MERCEDES-BENZ CLK350 2008 C209 Owner's Manual

430 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency (Cabriolet)
Operating roll bars manually
Releasing roll bars manually
If the roll bar system is malfunctioning, you
can release the roll bars manually.Close the soft top (page 261).
Open the trunk (page 110).
Fold back the luggage cover
(
page 264).
Take hex wrench out of its storage
location in the storage well casing
(
page 422).
1Perforation
Push hex wrench through
perforation1 in trim of rear wall in
trunk.
2Hex wrench
Warning!G
If the yellow roll bar warning lamp in
the clock does not go out after starting the
engine, or if it comes on while driving, then
the roll bar system is not operating properly
and may not activate in an accident. In this
case, raise the roll bars manually before
continuing to drive.
For safety reasons drive only with the roll
bars raised until the malfunction is repaired.
Have your vehicle checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
iWith the roll bars released, the soft top can-
not be operated using the soft top switch and the
rear head restraints cannot be lowered using the
rear head restraint lowering switch.
Warning!G
Make sure no one is located in the roll bar’s
path of motion while the next steps are be-
ing carried out.
When the roll bar is manually released, the
rear head restraints and the roll bar under-
neath shoot up almost instantaneously.

431 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency (Cabriolet)
Insert long side of hex wrench2 into
opening.
Using hex wrench 2, press release
catch down in direction of arrow.
The roll bar extends with a loud sound.
Repeat this step for the second roll bar.
Have the systems checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
Lowering roll bars manually
With the soft top open, you can lower the
roll bars manually after they have been re-
leased.
1Orientation seam
2Hex wrench
3Press wrench down
4Press head restraint down
Take hex wrench out of its storage
location in the storage well casing
(
page 422).
Align hex wrench so that its long side is
parallel to orientation seam1 and in-
sert hex wrench2 into gap on left side
of respective head restraint.
Press hex wrench down firmly in direc-
tion of arrow3 and hold.
Press head restraint down in direction
of arrow4.
Pull hex wrench 2 out and take weight
off head restraint.
Repeat this procedure on roll bar for
second head restraint.
iWith the roll bars released, the soft top can-
not be operated using the soft top switch and the
rear head restraints cannot be lowered using the
rear head restraint lowering switch.
Warning!G
Never lower the roll bars manually unless
the soft top is open. Otherwise, the roll bars
function could be impaired, no longer reduc-
ing your risk of injury in an optimal manner.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter to have the roll bar lowered when the
soft top is closed.

432 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency (Cabriolet)
Soft top emergency operation
If the soft top cannot be automatically
closed, check the following:

Is the luggage cover engaged in place
(
page 264)?

Have the roll bars been released? If so,
lower the roll bars manually
(
page 431).

Is the trunk lid closed (page 112)?

Is there sufficient on-board voltage?
Start the engine if necessary.
These messages will also appear in the
multifunction display (
page 420).
If automatic operation still does not func-
tion properly, you can close the soft top
manually.
This procedure should be performed with
great care by two persons.
Engage parking brake.
Lower the side windows.
Lower rear head restraints
(
page 123).
For safety reasons, remove SmartKey
from starter switch.
Open the trunk.
Remove the trunk floor cover.
Take the two straps for soft top emer-
gency operation out of vehicle tool kit
(
page 422).
Take hex wrench out of its storage
location in the storage well casing
(
page 422).
Open the left side trim panel in the
trunk.
!Manually closing the soft top is a complicat-
ed and technically demanding procedure. Close
the soft top manually in emergency cases only.
Otherwise, visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Please read the instructions fully before
beginning operation and only undertake it with
another person and if you feel fully capable of
performing the tasks involved.
Warning!G

It is important that a second person
helps you. Otherwise, you could become
trapped or injured.

Remove any wristwatches or jewelry
such as rings or bracelets. Otherwise,
they could get caught in the vehicle
mechanism, causing personal injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle.

Always use the grips provided as indi-
cated. Otherwise you could injure your-
self.
iIf the rear head restraints cannot be lowered
using the rear head restraint lowering switch, the
roll bars may have been released. For more infor-
mation, see “Operating roll bars manually”
(
page 430).

433 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency (Cabriolet)
1Locking mechanism
Pull locking mechanism1 out until it
stops and rotate it approximately
one-quarter of a turn.
Make sure the locking mechanism
does not retract again. If this happens,
pull the locking mechanism out again
and rotate it approximately one-quarter
of a turn.2Trim
Fold the right-hand side of the trunk
floor away.
Detach trim2 along the perforation.3Locking mechanism
Pull locking mechanism3 out until it
stops and rotate it approximately
one-quarter of a turn.
Make sure the locking mechanism
does not retract again. If this happens,
pull the locking mechanism out again
and rotate it approximately one-quarter
of a turn.


434 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency (Cabriolet)
4Hex wrench
5Screw of hydraulic pump
Insert hex wrench4 into screw5.
Turn hydraulic pump screw5 counter-
clockwise one revolution with hex
wrench4.6Lever
7Soft top storage compartment hinge
The soft top storage compartment hinges
are located on the left and right of the
space between the soft top compartment
cover and the trunk seal.
Pull the two levers6 apart and fold
levers6 of soft top storage compart-
ment hinge7 forward on both sides
over the detent position.8Strap
Pull strap8, supplied in vehicle tool
kit, behind soft top storage compart-
ment through hinge7.
Bring strap together in front of hinge.
Pull the side with the handle through
the loop on the opposite side.
!Do not operate the soft top switch with
screw5 in the opened position, otherwise the
hydraulic pump could be damaged.


435 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency (Cabriolet)
Pull strap between soft top storage
compartment hinge and soft top com-
partment.
Secure second strap to second hinge in
the same manner.
Place both straps on soft top compart-
ment cover.
Take hex wrench out of trunk.
Close trunk lid.
You will only have access to the trunk
again when the emergency operation
has been completed.
!Do not pull the straps when the trunk is
open.
iDo not place the SmartKey in the open
trunk. You may lock yourself out.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: To prevent a possi-
ble inadvertent lockout, the trunk lid will open
automatically if a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
is recognized in the area of the rear shelf or in-
side the trunk.
!The trunk lid must remain closed during the
next steps in the procedure. Otherwise the trunk
lid and the soft top compartment cover may
come into contact with one another and be dam-
aged.
Warning!G
At this point, the remaining procedure
needs to be done by two people. Otherwise
you could be injured.


436 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency (Cabriolet)
You and your assistant should each
take one of the straps by the handle.
With a strong, simultaneous tug on the
loops, pull soft top compartment cover
upward and out to the rear.9Soft top compartment cover
One person should stand on the left
side of the vehicle and the other on the
right side.
Pulling the cover back in one smooth
motion, lift soft top compartment
cover9 into a vertical position until it
stops.
Warning!G
In the next step, you and your assistant
should each take hold of the soft top com-
partment cover as shown in the illustration.
Both of you should use your free hand to
support yourselves on the edge of the trunk
lid as shown in the illustration.
If either you or your helper assume a differ-
ent position, one or both of you could be
trapped or injured.
!Make sure the soft top storage compart-
ment hinges do not fold down during this proce-
dure. Otherwise your vehicle could be damaged.


437 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency (Cabriolet)
aEdge of soft top
From left and right sides, reach into
soft top compartment underneath
edge of soft topa.bWindshield frameLift soft top out of soft top compart-
ment and pull it forward to windshield
frameb.cOpening
dLockingTake off protective cap on the inner
side of the soft top.
Insert hex wrench into soft top locking
mechanism screw.
Turn the soft top locking mechanism
screw with hex wrench clockwise in di-
rection of arrowc as far as it will go.
The clasp will open and the soft top will
engage audibly.
Warning!G
Do not place your hands near the upper
windshield area, trunk lid, or between soft
top roof panels and hinges while the soft top
is being raised and locked. Serious personal
injury may occur.


438 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency (Cabriolet)
Turn the soft top locking mechanism
screw with hex wrench counterclock-
wise in direction of arrowd as far as it
will go.
The clasp will close and the soft top is
now locked onto the windshield frame.
eMaterial tensioning frame
fSoft top compartment cover
Lift material tensioning framee into a
vertical position.
Lower soft top compartment coverf.gSoft top base
With the palm of your hand, press the
window in material tensioning
framee until it is positioned on the
soft top compartment coverf.
!Make sure you turn the hex wrench counter-
clockwise as far as it will go. Otherwise the soft
top may not lock properly.
!Make sure the soft top compartment
coverf does not collide or make contact with
the material tensioning framee.


439 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency (Cabriolet)
You and your assistant should press
soft top compartment cover f for-
ward and down with the palms of your
hands until it snaps into place in the
guide. Place your hands on the areas
indicated by the arrows.
At the same time, gently press material
tensioning framee down with the
palms of your hands.
hLocking
Insert hex wrench into soft top locking
mechanism screw.
Turn the soft top locking mechanism
screw with hex wrench counterclock-
wise in direction of arrowh as far as it
will go.
The soft top is locked onto the wind-
shield frame.
Have the soft top operation checked at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Warning!G
Position hands as indicated by arrows so
that when you press soft top compartment
coverf forward and lower material ten-
sioning framee, your hands cannot be-
come trapped.
!Make sure you turn the hex wrench counter-
clockwise as far as it will go. Otherwise the soft
top may not lock properly.
!If, after completing the soft top emergency
operation, the trunk cannot be opened using the
remote trunk lid release switch in the driver’s
door, theŠ button on the SmartKey, or the
trunk lid release handle in the license plate re-
cess, press the soft top compartment cover
down again as described above.
Do not open the trunk with the emergency key,
as this could otherwise damage the trunk lid and
the soft top compartment cover.