2010 MERCEDES-BENZ CL CLASS Owners Manual

Driving off
G
Warning!
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.
! Do not run a cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service life
of the engine. This is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
CL 63 AMG: At engine temperatures below
68‡ (20†), the engine’s maximum speed
is restricted in order to protect it from
damage. Avoid driving your vehicle at full
speed when the engine is cold to prevent
premature engine wear and/or diminished
comfort.
! You have forgotten to release the
electronic parking brake when driving off if
R an acoustic warning sounds
R the message Please Release
Parking Brake appears in the
multifunction display
R the red indicator lamp for the electronic
parking brake F (USA only) or !
(Canada only) in the instrument cluster
flashes
Release the electronic parking brake.
! Avoid spinning of a drive wheel. This may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
! Simultaneously depressing the
accelerator pedal and applying the brakes
reduces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty. i
Once the vehicle is in motion, the doors
and the trunk look automatically. The
locking knobs in the doors move down.
The automatic door lock feature can be
deactivated ( Y page 193).
Automatic transmission G
Warning!
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out

of park position P or neutral
position N if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate
quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
! Only shift the automatic transmission into
reverse gear R or park position P when the
vehicle is stopped. Otherwise the
automatic transmission could be damaged.
X Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever can now be used.
X Shift the automatic transmission into drive
position D or reverse gear R.
i Shifting the

automatic transmission out of
park position P is only possible with the
brake pedal depressed.
Without the brake pedal depressed, the
gear selector lever can be moved up or
down. However, the parking pawl remains
engaged, not allowing shifting to occur.
X Wait for the gear selection process to
complete before setting the vehicle in
motion.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Carefully depress the accelerator pedal.
The electronic parking brake releases
automatically. Driving and parking
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The red indicator lamp
F (USA only)
or ! (Canada only) in the instrument
cluster goes out.
After a cold start, the automatic transmission
shifts at a higher engine speed. This allows
the catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature earlier.
For more
information on driving, see “Driving
instructions” ( Y page 397). Problems while driving
The engine

runs erratically and misfires R
An ignition cable may be damaged.
R The engine electronics may not be
operating properly.
R Unburned gasoline may have entered the
catalytic converter and damaged it.
X Give very little gas.
X Have the problem checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center

as soon as possible.
The coolant temperature is above
248‡ (120†) The coolant is too hot and is no longer cooling
the engine.
X
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon
as possible.
X Turn off the engine immediately.
X Allow the engine and coolant to cool off.
X Check the coolant level and add coolant if
necessary ( Y page 372).
In case of accident If the vehicle is leaking fuel:
X
Do not start the engine under any
circumstances.
X Exit the vehicle at a safe distance from the
roadway.
X Notify local fire and/or police authorities. If the extent of the damage cannot be
determined:
X
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call Roadside Assistance.
If no damage on major assemblies, fuel
system, and engine mount can be
determined:
X Start the engine in the usual manner. Parking
G
Warning!
Do not park in areas where the hot exhaust
system could come into contact with
combustible materials. Combustible
materials such as grass, hay or leaves could
be ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
Unintended vehicle movement could cause
serious personal injury or damage to the
vehicle or the vehicle drivetrain. To reduce
such risks, always do the following before
turning off

the engine and leaving the vehicle:
R Keep right foot on the brake pedal.
R Engage the electronic parking brake.
R Shift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
R Slowly release the brake pedal.
R When parked on an incline, always turn the
front wheels towards the road curb.
R Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position 0 and remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch, or press the KEYLESS-
GO start/stop button.
R Take the SmartKey with you and lock the
vehicle when leaving.
Electronic parking brake G
Warning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from

the starter switch, take it with
you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave 288
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children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Children could
release the electronic parking brake and/or
shift the automatic transmission out of park
position P, either of which could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
Releasing electronic parking brake
manually
X
Switch on the ignition.
X Pull handle :.
The red indicator lamp F (USA only)
or ! (Canada only) in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Releasing electronic parking brake
automatically
The electronic parking brake releases
automatically when all of the following
conditions are fulfilled:
R The engine is running.
R The automatic transmission is in drive
position D or reverse gear R. With the
automatic transmission in reverse gear R
the trunk lid must be closed.
R The hood is closed.
R You have fastened your seat belt.
R You depress on the accelerator pedal. i
If you have not fastened your seat belt,
the following conditions must be met in
order for the electronic parking brake to
release automatically:
R The driver’s door is closed and you shift
the automatic transmission out of park
position P.
or
R The driver’s door is closed and you drive
faster than 2 mph (3 km/h).
Engaging electronic parking brake
manually
X Press handle :.
The red indicator lamp F (USA only)
or ! (Canada only) in the instrument
cluster comes on.
i You can engage the electronic parking
brake even when the SmartKey is removed
from the starter switch.
Engaging electronic parking brake
automatically
The electronic parking brake engages
automatically when the HOLD function
(Y page 316) or DISTRONIC PLUS
(Y page 304) brings your vehicle to a
standstill. In addition, at least one of the
following conditions must be met:
R The engine is turned off.
R The driver’s door is opened and the seat
belt is not inserted in the seat belt buckle.
R The hood lock is released.
R The trunk lid is opened while the automatic
transmission is in reverse gear R.
R The vehicle is stationary for an extended
period of time.
The red indicator lamp F (USA only)
or ! (Canada only) in the instrument
cluster comes on.
i In addition to engaging the electronic
parking brake, the automatic transmission
may shift into park position P
automatically. Driving and parking
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Emergency braking with electronic
parking brake
In
an
emergency situation, you can also brake
your vehicle by using the electronic parking
brake.
X While driving, press handle :.
All four

wheels of the vehicle will be braked
for as long as you press and hold the handle
for the electronic parking brake. The longer
you keep the handle pressed, the stronger
your vehicle will be braked.
During the braking procedure
R an acoustic warning sounds
R the message Please Release Parking
Brake appears

in the multifunction display
R the red indicator lamp for the electronic
parking brake F (USA only) or !
(Canada only) in the instrument cluster
flashes
Once the vehicle comes to a complete stop,
the electronic parking brake will engage
automatically. Turning off the engine
G
Warning!
Do not turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come

to a complete stop. With the engine
not running, there is no power assistance for
the brake and steering systems. In this case,
it is important to keep in mind that a
considerably higher degree of effort is
necessary to brake and steer the vehicle.
i If the engine cannot be turned off as
described, see “Emergency engine
shutdown” ( Y page 478).
X Shift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
i Observe instructions if you want the
automatic transmission to remain in neutral position N, see “Remaining in
neutral position N” (
Y page 292).
With SmartKey X
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position 0.
X Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
When you turn off the engine using the
SmartKey, and remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch or open a front door, the
automatic transmission will shift into park
position P automatically. G
Warning!
Keep in mind that turning off the engine alone
only will

shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N automatically.
Always shift the automatic transmission into
park position P before turning off the engine.
Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
With KEYLESS-GO X
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button.
With the driver’s door closed, the starter
switch is

now in position 1. With the driver’s
door opened, the starter switch is set to
position 0, same as the SmartKey removed
from the starter switch (Y page 262).
When you turn off the engine using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and open a
front door, the automatic transmission will
shift into park position P automatically. G
Warning!
Keep in mind that turning off the engine alone
only will

shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N automatically.
Always shift the automatic transmission into
park position P before turning off the engine.290
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Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
i In an emergency you can turn off the
engine while driving by pressing and
holding the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
for approximately 3 seconds.
If you have started the engine with the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and cannot
turn it off as described above:
X Remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button from the starter switch.
X Insert the SmartKey into the starter switch.
The engine turns off. The starter switch is
in position 0 (Y page 262). Automatic transmission
Introduction
For information on driving with an automatic
transmission, see “Driving and parking”
(Y page 285). G
Warning!
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals’ range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats or
carpets in the footwell, make sure the pedals
still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers
the objects could get caught between or
under the pedals. You could then no longer
brake or accelerate. This could lead to
accidents and injury.
! Allow the engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature has
been reached.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause serious damage to the
engine and the drivetrain which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
i During the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter to heat up more quickly
to operating temperature. Gear selector lever
Gearshift pattern for automatic transmission
:
Button for selecting park position P
j Park position
k Reverse gear
i Neutral position
h Drive position G
Warning!
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out of park position P or neutral
position N if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate
quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
! Only shift the automatic transmission into
reverse gear R or park position P when the
vehicle is stopped. Otherwise the
automatic transmission could be damaged. Automatic transmission
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!
The vehicle must be stopped when you
shift the automatic transmission
R directly between drive position D and
reverse gear R
R directly between reverse gear R and
drive position D
R directly into park position P
Otherwise the automatic transmission
could be damaged.
When trying
to free a vehicle stuck in mud or
snow, see “Rocking the vehicle”
(Y page 295).
i Shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P is only possible with the
brake pedal depressed.
Without the brake pedal depressed, the
gear selector lever can be moved up or
down, but the parking pawl remains
engaged, not allowing shifting to occur.
i The gear selector lever always returns to
its original position.
The current transmission position P, R, N,
or D appears in the multifunction display
(Y page 294).
Shifting into park position P X
With the vehicle at a standstill, press
button : on the gear selector lever.
SmartKey: When you turn off the engine using
the SmartKey, and remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch or open a front door,
the automatic

transmission will shift into park
position P automatically.
KEYLESS-GO: When you turn off the engine
using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and
open a front door, the automatic transmission
will shift into park position P automatically.G
Warning!
Keep in mind that turning off the engine alone
only will

shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N automatically. Always shift the automatic transmission into
park position
P before

turning off the engine.
Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
i Moving the gear selector lever up or down
shifts the automatic transmission out of
park position P.
HOLD function or DISTRONIC PLUS:
The automatic transmission will shift into
park position P automatically when HOLD
function or DISTRONIC PLUS brings your
vehicle to standstill. In addition, at least one
of the following conditions must be met:
R The engine is turned off.
R The driver’s door is opened and the seat
belt is not inserted in the seat belt buckle.
In addition to shifting into park position P, the
electronic parking brake will engage
automatically.
Shifting into neutral position N X
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the
brake pedal.
X Move the gear selector lever up or down to
the resistance point to select neutral
position N.
When you turn off the engine, the automatic
transmission will shift into neutral position
N automatically.
SmartKey: Removing the SmartKey from the
starter switch or opening a front door after
turning off

the engine will shift the automatic
transmission into park position P
automatically.
KEYLESS-GO: Opening a front door after
turning off the engine will shift the automatic
transmission into park position P
automatically.
Remaining in neutral position N
If you want the automatic transmission to
remain in neutral position N, e.g. when taking292
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the vehicle through an automatic conveyor-
type car wash, observe the following
instructions.
G
Warning!
When leaving the SmartKey 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.
With SmartKey:
X Make sure the ignition is switched on.
X With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the
brake pedal and keep it pressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X If engaged release the electronic parking
brake manually.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
With KEYLESS-GO:
X Make sure the ignition is switched on.
X With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the
brake pedal and keep it pressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button from the starter switch.
X Insert the SmartKey into the starter switch.
X Switch on the ignition.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
pressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N.
X Release the brake pedal. X
If engaged release the electronic parking
brake manually.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
Shifting into reverse gear R X
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the
brake pedal.
X Move the gear selector lever up past the
resistance point.
Shifting into drive position D X
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the
brake pedal.
X Move the gear selector lever down past the
resistance point. Shifting procedure
The automatic

transmission selects individual
gears automatically, depending on
R the selected gear range ( Y page 295)
R the selected program mode:
C/S (Y page 296)
or
M (AMG vehicles only) ( Y page 298)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the vehicle speed
With drive position D selected, you can
influence transmission shifting by
R limiting the gear range
R extending the gear range
R changing the gears manually (AMG vehicles
only) Automatic transmission
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Transmission positions
The current transmission position appears in
the multifunction display. :
Transmission position indicator
If the current transmission position does not
appear in the multifunction display due to a
malfunction, for example, make sure that the
automatic transmission is in the desired
position.
X Shift the automatic transmission into drive
position D.
X Select automatic program mode S.
X Do not limit the gear range.
X Drive off carefully. Effect
B
Park position
Shift the automatic transmission
into park position P only when the
vehicle is stopped. The park position
is not intended to serve as a brake
when the vehicle is parked. Rather,
the driver should always engage the
electronic parking brake in addition
to shifting the automatic
transmission into park position
P to
secure the vehicle.
If the vehicle’s electrical system is
malfunctioning, the automatic
transmission could remain locked in
park position P.
X Have the vehicle’s electrical
system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible. C
Reverse gear
Shift the automatic transmission
into reverse gear R only when the
vehicle is stopped.294
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