tow MERCEDES-BENZ CLK-CLASS 2004 Owner's Guide

390 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
Towing the vehicleTowing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehi-
cle may be towed with all wheels on the
ground or front wheels raised only so far as
necessary to have the vehicle moved to a
safe location where the recommended
towing methods can be employed.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equip-
ment with SmartKey in starter switch
turned to position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
Towing with sling-type equipment over
bumpy roads will damage radiator and
supports.
To prevent damage during transport,
do not tie down vehicle by its chassis or
suspension parts.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 84) and the automatic central
locking (
page 149).
!If the vehicle is towed with the front
axle raised, the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0
or1). Otherwise, the ESP will immedi-
ately be engaged and will apply the rear
wheel brakes.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, the selector lever must
be in positionN and the SmartKey
must be in starter switch position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground or the front axle raised,
the vehicle may be towed only for dis-
tances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a
speed not to exceed 30 mph (50
km/h).
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391 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
!
To be certain to avoid a possibility of
damage to the transmission, however,
we recommend the drive shaft be dis-
connected at the rear axle drive flange
for any towing beyond a short tow to a
nearby garage.
Warning!
G
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that the SmartKey
is in starter switch position
2.
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch posi-
tion
0 for an extended period of time, it can
no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock, re-
move SmartKey from starter switch and re-
insert.
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:


the engine will not run


there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
as that will be necessary to adequately con-
trol the towed vehicle.
Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.iTo signal turns while being towed with
the hazard warning flasher in use, turn
SmartKey in starter switch to
position2 and activate the combina-
tion switch for the left or right turn sig-
nal in the usual manner – only the
selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the haz-
ard warning flasher will operate again.
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392 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt
Towing eye bolt CLK 320/CLK 500
1Cover on right side of front bumper2Cover on right side of rear bumper
To remove cover:

Press mark on cover in direction of ar-
row.

Lift cover off to reveal threaded hole for
towing eye bolt.
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the
tool kit (located in the compartment under-
neath the trunk floor).

Screw towing eye bolt to its stop and
tighten with lug wrench.
To reinstall cover:

Fit cover and snap into place.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the follow-
ing:
With the automatic central locking acti-
vated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel
as well as the right rear wheel are turn-
ing at vehicle speeds of approx. 9 mph
(15 km / h) or more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 84).
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (
page 149).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to the vehicle chas-
sis, frame or suspension parts.
iThe gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP and the SmartKey
will not turn in the starter switch if the
battery is disconnected or discharged.
See notes on the battery (
page 385)
or on jump starting (
page 388).
Manually unlocking gear selector lever
(
page 352)
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393 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing eye bolt CLK 55 AMG
Towing eye bolt in front bumper
The cover for the threaded bore in the front
bumper is identical to the cover on the
models CLK320/CLK500.
To remove and to reinstall cover,see “Tow-
ing eye bolt CLK 320/CLK 500”
(page 392)Towing eye bolt in rear bumper
1Cover on right side of rear bumper
2Recess in the cover
To remove cover:

Insert flat, blunt object as a lever in re-
cess 2 on the edge of cover 1.

Loosen cover 1 from the bumper us-
ing lever, to reveal threaded hole for
towing eye bolt.
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the
tool kit (located in the compartment
underneath the trunk floor).

Screw towing eye bolt to its stop and
tighten with lug wrench.To reinstall cover:

Hook right-hand side of the cover into
opening.

Slide cover as far as it will go in the di-
rection of the arrow3.

Gently press left-hand side of cover in
direction of the arrow4.
The hooks on the left-hand side en-
gage.iWhen closing the cover, make sure the
cover’s check strap does not get
caught.
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395 Practical hintsFuses
Fuse box in engine compartment
The fuse box is located in the engine com-
partment on the left-hand side.
2Cover
3Screw
4RetainerRemoving/installing cover

Twist screws3 90° counterclock-
wise.

Pull up cover2.

Slide out retainer4 and remove cover
by pulling towards front.

Install cover2 in reverse order.Opening fuse box
5Fuse box cover
6Clamps

Release clamps6.

Remove cover5.
Closing fuse box

Ensure that the sealing rubber is prop-
erly positioned.

Press the cover down and secure with
clamps6.
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427 Index
A
ABS 23, 77, 419
Malfunction indicator lamp 312
Messages in display 321
Accelerator position,
automatic transmission 163
Accident
In case of 51
Activating
Air conditioning (cooling) 181
Air recirculation mode 178
Anti-theft alarm system 83
Automatic climate control 173
Central locking (control system) 149
Charcoal filter 179
Distance warning function* 238
Distronic* 233, 234
Easy-entry/exit feature 150
ESP 81
Exterior headlamps 47
Exterior lamps 120
Exterior rear view
mirror parking position 169
Front and rear fog lamp 121, 122
Hazard warning flasher 123
Headlamps 47High beams 123
Ignition 31
Ignition with KEYLESS-GO* 33
Immobilizer 54, 82
Manual shift programm
CLK 55 AMG 164
Rear window defroster 171
Residual heat 181
Seat ventilation* 113
Steering wheel gearshift
control (CLK 55 AMG) 164
Tow-away alarm 85
Windshield wipers 49
Adding
Coolant 292
Engine oil 291
Additional turn signals 373
Adjustable air vents,
rear passenger compartment 182Adjusting 34
Air distribution 176
Air volume 177
Backrest tilt 36
Exterior rear view mirror 39
Head restraint height 36
Head restraint tilt 36
Instrument cluster illumination 126
Interior rear view mirror 38
Mirrors 38
Multicontour seat* 112
Seat cushion depth 112
Seat cushion tilt 36
Seat fore and aft adjustment 35
Seat height 36
Seats 34
Steering column in/out 38
Steering column up/down 38
Steering wheel 37
Air conditioning (cooling)
Turning off 181
Turning on 181
Air conditioning refrigerant 412
Air distribution
Adjusting 176
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428 IndexAir pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air recirculation mode 178
Activating 178
Deactivating 179
Air vents, rear passenger compartment
Adjustable 182
Air volume
Adjusting 177
Airbags 59
BabySmart
TM airbag
deactivation system 71, 419
Children 60
Front 63
Head-thorax 63
Passenger 63
Rear side-impact 64
Safety guidelines 62
Alarm
Audible 75, 84, 86
Canceling 84, 86
Visual 83
Alarm system
Anti-theft 83
Alignment bolt 382
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 419Anticorrosion/antifreeze 415
Antiglare
Automatic 168
Antilock brake system (ABS) 419
Anti-theft alarm system
Arming 83
Canceling alarm 84, 86
Disarming 84
Anti-theft systems 82
Anti-theft alarm system 83
Immobilizer 82
Tow-away alarm 84
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest
Storage spaces 251
Ashtray (Center console) 253
Opening 253
Reinstalling 254
Removing 253
Ashtray (Rear seat) 254
Opening 254
Reinstalling 254
Removing 254At the gas station 284
ATF (automatic transmission fluid) 291
AUDIO menu 134
Selecting radio station 135
Selecting satellite radio* station 135
Audio system 183
Audio and telephone, operation 183
Button and soft key operation 186
Cassette operation 196
CD operation 199
Operating and display elements 184
Operating safety 183
Operation 186
Radio operation 189
Sound system 183
Switching off 186
Switching on 186
Telephone operation 203
Automatic antiglare for
rear view mirror 168
Automatic central locking
Activating/deactivating
(control system) 149
Locking/unlocking
(central locking switch) 108
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434 Index
Residual heat 182
Seat ventilation* 113
Steering wheel gearshift control
(CLK 55 AMG) 165
Tow-away alarm 85
Deceleration
With Distronic* 232
Deep water see Standing water
Defogging
Windshield 176
Defrosting 177
Delayed switch-off
Interior lighting 148
Dialing
A number (telephone) 155
Difficulties
While driving see
Problems while driving
With starting 45
Digital speedometer 134
Direction of rotation (tires) 297
Discharged battery
Jump starting 388
Disconnecting
Vehicle battery 386Display
Selecting 143, 144
Display elements
Audio system 184
Displays
Digital speedometer 134
Distronic* 231
Messages 290, 320
Selecting 143
Service indicator 302
Showing malfunctions 138
Distance
Decreasing in Distronic* 237
Increasing in Distronic* 237
Setting in Distronic* 236
Warning function 237
Distance to empty (range)
Calling up 152
Distance warning function* 237
Activating 238
Deactivating 238
Distance warning lamp 237
Intermittent warning sound 237
Symbol in multifunction display 137Distronic* 229, 420
Activated 233
Activating 234
Calling up settings 137, 232
Cleaning system sensor 308
Cruise control lever 233
Deactivated 233
Deactivating 236
Deceleration 232
Decreasing distance 237
Decreasing time interval 236
Displays in the speedometer dial 231
Distance warning function 237
Distance warning lamp 316
Driving hints 238
Fine adjustment 235
Increasing distance 237
Increasing time interval 236
Intermittent signal tone 231
Menu 232
Messages in display 323
Sensor cover 308
Setting a higher speed 234
Setting a lower speed 235
Setting following distance 236
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438 IndexH
Hands-free microphone 27
Hard plastic trim items
Cleaning 310
Hazard warning flasher 123
Switching off 124
Switching on 123
Head restraints 110
Headlamp cleaning system* 295
Headlamps
Automatic control 120
Bi-Xenon 419
Cleaning 307
Cleaning system* 167, 295
Refilling washer fluid 295
Switching off 54
Switching on 47
Washer fluid 416
Washer system* 416
Headliner
Cleaning 310
Head-thorax airbag 63
In front passenger seat 64
Head-thorax airbags 421Height adjustment
Head restraints 36
High beam flasher 48, 123
Replacing bulbs (Bi-Xenon*) 373
Replacing bulbs (Halogen) 373
High beam headlamps
Messages in display 335
Replacing bulbs (Bi-Xenon*) 373
Replacing bulbs (Halogen) 373, 375
Replacing bulbs for
high beam flasher(Bi-Xenon*) 376
Switching on 123
High mounted brake lamp 373
Hood 287
Closing 288
Message in display 334
Opening 287
Hydroplaning 277I
Identification labels 400
Ignition 31, 33
Switching on 44
Immobilizer 82
Activating 82
Deactivating 82
Indicator lamps see
Lamps, indicator and warning
Infant and child restraint systems 69
LATCH child seat anchors 73
Information
About service and warranty 10
Button for Tele Aid* 262
Inside rear view mirror
Antiglare 168
Installing
Floormates* 255
Towing eye bolt 392
Towing eye bolt (CLK 55 AMG) 393
Wind screen 224
Wiper blades 379
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445 Index
Positions (Memory function)
Recalling from memory 117
Storing into memory 117
Power assistance 273
Power seat
Adjusting backrest tilt 36
Adjusting head restraint height 36
Adjusting head restraint tilt 36
Adjusting seat cushion tilt 36
Adjusting seat height 36
Front seat head restraints 110
Seat fore and aft adjustment 35
Power train 423
Power washer 305
Power windows 210
Blocking of rear window operation 74
Side windows 210
Synchronizing 214Practical hints
First aid kit 343
Fuses 394
Lamp in center console 319
Lamps in instrument cluster 312
Messages in the display 320
Minispare wheel 346
Minispare wheel bolts 347
Towing the vehicle 390
Unlocking/locking
in an emergency 348
Vehicle jack 345
Vehicle tool kit 343
Premium unleaded gasoline 413
Problems
While driving 51
With vehicle 17
Product information 9
Program mode selector switch 423
Automatic transmission 163
Automatic transmission,
CLK 55 AMG 164Q
Quick search
Phone book* 156
R
Radio
Selecting stations 135
Station search 135
Station selection setting 149
Radio operation 189
Radio see Radio operation
Radio transmitters,
control and operation 281
Radio*
Selecting stations (satellite) 135
Range (distance to empty)
Calling up 153
Reading lamp 27
Rear fog lamp 373
Bulb 373
Switching on 122
Rear lamp bulbs
Replacing 378
Rear lamps see Tail lamps
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