climate control MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 2008 R171 Owner's Guide

186 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
Reactivating
Switch on the ignition (page 37).
Press button´ (page 184) again.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.
or
Press buttonU (page 184).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. Air volume and air dis-
tribution are adjusted automatically.
Operating the climate control system
in automatic modeActivating
Press buttonU (page 184) while
the engine is running.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air volume and air dis-
tribution are adjusted automatically.
Use temperature controls4and6
orbandc (
page 184) to sepa-
rately adjust the air temperature on
each side of the passenger com-
partment.
The temperature of the vehicle interior
is adjusted automatically.
Deactivating
Press buttonU (page 184) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The air volume changes to level2
and the air distribution changes
tob. Automatic control of air
volume and air distribution is switched
off.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls4andc for
the driver’s side or6andb for the
passenger side (
page 184) 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). The automatic climate
control will adjust to the set temperature
as fast as possible.
iWhen operating the automatic climate
control system in automatic mode, you will only
rarely need to adjust the temperature, air volume
and air distribution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehumidify is
switched on. This function can be switched off if
necessary.

187 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
Increasing
Press temperature button(s) 4
and/or6 (
page 184) until the
desired temperature appears in the
control panel displaye (
page 184).
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.
Decreasing
Press temperature button(s) b
and/orc (
page 184) until the
desired temperature appears in the
control panel displaye (
page 184).
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.
Adjusting air distribution
Use air distribution control 8
(
page 184) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are found on the
control:
Turn air distribution control8
(
page 184) to the desired position.
The indicator lamp on the buttonU
(
page 184) goes out.
The automatic air distribution is
switched off. The air distribution is
controlled according to the selected
control setting.
SymbolFunction
aDirects air through the
center and side air vents
ZDirects air to the wind-
shield and through the side
air vents
bDirects air into the entire
vehicle interior
YDirects air to the footwells
and through the side air
vents
iYou can also turn the control to a position
between two symbols.

188 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
Opening the cockpit air vent and center
air vents
Center air vents
Turn thumbwheels 4and b
(
page 182) to the first stop.
Center air vents 3,5,a andcare
open.
Turn thumbwheels4 andb
(
page 182) upward all the way.
Only center air vents3andc are
open.
Cockpit air vent (depending on vehicle
production date)
Turn thumbwheel 2 (page 182)
upward all the way.
Cockpit air vent1 is open.Closing the cockpit air vent and center
air vents
Center air vents
Turn thumbwheels4andb
(
page 182) downward.
Center air vents 3,5,a andc are
closed.
Cockpit air vent (depending on vehicle
production date)
Turn thumbwheels2 (page 182)
downward.
Cockpit air vent1 is closed.
Opening and closing side air vents
Turn thumbwheels8andd
(
page 182) in the corresponding
direction.
Side air vents7ande are open or
closed.
Adjusting air volume
Use buttonU (
page 184) for auto-
matic mode or air volume control1
(
page 184) to adjust air volume
manually.
Eleven blower speeds are available.
Turn air volume control1
(
page 184) to the desired position.
The indicator lamp on buttonU
(
page 184) goes out.
The automatic operation of air volume
switches off.

189 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
side windows.
Activating
Press buttonP (page 184).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning switches
automatically to the following functions:

cooling on to dehumidify

maximum blowing and heating
power

air flows onto the windshield and
the front side windowsDeactivating
Press buttonP (page 184) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.
Windows fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on
(
page 56).
Press buttonU (page 184).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. Air distribution and air
volume are adjusted automatically.
If the automatic air distribution and air
volume are switched off:
Turn air distribution control8 to
positionaorY (
page 184).
Maximum cooling MAX COOL
When operating the automatic climate
control system in automatic modeU
and there is a high need for cooling,
MAX COOL is activated. This provides the
fastest possible cooling of the vehicle’s in-
terior (when retractable hardtop is closed).
MAX COOL will appear in displaye
(
page 184).
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are clear again.
iWhen you have activated the front defroster
using buttonP, no other settings are
possible.
iThe cooling remains switched on.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.

190 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the interior.
Activating
Press button, (page 184).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating
Press button, (page 184) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.Air recirculation mode with
convenience closing or opening featureWarning!G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 180) is activated, or
press buttonP.
iThe air recirculation mode activates auto-
matically at high outside temperatures.
The indicator lamp on button, is not lit when
the air recirculation mode is automatically
switched on.
A quantity of outside air is added after
approximately 30 minutes.
iThe air recirculation mode is deactivated
automatically:

after 5 minutes if the outside temperature is
below approximately 41°F (5°C)

after 5 minutes if the air conditioning is
turned off (
page 191)

after 30 minutes if the outside temperature
is above approximately 41°F (5°C)
Warning!G
Never operate the side windows if there is
the possibility of anyone being harmed by
the closing procedure.
When using the air recirculation mode with
convenience closing feature, should the up-
ward movement of a window be blocked by
some obstruction including but not limited
to arms, hands, fingers, etc., the automatic
reversal feature will not operate.
In the event that the closing procedure
causes potential danger, the closing of the
door windows can be immediately halted by
releasing 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.

191 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
Convenience closing
Press and hold button, until the
windows are closed or have reached
the desired position.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air recirculation mode is
activated.Convenience openingPress and hold button, until the
windows are opened or have reached
the desired position.
The indicator lamp on the button
goes out. The air recirculation mode
is deactivated.
Air conditioning
The cooling function, only operational
when the engine is running, cools the
vehicle interior down to the selected
temperature. The cooling function also
dehumidifies the air in the vehicle interior,
thus preventing the windows from
fogging up.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.
iThe closing of the windows can be immedi-
ately halted by releasing button,.iThe opening of the windows can be immedi-
ately halted by releasing button,.
A window will only return to its previous position
if it has not been moved to another position us-
ing the respective window switch after it was
closed with button,.
A window that has been moved will remain in its
current position if button, is used to reopen
the remaining windows.
Warning!G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.
iCondensation may drip from underneath the
vehicle. This is normal and not an indication of a
malfunction.

192 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the automatic
climate control system. The air in the
vehicle will then no longer be cooled or
dehumidified.
Press buttonœ (page 184).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You
can dehumidify the air with the air
conditioning.
Press buttonœ (page 184).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Residual heat and ventilation
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.Activating
Switch off the ignition (page 37).
Press buttonT (page 184).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The display in the automatic
climate control panel remains switched
off.
Deactivating
Press buttonT (page 184) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
iHow long the system will provide heating
depends on

the coolant temperature

the temperature set by the operator
The blower will run at speed setting1 regardless
of the air volume control setting.
iThe residual heat is automatically turned off:

when the ignition is switched on (page 37)

after about 30 minutes

if the battery voltage drops

235 Controls in detail
Power windows
Power windows
Opening and closing the windows
The windows are opened and closed elec-
trically. The switches for both door win-
dows are located on the driver’s door. The
switch for operating the passenger-side
door window is located on the passenger
door.
The door windows can also be operated
using the retractable hardtop switch
(
page 237). The rear side windows can
only be operated using the retractable
hardtop switch (
page 237) or the
SmartKey* (
page 238).
1Left door window
2Right door window
Warning!G
When closing the windows, make sure there
is no danger of anyone being harmed by the
closing procedure.
The closing of the door windows can be
immediately halted by releasing the switch
or, if the switch was pressed past the resis-
tance point and released, by pressing the
respective switch.
The door windows are equipped with the
express-close and automatic reversal
function. If a door window encounters an
obstruction that blocks its path in a circum-
stance where you pressed the switch past
the resistance point and released it to close
the window, the automatic reversal function
will stop the window and open it slightly.
If a door window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you are closing the window by pressing and
holding the switch, by pressing and holding
button‹on the SmartKey, by pushing
and holding the retractable hardtop switch,
or by pressing and holding the,button
on the climate control panel or automatic
climate control* panel, the automatic rever-
sal function will not operate.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle.
A child’s unsupervised access to a vehicle
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.

236 Controls in detail
Power windows
Switch on the ignition (page 37).Opening the door windows
Press and hold switch1or2 at the
symbolk to the resistance point.
The corresponding window will move
downwards until you release the
switch.
Closing the door windows
Press and hold switch1or2 at the
symbolj to the resistance point.
The corresponding window will move
upwards until you release the switch.Fully opening the door windows
(Express-open)
Press switch1or2 at the
symbolk past the resistance point
and release.
The corresponding window opens
completely.
Fully closing the door windows
(Express-close)
Press switch1or2 at the
symbolj past the resistance point
and release.
The corresponding window closes
completely.
iYou can also open or close the windows
using the SmartKey* (
page 238) or the
retractable hardtop switch (
page 237).
You can close and open the windows using the
air recirculation switch, in the control panel
of the climate control (
page 178) or the
automatic climate control* (
page 190).
iAfter switching off the ignition (page 37)
or removing the SmartKey from the starter
switch, the door windows can be operated:

until you open a door

for at least 5 minutes if no door was opened
Warning!G
If you press and hold the switch when clos-
ing the window, and upward movement of
the window is blocked by some obstruction
including but not limited to arms, hands,
fingers, etc., the automatic reversal will not
operate.
Warning!G
Driver’s door only:
If the switch is pressed again past the resis-
tance point and released within 5 seconds,
the automatic reversal will not operate.

329 Operation
Tires and wheels
Quality grades can be found, where appli-
cable, on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to
these grades.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For ex-
ample, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1
1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.Traction
The traction grades, from highest to low-
est, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades rep-
resent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.
TreadwearTractionTemperature
200AAA
Warning!G
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.