2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK63AMG light

90 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
In this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:

ABS (Antilock Brake System)

BAS (Brake Assist System)

ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of
approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) indepen-
dent of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure.
The - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 28) comes on when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
Warning!G
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turns

Wet and slippery road surfaces

Following another vehicle too closely
The ABS, BAS, and ESP
® cannot reduce this
risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
iIn winter operation, the maximum effective-
ness of the ABS, the BAS, and the ESP® is only
achieved with winter tires (
page 362) or snow
chains as required.
Warning!G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.

91 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Braking
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in
the regulating mode.
Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the
pulsation.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to
steer the vehicle.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions
and functions as a reminder to take extra
care while driving.Emergency brake maneuver
Keep continuous full pressure on the
brake pedal.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 377).
Warning!G
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the BAS
and the ESP® are also switched off. The ba-
sic driving and braking functions are still
available.
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability and extending the brak-
ing distance.
Warning!G
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency
beyond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction avail-
able on the road surface. The ABS cannot
prevent accidents, including those resulting
from excessive speed in turns, following an-
other vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning.
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents. The capabilities of an
ABS equipped vehicle must never be exploit-
ed in a reckless or dangerous manner which
could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.

99 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Good visibility
Climate control
Automatic climate control
Audio system
Power windows
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* (Coupe)
Soft top (Cabriolet)
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features

101 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Opening a door causes its windows to
open slightly. It will fully close when the
door is shut.
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. It is possible
for children to open a locked door from the
inside, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
!A side window will not work if it is blocked
with ice or if the battery needs charging. If you
cannot shut a door, do not force it or you could
damage the door or the side window. Fix whatev-
er is affecting the window before trying to shut
the door.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interfer-
ence, and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iYou can also open and close the windows
(
page 253) and the tilt/sliding sunroof*
(
page 257) or the soft top (page 263) using
the SmartKey.
!If you can no longer lock or unlock the vehi-
cle with the SmartKey, then the batteries in the
SmartKey are discharged, the SmartKey is mal-
functioning or the vehicle battery is drained.

Check the batteries in the SmartKey
(
page 108) and replace them if necessary
(
page 441).

Use the mechanical key to unlock the driv-
er’s door (
page 427) and the trunk
(
page 428).

Use the mechanical key to lock the driver’s
door (
page 428) and the trunk
(
page 118).

Have the vehicle battery and the battery con-
nections checked (
page 464).
If the SmartKey is malfunctioning, contact
Roadside Assistance or an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

104 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
1‹Lock button
2Š Opening button for trunk
(
page 108)
3Mechanical key locking tab
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button (
page 89)Opening a door causes its windows to
open slightly. It will fully close when the
door is shut.
!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid ex-
posing the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO to high
levels of electromagnetic radiation.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised ac-
cess to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
!A side window will not work if it is blocked
with ice or if the battery needs charging. If you
cannot shut a door, do not force it or you could
damage the door or the side window. Fix whatev-
er is affecting the window before trying to shut
the door.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interfer-
ence, and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.

109 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Loss of the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*
If you lose your SmartKey, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO, or mechanical key, you
should do the following:
Have the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO deactivated at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Report the loss of the SmartKey,
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO, or the
mechanical key immediately to your
car insurance company.
Have the mechanical lock replaced if
necessary.
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
be glad to supply you with a replacement.
Opening the doors from the inside
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open doors only when conditions are
safe to do so.
Opening a door causes its windows to
open slightly. It will fully close when the
door is shut.
1Locking knob
2Inside door handle
!A side window will not work if it is blocked
with ice or if the battery needs charging. If you
cannot shut a door, do not force it or you could
damage the door or the side window. Fix whatev-
er is affecting the window before trying to shut
the door.
iIf the vehicle has been centrally locked with
the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, opening a door
from the inside will trigger the anti-theft alarm
system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the following:
With the SmartKey

Insert the SmartKey in the starter switch.

Press button‹orŒ on the
SmartKey.
With KEYLESS-GO*

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(
page 39).

110 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Pull on door handle2.
If door was locked, locking knob1 will
move up.
Opening the trunk
You can open the trunk if the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
A minimum height clearance of 5.71 ft
(1.74 m) CLK coupe or 5.41 ft (1.65 m)
CLK cabriolet is required to open the
trunk lid.Opening the trunk from the outside
1Handle
Press and hold button Š on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* until trunk unlocks and
begins to open.
or
Pull on handle1.
In vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*:
The vehicle must be unlocked.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* must be
inside the vehicle.

Pull an outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* must be
within 3 ft (1 m) of the vehicle.
iIf you hear a warning signal you have
forgotten to switch off the low beam headlamps
or the parking lamps before opening the driver’s
door.
In addition the message
Switch Off Lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the low beam headlamps or the park-
ing lamps.
If the message
Switch Off Lights or Re-
move Key
appears in the multifunction display
remove the SmartKey from the starter switch or
switch off the automatic headlamp mode.
!Failure to switch off the exterior lamps when
leaving the vehicle may result in a discharged
battery.
Warning!G
Make sure the trunk is closed when the en-
gine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers, such as blocked visibility, ex-
haust fumes may enter the vehicle interior.
These fumes are damaging to your health.
!The trunk lid swings open upwards automat-
ically. Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance.
iIf the trunk does not open, it is still locked
separately (
page 118).


112 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the trunk
Closing the trunk from the inside
automatically*
In vehicles with trunk opening/closing sys-
tem* you can close the trunk from the in-
side using the remote trunk closing*
switch.
Press the remote trunk closing*
switch2 (
page 111) until the indi-
cator lamp in the switch goes out and
the trunk lid is closed.
To interrupt the closing procedure:
Release remote trunk closing*
switch2.If the trunk lid comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high), in the sequence, the
upper motion the closing procedure is
stopped and the trunk reopens slightly.
iYou can also close the trunk by hand
(
page 113).
Warning!G
Maintain sight of trunk area while operating
the door mounted remote trunk closing*
switch. Monitor the closing procedure care-
fully to ensure that no one is in danger of be-
ing injured.
To interrupt the closing procedure, release
the door mounted remote trunk closing
switch.
Even with the SmartKey or the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* removed from the start-
er switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle,
the remote trunk opening/closing* switch
can be operated. Therefore, 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.
Warning!G
Only drive with the trunk closed as, among
other dangers such as blocked visibility,
exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle
interior.