2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK550 manual transmission

183 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
The selected program mode appears in the
multifunction display (
page 178).
Activating manual shift program
Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the
M for manual pro-
gram modeM appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
The transmission switches to the
manual program modeM. Automatic
shifting is switched off. The gear range
is not limited.
You can change the gears manually when
the gear selector lever is in drive
positionD. You can upshift or downshift
through the gears in succession.Upshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction.
or
Briefly pull right shift paddle2
(
page 181).
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.If, instead of the manual program mode
symbol
M, thep symbol appears in the
multifunction display (
page 178), shift to
the next higher gear. The fuel supply will
otherwise be interrupted to prevent the
engine from overrevving.
If you are driving in the manual program
modeM, upshift indicator2 in the multi-
function display advises you to upshift be-
fore the engine reaches the overspeed
range. Thus you can drive at the maximum
engine speed for each gear without over-
revving the engine.
1Gear indicator
2Upshift indicatoriFor information on automatic program
modesC orS, see “Automatic shift program”
(
page 178), “Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting” (
page 179), and “Steering wheel
gearshift control one-touch gearshifting*”
(
page 180).
iThe manual program modeM will not be
stored. When the engine is turned off with the
manual program modeM selected, the transmis-
sion will go to the automatic program mode
(CorS) when the engine is restarted.
!In the manual program modeM, the trans-
mission will not upshift, even if the engine has
reached its overrevving range. Shift up to the
next gear before the engine has reached its over-
revving range. Make absolutely certain that the
engine speed does not reach the red marking on
the tachometer (
page 28). Otherwise the
engine could be damaged which is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.


184 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Shift to the next higher gear.
The fuel supply will otherwise be inter-
rupted to prevent the engine from over-
revving.
Downshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction.
or
Briefly pull left shift paddle1
(
page 181).
The transmission shifts to the next
lower gear.Kickdown
Using the kickdown when driving in the
manual program modeM is not possible.
Deactivating manual shift program
Press the program mode selector
switch (
page 182) repeatedly
until
CorS appears in the multifunction
display.
or
Restart the engine.
The transmission will go to the
automatic program mode (C orS).
The manual program modeM is not
stored.Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less re-
sponsive or sluggish or the transmission
no longer shifts, the transmission is most
likely operating in limp-home (emergency
operation) mode. In this mode only second
gear and reverse gear can be selected.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
Move the gear selector lever to park
positionP.
Turn off the engine.
Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.
Restart the engine.
Move the gear selector lever to
positionD (for second gear) or
positionR.
Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.
iWhen you brake or stop, the transmission
shifts down to a gear from which you can easily
accelerate or take off.

304 Controls in detail
Useful features
Rolling code programming
To train a garage door opener (or other
rolling code devices) with the rolling code
feature, follow these instructions after
completing the “Programming” portion
(steps 1 through 6) of this text. (A second
person may make the following training
procedures quicker and easier.)
Step 8:
Locate “training” button on the garage
door opener motor head unit.
Exact location and color of the button
may vary by garage door opener brand.
Depending on manufacturer, the
“training” button may also be referred
to as “learn” or “smart” button. If there
is difficulty locating the transmitting
button, refer to the garage door opener
Operator’s Manual.
Step 9:
Press the “training” button on the ga-
rage door opener motor head unit.
The “training light” is activated.You have 30 seconds to initiate the
following step.
Step 10:
Return to the vehicle and firmly press,
hold for 2 seconds and release the pro-
grammed signal transmitter button
(2, 3 or4).
Step 11:
Press, hold for 2 seconds and release
same signal transmitter button a sec-
ond time to complete the training
process.Step 12:
Confirm the garage door operation by
pressing the programmed signal trans-
mitter button (2, 3 or4).
Step 13:
To program the remaining two signal
transmitter buttons, repeat the steps
above starting with step 3.
Gate operator/Canadian programming
Canadian radio-frequency laws require
transmitter signals to “time-out” (or quit)
after several seconds of transmission
which may not be long enough for the
integrated signal transmitter to pick up the
signal during programming. Similar to this
Canadian law, some U.S. gate operators
are designed to “time-out” in the same
manner.
If you live in Canada or if you are having
difficulties programming a gate operator
(regardless of where you live) by using the
programming procedures, replace step 4
with the following:
iSome garage door openers (or other rolling
code equipped devices) may require you to
press, hold for 2 seconds and release the same
signal transmitter button a third time to com-
plete the training process.

470 Practical hints
Towing 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 wheel wrench.
To reinstall cover:
Fit cover 1 or 2 and snap into place.
!Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt.
Never attach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to
the vehicle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
iWhen towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, please note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and
the SmartKey in starter switch position2, or
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button in position2,
the vehicle doors lock if the left front wheel as
well as the right rear wheel are turning at vehicle
speeds of approximately 9 mph (15 km / h) or
more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking
(
page 166).
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 hazard
warning flasher will operate again.
iIf the battery is disconnected or discharged

the SmartKey will not turn in the starter
switch. For more information, see “Battery”
(
page 464) and “Jump starting”
(
page 467).

the gear selector lever will remain locked in
positionP. For information on manually un-
locking the transmission gear selector lever,
see (
page 429).

498 Index
Automatic lighting control,
Interior lighting 136
Automatic locking when driving 118
Automatic shift program 178
Automatic transmission
Accelerator position 176
Automatic shift program 178
Emergency operation
(limp-home mode) 184
Gear ranges 177
Gear selector lever 51, 172
Gear selector lever control
one-touch gearshifting 179
Gear selector lever positions 174
Gear shifting malfunctions 184
Kickdown 176
Kickdown, manual shift program 184
Manual shift program
CLK 63 AMG 182
Program mode selector switch 178
Shifting procedure 173
Starting engine 51
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting* 180
Transmission fluid level 327
Automatic Transmission Fluid see ATFB
Backrest 281
Seat, Multicontour* 124
Seat, Power 42
Backup lamps
Messages in display 414
Replacing bulbs 443, 444
Bar 358
BAS 92
Batteries, SmartKey
Changing 442
Checking battery condition 108
Battery, Vehicle 329, 464
Charging 466
Connecting 466
Disconnecting 465
Installing 466
Jump starting 467
Messages in display 403
Removing 465
Bead 358
Beverage holder see Cup holder
Block heater (Canada only) 363
Bolts, Spare wheel 426Brake fluid 491
Checking 322
Message in display 404
Brake lamp
Cleaning lenses 372
High mounted 444
Replacing bulbs 444, 448
Brake pads
Message in display 404
Brakes 310
High-performance brake system
(CLK 63 AMG only) 311
Warning lamp 380
Break-in period 308
Bulbs, replacing see Replacing bulbs

504 Index
G
Garage door opener 33, 301
Gasoline see Fuel
GAWR 358
Gear range
Automatic transmission 177
Limiting 177
Shifting into optimal 180, 182
Gear selector lever 51, 172
Cleaning 375
Gearshift pattern 172
Lock 52
Message in display 400
Position 173, 174
Position indicator 29, 141
Shifting procedure 173
Unlocking in an emergency 429
Gear selector lever one-touch gearshifting
Automatic transmission 179
Global locking/unlocking
see Key, SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*
Glove box 285
Gloves 422
Good visibility 185
Gross Axle Weight Rating see GAWR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating see GVWRGross Vehicle Weight see GVW
GVW 358
GVWR 359
H
Halogen headlamp see Headlamps
Hands-free microphone 33
Hard plastic trim items, cleaning 375
Hazard warning flasher 135
Head restraints 43, 120
Active head restraints 81
Front seat 120
Power seat, Adjusting 43
Rear seat 120, 123
Rear seat, Folding back 121
Rear seat, Lowering 123
Rear seat, Placing upright 122
Rear seat, Raising 123
Rear seat, Removing/installing 122
Headlamp
cleaning system* 185, 330, 496
Headlamp delayed shut-off see
Delayed shut-off, Exterior lampsHeadlamps
Automatic headlamp mode 130
Cleaning lenses 372
Daytime running lamp mode 131
Halogen 446
High beam see High beam flasher
High beam see High beam headlamps
Light sensor 411
Locator lighting 132
Low beam headlamps 130
Low beam see Low beam headlamps
Manual headlamp mode 130
Messages in display 411–415
Night security illumination 132
Replacing bulbs 444, 446
Switch 55, 129
Headliner and shelf below rear window,
Cleaning and care of 375
Head-thorax air bag 71
Heated seats* 125
High beam flasher 55, 133
Replacing bulbs (Bi-Xenon*) 444
Replacing bulbs (Halogen) 444

511 Index
Recommended
tire inflation pressure 359
Recovery services,
Stolen vehicle (Tele Aid) 301
Refrigerant, Air conditioning 491
Refueling 320
Regular checks 322
Remote control
SmartKey 100, 103
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 103
Remote door unlock (Tele Aid) 300
Removing
Ski bag* (Canada only) 280
Replacing bulbs 443
Additional turn signals 444
Backup lamps 444, 448
Brake lamps 444
Corner-illuminating
front fog lamp* 444
Fog lamps 444, 448
Headlamp bulbs 446
Headlamps 444
High beam flasher (Bi-Xenon*) 444
High beam flasher (Halogen) 444
High beam headlamps
(Bi-Xenon*) 444High beam headlamps
(Halogen) 444, 446
High mounted brake lamp 444
License plate lamps 444, 449
Low beam headlamps
(Bi-Xenon*) 444
Low beam headlamps
(Halogen) 444, 446
Parking lamps 444, 447, 448
Side marker lamps 444
Standing lamps 444, 447, 448
Tail lamps 444, 448
Turn signal lamps 444, 448
Turn signal lamps (Bi-Xenon*) 448
Turn signal lamps (Halogen) 447
Reporting safety defects 18
Research Octane Number see RON
Reset button,
In instrument cluster 29, 138, 156
Residual heat and ventilation* see REST*
REST* 211
Restraint system see
Children in the vehicle
Restraint system see SRS
Reverse gear position,
Automatic transmission 172, 174Rims 359, 482
Roadside Assistance 12, 298
Roll bar 82
Messages in display 417
Operating manually 430
Warning lamp 385
RON 321
Roof rack 275
Rubber parts, cleaning 374
Run Flat Indicator (Canada only) 342

513 Index
Ski bag* (Canada only) 276
Loading 278
Luggage cover 276
Removing 280
Ski bag roller blind 276, 280
Unfolding (Cabriolet) 276
Unfolding (Coupe) 277
Unloading and folding 279
Ski bag* roller blind 276
SmartKey see Key, SmartKey
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
see KEYLESS-GO*
Snow chains 363
Snow tires 362
Soft top 259
Cleaning 370
Emergency operations 432–439
Locking after raising/lowering 262
Luggage cover 264
Messages in display 420
Opening/closing 259
Opening/closing, SmartKey 263
Opening/closing,
Soft top switch 260, 261
Wind screen 265
Soft top switch 255, 260Sound system* 213, 217
Spare parts service see Parts service
Spare wheel 425
Bolts 422, 426
Mounting 458
Sizes 486
Speedometer 29, 158
SRS 64, 78
Indicator lamp 29, 65, 387
Message in display 416
Standard display, Selecting display 159
Standing lamps 447, 448
Replacing bulbs 444
Standing water, Driving through 317
Starter switch 27, 38
Positions 38
Starting difficulties, Engine 53
Starting, Engine 51
Status line, Selecting display 159
Steering column 44, 45
Steering gear oil
Message in display 417
Steering wheel 44, 45
Buttons 30
Cleaning 375
Lock 53Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting*
Automatic transmission 180
Stolen Vehicle Recovery services 301
Storage box 285
Storage compartments 285
Armrest, Front 287
Armrest, Rear 287
Cup holder 288
Glove box 285
Parcel net 286
Storage bags 286
Storage box 285
Storing
Tires 333
Sun visors 187
Sunroof* see Power tilt/sliding sunroof*
Sunshade* (Canada only) 188
Supplemental Restraint System see SRS
Symbols used
in this operator’s manual 15