2010 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK300 brake

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.
X Manual transmission: Shift the manual
transmission into 1st gear or reverse gear
R.
X Automatic transmission: Shift the
automatic transmission into park position
P.
X Engage the parking brake.
i Always engage the parking brake in
addition to shifting the automatic
transmission into park position P (manual
transmission: shifting into 1st gear or
reverse gear R).
X Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position 0.
X Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
The immobilizer is activated.
Automatic transmission:
The SmartKey can only be removed from the
starter switch with the automatic
transmission in park position P. Manual transmission
Introduction
For information on driving with a manual
transmission, see “Driving and parking”
(Y page 79). 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.
G
Warning!
When working on the vehicle, engage the
parking brake and shift the manual
transmission into 1st gear or reverse gear R.
Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal 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. Gearshift lever
Gearshift pattern for manual transmission
k
Reverse gear
1 to 6 Forward gears 84
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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.
! When you are shifting the manual
transmission into the 5th or 6th gear,
make sure you move the gearshift lever to
the right. Otherwise, you could accidentally
shift into the 3rd or 4th gear and damage
the manual transmission.
Downshifting gears leading to overrevving
the engine can result in engine damage that
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Never hold the vehicle stopped on a hill by
using the clutch pedal. The clutch may be
damaged which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
! Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds.
This may result in serious engine damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Shift gear in a timely manner.
Shifting into reverse gear R !
Only shift the manual transmission into
reverse

gear R when the vehicle is stopped.
Otherwise the manual transmission could
be damaged.
X Stop the vehicle completely.
X Fully depress the clutch pedal.
X Shift the manual transmission into the
neutral position (no gear selected).
X Move the gearshift lever to the left until you
feel a certain resistance.
X Push the gearshift lever past this resistance
and hold.
X Move the gearshift lever forward to select
reverse gear R. Automatic transmission
Introduction
For information on driving with an automatic
transmission, see “Driving and parking”
(Y page 79). 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. Automatic transmission
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Gear selector lever
Gearshift pattern for automatic transmission
j
Park position with gear selector lever lock
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.
i Shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P is only possible with the
brake pedal depressed.
Only depressing the brake pedal releases
the gear selector lever lock.
i The current gear selector lever position
corresponds with the current transmission
position. The current transmission position
P, R, N,
or D appears in the multifunction display
(Y page 87).
There are additional indicators on the cover
of the shifting gate showing the current gear
selector lever position.
The indicators come on when you insert the
SmartKey into the starter switch, and go out
when you remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch. Shifting procedure
The automatic transmission selects individual
gears automatically, depending on
R the selected gear range ( Y page 88)
R the selected program mode:
C/S (Y page 88)
or
M (vehicles with AMG Sport Package and
SLK 55 AMG only) (Y page 90)
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 (vehicles with
AMG Sport Package and SLK 55 AMG only) 86
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Transmission positions
The current transmission position appears in
the multifunction display. :
Transmission position indicator 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
parking brake in addition to shifting
the automatic transmission into
park position P to secure the
vehicle.
The SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in park position P.
With the SmartKey removed from
the starter switch, the gear selector
lever is locked in park position
P.
If the vehicle’s electrical system is
malfunctioning, the gear selector
lever could remain locked in park
position P. To unlock the gear
selector lever manually, see
“Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever” ( Y page 266). C
Reverse gear
Shift the automatic transmission
into reverse gear R only when the
vehicle is stopped. Effect
A
Neutral position
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When the
brakes are released, the vehicle can
be moved freely (pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the
transmission, never shift the
automatic transmission into neutral
position N while driving.
Exception: If the ESP ®
is switched
off or malfunctioning, shift the
automatic transmission into neutral
position N if the vehicle is in danger
of skidding.
! Coasting the vehicle, or driving
for any other reason with the
automatic transmission in neutral
position N can result in
transmission damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty. 7
Drive position
The automatic transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears are
available.
Driving tips
Kickdown Use the kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
X
U.S. vehicles except AMG vehicles:
Fully depress the accelerator pedal.
Depending on the engine speed the
automatic transmission shifts into a lower
gear.
X Canada vehicles and AMG vehicles:
Depress the accelerator pedal past the
point of resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
automatic transmission shifts into a lower
gear. Automatic transmission
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Working on the vehicle
G
Warning!
When working on the vehicle, engage the
parking brake and shift the automatic
transmission into park position P. Otherwise
the vehicle could roll away which could result
in an accident and/or serious personal injury. Gear ranges
With the automatic transmission in drive
position D and driving in automatic program
mode C or S, you can limit or extend the gear
range, see “One-touch gearshifting”
(Y page 89).
The current gear range appears in the
multifunction display. :
Gear range indicator Effect
=
With this selection you can use the
braking effect of the engine.
5
Allows the use of the engine’s
braking effect when driving
R
on steep downgrades
R in mountainous regions
R under extreme operating
conditions 4
For maximum use of the engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades. Automatic shift program
Program mode selector switch
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For sporty driving
Program mode selector switch on vehicles with
AMG Sport Package and SLK 55 AMG
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
M Manual For manual gearshifting
(Y page 90)88
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the optimal gear for maximum
acceleration.
i When you brake or stop, the automatic
transmission shifts down into a gear from
which you can easily accelerate or take off.
Kickdown Using the kickdown while driving in manual
program mode
M is not possible.
Deactivating manual shift program X
Press the program mode selector switch
repeatedly until C or S appears in the
multifunction display.
or
X Restart the engine.
The automatic transmission will go to
automatic program mode C.
Manual program mode M is not stored.Emergency operation (limp-home
mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less
responsive or sluggish or the automatic
transmission no longer shifts, the automatic
transmission is most likely operating in limp-
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode only second gear and reverse gear R
can be selected.
X Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
X Shift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
X Turn off the engine.
X Wait at least 10 seconds before restarting.
X Restart the engine.
X Shift the automatic transmission into drive
position D (for second gear) or reverse gear
R.
X Have the automatic transmission checked
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible. Instrument cluster
Introduction
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(Y page 26). G
Warning!
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving conditions,
such as
R speed
R outside temperature
R warning/indicator lamps
R malfunction/warning messages
R failure of any systems
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with added
caution. Contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible. :
To brighten instrument cluster
illumination (knob +)
; To dim instrument cluster illumination
(knob -)
= Reset button .
For information on changing the instrument
cluster settings, e.g. the language, see
(Y page 103). 92
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i
You can also switch the microphone on or
off by pressing button 8.
Sending DTMF tones i
This function is not possible with all
mobile phones.
Answering

machines or other devices can be
controlled via DTMF tones, e.g. for remote
query functions.
X Transmitting individual characters:
During a call select the required
characters.
or
X Press the corresponding button on the
audio control unit.
Every selected character is transmitted
immediately.
X Transmitting a phone number of a
phone book entry as a sequence of
characters: Select Name.
X Select the desired phone book entry.
The entry is transmitted immediately as a
sequence of characters.
X Switching back to call display: Select
Back. Driving systems
Introduction
The
cruise control driving system is described
on the following pages.
The driving safety systems ABS, BAS and
ESP ®
are described in the “Safety and
security” section (Y page 47). Cruise control
The cruise control maintains the speed you
set for your vehicle automatically.
The

use of the cruise control is recommended
for driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. The currently set speed or last set speed
(“Resume” function) appears in the status
indicator of the multifunction display:
R
USA only: e.g. CRUISE 55 Miles
R Canada only: e.g. ¯ 90 Km/h G
Warning!
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle’s speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only

use the cruise control if the road, traffic,
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on winding roads or in heavy
traffic because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid
changes in tire traction can result in wheel
spin and loss of control.
R Deactivate the cruise control when driving
in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be
operated if the driver is fully aware of the
previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed. G
Warning!
When the cruise control is braking, the brake
pedal is retracted (i.e. depressed
automatically). The pedals’ range of motion
must not be impeded by any obstacles:
R Do not place any objects in the footwell.
R Make sure that the floormats and carpets
are securely in place.
R Do

not rest your foot underneath the brake
pedal, as it could otherwise be trapped.
You could otherwise cause an accident and
injure yourself and/or others. Driving systems
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:
Setting current or higher speed
; Setting current or lower speed
= Canceling the cruise control
? Resume to last set speed
Activating cruise control You can activate the cruise control at a
vehicle speed above 20 mph (30 km/h).
You cannot activate the cruise control
R
when you brake
R when you have engaged the parking brake
R when the automatic transmission is in park
position P, reverse gear R, or neutral
position N
R the ESP ®
is switched off or has switched off
due to a malfunction
Setting current speed X
Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.
X Briefly lift the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow : or press in direction
of arrow ;.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
i On uphill grades, the cruise control may
not be able to maintain the set speed. Once
the grade eases, the set speed will be
resumed. On downhill grades, the cruise control
maintains the set speed by braking with the
vehicle’s brake system.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
In addition, on longer downhill grades the
automatic transmission will downshift
automatically.
i Vehicles with manual transmission:
If you depress the clutch pedal when
shifting into another gear, the engine speed
may increase.
R Always drive with sufficient, but not
excessive, engine speed.
R Shift the gear in a timely manner.
R Avoid shifting down more than one gear
if at all possible.
Canceling cruise control X
Depress the brake pedal.
or
X Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow =.
The last set speed is stored for later use.
The last stored speed is deleted from memory
when the engine is turned off.
The cruise control switches off automatically
when
R you depress the brake pedal
R you engage the parking brake
R the vehicle speed falls below 20 mph
(30 km/h)
R the ESP ®
is in operation
R the ESP ®
is switched off with the ESP ®
switch
R the ESP ®
has switched off due to a
malfunction
R Vehicles with manual transmission: you
engage neutral or depress the clutch pedal
for more than 7 seconds during shifting into
another gear 160
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