2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK-CLASS winter tires

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 ........................................ 206
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) ...........................................214
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ........................................... 216
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ............................................ 218
What you should know
at the gas station ...................... 222
Check regularly and
before a long trip ...................... 224
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 .............230
J_C208_II.book Seite 3 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10
ProCarManuals.com

175 Contents – Driving
Technical
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 ........................................ 206
Tires ............................................. 206
Snow chains ............................... 209
Winter driving
instructions ................................ 209
Deep water ...................................210
Passenger compartment ............ 211
Traveling abroad ......................... 211Cruise control ................................. 212
Brake assist system
(BAS) ........................................... 214
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ........................................... 216
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ........................................... 218
What you should know
at the gas station .......................222
Check regularly and
before a long trip ......................224
J_C208_II.book Seite 175 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10
ProCarManuals.com

208 Driving instructions
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Tire traction
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or icy road is
always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the condition of
the road whenever the outside temperatures are close to
the freezing point.
We recommend M+S rated radial-ply tires for the winter
season for all four wheels to insure normal balanced
handling characteristics. On packed snow, they can
reduce your stopping distance as compared with
summer tires. Stopping distance, however, is still
considerably greater than when the road is not snow or
ice covered.Tire speed rating
CLK 430:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “W”-rated tires,
which have a speed rating of 168 mph (270 km/h). An
electronic speed limiter prevents your vehicle from
exceeding a speed of 130 mph (210 km/h).
CLK 55 AMG:
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “Y”-rated tires,
which are permissible for speeds over 188 mph
(300 km/h). An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of 156 mph (250 km/h).
Despite the tire rating, local speed limits should be
obeyed. Use prudent driving speeds appropriate to
prevailing conditions.
Wa r n i n g !
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction will be
substantially reduced. Under such weather
conditions, drive, steer and brake with extreme
caution.
Wa r n i n g !
Even when permitted by law, never operate a
vehicle at speeds greater than the maximum speed
rating of the tires.Exceeding the maximum speed for which tires are
rated can lead to sudden tire failure causing loss of
vehicle control and resulting in personal injury
and possible death.
J_C208_II.book Seite 208 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10
ProCarManuals.com

209 Driving instructions
Technical
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 220.
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 the vehicle is parked af ter being driven on salt treated
roads, the braking efficiency should be tested as soon as
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.
O t h e rw i s e , d e a d ly c a r b o n m o n ox i d e (CO ) ga s e s m ay
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.
J_C208_II.book Seite 209 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10
ProCarManuals.com

210 Driving instructions
Technical
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,
seepage305.
•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 through f looded areas or water of unknown
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.
J_C208_II.book Seite 210 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10
ProCarManuals.com

219 Driving systems
Technical
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 243.
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 c omes on ). For t his r eason , all wheels , i nclud in g t he
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 i s on ly achieved wit h Me rced es -B enz re comm end ed
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.
J_C208_II.book Seite 219 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10
ProCarManuals.com

259 Tires, Wheels
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index Wheels
Replace rims or tires with the same designation,
manufacturer and type as shown on the original part.
See your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for further
information.
See your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
information on tested and recommended rims and tires
for summer and winter operation. They can also offer
advice concerning tire service and purchase.
Tire replacement
Front tires should be replaced in sets. Rims and tires
must be of the correct size and type. For dimensions,
see “Technical Data”.
We recommend that you break in new tires for approx.
60 miles (100 km) at moderate speed.It is imperative that the wheel mounting bolts be
fastened to a tightening torque of 80 ft.lb. (110 Nm)
whenever wheels are mounted.
For rim and tire specifications, refer to “Technical Data”.
Wa r n i n g !
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the tire tread
is badly worn, or if the tires have sustained
damage, replace them.When replacing rims, use only genuine
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the
particular rim type. Failure to do so can result in
the bolts loosening and possibly an accident.
J_C208_II.book Seite 259 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10
ProCarManuals.com

260 Tires, Wheels
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Rotating wheels
Wheel rotation applies only when winter tires are
mounted on all four wheels.
The wheels can be rotated according to the degree of
tire wear while retaining the same direction of travel.
Rotating, however, should be carried out as
recommended by the tire manufacturer, before the
characteristic tire wear pattern (shoulder wear on front
wheels and tread center wear on rear wheels) becomes
visible, as otherwise the driving properties deteriorate.
Important!
Unidirectional tires must always be mounted with arrow
on tire sidewall pointing in direction of vehicle forward
movement.Notes:
Thoroughly clean the inner side of the wheels any time
you rotate the wheels or wash the vehicle underside.
The use of retread tires is not recommended. Retread
tires may adversely affect the handling characteristics
and safety of the vehicle.
Dented or bent rims can cause tire pressure loss and
damage to the tire beads. For this reason, check rims for
damage at regular intervals. The rim flanges must be
checked for wear before a tire is mounted. Remove
burrs, if any.
Check and ensure proper tire inflation pressure after
rotating the wheels. For tire inflation pressure see
inside of fuel filler flap and also page 267.
J_C208_II.book Seite 260 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 10:13 10
ProCarManuals.com