Page 457 of 514

456 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.
!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.
Page 458 of 514

457 Practical hints
Jump starting
The battery is located on the right side of
the engine compartment. For jump start-
ing, use the terminals in front of the bat-
tery.
Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Apply parking brake.
Shift gear selector lever to positionP.
Open the hood (
page 321).
Flip up cover from positive under hood
terminal2 in front of the filter box
(page 454).1Positive terminal of charged battery
2Positive under hood terminal in front of
discharged battery
3Negative under hood terminal in front
of discharged battery
4Negative terminal of charged battery
Connect the positive terminal1 of the
charged battery with the positive under
hood terminal 2 in front of the filter
box with the jumper cable. Clamp cable
to charged battery1 first.
Start engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.
Connect the negative terminal4 of
the charged battery with the negative
under hood terminal 3 in front of the
filter box with the jumper cable. Clamp
cable to charged battery4 first.
Start the engine of the disabled vehi-
cle.
You can now turn on the electrical con-
sumers. Do not turn on the lights under
any circumstances.
Remove the jumper cables first from
the negative terminals3 and4 and
then from the positive terminals2
and1.
You can now turn on the lights.
Have the battery checked at the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 328).
!Never invert the terminal connections.
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.
Page 459 of 514

458 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.
!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 94) and the automatic central
locking (
page 159).
!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 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 dis-
tances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a
speed not to exceed 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.
Page 460 of 514

459 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 94).
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (
page 159).
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.
Page 461 of 514
460 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 453)
and “Jump starting” (page 456).
the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP. For informa-
tion on manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever,
see (
page 422).
Page 462 of 514

461 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing eye bolt CLK 500/CLK 55 AMG
Towing eye bolt in front bumper
The cover for the threaded bore in the front
bumper is identical to the cover on the
CLK 350.
To remove and to reinstall cover, see “Tow-
ing eye bolt CLK 350” (
page 460).
Towing eye bolt in rear bumper
1Cover on right side of rear bumper
2Recess in the coverTo remove cover 1:
Insert flat, blunt object as a lever in
recess 2 on the edge of cover 1.
Loosen cover 1 from the bumper us-
ing lever, to reveal the threaded hole
for towing eye bolt.
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the
tool kit (located in the compartment
underneath the trunk floor).
Screw towing eye bolt in to its stop and
tighten with lug wrench.To reinstall cover 1:
Hook right-hand side of the cover1
into opening.
Slide cover1 as far as it will go in the
direction of the arrow3.
Gently press left-hand side of cover1
in direction of the arrow4.
The hooks on the left-hand side
engage.iWhen closing the cover1, make sure
the cover’s check strap does not get
caught.
Page 463 of 514

462 Practical hintsFusesFuses are designed to protect the electri-
cal circuits in your vehicle from a short cir-
cuit. If a fuse is blown, the component(s)
and systems secured by that fuse will stop
operating.
The following aids are available to help you
replace fuses (
page 462):
Fuse chart
Spare fuses
Fuse extractor
The electrical fuses are located in different
fuse boxes:
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment (
page 463)
Fuse box in engine compartment
(page 463)
Fuse box in trunk (
page 464)
Aids for replacing fuses
Fuse chart
The fuse chart is located in the main fuse
box in the passenger compartment
(page 463). The amperages of the fuses
are also given there.
Spare fuses
Spare fuses are located in the vehicle tool
kit in the spare wheel well (
page 413).
Fuse extractor
The fuse extractor is located in the trunk
underneath the trunk floor cover in the
storage well casing (
page 413).
Warning!
G
Only use fuses approved for Mercedes-Benz
with the specified amperage for the system
in question. Using other fuses may cause an
overload leading to a fire, and/or cause
damage to electrical components and/or
systems.
!Never attempt to repair or bridge a
blown fuse. Have the cause determined
and remedied by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.!Keep the fuse boxes free by contamina-
tion and wetness. Otherwise, electrical
parts or systems could be damaged.
Page 464 of 514
463 Practical hintsFuses
Mainfuse box in passenger compartment
The main fuse box is located in the passen-
ger compartment on the driver’s side of
the cockpit.
1Main fuse box coverOpening fuse box
Open the driver’s door.
Insert flat, blunt object as a lever into
the edge of the fuse box cover1 at
the position indicated by the arrow.
Loosen fuse box cover1 from cockpit
using lever.
Using your hands, remove fuse box
cover1 rearward.
Closing fuse box
Attach fuse box cover1 in the front.
Fold fuse box cover1 in until it
engages.
Fuse box in engine compartment
The fuse box is located in the engine com-
partment on the driver’s side.
1Cover
2Screw
3Retainer
Removing cover
Twist screws2 90° counterclock-
wise.
Lift the rear of cover1.
Slide out retainer3 and remove
cover1 by pulling towards front.
!Do not use sharp objects such as a
screw driver to open the fuse box
cover1 in the cockpit, as this could
damage it.