ignition MERCEDES-BENZ CLK550 COUPE 2007 C209 User Guide

91 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
ESP®
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) is
operational as soon as the engine is run-
ning and monitors the vehicle’s traction
(force of adhesive friction between the
tires and the road surface) and handling.
The ESP
® recognizes when a wheel is
spinning or if the vehicle starts to skid. By
applying the brakes to the appropriate
wheel and by limiting the engine output,
the ESP
® works to stabilize the vehicle.
The ESP® is especially useful while driving
off and on wet or slippery road surfaces.
The ESP
® also stabilizes the vehicle during
braking and steering maneuvers.
The ESP
® warning lamp v in the
instrument cluster flashes when the ESP®
is engaged.
The ESP
® warning lamp v in the
instrument cluster comes on when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
Warning!G
Never switch off the ESP® when you see the
ESP® warning lamp v flashing in the
instrument cluster. In this case, proceed as
follows:

While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.

While driving, ease upon the accelera-
tor.

Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP
® cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed.
Warning!G
The ESP® cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded by the exist-
ing road and tire conditions. The ESP
®
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The
capabilities of an ESP
® equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or dan-
gerous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.

94 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
With the SmartKey
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
With KEYLESS-GO*
Turn off the engine by means of the
start/stop button (
page 37) on the
gear selector lever.
Open the driver’s door.Deactivating
With the SmartKey
Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
With KEYLESS-GO*
Switch on the ignition (page 38).
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door

the trunk

the hood
The alarm will stay on even if the activating
element (e.g. a door) is immediately
closed.
iStarting the engine will also deactivate the
immobilizer.
In case the engine cannot be started (yet the ve-
hicle’s battery is charged), the system is not op-
erational. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA), or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).

118 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Automatic central locking
The doors and the trunk automatically lock
when the ignition is switched on and the
wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
You can open a locked door from the
inside. Open doors only when conditions
are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic locking
mode using the control system, see “Set-
ting automatic locking” (
page 162).
Locking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the
trunk from inside using the central locking
or unlocking switch. This can be useful, for
example, if you want to lock the vehicle
before starting to drive.
You cannot lock or unlock the fuel filler flap
with the central locking or unlocking
switch.iThe doors unlock automatically after an ac-
cident if the force of the impact exceeds a preset
threshold.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking when
the vehicle

is pushed or towed

is on a test stand
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised ac-
cess to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.

123 Controls in detail
Seats
Removing rear seat head restraints
Fold back head restraint (page 121).
Pull head restraint to its highest
position.
Push release button1 and pull out
head restraint.
Installing rear head restraints
Insert head restraint and push it down
until it engages.
Push release button1 and adjust
head restraint to desired position.
Multicontour seat*
The multicontour seat has a movable seat
cushion and inflatable air cushions built
into the backrest to provide additional
lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion movement, backrest
cushion height and curvature can be
continuously varied with switches on the
side of the seat after switching on ignition.
1Seat cushion depth
2Backrest bottom
3Backrest center
4Side bolster adjustment
Switch on ignition (page 38).Seat cushion depth
Adjust the seat cushion depth to the
length of your upper leg using
switch1.
Backrest contour
Adjust the contour of the backrest to
the desired position using switches2
and3.
Backrest side bolsters
Adjust the backrest side bolsters so
that they provide good lateral support
using switch4.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way that
it is as close to the head as possible.
iIf, after a period of time, the seat no longer
provides the desired contour, then repeat the ad-
justment procedure.

124 Controls in detail
Seats
Seat heating*
Both switches for the front seats are
located in the center console.
1Seat heating switchThe red indicator lamps on the switch1
show which heating level you have select-
ed.
Switch on the ignition (page 38).Switching on seat heating
Press seat heating switch1 once.
Three red indicator lamps in the switch
come on.
Continue pressing seat heating
switch1 until desired seat heating
level is reached.
Switching off seat heating
Press seat heating switch1
repeatedly until all red indicator lamps
go out.
Level
3Three indicator lamps on
(highest level).
After approximately five minutes,
seat heating is automatically
switched to level 2.
2Two indicator lamps on.
After approximately ten minutes,
seat heating is automatically
switched to level 1.
1One indicator lamp on
(lowest level).
After approximately 20 minutes,
seat heating is automatically
switched off.
offNo indicator lamp on.
iIf one or more of the indicator lamps on the
seat heater switch1 are flashing, there is insuf-
ficient voltage due to too many electrical con-
sumers being switched on. The seat heating
switches off automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on again auto-
matically as soon as sufficient voltage is avail-
able.

125 Controls in detail
Seats
Seat ventilation*
Both switches for the front seats are
located in the center console.
1Seat ventilation switchThe blue indicator lamps in the switch1
show which ventilation level you have
selected:
Switch on the ignition (page 38).
All lamps in the instrument cluster
come on.
Switching on seat ventilation
Press seat ventilation switch1.
Three blue indicator lamps come on.
Press seat ventilation switch1
repeatedly until the desired seat venti-
lation level is reached.Switching off seat ventilation
Press seat ventilation switch1
repeatedly until all blue indicator lamps
go out.
Level
3Three indicator lamps on
2Two indicator lamps on
1One indicator lamp on
offNo indicator lamp on
iThe seat ventilation for the driver’s seat is
automatically set to the highest level if activated
via summer opening feature (
page 248).
iIf one or more of the indicator lamps on the
seat ventilation switch1 are flashing, there is
insufficient voltage due to too many electrical
consumers being switched on. The seat ventila-
tion switches off automatically.
The seat ventilation will switch back on again au-
tomatically as soon as sufficient voltage is avail-
able.

126 Controls in detail
Memory function
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver
should check and adjust the seat height,
seat position fore and aft, and seat back-
rest angle if necessary, to ensure adequate
control, reach and comfort. The head
restraint should also be adjusted for
proper height. See also the section on
air bags (
page 65) for proper seat
positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, operation
and comfort. Both the interior and exterior
rear view mirrors should be adjusted for
adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small chil-
dren should be seated in a properly se-
cured restraint system that complies with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 225 and
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
213 and 210.2.The following settings are stored when
using the buttons on the driver’s door:

Driver’s seat, backrest and head
restraint position

Steering wheel position

Exterior rear view mirror position
The following settings are stored when
using the buttons on the passenger door:

Front passenger seat, backrest and
head restraint positionThe memory button and memory position
switch are located on the door.
1Memory button
2Memory position switch
Switch on the ignition (page 38).
or
Open the respective door and insert
the SmartKey in the starter switch.
Warning!G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

135 Controls in detail
Lighting
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter switch
or with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle.
The hazard warning flasher switches on
automatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is
located on the center console.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signal lamps are flashing.Switching off hazard warning flasherPress hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
iWith the hazard warning flasher activated
and the combination switch set for either left or
right turn, only the respective left or right turn
signals will operate when the ignition is switched
on (
page 38).
iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard warning
flasher switch1 once to switch it off.

138 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(
page 26).
1Reset button
The instrument cluster is activated when
you

open a door

switch on the ignition (page 38)

press the reset button1

switch on the exterior lamps
You can change the instrument cluster
settings in the Instrument cluster submenu
of the control system (
page 154).Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination
Use the reset button1 to adjust the
illumination brightness for the instrument
cluster.
To brighten illumination
Turn reset button1 clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination
Turn reset button1 counterclock-
wise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, please do so
with added caution. Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to suit am-
bient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will also be
adjusted automatically when you switch on the
vehicle’s exterior lamps.

150 Controls in detail
Control system
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the vehicle status message
memory appears in the multifunction
display.
If the vehicle status message memory
menu does not appear, then there are
no messages stored.Vehicle status messages have been
recorded
If conditions have occurred causing status
messages to be recorded, the number of
messages appears in the multifunction
display:
1Number of messages
Press buttonk orj.
The stored messages will now be
displayed in the order in which they
have occurred.
For malfunction and warning messag-
es, see “Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display” (
page 368).Should the vehicle’s system record any
conditions while driving, the number of
messages will reappear in the multifunc-
tion display when the SmartKey in the
starter switch is turned to position0 or
removed from the starter switch. With
KEYLESS-GO*, turn off the engine by
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button and open the driver’s door.
Warning!G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to address the malfunction and
warning messages (
page 368).
iThe vehicle status message memory will be
cleared when you switch on the ignition
(
page 38). You will then only see high-priority
messages in the multifunction display
(
page 368).