ESP MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS 2004 Owners Manual

Contents
Introduction......................................... 7
Product information ................................ 7
Operator’s Manual .................................. 8
Service and warranty information ..... 8
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles ............. 9
Maintenance .................................. 10
Roadside Assistance ...................... 10
Change of address or ownership.... 10
Operating your vehicle outside the
USA or Canada.............................. 11
Where to find it .................................... 12
Symbols ............................................... 13
Operating safety .................................. 14
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 14
Problems with your vehicle .................. 15
Reporting safety defects...................... 16
Reporting safety defects ................ 16
At a glance.......................................... 17
Cockpit ................................................. 18
Instrument cluster ................................ 20
Center console ..................................... 23
Upper part ...................................... 23
Lower Part ...................................... 24
Overhead control panel ........................ 25Getting started................................... 27
Unlocking ............................................. 28
Unlocking with the remote control.. 28
Adjusting .............................................. 30
Seats............................................... 30
Telescoping steering column* ........ 34
Mirrors ............................................ 35
Driving .................................................. 37
Fastening the seat belts.................. 37
Starting the engine ......................... 40
Switching on headlamps ................. 43
Turn signals and high beam ............ 43
Windshield wipers ........................... 44
Problems while driving .................... 45Parking and locking .............................. 47
Parking brake ................................. 47
Switching off headlamps................. 48
Turning off engine ........................... 48
Safety and Security........................... 51
Occupant safety ................................... 52
Airbags ........................................... 53
Seat belts ....................................... 57
Children in the vehicle .................... 60
Panic alarm .......................................... 65
Activating........................................ 65
Deactivating.................................... 65
Driving safety systems ......................... 66
ABS ................................................. 66
BAS ................................................. 67
ESP ................................................. 68
Anti-theft systems ................................ 71
Immobilizer ..................................... 71
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 71
Tow-away alarm .............................. 72

7
Product information

Introduction
Product information
Please observe the following in your own
best interest:
We recommend using genuine
Mercedes-Benz parts as well as conversion
parts and accessories explicitly approved
by us for your vehicle model.
We have tested these parts to determine
their reliability, safety and special suitabili-
ty for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.We are unable to make an assessment for
other products and therefore cannot be
held responsible for them, even if in indi-
vidual cases an official approval or authori-
zation by governmental or other agencies
should exist. Use of such parts and acces-
sories could adversely affect the safety,
performance or reliability of your vehicle.
Please do not use them.Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts as well as
conversion parts and accessories ap-
proved by us are available at your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center where you will
receive comprehensive information, also
on permissible technical modifications,
and where proper installation will be per-
formed.

21 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Left indicator lamps
with:W
Low windshield
washer and head
lamp washer* sys-
tem fluid level warn-
ing lamp
206
/
Low engine coolant
level warning lamp
207
N
Low engine oil level
warning lamp
206
1
Supplemental Re-
straint System
(SRS) indicator
lamp
52,
203
2
Brake pad wear in-
dicator lamp
209
?
Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
205
_
Telescoping steer-
ing column warning
lamp
206
Item
Page
2
Display with:D
Coolant tempera-
ture gauge
89
A
Fuel gauge
207
Outside temperature
indicator
91
3
Knob for:

Instrument cluster illu-
mination
89


Resetting trip odome-
ter
90


Activating Flexible Ser-
vice System (FSS) indi-
cator
190
Item
Page
4
Speedometer with:L
Left turn signal indi-
cator lamp
K
Right turn signal in-
dicator lamp
v
Electronic Stability
Program (ESP)
warning lamp
68,
200
Trip odometer
90
Main odometer
5
Knob for:

Setting clock
91
6
Tachometer with:Selector lever position
41, 90
Clock
91

22 At a glanceInstrument cluster
Item
Page
7
Right indicator lamps
with:$
Exterior lamp failure
indicator lamp
209
A
High beam head-
lamp indicator
43, 85
#
Charge indicator
lamp
208
;
Brake warning
lamp, except Cana-
da
47,
204
3
Brake warning
lamp, Canada only
¿
Brake Assist Sys-
tem (BAS)/Elec-
tronic Stability
Program (ESP) mal-
function indicator
lamp
67,
200
-
Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) warning
lamp
66,
201
<
Seat belt non-usage
warning lamp
57,
205
Item
Page

23 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Cup holder
140
2
Center air vent adjustment
98
Side air vent adjustment
98
3
Climate control
102
Rear window defroster
102
4
Audio system
111
5
Seat heater* passenger
side
82
6
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp
71
Tow-away alarm switch
72
7
Central locking switch
79
8
Hazard warning flasher
switch – switching on/off
86
9
ESP control switch
68
a
Headlamp washer* switch
99
b
Seat heater* driver’s side
82

28 Getting startedUnlocking
The “Getting started” section provides an
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners
should pay special attention to the infor-
mation given here.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions described here, the “Controls in
detail” section will help you with further in-
formation. The corresponding page refer-
ences are at the end of each segment.
Unlocking
Unlocking with the remote controlRemote control with folding key1Release button for key
2‹Lock button
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button (
page 65)

Press unlock buttonΠon the re-
mote control.
All turn signal lamps blink once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.

Press release button1 on the remote
control.
The key folds out.

Get in the vehicle and insert the key in
the steering lock (
page 29).
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 74).

35 Getting started
Adjusting
Mirrors
Adjust the interior and exterior rear view
mirrors before driving so that you have a
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.Interior rear view mirror

Manually adjust the interior rear view
mirror.
Exterior rear view mirror
!Do not drive the vehicle until you have
properly locked the steering column.
If the indicator lamp_ comes on
while the engine is running, the steer-
ing column is not locked properly
(page 206).
Warning!
G
In the case of an accident, liquid electrolyte
may escape the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or the respiratory sys-
tem. In case it does, immediately flush af-
fected area with water, and seek medical
help if necessary.
Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passenger
side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
terior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes. !Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can only be
completely removed while in their liq-
uid state and by applying plenty of wa-
ter.

49 Getting started
Parking and locking

Press the seat belt release button
(page 38).
Allow the retractor to completely rewind
the seat belt by guiding the latch plate.

After exiting the vehicle, press the lock
button‹on the remote control
(page 28).
The turn signal lamps blink three times.
The locking knobs on the doors move
down.More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 74).
iVehicles with automatic transmission:
The key can only be removed from the
steering lock with the gear selector
lever in positionP.!With the key removed and the driver’s
door open, a warning sounds if the ve-
hicle’s exterior lamps (except standing
lamps) are not switched off.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
Before closing doors, make sure there is no
possibility of someone getting caught in a
door during closing.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the steering lock and lock your ve-
hicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.

54 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety

Occupants, especially children, should
never lean their heads in the area of the
door where the side impact airbag in-
flates. This could result in serious inju-
ries or death should the airbag be
triggered. Always sit upright, properly
use the seat belts and appropriate size
infant or child restraint system.


Children 12 years old and under must
never ride in this vehicle, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized
BabySmart
TM compatible child seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM
system installed in the vehicle to deacti-
vate 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, seri-
ous or fatal injury will result.
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injuries to you or other occu-
pants.
If you sell your vehicle, you are responsible
to make the buyer aware of these points. Be
sure to give the buyer this Operator’s Manu-
al.
Warning!
G
Should you choose to place a child 12 years
old or under in the passenger seat of your
vehicle, you must properly use a
BabySmart
TM1
child restraint which will turn
off the front passenger airbag. BabySmart
TM
will not, however, turn off any side impact
airbag.
It should be noted that with respect to both
side impact airbags there is a possibility for
a side impact airbag related injury if occu-
pants, especially children, are not properly
seated or restrained when next to a side im-
pact airbag which needs to deploy rapidly in
a side impact in order to do its job.
To help avoid the possibility of injury, please
follow these guidelines:
(1) Occupants, especially children, should
never place their bodies or lean their
heads in the area of the door where the
side impact airbag inflates. This could
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automo-
tive Corp.
result in serious injuries or death should
the side impact airbag be activated.
(2) Always sit upright, properly use the seat
belts and use an appropriately sized in-
fant or child restraint system for all chil-
dren 12 years old or under.
(3) Always wear seat belts properly.
If you believe that, even with the use of
these guidelines, it would be safer for your
passenger seat occupants to have the pas-
senger side impact airbag deactivated, then
deactivation can be accomplished upon
your written request to do so at your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center at an additional
cost.
Please contact your local authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or call our Customer
Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes
(1-800-367-6372) for details.


66 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systems
Driving safety systemsIn this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:

ABS (A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)


BAS (B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)


ESP (E
lectronic S
tability P
rogram)
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of ap-
proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will re-
spond even with light brake pressure.
The - malfunction indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster (
page 20) lights up
when you turn the key in the steering lock
to position2. It goes out when the engine
is running.
iIn winter operation, the maximum ef-
fectiveness of the ABS and ESP is only
achieved with winter tires (M + S tires),
or snow chains as required.
Warning!
G
The following factors increase the risk of ac-
cidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turns


Wet and slippery road surfaces


Following another vehicle too closely
The ABS, BAS and ESP cannot reduce this
risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
Warning!
G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.