belt nonusage warning system ........................ 45
Unfastening .................................................................. 48
Warning lamp ............................................................ 184
Seat belts and integrated restraint system .................. 44
Seats ................................................................................... 38
Power seats .................................................................. 38
Seat heater ................................................................... 42
Selective locking
See Central locking system ....................................... 24
Service indicator
See Flexible service system (FSS) ............................ 77
Setting the audio volume ................................................ 97
Shelf behind roll bars .....................................................118
Side marker lamp ..........................................................235
Snow chains .................................................................... 163
SOS-call
See Tele Aid ............................................................... 132
Spare parts service ........................................................ 254
Spare wheel .................................................................... 205
Spare wheel (except SLK 32 AMG) ............................. 200Special settings (Climate control) ................................. 89
SRS (Supplemental restraint system) ........................... 52
Indicator lamp ........................................................... 184
SRS malfunction ..........................................................55
Start lock-out .....................................................................23
Malfunction lamp ...................................................... 189
Starting and turning off the engine ............................ 144
Steering column, telescopic
Adjusting ......................................................................65
Warning lamp ............................................................ 186
Steering lock ................................................................... 142
Storage box
Trunk floor ................................................................ 202
Storage compartments .................................................. 115
Armrest ....................................................................... 115
Center console ........................................................... 115
Glove box .................................................................... 114
Trunk floor ................................................................ 200
Stowing items in the vehicle ........................................ 192
Sun visors ........................................................................ 113
Supplemental restraint system (SRS) ........................... 52
Indicator lamp ........................................................... 184
SRS malfunction ..........................................................55
Synchronizing remote control .................................... 237

282 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
TTachometer ....................................................................... 76
Technical data ................................................................ 260
Electrical system ....................................................... 264
Main Dimensions ......................................................265
Rims – Tires ............................................................... 261
Weights .......................................................................265
Tele Aid ........................................................................... 132
Emergency calls ........................................................ 133
Information ................................................................ 136
Initiating an emergency call manually ................. 134
Roadside Assistance ................................................. 135
Telephones and two-way radio ..................................... 130
Telescoping steering column
Adjusting ...................................................................... 65
Warning lamp ............................................................ 186
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ................................ 131
TIREFIT ............................................................................ 214
Reifen abdichten ....................................................... 215
TIREFIT (SLK 32 AMG only) ........................................202
Tires
Consumer information ............................................. 272
Driving instructions ................................................. 160Rims and tires ........................................................... 261
Rotating wheels ........................................................ 204
Tire inflation pressure ............................................. 219
Tire replacement ...................................................... 203
Tire speed rating ....................................................... 162
Tire traction ............................................................... 162
Winter driving instructions ..................................... 163
Tool kit
See Air pump, spare wheel,
vehicle tools, storage compartment .................. 200
See Storage box, TIREFIT-Kit,
air pump, vehicle tools ....................................... 202
Tow-away alarm ................................................................37
Towing the vehicle ........................................................ 224
Transmission selector lever,
manually unlocking ................................................. 229
Traveling abroad ............................................................ 165
Trip Odometer .................................................................. 76
Trunk .................................................................................33
Separately locked ........................................................33
Trunk lid
Emergency release ...................................................... 35
Release switch ............................................................. 33
Turn signal failure ........................................................... 83
Turn signals ......................................................................83