2005 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK55AMG CABRIOLET automatic 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

47 Getting started
Driving
Automatic transmissionGearshift pattern for automatic
transmissionPPark position with gear selector lever
lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 163).Starting with the SmartKey

Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.

Do not depress accelerator.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position3 (
page 34) and release it
again immediately (“touch-start”).
The engine then starts automatically.

Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine
with the SmartKey, see (
page 56).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 button1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(U.S. vehicles)
2KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(Canada vehicles)


93 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Good visibility
Climate control (CLK 320)
Automatic climate control (CLK 500/CLK 55 AMG)
Audio system
Power windows
Soft top
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features

133 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button is in
position1. The control system enables you
to

call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Outside temperature
2Trip odometer
3Automatic transmission program mode
4Main odometer
5Current gear selector lever position
For more information on menus displayed
in the multifunction display, see “Menus”
(page 136).
iThe displays for the audio systems
(radio, CD player) will appear in English,
regardless of the language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his /her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approxi-
mately 14 m) every second.

163 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
For more information on driving with an
automatic transmission, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 47).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear
shifting process to your individual driving
style by continually adjusting the shift
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current
operating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by
adjusting its shift program.
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission
The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:

the gear selector lever
positionD(
page 167) with
gear ranges (page 166)


the selected program mode:
(C/S) (
page 169)
or
(M/C/S) (CLK 55 AMG only)
(
page 173)


the position of the accelerator pedal
(page 170)


the vehicle speed
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter to heat up more
quickly to operating temperature.

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.