2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320 COUPE cruise control

202 Controls in detailDriving systemsSetting a lower speed
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow2 (
page 200) to
decrease vehicle speed in increments
of 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h).
The new speed is set.
The stored speed is displayed in the
multifunction display for approximately
five seconds (
page 200), and one or
two segments around the stored speed
light up on the speedometer
(
page 198).Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow4 (
page 200).Resetting stored speeds

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow4 (
page 200).
Distronic is set to the last stored
speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will au-
tomatically downshift if the rate of de-
celeration is too low.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to the pre-
set speed could cause an accident and/or
serious injury to you and others.

203 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Deactivating Distronic
There are several ways to deactivate the
Distronic system:
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow3 (
page 200).
or

Step on the brake pedal.
Distronic will be deactivated. The last
speed set will be stored into memory.Distronic deactivates automatically when


you set the parking brake


you drive slower than 25 mph
(Canada: 40 km/h)


the ESP is active (
page 76) or you de-
activate the ESP


you move the transmission selector le-
ver into positionN.
A signal will sound. The
Distronic off

message appears in the multifunction
display for approximately five seconds.Setting the following distance in
Distronic
You can set the specified following dis-
tance for Distronic by varying the time set-
ting between 1.0 and 2.0 seconds. Using
this time setting and the current speed of
your vehicle, Distronic calculates and sets
the required following distance to the vehi-
cle ahead. The set distance will be shown
in the multifunction display field.
The thumbwheel for making the time set-
ting is located on the lower section of the
center console.
iThe following message will appear in
the multifunction display for approxi-
mately five seconds:
Distronic off
.
The last stored speed is deleted when
you turn off the engine.
Warning!
G
Distronic switches off and releases the
brakes when the vehicle decelerates below
the minimum speed of approx. 25 mph
( 40 km / h) by operation of the system. At
that time the driver must apply the brakes in
order to reduce vehicle speed further or
bring it to a stop.
Warning!
G
It is up to th e dr iv er t o e xer ci s e di sc r et io n t o
select the appropriate setting given road
conditions, traffic, driver’s preferred driving
style and applicable laws and driving recom-
mendations for safe following distance.

246 OperationDriving instructionsAn electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of
130 mph (210 km/h).
CLK 500/
CLK320withSportPackage*
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
155 mph (250 km/h).
CLK 55 AMG
Your vehicle is factory equipped with
“Y”-rated tires, which have a speed rating
of 188 mph (300 km/h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of
155 mph (250 km/h).
Information on tire speed rating for winter
tires, see “Winter tires” (
page 264).
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 correc-
tive steering action.Road salts and chemicals can adversely af-
fect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce
the normal braking 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. Be very careful
that you carry out these braking maneu-
vers without endangering any other road
users.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt-treated roads, the braking efficien-
cy should be tested as soon as possible af-
ter driving is resumed while observing the
safety rules in the previous paragraph.
iInformation on driving with snow
chains (
page 265).
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of control loss.

303 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
#
Undervoltage
Charge battery
The battery has insufficient voltage.

Start the engine (
page 43).
Undervoltage
Switch off
consumers
The battery has insufficient voltage.

Turn off unnecessary electrical con-
sumers.
Cruise Control
Visit workshop!
Cruise control or Distronic* is malfunc-
tioning.

Have cruise control or Distronic*
checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
1
Restraint system
defective
Visit workshop!
The system is malfunctioning.

Drive with added caution to the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is indi-
cated as outlined above, the SRS may not be
operational. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have
the system checked; otherwise the
SRS may not be activated when needed in
an accident, which could result in serious or
fatal injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly
and unnecessarily which could also result in
injury.

304 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
G
Display defective
Visit workshop!
The instrument cluster display is malfunc-
tioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
The displays for several systems have
malfunctioned. Some systems them-
selves may also have malfunctioned.

Have the electronic systems checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
±
Display defective
Visit workshop!
Certain electronic systems are unable to
relay information to the control system.
The following systems may have failed:

Coolant temperature display


Tachometer


Cruise control display

Have the electronic systems checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.

362 Technical termsCAC
(C
ustomer A
ssistance C
enter)
Mercedes-Benz customer service cen-
ter, which can help you with any ques-
tions about your vehicle and provide
assistance in the event of a break-
down.
CAN system
(C
ontroller A
rea N
etwork)
Data bus network serving to control ve-
hicle functions such as door locking or
windshield wiping.
Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the passen-
ger compartment needed for vehicle
operation and monitoring.COMAND
(C
ockpit M
anagement and D
ata Sys-
tem)
Information and operating center for
vehicle sound and communications
systems, including the radio and navi-
gation, as well as for other optional
equipment (CD changer, telephone,
etc.).
Control system
The control system is used to call up
vehicle information and to change
component settings. Information and
messages appear in the multifunction
display. The driver uses the buttons on
the multifunction steering wheel to
navigate through the system and to ad-
just settings.
Cruise control
Driving convenience system for auto-
matically maintaining the vehicle speed
set by the driver.Distronic*
A driving convenience cruise control
system which helps the driver maintain
a pre-selected speed:


If there is no vehicle directly ahead,
the system operates in the same
way as conventional ->cruise con-
trol.


If a slower moving vehicle is ahead,
Distronic will reduce your vehicle
speed to the extent permitted by re-
duced throttle and up to 20% brak-
ing power to maintain the preset
minimum following distance.
DTR
(->Distronic*)

372 IndexCombination switch 107
High beam flasher 47, 108
Turn signals 47
Windshield wipers 47
Consumer information 358
Control and operation of radio transmitters
248
Control system 114, 362
AUDIO menu 119
Convenience submenu 133
Display digital speedometer 119
Distronic* menu 121
Functions 115, 118
Instrument cluster submenu 126, 128
Lighting submenu 129
Malfunction memory menu 122
Menus 117, 118, 364
Multifunction display 114
Multifunction steering wheel 115
NAVI menu 121
Selecting radio system 120
Settings menu 123
Standard display menu 119
Submenus 116, 118
TEL* menu 138
Trip computer menu 136Vehicle submenu 132
Convenience submenu 133
Activating easy-entry/exit feature 133
Setting key dependency 135
Setting parking position for exterior
rear view mirror 135
Coolant 256, 355
Adding 257
Anticorrosion/antifreeze quantity 355
Capacities 351
Checking level 256
Messages in display 289, 290
Temperature 250
Temperature display 112
Warning lamp 281, 290
Coolant level
Checking 256
Cruise control 193, 362
Canceling 194
Driving downhill 194
Driving uphill 194
Fine adjustment 195
Lever 200
Saving current speed 194
Setting speeds 195
Cruise control lever 193Cup holder
Cleaning 273
Closing 220, 221
In rear seat armrest 220
In the dashboard 220
Opening 220, 221
Customer Assistance Center (CAC) 362
D
Daytime running lamp mode 106
Setting 129, 130
Deactivating
Air conditioning (cooling) 163
Air recirculation mode 160
Alarm 80
Anti-theft alarm system 80
Automatic climate control 155
Central locking (control system) 133
Cruise control 194
Defrost 159
Distance warning function* 205
Distronic* 203
Engine with KEYLESS-GO* 52
Engine with the key 51
ESP 78
Exterior lamps 106
Hazard warning flasher 108

373 Index
Headlamps 51
Immobilizer 79
Interior lighting delayed switch-off 132
Rear window defroster 162
Residual heat 164
Seat heater 101
Tow-away alarm 81
Deactivating steering wheel gearshift con-
trol 148
Deceleration
With Distronic* 199
Deep water see Standing water 247
Defogging
Windshield 158
Defrosting 159
Delayed switch-off
Interior lighting 132
Dialing
A number (telephone) 139
Difficulties
While driving see Problems while driv-
ing 49
With starting 44
Digital speedometer 119
Direction of rotation (tires) 261Discharged battery
Jump starting 332
Disconnecting
Vehicle battery 330
Display
Selecting 127, 128
Display elements
Audio system 166
Displays
Digital speedometer 119
Distronic* 198
Messages 256, 283
Selecting 127
Service indicator 266
Showing malfunctions 123
Distance
Decreasing in Distronic* 204
Increasing in Distronic* 204
Setting in Distronic* 203
Warning function 204
Distance to empty (range)
Calling up 136Distance warning function* 204
Activating 205
Deactivating 205
DTR* warning lamp 204
Intermittent warning sound 204
Symbol in multifunction display 122
Distronic* 196, 362
Activated 200
Activating 201
Calling up settings 121, 199
Cleaning system sensor 271
Cruise control lever 200
Deactivated 200
Deactivating 203
Deceleration 199
Decreasing distance 204
Decreasing time interval 203
Displays in the speedometer dial 198
Distance warning function 204
Driving hints 205
Fine adjustment 202
Increasing distance 204
Increasing time interval 203
Intermittent signal tone 198
Menu 199
Messages in display 292