2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS automatic transmission

142 Controls in detailUseful featuresAshtray
1Cover plate
Opening ashtray
Briefly touch cover plate1.
The ashtray opens automatically.Removing ashtray insert

Secure vehicle from movement by
setting the parking brake. Move the
selector lever to positionP (manual
transmission: in first gear).

Pull ashtray past detent.

Hold left and right side2 of ashtray
insert and pull up.Reinstalling the ashtray insert

Place the ashtray insert into the
ashtray frame.

Push the ashtray insert down until it
engages.
Coin holder

Open the ashtray.

Pull at the top of cover plate1 and fold
it under3.
Warning!
G
Remove front ashtray only with vehicle
standing still. Set the parking brake to se-
cure vehicle from movement. Move gear
selector lever to positionP (manual trans-
mission: in first gear). With gear selector le-
ver in positionP (manual transmission: in
first gear) turn off the engine.

248 Practical hintsJump startingThe battery is located in the engine com-
partment on the right hand side.
Make sure that the two vehicles do not
touch.

Turn off all electrical consumers, ex-
cept hazard warning flashers or work
lights.

Apply parking brake.

Shift selector lever to positionP (man-
ual transmission to Neutral).1Positive terminal of charged battery
2Positive terminal of discharged battery
3Negative terminal of discharged
battery
4Negative terminal of charged battery

Connect positive terminals1 and2 of
the batteries with the jumper cables.
Clamp cable to charged battery1 first.

Start engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.

Connect negative terminals3 and4 of
the batteries with the jumper cables.
Clamp cable to charged battery4 first.

Start the engine of the disabled vehi-
cle.
Now you can again turn on the electrical
consumers. Do not turn on the lights under
any circumstances.

Remove the jumper cables first from
negative terminals3 and4 of the bat-
teries and then from positive
terminals1 and2.

Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries.
iVehicles with automatic transmission:
Do not tow-start vehicle.

249 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehi-
cle may be towed with all wheels on the
ground or front wheels raised only so far as
necessary to have the vehicle moved to a
safe location where the recommended
towing methods can be employed.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Do not tow-start vehicle.!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equip-
ment with key in starter switch turned
to position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
Towing with sling-type equipment over
bumpy roads will damage radiator and
supports.
To prevent damage during transport,
do not tie down vehicle by its chassis or
suspension parts.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 72) and the automatic central
locking (
page 78).
!If the vehicle is towed with the front
axle raised, the engine must be shut off
(key in starter switch position0 or1).
Otherwise, the ESP will immediately be
engaged and will apply the rear wheel
brakes.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, the selector lever must
be in positionN (manual transmission:
gears disengaged) and the key must be
in starter switch position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground or the front axle raised,
the vehicle may be towed only for dis-
tances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a
speed not to exceed 30 mph (50
km/h).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to vehicle chassis,
frame or suspension parts.

251 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing eye
SLK 230 Kompressor except Sport
Package*, SLK 320 except Sport
Package*
The rear towing eye is located at the right,
below the bumper.
The front towing eye is located on the pas-
senger-side behind the grille in the bumper
panel.
1Grille SLK 320
except Sport Package*
2Grille SLK 230 Kompressor
except Sport Package*Removing grille SLK 320

Hold left and right end of grille1 and
pull out firmly.
Installing grille SLK 320

Position grille1 and press securely.
The grille should audibly snap into
place.
Removing grille SLK 230 Kompressor

Hold grille2, fold it down and pull out
firmly.
Installing grille SLK 230 Kompressor

Position grille2 and press securely.
The grille should audibly snap into
place.
iThe selector lever will remain locked in
positionP and the key will not turn in
the starter switch if the battery is dis-
connected or discharged. See notes on
the battery (
page 245) or on jump
starting (
page 247).
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Manual unlocking of transmission se-
lector lever (page 214).

269 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
CapacitiesVehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. Therefore use only
brands tested and recommended by us.Please refer to the Factory Approved Ser-
vice Products pamphlet, or inquire at your
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Engine with oil filter
SLK 230 Kompressor
6.1 US qt (5.5 l)
Recommended engine oils
SLK 320
SLK 32 AMG
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
Automatic transmission*
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
MB Automatic Transmission Oil
1
1MB part no. 001 989 21 03 10Manual transmission
SLK 230 Kompressor
1.6 US qt (1.5 l)
MB Manual Transmission Oil
2
2MB part no. 001 989 26 03 10
SLK 320
1.9 US qt (1.8 l)
Rear axle
1.4 US qt (1.3 l)
Hypoid gear oil SAE 90, 85 W 90
Power steering
approx. 1.1 US qt (1.0 l)
MB Power Steering Fluid
Front wheel hubs
approx. 1.5oz (43g) each
High temperature roller bearing grease
Brake system
0.5 US qt (0.5 l)
MB Brake Fluid (DOT 4)
Cooling system
SLK 230 Kompressor
approx. 9.8 US qt (9.3 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze Agent
SLK 320
approx. 11.8USqt (11.2l)
SLK 32 AMG
approx. 15.3USqt (14.5l)

280 Technical termsEngine number
The number set by the manufacturer
and placed on the cylinder block to
uniquely identify each engine pro-
duced.
Engine oil viscosity
Measurement for the inner friction (vis-
cosity) of the oil at different tempera-
tures. The higher the temperature an
oil can tolerate without becoming thin,
or the lower the temperature it can tol-
erate without becoming viscous, the
better the viscosity.
ESP
(E
lectronic S
tability Pr
ogram)
Improves vehicle handling and direc-
tional stability.ETD
(E
mergency T
ensioning D
evice)
Device which deploys in certain frontal
and rear collisions exceeding the sys-
tem's threshold to tighten the seat
belts. ->SRS
FSS
(F
lexible S
ervice S
ystem)
Service indicator in the speedometer
display that informs the driver when
the next vehicle maintenance service is
due.
Gear range
Number of gears which are available to
the automatic transmission for shifting.
The automatic gear shifting process
can be adapted to specific operating
conditions using the selector lever.GPS
(G
lobal P
ositioning S
ystem)
Satellite-based system for relaying
geographic location information to and
from vehicles equipped with special re-
ceivers.
Instrument cluster
The displays and indicator/warning
lamps in the driver’s field of vision, in-
cluding the tachometer, speedometer,
engine temperature and fuel gauge.
Kickdown
Depressing the accelerator past the
point of resistance shifts the transmis-
sion down to the lowest possible gear.
This very quickly accelerates the vehi-
cle and should not be used for normal
acceleration needs.

281 Technical terms
Lock button
Button on the door which indicates
whether the door is locked or un-
locked. Pushing the lock button down
on an individual door from inside will
lock that door.
MON
(M
otor O
ctane N
umber)
The Motor Octane Number for gasoline
as determined by a standardized
method. It is an indication of a gaso-
line's ability to resist undesired detona-
tion (knocking). The average of both
the MON (Motor Octane Number) and
->RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.Overspeed range
Engine speeds within the red marking
of the tachometer dial. Avoid this
engine speed range, as it may result in
serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Poly-V-belt drive
Drives engine-components (alternator,
AC compressor, etc.) from the engine.
Power train
Collective term designating all compo-
nents used to generate and transmit
motive power to the drive axles, includ-
ing


engine


clutch/torque converter


transmission


drive shaft


axle shafts/axlesProgram mode selector switch
Used to switch the automatic transmis-
sion between standard operationS and
winter operationW.
Remote Vehicle Diagnostics
Transmission of vehicle data and cur-
rent location to the Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance Center for sub-
scribers to Tele Aid service.
REST
(Residual engine heat utilization)
Feature that uses the engine heat
stored in the coolant to heat the vehi-
cle interior for a short time after the en-
gine has been turned off.
Restraint systems
Seat belts, belt tensioners, airbags and
child restraint systems. As indepen-
dent systems, their protective func-
tions complement one another.

282 Technical termsRetractable hardtop
Hardtop that can be opened and closed
at the push of a button and stored in
the trunk.
Roll bar
Occupant protection system which
consists of tubular steel sheathed in
plastic.
RON
(R
esearch O
ctane N
umber)
The Research Octane Number for gaso-
line as determined by a standardized
method. It is an indication of a gaso-
line's ability to resist undesired detona-
tion (knocking). The average of both
the ->MON (Motor Octane Number)
and RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.Shift lock
When the vehicle is parked, this lock
prevents the transmission selector le-
ver from being moved out of positionP
without key turned and brake pedal de-
pressed.
SRS
(S
upplemental R
estraint S
ystem)
Seat belts, emergency tensioning de-
vice and airbags. Though independent
systems, they are closely interfaced to
provide effective occupant protection.
Tele Aid System
(T
elematic A
larm I
dentification on
D
emand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three
types of response: automatic and man-
ual emergency, roadside assistance
and information. Tele Aid is initially ac-
tivated by completing a subscriber
agreement and placing an acquain-
tance call.The Tele Aid system is operational pro-
viding that the vehicle’s battery is
charged, properly connected, not dam-
aged and cellular and GPS coverage is
available.
Tightening torque
Force times lever arm (e.g. a lug
wrench) with which threaded fasteners
such as wheel bolts are tightened.
TIREFIT
Accessory for emergency and tempo-
rary tire repair. The TIREFIT kit consists
of a container with sealant material, a
filler hose, a valve stem tool, a valve in-
sert, and an air compressor.