2011 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG ignition

Do not allow cleaning agents to dry on the
finish.
Automatic car wash
You can have your vehicle washed in an
automatic
car wash from the start. Brushless
car washes are preferable.
X To protect the filter system, activate the air
recirculation mode using button g on
the climate control panel.
! Do
not clean your vehicle in an automatic
touchless car wash which uses caustic
spray. Caustic spray will damage the paint
or ornamental moldings.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it before
running it through the automatic car wash.
! Make sure the combination switch is set
to wiper setting 0. Otherwise, the rain
sensor could activate and cause the wipers
to move unintentionally. This may lead to
vehicle damage.
Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in
exterior rear view mirrors prior to running
the vehicle through an automatic car wash
to prevent damage to the mirrors.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
X When taking the vehicle through an
automatic conveyor-type car wash:
Make sure the automatic transmission
remains in neutral position N.
When leaving the automatic car wash, make
sure the mirrors are folded out.
After running the vehicle through an
automatic car wash, wipe any wax off of the
windshield and the wiper blade inserts. This
will prevent smears and reduce wiping noise
which can be caused by residual wax on the
windshield.
Ornamental moldings X
For regular cleaning and care of ornamental
moldings, use a damp cloth. !
Do
not use chrome cleaner on ornamental
moldings. Although ornamental moldings
may have chrome appearance, they could
be made of anodized aluminum that will be
damaged when cleaned with chrome
cleaner. Instead, use a damp cloth to clean
those ornamental moldings.
For very dirty ornamental moldings of
which you are sure are chrome-plated, use
a chrome cleaner. If in doubt whether an
ornamental molding is chrome-plated,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Headlamps, brake lamps, tail lamps,
side markers, turn signal lenses X
Use a mild vehicle wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Shampoo,
with plenty of water.
! Only use window cleaning solutions that
are suitable for plastic lamp lenses.
Window cleaning solutions which are not
suitable may damage the plastic lamp
lenses

of the headlamps. Therefore, do not
use abrasives, solvents or cleaners that
contain solvents.
Cleaning the windows and the wiper
blades !
The windshield wipers must be in a
vertical position before folding them away
from the windshield. They could otherwise
damage the hood.
Never

open the hood when the wiper arms
are folded forward.
X Make sure the hood is fully closed.
X Switch on the ignition.
X Turn combination switch to wiper setting
II (Y page 76).
X With wiper arms in vertical position, switch
off the ignition. Vehicle care
229
Operation
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsFront-
passenger
Airbag
Enabled
See
Operator’s
Manual The passenger front air bag and the passenger-side knee bag
are activated while driving even though a child, small
individual, or object below the system’s weight threshold is
on the passenger seat, or the passenger seat is empty.
Objects on the seat or forces acting on the seat may make
the system sense supplemental weight.
X
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition.
X Open the passenger door.
X Remove child and child restraint from passenger seat.
X Make sure no objects which apply supplemental weight to
the seat are present. The system may recognize such
supplemental weight and sense that an occupant on the
passenger
seat is of a greater weight than actually present.
X Keep the seat unoccupied, close the passenger door and
switch on the ignition.
Monitor the 04 indicator lamp in the center
console (Y page 39) and the multifunction display in the
instrument cluster

(Y page 26) for the following:
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition switched on,
R the 04 indicator lamp in the center console
should illuminate and remain illuminated, indicating that
the OCS (Y page 37) has deactivated the passenger front
air bag and the passenger-side knee bag.
R the message Front-passenger Airbag Enabled See
Operator’s Manual or the message Front-passenger
Airbag Disabled See Operator’s Manual should not
appear in the multifunction display at any time the seat is
unoccupied. Wait at least 60 seconds for the system to
complete the necessary check cycles and to make sure
neither message appears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the passenger
seat again. Depending on the passenger classification sensed
by the OCS, the 04 indicator lamp will remain
illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working
properly. Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible. Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
239
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G
Warning!
If the 04 indicator lamp remains out even after performing the above corrective
steps, do not have any children 12 years old and under and other small individuals use the
passenger seat until the system has been repaired. Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsFront-
passenger
Airbag
Disabled
See
Operator’s
Manual The passenger front air bag and the passenger-side knee bag
are deactivated while driving even though an adult or
someone larger than a small individual is occupying the
passenger seat. Forces acting on the seat may make the
system sense a decrease in weight.
X
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition.
X Have the passenger vacate the seat and exit the vehicle.
X Keep the seat unoccupied, close the passenger door and
switch on the ignition.
Monitor the 04 indicator lamp in the center
console (Y page 39) and the multifunction display in the
instrument cluster
(Y page 26) for the following:
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition switched on,
R the 04 indicator lamp in the center console
should illuminate and remain illuminated, indicating that
the OCS (Y page 37) has deactivated the passenger front
air bag and the passenger-side knee bag.
R the message Front-passenger Airbag Enabled See
Operator’s Manual or the message Front-passenger
Airbag Disabled See Operator’s Manual should not
appear in the multifunction display at any time the seat is
unoccupied. Wait at least 60 seconds for the system to
complete the necessary check cycles and to make sure
neither message appears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the passenger
seat again. Depending on the passenger classification sensed
by the OCS, the 04 indicator lamp will remain
illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working
properly. Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible. 240
Vehicle status messages in the multifunction displayPractical hints
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsK Retractabl
e Roof
Operation
Please
Wait The on-board voltage is too low.
X
Repeat the opening or closing procedure.
X Start the engine. The hardtop drive system was shut down for safety reasons
after multiple, consecutive attempts to raise or lower the
hardtop.
After
about 10 minutes you can open or close the retractable
hardtop.
X Switch on the ignition.
X Repeat the opening or closing procedure.
X If the retractable hardtop still does not open or close
properly, have the hardtop system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. K Retractabl
e Roof
Lowering The retractable hardtop is not completely opened or closed.
The roof hydraulics will start to lose pressure.
X
Make sure the retractable hardtop is completely opened or
closed ( Y page 170). K Retractabl
e Roof
Operation
Only At
Standstill You have attempted to open the retractable hardtop while
driving.
X
Stop the vehicle in a safe location and try to open the
hardtop again. K Retractabl
e Roof
Not
Opened/
Closed
Completely You are driving with the retractable hardtop not properly
locked.
X
Stop the vehicle in a safe location. Observe the traffic
situation around you.
X Push the retractable hardtop switch forward or rearward
until the retractable hardtop is completely closed or open
(Y page 170).
X If the retractable hardtop still does lock properly, have the
hardtop system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. J Trunk
Partition
Open You are trying to open or close the retractable hardtop even
though the luggage cover in the trunk is not closed and/or
properly engaged.
X
Close the luggage cover ( Y page 173).+ Remove Key You have forgotten to remove the SmartKey.
X
Remove the SmartKey from the starter switch. 246
Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions+ Please
get a new
key. The SmartKey is malfunctioning.
X
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. ~ Bluetooth
Ready The telephone has not yet been connected to the audio
system or COMAND system via Bluetooth
®
.
X Connect the telephone to the audio system or COMAND
system via Bluetooth ®
. ¥ Top Up
Washer
Fluid The washer fluid in the washer fluid reservoir has fallen below
the minimum level.
X
Add washer fluid ( Y page 196). Engine
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions=
(USA only)
;
(Canada
only) Engine
Service There may be a malfunction in
R
the fuel management system
R the ignition system
R the exhaust system
R the fuel system
X Have the engine checkedas soon as possible at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. ; Display
Malfunctio
n
Drive To
Workshop Certain electronic systems are unable to relay information to
the control system. The coolant temperature display or the
tachometer may have failed.
X
Have the electronic systems checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. + Top Up
Coolant
See
Operator’s
Manual The coolant level is too low.
X
Add coolant (Y page 196).
X If you have to add coolant frequently, have the cooling
system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. G
Warning!
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which may burn
if it comes into contact with hot engine parts. You could be seriously burned. Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
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G
Warning!
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You may
lose control of the vehicle. Continued driving with a flat tire will cause excessive heat build-up
and possibly a fire. G
Warning!
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely affect
handling and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail from being overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can adversely affect handling and ride comfort, wear
unevenly, increase stopping distance, and result in sudden deflation (blowout) because they are
more likely to become punctured or damaged by road debris, potholes etc. What to do if …
Lamps in instrument cluster
Notes If any of the following lamps in the instrument
cluster fails to come on during the bulb self-
check when switching on the ignition, have
the respective bulb checked and replaced if
necessary.
When you switch on the ignition, all lamps in
the instrument cluster come on. The high-
beam headlamp indicator lamp and turn
signal indicator lamps will only come on if
activated. If a lamp in the instrument cluster
fails

to come on when the ignition is switched
on, have it checked and replaced if necessary. 256
What to do if …
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Engine
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions! (USA only)
; (Canada only)
The yellow engine
malfunction indicator
lamp comes on when
the engine is running. There may be a malfunction in
R
the fuel management system
R the ignition system
R the emission control system
R systems which affect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive emissions values and
may
switch the engine to limp-home (emergency operation) mode.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
i Some states may by law require you to visit a workshop as
soon

as the engine malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Check
local requirements. Tires
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutionsh
USA only:
Combination
low

tire pressure
telltale/TPMS
malfunction
telltale for the
Advanced TPMS
illuminates
continuously. The Advanced TPMS detects a loss of pressure in at least one tire.
X
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt steering and
braking maneuvers. Observe the traffic situation around you.
X Read and observe messages in the multifunction display
(Y page 236).
If the tire inflation pressure in the respective tire(s) has (have) been
corrected, the combination low tire pressure/TPMS malfunction
telltale goes out after a few minutes of driving. h
USA only:
Combination
low

tire pressure
telltale/TPMS
malfunction
telltale for the
Advanced TPMS
flashes 60
seconds and
then stays
illuminated. There is a malfunction in the Advanced TPMS.
X
Read and observe messages in the multifunction display
(Y page 236).
X Have the Advanced TPMS checked at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
After the malfunction has been remedied, the combination low tire
pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale goes out after a few minutes
of driving. 262
What to do if …
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i
This procedure does not arm the anti-
theft alarm system, nor does it lock the fuel
filler flap and the storage compartments. Manually unlocking the gear selector
lever
If the vehicle’s electrical system is
malfunctioning, the gear selector lever could
remain locked in park position P. In this case
the gear selector lever can be unlocked
manually, e.g. to tow the vehicle.
X Engage the parking brake. !
Do not use sharp objects to loosen the
gear selector lever cover in the center
console, as this could damage the gear
selector lever cover or the center console.
X Insert a flat, blunt object into the left edge
of gear selector lever cover : at the
positions indicated by the arrows.
X Loosen gear selector lever cover : using
this object.
X Pull gear selector lever cover : out and
remove.
X Simultaneously push down release ; and
move the gear selector lever out of park
position P.
The gear selector lever is unlocked.
i The gear selector lever is locked again as
soon as you move it back to park position
P. Opening/closing manually
Raising retractable hardtop manually
G
Warning!
If the retractable hardtop does not completely
open or close, the roof hydraulics will lose
pressure and the retractable hardtop is
lowered
R after approximately 7 minutes when the
ignition is switched on
R after approximately 15 seconds when the
ignition is switched off
Shortly before the hardtop is lowered, a
warning will sound. In the multifunction
display you will see K and the message
Retractable Roof Lowering.
Properly lock retractable hardtop before
continuing to drive. G
Warning!
Manually closing the retractable hardtop is a
complicated and technically demanding
procedure and should only be performed by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
qualified technician.
Attempting to manually close the retractable
hardtop may cause damage to the retractable
hardtop and/or personal injury. G
Warning!
To prevent possible accidents, drive the
vehicle only with the retractable hardtop
either completely closed and locked, or fully
lowered into its storage compartment. Replacing SmartKey batteries
If the batteries in the SmartKey are
discharged, the vehicle can no longer be
locked or unlocked. It is recommended to
have the batteries replaced at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. 266
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