MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS 2005 Owners Manual

171 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the defrost-
er as soon as the rear window is clear.
The defroster is automatically deactivated
after approximately 6 to 17 minutes of op-
eration depending on the outside tempera-
ture.Switching on

Press the rear window defroster
switchF in the control panel of the
climate control (
page 175) or the au-
tomatic climate control* (
page 185).
The indicator lamp on the rear window
defroster switchF comes on.Switching off

Press the rear window defroster
switchF again in the control panel
of the climate control or the automatic
climate control*.
The indicator lamp on the rear window
defroster switchF goes out.
Warning!
G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.
!The rear window defroster cannot be
switched on when the retractable hard-
top is open. The indicator lamp starts
flashing if the hardtop is open.

Close the retractable hardtop first.
The rear window defroster can be
switched on again.
!If the rear window defroster switches
off too soon and the indicator lamp
starts flashing, this means that too
many electrical consumers are operat-
ing simultaneously and there is insuffi-
cient voltage in the battery. The system
responds automatically by deactivating
the rear window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient
voltage, the rear window defroster au-
tomatically turns itself back on.

172 Controls in detailClimate control

173 Controls in detail
Climate control
The climate control is operational whenev-
er the engine is running. The system cools
or heats the interior depending on the se-
lected interior temperature and the cur-
rent outside temperature.
Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the interior through the air distribution
system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the ±mode is selected
(page 175).
Item
1
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for adjustable left-side air vent
2
Left side air vent, adjustable
3
Left center air vent, fixed
4
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for fixed/adjustable left center air
vents
5
Left center air vent, adjustable
6
Right center air vent, adjustable
7
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for fixed/adjustable right center air
vents
8
Right center air vent, fixed
9
Right side air vent, adjustable
a
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for adjustable right-side air vent
b
Climate control panel
Warning
G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents in the footwell can be
very hot or very cold (depending on the set
temperature). This may cause burn or frost-
bite to unprotected skin in the immediate
area of the air vents. Always keep sufficient
distance between unprotected parts of the
body and the footwell air vents. If necessary
change the air flow using the air distribution
controls to direct the air away from the foot-
well air vents (
page 175).
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.

174 Controls in detailClimate control
iWhen you turn the thumbwheels4
and7 upwards to the first stop, the
fixed center air vents3 and8 and
the adjustable center air vents5
and6 are open.
When you turn the thumbwheels com-
pletely upwards, only the adjustable
center air vents5 and6 are open.
For draft-free ventilation, move the slid-
ers for the center air vents5 and6
to the middle position.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollu-
tion) may require replacement of the fil-
ter before its scheduled interval. A
clogged filter will reduce the air volume
to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off.
When the retractable hardtop is closed,
do not obstruct air flow by placing ob-
jects on the air flow-through exhaust
slots below the rear window.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.

175 Controls in detail
Climate control
Switching climate control on/off
Switching on
Turn air volume control2 out of
position0.
Switching off

Turn air volume control2 to
position0.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls1 and4 to
separately adjust the air temperature on
each side of the passenger compartment.
You should raise or lower the temperature
setting in small increments, preferably
starting at 72°F (22°C).
Increasing
Turn temperature control1 or4
slightly clockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing

Turn temperature control1 or4
slightly counterclockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Item
1
Temperature control, left side
2
Air volume control, climate control
on/off
3
Air distribution control
4
Temperature control, right side
5
FRear window defroster
6
PDefrosting
7
°Air condition on/off,
Residual engine heat utilization
8
,Air recirculation
!With the climate control system
switched off, the air flow and the air cir-
culation are deactivated.
Only choose this setting temporarily to
prevent the windows from fogging up.

176 Controls in detailClimate controlAdjusting air distribution
Use air distribution control3
(page 175) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are found on the
control:
Adjusting air volume
Use air volume control2 to adjust the air
volume.
The following symbols are found on the
control:
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside. This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the interior.
Symbol
Function
Z
Directs air to the windows
b
Directs air into the entire
vehicle interior
Y
Directs air to the footwells
a
Directs air through the
center and side air vents
Symbol
Function
0
No ventilation, climate
control switched off
between1
and5
Ventilation with increasing
blower speed
Warning!
G
When the outside temperature is below
41°F (5°C), only switch to air recirculation
mode for short periods to prevent window
fogging.

177 Controls in detail
Climate control
Activating
Press air recirculation switch,
(page 175).
The indicator lamp on the air recircula-
tion switch, comes on.Deactivating

Press air recirculation switch,
again (
page 175).
The indicator lamp on the air recircula-
tion switch, goes out.
iThe air recirculation mode activates au-
tomatically at high outside tempera-
tures.
A quantity of outside air is added after
approximately 30 minutes.iIf you press the air recirculation
switch, and keep it pressed, the
side windows will close.
Warning
G
Never operate the side windows if there is
the possibility of anyone being harmed by
the closing procedure.
In the event that the closing procedure caus-
es potential danger, the closing of the door
windows can be immediately halted by re-
leasing the, button or by pressing the
respective power window switch.
The closing of the rear side windows can be
immediately halted by releasing the
,button.
iThe air recirculation mode deactivates
automatically:

after 30 minutes if the outside tem-
perature is above approximately
41°F (5°C)


after five minutes if the outside
temperature is below approximate-
ly 41°F (5°C)


after five minutes if the air condi-
tioning is turned off (
page 178)

178 Controls in detailClimate control
Air conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while
the engine is running and cools the interior
air to the temperature set by the operator.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate
control system. The air in the vehicle will
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.

Press air condition on/off switch°
(page 175).
The indicator lamp on the air condition
on/off switch° comes on.
iIf you press the air recirculation
switch, and keep it pressed
and no side window was operated
manually, the side windows will reopen
to their previous position.
iCondensation may drip from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.Warning!
G
If you turn off the cooling function, the vehi-
cle will not be cooled when the weather con-
ditions are warm. The windows can fog up
more quickly. Window fogging may impair
visibility and endanger you and others.

179 Controls in detail
Climate control
Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press air condition on/off switch°
again (
page 175).
The indicator lamp on the air condition
on/off switch° goes out.Maximum cooling

Turn thumbwheels4 and7 upwards
to the first stop (
page 173).
The fixed center air vents3 and8
and the adjustable air vents5 and6
are open.

For draft-free ventilation, move the
sliders for the center air vents5
and6 to the middle position
(page 173).

Turn thumbwheels1 anda for the
adjustable side air2 and9 vents to
the fully open position (
page 172).

Set air distribution control3 to
positiona (
page 176).
The air distribution directs the air
through the center and side air vents.

Set air volume control2 to position5
(page 176).
The ventilation operates with maximum
blower speed.

Turn temperature controls1 and4
completely counterclockwise to their
end stops (
page 175).
The lowest temperature for both sides
is set.
!If the indicator lamp on the air condi-
tion on/off switch° comes on
while driving and you cannot switch on
the air conditioning again by pressing
the air condition on/off switch°,
the air conditioning is losing refriger-
ant.
Have the air conditioning checked at
the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.


180 Controls in detailClimate control
Residual engine heat utilization
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes, depending on the
temperature setting of the climate control.
Air volume and distribution are controlled
automatically. This feature makes use of
the residual heat produced by the engine.Activating

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1or0, or remove it from
the starter switch.

Press air condition on/off switch°
(page 175).
The indicator lamp on the air condition
on/off switch° comes on.
Set the left and right temperature to
your personal requirements.
iWhen the vehicle’s interior has cooled
down enough, reduce the air volume
and increase the air temperature to
comfortable settings if desired.