2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK55AMG COUPE tow

ContentsSafety and Security........................... 55
Occupant safety................................... 56
Airbags ........................................... 57
Seat belts ....................................... 62
Children in the vehicle .................... 66
Blocking of rear side
window operation ........................... 72
Panic alarm .......................................... 73
Activating ....................................... 73
Deactivating ................................... 73
Driving safety systems ......................... 74
ABS ................................................ 74
BAS ................................................ 76
ESP ................................................. 76
Anti-theft systems................................ 79
Immobilizer..................................... 79
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 80
Tow-away alarm ............................. 81
Controls in detail............................... 83
Locking and unlocking ......................... 84
Keys ............................................... 84
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ........ 88
Opening the doors from the inside . 92
Opening the trunk from the inside . 92
Trunk lid emergency release .......... 93
Closing the trunk lid ....................... 94
Separately locking the trunk .......... 94
Separately unlocking the trunk ...... 95
Automatic central locking .............. 95
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 95
Seats ................................................... 97
Easy-entry/exit feature .................. 97
Head restraints .............................. 97
Multicontour seat* ....................... 100
Heated seats* .............................. 101
Memory function ............................... 102
Storing positions into memory ..... 103
Recalling positions from memory . 103
Storing parking position ............... 103Lighting ............................................. 105
Exterior lamp switch .................... 105
Combination switch ..................... 107
Hazard warning flasher ................ 108
Interior lighting ............................ 109
Door entry lamps ......................... 110
Instrument cluster ............................. 111
Instrument cluster illumination .... 111
Coolant temperature display ........ 112
Trip odometer .............................. 112
Tachometer .................................. 113
Outside temperature indicator ..... 113
Control system .................................. 114
Multifunction display.................... 114
Multifunction steering wheel........ 115
Menus .......................................... 117
Standard display menu ................ 119
AUDIO menu ................................ 119
NAV menu .................................... 121
Distronic* menu .......................... 121
Malfunction memory menu .......... 122
Settings menu .............................. 123
Trip computer menu..................... 136
TEL menu* ................................... 138

Contents
Practical hints................................. 275
What to do if …?................................. 276
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 276
Lamp in center console................ 282
Messages in the display ............... 283
Where will I find...? ............................ 305
First aid kit ................................... 305
Vehicle tool kit ............................. 305
Minispare wheel ........................... 307
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 310
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 310
Locking the vehicle ...................... 311
Changing batteries ....................... 312
Fuel filler flap ............................... 313
Manually unlocking the
transmission selector lever .......... 313
Opening/closing in an emergency..... 314
Sliding/pop-up roof ..................... 314
Replacing bulbs ................................. 316
Bulbs ............................................ 316
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 318
Side marker lamp bulb ................. 321
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps..... 322Replacing wiper blades....................... 323
Removing ...................................... 323
Installing ....................................... 323
Flat tire ............................................... 324
Preparing the vehicle .................... 324
Mounting the Minispare wheel ...... 324
Battery................................................ 329
Disconnecting the battery............. 330
Removing the batteries ................. 330
Charging and
reinstalling batteries ..................... 330
Reconnecting the batteries ........... 331
Jump starting ...................................... 332
Towing the vehicle .............................. 334
Towing the vehicle ........................ 334
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 336
Fuses .................................................. 337
Fuse box in
passenger compartment ............... 337
Fuse box in engine compartment.. 337
Auxiliary fuse box in trunk............. 338
Technical data.................................. 339
Spare parts service ............................ 340
Warranty coverage ............................. 341
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 341
Identification labels ............................ 342
Layout of poly-V-belt drive.................. 343
CLK320 / CLK500 /
CLK 55 AMG ................................. 343
Engine ................................................ 344
Rims and tires .................................... 345
Same size tires ............................. 345
Mixed size tires ............................. 346
Minispare wheel............................ 347
Electrical system ................................ 348
Main dimensions ................................ 349
Weights .............................................. 350

25 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Seat heater*, driver’s side
101
2
Parking assist* (Parktronic
system*) deactivation
switch
211
3
Rear window sunshade*
153
4
ESP control switch
76
5
Hazard warning flasher
on/off switch
108
6
Central locking switch
96
7
Rear head restraints, fold-
ing down switch
98
Item
Page
8
Tow-away alarm switch
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp
81
81
9
Seat heater*, passenger
side
101
10
Indicator lamp
7
68,
282
11
Audio system or
COMAND* (see separate
operating instructions)
119
12
Automatic climate control
Rear window defroster
154,
162
13
Ashtray
223

50 Getting startedParking and locking
Parking and lockingYou have now completed your first drive.
You have properly stopped and parked
your vehicle. End your drive as follows:
Parking brake
1Parking brake
2Release handle
Step firmly on parking brake1.
When the engine is running, the indica-
tor lamp
;
(USA only)
or
3
(Canada only) in the instru-
ment cluster will be illuminated.
Warning!
G
Wait until the vehicle is stationary before re-
moving the key from the starter switch. The
vehicle cannot be steered when the key is
removed.Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to stop or steer the vehi-
cle.
Warning!
G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re-
sult of inadvertent vehicle movement, be-
fore turning off the engine and leaving the
vehicle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.


Firmly depress parking brake pedal.


Move the selector lever to positionP.


Slowly release brake pedal.


When parked on an incline, turn front
wheel towards the road curb.


Turn the key to starter switch position0
and remove, or press start / stop button
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*).


Take the key or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (if so equipped) and lock
vehicle when leaving.

51 Getting started
Parking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
M

(
page 46).
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 105).
Turning off engine 
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.Turning off engine with the SmartKey

Turn the key in the starter switch
(page 31) to position0 and remove
it.
The immobilizer is activated.

Press the seat belt release button
(page 42).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
key from the starter switch, take the Smart-
Key with KEYLESS-GO* (if so equipped) with
you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave chil-
dren unattended in the vehicle, or with ac-
cess to an unlocked vehicle. Children could
release the parking brake and/or move the
gear selector lever from positionP, either of
which could result in an accident and/or se-
rious personal injury.Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the selector
lever not fully engaged in positionP is dan-
gerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 143).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.
iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to position P.
On steep slopes, turn the front wheels
towards the curb.
iThe SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (if so equipped) can only
be removed from the starter switch
with the gear selector lever in
positionP.

77 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
More information can be found in the
“Practical hints” section (
page 276).
Warning!
G
Never switch off the ESP when you see the
ESP warning lamp
v
flashing in the in-
strument cluster. In this case proceed as fol-
lows:


While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible


While driving, ease upon the accelerator


Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP cannot prevent accidents resulting
from excessive speed.
Warning!
G
The ESP cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of an ESP equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the us-
er’s safety or the safety of others.iDistronic* is switched off when ESP is
activated.
!Because of the ESP’s automatic opera-
t i o n , t h e e n g i n e m u s t b e s h u t o f f ( k e y i n
starter switch position0 or1) when

the parking brake is being tested on
a brake test dynamometer.


the vehicle is being towed with the
front ⁄ rear axle raised.
Active braking action through the ESP
may otherwise seriously damage the
rear axle brake system.
The ESP will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended
tire size.

80 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsAnti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door


the trunk


the hood.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when


someone attempts to raise the vehicle


the vehicle is opened with the mechan-
ical key.Arming the alarm system
The alarm system is armed after locking
the vehicle with the remote control or
KEYLESS-GO*. The turn signal lamps blink
three times to indicate that the alarm sys-
tem is activated. The indicator lamp in the
switch for the tow-away alarm will blink af-
ter approximately 10 seconds when the
alarm system is completely armed
(
page 25).Disarming the alarm system
The alarm system is disarmed when you
unlock your vehicle with the remote con-
trol or KEYLESS-GO*. The turn signal
lamps blink once to indicate that the alarm
system is deactivated
Canceling the alarm
To cancel the alarm:
With the key

Insert the key in the starter switch.
or

Press the
Œ
or
‹
button.
With KEYLESS-GO*

Grasp the outside door handle.
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button.
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
20 seconds, an emergency call is initi-
ated automatically by the Tele Aid sys-
tem provided Tele Aid service was
subscribed to and properly activated.
iIf the turn signal lamps do not blink
three times one of the following ele-
ments may not be properly closed:

a door


the trunk lid


the hood
Close the respective element and lock
the vehicle again.

81 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Tow-away alarm
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual
and audible alarm will be triggered when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.
Arming tow-away alarm
When you lock your vehicle, the tow-away
alarm is automatically armed after about
30 seconds.
When you unlock your vehicle, the
tow-away protection disarms automatical-
ly.Disarming tow-away alarm
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm
feature, switch off the tow-away alarm be-
fore towing the vehicle, or when parking on
a surface subject to movement, such as a
ferry or auto train.
1Tow-away alarm off switch
2Indicator lamp
The switch is located on the center con-
sole.

Turn off the ignition and remove the
key.

Press upper half1 of the switch.
Indicator lamp2 in the switch lights up
briefly.

Lock your vehicle with the key or (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*) the lock but-
ton at each door handle.
The tow-away alarm remains disarmed un-
til you lock your vehicle again.
iThe tow-away protection alarm is trig-
gered, for example, if the vehicle is lift-
ed on one side.
If the alarm stays on for more than
20 seconds, an emergency call is initi-
ated automatically by the Tele Aid sys-
tem provided Tele Aid service was
subscribed to and properly activated.
iYou cannot disarm the tow-away alarm
if the ignition is turned on.