2005 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK500 CABRIOLET brake

375 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
2
Brake wear
Visit workshop
The brake pads have reached their wear
limit.

Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
;
(USA only)
!
(Canada only)
Parking brake
Release brake!
You are driving with the parking brake set.

Release the parking brake
(page 49).
3
Brake fluid
Visit workshop
There is insufficient brake fluid in the res-
ervoir.

Risk of accident! 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 this message displayed can re-
sult in an accident. Have your brake system
checked immediately. Don’t add brake fluid
before checking the brake system. Overfill-
ing the brake fluid reservoir can result in
spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts and
the brake fluid catching fire. You can be se-
riously 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.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Maintenance
Booklet.

383 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
I
Key recognized
in vehicle!
A SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* left in the
vehicle was recognized while locking the
vehicle from the outside.

Take the SmartKey out of the vehicle.
Key
do not forget key
This display appears (for a maximum of
60 seconds) if the driver’s door is opened
with the engine shut off and no SmartKey
in the starter switch.
Message is only a reminder.

Insert SmartKey in the starter switch.

Take the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you when leaving
the vehicle.
.
3rd brake lamp
The high mounted brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Brake lamp
Drive to workshop
Stop lamp illumination is delayed or lamp
is permanently on.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Brake lamp, left
The left brake lamp is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Brake lamp, right
The right brake lamp is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
The display for the lamps or the system is
malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Front foglamp, left
The left front fog lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Front foglamp, right
The right front fog lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.

393 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
Vehicle jackThe vehicle jack is located in the storage
compartment underneath the trunk floor.
Storage position
Remove vehicle jack from its
compartment.

Push crank handle up.
Operational position
Turn the crank handle clockwise until it
engages (operational position).
Before storing the vehicle jack in its com-
partment:


It should be fully collapsed


The handle must be folded in (storage
position)
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal 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 a level surface. Make sure the jack arm is
fully seated in the jack take-up bracket.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.

396 Practical hintsWhere will I find...?In the case of a flat tire, you may
temporarily use the Minispare wheel when
observing the following restrictions:

Do not exceed a vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).


Drive to the nearest tire repair facility
to have the flat tire repaired or
replaced as appropriate.


Do not operate vehicle with more than
one Minispare wheel mounted.
More information can be found in the
“Technical data” section (
page 445).Minispare wheel bolts
1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2Wheel bolt for Minispare wheel or other
steel rims (located in trunk with spare
wheel)
!Wheel bolts2 must be used when
mounting the Minispare wheel. The use
of any wheel bolts other than wheel
bolts2 for the Minispare will physical-
ly damage the vehicle's brakes.
Warning!
G
Make sure to use the original length wheel
bolts when remounting the original wheel
after it has been repaired.

404 Practical hintsOpening/closing in an emergency
Engage parking brake.

Lower the side windows.

Lower rear head restraints
(page 115).

For safety reasons, remove SmartKey
from starter switch.

Open the trunk.

Remove the trunk floor cover.

Take the two straps for soft top emer-
gency operation out of vehicle tool kit
(page 391).

Take hex wrench out of its storage
location in the storage well casing.

Open the left side trim panel in the
trunk.1Locking mechanism

Pull locking mechanism1 out until it
stops and rotate it approx. one-quarter
of a turn.

Make sure the locking mechanism
does not retract again. If this happens,
pull the locking mechanism out again
and rotate it approx. one-quarter of a
turn.
iIf the rear head restraints cannot be
lowered using the rear head restraint
lowering switch, the roll bars may have
been released. For more information,
see “Operating roll bars manually”
(page 401).

415 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Rear lamps Notes on bulb replacement


Only use 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
come on, 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 signal lamps in the
exterior rear view mirrors


High mounted brake lamp


Bi-Xenon* lamps


Front fog lamps
Lamp
Type
7
High mounted brake
lamp
LED
8
Brake lamp
P 21 W
9
Turn signal lamp
P 21 W
a
Tail, parking and stand-
ing lamp, side marker
P 21/4 W
W 5 W
b
Backup lamp
P 21 W
c
License plate lamps
C 5 W
d
Rear fog lamp, driver’s
side
P 21/4 W
Warning!
G
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low 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.iHave the headlamp adjustment
checked regularly.

420 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsReplacing bulbs for rear lamps
Before you start to replace a bulb for a rear
lamp, do the following first:
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM (
page 122).
Tail lamp unit

Open trunk lid.

Swing the trim panel covering the cor-
responding rear lights to the side.
1Tab

Press tabs1 together.

Remove the bulb carrier.

Press gently onto the respective bulb
and turn counterclockwise out of its
bulb socket.

Press the new bulb gently into its bulb
socket and turn clockwise until it
engages.
1Brake lamp
2Turn signal lamp
3Backup lamp
4Standing and side marker lamp
5Rear fog lamp (driver’s side)/tail

Reinstall the bulb carrier.
Let tabs1 engage.

Reinstall trim panel.License plate lamp
1Screws

Loosen both screws1.

Remove the license plate lamp.

Replace the tubular lamp.

Reinstall the license plate lamp.

Retighten the screws1.

422 Practical hintsFlat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle as far as possible from
moving traffic on a hard surface.

Turn on the hazard warning flashers
(page 127).

Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight ahead
position.

Set the parking brake (
page 55).

Move the gear selector lever toP.
Vehicles with SmartKey:

Turn off the engine (
page 56).

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.Vehicles with SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*:

Turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button on the
gear selector lever once (
page 57).

Open the driver’s door (this puts the ig-
nition in position0, same as with the
SmartKey removed from the starter
switch). The driver’s door then can be
closed again.

Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted. Adapt your driving style
accordingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with spare wheel mounted,
ensure proper tire inflation pressure and do
not exceed a vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the spare wheel
replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
iOpen door only when conditions are
safe to do so.