window MERCEDES-BENZ SLK230 2004 R171 Owner's Manual

ContentsControls in detail............................... 73
Locking and unlocking ......................... 74
Keys ............................................... 74
Opening the doors from the inside . 77
Opening the trunk .......................... 77
Closing the trunk ............................ 78
Trunk lid emergency release .......... 78
Automatic central locking .............. 79
Locking and unlocking from the
inside ............................................. 80
Seats.................................................... 81
Removing and installing head
restraints ........................................ 81
Heated seats* ................................ 82
Lighting ................................................ 83
Exterior lamp switch ....................... 83
Combination switch........................ 85
Hazard warning flasher................... 86
Interior lighting ............................... 87
Instrument cluster ............................... 89
Instrument cluster illumination....... 89
Coolant temperature gauge............ 89
Trip odometer................................. 90
Tachometer .................................... 90
Outside temperature indicator ....... 91Setting clock .................................. 91
Manual transmission ........................... 92
Shifting into reverse ....................... 92
Automatic transmission* ..................... 93
One-touch gearshifting................... 94
Gear ranges.................................... 95
Gear selector lever position ........... 95
Program mode selector switch....... 97
Accelerator position ....................... 98
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode)............................................. 98
Good visibility ...................................... 99
Headlamp cleaning system* .......... 99
Rear view mirror............................. 99
Sun visors .................................... 100
Rear window defroster ................. 101
Climate control .................................. 102
Setting the temperature ............... 104
Adjusting air volume .................... 105
Adjusting air distribution .............. 105
Air recirculation mode .................. 106
Air conditioning ............................ 106
Residual heat ............................... 107
Basic settings............................... 108
Special settings............................ 109Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 110
Audio system ..................................... 111
Audio and telephone, operation ... 111
Operating safety .......................... 111
Operating and display elements... 112
Anti-theft system ......................... 114
Button and soft key operation...... 115
Operation ..................................... 115
Radio mode .................................. 116
Cassette mode............................. 118
CD mode ...................................... 121
Telephone* operation .................. 125
Power windows ................................. 128
Opening and closing the windows 128
Retractable hardtop........................... 130
Opening and closing the
retractable hardtop ...................... 130
Wind screen ................................. 135
Driving systems ................................. 136
Cruise control .............................. 136
Useful features .................................. 139
Interior storage spaces ................ 139
Ashtray ........................................ 142
Cigarette lighter ........................... 143
Telephone* .................................. 143

23 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Cup holder
140
2
Center air vent adjustment
98
Side air vent adjustment
98
3
Climate control
102
Rear window defroster
102
4
Audio system
111
5
Seat heater* passenger
side
82
6
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp
71
Tow-away alarm switch
72
7
Central locking switch
79
8
Hazard warning flasher
switch – switching on/off
86
9
ESP control switch
68
a
Headlamp washer* switch
99
b
Seat heater* driver’s side
82

24 At a glanceCenter consoleLower Part
Item
Page
1
Selector lever for
automatic transmission*
93
Gearshift lever for manual
transmission
92
2
Storage compartment
3
Indicator lamp
7
62
4
Switch for opening/closing
windows on passenger
side
128
5
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
35
6
Switch for opening/closing
the hardtop
130
7
Storage compartment
140
Cigarette lighter
143
Item
Page
8
Parking brake lever
42
9
Switch for opening/closing
windows on the driver’s
side
128
a
Program mode selector for
automatic transmission*
93
b
Ashtray
142
Coin holder
142

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.

53 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
AirbagsWarning!
G
Airbags are designed to reduce the potential
of injury in certain frontal (front airbags) im-
pacts, or side (side impact airbags) impacts
which may cause significant injuries. How-
ever, no system available today can totally
eliminate injuries and fatalities.
The activation of the SRS temporarily releas-
es a small amount of dust from the airbags.
This dust, however, is neither injurious to
your health, nor does it indicate a fire in the
vehicle. The dust might cause some tempo-
rary breathing difficulty for people with asth-
ma or other breathing trouble. To avoid this,
you may wish to get out of the vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so. If you have any
breathing difficulty but cannot get out of the
vehicle after the airbag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
Warning!
G
To reduce the risk of injury when the front
airbags inflate, it is very important for the
driver and passenger to always be in a prop-
erly seated position and to wear your seat
belts.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision always be in normal seated position
with your back against the backrest. Fasten
your seat belt and ensure it is properly posi-
tioned on your body.
Since the airbag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating and hands
on steering wheel position will help to keep
you at a safe distance from the airbag. Oc-
cupants who are unbelted, out of position or
too close to the airbag can be seriously in-
jured by an airbag as it inflates with great
force in the blink of an eye:

Sit properly belted in an upright position
with your back against the seat back-
rest.


Adjust the driver seat as far as possible
rearward, still permitting proper opera-
tion of vehicle controls. The distance
from the center of the driver’s breast-
bone to the center of the airbag cover on
the steering wheel must be at least ten
inches (25 cm) or more. You should be
able to accomplish this by a combina-
tion of adjustments to the seat and
steering wheel. If you have any prob-
lems, please see your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.


Do not lean with your head or chest
close to the steering wheel or dash-
board.


Keep hands on the outside of steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in-
side the rim can increase the risk and
potential severity of hand/arm injury
when driver front airbag inflates.


Adjust the passenger seat as far as pos-
sible rearward from the dashboard when
the seat is occupied.


73 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission*
Good visibility
Climate control
Audio system
Power windows
Retractable hardtop
Driving systems
Useful features

101 Controls in detail
Good visibility
1Mirror cover
Swing sun visors down when you expe-
rience glare.

Push mirror cover1 to the side, as
required.
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 af-
ter a maximum of 12 minutes.
Activating
Switch on the ignition.

Press buttonF (
page 102).
The indicator lamp on the button lights
up.
Deactivating

Press buttonF (
page 102) again.
The indicator lamp on the button 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.!If the rear window defroster switches
off too soon and the indicator lamp
starts blinking, 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.

103 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 passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the AC
OFF
mode is selected.
Item
1
Windshield defroster vent
2
Side window defroster vent,
adjustable
3
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for side air vent
4
Side air vent, adjustable
5
Temperature controls for left and
right side passenger compartment
6
Air distribution control
7
Air recirculation/residual heat
8
AC cooling on/off (AC
OFF
)
9
Air volume control
a
Rear window defroster
b
Center air vents, adjustable
c
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for center air vents
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the slid-
ers for the center air ventsb to the
middle position.
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.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.

105 Controls in detail
Climate control
Decreasing
Turn the temperature control5
slightly downwards.
A blue marking will be visible and the
climate control system will correspond-
ingly adjust the interior air tempera-
ture.
Adjusting air volume
Use air volume control9 (
page 103) to
adjust the air volume. The following sym-
bols are found on the control:
Adjusting air distribution
Use air distribution control6
(page 103) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are found on the
control:
Symbol
Function
0
No ventilation
between0
andQ
Ventilation without a blow-
er, depending on the
speed driven
between1
and5
Ventilation with blower
Symbol
Function
cP
Directs air to the windows
b
Directs air into the passen-
ger compartment
d
Directs air to the footwells
a
Directs air through the
center, side and rear pas-
senger compartment air
vents

106 Controls in detailClimate controlAir 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 passenger compartment.
Activating
Press buttonÐ (
page 102).
The indicator lamp on theÐ button
comes on.Deactivating

Press buttonÐ (
page 102).
The indicator lamp on theÐ button
goes out.
The air recirculation mode is deactivated
automatically:


after five minutes if the outside temper-
ature is below approximately 41°F
(5 °C)


after five minutes if the air conditioning
is turned off


after 30 minutes if the outside temper-
ature is above approximately 41°F
(5 °C)
At outside temperatures above 79°F
(26 °C), the system will not automatically
switch back to outside air. A quantity of
outside air is added after approximately
30 minutes.
Air conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while
the engine is running and cools the interior
air to the temperature set by the operator.
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.iThe air recirculation mode is activated
automatically at high outside tempera-
tures.
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.