2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS battery

88 Controls in detailLightingManual control
Activating and deactivating
Press switch2.
The interior lighting is switched on.

Press switch2 again.
The interior lighting is switched off.Night security illumination
If you exit the vehicle after driving with the
exterior lighting on, it switches on again for
added security for approximately
30 seconds after closing the last door.iIf the interior lighting is switched on
manually, it will not go out automatical-
ly. This could cause the battery to be-
come discharged.
iThe trunk lighting is switched on and
off simultaneously with the interior
lighting.

101 Controls in detail
Good visibility
1Mirror cover
Swing sun visors down when you expe-
rience glare.

Push mirror cover1 to the side, as
required.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the defrost-
er as soon as the rear window is clear. The
defroster is automatically deactivated af-
ter a maximum of 12 minutes.
Activating
Switch on the ignition.

Press buttonF (
page 102).
The indicator lamp on the button lights
up.
Deactivating

Press buttonF (
page 102) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Warning!
G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.!If the rear window defroster switches
off too soon and the indicator lamp
starts blinking, this means that too
many electrical consumers are operat-
ing simultaneously and there is insuffi-
cient voltage in the battery. The system
responds automatically by deactivating
the rear window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient
voltage, the rear window defroster au-
tomatically turns itself back on.

108 Controls in detailClimate controlDeactivating
Press buttonÐ (
page 102).
The indicator lamp on the buttonÐ
goes out.
The residual heat is automatically turned
off:


when the ignition is switched on


after about 30 minutes


if the battery voltage drops
Basic settings
Heater
Select temperature for each side of the
passenger compartment with tempera-
ture controls1.

Select air volume with air volume
control2, set at least to position2 to
prevent window fogging.

Set air distribution control3 to posi-
tion shown above.

Turn side window defroster vents
(page 103) to the detent position.

Open center air vents (
page 103) as
desired.
iHow long the system will provide heat-
ing depends on the coolant tempera-
ture and the temperature set by the
operator. The blower will run at speed
setting1 regardless of the air volume
control setting.

115 Controls in detail
Audio system
Button and soft key operation
In these instructions, the alpha-numeric
keypad (right side of radio face) and the
function buttons (left side of radio face)
are referred to as “buttons” and the four
keys under the display are referred to as
“soft keys”.Operation
Switching on and off
Press control knob a.
The radio is switched off when you turn the
key in the steering lock to position0 or re-
move it from the steering lock. The radio is
switched on again when you turn the key in
the steering lock to position1 or2.Adjusting the volume

Turn the control knob.
Turning the knob clockwise will in-
crease the volume, counterclockwise
will decrease the volume.
Audio functions
The AUD
key is used to select the BASS,
TREBLE and BALANCE functions. Settings
for bass and treble are stored separately
for the cassette and CD modes. Tone level
settings are identified by the vertical bars.
The center (flat) setting is shown by one
longer bar in the center of the display.Bass

Press the
AUD
key repeatedly until
BASS

appears in the display.
Treble

Press the
AUD
key repeatedly until
TRE-
BLE
appears in the display.

Press the + key to increase or the - key
to decrease the level.
iDo not press directly on the radio dis-
play face.
iThe radio can also be switched on even
if the key is not inserted in the steering
lock, but will switch itself off automati-
cally after one hour to conserve vehicle
battery power.

129 Controls in detail
Power windows
Synchronizing power windows
The side power windows must be
synchronized

after the battery has been disconnect-
ed


if the windows cannot be fully opened
or closed

Switch ignition on.

Press switch at the symbolj until
the window is completely closed and
hold down for approximately 1 second.
Repeat procedure for each window.

145 Controls in detail
Useful features
The Tele Aid system
(Tele
matic A
larm I
dentification on
Demand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three
types of response:


automatic and manual emergency


roadside assistance and


information.
The Tele Aid system is operational provid-
ing that the vehicle’s battery is charged,
properly connected, not damaged and cel-
lular and GPS coverage is available.

To activate, press the SOS button, the
Roadside Assistance button• or
the Information button¡, depend-
ing on the type of response required.Shortly after the completion of your Tele
Aid acquaintance call, you will receive a
user ID and password via first call mail. By
visiting www.mbusa.com and selecting
“Tele Aid” (USA only), you will have access
to account information, remote door un-
lock and more.
System self-check
Initially, after turning the key in the steer-
ing lock to position2, malfunctions are de-
tected and indicated (the indicator lamps
in the SOS button, the Roadside Assis-
tance button• and the Information
button¡
stay on longer than ten sec-
onds or do not come on).
iThe SOS button is located in the over-
head control panel. The Roadside
Assistance button• and the Infor-
mation button¡ are located below
the center armrest cover.
!The Tele Aid system utilizes the cellular
network for communication and the
GPS (Global Positioning System) satel-
lites for vehicle location. If either of
these signals are unavailable, the Tele
Aid system may not function and if this
occurs, assistance must be summoned
by other means.
Warning!
G
If the indicator lamps in the SOS button, in
the Roadside Assistance button, and/or in
the Information button do not come on dur-
ing the system self-check or if any of these
indicators remain illuminated constantly in
red after the system self-check, a malfunc-
tion in the system has been detected.
If a malfunction is indicated as outlined
above, the system may not operate as ex-
pected. Have the system checked at the
nearest Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.

183 Operation
Engine compartment
Battery
Your vehicle’s battery is located in the en-
gine compartment.
The battery should always be sufficiently
charged in order to achieve its rated ser-
vice life. Refer to Service Booklet for bat-
tery maintenance intervals.
If you use your vehicle mostly for short dis-
tance trips, you will need to have the bat-
tery charge checked more frequently.
When replacing the battery, always use
batteries approved by Mercedes-Benz.
If you do not intend to operate your vehicle
for an extended period of time, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center about
steps you need to observe.
Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
G
Observe all safety instructions
and precautions when handling
automotive batteries.
A
Risk of explosion
D
Keep flames or sparks away
from battery. Do not smoke.
B
Battery acid is caustic. Do not
allow it to come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing.
In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with clear
water and seek medical help if
necessary.
E
Wear eye protection.
C
Keep children away.
F
Follow the instructions in this
Operator's Manual.

188 OperationWinter driving
Winter drivingBefore the onset of winter, have your
vehicle winterized at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. This service
includes:

Check of anticorrosion and antifreeze
concentration.


Addition of cleaning concentrate to the
water of the windshield and headlamp*
cleaning system. Add MB Concentrate
“S” to a premixed windshield washer
solvent / antifreeze which is formulated
for temperatures below freezing point
(page 277).


Battery test. Battery capacity drops
with decreasing ambient temperature.
A well charged battery helps to ensure
the engine can be started, even at low
ambient temperatures.


Tire change. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends M+S rated radial-ply tires with a
minimum tread depth of approximately 1/6 in (4 mm) on all four wheels for the
winter season.
Winter tires
Always use winter tires at temperatures
below 45°F (7°C) and whenever wintry
road conditions prevail. Use of winter tires
is the only way to achieve the maximum ef-
fectiveness of the ABS and ESP in winter
operation.
For safe handling, make sure all mounted
winter tires are of the same make and have
the same tread design.Always observe the speed rating of the
winter tires installed on your vehicle. If the
maximum speed for which your tires are
rated is below the speed rating of your ve-
hicle, you must place a notice to this effect
where it will be seen by the driver. Such no-
tices are available at your tire dealer or any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Warning!
G
Winter tires with a tread depth under
1/6 in
(4 mm) must be replaced. They are no long-
er suitable for winter operation.
Warning!
G
If you use your spare tire when winter tires
are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that
the difference in tire characteristics may
very well impair turning stability and that
overall driving stability may be reduced.
Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter
tire at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.