MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230 2004 R171 Owner's Guide

31 Getting started
Adjusting
Manual seat
1Head restraint height
2Backrest tilt
3Seat height
4Seat fore and aft adjustmentSeat height

Pull up on handle3.

Use your body weight to push the seat
downwards.

Lift your weight off the seat to obtain a
higher seat position.

Let go of handle3.
Seat fore and aft adjustment

Pull up on handle4.

Move the seat forward or backward.

Check for proper engagement before
driving.
Adjust to a comfortable seating position
that still allows you to reach the
accelerator / brake pedal safely. The posi-
tion should be as far rearward as possible,
consistent with ability to properly operate
controls.
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in this vehicle, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
TM1
compatible child seat, which operates with
the BabySmart
TM system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger front air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or
fatal injury will result.
Infants and small children must be seated in
an appropriate infant or child restraint sys-
tem, which is properly secured with the ve-
hicle’s seat belt, fully in accordance with the
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automo-
tive Corp.

32 Getting startedAdjusting
Let go of handle4. The seat should
make an audible click.
Backrest tilt

Turn handwheel2 forward or back-
ward until your arms are slightly angled
when holding the steering wheel.Head restraint height

Adjust the height of the head restraints
by pulling them upwards manually.

For a lower position, press release
button1 and push down on the head
restraints manually.
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 73).
iWhen moving the seat, ensure there
are no items in the footwell or behind
the seats. Otherwise you could damage
the seats.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint supports the back of the head at eye
level. This will reduce the potential for injury
to the head and neck in the event of an ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.

33 Getting started
Adjusting
Power seat*
Switch on the ignition by turning the
key in the steering lock to position2.
or

Open the driver’s or passenger door.
The seat adjustment switches are located
on the outer sides of the seats.
1Seat height
2Seat fore and aft adjustment
3Seat cushion tilt
4Backrest tiltSeat height

Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow1.
Seat fore and aft adjustment

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow2.
Adjust to a comfortable seating position
that still allows you to reach the
accelerator / brake pedal safely. The posi-
tion should be as far to the rear as possi-
ble, consistent with ability to properly
operate controls.
Seat cushion tilt

Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow3 until your upper
legs are lightly supported.Backrest tilt

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow4 until your
arms are slightly angled when holding
the steering wheel.
Head restraint height
iWhen moving the seat, ensure there
are no items in the footwell or behind
the seats. Otherwise you could damage
the seats.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint supports the back of the head at eye
level. This will reduce the potential for injury
to the head and neck in the event of an ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.

34 Getting startedAdjusting5Release button
Adjust the height of the head restraints
by pulling them upwards manually.

For a lower position, press release
button5 and push down on the head
restraints manually.
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 81).
Telescoping steering column* Steering wheel adjustment
1Adjustment handle

To unlock the steering column, pull out
handle1 as far as it will go.

Move the steering wheel to the desired
position.

Push handle1 back to its original po-
sition to relock the steering wheel. You
should hear an audible click.
The steering wheel is again fixed into
place.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing, or driving without the adjustment
locked could cause the driver to lose control
of the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the steering lock and lock your ve-
hicle.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.

35 Getting started
Adjusting
Mirrors
Adjust the interior and exterior rear view
mirrors before driving so that you have a
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.Interior rear view mirror

Manually adjust the interior rear view
mirror.
Exterior rear view mirror
!Do not drive the vehicle until you have
properly locked the steering column.
If the indicator lamp_ comes on
while the engine is running, the steer-
ing column is not locked properly
(page 206).
Warning!
G
In the case of an accident, liquid electrolyte
may escape the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or the respiratory sys-
tem. In case it does, immediately flush af-
fected area with water, and seek medical
help if necessary.
Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passenger
side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
terior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes. !Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can only be
completely removed while in their liq-
uid state and by applying plenty of wa-
ter.

36 Getting startedAdjustingThe switch is located on the center
console.
1Driver’s side mirror
2Passenger side mirror

Make sure the ignition is switched on.
All the lights in the instrument cluster
light up.

Turn switch to position1 for the left
mirror or to position2 for the right
mirror.

Toggle switch up, down, left or right
according to the setting desired.
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 99).
iAt low ambient temperatures, the exte-
rior mirrors will be heated automatical-
ly.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing
is forcibly pushed forward or rearward,
reposition it by applying firm pressure
until it snaps into place. The mirror
housing is now properly positioned and
you can adjust the mirror normally.

37 Getting started
Driving
Driving
Fastening the seat beltsWarning!
G
Do not lay any objects in the driver’s foot-
well. Be careful that floor mats or carpets in
the driver’s footwell have sufficient clear-
ance for the pedals.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate.Warning!
G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even pregnant women.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-
sition your seat belt greatly increases your
risk of injuries and their likely severity in an
accident. You and your passenger should al-
ways wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The airbags can only protect as ex-
pected if the occupants are using their seat
belts (
page 52).
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in this vehicle, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
TM1
compatible child seat, which operates with
the BabySmart
TM system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger front air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or
fatal injury will result.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automo-
tive Corp.

38 Getting startedDriving
1Seat belt housing
2Latch plate
3Buckle
4Release button
Warning!
G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest reclined. Sitting in an excessively
reclined position can be dangerous. You
could slide under the seat belt in a collision.
If you slide under it, the belt would apply
force at the abdomen or neck. That could
cause serious or even fatal injuries. The seat
backrest and seat belt provide the best re-
straint when the wearer is in an upright po-
sition and the belt is properly positioned on
the body.
Warning!
G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Be sure
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly re-
strained with a separate seat belt.Warning!
G
Read and observe the additional warning no-
tices printed in the “Safety and Security”
section (
page 55) and (
page 57).

39 Getting started
Driving

With a smooth motion, pull the belt
from seat belt housing1.

Place the belt over your shoulder.

Push latch plate2 into buckle3 until
it clicks.

If necessary, tighten the lap portion to
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion
up.
Proper use of seat belts


Do not twist the belt when fastening.


Adjust the seat belt so that the shoul-
der portion is located as close as possi-
ble to the middle of the shoulder (it
should not touch the neck or pass un-
der the arm).


Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips (over hip joint) and not
across the abdomen.


Place the seat backrest in a nearly up-
right position.


Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time.


Do not fasten a seat belt around a per-
son and another object at the same
time.


Check your seat belt during travel to
ensure it is properly positioned.


Make sure the seat belt is always fitted
snugly. You should avoid wearing bulky
clothing, such as winter coats, when
traveling in the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Do not pass belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do not allow the belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to
seat belts. This could impair the effective-
ness of the belts.
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.

40 Getting startedDrivingStarting the engine Manual transmission
Gearshift pattern for manual transmission
Depress the brake pedal.

Make sure the gearshift lever is in neu-
tral position.

Fully depress clutch pedal.
Otherwise the engine cannot be start-
ed due to the integrated safety inter-
lock.
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 92).
Starting

Do not depress the accelerator.

Turn the key in the steering lock to
position3 and hold until the engine
starts (
page 29).
For information on turning off the engine
(
page 48).
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon-
sciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as garage) which are not properly ven-
tilated. If you think that exhaust gas fumes
are entering the vehicle while driving, have
the cause determined and corrected imme-
diately. If you must drive under these condi-
tions, drive only with at least one window
fully open.