2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320 CABRIOLET Owner's Manual

158 Soft top
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Soft top
A minimum height clearance of 6
1/2ft. (2 m) is
required to lower or raise the soft top.
The raising or lowering procedure can only be started
with the luggage cover (page 246) and trunk lid closed.
The raising or lowering procedure is immediately
interrupted by releasing the soft top switch.
Do not operate the soft top while a trunk luggage carrier
is installed.
To prevent damage to the soft top, soft top compartment
cover, trunk lid or luggage/cargo when lowering the
roof:
•load trunk only to the height of the luggage cover,
•do not permit luggage/cargo to raise the closed
luggage cover,
•do not load anything on top of the luggage cover,
•do not place anything on the soft top compartment
cover,
•do not open the trunk lid while the soft top is being
raised or lowered. This is required since the soft top
compartment cover moves upward and backward
during raising or lowering operations, •do not operate the luggage cover with the soft top
lowered. Doing so will result in damage to the
luggage cover or the soft top.
Lowering a wet soft top can result in water reaching the
vehicle interior. The soft top should be dry when
lowering it into the soft top storage compartment.
Do not lower a frozen soft top until thawed and dry.
Doing so may result in damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
To prevent mildew, the soft top must be dry before
lowering it into the storage compartment.
The soft top should not be lowered or raised at outside
temperatures below +5
°F (-15
°C), since the material
becomes less pliable with lower temperatures.
Notes:
Rear passengers should lean forward while raising or
lowering the soft top, to clear the path of the rear
window.
To prevent the soft top from being lowered
unintentionally while a trunk luggage carrier is
installed, keep luggage cover in trunk in the open
position with the soft top raised.

159 Soft top
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care IndexImportant!
Do not manually move corner flaps (1) of soft top
compartment cover. Doing so will result in damage to
the soft top folding mechanism that is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
With the soft top lowered do not place anything on the
soft top compartment cover (2).
The soft top compartment cover must never be used by
any persons as a seat bench. Raising of the roll bar
could result in personal injury.
Wa r n i n g !
Never lock or unlock the soft top while driving.
Doing so could cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle. Driving with an unlocked soft top may cause
personal injury to you or your passenger, or
personal injury or property damage to others.Before operating the soft top switch make sure that
no persons due to inattention are injured by the
moving parts (roll bar, soft top frame and soft top
compartment cover).Hands must never be placed near the roll bar, soft
top frame, upper windshield area or soft top storage
compartment while the soft top is being raised or
lowered. Serious personal injury may occur. In case of danger release the switch to immediately
interrupt the operating procedure.
P65.10-2081-26
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1
1

160 Soft top
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Lowering Soft Top
1. E n ga ge p a rk i n g b ra ke .
2. Close luggage cover and trunk lid.
For notes on the luggage cover, see page 246.
3. Turn electronic key in steering lock to position 2.
4. Press lock button (1) and fold down locking
handle (2).
5. Turn locking handle 90
° clockwise to unlock the soft
top.Important!
Push soft top frame approx. 8 inches (20 cm) upward by
the locking handle. Failing to do so will result in
damage to the soft top folding mechanism that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Turn locking handle counterclockwise to the stop and
fold up until it locks in place.
•The indicator lamp in the soft top switch lights up.
•The side windows lower.
P77.30-2070-26
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P77.30-2080-26

161 Soft top
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index The switch is located on the center console.
Notes:
If indicator lamp blinks slowly, a malfunction has
occurred in the system.
If indicator lamp blinks rapidly, the trunk lid and/or the
luggage cover may be open, and need to be closed.6. Lift symbol side of the soft top switch and hold:
•The roll bar lowers (when in the upper position).
•The soft top compartment cover and rear
window section of the soft top unlocks.
•The rear window section of the soft top raises.
•The soft top compartment cover opens.
•The soft top lowers into its storage compartment.
•The soft top compartment cover closes and
locks.
•The indicator lamp in the soft top switch goes
out – the lowering procedure is completed – a
signal sounds.
If the soft top switch is held or is released and lifted
again within approximately 2 seconds, the side
windows will close. If the roll bar was previously in the
upper position, it will return to that position.
The side windows can also be opened/closed later on.
Lift/press soft top switch twice and hold, see page 144.
However, the side windows and the roll bar can also be
activated using their respective switches, see page 142
and page 48.

162 Soft top
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Note:
For safety reasons, the soft top cannot be lowered while
driving.
Raising Soft Top
1. E n ga ge p a rk i n g b ra ke .
2. Close luggage cover and trunk lid.
For notes on the luggage cover, see page 246.
3. Turn electronic key in steering lock to position 2.4. Press symbol side of soft top switch and hold:
•The indicator lamp in the soft top switch lights
up.
Notes:
If indicator lamp blinks slowly, a malfunction
has occurred in the system.
If indicator lamp blinks rapidly, the trunk lid
and/or the luggage cover may be open, and need
to be closed.
•The side windows lower.
•The roll bar lowers (when in the upper position).
•The soft top compartment cover unlocks and
opens.
•The soft top is raised from its storage
compartment to the closing position.
•The soft top storage compartment closes and the
rear window section of the soft top lowers – a
signal sounds.
Wa r n i n g !
To prevent possible accidents, drive the vehicle
only with the soft top either completely closed and
locked, or fully lowered into its storage
compartment.

163 Soft top
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 5. Press lock button (1) and fold down locking
handle (2).
6. Turn locking handle 90
° clockwise and pull soft top
frame carefully down until it meets the windshield
header attachment points.
Turn locking handle counterclockwise to the stop to
lock the soft top.
Fold locking handle up until it locks in place.
The indicator lamp in the soft top switch goes out –
the lowering procedure is completed. If the soft top switch is held or is released and pressed
again within approximately 2 seconds, the side
windows will close. If the roll bar was previously in the
upright position, it will return to that position.
The side windows can also be closed/opened later on.
Press/lift soft top switch twice and hold, see page 144.
However, the side windows and the roll bar can also be
activated using their respective switches, see page 142
and page 48.
P77.30-2070-26
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164 Soft top
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Note:
For safety reasons, the soft top cannot be raised while
driving.
Wa r n i n g !
The soft top is not fully closed and locked:
• if the indicator lamp in the soft top switch does
not got out (electronic key in steering lock
position 2). • if the indicator lamp blinks, and a signal
sounds for 10 seconds when starting to drive.
Stop the vehicle and before continuing to drive,
close and lock the soft top. If the soft top is not locked, it may fold back or
forward when driving. During soft top operation, do not place your hands
near the roll bar, soft top frame, upper windshield
area or soft top storage compartment. Serious
personal injury may occur. To prevent possible accidents, drive the vehicle
only with the soft top either completely closed and
locked, or fully lowered into its storage
compartment.

165 Soft top
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index If the indicator lamp in the soft top switch blinks slowly
while activating the switch,
•the battery voltage may be insufficient – start
engine and let it run while activating switch,
•the system may be overheated (for example after
lowering or raising the soft top approx. 5
consecutive times) – after approx. 10 minutes the
soft top switch may be activated again.
If indicator lamp in the soft top switch blinks rapidly
while activating the switch,
•the trunk lid and/or the luggage cover may be open,
and need to be closed,
•the soft top is still locked during the opening
procedure and needs to be unlocked,
•the opening/closing procedure is interrupted.
In this case the soft top needs to be synchronized.
Turn electronic key in steering lock back to
position 0, and then to position 2. Activate soft top
switch again. The soft top should now be operational
again.
If the indicator lamp continues to blink, raise the soft
top manually, see page 288. Have the system checked at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Notes:
If the roll bar was raised automatically, the process of
raising or lowering the soft top will take somewhat
longer, as the roll bar must first be lowered.
Whenever possible, park vehicle in the shade as
continuous exposure to sun rays can prematurely
deteriorate the soft top material.
The soft top may become moldy and receive permanent
creases if it is kept in the storage compartment for an
extended period.
Therefore, we recommend raising and airing it
thoroughly with the side windows open (do not expose
it to the sun) at regular intervals during the wet and
cold seasons.
To prevent damage, the soft top must be dry and clean
before lowering it into the storage compartment. There
is the possibility of sharp-edged dirt particles damaging
the soft top or scratching the rear window.