2005 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 ABS

339 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
DISTRONIC
EXTERNAL MALFUNCTION
REACTIVATE
Distronic* is switched off and is temporarily
unavailable.

Try activating Distronic* again later.
DISTRONIC
CURRENTLY
UNAVAILABLE
SEE OPERATORS MANUAL
Distronic* is switched off because the Dis-
tronic* cover in the radiator grille is dirty.

Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille (
page 320).

Restart the vehicle.
DISTRONIC
DRIVE TO WORKSHOP
Distronic* is malfunctioning or the display
is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
ESP
MALFUNCTION
VISIT WORKSHOP
The ESP has detected a malfunction and
switched off.
The ABS may still be operational.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
VISIT WORKSHOP
The ESP or the ESP display is malfunction-
ing.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.

340 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP UNAVAILABLE
SEE OPERATORS MANUAL
The ESP was deactivated the power supply
has been interrupted.
The ABS is still operational.

Synchronize the ESP. With the vehicle sta-
tionary and the engine running, turn the
steering wheel completely to the left and
then to the right to synchronize the ESP.
If the ESP message does not go out:

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.
!When synchronizing the ESP, make
sure you can turn the steering wheel in
both directions as far as it will go with-
out the wheel hitting any objects, e.g.
aroad curb.

383 Practical hints
Flat tire
1Jack support tube cover
Move cover1 t o w a r d r e a r b y p r e s s i n g
at point indicated by arrow.

Remove cover1 carefully to avoid
damage to the locking tabs.1Jack arm
2Jack support tube hole
3Crank

Insert jack arm1 fully into tube
hole2 up to the stop.

Keeping jack in this position, turn
crank3 clockwise until the jack base
meets the ground. Make sure the jack
is vertical (plumb line).

Continue to turn the crank until the tire
is a maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the
ground.
Warning!
G
Insert the jack arm fully into the jack sup-
port tube hole up to the stop. Otherwise the
vehicle may fall from the jack and cause per-
sonal injury or damage to the vehicle.
Warning!
G
The jack is intended only for lifting the vehi-
cle briefly for wheel changes. It is not suited
for performing maintenance work under the
vehicle.

Never start the engine when the vehicle
is raised.


Never lie down under the raised vehicle.

385 Practical hints
Flat tire
1-5 Wheel bolts
Tighten the five wheel bolts evenly, fol-
lowing the diagonal sequence illustrat-
ed (1 to5), until all bolts are tight.
Observe a tightening torque of
110 lb-ft (150 Nm).

Before storing the jack in the trunk, it
should be fully collapsed, with handle
folded in.

Place the wheel bolt wrench, alignment
bolt and jack back in the vehicle tool kit
in the trunk and close the covering lid.
Replacing jack support tube cover

Slide tongue of cover under the upper
edge of the tube opening.

Applying even pressure, press cover
until it snaps into place. Be careful not
to damage the locking tabs or clamp
the plastic retaining strap.
Warning!
G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. The wheels could come
loose if they are not tightened to a torque of
110 lb-ft (150 Nm).
!You can also screw the faulty wheel
down into the spare wheel well in the
trunk.
Do not activate the tire inflation pres-
sure monitor until the depressurized
tire is no longer in the vehicle.

414 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Brake fluid
During vehicle operation, the boiling point
of the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from
the atmosphere. Under extremely strenu-
ous operating conditions, this moisture
content can lead to the formation of bub-
bles in the system, thus reducing the sys-
tem’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be re-
placed every two years, preferably in the
spring.Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will pro-
vide you with additional information.
Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel requirements
Use only premium unleaded fuel:

The octane number (posted at the
pu mp ) m us t be 91 m in. It i s a n a ver age
of both the Research (R) octane num-
ber and the Motor (M) octane number:
(R+M)/2). This is also known as the
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates
such as Ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be
used provided the ratio of any one of these
oxygenates to gasoline does not exceed
10%; MTBE must not exceed 15%.
The ratio of Methanol to gasoline must not
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.
Using mixtures of Ethanol and Methanol is
not allowed. Gasohol, which contains
10% Ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline,
can be used.
These blends must also meet all other fuel
requirements, such as resistance to spark
knock, boiling range, vapor pressure, etc.
!To maintain the engine’s durability and
performance, premium unleaded gaso-
line must be used. If premium unleaded
is not available and low octane fuel is
used, follow these precautions:

Have the fuel tank only partially
filled with unleaded regular and fill
up with premium unleaded as soon
as possible.


Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt
acceleration.


Do not exceed an engine speed of
3000 rpm if the vehicle is loaded
with a light load such as two per-
sons and no luggage.


Do not exceed 2/3 of maximum ac-
celerator pedal position if the vehi-
cle is fully loaded or operating in
mountainous terrain.

419 Technical terms
ABC
(A
ctive B
ody C
ontrol)
Active, computer-controlled system
that hydraulically adjusts the suspen-
sion at all four wheels in response to
various driving situations.
ABS
(A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)
Prevents the wheels from locking up
during braking so that the vehicle can
continue to be steered.
Alignment bolt
Metal pin with thread. The centering
pin is an aid used when changing a tire
to align the wheel with the wheel hub.BabySmart
TM air bag deactivation
system
This system detects if a special system
compatible child restraint seat is in-
stalled on the front passenger seat. The
system will automatically deactivate
the passenger front air bag when such
a seat is properly installed (the
58indicator lamp in the center
console comes on). See an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for availability.
BabySmartTM compatible child seats
Special restraint system for children.
The sensor system for the passenger
seat prevents deployment of the pas-
senger front air bag if a BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat is installed. See
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for availability.BAS
(B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)
System for potentially reducing braking
distances in emergency braking situa-
tions. The system is activated when it
senses an emergency based on how
fast the brake is applied.
Bi-Xenon headlamps
Headlamps which use an electric arc as
the light source and produce a more in-
tense light than filament headlamps.
Bi-Xenon headlamps produce low
beam and high beam.
CAC
(C
ustomer A
ssistance C
enter)
Mercedes-Benz customer service cen-
ter, which can help you with any ques-
tions about your vehicle and provide
assistance in the event of a break-
down.

425 Index
A
ABC 220, 419
Messages in display 337
Setting vehicle level 221
ABS 25, 80, 419
Malfunction indicator lamp 326
Messages in display 338
Warning lamp 326
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 172
Accessory weight 309
Accident
In case of 56
Activating
Air conditioner (cooling) 194
Air recirculation mode 190
Anti-theft alarm system 86
Central locking (control system) 161
Charcoal filter 192
Distance warning function* 217
Distronic* 213Easy-entry/exit feature 163
ESP 84
Exterior lamps 126
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 179
Front and rear fog lamp 126, 128
Hazard warning flasher 130
Headlamps 52
High beams 129
Ignition 34
Ignition with KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button 36
Immobilizer 59, 85
Limiting opening height of trunk
lid 162
Manual shift program CL 55 AMG and
CL 65 AMG 175
Rear window defroster 193
Residual heat 194
Seat heater 119, 120
Seat ventilation* 121
Tow-away alarm 87
Windshield wipers 54Adding
Coolant 280
Engine oil 278
Additional turn signals 374
Adjustable air vents, rear passenger
compartment 196
Adjusting 37
Air distribution 188
Air volume 189
Backrest tilt 38
Exterior rear view mirror 43
Folding forward front seat
backrests 40
Head restraint height 39
Head restraint tilt 39
Instrument cluster illumination 133
Interior rear view mirror 43
Lumbar support 117
Mirrors 43
Multicontour backrest* 117
Seat cushion depth 38, 117
Seat cushion tilt 38
Seat fore and aft adjustment 38

426 Index
Seat height 38
Seat in the lumbar region 118
Seat in the shoulder region 117
Seats 37
Steering column height 42
Steering column in or out 42
Steering column up or down 42
Steering wheel 42
Air bags 63
Air conditioner (cooling)
Turning off 194
Air pressure 309
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air recirculation mode 190
Activating 190
Deactivating 191
Air vents, rear passenger compartment
Adjustable 196
Air volume
Adjusting 189Air bag off indicator lamp 334
Air bags
BabySmartTM air bag deactivation
system 419
BabySmartTM deactivation
system 74
Children 64
Front 67
Passenger 67
Safety guidelines 66
Side impact 67
Window curtain 68
Alarm
Audible 79, 87
Canceling 87
Visual 85
Alarm system
Anti-theft 85
Anti-theft alarm system indicator
lamp 27
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 365,
384, 419
Antiglare
Automatic 178Antilock Brake System (ABS) 419
Antilock Brake System see ABS 25
Anti-theft alarm system
Activating 86
Canceling alarm 87
Deactivating 86
Anti-theft systems 85
Anti-theft alarm system 85
Anti-theft alarm system indicator
lamp 27
Immobilizer 85
Tow-away alarm 87
Armrest
Storage compartment in front of 233,
234
Storage compartment in front of
armrest 233
Ashtray 238
Aspect ratio 309
At the gas station 270
ATF (automatic transmission fluid) 279