2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK-CLASS towing

390 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
Towing the vehicleTowing 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.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equip-
ment with SmartKey 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 84) and the automatic central
locking (
page 149).
!If the vehicle is towed with the front
axle raised, the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0
or1). Otherwise, the ESP will immedi-
ately 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 and the SmartKey
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).
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391 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
!
To be certain to avoid a possibility of
damage to the transmission, however,
we recommend the drive shaft be dis-
connected at the rear axle drive flange
for any towing beyond a short tow to a
nearby garage.
Warning!
G
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that the SmartKey
is in starter switch position
2.
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch posi-
tion
0 for an extended period of time, it can
no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock, re-
move SmartKey from starter switch and re-
insert.
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:


the engine will not run


there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
as that will be necessary to adequately con-
trol the towed vehicle.
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 brake and steer the ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.iTo signal turns while being towed with
the hazard warning flasher in use, turn
SmartKey in starter switch to
position2 and activate the combina-
tion switch for the left or right turn sig-
nal in the usual manner – only the
selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the haz-
ard warning flasher will operate again.
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392 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt
Towing eye bolt CLK 320/CLK 500
1Cover on right side of front bumper2Cover on right side of rear bumper
To remove cover:

Press mark on cover in direction of ar-
row.

Lift cover off to reveal threaded hole for
towing eye bolt.
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the
tool kit (located in the compartment under-
neath the trunk floor).

Screw towing eye bolt to its stop and
tighten with lug wrench.
To reinstall cover:

Fit cover and snap into place.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the follow-
ing:
With the automatic central locking acti-
vated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel
as well as the right rear wheel are turn-
ing at vehicle speeds of approx. 9 mph
(15 km / h) or more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 84).
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (
page 149).
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 the vehicle chas-
sis, frame or suspension parts.
iThe gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP and the SmartKey
will not turn in the starter switch if the
battery is disconnected or discharged.
See notes on the battery (
page 385)
or on jump starting (
page 388).
Manually unlocking gear selector lever
(
page 352)
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393 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing eye bolt CLK 55 AMG
Towing eye bolt in front bumper
The cover for the threaded bore in the front
bumper is identical to the cover on the
models CLK320/CLK500.
To remove and to reinstall cover,see “Tow-
ing eye bolt CLK 320/CLK 500”
(page 392)Towing eye bolt in rear bumper
1Cover on right side of rear bumper
2Recess in the cover
To remove cover:

Insert flat, blunt object as a lever in re-
cess 2 on the edge of cover 1.

Loosen cover 1 from the bumper us-
ing lever, to reveal threaded hole for
towing eye bolt.
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the
tool kit (located in the compartment
underneath the trunk floor).

Screw towing eye bolt to its stop and
tighten with lug wrench.To reinstall cover:

Hook right-hand side of the cover into
opening.

Slide cover as far as it will go in the di-
rection of the arrow3.

Gently press left-hand side of cover in
direction of the arrow4.
The hooks on the left-hand side en-
gage.iWhen closing the cover, make sure the
cover’s check strap does not get
caught.
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438 IndexH
Hands-free microphone 27
Hard plastic trim items
Cleaning 310
Hazard warning flasher 123
Switching off 124
Switching on 123
Head restraints 110
Headlamp cleaning system* 295
Headlamps
Automatic control 120
Bi-Xenon 419
Cleaning 307
Cleaning system* 167, 295
Refilling washer fluid 295
Switching off 54
Switching on 47
Washer fluid 416
Washer system* 416
Headliner
Cleaning 310
Head-thorax airbag 63
In front passenger seat 64
Head-thorax airbags 421Height adjustment
Head restraints 36
High beam flasher 48, 123
Replacing bulbs (Bi-Xenon*) 373
Replacing bulbs (Halogen) 373
High beam headlamps
Messages in display 335
Replacing bulbs (Bi-Xenon*) 373
Replacing bulbs (Halogen) 373, 375
Replacing bulbs for
high beam flasher(Bi-Xenon*) 376
Switching on 123
High mounted brake lamp 373
Hood 287
Closing 288
Message in display 334
Opening 287
Hydroplaning 277I
Identification labels 400
Ignition 31, 33
Switching on 44
Immobilizer 82
Activating 82
Deactivating 82
Indicator lamps see
Lamps, indicator and warning
Infant and child restraint systems 69
LATCH child seat anchors 73
Information
About service and warranty 10
Button for Tele Aid* 262
Inside rear view mirror
Antiglare 168
Installing
Floormates* 255
Towing eye bolt 392
Towing eye bolt (CLK 55 AMG) 393
Wind screen 224
Wiper blades 379
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445 Index
Positions (Memory function)
Recalling from memory 117
Storing into memory 117
Power assistance 273
Power seat
Adjusting backrest tilt 36
Adjusting head restraint height 36
Adjusting head restraint tilt 36
Adjusting seat cushion tilt 36
Adjusting seat height 36
Front seat head restraints 110
Seat fore and aft adjustment 35
Power train 423
Power washer 305
Power windows 210
Blocking of rear window operation 74
Side windows 210
Synchronizing 214Practical hints
First aid kit 343
Fuses 394
Lamp in center console 319
Lamps in instrument cluster 312
Messages in the display 320
Minispare wheel 346
Minispare wheel bolts 347
Towing the vehicle 390
Unlocking/locking
in an emergency 348
Vehicle jack 345
Vehicle tool kit 343
Premium unleaded gasoline 413
Problems
While driving 51
With vehicle 17
Product information 9
Program mode selector switch 423
Automatic transmission 163
Automatic transmission,
CLK 55 AMG 164Q
Quick search
Phone book* 156
R
Radio
Selecting stations 135
Station search 135
Station selection setting 149
Radio operation 189
Radio see Radio operation
Radio transmitters,
control and operation 281
Radio*
Selecting stations (satellite) 135
Range (distance to empty)
Calling up 153
Reading lamp 27
Rear fog lamp 373
Bulb 373
Switching on 122
Rear lamp bulbs
Replacing 378
Rear lamps see Tail lamps
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454 IndexTowing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit)
CLK 320/CLK 500 392
CLK 55 AMG 393
Installing 392
Installing (CLK 55 AMG) 393
Towing the vehicle 390
Tracking services
For stolen vehicle 265
Traction 163, 417, 425
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Traveling abroad 280
Tread depth (tires) 300
Tread wear 417
Trip computer 152
Trip odometer
Resetting 127Trunk
Auxiliary fuse box 396
Closing 100
Closing from the inside 101
Lock button, KEYLESS-GO* 95
Locking separately 106
Luggage cover 216
Message in display 342
Opening 98
Opening from inside vehicle 99
Opening from the inside 100
Trunk lid 98, 100, 101
Trunk lock 349
Unlocking separately 107
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO* 96
Unlocking with SmartKey 90
Trunk lid emergency release 105
Trunk lid opening/closing system* 100
Turn signal lamps
Replacing bulbs 373Turn signals 48
Additional in mirrors 373
Cleaning lenses 307
Front bulbs 373
Front bulbs (Bi-Xenon*) 377
Front bulbs (Halogen) 375
Indicator lamps 23
Rear bulbs 373, 378
Turning off
Engine 54
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455 Index
U
Units
Setting speedometer units 142
Setting temperature units 142
Unlocking 30, 88
Driver’s door in an emergency 348
Fuel filler flap 284
Gear selector lever manually 352
Global with KEYLESS-GO* 94
Global, SmartKey 89
In an emergency 348
Selective setting 89, 94
Trunk lid with KEYLESS-GO* 96
Trunk lid with SmartKey 90
Trunk lid, separately 107
Vehicle in an emergency 264
With KEYLESS-GO* 32
With the SmartKey 30Upgrade signals
Tele Aid* 263
Uphill driving
Cruise control 227
Upholstery
Cleaning 310
Upshifting
Manual shift program mode
(CLK 55 AMG) 165
One-touch gearshifting 158
Steering wheel gearshift control
(CLK 55 AMG) 162
Useful features 250
Ashtray (Center console) 253
Ashtray (Rear seat) 254
Cigarette lighter 254
Floormats* 255
Interior storage spaces 250
Tele Aid* 257
Telephone* 256V
Vehicle
Individual settings 139, 141
Locking 25
Locking in an emergency 349
Lowering 384
Service battery 385
Towing 390
Unlocking 25
Unlocking in an emergency 348
Vehicle battery 385
Vehicle care 304
Cup holder 309
Distronic* system sensor cover 308
Engine cleaning 306
Gear selector lever 309
Hard plastic trim items 310
Headlamps 307
Instrument cluster 309
Leather upholstery 310
Light alloy wheels 309
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