2005 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320 COUPE ignition

60 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyIn this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint system
components of the vehicle.

Seat belts (
page 67)


Child restraints (
page 79)


Lower anchors and tethers for children
(LATCH) (
page 80)
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with


Air bags (
page 61)


Air bag control unit (with crash sen-
sors)


Emergency tensioning device (ETD) for
seat belts (
page 69)Air bag system components with


Front passenger front air bag off indica-
tor lamp (
page 77)


Front passenger seat with Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
(page 73)
As independent systems, their protective
functions work in conjunction with each
other.The SRS system conducts a self-test when
the ignition is switched on and in regular
intervals while the engine is running. This
facilitates early detection of malfunctions.
The
1
indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on when the ignition is
switched on and goes out no later than a
few seconds after the engine has been
started.
The SRS components are in operational
readiness if the
1
indicator lamp is not
lit when the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the
1
indicator lamp:


fails to go out after approximately four
seconds after the engine was started


does not come on at all


comes on after the engine was started
or while driving
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and
restraint systems for infants and chil-
dren, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 70).

84 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsIn this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:

ABS (A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)


BAS (B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)


ESP (E
lectronic S
tability P
rogram)
ABS
The A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of ap-
proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure.
The - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 24) comes on when you
switch on ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
iIn winter operation, the maximum ef-
fectiveness of the ABS, the BAS, and
the ESP is only achieved with winter
tires (M + S tires) or snow chains as
required.
Warning!
G
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turns


Wet and slippery road surfaces


Following another vehicle too closely
The ABS, BAS, and ESP cannot reduce this
risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
Warning!
G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.

86 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsFor more information, see “Practical hints”
(page 353).
ESP
The E
lectronic S
tability P
rogram (ESP) is
operational as soon as the engine is run-
ning and monitors the vehicle’s traction
(force of adhesive friction between the
tires and the road surface) and handling.
The ESP recognizes when a wheel is
spinning or if the vehicle starts to skid. By
applying brakes to the appropriate wheel
and by limiting the engine output, the ESP
works to stabilize the vehicle. The ESP is
especially useful while driving off and on
wet or slippery road surfaces. The ESP also
stabilizes the vehicle during braking
maneuvers.
The ESP warning lamp v in the instru-
ment cluster flashes when the ESP is
engaged.
The warning lamp v in the instrument
cluster comes on when you switch on the
ignition. It goes out when the engine is run-
ning.
Warning!
G
The BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking efficiency beyond that
afforded by the condition of the vehicle
brakes and tires or the traction. The BAS
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, fol-
lowing another vehicle too closely, or hydro-
planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful
driver can prevent accidents. The
capabilities of a BAS equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.
Warning!
G
Never switch off the ESP when you see the
ESP warning lamp v flashing in the in-
strument cluster. In this case, proceed as
follows:

While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.


While driving, ease upon the accelera-
tor.


Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP cannot prevent accidents resulting
from excessive speed.

92 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsArming tow-away alarm
Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey or
KEYLESS-GO*.
The tow-away alarm is automatically
armed after about 30 seconds.
Disarming tow-away alarm
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm,
switch off the tow-away alarm feature
before towing the vehicle, or when parking
on a surface subject to movement, such as
a ferry or auto train.The switch is located on the center
console.
1Tow-away alarm off switch
2Indicator lamp

Switch off the ignition and remove the
SmartKey.

Press switch1.
Indicator lamp2 in switch1 comes
on briefly.

Exit and lock your vehicle with the
SmartKey or (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*) the lock button at each
door handle.
The tow-away alarm remains disarmed
until you lock your vehicle again.
Canceling the alarm
To cancel the alarm:
With the SmartKey

Press the Œ or ‹ button on the
SmartKey.
or

Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
With KEYLESS-GO*

Pull the outside door handle.
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button.
iWhen you unlock the vehicle, the
tow-away protection disarms
automatically. The tow-away alarm
remains disarmed until you lock the
vehicle again
iYou cannot disarm the tow-away alarm
while the ignition is switched on.

110 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingAutomatic central locking
The doors and the trunk automatically lock
when the ignition is switched on and the
wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
You can open a locked door from the
inside. Open doors only when conditions
are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic locking
mode using the control system, see “Set-
ting automatic locking” (
page 158).
Locking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the
trunk from inside using the central locking
or unlocking switch. This can be useful, for
example, if you want to lock the vehicle
before starting to drive.
You cannot lock or unlock the fuel filler flap
with the central locking or unlocking
switch.The switch is located in the center console.
1Central locking switch
2Central unlocking switch
iThe doors unlock automatically after an
accident if the force of the impact
exceeds a preset threshold.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic
central locking when the vehicle

is pushed or towed


is on a test stand
Warning!
G
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. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.

113 Controls in detailSeats
When entering the vehicle, with the
easy-entry/exit feature activated, the
steering wheel or, depending on your
selection, the steering wheel and driver’s
seat will return to their last set position or
a factory-set maximum forward position
when you:

close the driver’s door with the ignition
switched on.
or


insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch or press the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (
page 35) once
with driver’s door closed.Removing and installing front seat
head restraints
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Seats” (
page 37). If the current seat position falls into a
factory-set position range and the
system recognizes the current seat
position to be rearward enough for
easy entry and exit, the driver’s seat
will not move to the rear when the
easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
iFor safety reasons, the driver’s seat will
not return to its last set position with
the easy-entry/exit feature activated if
the system recognizes the last set posi-
tion as an extreme forward position.
Instead, the driver’s seat will remain at
or move to a factory-set maximum
forward position. To again fully return
the driver’s seat to your last set posi-
tion or to memory position, adjust the
seat to the desired position or press
and hold the respective memory
position switch (
page 122).
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way
that it is as close to the head as
possible.Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.


114 Controls in detailSeats
Front seat head restraints
1Head restraint switch
Switch on ignition (
page 36).Removing front seat head restraints

Press switch1 upwards and hold until
the head restraint is fully extended.

Pull out head restraint.
Installing front seat head restraints:

Press switch1 upwards and hold for
about five seconds.

Push the head restraint down until it
engages.

Adjust head restraint to desired posi-
tion (
page 38).
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an
accident.
Do not interchange head restraints from
front and rear seat.iTilt the seat backrest to the rear for
easier removal and installation of the
head restraints.


119 Controls in detailSeats
Seat heating*
Both switches for the front seats are
located in the center console.
1Seat heating switchThe red indicator lamps on the switch1
show which heating level you have select-
ed.

Switch on ignition (
page 36).
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
come on.Switching on seat heating

Press seat heating switch1 twice.
Three red indicator lamps in the switch
come on.

Continue pressing seat heating
switch1 until desired seat heating
level is reached.
Switching off seat heating

Press seat heating switch1
repeatedly until all red indicator lamps
go out.
Level3
Three indicator lamps on.
After approximately five minutes,
seat heating is automatically
switched to level 2.
2
Two indicator lamps on.
After approximately ten minutes,
seat heating is automatically
switched to level 1.
1
One indicator lamp on.
After approximately 20 minutes,
seat heating is automatically
switched off.
off
No indicator lamp on.
iIf one or all of the indicator lamps flash
on the seat heating switch1, there is
insufficient voltage due to too many
electrical consumers being switched
on. The seat heating switches off auto-
matically.
The seat heating will switch back on
again automatically as soon as
sufficient voltage is available.