2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230 roof

130 Controls in detailRetractable hardtop
Retractable hardtopOpening and closing the retractable hardtop
For safety reasons, the retractable hardtop
can only be opened and closed when the
vehicle is standing still.
Warning!
G
Before operating the switch for the retract-
able hardtop make sure no persons are in-
jured by the moving parts (retractable
hardtop, roof frame, and trunk lid) due to in-
attention.
Hands must never be placed near the roof
frame, upper windshield area, retractable
hardtop, shelf behind roll bars, or trunk lid
while the retractable hardtop is being raised
or lowered. Serious personal injury may oc-
cur.
If potential danger exists, release the re-
tractable hardtop switch. This immediately
interrupts the raising or lowering procedure.
You then can operate the retractable hard-
top switch to raise or lower the retractable
hardtop away from the danger zone.
!Never sit or place heavy objects on the
rear shelf. Doing so could cause dam-
age to the retractable hardtop and the
rear shelf.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the steering lock and lock the vehi-
cle. Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment
may cause an accident and/or serious per-
sonal injury.

131 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Luggage cover
The luggage cover is located in the trunk.
1Handle
2Holders
Closing luggage cover
Pull out the luggage cover using
handle1.

Hook the luggage cover into left and
right side holders2.Opening luggage cover

Unhook luggage cover from side
holders2.

While holding onto handle1, guide
luggage cover back into its storage
compartment.
!When opening and closing the retract-
able hardtop, make sure

there is sufficient clearance for the
retractable hardtop to move up and
the trunk lid to move back


the luggage cover is extended and
closed


the trunk lid is closed


no roof luggage carrier is installed


the outside temperature is above
+5°F (-15°C)
Otherwise the retractable hardtop and
trunk of the vehicle could be damaged.
iKeep luggage cover in trunk in the open
position to prevent closing the retract-
able hardtop unintentionally while a
roof luggage carrier is installed.
!To prevent damage to the retractable
hardtop or luggage/cargo when lower-
ing the retractable hardtop

load trunk only to the height of the
luggage cover


do not permit luggage/cargo to
push up the closed luggage cover


do not load anything on top of or in
front of the luggage cover


do not place anything on the shelf
behind the roll bars

192 OperationVehicle care
Vehicle careCleaning and care of vehicle
In operation, your vehicle is subjected to
varying external influences which, if gone
unchecked, can attack the paintwork as
well as the underbody and cause lasting
damage.Such damage is caused not only by ex-
treme and varying climatic conditions, but
also by:


Air pollution


Road salt


Tar


Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:


Grease and oil


Fuel


Coolant


Brake fluid


Bird droppings


Insects


Tree resins, etc.
Frequent washing reduces and / or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:


near the ocean


in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)


during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
A n y d a m a g e s h o u l d b e r e p a i r e d a s s o o n a s
possible to prevent the start of corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others ap-
plied later.
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not de-
signed for cleaning your vehicle.

195 Operation
Vehicle care
Wiper blades
Fold wiper arm forward.

Clean the wiper blade inserts with a
clean cloth and detergent solution.Window cleaning

Fold wiper arm forward.

Use a window cleaning solution on all
glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.Rear window cleaning
The corner flaps of the rear shelf partially
cover the rear window. This prevents the
window from being fully cleaned with the
hardtop closed.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move Key from starter switch before clean-
ing the wiper blades, otherwise the wiper
motor might suddenly turn on and cause in-
jury.!Fold the windshield wiper arms back
onto the windshield before turning the
key in the starter switch.
Hold onto the wiper when folding the
wiper arm back. If released, the force
of the impact from the tensioning
spring could crack the windshield.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move Key from starter switch before clean-
ing the wiper blades, otherwise the wiper
motor might suddenly turn on and cause in-
jury.!Fold the windshield wiper arms back
onto the windshield before turning the
key in the steering lock.
Hold onto the wiper when folding the
wiper arm back. If released, the force
of the impact from the tensioning
spring could crack the windshield.
!Do not manually move corner flaps or
rear shelf. Doing so will result in dam-
age to the roof folding mechanism that
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.Warning!
G
If a warning sounds and the indicator lamp
in the hardtop switch blinks, immediately
stop cleaning and move back from window
to prevent possible injury.
The hardtop is lowered into its storage com-
partment.

196 OperationVehicle care
Prior to cleaning the inside of the rear
window, turn key in steering lock to
position2.
1Rear shelf in vertical position

Operate hardtop via the switch
(page 130) until rear shelf1 is in a
vertical position.
The roof will remain in this position for
approximately 7 minutes, sufficient
time for cleaning the inside of the rear
window.Light alloy wheels
Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care
should be used for regular cleaning of the
light alloy wheels.
If possible, clean wheels once a week with
Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care, us-
ing a soft bristle brush and a strong spray
of water.
Follow instructions on container.Instrument cluster
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or
mild detergent for delicate fabrics as a
washing solution. Wipe with a cloth moist-
ened in lukewarm solution. Do not use
scouring agents.
Steering wheel and gear selector lever
Wipe with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly
or clean with Mercedes-Benz approved
Leather Care.
Cup holder
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or
mild detergent for delicate fabrics as a
washing solution. Wipe with a cloth moist-
ened in lukewarm solution. Do not use
scouring agents.
Hard plastic trim items
Pour Mercedes-Benz approved Interior
Care onto a soft lint-free cloth and apply
with light pressure.
iThe roof will only stay in this position
when the key is in steering lock
position2.
If you pull on the hardtop switch again,
you can continue to clean the rear win-
dow for another 7 minutes.iOnly use acid-free cleaning materials.
Acid may cause corrosion or damage
the clear coat.

224 Practical hintsOpening/closing in an emergency7Bottom half of retractable hardtop
One person should stand on the left
side of the vehicle and the other on the
right side.

At the same time, reach from each side
of the trunk underneath the bottom
half of retractable hardtop7.

In a smooth motion, pull up on the re-
tractable hardtop in the direction of the
arrow until the bottom half of the re-
tractable hardtop is standing vertically.
8Pins for the retractable hardtop locking
mechanism
9Holes for the pins

Complete the next steps simultaneous-
ly. One person should stand on the left
side of the vehicle and the other on the
right side.
Move the retractable hardtop with
one hand in the direction of the ar-
row.

With the other hand, guide pins8
belonging to the retractable hard-
top locking mechanism into corre-
sponding holes9 located in the
upper edges of the windshield.
Warning!
G
Do not place your hands near the upper
windshield area, trunk lid, or between roof
panels while the retractable hardtop is being
raised and locked. Serious personal injury
may occur.
Warning!
G
Do not place your hands in areas marked X.
Serious personal injury may occur.


251 Practical hints
Battery
Battery
The battery is located in the engine com-
partment on the right-hand side.
1Battery
2Positive terminal
3Negative terminal
Warning!
G
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injury or death.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries,
see “Battery” (
page 183).
Never lean over batteries while connecting,
you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking etc.
!Never loosen or detach battery termi-
nal clamps while the engine is running
or the key is in the steering lock. Other-
wise the alternator and other electronic
components could be severely dam-
aged.
Have the battery checked regularly by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Refer to Service Booklet for mainte-
nance intervals or contact your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for further
information.Warning!
G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof battery only to avoid the risk
of acid burns in the event of an accident.