Page 204 of 314
204 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
3
(Canada only)
;
(USA only)
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving and
you hear a warning sound.
You are driving with the
parking brake set.
Release the parking brake
(page 42).
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving.
There is insufficient brake fluid
in the reservoir.
Risk of accident! Carefully stop the
vehicle and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Do not add
brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with the brake warning lamp illumi-
nated can result in an accident. Have your
brake system checked immediately if the
brake warning lamp stays on. Don’t add
brake fluid before checking the brake
system. Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir
can result in spilling brake fluid on hot
engine parts and the brake fluid catching
fire. You can be seriously burned.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.
Page 209 of 314
209 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
2
The yellow brake pad wear indi-
cator lamp lights up while brak-
ing.
The brake pads have reached their wear limit.
Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
.
The yellow exterior lamp failure
indicator lamp lights up while
applying the brake and stays on
until the engine is turned off.
One of the brake lamps is malfunctioning.
Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(page 226).
.
The yellow exterior lamp failure
indicator lamp remains lit after
starting the engine or lights up
while driving.
One of the following lamps is malfunctioning:
parking lamp
tail lamp
brake lamp
low beam head lamp
Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(page 226).
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Service book-
let.
iAdditional lighting equipment, if not
properly installed (e.g. auxiliary head-
lamps etc.), could cause the failure in-
dicator monitoring unit to malfunction.
We therefore recommend that an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center install
such equipment for you.
iIf an exterior lamp fails, the indicator
lamp will come on only when that lamp
is switched on.
Page 212 of 314
212 Practical hintsWhere will I find ...?
Where will I find ...?First aid kit
The first aid kit is located on the left side of
the trunk.
1First aid kit
Loosen the fastening strap.
Remove first aid kit1.
Vehicle tool kit, vehicle jack
The following is included:
Towing eye bolt
Wheel wrench
Alignment bolt
Wheel bolts
Special fuse puller
Vehicle jack
Vehicle jackThe jack is exclusively designed for lifting
the vehicle during a wheel change. Always
lower the vehicle on sufficient capacity
jackstands before working under the
vehicle.
iCheck expiration dates and contents
for completeness at least once a year
and replace missing/expired items.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack tubes built into ei-
ther side of the vehicle. To help avoid per-
sonal injury, use the jack only to lift the
vehicle during a wheel change. Never get
beneath the vehicle while it is supported by
the jack. Keep hands and feet away from the
area under the lifted vehicle.
Always firmly set parking brake and block
wheels before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Make sure the jack arm is
fully inserted in the jack tube. Always lower
the vehicle onto sufficient capacity jack-
stands before working under the vehicle.
Page 221 of 314
221 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency
Opening/closing in an emergency
Raising retractable hardtop manually
If the retractable hardtop cannot be closed
automatically, make certain that all points
listed under the “Retractable hardtop” sec-
tion (
page 130) were observed.
If the automatic operation still does not
function properly, you can close the re-
tractable hardtop manually.
This procedure should be performed with
great care by two persons.
Open doors or lower windows
(page 128).
Set parking brake (
page 47).
Remove key from steering lock
(page 29).
Open trunk lid (
page 78).
Remove CD changer (
page 122).
Open the right side trim panel in the
trunk. Remove cover, if necessary.
!Manually closing the retractable hard-
top is a complicated and technically de-
manding procedure. Close the
retractable hardtop manually in emer-
gency cases only. Otherwise, visit an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
It is important that a second person
helps you. Otherwise, you could become
trapped or injured.
Remove any wristwatches or jewelry
such as rings or bracelets. Otherwise,
they could get caught in the vehicle
mechanism, causing personal injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle.
Always use the grips provided. Other-
wise you could injure yourself.
iIf your CD changer holder does not
have the fasteners 1 as shown under
“Installing and removing the CD chang-
er*” (
page 122), your vehicle may be
equipped with a non-factory installed
CD changer holder. The holder then
does not need to be removed as there
should be enough room between the
CD changer holder and the right side
trim panel in the trunk to remove the
cover and gain access to the screw for
hydraulic pump should you need to
raise the retractable hardtop manually.
Page 227 of 314
227 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Rear lamps Notes on bulb replacement
Use only 12-volt bulbs of the same type
and with the specified watt rating.
Switch lights off before changing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.
Always use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.
Your hands should be dry and free of oil
and grease.
If the newly installed bulb does not light
up, visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Have the LEDs and bulbs for the follow-
ing lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Additional turn signals in the
exterior rear view mirrors
High mounted brake lamp
Xenon* lamps
Front fog lamps
Lamp
Type
7
Brake lamp
1154/ 32 cp
8
High mounted brake
lamp
LED
9
Backup lamp
1154 / 32 cp
a
Turn signal lamp
1156 NA
b
Tail, parking, stand-
ing and side marker
lamp
67 / 4 cp
c
License plate lamps
C5W
d
Rear fog lamp,
driver’s side
1155 / 32 cp
Warning!
G
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot.
Allow the lamp to cool down before
changing a bulb.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas.
A bulb can explode if you:
touch or move it when hot
drop the bulb
scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.
Page 230 of 314
230 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsSide marker lamp bulb
Switch off the lights.
Carefully slide lamp towards front.
Remove rear end first.
Twist bulb socket counterclockwise
and pull out.
Gently push bulb into socket, turn
counterclockwise and remove.
Insert new bulb in socket, push in and
twist clockwise.
Reinstall bulb socket, push in and twist
clockwise.
To reinstall lamp, set rear end in
bumper and let front end snap into
place.
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps
Tail lamp assemblies
1Brake lamp
2Turn signal lamp
3Tail, parking and standing lamp, side
marker
4Backup lamp
5Rear fog lamp (driver’s side)
Switch off the lights.
Open trunk lid (
page 78).
Remove cover in right side panel.
Remove first aid kit (
page 212).
Remove cover in left side panel.
Turn bulb socket counterclockwise and
pull out.
Gently push bulb into socket, turn
counterclockwise and remove.
Insert new bulb in socket, push in and
turn clockwise.
Reinstall bulb socket, push in and turn
clockwise.
Close cover.
Page 235 of 314
235 Practical hints
Flat tire
Flat tire
Your vehicle is equipped with a TIREFIT kit
(SLK 32 AMG only) (
page 214) or a
spare wheel with collapsible tire
(SLK 230 Kompressor and SLK 320 only)
(
page 213).
You can identify which TIREFIT kit
(SLK 32 AMG only) you have as follows:
The TIREFIT container of kit 1 is a
squeeze container.
The TIREFIT container of kit 2 is a rigid
container and includes a flange for filler
hose (outlet) and air hose (inlet).
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle as far as possible from
moving traffic on a hard surface.
Turn on hazard warning flasher.
Engage the steering wheel lock in the
straight ahead position and set the
parking brake.
Move the selector lever toP (manual
transmission to first or reverse gear).
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Sealing tires with TIREFIT kit 1
Small tire punctures, only those in the
tread, can be sealed with TIREFIT.
TIREFIT can be used in ambient tempera-
tures down to -4°F (-20°C).
The TIREFIT kit stored in the trunk
(page 214) contains the TIREFIT
container, a filler hose, a valve stem tool,
a valve core and a sticker.
Foreign objects (e.g. screws or nails)
should not be removed from the tire.
Attach the sticker where it will be easily
seen by the driver on the instrument
cluster.
Warning!
G
Keep TIREFIT away from sparks, open flame
or heat source.
Do not smoke.
Warning!
G
TIREFIT is a limited repair device. TIREFIT
cannot be used for:
cuts or punctures larger than approx.
0.16 in (4 mm)
on a flat tire, or a damaged wheel
tire damage caused by driving with ex-
tremely low tire pressure
Do not drive the vehicle under such circum-
stances.
Contact your nearest Mercedes-Benz
Center for assistance or call Roadside Assis-
tance.
Page 245 of 314
245 Practical hints
Flat tire
On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts (ap-
proximately one full turn with wrench).
The jack support tubes are located behind
the front wheel housings and in front of the
rear wheel housings.1Jack tube cover
2Notch
Carefully insert the screwdriver (sup-
plied in the tool kit) into notch2.
Pry out cover1 just so far as you can
place your fingers underneath the cov-
er.
Carefully pull out cover1 completely.
Make sure the pins do not brake off.
The cover will be hanging from a plastic
band attached to it.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack tubes built into
both sides of the vehicle. To help avoid per-
sonal injury, use the jack only to lift the ve-
hicle during a wheel change. Never get
beneath the vehicle while it is supported by
the jack. Keep hands and feet away from the
area under the lifted vehicle. Always firmly
set parking brake and block wheels before
raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Make sure the jack arm is
fully inserted in the jack tube. Always lower
the vehicle onto sufficient capacity jack-
stands before working under the vehicle.