2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C55AMG Owner's Manual

176 Controls in detail
Climate control
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 mode A/C is deactivated
(
page 182).
Warning!G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature).
This may cause burns or frostbite on unpro-
tected skin in the immediate area of the air
vents. Always keep sufficient distance be-
tween unprotected parts of the body and the
air vents. If necessary, use the air distribu-
tion control (
page 178) to direct the air to
air vents in the vehicle interior that are not
in the immediate area of unprotected skin.
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.
i
Severe 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
“Summer opening feature”
(
page 241). The climate control will
then adjust the interior temperature to
the set value much faster.
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.

177 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating the climate control
system
Deactivating
Set air volume control1 (page 175)
to position0.
Reactivating
Set air volume control1 (page 175)
to any speed.Operating the climate control system
in automatic mode
Activating
Press buttonU (page 175) while
the engine is running.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air volume and air distri-
bution are adjusted automatically.
Use temperature controls2 and3
(
page 175) to separately adjust the
air temperature on each side of the
passenger compartment.
The temperature of the vehicle interior
is adjusted automatically.
Deactivating
Press buttonU (page 175) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The automatic operation of air vol-
ume and air distribution switches off.
Warning!G
When the climate control is switched off, the
outside air supply and circulation are also
switched off. Only choose this setting for a
short time. Otherwise the windows could
fog up, impairing visibility and endangering
you and others.
i
When operating the climate control
system in automatic mode, you will
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehu-
midify is switched on. This function can
be switched off if necessary.

178 Controls in detail
Climate control
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls2 and3
(
page 175) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing
Turn temperature control2 and/or
3 (
page 175) slightly clockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.Decreasing
Turn temperature control2 and/or
3 (
page 175) slightly counterclock-
wise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution and volume
Use air distribution control4
(
page 175) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are located on the
controls:
Press buttonU (page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The automatic air distribution is
switched off. The air distribution is
controlled according to the selected
control setting.i
If you turn the temperature control
clockwise until it stops for one side of
the vehicle, you increase the tempera-
ture for the other side at the same
time.
i
If you turn the temperature control
counterclockwise until it stops for one
side of the vehicle, you decrease the
temperature for the other side at the
same time.
SymbolFunction
aDirects air through the center,
side and rear passenger
compartment air vents
ZDirects air to the windshield
and the side defroster vents
bDirects air into the entire
vehicle interior
YDirects air to the footwells

179 Controls in detail
Climate control
Turn air distribution control 4
(
page 175) to the desired symbol.
Opening center and side air vents
Turn thumbwheels 3, 4, 7 and 8
(
page 175) upward.
The center air vents 5 and 6 and side
air vents 2 and 9 are open.
Closing center and side air vents
Turn thumbwheels 3, 4, 7 and 8
(
page 175) downward.
The center air vents 5 and 6 and side
air vents 2 and 9 are closed.
Adjusting air volume
Six blower speeds are available.
Press buttonU (page 175).
The indicator lamp in the button goes
out. The automatic air volume control
is switched off. The air volume is
adjusted according to the currently
selected setting.
Use the air volume control4
(
page 175) to adjust the air volume.
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
side windows.Activating
Press buttonP or0
(
page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning switches
automatically to the following functions:

maximum blowing and heating
power

air flows onto the windshield and
the front side windows

the air recirculation mode is
switched off
Deactivating
Press buttonP or0
(
page 175) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
i
Keep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are
clear again.
i
The cooling remains switched on.

180 Controls in detail
Climate control
Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on
(
page 50).
Press buttonU (page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. Air distribution and air vol-
ume are adjusted automatically.
If the automatic mode of the climate con-
trol is switched off:
Turn air distribution control4
toaorY (
page 175).
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.Activating
Press button, (page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.i
Keep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.
Warning!G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 182) is activated, or
press buttonP or 0.
i
The air recirculation mode is activated
automatically at high outside tempera-
tures.
The indicator lamp on button, is
not lit when the air recirculation mode
is automatically switched on.
A quantity of outside air is added after
approximately 30 minutes.
Warning!G
Never operate the side windows and the
tilt/sliding sunroof if there is the possibility
of anyone being harmed by the closing pro-
cedure.

181 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating
Press button, (page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
In the event that the closing procedure
causes potential danger, the closing of the
side windows can be immediately halted by
pressing or pulling the respective window
switch. The closing of the tilt/sliding
sunroof can be immediately halted by
moving the tilt/sliding sunroof switch in the
overhead control panel in any direction.
The closing of the side windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof can be reversed by again
pressing and holding the, button.
i
Press and hold button, for approx.
2 seconds. The side windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof will close. You can
release button, once the closing
procedure has begun. The windows
and tilt/sliding sunroof continue clos-
ing until they are fully closed.
i
The air recirculation mode is deactivat-
ed automatically:

after 5 minutes if the outside
temperature is below
approximately 41°F (5°C)

after 5 minutes if the air condition-
ing is turned off

after 30 minutes if the outside
temperature is above
approximately 41°F (5°C)
i
Press and hold button, for approx.
2 seconds. The side windows and or
tilt/sliding sunroof will return to their
previous position. You can release
button, once the opening proce-
dure has begun. The windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof continue opening
until they have reached their previous
position.
A window or tilt/sliding sunroof will
only return to its previous position if it
has not been moved to another posi-
tion using the respective window
switch or tilt/sliding sunroof switch af-
ter it was closed with button,. A
window or tilt/sliding sunroof that was
moved will remain in its current posi-
tion if button, is used to re-open
the remaining windows or tilt/sliding
sunroof.

182 Controls in detail
Climate control
Air conditioning
The cooling function, only operational
when the engine is running, cools the vehi-
cle interior down to the selected tempera-
ture. The cooling function also
dehumidifies the air in the vehicle interior,
thus preventing the windows from fogging
up.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate
control system. The air in the vehicle will
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.
Press button2 (page 175).
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 condition-
ing.
Press button2 (page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.
i
Condensation 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.
!
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.

183 Controls in detail
Climate control
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents
The air conditioning for the rear passenger
compartment is controlled via the climate
control panel (
page 174).The air vents for the rear passenger
compartment are located in the rear
center console.
1Left center air vent
2Thumbwheel for air volume control for
center air vents
3Right center air ventAdjusting air distribution
Push the slide for the left center
vent1 or right center vent3 to the
left, right, up or down.
The air flow is directed in the corre-
sponding direction.
Adjusting air volume
Turn thumbwheel2 up or down.
The air volume is increased or
decreased.
i
The temperature at the center air vents
for the rear passenger
compartment1 and3 is the same as
at the dashboard center air vents.i
For draft-free ventilation, push
slides1 and3 upward.