2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK COUPE windshield wipers

354 OperationVehicle careAutomatic car wash
You can have your car washed in an auto-
matic car wash from the start. Automatic
car washes without brushes are prefera-
ble.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it be-
fore running it through the automatic car
wash.Ornamental moldings
For regular cleaning and care of ornamen-
tal moldings, use a damp cloth.
!Do not clean your vehicle in an auto-
matic touchless car wash which uses
caustic spray. Otherwise the caustic
spray will damage the paint or orna-
mental moldings.
!Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in
exterior rear view mirrors prior to run-
ning the vehicle through an automatic
car wash to prevent damage to the
mirrors.
Make sure that the combination switch
is set to0 (
page 53). Otherwise, the
rain sensor could activate and cause
the wipers to move unintentionally.
This may lead to vehicle damage.
iAfter running the vehicle through an au-
tomatic car wash, wipe any wax off of
the windshield (
page 356). This will
prevent smears and reduce wiping
noise which can be caused by residual
wax on the windshield.
When leaving the car wash, make sure
that the mirrors are folded out. Other-
wise they may vibrate.
!Do not use chrome cleaner on orna-
mental moldings. Although ornamental
moldings may have chrome appear-
ance, they could be made of anodized
aluminum that will be damaged when
cleaned with chrome cleaner. Instead,
use a damp cloth to clean those orna-
mental moldings.
For very dirty ornamental moldings of
which you are sure are chrome-plated,
use a chrome cleaner. If in doubt
whether an ornamental molding is
chrome-plated, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

356 OperationVehicle careCleaning the windows and the wiper
blades
Fold the wiper arms forward until they
snapes into place.

Clean the wiper blade inserts with a
clean cloth and detergent solution.

Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild win-
dow cleaning solution on all outside
and inside glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is
recommended.Light alloy wheels
If possible, clean wheels once a week.

Use Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel
Care, a soft bristle brush and a strong
spray of water for cleaning the light al-
loy wheels.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove SmartKey from starter switch
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle's on-board electronics have
status
0) before cleaning the windshield
and/or the wiper blades. Otherwise, the
wiper motor could suddenly turn on and
cause injury.
!Fold the windshield wiper arms back
onto the windshield before turning the
SmartKey in the starter switch or
pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*).
Hold on to the wiper when folding the
wiper arm back. If released, the force
of the impact from the tensioning
spring could crack the windshield.!To clean the window interior, do not
use a dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or
cleaners containing solvents. Do not
touch the inside of the front, rear or
side windows with hard objects such as
an ice scraper or ring. Doing so may
damage the windows.
!Only use acid-free cleaning materials.
Acid may cause corrosion or damage
the clear coat.!The vehicle should not be parked for an
extended period of time immediately
after it has been cleaned, especially not
after the wheel rims have been cleaned
with wheel rim cleaner. Wheel rim
cleaners can lead to increased corro-
sion of the brake disks and brake pads.
Therefore, the vehicle’s brake system
should always be warmed-up before it
is parked after cleaning. To do so,
please drive your vehicle for several
minutes to allow the brakes to dry.

418 Practical hintsReplacing wiper bladesRemoving and installing wiper blades

Remove SmartKey from starter switch
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: make
sure the vehicle's on board electronics
have status 0).
Removing wiper blades
1Unlocking
2Tab

Pull the tab2 in the direction of
arrow1.
The wiper blade is unlocked.

Lift up the wiper arm as far as you need
to remove the wiper blade.

Carefully fold the wiper arm back to
rest on the windshield.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove SmartKey from starter switch
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status
0) before replacing a wiper blade.
Otherwise, the wiper motor could suddenly
turn on and cause injury.
!Never open the hood when the wiper
arms are folded forward.
For your convenience, we recommend
that you have this work carried out by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
!Hold on to the wiper arm when folding
the wiper arm back. If released, the
force of the impact from the tensioning
spring could crack the windshield.

486 IndexVehicle loading
Cargo tie-down rings 268
Instructions 267, 320
Load limit 320
Roof rack* 262
Split rear bench seat 265
Terminology 342
Vehicle maximum load on the tire 344
Vehicle recovery services,
Stolen (Tele Aid) 286
Vehicle status message memory 151
Vehicle status messages 370
Vehicle system settings,
Control system 143
Vehicle tool kit 398
Vehicle washing 351
VIN 442, 466W
Warning indicators
Parktronic system*
(Canada only) 260
Warning sounds
Drivers seat belts 71
Parking brake 51
Parktronic system*
(Canada only) 260, 261
Seat belt telltale 71
Warranty coverage 10, 441
Washer fluid see Windshield washer fluid
Washer reservoir level 453
Washing the vehicle 351
Wear pattern, Tires 345
Weights, Vehicle 451
Wheel
Bolts 403
Change 421
Collapsible wheel chock 398
Removing 423
Spare 421
Tightening torque 424
Wrench 398Wheels, Sizes 447
Wheels, Tires and 317
Window curtain air bags 68
Windows see Power windows
Windshield
Cleaning 55, 356
Defogging 192, 202
Windshield washer fluid 316, 459
Message in display 397
Mixing ratio 459
Refilling 316
Reservoir level 453
Wiping 55
Windshield washer system 453, 459
Windshield wipers 53
Cleaning wiper blades 356
Replacing wiper blades 418
Winter driving 346
Block heater (Canada only) 347
Snow chains 347
Tires 346
Winter driving instructions 300
Winter tires 346
Wood trims, cleaning 358