2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350 Smartkey

62 Getting startedParking and locking
Locking

Exit the vehicle and close all doors.

Press the lock button‹ on the
SmartKey (
page 34).
With the trunk and all doors closed, all
turn signal lamps flash three times. The
locking knobs on the doors move
down.
The anti-theft alarm system is armed
now (
page 87).
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (page 92).
iOpening a door causes the windows on
that side of the car to open slightly.
They will return to the up position when
the door is closed.!The side windows will not open or close
if the battery is discharged or the win-
dows are covered with ice. As a result,
you may no longer be able to properly
close the door. Do not attempt to force
the door shut. Doing so may damage
the door or the side window. Correct
the condition that prevents the
windows from operating before
attempting to close the door.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
Before closing doors, make sure there is no
possibility of someone getting caught in a
door during closing.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.
iWithout the antenna on the left rear
side of the vehicle installed, the
SmartKey signaling range is consider-
ably reduced. Hold the SmartKey in
close proximity towards the antenna
base when locking or unlocking the
vehicle.

64 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyIn this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint systems
of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are

Seat belts


Emergency tensioning device (ETD)


Air bags


Child seats


Child seat recognition
As independent systems, their protective
effects work in conjunction with each
other.The1indicator lamp in the speedome-
ter dial (
page 24) comes on


for about 4 seconds when you turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position1. It then goes out briefly,
comes on again and remains lit until
you start the engine.


for about 4 seconds when you start the
engine by turning the SmartKey.The1indicator lamp goes out shortly
after you start the engine. This shows that
the restraint systems are operational.
A malfunction in the system has been de-
tected if the1indicator lamp


fails to extinguish after approximately
4 seconds with the SmartKey in the
starter switch position1


does not come on at all


comes on after the engine was started


comes on while driving
For safety reasons, we strongly recom-
mend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to
have the system checked.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 366).
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and re-
straint systems for infants and chil-
dren, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 75).
iThe1indicator lamp remains lit if
the SmartKey is turned to position2
and left there. The indicator lamp will
go out when you start the engine.

77 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
BabySmart
TM air bag deactivation
system
175indicator lampSpecial BabySmart
TM compatible child
seats, designed for use with the
Mercedes-Benz system and available at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center are
required for use with the BabySmart
TM
air bag deactivation system. With the spe-
cial child seat properly installed, the pas-
senger front air bag will not deploy.
The 75indicator lamp will be il-
luminated, except with the SmartKey re-
moved or in starter switch position0.
Children too big for child restraint systems
should use regular seat belts. Position the
shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not
face or neck. A booster seat may be neces-
sary to achieve proper belt positioning for
children from 41 lbs until they reach a
height where a lap/shoulder belt fits proper-
ly without a booster.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
When the child restraint is not in use, re-
move it from the vehicle or secure it with the
seat belt to prevent the child restraint from
becoming a projectile in the event of an ac-
cident.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle; even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system. Unsupervised chil-
dren in a child restraint system may use ve-
hicle equipment and may cause serious
personal injury.
iThe system does not deactivate the
head-thorax air bag and the ETD (emer-
gency tensioning device).

78 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetySelf-test BabySmart
TM without special
child seat installed
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position1or2, the
75indicator lamp comes on for
approximately 6 seconds and then goes
out.
If the 75indicator lamp should
not come on or is continuously lit, the sys-
tem is not functioning. You must see an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center before
seating any child on the passenger seat.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 367).
Warning!
G
The BabySmart
TM air bag deactivation sys-
tem will ONLY work with a special child seat
designed to operate with it. It will not work
with child seats which are not BabySmart
TM
compatible.
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the deactivation sys-
tem. The bottom of the child seat must
make full contact with the passenger seat
cushion. An incorrectly mounted child seat
could cause injuries to the child in case of an
accident, instead of protecting the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of special child seats.
Warning!
G
When using a BabySmart
TM compatible child
seat on the passenger seat, the front pas-
senger air bag will not deploy only if the
75indicator lamp remains illumi-
nated.
Please be sure to check the
75indicator lamp every time you
use the special system child seat. Should
the 75indicator lamp go out while
the restraint is installed, please check instal-
lation. If the 75indicator lamp re-
mains out, do not use the BabySmart
TM
restraint to transport children on the pas-
senger seat until the system has been re-
paired.

81 Safety and Security
Panic alarm
Activating
Press and hold button1for at least
1 second.
Deactivating
Press button1again.
or

Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
iWithout the antenna on the left rear
side of the vehicle installed, the
SmartKey signaling range for the panic
alarm is considerably reduced. The
panic alarm then only functions if the
SmartKey is held in close proximity
towards the antenna base.

85 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical Hints”
(page 365).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 gravel
Warning!
G
The ESP
® cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
®
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of an ESP
® equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the us-
er’s safety or the safety of others.
iThe ESP
® will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended
tire size (page 439).
!Because of the ESP
®’s automatic oper-
ation, the engine must be turned off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0
or1) 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.
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 spare
wheel with collapsible tire is mounted.

87 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Deactivating

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 lid


the hood


the glove box


the storage compartment in the center
console
The alarm system will also be triggered
when


someone attempts to raise the vehicle


opening the vehicle with the
mechanical key


someone opens a door from the inside


someone opens the trunk lid 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).
iThe alarm will stay on, even if the acti-
vating element (e.g. a door) is immedi-
ately closed.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 273), provided
Tele Aid service was subscribed to and
properly activated, and that necessary
cellular service and GPS coverage are
available (
page 273).

88 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsArming the alarm system
Lock your vehicle with the SmartKey.
The turn signal lamps flash three times
to indicate that the alarm system is ac-
tivated.
The indicator lamp in the central lock-
ing switch starts flashing (
page 102).Disarming the alarm system

Unlock your vehicle with the SmartKey.
The turn signal lamps flash once to in-
dicate that the alarm system is dis-
armed.
Canceling the alarm
To cancel the alarm:

Press theŒ or‹button on the
SmartKey.
or

Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
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.
iIf the turn signal lamps do not flash
three times, one of the following ele-
ments may not be properly closed:

a door


the trunk lid


the fuel filler flap


the glove box


the storage compartment under the
armrest
Close the respective element and lock
the vehicle again.
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 273), provided
Tele Aid service was subscribed to and
properly activated, and that necessary
cellular service and GPS coverage are
available (
page 273).