2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK CABRIOLET Owners Manual

262 Operation
Trailer towing
iThe maxim umpermissible weights are given
in the vehicle documents and onthe type plates
of the trail erand the trailer tow hitch .The lowest
value given is decisive.
Th emax imum trailer drawb arno sewe ight forthe
trailer towbar on th eball neck is 75 kg. The draw-
bar no seweight must not, however, exceed that
specified on the type plates for th etrailer tow
hit ch and the trailer. If you couple a trailer, the driving charac-
terist
ics of your vehicle change.
The vehicl e/trailer combination:
! is heavier
! is restricted in its acceleration and
gradie nt-climbing capability
! has a longer stopping distance
! is more susceptible to gusting cross-
winds
! demands more sensitive steeri ng
Fuel consumption is higher when towing a
trailer.
Tips for driving when to wing a trailer:
! We recom mend utilising the maximum
per missible drawb arnoseweigh t,and
always at least 50 kg.
! The vehicle's payload must be reduced
to compensate for the drawbar nose-
weight so that thema ximum per missi-
ble rear axle load is not exceeded. Have the entire trailer tow hitch ch
ecked at
a qualifie dspecialist workshop which has
the necessary specia list knowledge and
tools to carry out the work required.
Mercedes-Benz recomme nds that youuse a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this pur-
pose. In particular, work relevant to safety
or on safety-re lated systems must be car-
ried out at a qualified specialist workshop. Dr
iving tips G
Risk of accident Maximum care and atte
ntion iscalledfor
when coupling and decoupling a trailer.
Ma kesure that no-one is pre sent between
the trailer and the vehicle when the vehicle
is being reversed up to the trailer.
Do not uncouple a tr ailer with an overrun
brake when the brake is engaged. If you have coupled the trailer to the vehicle
incorr
ectly, there isa risk that the trailer
may break away.
Make sure that the following values have
been observed:
! Maximum permissi ble gross vehicle
weight
! Maximum permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight
! Maximum permissible trailer load
! Maximum permissible rearload on the
towing vehicle 209en_d2.boo Seite
262 Dienstag, 25. Mai 2004 7:26 19

263
Operation
Trailer towing
! You should not exceed a maximum
speed of 80 km /h, even incountries
where higher speeds are permitted.
! Avoid sudden braking. Instead, apply
the brake lightly at first, to allow the
trailer to overrun. Then increase the
braking for cerapidly.
! If the trailer starts to swing, reduce
your speed, do not attempt corrective
steering, and brake if necessary. On no
account should you attem pttodraw
the vehicle /trailer combination out by
increasing your speed.
! The gradient-climbing capabi lities from
a standstill are correct for sea level.
When driving in mountainous areas,
note that the power output of the en-
gine, and with itits gradient-climbing
capability from a standstill, decreases
with increasing altitude.
! Do not uncouple a trai ler with anoverrun
brake when the brake is engaged. The spring
action of the overrunning brake mechani sm
could damage the bumper. 6
Fold out the socket under the vehicle.
6 Remove the locked prot ective cap on
the handwheel.
6 Unlock the lock on the handwheel
usin g the key.
6 Hold the ball coupli ngfirmly. Lift the
handwheel off the ball coupling and
turn the handwheel clockwise until it
engages.
The red marking on the handwheel is
aligned with the white marking.
6 Remove the ball coupling by pulling
downwards.
6 Press the ball coupling cover into the
ball coupling recess.
Make sure that the cover is fitted se-
curely. Stowing the ball coupling
6
Stow the ball coupling in the ball
coupling well by the spare wheel. Removing the ball coupling
G
Risk of accident Do not carry the ball coupling unsecured in
the vehicle interior.
Vehicle occupan tscould be injured by the
ball coupling being thrown around in the
vehicle in the event of:
! sharp braking
! a change of direction or
! anaccide nt 209en_d2.boo Seite
263 Dienstag, 25. Mai 2004 7:26 19

264 Operation
Trailer towing
If your trailer has a 7-pin connector, you
can connect it using an adapter cable.
The adapter cable can be obtained at a
qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at a
Mercedes-Benz Servi ceCentre.
1 Lug
2 Gro ove Fitting an adapter
cable
6 Lift up the cover.
6 Insert the connector with lug 1 into
groove 2and turn it clockwise to the
stop.
6 Allow the cover to engage.
6 Secure the adapter cable to the trailer
using cable ties. Permanent current
Your
vehicle has been designed to provi de
a permanent current connection. If you
need a perman ent current supply to the
trailer, have the necessary fuse inserted at
a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
i Remove the fu seifyou no longer require a
perm anent current connection. Trailer with 7-pin connector
P
31.10-2456-31 209en_d2.boo Seite
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265
Operation
Service
ASSYST, the A ctive S ervice Syst em, tells
you when the next service is due.
Approximately one month before the next
service is due ,one of the following mes-
sages will appear in the multi-function dis-
play while you are driving or the ignition is
switched on:Se rvice A in.. days
Se rvice A in.. km
Se rvice A due now!
TheService AorService Bmessages pro-
vi de information about the type of service
which is due. i
Thetime between individual services de-
pends on your sty leof driving. Amoderate style
of driving atmedium engine speeds and avoidi ng
short trips increase this time.
The service indicator is cleared automati-
cally after 30 seconds. You can also clear
it yourself.
6 Press the reset button on the left-hand
side of the instrument cluster
(
= page 12). If you have missed the service due date,
the following messages appear in the
multi-function display:
Service
A exceededby.. days
Service A exceededby.. km
A signal also sounds.
A qual ified specialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Serv ice Centre, will reset
the service indicator after the service work
has been carr ied out.
i You could be in breach of rele vant regula-
tions by failing tohave the spe cified service
carried out. Service
P54.30-5239-31 Clearing the service indicator Missi
ngthe service due date 209en_d2.boo Seite
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266 Operation
Service
6
Switch on the ignition.
The standard display appears in the mul ti-
function display (= page 120).
6 Pres s the k orj button on the
mu lti-function steering wheel repeat-
edly until the 9or´ service
symbol appears in the multi-function
display with the service due date.
i Periods when the battery isdisconnected
ar en ot recorde dbythe timed service indicator.
Yo u must therefore subtract such periods from
the ser vice due dat eyourself.
Do not confuse the service indicator with the
: engine oil level display. If your vehicle is ever service
dother than
at a Mercedes-Benz Serv ice Ce ntre, you
can reset the service indicator yoursel f.
6 Switch on the ignition.
The standard displ ayappears in the multi-
function display (= page 120).
6 Press the korj button on the
multi-function steering wheel repeat-
edly until the 9or´ service
symbol appears in the mul ti-function
display with the service due date.
6 Press and hold the reset button on the
left in the instrument cluster for about
four seconds. The following message appears
inthe
display:Re set service interval?
To confirm pr ess reset button
6To confirm, press and hold the reset
button until asignal sou nds.
The service indicator now displays the
new value.
i Ifyou have reset the service indicator acci-
dentally, a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre, will beableto
upda te itagain. Calling up the
service due date Resetti
ngthe service indic ator 209en_d2.boo Seite
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267
Operation
Care
Regular and proper care will help to main-
tain the value of your vehicle .The best way
to protect your veh icle from harmful envi-
ronmental influences is to wash itand use
protective treatments regularly.
i Itis be stto use Merced es-Benz care pro d-
uc ts. The sehave been sp ecially adapt edto
Mercedes-Benz vehicle sand are state of the art.
Mer cedes-Benz care products are available from
any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, etching and
damage caused by neglect or inadequate
care cannot always be completely reme-
died. If this is the case, please consult a
qualified specialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Repair damage caused by loose chippings
and remove the following substan
ces as
soon as possible:
! Insect re mains
! Bird droppings
! Tree resin
! Oils and grease
! Fuel
! Tar stains !
Under no circumstanc esshould you affix un-
suitable stickers, films, magnets or similar to
painted surfaces. Doing so could damage the
paintwork.
Additional care notes for AMG vehicles
with nubuck leather upholstery:
The nubuck leather isalready treated with
a protective coating. You sho uld not there-
fore use:
! MB leather care agents
! MB stain remover
! other solvent-based cleaning agents
Avoid rubbing the leather upholster yvigor-
ously. Remo vedirt using a damp microfi-
bre cloth. Care
G
Riskofpoisoning Always follow the instructions for using
the
care pro ducts.
Always keep care products tightly clos ed
and out of the reach of children. H
Environmental note Dis
pose of emp tyconta iners, cleaning
cloths and polishing wads in an environmen-
tally-responsible manner. 209en
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268 Operation
CareAutomatic car wash
You can cl
ean the vehicle in an automatic
ca rw ash fr om the very st art. It isad vis able
to use automatic car washes without
brushes.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it be-
fore you drive into the car wash.
After using anautom atic ca rwash, wipe off
wax fro mthe windscreen and the wiper
blades. This prevents smears.
! Make sure that the automatic car wash is
suitable for the size of the vehicle. Fold in the ex-
terior mirrors befor egoing through a car wash.
Make sure that the windscreen-wi per switch is
set to 0 ( =
pag e41). The exterior mirrors or
windscreen wipers cou ldotherwise be damaged.
i Make sure that the mirrors are fully folded
out whe nyou leave the automatic car wash. They
co uld oth erwise vibrate. High-pressure cleaners
!
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with
round-spray jet sfor cleaning the tyres. You could
ot he rwise damage the tyres .Replace damaged
tyres.
6 Direct the high-pressure cleaner nozzle
at the vehicle from a distance of at
least 30 cm.
6 Move the high-pressure cleaner nozzle
around when cleanin gyour vehicle.
! Do no tdirect it at door joints, air spring
bellows, ele ctrica l compone nts,conne ctors or
seals.
Clea ning the windscreen and wiper blades
6
Turn the ignition key to position 1.
6 Turn the windscreen wipers to
position Ion the combination switch
(= page 41).
6 Turn the ignition key to 0wh en the wip-
er arms are vertical. !
Fold the windscree nwipers away from the
windscreen only whe nthe yare vertical, other-
wise you will damage th ebonnet.
6 Fold the wiper arms away from the
windscreen until you feel them click
into place.
6 You can now clean the windscreen.
6 Fold the windscreen wipers back again
before you switch on the ignition. Vehicle care
G
Risk of injury Turn th
eignition key to 0before cleaning
the windscreen or wiper blade s.The wind-
sc reen wipers could otherwise move and in-
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269
Operation
Care Cleaning the headlamps
6
Wipe the headlamp lenses with a wet
sponge.
! Only use windscreen washer fluid which is
suitable for plasti clamp lenses. Unsuitable wind-
screen washer fluid could damage the plastic
lamp lenses of the headlamps .You must not
th er efore use a dry cloth ,sco uring agents, sol-
vents or solvent-b ased cle aning agents. You
could otherwise scratch or damage the surface
of the lens. Cl
eaning Distronic*
1 Dist ronic cover 6
Turn the ignition key to 0before clean-
in g.
6 Clean radiator grille cover 1with
water, shampoo and a soft cloth.
! Do not usedry,co ars eor hard cloths and do
no tscrub. Otherwise, you will scratch or damage
th e se nsors.
6 Restart your vehicle after it has been
cleaned. Cle
aning Parktronic*
The sensors are located in the front and
rear bumpers.
1 Parktronic sensors in the front bumper 6
Clean the sensors on the bumpers us-
ing water, shampoo and a soft cloth.
! Do not use dry, coarse or hard cloths and do
not scrub. Othe rwise, you will scratch or damage
the sensors. If youare cleaning the sensors with
a high-pressure or steam cleaner, direct it only
briefly at the sensors, maintaining a distance of
at least 10 cm. P 54.70-2218-31
P 54.65-2427-31209en_d2.boo Seite
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