MERCEDES-BENZ SLK320 2003 R170 Owner's Manual

201 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
The fuel reserve and fuel cap placement
warning lamp:

lights up while driving
The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 169).


blinks
The fuel cap is not closed tight.

Check the fuel cap.
A fuel system leak has been detected.

Have the fuel system checked as soon
as possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center
B
The yellow low engine coolant
level warning lamp remains lit af-
ter starting the engine or lights
up while driving.
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 176).

If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
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 can be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning light. Extended driving
with the light illuminated may cause
serious engine damage not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount
of coolant in the cooling system. The
engine will overheat, causing major
engine damage.

202 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
#
The red charge indicator lamp
lights up while the engine is
running.
The battery was charged with a battery
charger or jump started.

Have the battery checked at a service
station.
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning


one of the two poly-V-belts is broken

Stop immediately and check the
poly-V-belts.
If one is broken:

Do not continue to drive. Otherwise
the engine will overheat due to an in-
operative water pump which may re-
sult in damage to the engine. Notify
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:

Drive immediately to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
2
The yellow brake pad wear indi-
cator lamp lights up while brak-
ing.
The brake pads have reached their wear limit.

Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technican
at the intervals specified in the Service
booklet.

203 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
.
The yellow exterior lamp failure
indicator lamp lights up while
applying the brake and stays on
until the engine is turned off.
One of the brake lights is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
.
The yellow exterior lamp failure
indicator lamp remains lit after
starting the engine or lights up
while driving.
One of the following lights is malfunctioning:

parking lamp


tail lamp


stop lamp


low beam head lamp

Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(page 221).
iAdditional lighting equipment, if not
properly installed (e.g. auxiliary head-
lamps etc.), could cause the failure in-
dicator monitoring unit to malfunction.
We therefore recommend that an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center install
such equipment for you.
iIf an exterior lamp fails, the indicator
lamp will come on only when that lamp
is switched on.

204 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Additional indicators in the speedometer displayDisplay
Possible cause
Suggested solution
9
Perform minor service (A) (
page 185).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to perform service.
´
Perform major service (B) (
page 185).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to perform service.
9
1000
Perform service (A) or (B) after calculated
distance remaining in miles (km)
(page 185).
For example: Service in 1000 miles (km).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to perform service.
š
10
Perform service (A) or (B) after calculated
remaining time in days (
page 185).
For example: Service in 10 days.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to perform service.
Á
î
The
Start
message lights up in
addition to the
Error
message.
The immobilizer is not operational.

Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA),
or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).

205 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Lamp in center consoleProblem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
7
The indicator lamp lights up.
A BabySmart
TM child seat is installed on the
passenger seat. Therefore the front passen-
ger airbag is switched off.
The system is malfunctioning when there is
no BabySmart
TM child seat installed on the
passenger seat.

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
7
The indicator lamp does not light
up when a BabySmart
TM child
seat is properly installed on the
front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Make sure that there is nothing be-
tween seat cushion and child seat and
check installation of the child seat.

If the light remains out, have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint
to transport children on the passen-
ger seat until the system has been
repaired.

206 Practical hintsWhere will I find ...?
Where will I find ...?First aid kit
The first aid kit is located on the left side of
the trunk.
1First aid kit
Loosen the fastening strap.

Remove first aid kit1.
Vehicle tool kit
The following is included:

Vehicle tool kit


Towing eye bolt


Wheel wrench


Alignment bolt


Vehicle jack


Wheel bolts


Special fuse puller
The jack is exclusively designed for lifting
the vehicle during a wheel change. Always
lower the vehicle on sufficient capacity
jackstands before working under the
vehicle.
iCheck expiration dates and contents
for completeness at least once a year
and replace missing/expired items.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack tubes built into ei-
ther side of the vehicle. To help avoid per-
sonal injury, use the jack only to lift the
vehicle during a wheel change. Never get
beneath the vehicle while it is supported by
the jack. Keep hands and feet away from the
area under the lifted vehicle. Always firmly
set parking brake and block wheels before
raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Be sure that the jack arm is
fully inserted in the jack tube. Always lower
the vehicle onto sufficient capacity jack-
stands before working under the vehicle.

207 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Vehicles with a spare wheel
(SLK 230 Kompressor, SLK 320)
1Spare wheel with collapsible tire
2Vehicle tool kit
3Wheel wrench
4Jack
5Electric air pump, bolts for spare wheel
rimSparewheel, vehicle tool kit, wheel
wrench, jack and electric air pump are
located under the trunk floor cover.

Lift trunk floor cover.
You can take out vehicle tool kit2,
wheel wrench3 and jack4.
Electric air pump5 is secured with a belt.

Loosen the belt.

Remove electric air pump from pump
holder.
Spare wheel1 is secured with the pump
holder.

Turn pump holder counterclockwise.

Remove pump holder.

Remove spare wheel out of the wheel
well.Spare wheel bolts
Wheel bolts1 Wheel bolt for

wheel rim size 7Jx16 H2 and 8Jx16 H2


AMG wheel rim size 7
1⁄2Jx17 H2 and
8
1⁄2Jx17 H2


spare wheel rim size 4
1⁄2Bx16 H2
2 Wheel bolt for


spare wheel rim size 4
1⁄2Bx15 H2
(located with electric air pump)

208 Practical hintsWhere will I find ...?More information can be found in the
“Technical data” section (
page 265).Vehicles with TIREFIT kit (SLK 32 AMG)
1Electric air pump
2TIREFIT kit
3Vehicle tool kit, jack, wheel wrenchThe electric air pump and TIREFIT kit are
located in the storage box under the trunk
floor cover.
The vehicle tool kit, jack and wheel wrench
are located below the rug on the right side.

Lift trunk floor cover.

Open storage box cover.
You can take out vehicle tool kit3 and
accessories.

Pull down the flap on the storage box.

Remove electric air pump1 and
TIREFIT kit2.
!Wheel bolts2 must be used when
mounting spare wheel rim size
41⁄2Bx15 H2.
The use of any wheel bolts other than
wheel bolts2 for spare wheel rim size
4
1⁄2Bx15 H2 can cause physical dam-
age to the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Be sure to use original length wheel bolts
when remounting the original wheel after it
has been repaired.

209 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Vehicles with TIREFIT kit (SLK 32 AMG)
and CD changer* in trunk
1Storage box cover
2CD changer*
The vehicle tool kit, jack and wheel wrench
are located underneath the CD changer2.
Lift trunk floor cover.

Open storage box cover 1.3Latch

Slide latch3 forward to disengage stor-
age box.

Remove storage box.4Carpet cover

Slide small carpet cover4 from under-
neath the CD changer*2 and flip back-
wards for easier access to tool kit, jack
and wrench.

Slide out tool kit and jack in the direc-
tion of arrow. The wheel wrench is lo-
cated behind the tool kit and jack.

210 Practical hintsUnlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking/locking in an emergencyUnlocking the vehicle
Unlocking the driver’s door
If you are unable to unlock the driver’s
door with the remote control, open the
door using the key as follows:
1Unlocking
2Locking
3Protective cap
Remove protective cap3 from driver’s
door lock.

Unlock the door wi th t he key . T o do so,
push key into the lock until it stops and
turn it to the left1.Unlocking the trunk
If you are unable to unlock the trunk with
the remote control, open the trunk using
the key as follows:
1Unlocked
2Neutral position
3Locked

Insert the key into the trunk lid lock
until it stops.

Turn the key counterclockwise to
position1.

Pull handle and lift the trunk lid
(page 77).
iUnlocking your vehicle with the key will
trigger the anti-theft alarm system. To
cancel the alarm, do one of the follow-
ing:

Press button
Œ
or
‹
on the
remote control.


Insert the key in the steering lock
and turn it to position1.
iUsing the key does not operate the
central locking system.