2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK CABRIOLET tow

261
Operation
Trailer towing
3 Ball coupling mounting
6 At the mark on the bumper, gu ide the
ball coupling vertically into ball cou-
pling mou nting 3until it engages.
The han dwheel turns in such a way that
green area 4on the handwheel is
aligned with the white area on the ball
cou pling. 4
Green area
6 Turn the key in the direct ion of the ar-
row (to lock).
6 Rem ove the key and press on the cover
cap.
6 Fold out the socket under the vehicle.
i It isbest to remove th e ball coupling if the
tr ailer tow hitch is no longer required. P 31.10-2453-31 P 31.10-2454-31 G
Risk of accident The ball coup
ling is only correctly fitted once
the white ar eaon the ba llcoupling and the
gr ee nar ea on the han dwheelare aligned
and the key can be removed. Unless it is fit-
ted properly, the ball coupling could work
loose.
When the vehicl eis towing a trail er, the ball
coupling must be locked and the ke yre-
moved. Only then is it guaranteed that the
ball coupling issecure and cannot work
loose while the vehicle is being driven.
If the ball coupling can not be locked and the
key cannot be remove d, remove the ball
coupling and clean it ( =
pag e271). If you
still cannot fit (lock) the ball coupling after it
has been cleaned, rem ove it. Insuch cases,
the trailer tow hitch must not be used for
towing because its safety cannot be guaran-
teed. 209en
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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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271
Operation
Care
Clean the ball coupling and the ball cou-
pling recess if they are dirty or rusted. This
allows the ball coupling to be fitted and re-
moved safely and easily.
6 Remove the dirt with a clean, lint-free
cloth or a brush.
6 Remove traces of rust with a wire
brush.
! Do not useahi gh-pres sure cleaner to wash
th eball coupling. Do not use solve nts. The following areas must be lightly oiled or
greased after cleaning:
1 Lock ing balls
2 Guide pin
3 Guide faces
4 Release lever
5 Coupling ball
Also lightly oil or grease the ball coupling
mounting on the vehicle.
6 Treat the lock with an acid-free and
resin-free oil.
6 Check that the trailer tow hitch is work-
ing properly on the vehicle.
i You can have this cleaning work carrie dout
at any Merced es-Benz Service Cen tre. Tra
iler tow hitch* P 31.10-2450-31209en_d2.boo Seite
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273
Practical advice
Where will I find...?
Display messages Troubleshooting
Opening /closi nginan em ergen cy
Changing the key batteries Changing bulbs
Replacing the wiper blades Flat tyreBattery
Jump-starting TowingFu ses 209en_d2.boo Seite
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275
Practical advice
Where will I find...?
Setting up the warni ngtriangle
1 Stand
2 Side reflectors
3 Press-stud
6 Fold stand 1out sideways from the
bottom.
6 Pull side reflectors 2upwa rds to form
a tri angle and lock them at the top us-
ing press-stud 3. The fire exti
nguisher is located under the
front of the driver's seat.
1 Tab
2 Fire extinguisher
6 Pull tab 1down.
6 Remove fire extinguisher 2.
i Have the fire extinguisher refilled after each
use.
Have the fire extinguisher checked every one or
two years, otherwise itco uld fail in an emergen-
cy. Coupé:
The first-aid kit is on the left-hand side of
the boot in the stowage compartment be-
hind the wheel housing when viewed in the
direction of travel.
Cabriolet:
The first-aid kit
ison the right-hand side of
the boot under the boot floor when viewed
in the direction of travel.
i Check the expiry dates of the first-aid kit
contents regularly, and replace them if neces-
sary. P58.00-2031-31 Fire extinguisher*
P 68.00-3283-31 neu First-
aidkit 209en_d2.boo Seite
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276 Practical advice
Where will I find...?
The vehicle tool kit is located in a stowage
compartment underneath the floor in the
boot.
The vehicle tool kit contains:
! one to wing eye
! one centring pin
! one fuse extractor
! one glove
! one wheel wrench
! one folding chock
! Cabriolet:
Straps for emergency operation of
the soft top Co
upé with TIREFIT kit
1 Jack
2 TIREFIT kit
3 Electric air pump
4 Vehicle tool kit
5 Towing eye Vehicl
etool kit, TIREFIT, jac k,spare
wheel* and Minispare emergency
spare wheel */col lapsible wheel* G
Riskofaccident The jack is only designed to raise the vehicle
when changing a whee
l.Do not crawl under
the ve hicle while itis supported by the jack.
If you donot raise the vehicleinthe way de-
scribed, it could slip off the jack (e.g. when
the engine is started or the doors or boot lid
are opened or close d).
For safety reasons, if you intend to work un-
der the vehicle, place the vehicle on stands. P 40.10-2597-31 neu209en_d2.boo Seite
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