2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK COUPE tow

ContentsSafety and Security........................... 61
Occupant safety................................... 62
Air bags .......................................... 63
Seat belts ....................................... 69
Active head restraints .................... 73
Children in the vehicle .................... 74
Blocking of rear side
window operation ........................... 85
Panic alarm .......................................... 86
Activating ....................................... 86
Deactivating ................................... 86
Driving safety systems ......................... 87
ABS ................................................ 87
BAS ................................................ 89
ESP
®.............................................. 90
Anti-theft systems................................ 93
Immobilizer..................................... 93
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 93
Tow-away alarm* ........................... 95
Controls in detail............................... 97
Locking and unlocking ......................... 98
SmartKey ....................................... 98
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ...... 103
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................. 110
Opening the trunk ........................ 111
Closing the trunk.......................... 113
Trunk emergency release ............. 118
Valet locking ................................ 119
Automatic central locking ............ 120
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................. 121
Seats ................................................. 122
Front seat active head restraints . 122
Rear seat head restraints ............. 122
Multicontour seat* ....................... 125
Seat heating* ............................... 126
Seat ventilation* .......................... 127
Memory function ............................... 128
Storing positions into memory ..... 129
Recalling positions from memory . 129
Storing exterior rear view
mirror parking position................. 130Lighting ............................................. 131
Exterior lamp switch .................... 131
Combination switch ..................... 135
Corner-illuminating front
fog lamps* (CLK with
Bi-Xenon* headlamps)................. 135
Hazard warning flasher ................ 137
Interior lighting ............................ 138
Door entry lamps ......................... 139
Trunk lamp ................................... 139
Instrument cluster ............................. 140
Instrument cluster illumination .... 140
Coolant temperature indicator ..... 141
Trip odometer .............................. 141
Tachometer.................................. 142
Clock............................................ 142
Outside temperature indicator ..... 142
Control system .................................. 143
Multifunction display.................... 144
Multifunction steering wheel........ 144
Menus .......................................... 146
Standard display menu ................ 148
AUDIO menu ................................ 149
NAV* menu .................................. 150
Vehicle status
message memory menu ............... 151

ContentsTowing the vehicle ............................. 432
Towing the vehicle........................ 432
Installing towing eye bolt.............. 434
Fuses ................................................. 436
Aids for replacing fuses ................ 436
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment................................ 437
Fuse box in engine compartment . 437
Fuse box in trunk.......................... 438
Technical data................................. 439
Parts service ...................................... 440
Warranty coverage............................. 441
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 441
Identification labels ........................... 442
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 443
CLK 350 ....................................... 443
CLK 500 ....................................... 443
Engine................................................ 444
Rims and tires.................................... 445
Same size tires ............................. 447
Mixed size tires ............................ 448
Minispare wheel ........................... 449
Electrical system ............................... 450
Main dimensions and weights............ 451
Main dimensions .......................... 451
Weights ........................................ 451Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 452
Capacities .................................... 452
Engine oils ................................... 454
Engine oil additives ...................... 454
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 454
Brake fluid.................................... 454
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 455
Fuel requirements ........................ 455
Gasoline additives ........................ 456
Coolants ...................................... 457
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 459
Technical terms............................... 461Index................................................. 467

16 IntroductionOperating safety
Proper use of the vehicle
Proper use of the vehicle requires that you
are familiar with the following information
and rules:

the safety precautions in this manual


the “Technical data” section in this
manual


traffic rules and regulations


motor vehicle laws and safety
standards
Warning!
G
Work improperly carried out on electronic
components and associated software could
cause them to cease functioning. Because
the vehicle’s electronic components are
interconnected, any modifications made
may produce an undesired effect on other
systems. Electronic malfunctions could
seriously impair the operating safety of your
vehicle.
See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for repairs or modifications to electronic
components.
Other improper work or modifications on the
vehicle could also have a negative impact on
the operating safety of the vehicle.
Some safety systems only function while the
engine is running. You should therefore
never turn off the engine while driving.
Warning!
G
Heavy blows against the vehicle underbody
or tires / wheels, for example when running
over an obstacle, road debris or a pothole,
may cause serious damage to and impair the
operating safety of your vehicle. If you feel a
sudden significant vibration or ride distur-
bance, or you suspect that damage to your
vehicle has occurred, you should turn on
your hazard warning flashers, carefully slow
down, and drive with caution to an area
which is a safe distance from the road.
Inspect the vehicle underbody and
tires / wheels for possible damage. If the
vehicle appears unsafe, have it towed to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or other qualified maintenance or repair
facility for further inspection or repairs.
Warning!
G
Various warning labels are attached to your
vehicle. These warning labels are intended
to make you and others aware of various
risks. You should not remove any of these
warning labels unless explicitly instructed to
do so by information on the label itself.
Removal of any of these labels may cause
you and others to be unaware of certain
risks which may result in an accident and/or
personal injury.

27 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Seat heater*, driver’s side
Seat ventilation*, driver’s
side
126
127
2
Parktronic system* deacti-
vation switch (Canada only)
261
3
Rear window sunshade*
switch (Canada only)
184
4
ESP
® control switch
90
5
Hazard warning flasher
switch - switching on/off
137
6
Central unlocking switch
Central locking switch
121
121
7
Switch for folding down rear
seat head restraints
123
8
Tow-away alarm switch (de-
pending on vehicle produc-
tion date)
Anti-theft alarm system indi-
cator lamp
95
93
Item
Page
9
Seat heater*,
passenger side
Seat ventilation*,
passenger side
126
127
a
Front passenger front air
bag off indicator lamp
81,
368
b
Audio system,
or
COMAND* (see separate
operating instructions)
149
c
Climate control (CLK 350)
Automatic climate control
(CLK 500)
Rear window defroster
186
196
185

57 Getting started
Parking and locking
Parking and locking
You have now completed your first drive.
You have properly stopped and parked
your vehicle. End your drive as follows.
Parking brake
1Release handle
2Parking brake pedal
Step firmly on parking brake pedal2.
When the engine is running, the
warning lamp;(USA only)
or3(Canada only) in the instru-
ment cluster will be illuminated.
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
vehicle.Warning!
G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
Warning!
G
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re-
sult of inadvertent vehicle movement, be-
fore turning off the engine and leaving the
vehicle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.


Firmly depress parking brake pedal.


Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.


Slowly release brake pedal.


When parked on an incline, turn front
wheel towards the road curb.


Turn the SmartKey to starter switch
position0 and remove, or press
start / stop button (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*).


Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* and lock vehicle when
leaving.


58 Getting startedParking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch toM
(page 52).
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 131).
Turning off the engine 
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.Turning off the engine with the
SmartKey

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
(page 34) to position0 and remove
it.
The immobilizer is activated.
Turning off the engine with
KEYLESS-GO*

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton to shut off the engine.
With the driver’s door closed, the start-
er switch is now in position1. With the
driver’s door opened, the starter switch
is set to position0, same as SmartKey
removed from starter switch
(page 34).
Warning!
G
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. Children could release the
parking brake and/or move the gear selec-
tor lever from positionP, either of which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear se-
lector lever not fully engaged in positionP is
dangerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 172).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to positionP.
On slopes, turn the front wheels to-
wards the curb.
iThe SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in positionP.


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.

93 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
With the SmartKey
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
With KEYLESS-GO*

Turn off the engine by means of the
start/stop button (
page 35) on the
gear selector lever.

Open the driver’s door.Deactivating
With the SmartKey

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

Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door


the trunk


the hood.
The alarm will stay on even if the activating
element (e.g. a door) is immediately
closed.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when


someone attempts to raise the vehicle
(only vehicles with tow-away alarm).


the vehicle is opened with the
mechanical key.


someone opens a door from the inside.


someone opens the trunk with the
emergency release button.
iStarting the engine will also deactivate
the immobilizer.
In case the engine cannot be started
(yet the vehicle’s battery is charged),
the system is not operational. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA), or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).