2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 transmission

Contents
Control system .................................. 129
Multifunction display .................... 129
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 130
Menus .......................................... 132
Standard display menu ................ 134
AUDIO menu ................................ 134
CD changer operating mode ........ 137
TEL menu* ................................... 139
NAVI menu ................................... 141
Distronic* menu........................... 142
Trip computer menu..................... 143
Malfunction memory menu .......... 144
Settings menu .............................. 145
Automatic transmission ..................... 157
One-touch gearshifting................. 158
Gear ranges ................................. 159
Gear selector lever position ......... 160
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) CL 55 AMG............... 161
Program mode selector switch..... 163
Accelerator position ..................... 163
Manual shift program CL 55 AMG 164
Emergency operation
(Limp home mode) ....................... 166Good visibility ..................................... 167
Rear view mirror ........................... 167
Electrically folding exterior rear
view mirrors .................................. 169
Windshield wipers ......................... 170
Headlamp cleaning system ........... 170
Sun visors ..................................... 171
Rear window sunshade* ............... 172
Automatic climate control .................. 173
Setting the temperature................ 176
Adjusting air distribution............... 177
Adjusting air volume ..................... 178
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 179
Defrosting ..................................... 179
Air recirculation mode .................. 179
Charcoal filter ............................... 181
Rear window defroster .................. 182
Deactivating the climate
control system .............................. 182
Air conditioning............................. 183
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 183
Ventilated storage compartment
(except CL 55 AMG)...................... 184
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 185Power windows .................................. 186
Opening and closing the windows 186
Synchronizing the power windows 190
Sliding / pop-up roof ........................... 191
Opening and closing the
sliding /pop-up roof ...................... 191
Synchronizing the sliding /
pop-up roof................................... 194
Driving systems .................................. 195
Cruise control ............................... 195
Distronic* ..................................... 198
Active Body Control (ABC) ............ 210
Parktronic system*
(Parking assist) ............................. 214
Loading .............................................. 219
Roof rack* .................................... 219
Loading instructions ..................... 219
Cargo tie-down hooks ................... 220

ContentsUseful features .................................. 221
Storage compartments................. 221
Ashtrays ....................................... 227
Cigarette lighter ........................... 228
Heated steering wheel* ............... 228
Telephone*................................... 229
Tele Aid ........................................ 230
Garage door opener ..................... 238
Infrared reflecting windshield ....... 244
Operation........................................ 245
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 246
Driving instructions............................ 247
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 247
Drinking and driving ..................... 247
Pedals .......................................... 247
Power assistance ......................... 247
Brakes .......................................... 248
Driving off .................................... 249
Parking ......................................... 249
Tires ............................................. 250
Hydroplaning ................................ 251
Tire traction.................................. 251
Tire speed rating .......................... 251
Winter driving instructions ........... 252
Standing water ............................. 253
Passenger compartment .............. 254
Driving abroad.............................. 254
Control and operation of radio
transmitters ................................. 254
Catalytic converter ....................... 255
Emission control .......................... 255
Coolant temperature .................... 256At the gas station .............................. 257
Refueling ...................................... 257
Check regularly and before a
long trip ....................................... 258
Engine compartment ......................... 260
Hood ............................................ 260
Engine oil ..................................... 261
Transmission fluid level................ 266
Active Body Control (ABC)
fluid level ..................................... 266
Coolant ........................................ 266
Battery ......................................... 268
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system........... 269
Tires and wheels................................ 270
Important guidelines .................... 270
Life of tires................................... 271
Direction of rotation..................... 271
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 271
Rotating wheels ........................... 279
Winter driving .................................... 280
Winter tires .................................. 280
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 281
Snow chains................................. 281

26 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
KEYLESS-GO* start / stop
button
33
2
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
46
3
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp
71
4
Thumbwheel for setting
distance in Distronic*
206
5
Distance warning func-
tion* on / off switch
206
6
Program mode selector for
automatic transmission
163
7
Ashtray
227
Lighter
228

45 Getting started
Driving
Starting the engine Automatic transmission
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmissionPPark position with gear selector lever
lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information, see the “Controls in
detail” section (
page 157).Starting with the SmartKey

Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.

Do not depress accelerator.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position3 and hold until the engine
starts (
page 31).

Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine
with the SmartKey, see “Turning off with
the SmartKey” (
page 55).
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide, and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while driving,
have the cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive with at least one window
fully open.
iYou can also use the “touch-start”
function. Turn the SmartKey to
position 3 and release it again immedi-
ately. The engine then starts automati-
cally.

87 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Good visibility
Automatic climate control
Power windows
Sliding / pop-up roof
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features

140 Controls in detailControl systemThe following functions are available:
Answering a call
When your telephone is ready to receive
calls, you can answer a call at any time. In
the display you will then see the message:
Press buttons.
You have answered the call. In the dis-
play you see the length of the call posi-
tioned above the number.Ending a call

Press buttont.
You have ended the call. In the display
you will again see the standby mes-
sage.
Dialing a number from the phone book
If your telephone is ready to receive calls,
you may select and dial a number from the
phone book at any time.

Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly
until you see the
TEL
menu in the dis-
play.

Press buttonj ork.
The control system reads the phone
book which is stored in the telephone.
The transmission depends on the num-
ber of entries in the phone book and can take up to 60 seconds. In the dis-
play you will see the message
PLEASE
WAIT!
.
When the message
PLEASE WAIT!
dis-
appears, the phone book has been
loaded.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the desired name appears in the
display.
The stored names are displayed in as-
cending or descending alphabetical or-
der.
Function
Page
Anwering a call
140
Ending a call
140
Dialing a number from the
phone book
140
Redialing
141
iIf you do not wish to accept a call,
press buttont.
iIf you press and holdj ork for
longer than one second, the system
scrolls rapidly through the list of names
until you release the button again.
Cancel the quick search mode by
pressingt.

157 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
For more information on driving with an au-
tomatic transmission, see the “Getting
started” section (
page 45).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear
shifting process to your individual driving
style by continually adjusting the shift
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current op-
erating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by adjust-
ing its gear shift program.The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:


the gear selector lever positionD with
gear ranges (
page 159)


the selected shift program (C/S)
(page 163)
or
(C/S/M) (CL 55 AMG only)
(page 164)


the position of the accelerator pedal


the vehicle speed
The current gear selector lever position
and shift program (
C/S) or (
C/S/M) appear
in the tachometer display (
page 22).When the gear selector lever is in
positionD, you can influence transmission
shifting by:


limiting the gear range


changing gears manually
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter to heat up more
quickly to operating temperature.
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector le-
ver out of P or N if the engine speed is high-
er than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could accel-
erate quickly forward or reverse. You could
lose control of the vehicle and hit someone
or something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

158 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionOne-touch gearshifting
Even with an automatic transmission you
can change the gears manually when the
gear selector lever is in positionD.
Downshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in the D-direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next lower gear. This action si-
multaneously limits the gear range of the
transmission (
page 159).Upshifting

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in the D+direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next higher gear as permitted
by the shift program. This action simulta-
neously extends the gear range of the
transmission.Canceling gear range limit

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in the D+direction until
D reappears in
the tachometer display.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in the D-direction.
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal accelera-
tion and deceleration. This will involve
shifting down one or more gears.
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 loss of control.
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when
the gear selector lever is moved to the
D–direction, the transmission will not
shift to a lower gear if the engine's
max. speed would be exceeded.