2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class ignition

395 Controls in detail
Lighting
High beamCombination switch1High beam
2High beam flasher
High beam headlamps: Turn the exte-
rior lamp switch to positionB
(page 391).

Push the combination switch in the di-
rection of arrow1.
The high beam indicatorA in the in-
strument cluster comes on
(page 30).

High beam flasher: Pull the combina-
tion switch briefly in the direction of
arrow2.
Headlamp cleaning system
With the engine running the headlamps will
automatically be cleaned with a high-pres-
sure water jet when you have

switched on the headlamps
and


the windshield wipers have wiped the
windshield with washer fluid five times
When you switch off the ignition the
counter resets.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 560).
Corner-illuminating lamps
The corner-illuminating lamps improve illu-
mination of the area in the direction into
which you are turning.
The corner-illuminating lamps will operate
with the engine running and with:

the exterior lamp switch in
positionB or* (
page 391)
or


the daytime running lamp mode acti-
vated (
page 393).
i
The corner-illuminating lamps will only come
on in low ambient lighting conditions.
i
If you are driving faster than 43 mph
(70 km/h), the corner-illuminating function is
not available.

400 Controls in detailWindshield wipersCombination switch1Switching on windshield wipers
2Single wipe
Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Switch on the ignition (
page 365).
Switching on/off windshield wipers
Turn the combination switch to the de-
sired position depending on the inten-
sity of the rain.
MWindshield wipers off
USlow intermittent wiping
(rain sensor operation low sen-
sitivity)
VFast intermittent wiping
(rain sensor operation high sen-
sitivity)
uSlow continuous wiping
tFast continuous wiping
!
If the windshield wipers leave smears on the
windshield after the car has been driven through
an automatic car wash, then wax or other resi-
due is on the windshield. Shortly after washing
the car in an automatic car wash, clean the wind-
shield with windshield washer fluid
(
page 401).
!
Do not operate the wipers when the wind-
shield is dry. Dust that accumulates on a wind-
shield might scratch the glass and/or damage
the wiper blades when wiping occurs on a dry
windshield. If it is necessary to operate the wip-
ers in dry weather conditions, always operate
the wipers with windshield washer fluid
(
page 401).
!
If anything blocks the windshield wipers
(leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off immediate-
ly.


For safety reasons, stop the vehicle in a safe
location,

turn off the engine by turning the
SmartKey to position0 and withdraw
SmartKey from starter switch
or


turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(page 366) and open the driver’s door
(with the driver’s door open, starter
switch is in position0, same as with
SmartKey removed from starter switch)
before attempting to remove any blockage.


Remove blockage.


Turn the windshield wipers on again.If the windshield wipers fail to function at all with
the combination switch in position u,


set the combination switch to the next high-
er wiper speed


have the windshield wipers checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center

403 Controls in detail
Power windows

Switch on the ignition (
page 365).

Opening: Press the lower part of
switch1 to 4 (
page 402) to the re-
sistance point.
The corresponding window will move
downwards until you release the
switch.

Closing: Press the upper part of
switch1 to 4 (
page 402) to the re-
sistance point.
The corresponding window will move
upwards until you release the switch.

Express-opening: Press the lower part
of switch1 to4 (
page 402) past
the resistance point and release.
The corresponding window opens com-
pletely.

Express-closing (door windows
only): Press the upper part of
switch1 to4 (
page 402) past the
resistance point and release.
The corresponding window closes com-
pletely.
i
You can also open or close the windows us-
ing the SmartKey, see “Summer opening fea-
ture” (page 404) and “Convenience closing
feature” (page 404).
Depending on current position, the windows may
also open or close when the air recirculation
button, (page 491) is pressed and held
for 2 seconds.
i
Operating the windows from the rear is not
possible if you activate the override switch
(
page 63).
i
If PRE-SAFE
® has been activated, the front
side windows close automatically until only a
small gap remains.
i
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or removed from the starter switch,
the power windows can be operated:


until you open the driver’s or passenger’s
door


for at least 5 minutes if no door was opened
Warning!
G
If you press and hold the switch up when
closing the window, and upward movement
of the window is blocked by some obstruc-
tion including but not limited to arms, hands,
fingers, etc., the automatic reversal will not
operate.
Warning!
G
Driver’s door only:
If within 5 seconds you again press the
switch past the resistance point and re-
lease, the automatic reversal will not
operate.


411 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.


The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.


Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.

Give very little gas.

Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.The coolant temperature is above
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.

Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as possible and turn off the en-
gine. Allow engine and coolant to cool
off.

Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 559).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:

Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.

Move away from vehicle.

Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call Roadside Assistance.
If no damage can be determined on the


major assemblies


fuel system


engine mount:

Start the engine in the usual manner.
i
To signal minor directional changes such as
changing lanes, press combination switch only
to point of resistance and release. The corre-
sponding turn signals will flash three times.
i
Excessive coolant temperatures trigger a
warning message in the multifunction display
(
page 622).

413 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
1Handle for electronic parking brake
Manually releasing electronic parking
brake
Pull handle1.
The red indicator lamp 0 (USA only)
or ! (Canada only) in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
You cannot release the electronic parking
brake until the ignition is switched on.Automatically releasing electronic
parking brake
Your vehicle’s electronic parking brake is
automatically released when:


The engine is running.


Transmission is in drive position D or
reverse gearR.


The hood is closed.


You have fastened your seat belt.


You step on the accelerator pedal.
If reverse gear R is engaged, the trunk
must be closed.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the automat-
ic transmission not fully engaged in park
positionPis dangerous. Also, when parked
on an incline, park positionP alone may not
prevent your vehicle from moving, possibly
hitting people or objects.
Always engage the electronic parking brake
in addition to shifting to park positionP
(page 406).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.
i
If you have not fastened your seat belt, the
following conditions must be met in order for the
electronic parking brake to be automatically re-
leased:


The driver’s door is closed.


You must move the gear selector out of park
positionP or drive faster than 2 mph
(3 km/h).

416 Controls in detailDriving and parkingIf you have started the engine with the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and can-
not turn it off as described above:
Remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button from the starter switch.

Insert the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
into the starter switch.
The engine turns off. The starter switch
is in position 0 (
page 365).
Releasing seat belts
Press the seat belt release button
(page 389).
Allow the retractor to completely re-
wind the seat belt by guiding the latch
plate.
i
If you drive through an automatic conveyor
type car wash, you can switch on the ignition
with the KEYLESS-GO button and engage neutral
positionN or insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch.
!
Make sure the seat belt retracts fully so that
the seat belt and/or latch plate cannot get
caught or pinched in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This can damage the seat belt and
impair the effectiveness of the seat belt, and/or
cause damage to the door and/or door trim pan-
el. Such damage is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Damaged seat belts must be replaced. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.


422 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
If you want the gear position to remain in
neutral positionN, e.g. when taking the
vehicle through an automatic conveyor
type car wash or when towing the vehicle,
observe the following instructions.
!
DISTRONIC Plus*:
The transmission will shift to park positionP
automatically, only when DISTRONIC Plus brings
your vehicle to a standstill, and when it meets at
least one of the following conditions at the same
time:


The engine is turned off.


A door opens and the seat belt is not en-
gaged in the buckle.


The hood is released.


The trunk lid is open while reverse gearR is
engaged.


The vehicle is parked for an extended period.
In addition to shifting to park positionP, the
electronic parking brake will be engaged auto-
matically.
i
Make it a practice to always shift into park
positionP before turning off the engine and


remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
or


open a door
or when using KEYLESS-GO*, before turning off
the engine with the start/stop button and open-
ing a door.
Effect
í
Reverse gear
Shift into reverse gearR only
when the vehicle is stopped.
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When
the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never shift into neutral
positionN while driving.
If the ESP
® is deactivated or
malfunctioning:
Shift into neutral positionN only
if the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
!
If you turn off the engine using the
SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button, the transmission will shift to neutral
positionN automatically.
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.

423 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
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
electronic parking brake (
page 413).

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 366).

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 413).

Switch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO in the
starter switch.
!
Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any other
reason in neutral positionN can result in trans-
mission damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!
Observe instructions


when taking the vehicle through an
automatic conveyor type car wash
(page 598)


when towing the vehicle (
page 710)
Effect
ê
Drive
The transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears
are available.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle without shifting
into park positionP is dangerous. Also, park
positionP alone is not intended to or capa-
ble of preventing your vehicle from moving,
possibly hitting people or objects.
Always engage the electronic parking brake
(page 412) in addition to shifting to park
positionP.
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
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.