tow MERCEDES-BENZ CLK CABRIOLET 2001 A208 Owner's Manual

1 Contents
IntroductionProduct information .......................... 7
Operator’s manual ............................. 8
Where to find it ................................ 13
Reporting Safety Defects ................ 15Instruments and controlsInstruments and controls ............... 18
Center console .............................. 20
Overhead control panel ............... 21OperationVehicle keys ...................................... 24
Start lock-out .................................... 27
General notes on the
central locking system ............... 27
Central locking system ................... 28
Radio frequency and infrared
remote control .............................. 28
Opening and closing
windows from outside ................. 32Panic button ................................. 33
Mechanical keys .......................... 33
Doors ................................................. 34
Central locking switch .................... 36
Automatic central locking .......... 37
Emergency unlocking
in case of accident ...................... 37
Trunk ................................................. 38
Trunk lid release switch ................ 40
Trunk lid emergency release .........41
Antitheft alarm system ................... 42
Tow-away alarm ............................... 44
Power seats, front ............................ 45
Front head restraints ...................51
Roll bar and
head restraints, rear .................. 52
Backrest ............................................ 54
Multicontour seat ............................ 55
Heated seats ..................................... 56
Seat belts and integrated
restraint system .......................... 58
Seat belts .......................................... 58
Seat belt nonusage
warning system ............................ 59BabySmart
TM airbag
deactivation system .................... 64
Self-test BabySmart
TM without
special child seat installed ......... 64
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS) ................................ 65
Emergency tensioning
retractor (ETR) ............................. 65
Airbags .............................................. 66
Safety guidelines for the
seat belt, emergency
tensioning retractor
and airbag ..................................... 72
Infant and child
restraint systems .......................... 74
Adjusting telescoping
steering column .......................... 76
Inside rear view mirror .................. 77
Antiglare night position .............. 77
Exterior rear view mirrors ............. 78
Instrument cluster ........................... 82
Indicator lamps in the
instrument cluster ...................... 84
Multifunction steering wheel,
multifunction display ................. 88

4 Contents
Malfunction and indicator
lamps in the
center console ...........................233
AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp .............................233
Roll bar warning lamp ...............233
Malfunction and
warning messages in the
multifunction display ...............234
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
(engine control unit) ..................235
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
(several systems) ........................235
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR ...........236
ABS-SYSTEM ...............................237
BRAKE ASSIST ...........................237
BRAKE LINING WEAR ..............238
BRAKE FLUID .............................238PARKING BRAKE ....................... 239
ENGINE FAN ............................... 239
COOLANT
(coolant level) ............................. 240
COOLANT TEMP.
(coolant temperature) ............... 241
LIGHTING SYSTEM ................... 242
LIGHT SENSOR .......................... 243
STEER. WHEEL ADJUST. .......... 243
ENGINE OIL LEVEL ................... 244
ELEC. STABIL. PROG.
(Electronic stability
program) ..................................... 245
REMOVE KEY ............................. 245
WASHER FLUID ......................... 246
TELE AID ..................................... 247
Practical hintsFirst aid kit .....................................250
Shelf below rear window ..............250
Stowing things in
the vehicle ..................................250
Luggage cover .................................250
Fuses ................................................252
Hood .................................................254
Checking engine oil level .............256
Automatic transmission
fluid level ...................................257
Coolant level ...................................257
Adding coolant ...........................258
Windshield washer / headlamp
cleaning system ........................259
Windshield and headlamp
washer fluid mixing ratio .........259

5 ContentsSpare wheel, vehicle tools,
storage compartment ................260
Vehicle jack ..................................... 261
Wheels .............................................262
Tire replacement ........................262
Rotating wheels ..........................263
Spare wheel ....................................264
Changing wheels ...........................266
Tire inflation pressure .................. 271
Battery .............................................272
Jump starting .................................. 274
Towing the vehicle ......................... 276
Exterior lamps ................................280
Headlamp assembly ................... 281
Taillamp assemblies ..................283
Adjusting headlamp aim ...............285
Changing batteries in
the electronic main key ...........288
Synchronizing
remote control ...........................290Raising soft top manually ............ 291
Antenna .......................................... 298
Manual release for
fuel filler flap ............................ 298
Trunk lamp ..................................... 299
Replacing wiper
blade insert ............................... 299
Vehicle careCleaning and care
of the vehicle ............................. 302
Power washer ............................. 303
Paintwork, painted body
components ................................ 303
Engine cleaning ......................... 304
Tar stains .................................... 304
Vehicle washing ......................... 304
Ornamental moldings ............... 304
Headlamps, taillamps,
turn signal lenses ...................... 305Window cleaning .......................305
Plastic and rubber parts ............305
Wiper blade .................................305
Light alloy wheels ......................305
Instrument cluster .....................306
Steering wheel and
gear selector lever ......................306
Cup holder ...................................306
Seat belts .....................................306
Headliner .....................................306
Upholstery ...................................307
Hard plastic trim items .............307
Plastic and rubber parts ............307
Wind screen ...............................307
Rubber weatherstrip .................307
Soft top .........................................308

19 Instruments and controls
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index For more detailed descriptions see Index on page 325.
For adjustment of air outlets, refer to automatic climate
control, see page 120.
1Side air outlet, adjustable
2Air volume control for side air outlet
3Exterior lamp switch, see page 114
4Parking brake release, see page 204
5Parking brake pedal, see page 204
6Hood lock release, see page 254
7Combination switch, see page 117
8Cruise control switch, see page 214
9Multifunction steering wheel, see page 88
Horn (with electronic key in steering lock
position 1 or 2)
10Instrument cluster, see page 82
11Voice recognition system switch, see separate
operating instructions
12Steering lock with ignition/starter
switch, see page 19213Center air outlets, adjustable
14Air volume control for center air outlets
15Left front seat heater switch, see page 56
16Headlamp washer switch, see page 116
17Roll bar switch, see page 53
Roll bar warning lamp, see page 233
18Hazard warning f lasher switch, see page 119
19Central locking switch, see page 36
20Switch for tow-away alarm, see page 44
Indicator lamp for antitheft alarm system, see
page 42
21Right front seat heater switch, see page 56
22Automatic climate control, see page 120
Rear window defroster switch, see page 124
23Glove box (illuminated with electronic key in
steering lock position 1 or 2), see page 151
24Audio system, see page 127
25Storage compartment
26Ashtray with lighter, see page 154

22 Contents – Operation
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
OperationVehicle keys ...................................... 24
Start lock-out .................................... 27
General notes on the
central locking system ............... 27
Central locking system ................... 28
Radio frequency and infrared
remote control .............................. 28
Opening and closing
windows from outside ................. 32
Panic button .................................. 33
Mechanical keys ........................... 33
Doors .................................................. 34
Central locking switch .................... 36
Automatic central locking .......... 37
Emergency unlocking
in case of accident ...................... 37
Trunk ................................................. 38
Trunk lid release switch ................. 40
Trunk lid emergency release ......... 41
Antitheft alarm system ................... 42
Tow-away alarm ................................ 44Power seats, front ............................ 45
Front head restraints ...................51
Roll bar and
head restraints, rear .................. 52
Backrest ............................................ 54
Multicontour seat ............................ 55
Heated seats ..................................... 56
Seat belts and integrated
restraint system .......................... 58
Seat belts .......................................... 58
Seat belt nonusage
warning system ............................ 59
BabySmart
TM airbag
deactivation system ................... 64
Self-test BabySmart
TM without
special child seat installed ......... 64
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS) ............................... 65
Emergency tensioning
retractor (ETR) ............................ 65
Airbags .............................................. 66
Safety guidelines for the
seat belt, emergency
tensioning retractor
and airbag ..................................... 72Infant and child
restraint systems .......................... 74
Adjusting telescoping
steering column .......................... 76
Inside rear view mirror .................. 77
Antiglare night position .............. 77
Exterior rear view mirrors ............. 78
Instrument cluster ........................... 82
Indicator lamps in the
instrument cluster ...................... 84
Multifunction steering wheel,
multifunction display ................. 88
Trip and main odometer,
vehicle speed, FSS and
engine oil level indicator ........... 92
Audio systems .................................. 93
Radio .............................................. 93
CD player ....................................... 94
Cassette player ............................. 95
Telephone .......................................... 96
Telephone book ............................ 96
Redialing ....................................... 98
Incoming call .............................. 100
Navigation system .......................... 101

37 Central locking system
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Automatic central locking
The central locking switch also operates the automatic
central locking.
Wit h th e automa tic central locking system activated, t he
doors and trunk are locked at vehicle speeds of approx.
9 mph (15 km/h) or more. The fuel filler f lap remains
unlocked.
To a ctiva te:
With electronic key in steering lock position 2 hold
upper portion of switch (1) for a minimum of 5 seconds.
To dea cti vate :
With electronic key in steering lock position 2 hold
lower portion of switch (2) for a minimum of 5 seconds.
Notes:
If doors are unlocked with the central locking switch
after activating the automatic central locking, and
neither door is opened, then the doors remain unlocked
even at vehicle speeds of approx. 9 mph (15 km/h) or
more.If a door is opened from the inside at speeds of approx.
9 mph (15 km/h) or less with the automatic central
locking activated, the door will again be automatically
locked at speeds of approx. 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
Important!
When towing the vehicle, or with the vehicle on a
dynamometer test stand, please, note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and the
electronic key in steering lock position 2, the vehicle
doors will lock if the left front wheel as well as the right
rear wheel spin at vehicle speeds of approx. 9 mph
(15 km/h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking.
Emergency unlocking in case of accident
The doors unlock automatically a short time after a
strong deceleration is detected, such as in a collision
(this is intended to aid rescue and exit).
Driv ing on rou gh road s m ay cau se t he vehicle to u nl ock.
If necessary, the vehicle can be locked again with the
central locking switch, see page 36.

44 Tow-away alarm
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Tow - aw ay al a rm
The switch is located in the center console.
1Press to switch off
2Indicator lamp
Once the alarm system has been armed, the exterior
vehicle lamps will flash and an alarm will sound when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.The alarm will last approximately 3 minutes in form of
flashing exterior lamps. At the same time an alarm will
sound for 30 seconds. The alarm will stay on even if the
vehicle is immediately lowered. The tow-away alarm
system is switched off automatically if the vehicle is
unlocked with the electronic main key.
If the alarm stays on for more than 20 seconds, an
emergency call is initiated automatically. See Tele Aid
on page 182.
To p r eve nt t ri gge ri n g t h e tow -away a la rm fe a t u r e , s w i tch
off the tow-away alarm before towing the vehicle, or
when parking on a surface subject to movement, such
as a ferry or auto train.
To do so, turn electronic key in steering lock to
position 1 or 0, or remove electronic key from steering
lock. Press tow-away alarm switch (1). The indicator
lamp (2) illuminates briefly.
Exit vehicle, and lock vehicle with the remote control.
The tow-away alarm remains switched off until the
vehicl e is locked again w it h th e remote control , a t w hich
time it is automatically reactivated.

151 Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Interior
Storage compartments, armrest and cup holderGlove box
1Unlocking: Turn mechanical key to vertical position
and remove.
2Locking: Turn mechanical key to the right and
remove.
3Opening: Pull on handle.
The glove box can be locked and unlocked with the
mechanical key. See page 25 for instructions on how to
remove the mechanical key from the electronic main
key (e.g. for valet parking service).
Wa r n i n g !
To help avoid personal injury during a collision or
sudden maneuver, exercise care when stowing
things. Put luggage or cargo in the trunk if
possible. Do not pile luggage or cargo higher than
the seat backs. Do not place anything on the shelf
below the rear window.Luggage nets cannot secure hard or heavy objects.Wa r n i n g !
Keep compartment lids closed. This will help to
prevent stored objects from being thrown about
and injuring vehicle occupants during an accident
and sudden maneuvers.
P68.00-2067-26
3
1
2

154 Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Ashtray
Center console, front
By touching the bottom of the cover lightly, the ashtray
opens automatically.Prior to removing the ashtray insert, move the gear
selector lever to position “N”.
To remove ashtray:
Push sliding knob (1) toward the right to eject the
insert.
To install ashtray:
Install insert into ashtray frame and push down to
engage.
Wa r n i n g !
Remove front ashtray only with vehicle standing
still. With the gear selector lever in position “N”,
turn off the engine and set the parking brake.
Otherwise the vehicle might move as a result of
unintended contact with the gear selector lever.

171 Wind screen
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Important!
The open end of the hooks must point toward the
vehicle’s front. 3. Insert end section in right opening (3) on quarter
panel first. Then push left end section toward
vehicle center (arrow 4) until it meets the left
opening. Insert end section in left opening (5).
Pu sh down on w ind screen (6) u ntil it locks in pla ce.
P65.00-2039-26
3
4
56
Wa r n i n g !
Check for secure locking by pulling up on the
wind screen.