fuel MERCEDES-BENZ CLK-CLASS 2004 Owner's Manual

285 Operation
At the gas station

Replace the fuel cap by turning it to the
right.
You will hear when the fuel cap is tight-
ened.

Close the fuel filler flap.Warning!
G
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create pres-
sure in the system which could cause a gas
discharge. This could cause the gas to spray
back out when removing the fuel pump noz-
zle, which could cause personal injury.
iOnly use premium unleaded gasoline
with a minimum Posted Octane Rating
of 91 (average of 96 RON / 86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can
normally be found on the fuel pump.
More information on gasoline can be
found in the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet.
iLeaving the engine running and the fuel
cap open can cause the ? lamp to
illuminate.
More information can be found in the
“Practical hints” section (
page 314).
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298 OperationTires and wheelsChecking tire inflation pressure
Correct the tire pressure only when tires
are cold.
Regularly check your tire pressure at inter-
vals of no more than 14 days.
If the tires are warm you should only cor-
rect the tire pressure if it is too low for cur-
rent operating conditions.
A table on the fuel filler flap lists the spec-
ified tire inflation pressures for warm and
cold tires as well as for various operating
conditions.Tire pressure changes by approximately
1.5 psi (0.1 bar) per 18°F (10°C) of air
temperature change. Keep this in mind
when checking tire pressure where the
temperature is different from the outside
temperature.
Tire temperature and tire pressure are also
increased while driving, depending on the
driving speed and the tire load.Check the spare tire periodically for condi-
tion and inflation. Spare tires will age and
b e c o m e w o r n o v e r t i m e e v e n i f n e v e r u s e d ,
and thus should be inspected and replaced
when necessary.Warning!
G
If the tire pressure drops repeatedly:

Check the tires for punctures from for-
eign objects.


Check to see whether air is leaking from
the valves or from around the rim.
iThe pressures listed for light loads are
minimum values offering high driving
comfort.
Increased inflation pressures listed for
heavier loads may also be used for light
loads. These higher pressures produce
favorable handling characteristics. The
ride of the vehicle, however, will be
somewhat harder. Never exceed the
max. values or inflate tires below the
min. values listed in the fuel filler flap.
Warning!
G
Follow recommended inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires
can result in sudden deflation (blowout) be-
cause they are more likely to become punc-
tured or damaged by road debris, potholes,
etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified vehicle capacity weight (as indicat-
ed by the label on the pillar in the driver’s
door opening). Overloading the tires can
overheat them, possibly causing a blowout.
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304 OperationVehicle care
Vehicle careCleaning and care of vehicle
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subject to varying external influ-
ences which, if gone unchecked, can at-
tack the paintwork as well as the
underbody and cause lasting damage.Such damage is caused not only by ex-
treme and varying climatic conditions, but
also by:


Air pollution


Road salt


Tar


Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:


Grease and oil


Fuel


Coolant


Brake fluid


Bird droppings


Insects


Tree resins, etc.
Frequent washing reduces and / or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:


near the ocean


in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)


during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
A n y d a m a g e s h o u l d b e r e p a i r e d a s s o o n a s
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others ap-
plied later.
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not de-
signed for cleaning your vehicle.
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314 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
?
The yellow “CHECK ENGINE”
malfunction indicator lamp
comes on while driving.
There is a malfunction in:

The fuel management system


The ignition system


The emission control system


Systems which impact emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive
emissions values and may switch the engine
to its Limp-Home Mode (emergency opera-
tion).

Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics system.
It allows the accurate identification of
system malfunctions through the read-
out of diagnostic trouble codes. It is lo-
cated in the front left area of the
footwell next to the parking brake pedal.
The fuel cap is not closed tightly.

Check the fuel cap.
Your gas tank is empty.

After refuelling, start the engine three or
four times in succession.
The Limp-Home mode is canceled. You do
not need to have your vehicle checked.
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317 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
v
The yellow ESP warning lamp
flashes while driving.
The ESP or traction control has come into
operation because of detected traction loss
in at least one tire.
Distronic* is deactivated.

When driving off, apply as little throt-
tle as possible.

While driving, ease up on the acceler-
ator.

Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.

Do not deactivate the ESP.
Exceptions: (
page 80).
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of accidents.
A
The yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp comes on while
driving.
The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 284).
C
The yellow roll bar warning lamp
comes on or flickers when the
engine is running.
The roll bar system is malfunctioning.

Release the roll bars manually.

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
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328 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
?
Visit workshop!
There may be a malfunction in the

fuel injection system


ignition system


exhaust system


fuel system

Have the measuring system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
B
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 292).

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. Extended driving with
the message and symbol displayed
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 en-
gine damage.
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332 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
:
USA only:Add 1 qt. engine oil
when next refuelingCanada only:Add 1 liter engine oil
when next refueling
The engine oil level is too low.

Add engine oil (
page 291) and check
the engine oil level (
page 289).
Engine oil level
Reduce oil level!
You have added too much engine oil.
There is a risk of damaging the engine or
the catalytic converter.

Have oil siphoned or drained off. Ob-
serve all legal requirements with re-
spect to its disposal.
Engine oil level
Stop, engine off!
There is no oil in the engine. There is a
danger of engine damage.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt as
soon as possible.

Turn off the engine.

Add engine oil (
page 291) and check
the engine oil level (
page 289).
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333 Practical hints
What to do if …?
When the message
Add 1 qt. engine oil
when next refueling
(Canada:
1 liter
)
appears while the engine is running and at
operating temperature, the engine oil level
has dropped to approximately the
minimum level.When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.
Visually check for oil leaks. If no obvious oil
leaks are noted, drive to the nearest ser-
vice station where the engine oil should be
topped to the required level with an ap-
proved oil.
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
:
Engine oil
Visit workshop!
It may be that there is water in the engine
oil.

Have the engine oil checked.
Engine oil level
Visit workshop!
The engine oil has dropped to a critical
level.

Check the engine oil level
(page 289) and add oil as required
(page 291).

If you must add engine oil frequently,
have the engine checked for possible
leaks.
The measuring system is malfunctioning.

Have the measuring system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.!The engine oil level warnings should
not be ignored. Extended driving with
the symbol displayed could result in
serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
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334 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
A
Reserve fuel
The fuel level has dropped below the re-
serve mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 284).
Y
Hood open!
You are driving with the hood open.

Close the hood (
page 288).
I
Remove key
You have forgotten to remove the
SmartKey.

Remove the SmartKey from the start-
er switch.
Replace key!
No additional code available for SmartKey
or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Key
Check battery!
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* batter-
ies are discharged.

Change the batteries (
page 350).
Key
not recognized!
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is not
recognized while the engine is running be-
cause

the SmartKey is not in the vehicle


there is strong radio-frequency inter-
ference

Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to
do so.

Search for the SmartKey.
Otherwise the vehicle cannot be centrally
locked nor can the engine be started
again after the engine has been stopped.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is mo-
mentarily not recognized.

Change the position of the SmartKey
in the vehicle.

Operate the vehicle with the SmartKey
in the starter switch if necessary.
Keyless Go
Check system
The KEYLESS-GO* system is malfunction-
ing.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
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352 Practical hintsUnlocking/locking in an emergencyFuel filler flap
In case the central locking system does
not release the fuel filler flap, you can open
it manually.
Open trunk lid.

Remove right side trim panel in the
trunk.

Reach inside through opening2 in di-
rection of arrow.

Turn release knob 1 clockwise (ar-
row).
The fuel filler flap can be opened.Manually unlocking the gear selector
lever
In case of power failure, the gear selector
lever can be manually unlocked, e.g. to tow
the vehicle.
Open the storage compartment under
the center armrest (
page 251).

Take out cover 1.

Insert a pin into the opening of
division2 and pry the division out.

Insert a tool3 (e.g. screwdriver) into
the opening.

Perform the following two steps simul-
taneously:
Push pin3 forward in the direction
of the arrow.

Move selector lever from
positionP.

Reinstall the division and cover after re-
moving the tool from the opening.iThe gear selector lever is locked again
when moving it to positionP.
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