2005 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 stop start

28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
35
2
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
49
3
Front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp
74
4
Thumbwheel for setting
distance in Distronic*
217
5
Distance warning func-
tion* on/off button
217
6
Program mode selector for
automatic transmission
172
7
Cover of compartment
with:

Ashtray


Lighter
239
240

35 Getting started
Unlocking
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the SmartKey, see “Starting with the
SmartKey” (
page 48).SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton on the gear selector lever corresponds
to turning the SmartKey to the various
starter switch positions.
If you firmly depress the brake pedal dur-
ing pressing KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton, the engine starts automatically.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada only
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.

Do not depress the brake pedal.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the battery may not be
sufficiently charged.

Check the battery and charge it if
necessary (
page 386).


Get a jump start (
page 389).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge or a completely discharged bat-
tery, always remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch when the engine is
not in operation.
iThe function of the SmartKey overrules
the KEYLESS-GO function.

36 Getting startedUnlockingPosition 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button1, the vehicle’s
on-board electronics have status 0 (as with
SmartKey removed).
Position 1
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button1 once.
This supplies power to some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or position 2)

Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button1 twice.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 326).
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button,
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*”
(
page 49).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button

once again, the ignition (position2)
is switched on


twice, the power supply is again
switched off
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button once, the power sup-
ply is again switched off.
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator and warning lamps (except high
beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come
on. This indicates that the respective
systems are operational. The indicator
and warning lamps (except high beam
headlamp indicator lamp and turn sig-
nal indicator lamps unless activated)
should go out when the engine is run-
ning.

41 Getting started
Adjusting
Warning!
G
The seat belts provide protection only with
the backrest locked in place and, therefore,
must be locked in place with the vehicle in
motion. Do not drive the vehicle when the
backrest is not locked in place. If the warn-
ing message SEAT BACKREST, RIGHT
LOCK!or SEAT BACKREST, LEFT
LOCK!is displayed in the multifunction display,
then the respective backrest is not engaged
in its lock. Carefully slow down, and drive
with caution to an area which is in a safe dis-
tance from the roadway. Always provide suf-
ficient room behind the backrest and fold
the backrest all the way back until it locks in
place.
Keep the area around head restraints clear
of articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the
folding operation of the head restraints.
The warning message is no longer displayed
as soon as the backrest is locked in place. If
both backrests are locked in place and the
warning message is still displayed, have the
system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle.
The power seats can also be operated with
the driver’s or passenger door open. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
Never place hands under seat or near any
moving parts during a seat adjustment pro-
cedure.
!The automatic seat slide is provided
with a safety feature.
The automatic process is interrupted, if
the backrest of the sliding seat is
pushed against an occupant or object.
The seat will slide forward and stop.
Investigate and correct the cause of in-
terruption.
Now use memory button (
page 123)
or seat adjustment switch (page 38)
to bring seat into desired position.
When folding the backrest forward
from a reclined position, and then fold-
ing it back, the backrest stops in a
more upright position for the safety of
any rear-seat passenger. Adjust the
backrest until your arms are slightly an-
gled when holding the steering
wheel (
page 38).

49 Getting started
Driving
Starting with KEYLESS-GO*
You can start your vehicle without the
SmartKey in the starter switch using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button on the
gear selector lever.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada only
M a k e s u r e t h e g e a r s e l e c t o r l e v e r i s s e t
toP.

Depress the brake pedal during the
starting procedure. Do not depress ac-
celerator.
The gear selector lever lock is released.

Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button1 once.
The engine starts automatically if the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is in the
vehicle.
For information on turning off the engine
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off the en-
gine with KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 59).
Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:

If you are starting the engine with the
SmartKey, turn SmartKey in starter
switch to position0 and repeat starting
procedure.

If you are starting the engine with
KEYLESS-GO: Close any doors that
may be open to allow for better detec-
tion of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO.
or:
Start the engine with the SmartKey as
radio signals from another source may
be interfering with the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO.

Repeat the starting procedure
(page 48). Remember that extended
starting attempts can drain the battery.

Get a jump start (
page 389).
If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the
fuel supply system.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

51 Getting started
Driving

Release the brake pedal.

Carefully depress the accelerator.Once the vehicle is in motion, the
automatic central locking system engages
and the locking knobs drop down.
After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution.
This allows the catalytic converter to reach
its operating temperature faster.
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 259).
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.!In order to avoid damaging the trans-
mission,

wait for the gear selection process
to complete before setting the vehi-
cle in motion.


place the gear selector lever in
positionR only when the vehicle is
stopped.
!If you hear a warning signal and a mes-
sage in the multifunction display ap-
pears when driving off, you have
forgotten to release the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.!Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service
life of the engine.
!Simultaneously depressing the acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear.iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open doors only when condi-
tions are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic lock-
ing using the control system
(page 162).

55 Getting started
Driving
Intermittent wiping
Set the wiper switch to position I.
Single wipe

Press the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow1.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Press switch in the direction of
arrow1 past the resistance point.
The windshield wiper operates with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 282).iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when
the vehicle is at a standstill and a front
door is opened.
!If anything blocks the windshield wip-
ers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off
immediately.

For safety reasons,

turn off the engine by turning
the SmartKey to position0 and
withdraw SmartKey from starter
switch
or


turn off the engine by pressing
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 35) and open
the driver’s door (with the driv-
er’s door open, starter switch is
in position0, same as with
SmartKey removed from starter
switch)
before attempting to remove any
blockage.


Remove blockage.


Turn the windshield wipers on
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at
all in switch positionI,

set the combination switch to the
next highest wiper speed


have the windshield wipers
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center

56 Getting startedDrivingProblems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.


The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.


Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.

Give very little gas.

Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.The coolant temperature is above
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.

Stop the vehicle as soon as possible
and turn off the engine. Allow engine
and coolant to cool.

Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 279).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:

Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.

Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the


major assemblies


fuel system


engine mount:

Start the engine in the usual manner.
iExcessive coolant temperatures trigger
a warning message in the multifunction
display (
page 345).