2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS maintenance

305 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tire care and maintenance
Regularly check your tire inflation pressure
at least once a month. For more informa-
tion on checking tire inflation pressure,
see “Recommended tire inflation pres-
sure” (
page 312).Tire inspection
Every time you check your tire inflation
pressure, you should also inspect your
tires for the following:

excessive treadwear (page 306)

cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber

bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits in
the tread or side of the tire
Replace the tire if you find any of the above
conditions.
Make sure you also inspect the spare tire
periodically for condition and inflation.
Spare tires will age and become worn over
time even if never used, and thus should be
inspected and replaced when necessary.Life of tire
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including but not limited to:

Driving style

Tire inflation pressure

Distance driven
Warning!G
Regularly check the tires for damage.
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation
pressure loss. As a result, you could lose
control of your vehicle.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
Warning!G
Tires and spare tire should be replaced after
6 years, regardless of the remaining tread.

334 Operation
Maintenance
We strongly recommend that you have
your vehicle serviced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, in accordance with
the Maintenance Booklet at the times
called for by the maintenance service indi-
cator.Maintenance service indicator
message
The maintenance service indicator
message will notify you when the next
maintenance service is due.
Starting approximately 1 month before the
next maintenance service is due, one of
the following messages will appear in the
multifunction display while you are driving
or when you switch on the ignition (exam-
ple service A):
Service A due in XXXXX miles (km)
Service A due in XXX days
Service A due in X day
Service A due now
The maintenance services will be indicated
by showing a service type A through
type H in the multifunction display.
Types A through H are classified based on
estimated time needed to perform the
maintenance service, ranging:
from
Service A
(approximately 1 hour)
to
Service H
(approximately 8 hours)
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for a listing
of maintenance services and intervals the
need to be performed at.
!Failure to have the vehicle maintained in
accordance with the Maintenance Booklet and
the maintenance service indicator at the
designated times/mileage will result in vehicle
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
iThe Maintenance System tracks distance
driven and the time elapsed since the last main-
tenance service, calculates other maintenance
service work required, and calls for the next
maintenance service accordingly.

335 Operation
Maintenance
Clearing the maintenance service
indicator message
The maintenance service indicator
message is automatically cleared:

after approximately 10 seconds when
you switch on the ignition or when
reaching the service threshold while
driving

after approximately 30 seconds once
the suggested maintenance service
term has passed
You can also clear it yourself.
Press reset buttonJ(page 26) on
the instrument cluster.
The maintenance service indicator
message is cleared and the standard
display appears in the multifunction
display (
page 127).
Maintenance service term exceeded
If you have exceeded the suggested main-
tenance service term, you will see the fol-
lowing message in the multifunction
display:
Service A exceeded by XXXXX miles (km)
Service A exceeded by XXX days
Service A exceeded by X day
In addition, a signal sounds when the
message appears.
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
reset the maintenance service indicator
following a completed maintenance
service.Calling up the maintenance service
indicator display
You can call up the maintenance service in-
dicator display at any time to check when
the next maintenance service is due.
Switch on the ignition (page 37).
The standard display menu appears in
the multifunction display (
page 127).
Press buttonjork on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the maintenance service indicator
display with the service symbol 9
appears in the multifunction display.
iThe menu overview can be found on
(
page 124).


336 Operation
Maintenance
Resetting the maintenance service
indicator
In the event that the maintenance service
on your vehicle is not carried out by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, you can
have the maintenance service indicator
reset. The automotive maintenance facility
carrying out the maintenance service will
find the information for resetting the main-
tenance service indicator in the mainte-
nance-relevant literature for your vehicle.
Such literature is available from either your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
directly from Mercedes-Benz.iIf the battery is disconnected, the days of
disconnection will not be included in the count
shown by the maintenance service indicator. To
arrive at the true maintenance service deadline,
you will need to subtract these days from the
days shown in the maintenance service indicator
message or maintenance service indicator dis-
play.
Do not confuse the maintenance service indica-
tor with the engine oil level indicatorN.
iIf the maintenance service indicator was
inadvertently reset, have an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.
Only reset if the proper maintenance service has
been performed. Resetting the system without
performing the proper maintenance service as
called for by the maintenance service indicator
will result in engine damage and/or other vehicle
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.


367 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
USA only:
;
Canada only:
3
Check
brake fluid levelThere is insufficient brake fluid in
the reservoir.Risk of accident!
Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon as
it is safe to do so.
Turn off the engine.
Apply the parking brake (page 59).
Do not drive any further.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
2Brake wearThe brake pads have reached their
wear limit.Have the brake pads replaced as soon as
possible.
Warning!G
Driving with the message Check brake
fluid level
displayed can result in an
accident. Have your brake system checked
immediately. Do not add brake fluid before
checking the brake system.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can
result in spilling brake fluid on hot engine
parts and the brake fluid catching fire. You
can be seriously burned.!If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.

409 Practical hints
Flat tire
Jack up the vehicle until the wheel is a
maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the
ground.Removing the wheel
4Alignment bolt
Unscrew the upper-most wheel bolt
and remove.
Replace this wheel bolt with alignment
bolt4 supplied in the vehicle tool
kit (
page 382).
Remove the remaining bolts.
Remove the wheel.Mounting the spare wheel
1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2Wheel bolt for spare wheel with
collapsible tire (located under plastic
cover on the outside of spare wheel
rim)
Warning!G
The jack is intended only for lifting the
vehicle briefly for wheel changes. It is not
suited for performing maintenance work
under the vehicle.

Never start the engine when the vehicle
is raised.

Never lie down under the raised vehicle.
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt. This
could result in damage to the bolt and wheel hub
threads.
Warning!G
Inflate collapsible tire only after the wheel is
properly mounted.
Inflate the collapsible tire using the electric
pump (
page 411) before lowering the
vehicle.

415 Practical hints
Battery
Battery
The battery is located in the engine com-
partment on the right-hand side below the
water tray (
page 416).
1Battery
2Positive terminal
3Negative terminal
Warning!G
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injury or death.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(
page 303).
Never lean over batteries while connecting
them, as you could otherwise be injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come into contact with
eyes, skin or clothing. In case it does, imme-
diately flush affected area with water and
seek medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc.
Warning!G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof batteries only to avoid the
risk of acid burns in the event of an
accident.
!Never loosen or detach battery terminal
clamps while the engine is running or the
SmartKey is in the starter switch. Otherwise the
alternator and other electronic components
could be severely damaged.
Have the battery checked regularly by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for maintenance
intervals or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further information.

434 Technical data
Rims and tires
!Only use tires which have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Tires approved by
Mercedes-Benz are developed to provide best
possible performance in conjunction with the
driving safety systems on your vehicle such as
ABS or ESP
®. Tires specially developed for your
vehicle and tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz can be identified by finding the
following on the tire’s sidewall:

MO = Mercedes-Benz Original equipment
tires
AMG vehicles:
Does not apply to all approved tires on AMG
vehicles. For information on tested and
approved tires for AMG vehicles, contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

MOE = Mercedes-Benz Original Extended
(tires with limited run-flat characteristics)
original equipment tires
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz may result in damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iFor information on driving with MOExtended
tires, see “MOExtended system*” (
page 414).
!Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz can have detrimental effects,
such as

poor handling characteristics

increased noise

increased fuel consumption
Moreover, tires and rims not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may, under load, exhibit
dimensional variations and different tire defor-
mation characteristics that could cause them to
come into contact with the vehicle body or axle
parts. Damage to the tires or the vehicle may be
the result.
iFurther information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. A placard with the recommended tire
inflation pressures is located on the driver’s door
B-pillar. Some vehicles may have supplemental
tire inflation pressure information for driving at
high speeds (
page 313) or for vehicle loads
less than the maximum loaded vehicle condition
(
page 313). If such information is provided, it
can be found on the placard located on the in-
side of the fuel filler flap.The tire inflation pressure should be checked
regularly and should only be adjusted on cold
tires. Follow tire manufacturer’s maintenance
recommendation included with vehicle.
iThe following pages also list the approved
wheel rim and tire sizes for equipping your
vehicles with winter tires. Winter tires are not
available as standard or optional factory
equipment, but can be purchased from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Depending on vehicle model and the standard or
optional factory-equipped wheel rim/tire config-
uration on your vehicle (Performance Package,
Sport Package etc.), equipping your vehicle with
winter tires approved for your vehicle model may
also require the purchase of two or four wheel
rims of the recommended size for use with these
winter tires. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for more information.