technical data MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320 CABRIOLET 2002 A208 Service Manual
Page 58 of 346
55 Seats
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Multicontour seat 
(optional; standard on model CLK 55 AMG)
Some models may be equipped with multicontour seats. 
These seats have movable seat cushions, and inflatable 
air cushions built into the backrest to provide additional 
lumbar and side support.We recommend to adjust the multicontour seat in the 
following order:
1Seat cushion depth 
Slide the switch fore or aft until your legs are 
supported comfortably.
2Backrest bottom
3Backrest center
4Side bolster adjustment 
Adjust the side bolster to provide good lateral 
support.
The seat cushion movement and amount of backrest 
cushion height and curvature can be continuously 
varied with regulators (1, 2 and 3) after turning the 
electronic key in steering lock to position 2.
The side bolsters of the backrest can be adjusted with 
rocker switch (4):
•press to the right – increase side support,
•press to the left – decrease side support.
If the engine is turned off, the last cushion setting is 
retained in memory, and automatically adjusts the 
cushion to this setting when the engine is restarted.
1
2
3
4
P91.25-2063-26
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Heated seats, front 
(optional, standard on model CLK 55 AMG)
The front seat heater switches are located in the center 
console.
The front seat heaters can be switched on with the 
electronic key in steering lock positions 1 or 2.Press switch to turn on seat heater:
1Normal seat heating mode. One indicator lamp in 
the switch lights up.
2Rapid seat heating mode. Both indicator lamps in 
the switch light up.
After approximately 5 minutes in the rapid seat 
heating mode, the seat heater automatically 
switches to normal operation and only one indicator 
lamp will stay on.
Turning off seat heater:
If one indicator lamp is on, press upper half of switch.
If both indicator lamps are on, press lower half of 
switch.
If left on, the seat heater automatically turns off after 
approximately 30 minutes of operation.
P54.25-2036-26
12
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57 Seats
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data Instruments 
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Notes:
When in operation, the seat heater consumes a large 
amount of electrical power. It is not advisable to use the 
seat heater longer than necessary.
The seat heaters may automatically switch off if too 
many power consumers are switched on at the same 
time, or if the battery charge is low. When this occurs, 
the indicator lamp in the switch will blink (both 
indicator lamps blink during rapid seat heating mode). 
The seat heaters will switch on again automatically as 
soon as sufficient voltage is available.
If the blinking of the indicator lamps is distracting to 
you, the seat heaters can be switched off.
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Page 61 of 346
58 Restraint systems
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and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
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Seat belts and integrated restraint system
Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts for all seats, 
emergency tensioning retractors for the front seat belts, 
dual front airbags, door mounted side impact airbags 
and knee bolsters for driver and front passenger. Their 
protective functions are designed to complement one 
another.
Seat belts
Important!
Laws in most states and all Canadian provinces require 
seat belt use.
All states and provinces require use of child restraints 
that comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213.
All child restraint systems are designed to be secured in 
vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-
shoulder belt.
For your safety and that of your passengers we strongly 
recommend their use.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in 
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz 
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, 
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system 
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger 
side front airbag when it is properly installed. 
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it 
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal 
injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer 
when properly restrained in the rear seating 
positions than in the front seating positions. 
Infants and small children must ride in back seats 
and be seated in an appropriate infant or child 
restraint system, which is properly secured with 
the vehicle’s seat belt, fully in accordance with the 
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints are 
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is 
not properly secured in the child restraint.
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59 Restraint systems
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Note:
For cleaning and care of the seat belts, see page 306.
Seat belt nonusage warning system
With the electronic key in steering lock position 2, a 
warning sounds for a short time if the driver’s seat belt 
is not fastened. See also seat belt warning lamp on 
page 232.
Wa r n i n g !
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the backrest 
reclined. Sitting in an excessively reclined position 
can be dangerous. You could slide under the seat 
belt in a collision. If you slide under it, the belt 
would apply force at the abdomen or neck. That 
could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The 
backrest and seat belt provide the best restraint 
when the wearer is in an upright position and the 
belt is properly positioned on the body.
Wa r n i n g !
Failure to wear and properly fasten and position 
your seat belt greatly increases your risk of 
injuries and their likely severity in an accident. 
You and your passengers should always wear seat 
belts.If you are ever in an accident, your injuries can be 
considerably more severe without your seat belt 
properly buckled. Without your seat belt buckled, 
you are much more likely to hit the interior of the 
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously 
injured or killed.In the same crash, the possibility for injury or 
death is lessened if you are wearing your seat belt.Wa r n i n g !
Never let more people ride in the vehicle than there 
are seat belts available. Be sure everyone riding in 
the vehicle is correctly restrained with a separate 
seat belt.
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Fastening of seat belts
1Latch plate
2Buckle
3Release buttonPush latch plate (1) into buckle (2) until it clicks. Do not 
twist the belt. A twisted seat belt may cause injury.
To help avoid severe or fatal injuries, the lap belt must 
be positioned as low as possible on your hips and not 
across the abdomen.
1
2
3
Wa r n i n g !
Always fasten your seat belt before driving off. 
Always make sure your passengers are properly 
restrained – even those sitting in the rear.
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61 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Tighten the lap portion to a snug fit by pulling shoulder 
portion up.
The shoulder portion of the seat belt must be pulled 
snug and checked for snugness immediately after 
engaging it.
Adjust seat belt so that shoulder portion is located as 
close as possible to the middle of your shoulder (it 
should not touch the neck).Unfastening of  seat belts
Push the release button (3) in the belt buckle (2). Allow 
the retractor to completely rewind the seat belt by 
guiding the latch plate (1).
Operation
The inertia reel stops the belt from unwinding during 
sudden vehicle stops or when quickly pulling on the 
belt. The locking function of the reel may be checked by 
quickly pulling out the belt.
P91.40-2102-26
1
2
3
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Caution!
For safety reasons, avoid adjusting the seat or backrest 
into positions which could affect the correct seat belt 
position.
Wa r n i n g !
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY.• Seat belts can only work when used properly. 
Never wear seat belts in any other way than as 
described in this section, as that could result 
in serious injuries in case of an accident.• E ach oc c upan t s houl d  wear t hei r s ea t bel t a t al l 
times, because seat belts help reduce the 
likelihood of and potential severity of injuries 
in accidents, including rollovers. The 
integrated restraint system includes “SRS” 
(driver airbag, front passenger airbag, door 
mounted side impact airbags), “ETR” (seat belt 
emergency tensioning retractors), and front 
seat knee bolsters. The system is designed to 
enhance the protection offered to properly 
belted occupants in certain frontal (front 
a irb ags ) a nd  s id e (s i de i mpa ct  ai rba gs) impa c ts 
which exceed preset deployment thresholds. 
• Never wear belts over rigid or breakable 
objects in or on your clothing, such as 
eyeglasses, pens, keys etc., as these might 
cause injuries.• Never wear the shoulder belt under your arm, 
against your neck or off your shoulder. In a 
crash, your body would move too far forward. 
That would increase the chance of head and 
neck injuries. The belt would also apply too 
much force to the ribs or abdomen, which 
could severely injure internal organs such as 
your liver or spleen.• Position the lap belt as low as possible on your 
hips and not across the abdomen. If the belt is 
positioned across your abdomen, it could cause 
serious injuries in a crash.• Each seat belt should never be used for more 
than one person at a time. Do not fasten a seat 
belt around a person and another person or 
other objects.• Belts should not be worn twisted. In a crash, 
you wouldn’t have the full width of the belt to 
manage impact forces. The twisted belt against 
your body could cause injuries.
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• Pregnant women should also use a lap-
shoulder belt. The lap belt portion should be 
positioned as low as possible on the hips to 
avoid any possible pressure on the abdomen.• Never place your feet on the instrument panel 
or on the seat. Always keep both feet on the 
floor in front of the seat.Wa r n i n g !
USE CHILD RESTRAINTS PROPERLY.Children 12 years old and under must never ride in 
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz 
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, 
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system 
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger 
front airbag when it is properly installed. 
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it 
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal 
injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer 
when properly restrained in the rear seating 
positions than in the front seating positions. 
Infants and small children must ride in back seats 
and be seated in an appropriate infant or child 
restraint system, which is properly secured with 
the vehicle’s seat belt, fully in accordance with the 
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints are 
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is 
not properly secured in the child restraint.Children too big for child restraint systems must 
ride in back seats using regular seat belts. Position 
shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not face or 
neck. A booster seat may be necessary to achieve 
proper belt positioning.
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64 Restraint systems
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BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system
Special BabySmart
TM compatible child seats, designed 
for use with the Mercedes-Benz system and available at 
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center are required for 
use with the BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system.
With the special child seat properly installed, the 
passenger front airbag will not deploy. The 7 
indicator lamp located on the center console will be 
illuminated, except with electronic key removed or in 
steering lock position 0. The system does not deactivate 
the door mounted side impact airbag.
BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.
Wa r n i n g !
The BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system will 
ONLY work with a special child seat designed to 
operate with it. It will not work with child seats 
which are not BabySmart
TM compatible.
Never place anything between seat cushion and 
child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces the 
effectiveness of the deactivation system. The 
bottom of the child seat must make full contact 
with the passenger seat cushion. An incorrectly 
mounted child seat could cause injuries to the 
child in case of an accident instead of protecting 
the child.Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for 
installation of special child seats.The passenger side front airbag will not deploy 
only if the 7 indicator lamp remains 
illuminated.Please be sure to check the indicator every time 
you use the special system child seat.Should the light go out while the restraint is 
installed, please check installation. If the light 
remains out, do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint 
to transport children on the front passenger seat 
until the system has been repaired.
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