2007 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 tow

556 Operation
Vehicle care
Engine cleaning
Prior to cleaning the engine compartment,
make sure to protect electrical compo-
nents and connectors from contact with
water and cleaning agents.
Corrosion protection, such as
MB Anticorrosion Wax, should be applied
to the engine compartment after every
engine cleaning. Before applying, all
control linkage bushings and joints should
be lubricated. The poly-V-belt and all pul-
leys should be protected from any wax.
Vehicle washing
In the winter, thoroughly remove all traces
of road salt as soon as possible.
When washing the vehicle underbody, do
not forget to clean the inner sides of the
wheels.Hand-wash
Do not use hot water or wash your vehicle
in direct sunlight.
Only use a mild car wash detergent,
such as Mercedes-Benz approved Car
Shampoo.
Thoroughly spray the vehicle with a dif-
fused jet of water.
Direct only a very weak spray towards
the ventilation intake.
Use plenty of water and rinse the
sponge and chamois frequently.
Rinse with clean water and thoroughly
dry with a chamois.
Do not allow cleaning agents to dry on
the finish.Automatic car wash
You can have your car washed in an auto-
matic car wash from the start.
To protect the filter system, switch the
automatic climate control to air recir-
culation mode (
page 458).
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it be-
fore running it through the automatic car
wash.
iVehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
If a door handle is hit by a strong jet of water, and
a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is in close prox-
imity, i.e. within approximately 3 ft (approxi-
mately 1 m), the vehicle could be inadvertently
locked or unlocked.
!Do not use scouring agents on these parts.
Never apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the vehicle.
Do not attempt to wipe the surface with a dry
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the paint.
!Do not clean your vehicle in an automatic
touchless car wash which uses caustic spray.
Otherwise the caustic spray will damage the
paint or ornamental moldings.
!Make sure that the windshield wiper switch
is set to0 (
page 372). Otherwise, e.g. the rain
sensor could activate and cause the wipers to
move unintentionally. This may lead to vehicle
damage.
Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in exterior
rear view mirrors prior to running the vehicle
through an automatic car wash to prevent dam-
age to the mirrors.

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

632 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is located in the storage
compartment under the front passenger
seat.
1Tab
2Cover
Pull tab1 upward.
Fold the covering forward in the direc-
tion of arrow.
Remove the first aid kit.
Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit, luggage
bowl, Minispare wheel
The vehicle jack, Minispare wheel, the ve-
hicle tools, and the luggage bowl are
stored in the compartment underneath the
trunk floor.
Lift up trunk floor cover and engage
trunk floor handle in upper edge of
trunk.
You can now remove the tools and ac-
cessories.The vehicle tool kit includes:

One towing eye bolt

One wheel wrench

One alignment bolt

One pair of gloves

One fuse extractor

One fuse chart

Spare fuses

One collapsible wheel chock

Release tool for mechanically releasing
the electronic parking brake
The spare wheel bolts are fixed at the
Minispare wheel.
!Always keep the storage compartment un-
der the front passenger seat closed while the ve-
hicle is in motion.
iCheck expiration dates and contents for
completeness at least once a year and replace
missing/expired items.
!To prevent damage, always disengage trunk
floor handle from trunk lid and lower trunk floor
before closing the trunk.

655 Practical hints
Batteries
Batteries
Your vehicle is equipped with two batter-
ies:

The starter battery, located in the en-
gine compartment

The battery for electrical consumers
(consumer battery), located in the
trunk
The batteries should always be sufficiently
charged in order to achieve its rated ser-
vice life. Refer to Maintenance Booklet for
battery maintenance intervals.
If you use your vehicle mostly for short-dis-
tance trips, you will need to have the bat-
tery charge checked more frequently.
When replacing the batteries, always use
batteries approved by Mercedes-Benz.
If you do not intend to operate your vehicle
for an extended period of time, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center about
steps you need to observe.Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Large 12-volt storage batteries contain
lead. Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.
Warning!G
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries.
Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and smoking
are prohibited when handling
batteries. Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic. Do not
allow it to come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective cloth-
ing, especially gloves, apron and
faceguard.
Wear eye protection.
Rinse any acid spills immediate-
ly with clear water. Contact a
physician if necessary.
Keep children away.
Follow the instructions in this
Operator’s Manual.

660 Practical hints
Jump starting
If the starter battery is discharged, the en-
gine can be started with jumper cables and
the battery of another vehicle. Observe the
following:

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 use 12-volt battery to jump start
your vehicle. Jump starting with a high-
er voltage battery could damage the ve-
hicle’s electrical system, which will not
be covered by the Mercedes-Benz Lim-
ited Warranty.

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

Always make sure that the jumper ca-
bles 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.
!Jump starting should only be performed on
the starter battery installed in the engine com-
partment.
Avoid repeated and lengthy starting attempts.
Do not attempt to start the engine using a bat-
tery quick charge unit.
If 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 catalyt-
ic 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 at-
tached to a battery.

663 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the
vehicle be transported with all wheels off
the ground using flatbed or appropriate
wheel lift/dolly equipment. This method is
preferable to other types of towing.
When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the
vehicle may be towed with all wheels on
the ground or front axle 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 equipment
with SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
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.
Towing of the vehicle should only be done using
the properly installed towing eye bolt. Never at-
tach tow cable, tow rope, or tow rod, to vehicle
chassis, frame, or suspension parts.
Switch off the ESP
® (page 71), the tow-away
alarm (
page 78) and the automatic central
locking (
page 334).
Warning!G
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 brake
system

there is a malfunction in the power
supply or in the vehicle’s electrical
system
as that will be necessary to adequately
control the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make sure the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is in starter
switch position 2.

664 Practical hints
Towing the 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
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground or with the front axle raised, the start-
er battery must be connected and charged. Oth-
erwise:

you will not be able to switch on the ignition

you will not be able to engage the automatic
transmission in positionN (
page 394)

you cannot release the electronic parking
brake
For information on charging the starter battery
see “Batteries” (
page 655) or see “Jump start-
ing” (
page 660).
!Make sure that the electronic parking brake
is released. If the electronic parking brake is
malfunctioning, release it mechanically
(
page 637).
!If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised, the automatic transmission must be in
positionN and the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* in
starter switch position0 or1). Active braking
action through the ESP
® may otherwise
seriously damage the brake system.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, the automatic transmission must be
shifted to positionN and the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 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 distances up to 30 miles
(50 km) and at a speed not to exceed 30 mph
(50 km/h).
!If the vehicle is towed with all wheels on the
ground or with the front axle raised, the trans-
mission must be in positionN.
If you turn off the engine using

the SmartKey and

remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
or

open a door

the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button and
open a door
the transmission will shift to park position P
automatically.

665 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
If you want the gear position to remain in
neutral position N, observe the following
instructions.
Vehicles with SmartKey:
With the vehicle at a standstill and the
ignition switched on shift the
automatic transmission to neutral
positionN.
If engaged, manually release the elec-
tronic parking brake (
page 385).
Switch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the starter switch.Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress
the brake pedal and keep it pressed.
With the ignition switched on shift the
automatic transmission to park
positionP.
Release the brake pedal.
Remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button from the starter switch
(
page 337).
Insert the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
into the starter switch.
Switch on the ignition.
Depress the brake pedal.
Shift the automatic transmission to
neutral positionN.
Release the brake pedal.
If engaged, manually release the
electronic parking brake (
page 385).
Switch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO in the
starter switch.
Warning!G
When leaving the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* in the starter switch, do
not leave children unattended in the vehicle.
It is possible for children to switch on the
ignition which could result in unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment. Unsupervised use
of vehicle equipment could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
iWhen towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, please note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and
the SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* in
starter switch position 2, the vehicle doors lock
if the left front wheel as well as the right rear
wheel are turning at vehicle speeds of approxi-
mately 9mph (15km/h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle doors from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking
(
page 334).
iTo signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, turn SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* in starter switch to
position2 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 hazard
warning flasher will operate again.