2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350 Owner's Manual

408 Practical hints
Flat tire
The SLK 55 AMG with Performance
Package* is equipped with a TIREFIT kit.
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.
Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight ahead
position.
Set the parking brake (page 53).
Move the gear selector lever* toP
(manual transmission to first or reverse
gear).
Turn off the engine (page 61).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Sealing tires with TIREFIT
Small tire punctures, particularly those in
the tread, can be sealed with TIREFIT.
TIREFIT can be used in ambient tempera-
tures down to -4°F (-20°C).Foreign objects (e.g. screws or nails)
should not be removed from the tire.
Take TIREFIT, the sticker, and the
electric air pump out of the trunk
(
page 389).
Two-part sticker
1Sticker for instrument cluster
2Sticker for wheel
Attach sticker part 1 where it will be
easily seen by the driver on the instru-
ment cluster.
Attach sticker part 2 to the damaged
tire (close to the tire valve).iOpen door only when conditions are safe to
do so.
iSLK 55 AMG with Performance Package*
only.
Warning!G
TIREFIT is a limited repair device. TIREFIT
cannot be used for cuts or punctures larger
than approximately 0.16 in (4 mm) and tire
damage caused by driving with extremely
low tire inflation pressure, or on a flat tire, or
a damaged wheel.
Do not drive the vehicle under such circum-
stances.
Contact the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
for assistance or call Roadside Assistance.

409 Practical hints
Flat tire
Warning!G
Take care not to allow the contents of
TIREFIT to come in contact with hair, eyes
or clothing. TIREFIT is harmful if inhaled,
swallowed or absorbed through the skin –
causes skin, eye and respiratory irritation.
Any contact with eyes or skin should be
flushed immediately with plenty of water.
If clothing comes in contact with TIREFIT,
change clothing as soon as possible.
In case of allergic reaction or rash, consult a
physician immediately.
Warning!G
Keep TIREFIT out of reach of children.
If swallowed, rinse mouth immediately with
plenty of water and drink plenty of water.
Do not induce vomiting!
Consult a physician immediately.
Keep away from open flame or heat source.
iIf sealant has leaked out, let it dry. You can
then peel it off.
Warning!G
Observe safety instructions on air pump
label.
iYour vehicle may be equipped with either of
two versions of the electric air pump:

Version 1
The air hose with pressure gauge and the
electrical plug are located behind a flap.

Version 2
The pressure gauge is located in the pump
housing.
The following description applies to both
versions. Differences in usage are expressly
declared.

410 Practical hints
Flat tire
Version 1
1TIREFIT container
2Notch
3Electric air pump switch
4Electrical plug
5Air hose
6Flange
7Flap
Version 2
1TIREFIT container
2Notch
3Electric air pump switch
4Electrical plug
5Air hose
6Flange
Open flap7 on the electric air pump
(version 1 only).
Pull plug4 and air hose5 out of the
pump housing.
Screw the air pump’s air hose5 onto
flange6 of TIREFIT container1.
Stick TIREFIT container1 upside
down into notch2 of the electric air
pump.
8Filler hose
9Tire valve
Unscrew the valve cap of the damaged
tire from tire valve9.

411 Practical hints
Flat tire
Version 1
aVent screw
bPressure gauge
Close vent screwa on pressure
gaugeb (version 1 only).
Screw filler hose8 onto tire valve9
(
page 410).
Insert electrical plug4 (page 410)
into the cigarette lighter (
page 256).
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1 (
page 37).
PressI on electric air pump switch3
(
page 410).
The electric air pump is switched on
and inflates the tire.
Let the electric air pump inflate the tire
for approximately 5 minutes.
The pressure gauge must display at
least 26 psi (1.8 bar). The air hose can
become hot during inflation.
Please exercise appropriate caution.
If the tire inflation pressure of at least
26 psi (1.8 bar) is not attained, turn off
the electric air pump by pressing0 on
electric air pump switch3
(
page 410).
Detach filler hose8 f r o m t i r e v a l v e9
(
page 410).
Drive vehicle back and forth very slowly
approximately 30 ft (10 m).
This serves to better distribute the
TIREFIT sealant material inside the tire.
Unscrew the air pump’s air hose5
from flange6 of TIREFIT container1
(
page 410).
Screw air hose5onto tire valve9.
Inflate the tire again.
iFirst, the sealing is pumped into the tire. The
pressure may briefly rise to up to 73 psi (5 bar).
This is normal and not an indication of a malfunc-
tion. Do not switch off the electric air pump.
!Do not operate the electric air pump longer
than 6 minutes without interruption. Otherwise it
may overheat.
You may operate the air pump again after it has
cooled off.


412 Practical hints
Flat tire
After attaining a tire inflation pressure
of 26 psi (1.8 bar), press0 on electric
air pump switch3 (
page 410).
The electric air pump is switched off.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0 (
page 37).
Detach the electric air pump.
The air hose may still be hot. Please
exercise appropriate caution.
Place the electrical air pump back in
the trunk.
Close the trunk lid.
Drive off immediately.
The TIREFIT sealant will distribute itself
evenly inside the tire.
After driving the vehicle for an initial
10 minutes, check the tire inflation
pressure using pressure gauge b on
the air pump.
Warning!G
If a tire inflation pressure of 26 psi (1.8 bar)
is not attained, the tire is too severely
damaged for TIREFIT to provide a reliable
tire repair.
In this case, TIREFIT cannot properly seal
the tire.
Do not drive the vehicle.
Contact the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
or call Roadside Assistance.
Warning!G
Do not exceed vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km/h). A TIREFIT repair is not
designed to operate at higher speeds.
The sticker must be attached on the instru-
ment cluster where it will be easily seen by
the driver.
Vehicle handling characteristics of a TIREFIT
repaired tire may change. Adapt your driving
accordingly.
Warning!G
If tire inflation pressure has fallen below
20 psi (1.3 bar) do not continue to drive the
vehicle.
Park your vehicle safely away from the road-
way and contact the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or Roadside
Assistance.
Have the damaged tire replaced.


413 Practical hints
Flat tire
Version 2
aDeflate button
bPressure gauge
If the tire inflation pressure is at least
20 psi (1.3 bar), inflate or deflate the
tire to correct tire inflation pressure
(see placard on the driver’s door
B-pillar):
To increase tire inflation pressure:
Switch on the electric air pump.
To decrease tire inflation pressure
(version 1): Open vent screwa
on pressure gaugeb
(
page 411).
To decrease tire inflation pressure
(version 2): Press yellow deflate
buttona located in air pump hous-
ing next to pressure gaugeb.Drive to the nearest qualified work-
shop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, to have the
damaged tire replaced.
Recommended duration of use:
A maximum of 300 miles (500 km) at
50 mph (80 km/h) or below with the
recommended tire inflation pressure.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible to obtain a
new TIREFIT kit.
Bring used TIREFIT materials to an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
proper disposal.
Replace your TIREFIT container every
4 years. Replacement containers are
available at any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
Follow recommend inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires
can result in sudden deflation (blowout)
because they are more likely to become
punctured or damaged by road debris,
potholes, etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified vehicle capacity weight (as indicat-
ed by the label on the pillar in the driver’s
door opening). Overloading the tires can
overheat them, possibly causing a blowout.

414 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting the spare wheel
Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described
(
page 408).
Take the spare wheel, wheel wrench,
wheel bolts, jack, and electric air pump
out of the trunk (
page 389).Lifting the vehicle
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
or other sizeable objects.
One wheel chock is included with the
vehicle tool kit (
page 390).
When changing wheel on a level surface:
Place one wheel chock or other size-
able object in front of and another
wheel chock or other sizeable object
behind the wheel that is diagonally
opposite to the wheel being changed.
Always try lifting the vehicle using the jack
on a level surface. However, should cir-
cumstances require you to do so on a hill,
place the wheel chock or other sizeable
object and the other wheel chock or other
sizeable object as follows:
Place wheel chocks and other sizeable
objects on the downhill side blocking
both wheels of the axle not being
worked on.
Warning!G
The dimensions of the spare wheel are dif-
ferent from those of the road wheels. As a
result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a spare wheel with
collapsible tire mounted. Adapt your driving
style accordingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with spare wheel mounted,
ensure proper tire inflation pressure
and do not exceed vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the spare wheel
replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.

415 Practical hints
Flat tire
1Wheel wrench
On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts in direc-
tion of arrow (approximately one full
turn with wheel wrench1).
The jack take-up brackets are located di-
rectly behind the front wheel housings and
in front of the rear wheel housings.2Jack
3Take-up bracketPlace jack2 on firm ground.
Position jack2 under take-up
bracket3 so that it is always vertical
(plumb-line) as seen from the side,
even if the vehicle is parked on an
incline.
Warning!G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into either side of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Be sure the jack arm is fully
seated in the jack take-up bracket. Always
lower the vehicle onto sufficient capacity
jackstands before working under the
vehicle.
Warning!G
Position the jack only on the jack take-up
brackets designed for this purpose.
If the jack is not properly positioned, the
vehicle may fall off of the jack.