175 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Upshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction
(page 165).
or
Press button2 on the right side of the
steering wheel (
page 172).
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.If, instead of the manual program mode
symbol
M, thepsymbol appears in the
multifunction display (
page 164), shift to
the next higher gear. The fuel supply will
otherwise be interrupted to prevent the
engine from overrevving.
Kickdown
Using the kickdown when driving in the
manual program modeM is not possible.
Deactivating manual shift program
Press the program mode selector
switch (
page 174) repeatedly
until
Cor
S appears in the multifunction
display.
or
Restart the engine.
The transmission will go to the
automatic program mode (C orS).
The manual program modeM is not
stored.Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode only second gear and reverse gear
can be activated.
Stop the vehicle.
Move gear selector lever toP.
Turn off the engine.
Wait at least ten seconds before
restarting.
Restart the engine.
Move gear selector lever to positionD
(for second gear) orR.
Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
!In the manual program modeM, the
transmission will not upshift, even if
the engine has reached its overrevving
range. Shift up to the next gear before
the engine has reached its overrevving
range. Make absolutely certain that the
engine speed does not reach the red
marking on the tachometer
(page 24). Otherwise the engine
could be damaged which is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
182 Controls in detailClimate control (CLK 320)The climate control is operational when-
ever the engine is running. You can oper-
ate the climate control system in either the
automatic or manual mode. The system
cools or heats the interior depending on
the selected interior temperature and the
current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the modeAC
OFF
is activated or
mode AC is deactivated (page 187).
Warning!
G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents in the footwell can be
very hot or very cold (depending on the set
temperature). This may cause burns or frost-
bite on unprotected skin in the immediate
area of the air vents. Always keep sufficient
distance between unprotected parts of the
body and the footwell air vents. If necessary,
change the air flow using the air distribution
controls to direct the air away from the foot-
well air vents (
page 184).
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
187 Controls in detail
Climate control (CLK 320)
Deactivating
Press button, (
page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The air recirculation mode is deactivated
automatically:
after five minutes if the outside
temperature is below
approximately 41°F (5°C)
after five minutes if the air conditioning
is turned off
after 30 minutes if the outside
temperature is above
approximately 41°F (5°C)At outside temperatures above 79°F
(26°C) the system will not automatically
switch back to outside air. A quantity of
outside air is added after approximately
30 minutes.
Air conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while
the engine is running and cools the interior
air to the temperature set by the operator.
iIf you keep button, pressed the
side windows will return to their
previous position.
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.Warning!
G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.
192 Controls in detailAutomatic climate control (CLK 500/CLK 55 AMG)The automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can
operate the climate control system in ei-
ther the automatic or manual mode. The
system cools or heats the interior depend-
ing on the selected interior temperature
and the current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air
enters the passenger compartment
through the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the modeAC
OFF
is activated or
mode AC is deactivated (page 198).
Warning
G
When operating the automatic climate
control, the air that enters the passenger
compartment through the air vents in the
footwell can be very hot or very cold
(depending on the set temperature). This
may cause burns or frostbite on unprotected
skin in the immediate area of the air vents.
Always keep sufficient distance between
unprotected parts of the body and the foot-
well air vents. If necessary change the air
flow using the air distribution controls to
direct the air away from the footwell air
vents (
page 194).
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for
heating and cooling given on the following
pages. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air
pollution) may require replacement of
the filter before its scheduled interval.
A clogged filter will reduce the air
volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off, see
“Opening (Summer opening feature)”
(page 243).
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing
objects on the air flow-through exhaust
slots below the rear window.
198 Controls in detailAutomatic climate control (CLK 500/CLK 55 AMG)Air conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while
the engine is running and cools the interior
air to the temperature set by the operator.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the automatic
climate control system. The air in the
vehicle will then no longer be cooled or
dehumidified.
Automatic climate control panel
design A
Press button° (
page 191).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The cooling function switches off after
a short delay.
Automatic climate control panel
design B
Press button2(
page 191).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The cooling function switches off after
a short delay.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condi-
tioning.
Automatic climate control panel
design A
Press button°(
page 191) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The cooling function is switched on.
Automatic climate control panel
design B
Press button2(
page 191)
again.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The cooling function is switched on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.Warning!
G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.
199 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control (CLK 500/CLK 55 AMG)
Residual heat and ventilation*
(available on Automatic climate control panel design A only)
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.
Activating
Switch off the ignition (
page 36).
Press button°(
page 191).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating
Press button°(
page 191).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The residual heat is automatically turned
off:
when the ignition is switched on
after about 30 minutes
if the battery voltage drops
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned
on again, this indicates that the air
conditioning is losing refrigerant. The
compressor has turned itself off.
Have the air conditioning checked at
the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iHow long the system will provide
heating depends on
the coolant temperature
the temperature set by the operator
The blower will run at speed setting 1
regardless of the air distribution
control setting.
257 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel cruise
control:
Step on the brake pedal.
Cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or
Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position3.
Cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
iOn uphill or downhill grades, cruise
control may not be able to maintain the
set speed. Once the grade eases, the
set speed will be resumed.
CLK 320/CLK 55 AMG:
If the engine’s braking power does not
brake the vehicle sufficiently on down-
hill grades, the automatic transmission
will automatically downshift.
CLK 500:
On downhill grades, the cruise control
will hold the set speed with active brak-
ing action.
In addition, on longer downhill grades
the automatic transmission will auto-
matically downshift.
iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.
iThe cruise control switches off auto-
matically, if
CLK 320/CLK 55 AMG:
you step on the brake pedal.
you move the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving.
the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h).
ESP is in operation.
The segments in the multifunction dis-
play are flashing.
CLK 500:
you step on the brake pedal.
you press the parking brake pedal.
In this case the segments in the
multifunction display (
page 256)
go out and no warning sounds.
258 Controls in detailDriving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control lever in direction
of arrow1 (
page 256) and hold it
up until the desired speed is reached.
Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Setting a lower speed
Depress the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2 (
page 256) and
hold it down until the desired speed is
reached.
Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
the vehicle speed is below 25 mph
(40 km/h).
ESP is in operation or switched off
with the ESP switch (
page 87).
you move the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving.
The segments in the multifunction dis-
play (page 256) go out, and an
acoustic warning sounds.
!Moving gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear se-
lector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding (e.g. on icy roads).
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing),
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iCLK 320/CLK 55 AMG
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will
automatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not brake the
vehicle sufficiently.
CLK 500:
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the brake system will
automatically brake the vehicle if the
engine’s braking power does not brake
the vehicle sufficiently.