engine MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS 2005 Workshop Manual
Page 173 of 464
173 Controls in detail
Climate control
The climate control is operational whenev-
er the engine is running. The system cools
or heats the interior depending on the se-
lected interior temperature and the cur-
rent outside temperature.
Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the interior through the air distribution
system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the ±mode is selected
(page 175).
Item
1
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for adjustable left-side air vent
2
Left side air vent, adjustable
3
Left center air vent, fixed
4
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for fixed/adjustable left center air
vents
5
Left center air vent, adjustable
6
Right center air vent, adjustable
7
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for fixed/adjustable right center air
vents
8
Right center air vent, fixed
9
Right side air vent, adjustable
a
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for adjustable right-side air vent
b
Climate control panel
Warning
G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents in the footwell can be
very hot or very cold (depending on the set
temperature). This may cause burn or frost-
bite to unprotected skin in the immediate
area of the air vents. Always keep sufficient
distance between unprotected parts of the
body and the footwell air vents. If necessary
change the air flow using the air distribution
controls to direct the air away from the foot-
well air vents (
page 175).
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
Page 175 of 464
175 Controls in detail
Climate control
Switching climate control on/off
Switching on
Turn air volume control2 out of
position0.
Switching off
Turn air volume control2 to
position0.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls1 and4 to
separately adjust the air temperature on
each side of the passenger compartment.
You should raise or lower the temperature
setting in small increments, preferably
starting at 72°F (22°C).
Increasing
Turn temperature control1 or4
slightly clockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing
Turn temperature control1 or4
slightly counterclockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Item
1
Temperature control, left side
2
Air volume control, climate control
on/off
3
Air distribution control
4
Temperature control, right side
5
FRear window defroster
6
PDefrosting
7
°Air condition on/off,
Residual engine heat utilization
8
,Air recirculation
!With the climate control system
switched off, the air flow and the air cir-
culation are deactivated.
Only choose this setting temporarily to
prevent the windows from fogging up.
Page 178 of 464
178 Controls in detailClimate control
Air conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while
the engine is running and cools the interior
air to the temperature set by the operator.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate
control system. The air in the vehicle will
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.
Press air condition on/off switch°
(page 175).
The indicator lamp on the air condition
on/off switch° comes on.
iIf you press the air recirculation
switch, and keep it pressed
and no side window was operated
manually, the side windows will reopen
to their previous position.
iCondensation may drip from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.Warning!
G
If you turn off the cooling function, the vehi-
cle will not be cooled when the weather con-
ditions are warm. The windows can fog up
more quickly. Window fogging may impair
visibility and endanger you and others.
Page 180 of 464
180 Controls in detailClimate control
Residual engine heat utilization
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes, depending on the
temperature setting of the climate control.
Air volume and distribution are controlled
automatically. This feature makes use of
the residual heat produced by the engine.Activating
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1or0, or remove it from
the starter switch.
Press air condition on/off switch°
(page 175).
The indicator lamp on the air condition
on/off switch° comes on.
Set the left and right temperature to
your personal requirements.
iWhen the vehicle’s interior has cooled
down enough, reduce the air volume
and increase the air temperature to
comfortable settings if desired.
Page 183 of 464
183 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
The automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can
operate the automatic climate control sys-
tem in either the automatic or manual
mode. The system cools or heats the inte-
rior depending on the selected interior
temperature and the current outside tem-
perature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the interior through the air distribution
system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the ±mode is selected
(
page 185).
Item
1
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for adjustable left-side air vent
2
Left side air vent, adjustable
3
Left center air vent, fixed
4
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for fixed/adjustable left center air
vents
5
Left center air vent, adjustable
6
Cockpit air vent
7
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for cockpit air vent
8
Right center air vent, adjustable
9
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for fixed/adjustable right center air
vents
a
Right center air vent, fixed
b
Right side air vent, adjustable
c
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for adjustable right-side air vent
d
Automatic climate control panel
Warning!
G
When operating the automatic climate con-
trol, the air that enters the passenger com-
partment through the air vents in the
footwell can be very hot or very cold (de-
pending on the set temperature). This may
cause burns or frostbite on unprotected skin
in the immediate area of the air vents. Al-
ways keep sufficient distance between un-
protected parts of the body and the footwell
air vents. If necessary change the air flow
using the air distribution controls to direct
the air away from the footwell air vents
(page 185).
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
Page 188 of 464
188 Controls in detailAutomatic climate control*Air conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while
the engine is running and cools the interior
air to the temperature set by the operator.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the automatic
climate control system. The air in the vehi-
cle will then no longer be cooled or dehu-
midified.
Press air condition on/off switch±
(page 185).
The indicator lamp on air condition
on/off switch± comes on.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press air condition on/off switch±
(page 185).
The indicator lamp on the air condition
on/off switch± goes out.
Warning!
G
While driving, deactivate the air conditioning
only temporarily to prevent window fogging.iCondensation may drip from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.
!If the indicator lamp on the air condi-
tion on/off switch± comes on
while driving and you cannot switch on
the air conditioning again by pressing
the air condition on/off switch±,
the air conditioning is losing
refrigerant.
Have the air conditioning checked at
the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Page 189 of 464
189 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
Residual heat and ventilation
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes, depending on the
temperature setting of the climate control.
This feature makes use of the residual heat
produced by the engine.
Activating
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1or0, or remove it from
the starter switch.
Press residual heat/ventilation
switchT (
page 185).
The indicator lamp on the residual
heat/ventilation switchT comes
on.Deactivating
Press residual heat/ventilation
switchT again (
page 185).
The indicator lamp on the residual
heat/ventilation switchT goes out.
The residual heat switches off
automatically
when you switch on ignition
(page 35)
after about 30 minutes
if the battery voltage drops
Defrosting
Windows fogged up on the inside
Press defrosting switchP
(page 185).
The indicator lamp on defrosting
switchP comes on.
The temperature rises and the ventila-
tion operates with maximum blower
speed.
Press defrosting switchP again.
The previous automatic climate control
settings will be activated again.
iHow long the system will provide heat-
ing depends on the coolant tempera-
ture and the temperature set by the
operator. The blower will run at speed
setting1 regardless of the air distribu-
tion control setting.
Page 246 of 464
246 Controls in detailDriving systems
Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel the cruise
control:
Step on the brake pedal.
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or
Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3 (
page 245).
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
iOn uphill or downhill 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
will hold the set speed with active brak-
ing action.
In addition, on longer downhill grades
the automatic transmission* will auto-
matically downshift.
iVehicles with manual transmission:
If you depress the clutch pedal when
shifting into another gear, the engine
speed may increase.
Drive with sufficient engine speed.
Shift gears in a timely manner.
If possible, do not shift down more
than one gear.
iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.
Page 247 of 464
247 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control lever in direction
of arrow1 (
page 245) and hold it
up until the desired speed is reached.
Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed
Depress the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2 (
page 245) and
hold it down until the desired speed is
reached.
Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
iThe cruise control switches off auto-
matically, if
you step on the brake pedal.
you pull up the parking brake lever
firmly.
the vehicle speed is below 25 mph
(40 km/h).
ESP is in operation or switched off
with the ESP switch (
page 82).
Vehicles with manual transmission:
you depress the clutch pedal for
longer than six seconds during
shifting into another gear.
Vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion*: you move the gear selector
lever to positionN while driving.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
Moving gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear se-
lector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding (e.g. on icy roads).iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate the cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing), the
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the brake system will
automatically brake the vehicle if the
engine’s braking power does not brake
the vehicle sufficiently.
Page 253 of 464
253 Controls in detail
Useful features
Ashtray
1Cover plate
Press cover plate1 briefly in the di-
rection of the arrow.
The ashtray opens automatically.
To close the ashtray again, press
cover plate1 until the ashtray
engages.Removing ashtray insert
Secure vehicle from movement by
setting the parking brake.
Move the selector lever to positionN
(manual transmission: second gear).
Now you have more room to take out
the ashtray insert.
Open the ashtray.
Reach into both recesses on the left
and right side of the retainer and pull
out the ashtray insert.Installing ashtray insert
Place the ashtray insert into the
retainer.
Push the ashtray insert down into the
retainer until it engages.
Warning!
G
Remove front ashtray only with vehicle
standing still. Set the parking brake to se-
cure vehicle from movement. Move gear
selector lever to positionN (manual trans-
mission: into second gear). With gear selec-
tor lever in positionN (manual transmission:
into second gear), turn off the engine.