2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK55AMG COUPE check oil

261 Operation
Tires and wheels
Important guidelines

Only use sets of tires and rims of the
same type and make.


Tires must be of the correct size for the
rim.


Break in new tires for approximately
60 miles (100 km) at moderate
speeds.


Regularly check the tires and rims for
damage.


If vehicle is heavily loaded, check tire
pressure and correct as required.


Do not allow your tires to wear down
too far. Adhesion properties on wet
roads are sharply reduced at tread
depths under
1/8in (3 mm).


When replacing individual tires, you
should mount new tires on the front
wheels first (on vehicles with
same-sized wheels all around).
Life of tires
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
various factors including but not limited to:

Driving style


Tire pressure


Distance driven
Direction of rotation
Unidirectional tires offer added advantag-
es, such as better hydroplaning perfor-
mance. To benefit, however, you must
make sure that the tires rotate in the direc-
tion specified.
An arrow on the sidewall indicates the in-
tended direction of tire rotation.
Warning!
G
Tires and spare tire should be replaced after
six years, regardless of the remaining tread.!Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as
possible. Protect tires from contact
with oil, grease and gasoline.

268 OperationVehicle care
Vehicle careCleaning and care of vehicle
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external in-
fluences which, if gone unchecked, can at-
tack the paintwork as well as the
underbody and cause lasting damage.
Such damage is caused not only by ex-
treme and varying climatic conditions, but
also by:

Air pollution


Road salt


Tar, gravel and stone chippingTo avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:


Grease and oil


Fuel


Coolant


Brake fluid


Insects


Tree resins, etc.
Frequent washing reduces and / or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.
More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:


Near the ocean


In industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)


During winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
A n y d a m a g e s h o u l d b e r e p a i r e d a s s o o n a s
possible to prevent corrosion.In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others ap-
plied later.
We have selected car-care products and
compiled recommendations which are
specially matched to our vehicles and
which always reflect the latest technology.
You can obtain Mercedes-Benz approved
car-care products at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, corrosion or
damage due to negligent or incorrect care
cannot always be removed or repaired with
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not de-
signed for cleaning your vehicle.

295 Practical hints
What to do if …?
When the
Engine oil – Visit workshop!

message appears while the engine is run-
ning and at operating temperature, the en-
gine oil level has dropped to approximately
the minimum mark on the dipstick.
When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.If no oil leaks are noted, continue to drive
to the nearest service station where the
engine oil should be topped to the “full”
mark on the dipstick with an approved oil.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
:
Engine oil level
Reduce oil level!
You have added too much engine oil.
There is a risk of damaging the engine or
the catalytic converter.

Have oil siphoned. Observe all legal re-
quirements with respect to its dispos-
al.
Engine oil
Visit workshop!
The engine oil has dropped to a critical
level.

Check the engine oil level
(page 254) and add oil as required.

If you must add engine oil frequently,
have the engine checked for possible
leaks.
There is water in the oil.

Have the oil checked.
Engine oil level
Visit workshop!
The measuring system is malfunctioning.

Have the measuring system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.!The engine oil level warnings should
not be ignored. Extended driving with
the symbol displayed could result in se-
rious engine damage that is not cov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

300 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
<
Front passenger
seat belt
Please fasten belt!
The display reminds you and your passen-
gers to fasten seat belts.

Fasten the seat belts.
Driver’s seat belt
Fasten seat belt!
The display reminds you and your passen-
gers to fasten seat belts.

Fasten the seat belts.
_
Steering oil
Visit workshop!
The steering gear oil level is too low.
There is a danger of steering gear dam-
age.

Have the system checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the level of steering gear oil in reservoir is
too low, the steering power assistance could
fail. Much greater effort will then be needed
to turn the steering wheel.
Do not add steering oil without checking the
steering system.
Do not drive the vehicle. Have the system
checked at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

355 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from
poor fuel quality or from blending specific
fuel additives are not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Coolants
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion / antifreeze, which pro-
vides:

Corrosion protection


Freeze protection


Boiling protection (by increasing the
boiling point)
The cooling system was filled at the factory
with a coolant providing freeze protection
to approximately -22°F (-30°C) and corro-
sion protection.
If the antifreeze mixture is effective to
-22°F (-30°C), the boiling point of the cool-
ant in the pressurized cooling system is
reached at approximately 266°F (130°C).To provide important corrosion protection,
the solution must be at least 45% anticor-
rosion/antifreeze (equivalent to freeze
protection to approx. - 22°F [-30°C]). If
you use a solution that is more than 55%
anticorrosion/antifreeze (freeze protec-
tion to approx. - 49°F [-45°C]), the engine
temperature will increase due to the lower
heat transfer capability of the solution.
Therefore, do not use more than this
amount of anticorrosion/antifreeze.
If the coolant level is low, water and MB
Anticorrosion /Antifreeze should be used
to bring it up to the proper level (have cool-
ing system checked for signs of leakage).
Please make sure that the mixture is in ac-
cordance with label instructions.The water in the cooling system must meet
minimum requirements, which are usually
satisfied by normal drinking water. If you
are not sure about the water quality, con-
sult your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
The coolant solution must be used year
round to provide the necessary corrosion
protection and increase boil-over protec-
tion. You should have it replaced every 15
years or 150 000 miles (250 000 km),
whichever comes first.
Coolant system design and coolant used
stipulate the replacement interval. The
above replacement interval is only applica-
ble if MB 325.0 anticorrosion/antifreeze
solution or other Mercedes-Benz approved
products of equal specification (see Facto-
ry Approved Service Products pamphlet)
are used to renew the coolant concentra-
tion or bring it back up to the proper level.

370 IndexBulbs, replacing 316
Additional turn signals 317
Backup lamps 317
Brake lamps 317
Fog lamps 317
Front lamps 317
High beam 317
High mounted brake lamp 317
License plate lamps 317, 322
Low beam 317
Parking lamps 317, 319, 321
Rear fog lamp 317
Rear fog lamps 322
Side marker lamps 317, 321
Standing lamps 317, 319, 321
Tail lamp assemblies 317, 322
Turn signal lamps 317
Button
Audio system 168C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 362
Calling up
Distronic* settings 121
Range (distance to empty) 137
Service indicator 267
CAN system 362
Capacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 351
Cargo tie-down rings 218
Casette mode
Playing cassettes 174
Cassette player
Operating 121
Catalytic converter 248
CD changer* 178
CD mode 178
CD player
Operating 120
Center console 25
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp 282
Lower part 26
Upper part 25
Centigrade
Setting temperature units 126Central locking
Automatic 95
From inside 95
Switch 95
Switching on/off (control system) 133
Unlocking from inside 95
Central locking switch 95
Changing
Batteries (SmartKey with KEY-
LESS-GO*) 312
Batteries (SmartKey) 312
Key setting 133
Changing CDs 178
Charcoal filter 161
Activating 161
Deactivating 161
Charging
Vehicle battery 330
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 280
Checking
Coolant level 256
Oil level 252, 254
Tire inflate pressure 252
Vehicle lighting 252

375 Index
Emergency tensioning device see ETD 65,
363
Emission control 249
Emission control label 342
Ending
A call (telephone) 139
Engine
Compartment 253
Message in display 280
Starting 43
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 44
Starting with the key 44
Technical data 344
Turning off with the key 51
Engine cleaning 270
Engine compartment 253
Fuse box in 337
Hood 253
Engine malfunction indicator lamp 23, 280
Engine number 363Engine oil 254, 353
Adding 255
Additives 353
Checking level 254
Consumption 254
Display messages 294
Filler neck 255
Messages in display 256
Viscosity 363
Engine oil level see Oil level 252
ESP 23, 76, 363
Messages in display 293
Switching off 78
Switching on 78
Warning lamp 276
ETD 363
Safety guidelines 60
ETD (Emergency tensioning device) 65
Exterior lamp switch 105
Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting 38
Parking position for 135, 150F
Fahrenheit
Setting temperature units 126
Fastening the seat belts 40
Fine adjustment
Cruise control 195
Distronic* 202
First aid kit 305
Flat tire 324
Lowering the vehicle 328
Minispare wheel 307
Mounting the Minispare wheel 324
Preparing the vehicle 324
Flexible Service System (FSS) 266, 363
Floormats* 225
Fog lamp, rear 107, 317
Fog lamps
Replacing bulbs 317
Fog lamps, front
Messages in display 298
Replacing bulbs 318
Switching on 107
Front airbags 61

381 Index
Mirrors
Adjusting 38
Automatic antiglare for rear view mirror
149
Exterior rear view mirror 38
Exterior rear view mirror parking posi-
tion 150
Exterior rear view mirror parking posi-
tions 135
Inside rear view mirror 38
Storing exterior mirror parking position
103
MON 251
MON (Motor Octane Number) 364
Mph or km/h in speedometer 126
Multicontour seat* 100
Multifunction display 114, 364
Selecting language 127
Standard display 118
Multifunction display messages
ABS 284
BAS 285
Battery 303
Brake fluid 287
Brake pads 286
Check engine 280Coolant 290
Coolant level 289
Display 304
Distronic* 292
Doors 292
Engine 280
ESP 293
Fuel reserve tank 296
Hood 296
Key 296
Lamps 296–299
Parking brake 299
Selector lever 292
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 288
Steering gear oil level 300
Tele Aid 301
Telephone* 301
Trunk 301
Washer fluid 301
Multifunction steering wheel 24, 115, 364
Buttons 115N
Navigation system
Operating 121
See separate COMAND* operating in-
structions
Night security illumination 107
O
Occupant safety 56
Airbags 57
Children and airbags 58
Children in the vehicle 66
Fastening the seat belt 40
Infant and child restraint systems 66
LATCH child seat mounts 71
Seat belts 40, 60
Odometer, main 23
Oil
Adding 255
Checking level 254
Consumption 254
Filler neck 255
Viscosity 363
Oil level
Checking 252