2005 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK55AMG CABRIOLET manual transmission

Contents
Control system .................................. 133
Multifunction display .................... 133
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 134
Menus .......................................... 136
Standard display menu ................ 138
AUDIO menu ................................ 139
NAV* menu .................................. 141
Vehicle status
message memory menu ............... 141
Settings menu .............................. 142
Trip computer menu..................... 158
TEL menu* ................................... 160
Automatic transmission ..................... 163
One-touch gearshifting................. 165
Gear ranges ................................. 166
Gear selector lever position ......... 167
Automatic shift program .............. 169
Driving tips ................................... 170
Steering wheel gearshift control
- CLK 500 and CLK 55 AMG ......... 171
Manual shift program
CLK 55 AMG ................................ 173
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 175Good visibility ..................................... 176
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 176
Rear view mirrors.......................... 176
Sun visors ..................................... 178
Rear window defroster .................. 179
Climate control (CLK 320) .................. 180
Deactivating the
climate control system ................. 183
Setting the temperature................ 183
Adjusting air
distribution and volume ................ 184
Defrosting ..................................... 185
Air recirculation mode .................. 186
Air conditioning............................. 187
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 189
Automatic climate control
(CLK 500/CLK 55 AMG)..................... 190
Deactivating the automatic
climate control system ................. 193
Setting the temperature................ 193
Adjusting air distribution............... 194
Adjusting air volume ..................... 194
Defrosting ..................................... 195
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 195
Air recirculation mode .................. 195Charcoal filter ............................... 197
Air conditioning ............................ 198
Residual heat and ventilation*
(available on Automatic climate
control panel design A only) ......... 199
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 200
Audio system...................................... 201
Audio and telephone, operation .... 201
Operating safety ........................... 201
Sound system* ............................. 201
Operating and display elements ... 202
Button and soft key operation ...... 204
Operation...................................... 204
Radio operation ............................ 209
Introduction to satellite radio*
(USA only) ..................................... 213
CD mode....................................... 218
GSM network phones ................... 224
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 231
Emergency calls “911” ................. 237
Power windows .................................. 239
Opening and
closing the windows ..................... 239
Synchronizing power windows ...... 243

28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
Cigarette lighter
273
274
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
35
3
Storage compartment
270
4
Soft top switch
247
5
Program mode selector
switch for automatic trans-
mission

Automatic shift
program


Manual shift program
(CLK 55 AMG)
169
174
6
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
163

164 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission1Current gear range/gear selector lever
position
2Current program mode
The current gear range/gear selector lever
position and program mode (
C/S) or
(
M/C/S) appear in the multifunction
display.An additional indication of the current gear
selector lever position can be found on the
cover of the shifting-gate.
The indicators come on when you activate
a switch (e.g. unlocking the vehicle or
opening a door) and go out after approxi-
mately 15 minutes.
When the gear selector lever is in
positionD, you can influence transmission
shifting by:


limiting the gear range


changing gears manually
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out ofP orN if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
!Allow engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

165 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
One-touch gearshifting
Even with an automatic transmission you
can change the gears manually when the
gear selector lever is in positionD.
Downshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next lower gear as permitted by
the shift program. This action
simultaneously limits the gear range of the
transmission (
page 166).Upshifting

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next higher gear as permitted
by the shift program. This action simul-
taneously extends the gear range of the
transmission.Canceling gear range limit

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in theD+direction until
D reappears in
the multifunction display.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in theD-direction.
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more gears.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when
the gear selector lever is moved to
theD-direction, the transmission will
not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s
max. speed would be exceeded.

171 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Steering wheel gearshift control CLK 500 and CLK 55 AMG
When driving in the automatic program
modes CorS, or in the manual program
modeM (CLK 55 AMG only), you can
change the gears manually on the steering
wheel or by using the gear selector lever
(page 165).Steering wheel gearshift control
CLK 500
The steering wheel gearshift buttons are
located to the left and right of the steering
wheel.
1Button, inside: downshift
2Button, outside: upshiftiTo avoid overrevving the engine when
downshifting with steering wheel
gearshift buttons, the transmission will
not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s
max. speed would be exceeded.
!Allow engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
iYou cannot shift with the steering
wheel gearshift buttons when the gear
selector lever is in positionP,N orR.
The last selected automatic program
mode (CorS) is switched on when the
engine is restarted.

173 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Downshifting

Press button1 on the left side of the
steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to the next
lower gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously limits
the gear range of the transmission
(
page 166) when you are driving in the
automatic program mode (CorS).
Upshifting

Press button2 on the right side of the
steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to the next
higher gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
extends the gear range of the transmission
when you are driving in the automatic
program mode (CorS).
Manual shift program CLK 55 AMG
In the manual program modeM you can
change the gears manually on the steering
wheel (
page 172) or by using the gear
selector lever (
page 165).
iYou cannot shift with the steering
wheel gearshift buttons when the gear
selector lever is in positionP,N orR.
The manual program modeM will not
be stored. When the engine is turned
off with the manual program modeM
selected, the transmission will go to
the automatic program mode (CorS)
when the engine is restarted.
The last selected program
mode (CorS) is switched on when the
engine is restarted in the automatic
program mode.Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.
!Allow engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

174 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionThe program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
M Manual For manual gear shifting
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
The current gear selector lever position
and the selected program mode (
M/C/S)
are indicated in the multifunction display
(
page 164).Activating manual shift program

Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the
M for
manual program modeM appears in
the multifunction display.
The transmission switches to the
manual program modeM. Automatic
shifting is switched off. The gear range
is not limited.
You can change the gears manually when
the gear selector lever is in positionD. You
can upshift or downshift through the gears
in succession.Downshifting

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction
(page 165).
or

Press button1 on the left side of the
steering wheel (
page 172).
The transmission shifts to the next
lower gear.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.iWhen you brake or stop, the transmis-
sion shifts down to a gear from which
you can easily accelerate or take off.

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.