2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK COUPE tow

359 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Where will I find...?
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Opening/closing in an emergency
Resetting activated head restraints
Replacing SmartKey batteries
Replacing bulbs
Replacing wiper blades
Flat tire
Battery
Jump starting
Towing the vehicle
Fuses

398 Practical hintsWhere will I find...?First aid kit
The first aid kit is located in the trunk on
the left side secured by a hook and loop
fastener.
Loosen hook and loop fastener.

Remove first aid kit.
Vehicle tool kit
The vehicle tool kit is located in the storage
compartment underneath the trunk floor.
The following is included:

Towing eye bolt


Wheel wrench


Alignment bolt


Vehicle jack


Collapsible wheel chock


Spare fuses


A pair of gloves
The spare wheel bolts are fixed at the
Minispare wheel.Removing the vehicle tool kit

Lift up trunk floor cover and engage
trunk floor handle in upper edge of
trunk.
1Retaining screw
2Storage well casing

Loosen retaining screw1 in the mid-
dle of storage well casing by turning it
counterclockwise.

Remove storage well casing2.
iCheck expiration dates and contents
for completeness at least once a year
and replace missing/expired items.

406 Practical hintsUnlocking/locking in an emergencyManually unlocking the gear selector lever
In case of power failure, the gear selector
lever can be manually unlocked, e.g. to tow
the vehicle.
Center armrest design A
Open the storage compartment under
the center armrest (
page 271).

Take out storage box 1.

Insert a tool2 (e.g. flat blade screw-
driver) into the opening.

Perform the following two steps simul-
taneously:
Push tool2 forward in the direc-
tion of the arrow.

Move gear selector lever from
positionP.

Reinstall the storage box1 after re-
moving the tool2 from the opening.Center armrest design B

Pull the tab1 of the covering back in
direction of the center armrest com-
partment.

Insert a tool2 (e.g. flat blade screw-
driver) into the opening.

Perform the following two steps simul-
taneously:
Push tool2 down- and forward in
the direction of the arrow.

Move gear selector lever from
positionP.

Remove the tool2 from the opening.

Push the tab1 of the covering back.
iThe gear selector lever is locked again
when moving it to positionP.

408 Practical hintsResetting activated head restraintsResetting activated head restraints
If the active head restraints have been trig-
gered in a rear-end collision, the active
head restraints must be reset. Otherwise,
the active head restraints cannot offer any
additional protection in the event of anoth-
er rear-end collision.
1Head restraint cushion
2Head restraint cover
3Reset tool
4Hole

Take the reset tool3 out of the
Mercedes-Benz vehicle literature
pouch.

Guide reset tool3 into the hole4 be-
tween the rear head restraint cover2
and the head restraint cushion1.

Press the reset tool3 downward until
you hear the active head restraint re-
lease mechanism audibly engage.

Pull out reset tool3.

Firmly press the head restraint
cushion1 back toward the rear head
restraint cover2 until it engages.

Repeat this procedure on the active
head restraint for the second front
seat.

After resetting the active head re-
straints store the reset tool3 in the
Mercedes-Benz vehicle literature
pouch.
For information on active head restraints,
see “Active head restraints” (
page 73).
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Seats” (
page 37).
iFor your convenience, we recommend
that you have this work carried out by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
You will find the reset tool for manually
operating the active head restraints in
the Mercedes-Benz vehicle literature
pouch.Warning!
G
When pushing back the head restraint cush-
ion, take care that your fingers do not be-
come caught between the head restraint
cushion and the cover. Failing to do so may
lead to injury.
!Be careful not to damage upholstery.

430 Practical hintsJump starting
If the battery is discharged, the engine can
be started with jumper cables and the bat-
tery of another vehicle. Observe the follow-
ing:

Jump starting should only be performed
when the engine and catalytic convert-
er are cold.


Do not start the engine if the battery is
frozen. Let the battery thaw out first.


Only jump start from batteries with the
same voltage rating (12 V). Jump start-
ing with a more powerful battery could
damage the vehicle’s electrical system,
which will not be covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.


Only use jumper cables with sufficient
cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.


Always make sure the jumper cables
are not on or near pulleys, fans or other
parts that move when an engine is
started or running.
Warning!
G
Failure to follow these directions will cause
damage to the electronic components, and
can lead to a battery explosion and severe
injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting
or jump starting, you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water, and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and very explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc.
Attempting to jump start a frozen battery
can result in it exploding, causing personal
injury.
Read all instructions before proceeding.
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.!Avoid repeated and lengthy starting at-
tempts.
Do not attempt to start the engine us-
ing a battery quick charge unit.
If the engine does not run after several
unsuccessful starting attempts, have it
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Excessive unburned fuel generated by
repeated failed starting attempts may
damage the catalytic converter and
may present a fire risk.
Make sure the jumper cables do not
have loose or missing insulation.
Make sure the cable clamps do not
touch any other metal part while the
other end is still attached to a battery.

432 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleTowing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehi-
cle may be towed with all wheels on the
ground or front wheels raised only so far as
necessary to have the vehicle moved to a
safe location where the recommended
towing methods can be employed.
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equip-
ment with SmartKey in starter switch
turned to position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
Towing with sling-type equipment over
bumpy roads will damage radiator and
supports.
To prevent damage during transport,
do not tie down vehicle by its chassis or
suspension parts.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 95) and the automatic central
locking (
page 163).
!If the vehicle is towed with the front
axle raised, the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0
or1). Otherwise, the ESP
® will immedi-
ately be engaged and will apply the rear
wheel brakes.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, the gear selector lever
must be in positionN and the
SmartKey must be in starter switch
position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground or the front axle raised,
the vehicle may be towed only for
30 miles (50 km) and up to 30 mph
(50 km/h).!To be certain to avoid a possibility of
damage to the transmission, however,
we recommend the drive shaft be dis-
connected at the rear axle drive flange
for any towing beyond a short tow to a
nearby garage.

433 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Warning!
G
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that the SmartKey
is in starter switch position
2.
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch posi-
tion
0 for an extended period of time, it can
no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock, re-
move SmartKey from starter switch and re-
insert.
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:


the engine will not run


there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
as that will be necessary to adequately con-
trol the towed vehicle.
Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.iTo signal turns while being towed with
the hazard warning flasher in use,
switch on the ignition and activate the
combination switch for the left or right
turn signal in the usual manner – only
the selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the haz-
ard warning flasher will operate again.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the follow-
ing:
With the automatic central locking acti-
vated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel
as well as the right rear wheel are turn-
ing at vehicle speeds of approx. 9 mph
(15 km / h) or more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 95).
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (
page 163).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to the vehicle chas-
sis, frame or suspension parts.

434 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt
Towing eye bolt CLK 350
1Cover on right side of front bumper2Cover on right side of rear bumper
To remove cover:

Press mark on cover 1 or 2.

Lift cover off to reveal the threaded
hole for towing eye bolt.
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the
tool kit (located in the compartment under-
neath the trunk floor).

Screw towing eye bolt in to its stop and
tighten with lug wrench.
To reinstall cover:

Fit cover 1 or 2 and snap into place.
iIf the battery is disconnected or
discharged

the SmartKey will not turn in the
starter switch. For more informa-
tion, see “Battery” (
page 426)
and “Jump starting” (page 430).


the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP. For informa-
tion on manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever,
see (
page 406).