2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK55AMG COUPE display

159 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear ranges
With the gear selector lever in positionD,
you can limit the transmission’s gear range
by pressing the gear selector lever to the
left (D-), and reverse the gear range limit
by pressing the gear selector lever to the
right (D+).The selected gear range appears in the
multifunction display. If you press on the
accelerator when the engine has reached
its rpm limit, the transmission will upshift
beyond any gear range limit selected.
Effect
é
The transmission shifts through
fourth gear only.
è
The transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.
Effect
ç
The transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s
braking power when driving:

on steep downgrades


in mountainous regions


under extreme operating
conditions
æ
The transmission operates only
in first gear.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.

163 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Program mode selector switch
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
S Sport For standard driving
C Comfort For comfort driving

Press the program mode selector
switch 1 repeatedly until the letter of
the desired shift program appears in
the multifunction display (
page 129).
SelectCfor comfort driving:


The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range1 is selected.


Traction and driving stability are
improved on icy roads.


Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.


The power transmission ratio for
gear selector lever positionR
changes depending on the program
mode selected (SorC).
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
The transmission shifts into a lower
gear.

Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.
!Never change the program mode when
the gear selector lever is out of
positionP. This could result in a
change of driving characteristics for
which you may not be prepared.

164 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionManual shift program CLK 55 AMG
In the manual shift program mode you can
change the gears manually on the steering
wheel (
page 161) or by using the gear
selector lever (
page 158).
Allow engine to warm up under low load
use. Do not place full load on the engine
until the operating temperature has been
reached. Shift into reverse gear only when
the vehicle is stopped.Program mode selector switch
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
S Sport For standard driving
C Comfort For comfort driving
M Manual For manual gear shifting
The selected shift program (
C/S/M) is
indicated in the multifunction display
(
page 129).Activating manual shift program

Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the
M for
manual shift program appears in the
multifunction display.
The program mode switches to manual
program modeM. Automatic shifting is
switched off. The gear range is not
limited.
You can change the gears manually when
the gear selector lever is in positionD. You
can upshift or downshift through the gears
in succession.
The current gear selector lever position
and the selected shift program (
C/S/M) is
indicated in the multifunction display
(
page 129).
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drive train which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

165 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Downshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction
(page 158).
or

Press button2 on the left side of the
steering wheel (
page 161).
The transmission shifts to the next
lower gear.
Upshifting

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction
(page 158).
or

Press button3 on the right side of the
steering wheel (
page 161).
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.
Deactivating manual shift program

Press the program mode selector
switch repeatedly until
S or
C appears
in the right multifunction display field.
or

Restart the engine.
The transmission will go into the last
shift program mode selected (SorC).
Program modeM is not stored.Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode, only second gear and reverse gear
can be activated.
Stop the vehicle.

Move gear selector lever toP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least ten seconds before
restarting.

Restart the engine.

Move gear selector lever to positionD
(for second gear) orR.

Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.
iThe last selected automatic program
mode (S orC) is switched on when the
engine is restarted in the automatic
program mode.

173 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Automatic climate control panel
Item
1
Left side air vent, adjustable
2
Left center air vent, adjustable
3
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for center air vents
4
Right center air vent, adjustable
5
Right side air vent, adjustable
6
Automatic climate control panel
7
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side center air vent
8
Thumbwheel for lowering tempera-
ture, center and side air vents
9
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side center air ventiFor draft-free ventilation, move the slid-
ers for the center air vents1, 2, 4,
5 to the middle position.
Item
1
Temperature control, left, lowering
2
Temperature control, left, raising
3
Left-side air distribution
(automatic or manual operation)
4
Activated charcoal filter
5
Display
6
Right-side air distribution
(automatic or manual operation)
7
Temperature control, right, raising
8
Temperature control, right,
lowering
9
Rear window defroster
a
AC cooling on/off °Residual heat/ventilation
b
Air volume control
c
Automatic climate control on/off
(complete system)
d
Air recirculation
e
Defrosting

177 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Adjusting air volume
Adjusting manually
Seven blower speeds are available.
Press leftM or rightQ s i d e o f a i r
volume control switch until the re-
quested blower speed is attained.
The display “AUTO” disappears and the
automatic mode is switched off. The
selected blower speed is shown in the
display.
Adjusting automatically

Press left or right U button until it
clicks in.
The a, Z, X and Y sym-
bols are no longer visible.
The air volume is adjusted
automatically.
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
If the left and right air distribution controls
as well as the airflow volume control are
set toU and there is a high need for
cooling, the display “MAXCOOL” appears.
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior (when windows and
sliding/pop-up roof are closed).
Defrosting
Activating
Press buttonP (
page 173).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Switch off air recirculation, if selected.

Press button, (
page 173).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.

Close center air vents.

Adjust side air vents upwards.
Deactivating

Press buttonP (
page 173).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
iThese settings should only be selected
for a short time.

180 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlDeactivating
Press buttone (
page 173).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.The system switches automatically to the
air recirculation mode if the carbon
monoxide (CO) or nitrogen oxide (NO
X)
concentration of the outside air increases
beyond a predetermined level.
The automatic air recirculation mode does
not function if economy mode ° is se-
lected or if the outside temperature has
fallen below 41°F (5°C).
The activated charcoal filter should be
switched off when windows fog up on the
inside, or if the passenger compartment
needs to be quickly heated or cooled
down.Deactivating the climate control
system
Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the automatic
climate control system.
Press buttonM (
page 173) until
the display is cleared.
The climate control system is deacti-
vated.
Reactivating

Press button Q (
page 173).
Warning
G
Never operate the side windows and the
sliding/pop-up roof* if there is the possibil-
ity of anyone being harmed by the closing
procedure.
In the event that the procedure causes po-
tential danger, the closing of the side win-
dows can be immediately halted by
releasing thee button or by pressing or
pulling the respective window switch. The
closing of the sliding/pop-up roof* can be
immediately halted by releasing thee
button or by moving the sliding/pop-up
roof* switch in the overhead control panel in
any direction.
iIf you keep buttone pressed, the
side windows and the sliding/pop-up
roof* will return to their previous
position.
iWhen the automatic climate control
system is deactivated, the air flow and
circulation are also switched off.
Only choose this setting temporarily to
prevent the windows from fogging up.

184 Controls in detailAudio systemOperating and display elements