tow MERCEDES-BENZ CLK500 COUPE 2004 C209 Owner's Guide

368 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 83) 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 gear 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).

369 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.

370 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 83).
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 363)
or on jump starting (
page 366).
Manually unlocking gear selector lever
(
page 347)

371 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing eye bolt CLK 55 AMG
Towing eye bolt in front bumper
The cover for the towing eye bolt 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 370)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.

373 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.

403 Index
A
ABS 23, 76, 397
Malfunction indicator lamp 306
Messages in display 315
Accelerator position,
automatic transmission 163
Accident
In case of 50
Activating
Air conditioning (cooling) 181
Air recirculation mode 178
Anti-theft alarm system 82
Automatic climate control 173
Central locking (control system) 149
Charcoal filter 179, 180
Distance warning function* 230
Distronic* 225, 226
Easy-entry/exit feature 150
ESP 80
Exterior headlamps 47
Exterior lamps 120
Exterior rear view
mirror parking position 168
Front and rear fog lamp 121, 122
Hazard warning flasher 123
Headlamps 47High beams 123
Ignition 31
Ignition with KEYLESS-GO* 33
Immobilizer 53, 81
Manual shift program
CLK 55 AMG 164
Rapid seat heating*
with seat ventilation* 115
Rapid seat heating*
without seat ventilation* 114
Rear window defroster 171
Residual heat 181
Seat heating*
with seat ventilation* 115
Seat heating*
without seat ventilation* 114
Seat ventilation* 113
Steering wheel gearshift
control (CLK 55 AMG) 164
Tow-away alarm 83
Trunk lid opening limiter*
(control system) 149
Windshield wipers 49Adding
Coolant 287
Engine oil 285
Additional turn signals 351
Adjustable air vents,
rear passenger compartment 182
Adjusting 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

404 IndexAir conditioning (cooling)
Turning off 181
Turning on 181
Air conditioning refrigerant 390
Air distribution
Adjusting 176
Air 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 397
Children 60
Front 63
Passenger 63
Safety guidelines 62
Side impact 64
Window curtain 64Alarm
Audible 75, 83, 84
Canceling 83, 84
Visual 82
Alarm system
Anti-theft 82
Alignment bolt 360
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 397
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 393
Antiglare
Automatic 167
Antilock brake system (ABS) 397
Anti-theft alarm system
Arming 82
Canceling alarm 83, 84
Disarming 82
Anti-theft systems 81
Anti-theft alarm system 82
Immobilizer 81
Tow-away alarm 83
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest
Storage spaces 246Ashtray (Center console) 247
Opening 247
Reinstalling 248
Removing 248
Ashtray (Rear seat) 248
Opening 248
Reinstalling 248
Removing 248
At the gas station 278
ATF (automatic transmission fluid) 286
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
Switching off 186
Switching on 186
Telephone operation 203

410 Index
Rapid seat heating*
without seat ventilation* 114
Rear window defroster 171
Residual heat 182
Seat heating*
with seat ventilation* 115
Seat heating*
without seat ventilation* 114
Seat ventilation* 113
Steering wheel gearshift control
(CLK 55 AMG) 165
Tow-away alarm 83, 84
Trunk lid opening limiter*
(control system) 149
Deceleration
With Distronic* 224
Deep water see Standing water
Defogging
Windshield 176
Defrosting 177
Delayed switch-off
Interior lighting 148
Dialing
A number (telephone) 155Difficulties
While driving see
Problems while driving
With starting 45
Digital speedometer 134
Direction of rotation (tires) 291
Discharged battery
Jump starting 366
Disconnecting
Vehicle battery 364
Display
Selecting 143, 144
Display elements
Audio system 184
Displays
Digital speedometer 134
Distronic* 223
Messages 284, 314
Selecting 143
Service indicator 296
Showing malfunctions 138Distance
Decreasing in Distronic* 229
Increasing in Distronic* 229
Setting in Distronic* 228
Warning function 229
Distance to empty (range)
Calling up 152
Distance warning function* 229
Activating 230
Deactivating 230
Distance warning lamp 229
Intermittent warning sound 229
Symbol in multifunction display 137
Distronic* 221, 398
Activated 225
Activating 226
Calling up settings 137, 224
Cleaning system sensor 301
Cruise control lever 225
Deactivated 225
Deactivating 228
Deceleration 224
Decreasing distance 229
Decreasing time interval 228
Displays in the speedometer dial 223
Distance warning function 229

415 Index
High beam bulb for high beam flasher
(Bi-Xenon*)
Replacing bulbs 354
High beam flasher 48, 123
Replacing bulbs (Bi-Xenon*) 351
Replacing bulbs (Halogen) 351
High beam headlamps
Messages in display 330
Replacing bulbs (Bi-Xenon*) 351
Replacing bulbs (Halogen) 351, 353
Switching on 123
High mounted brake lamp 351
Hood 281
Closing 282
Message in display 328
Opening 281
Hydroplaning 271I
Identification labels 378
Ignition 31, 33
Switching on 44
Immobilizer 81
Activating 81
Deactivating 81
Indicator lamps see
Lamps, indicator and warning
Infant and child restraint systems 68
Installing 72
LATCH child seat anchors 73
Information
About service and warranty 10
Button for Tele Aid 256
Installing
Floormates* 249
Infant and child restraint systems 72
Towing eye bolt 370
Towing eye bolt (CLK 55 AMG) 371
Wiper blades 357Instrument cluster 22, 126, 399
Cleaning 303
Coolant temperature indicator 127
Illumination 126
Lamps in 306–312
Multifunction display 129
Outside temperature indicator 128
Selecting language 143
Instruments and controls see Cockpit
Interior lighting 124
Activating automatic control 124
Deactivating automatic control 125
Delayed switch-off 148
Manual operation 125
Interior rear view mirror
Adjusting 38
Antiglare 167
Interior storage spaces 244
Armrest 246
Glove box 244
Parcel net 247
Storage bags 247

422 IndexPassenger compartment 274
Fuse box in 372
Interior lighting 124
Interior rear view mirror 38
Parcel net in
front passenger footwell 247
Storage bags, rear side
of the front seats 247
Passenger safety see Occupant safety
Pedals 267
Phone book*
Loading 155
Quick search 156
Phone number*
Dialing 155
Redialing 156
Plastic and rubber parts
Cleaning 304
Playing
CDs 201
Poly-V-belt drive 400
Layout 379Positions (Memory function)
Recalling from memory 117
Storing into memory 117
Power assistance 267
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 108
Seat fore and aft adjustment 35
Power train 400
Power washer 299
Power windows 210
Blocking of rear window operation 74
Side windows 210
Synchronizing 213Practical hints
First aid kit 337
Fuses 372
Lamp in center console 313
Lamps in instrument cluster 306
Messages in the display 314
Minispare wheel 340
Minispare wheel bolts 342
Towing the vehicle 368
Unlocking/locking
in an emergency 343
Vehicle jack 339
Vehicle tool kit 337
Premium unleaded gasoline 391
Problems
While driving 50
With vehicle 17
Product information 9
Program mode selector switch 400
Automatic transmission 163
Automatic transmission, CLK 55
AMG 164