2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK COUPE ESP

91 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see the "Practical
hints" section (
page 365) and
(
page 374).Switching off the ESP
®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, turn off
the ESP
® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:


when driving with snow chains


in deep snow


in sand or gravelWhen you switch off the ESP
®


the ESP
® does not stabilize the vehicle


the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip


the traction control will still brake a
spinning wheel


the ESP
® continues to operate when
you are braking
!Because of the ESP
®’s automatic
operation, the engine must be shut off
when


the parking brake is being tested on
a brake test dynamometer


the vehicle is being towed with the
front axle raised
Active braking action through the ESP
®
may otherwise seriously damage the
brake system.
iThe ESP
® will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended
tire size.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a Minis-
pare whiel is mounted.
!Turn on the ESP
® immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not
apply anymore.
iWhen the ESP
® is switched off and one
or more drive wheels are spinning, the
ESP
® warning lampv in the instru-
ment cluster flashes. However, the
ESP® will then not stabilize the vehicle.

92 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsThe switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1ESP
® switch (off/on)

Press switch1.
The ESP
® warning lamp v in the in-
strument cluster comes on.
The ESP® is deactivated.Switching on the ESP
®

Press switch1 again.
The ESP
® warning lamp v in the in-
strument cluster goes out.
You are now again in normal driving
mode with ESP
® switched on.
Warning!
G
When the ESP
® warning lampv is
illuminated continuously, the ESP
® is
switched off.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP
®.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period with the ESP
®
switched off. This may cause serious
damage to the drivetrain which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

94 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsArming the alarm system
The indicator lamp is in the center console.
1Indicator lamp (vehicles with tow-away
alarm)1Indicator lamp (vehicles without
tow-away alarm)

Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey or
KEYLESS-GO*.
The turn signal lamps flash three times,
and an acoustic signal sounds three
times (if equipped and feature activat-
ed), to indicate that the alarm system is
armed.
Indicator lamp1 begins to flash after
approximately 30 seconds after arming
the alarm system.
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
Tele Aid system (
page 279) provided
Tele Aid service was subscribed to and
properly activated, and that necessary
cellular service and GPS coverage are
available.
iIf the turn signal lamps do not flash
three times, and the acoustic signal do
not sounds three times (if equipped
and feature activated), one of the fol-
lowing elements may not be properly
closed:

a door


the trunk
Close the respective element and lock
the vehicle again.

95 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Disarming the alarm system
Unlock your vehicle with the SmartKey
or KEYLESS-GO*.
The turn signal lamps flash once, and
an acoustic signal sounds once (if
equipped and feature activated), to
indicate that the alarm system is
disarmed.Canceling the alarm
With the SmartKey

Press the Œ or ‹button on the
SmartKey.
or

Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
With KEYLESS-GO*

Pull an outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must
be within 3 ft (1 m) of the vehicle.
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 35).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must
be inside the vehicle.
Tow-away alarm*
Depending on vehicle production date,
your vehicle may not be equipped with the
tow-away alarm.
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual
and audible alarm will be triggered when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.
iThe alarm system will rearm automati-
cally after approximately 40 seconds if
neither a door nor the trunk lid was
opened.
iThe tow-away protection alarm is trig-
gered, for example, if the vehicle is lift-
ed on one side
If the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
Tele Aid system (
page 279) provided
Tele Aid service was subscribed to and
properly activated, and that necessary
cellular service and GPS coverage are
available.

98 Controls in detailIn the “Controls in detail” section you will
find detailed information on how to oper-
ate the equipment installed in your vehicle.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions of your vehicle, this section will
be of particular interest to you.
To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba-
sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the
“Getting started” section of this manual.
The corresponding page numbers are giv-
en at the beginning of each segment.Locking and unlocking
For more information on locking and
unlocking, see “Getting started”
(page 32) and (
page 57).
SmartKey
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys, each with remote control and
a removable mechanical key.
The locking tabs for the mechanical key
portion of the two SmartKeys are a
different color to help distinguish each
SmartKey unit.
The SmartKey provides an extended oper-
ating range. To prevent theft, however, it is
advisable to only unlock the vehicle when
you are in close proximity to it.
The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks:

the doors


the trunk


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with remote control1‹Lock button
2Š Opening button for trunk
3Mechanical key locking tab
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button (
page 86)

114 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingClosing the trunk from the outside
manually
1Handle
2Handles
Lower trunk lid by pulling firmly on
handle1 or handles2.

Close trunk from the outside with
hands placed flat on the trunk lid.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the trunk
lid opening when closing the trunk. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.Warning!
G
Only drive with the trunk closed as, among
other dangers such as blocked visibility,
exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle
interior.
iDo not place the SmartKey in the open
trunk. You may lock yourself out.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
To prevent a possible inadvertent lock-
out, the trunk lid will open automatical-
ly if a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is
recognized inside the vehicle or in the
trunk.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the trunk will lock automatical-
ly after closing it (
page 113). All turn
signal lamps flash three times, and an
acoustic signal sounds three times (if
equipped and feature activated), to
confirm locking.

115 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the trunk from the outside
(vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicle with trunk opening/closing sys-
tem* you can close the trunk separately.
1Trunk closing switch
Press trunk closing switch1 briefly.
The trunk closes.If the trunk lid comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high), the closing procedure
is stopped and the trunk reopens slightly.iYou can also close the trunk by hand
(page 114).
Warning!
G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
ensure that no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the trunk opening when closing the trunk.
Be especially careful when small children
are around. To stop the closing procedure,
do one of the following:

press trunk closing switch1


press the Š button on the SmartKey


press the remote trunk opening or clos-
ing switch (on driver’s door)
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch, the trunk closing switch can
be operated. Therefore, do not leave chil-
dren unattended in the vehicle, or with ac-
cess to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.Warning!
G
Only drive with the trunk closed as, among
other dangers such as blocked visibility,
exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle
interior.iDo not place the SmartKey in the open
trunk. You may lock yourself out.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the trunk will lock automatical-
ly after closing it (
page 113). All turn
signal lamps flash three times, and an
acoustic signal sounds three times (if
equipped and feature activated), to
confirm locking.

116 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingClosing the trunk from the outside
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with trunk opening/closing sys-
tem* you can close the trunk separately.
1Trunk closing switch
Make sure you have the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you.

Press trunk closing switch1 briefly.
The trunk closes.If the trunk lid comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high), the closing procedure
is stopped and the trunk reopens slightly.
iYou can also close the trunk by hand
(page 114).
iTo prevent a possible inadvertent lock-
out, the trunk will open automatically if
a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is recog-
nized inside the vehicle or in the trunk.
Warning!
G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
ensure that no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the trunk opening when closing the trunk.
Be especially careful when small children
are around. To stop the closing procedure,
do one of the following:

press trunk closing switch1


press KEYLESS-GO locking/closing
switch


press the remote trunk opening or clos-
ing switch (on driver’s door)


press the Š button on the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO