parking brake MERCEDES-BENZ CLK55AMG CABRIOLET 2004 A209 Owner's Guide

276 OperationDriving instructions
TiresTread wear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and be-
come visible at a tread depth of approxi-
mately
1⁄16 in (1.6 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be re-
placed.
The tread wear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.
Warning!
G
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re-
sult of inadvertent vehicle movement, be-
fore turning off the engine and leaving the
vehicle always:

Keep right foot firmly on brake pedal.


Firmly depress parking brake pedal.


Move the gear selector lever to
position
P.


Slowly release brake pedal.


When parked on an incline, turn front
wheels towards the road curb.


Turn the SmartKey to starter switch
position
0 and remove, or press
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*).


Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you and lock vehicle
when leaving.
Warning!
G
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or
ride disturbance, or you suspect that possi-
ble damage to your vehicle has occurred,
you should turn on the hazard warning flash-
ers, carefully slow down, and drive with cau-
tion to an area which is a safe distance from
the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle underbody
for possible damage. If the vehicle or tires
appear unsafe, have it towed to the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Center or tire dealer for re-
pairs.
Warning!
G
Although the applicable federal motor vehi-
cle safety laws consider a tire to be worn
when the tread wear indicators (TWI) be-
come visible at approximately
1/16in
(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not al-
low your tires to wear down to that level. As
tread depth approaches
1/8in (3 mm), the
adhesion properties on a wet road are
sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.

313 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
You are driving with the parking brake set.

Release the parking brake
(page 46).
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning sound.The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving.
There is insufficient brake fluid in the reser-
voir.

Risk of accident! Carefully stop the
vehicle and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Do not add
brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with the brake warning lamp illumi-
nated can result in an accident. Have your
brake system checked immediately if the
brake warning lamp stays on. Do not add
brake fluid before checking the brake
system.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can re-
sult in spilling brake fluid on hot engine
parts and the brake fluid catching fire. You
can be seriously burned.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.

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.

327 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
2
Brake wear
Visit workshop
!
The brake pads have reached their wear
limit.

Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
;
(USA only)
!
(Canada only)
Parking brake
Release brake!
You are driving with the parking brake set.

Release the parking brake
(page 46).
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
Brake fluid
Visit workshop!
There is insufficient brake fluid in the res-
ervoir.

Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle and
notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Do not add brake fluid! This
will not solve the problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with this message displayed can re-
sult in an accident. Have your brake system
checked immediately. Don’t add brake fluid
before checking the brake system. Overfill-
ing the brake fluid reservoir can result in
spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts and
the brake fluid catching fire. You can be se-
riously burned.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Service Book-
let.

345 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
Vehicle jackThe vehicle jack is stored in the space un-
derneath the trunk floor together with the
vehicle tool kit in the vehicle tool kit stor-
age well casing.

Remove the vehicle jack from its com-
partment.

Push the crank handle up.

Turn the crank handle clockwise until it
engages (operational position).
Before storing the vehicle jack in its com-
partment:


It should be fully collapsed


The handle must be folded in (storage
position)
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on a level surface. Make sure the jack arm is
fully seated in the jack take-up bracket. Al-
ways lower the vehicle onto sufficient ca-
pacity jackstands before working under the
vehicle.

357 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency
Vehicles without additional locking
mechanism
Engage parking brake

Lower the side windows.

Lower rear head restraints
(page 111).

For safety reasons, remove SmartKey
from starter switch.

Open the trunk.

Lift the trunk floor cover.

Take the two straps for soft top emer-
gency operation out of vehicle tool kit
(page 343)

Take hex wrench out of the
Mercedes-Benz vehicle literature
pouch.

Open the left side trim panel in the
trunk.1Hex wrench
2Screw of hydraulic pump

Insert hex wrench 1 into screw2.

Turn hydraulic pump screw2 counter-
clockwise one revolution with hex
wrench 1.
iIf the rear head restraints cannot be
lowered, the roll bars may have been
released. For more information, see
“Operating roll bars manually”
(page 353).
!Do not operate the soft top switch with
screw2 in the opened position, other-
wise the hydraulic pump could be dam-
aged.


364 Practical hintsOpening/closing in an emergencyVehicles with additional locking
mechanism
Engage parking brake

Lower the side windows.

Lower rear head restraints
(page 111).

For safety reasons, remove SmartKey
from starter switch.

Open the trunk.

Lift the trunk floor cover.

Take the two straps for soft top emer-
gency operation out of vehicle tool kit
(page 343)

Take hex wrench out of the
Mercedes-Benz vehicle literature
pouch.

Open the left side trim panel in the
trunk.1Hex wrench
2Screw of hydraulic pump

Insert hex wrench1 into screw2.

Turn hydraulic pump screw2 counter-
clockwise one revolution with hex
wrench1.
iIf the rear head restraints cannot be
lowered, the roll bars may have been
released. For more information, see
“Operating roll bars manually”
(page 353).
!Do not operate the soft top switch with
screw2 in the opened position, other-
wise the hydraulic pump could be dam-
aged.

372 Practical hintsReplacing bulbs
Replacing bulbsSafe vehicle operation depends on proper
exterior lighting and signaling. It is there-
fore essential that all bulbs and lamp as-
semblies are in good working order at all
times.
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely
important. Have headlamps checked and
readjusted at regular intervals and when a
bulb has been replaced. See your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for headlamp
adjustment.
Bulbs
iIf the headlamps are fogged up on the
inside as a result of high humidity, driv-
ing the vehicle a distance should clear
up the fogging.
iBackup bulbs will be brought into use
when the following lamps malfunction:

Turn signal lamps


Brake lamps


Parking lamps


Tail lamps

373 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Front lamps Rear lamps Notes on bulb replacement
Lamp
Type
1
Halogen headlamps:
Low beam
Bi-Xenon* headlamps:
Low and high beam
1
1Vehicles with Bi-Xenon headlamps* do not replace
the Bi-Xenon bulbs yourself.
H7 (55 W)
D2S-35 W
2
Halogen headlamps:
High beam/high beam
flasher
Bi-Xenon* headlamps:
High beam flasher
H7 (55 W)
H7 (55 W)
Parking and standing
lamps
W 5 W
3
Additional turn signal
lamps
LED
4
Turn signal lamp
1156 NA
5
Side marker lamp
W 5 W
6
Fog lamp
HB4/9006
(55 W)
Lamp
Type
7
Rear fog lamp, driver’s
side
P 21/4 W
Turn signal lamp
P 21 W
Brake lamp
P 21 W
Backup lamp
P 21 W
Tail, parking and stand-
ing lamp, side marker
P 21/4 W
W 5 W
8
High mounted brake
lamp
LED
9
License plate lamps
C 5 W
Warning!
G
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing
a bulb.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A
bulb can explode if you:

touch or move it when hot


drop the bulb


scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.

374 Practical hintsReplacing bulbs

Only use 12 volt bulbs of the same type
and with the specified watt rating.


Switch lights off before changing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.


Always use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.


Your hands should be dry and free of oil
and grease.


If the newly installed bulb does not
come on, visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.


Have the LEDs and bulbs for the follow-
ing lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Additional turn signal lamps in the
exterior rear view mirrors


High mounted brake lamp


Bi-Xenon* lamps


Front fog lamps
Replacing bulbs for front lamps
Front lamps halogen-type
1Housing cover for low beam lamp
2Housing cover for high beam lamp3Bulb socket for turn signal lamp
4Low beam bulb
5High beam bulb
6Parking and standing lamp