2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG climate control

174 Controls in detail
Climate control
Climate control panel
The climate control is operational when-
ever the engine is running. The system
cools or heats the interior depending on
the selected interior temperature and the
current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air
enters the interior through the air distribu-
tion system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/Cmode is deactivated
(
page 174).
Item
1Temperature control, left side
2Air volume control, climate control
on/off
3Air distribution control
4Temperature control, right side
5Rear window defroster (page 170)
6Front defroster
7AC cooling on/off,
Residual heat/ventilation
8Air recirculation
Warning!G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature).
This may cause burns or frostbite to unpro-
tected skin in the immediate area of the air
vents. Always keep sufficient distance
between unprotected parts of the body and
the air vents. If necessary, use the air
distribution controls (
page 174) to direct
the air to air vents in the vehicle interior
that are not in the immediate area of un-
protected skin.
Warning!G
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before
its scheduled replacement interval.
A clogged filter will reduce the air volume to
the interior and the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others. Have a clogged filter replaced as
soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

175 Controls in detail
Climate control
Switching climate control system
on/off
Switching off
Set air volume control2 (page 174)
to position0.
Switching on
Switch on the ignition (page 37).
Set air volume control2 to any speed
(
page 174).
The previous settings are once again in
effect.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls1 and4
(
page 174) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing
Turn temperature control 1
and/or4 (
page 174) slightly
clockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Warning!G
Follow the recommended settings for
heating and cooling given on the following
pages. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iIf the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the in-
terior before driving off. The climate control will
then adjust the interior temperature to the set
value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow and debris.
When the retractable hardtop is closed, do not
obstruct air flow by placing objects on the air
flow-through exhaust slots below the rear
window.
Warning!G
When the climate control is switched off, the
outside air supply and circulation are also
switched off. Only choose this setting for a
short time. Otherwise the windows could
fog up, impairing visibility and endangering
you and others.

176 Controls in detail
Climate control
Decreasing
Turn temperature control
1and/or4 (
page 174) slightly
counterclockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution
Use air distribution control3
(
page 174) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are found on the
control:
Turn the air distribution control to the
desired symbol (
page 174).
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air dis-
tribution.Opening the center air vents
Turn thumbwheels2and9
(
page 172) upward to the first stop.
Center air vents1,3,8anda are
open.
Turn thumbwheels2and9
(
page 172) upward all the way.
Only center air vents1anda are
open.
Closing the center air vents
Turn thumbwheels2and9
(
page 172) downward all the way.
Center air vents1,3,8anda are
closed.
Opening and closing side air vents
Turn thumbwheels6andb
(
page 172) in the required direction.
Side air vents5andc are open or
closed.
SymbolFunction
aDirects air through the
center and side air vents
ZDirects air to the wind-
shield and through the side
air vents
bDirects air into the entire
vehicle interior
YDirects air to the footwells
and through the side air
vents
iYou can also turn the control to a position
between two symbols.

177 Controls in detail
Climate control
Adjusting air volume
Ten blower speeds are available.
Use air volume control2
(
page 174) to adjust the air volume.
Basic settings
Heating (winter)
Turn temperature controls1and4
(
page 174) to the desired position.
Turn air volume control2
(
page 174) to level2 or higher.
Otherwise the windows may fog over.
Turn air distribution control3
(
page 174) to a position
betweenbandY.
Open the side air vents if necessary.
Close the center air vents.Heating (summer)
Turn air temperature
control1and4 (
page 174) to the
desired position.
Turn air volume control2
(
page 174) to level1 or higher.
Turn air distribution control3
(
page 174) to positiona.
Open the center and side air vents.
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
side windows.Activating
Press buttonP (page 174).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning switches
automatically to the following
functions:

cooling on to dehumidify

maximum blowing and heating
power

air flows onto the windshield
and the front side windows
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are clear again.
iWhen you have activated the front defroster
using buttonP, no other settings are
possible.

178 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating
Press buttonP (page 174) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.
Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on
(
page 56).
Turn air distribution control3 to
positionaorY (
page 174).
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the interior.
Activating
Briefly press button,
(
page 174).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating
Press button, (page 174) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
iThe cooling remains switched on.
Warning!G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 180) is activated, or
press buttonP.
iThe air recirculation mode is activated
automatically at high outside temperatures.
The indicator lamp on button, is not lit when
the air recirculation mode is automatically
switched on.
A quantity of outside air is added after
approximately 30 minutes.
iThe air recirculation mode is deactivated
automatically:

after 5 minutes if the outside temperature is
below approximately 41°F (5°C)

after 5 minutes if the air conditioning is
turned off

after 30 minutes if the outside temperature
is above approximately 41°F (5°C)

179 Controls in detail
Climate control
Air recirculation mode with
convenience closing or opening featureConvenience closing
Press and hold button, until the
windows are closed or have reached
the desired position.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air recirculation mode is
activated.Convenience openingPress and hold button, until the
windows are opened or have reached
the desired position.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The air recirculation mode is
deactivated.
Warning!G
Never operate the side windows if there is
the possibility of anyone being harmed by
the closing procedure.
When using the air recirculation mode with
convenience closing feature, should the up-
ward movement of a window be blocked by
some obstruction including but not limited
to arms, hands, fingers, etc., the automatic
reversal feature will not operate.
In the event that the closing procedure caus-
es potential danger, the closing of the door
windows can be immediately halted by
releasing the,button or by pressing
the respective power window switch.
The closing of the rear side windows can be
immediately halted by releasing the
,button.
iThe closing of the windows can be immedi-
ately halted by releasing button,.iThe opening of the windows can be immedi-
ately halted by releasing button,.
A window will only return to its previous position
if it has not been moved to another position
using the respective window switch after it was
closed with button,.
A window that has been moved will remain in its
current position if button, i s u s e d t o r e o p e n
the remaining windows.

180 Controls in detail
Climate control
Air conditioning
The cooling function, only operational
when the engine is running, cools the
vehicle interior down to the selected
temperature. The cooling function also
dehumidifies the air in the vehicle interior,
thus preventing the windows from
fogging up.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate
control system. The air in the vehicle will
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.
Press button9 (page 174).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The cooling function switches off
after a short delay.
Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press button9 (page 174) again.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.Maximum cooling
Turn thumbwheels2and9
(
page 172) upwards to the first stop.
The fixed center air vents3and8
(
page 172) and the adjustable air
vents1anda (
page 172) are
open.
For draft-free ventilation, move the
sliders for the center air vents
1anda (
page 172) to the middle
position.
Turn thumbwheels6andb
(
page 172) for the adjustable side air
vents5andc (
page 172) to the
fully open position.
Set air distribution control3
(
page 176) to positiona.
The air distribution directs the air
through the center and side air vents.
Warning!G
If you turn off the cooling function, the inte-
rior air is not dried. The windows can fog up
more quickly. Window fogging may impair
visibility and endanger you and others.
iCondensation may drip from underneath the
vehicle. This is normal and not an indication of a
malfunction.

181 Controls in detail
Climate control
Set air volume control2 (page 177)
to position5.
The ventilation operates with maximum
blower speed.
Turn temperature controls1and4
(
page 174) completely counterclock-
wise to their end stops.
The lowest temperature for both sides
is set.
Residual engine heat utilization
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.
Activating
Switch off the ignition (page 37).
Press button9 (page 174).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating
Press button9 (page 174) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
iWhen the vehicle’s interior has cooled down
enough, reduce the air volume and increase the
air temperature to comfortable settings if
desired.
iHow long the system will provide heating
depends on

the coolant temperature

the temperature set by the operator
The blower will run at speed setting1 regardless
of the air distribution control setting.
iThe residual heat is automatically turned off

when the ignition is switched on (page 37)

after about 30 minutes

if the battery voltage drops