MERCEDES-BENZ SLK320 2003 R170 Manual Online

81 Controls in detail
Seats
Seats
Information on seat adjustment can be
found in the “Getting started” section
(page 30).
Heated seats*
The seat heater switches are located in the
center console.
1Normal heating
2Rapid heating
Make sure that the ignition is switched
on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
light up.Switching on seat heating

Press upper switch position1.
One indicator lamp on the switch lights
up.
Switching on rapid seat heating

Press lower switch position2.
Both indicator lamps on the switch light
up.Switching off seat heating

If one indicator lamp is on, press upper
switch position1.

If both indicator lamps are on, press
lower switch position2.
!If one or both of the indicator lamps on
the seat heater switch are blinking,
there is insufficient voltage available
since too many electrical consumers
are turned on. The seat heater switches
off automatically.
The seat heater will switch back on
again automatically as soon as suffi-
cient voltage is available.
iThe system switches over to normal
heating mode after approximately five
minutes. Only one indicator lamp re-
mains lit. iThe seat heater will be automatically
switched off after approximately
30 minutes.

82 Controls in detailSeatsHead restraints Removing head restraint
1Lock button

Open the retractable hardtop
(page 129).

Pull head restraint to its highest
position.

Press lock button1 and pull out head
restraint.Installing head restraint

Insert head restraint and push it down
until it engages.

Adjust head restraint to desired posi-
tion (
page 32) or (
page 33).
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of
the head approximately at ear level.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.iSLK 32 AMG has integrated,
non-removable head restraints.
!Be sure to install the head restraint so
that it is facing in the right direction.
Otherwise you could damage the
mounting.

83 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For notes on how to switch on the head-
lamps and use the turn signals, see the
“Getting started” section (
page 43).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.Exterior lamp switch
M
Off
C
Parking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
Canada only: When engine is run-
ning, the low beam is also switched
on.
B
Low beam plus parking lamps or
high beam headlamps (combination
switch pushed forward).
ˆ
Standing lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚
Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)Daytime running lamp mode (Canada
only)
Vehicles with automatic transmission
When the engine is running and the
selector lever is in driving position, the low
beam headlamps are automatically
switched on.
When you shift from a driving position to
positionN orP, the low beam switches off
(2 seconds delay).
Vehicles with manual transmission
With the engine running, the low beam
headlamps are automatically switched on.
iIf you remove the key and open the
driver’s door while the parking lamps or
low beam headlamps are switched on,
then a warning sounds.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, the
low beam headlamps cannot be
switched off manually.

84 Controls in detailLightingFor nighttime driving you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to position
B
to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.
Switching on front fog lamps

Check that the low beam headlamps
are switched on.

Pull out exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The green indicator lamp
‡
in the
lamp switch lights up.Switching on rear fog lamp

Check that the low beam headlamps
are switched on.

Pull out exterior lamp switch to second
stop.
The yellow indicator lamp
†
in the
lamp switch lights up.
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left side of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasher
iThe high beam flasher is always avail-
able.
iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or low beam headlamps on.
Fog lamps should only be used in con-
junction with low beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding allow-
able lamp operation.

85 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on high beams
Turn exterior lamp switch to
position
B


Push the combination switch in
direction1.
The high beam symbol is illuminated on
the instrument cluster.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction2.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be activat-
ed with the ignition switched on or off. It is
activated automatically when an airbag is
deployed.
The switch is located on the center
console.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on hazard warning flasher

Press hazard warning flasher switch1.
All the turn signals will blink.
Switching off hazard flasher

Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.

86 Controls in detailLightingInterior lighting
1Switch for automatic control
2Switch for interior lightingAutomatic control
Activating

Turn switch1 to the right.
Interior lighting is switched on in dark-
ness when you

unlock the vehicle


open a door


open the trunk lid
The interior lighting switches itself off
again after a short pause.Deactivating

Turn switch1 to the left.
The interior lighting remains switched
off in darkness, even when you

unlock the vehicle


open a door


open the trunk lid
iIf the door remains open, the interior
lighting switches off automatically after
approximately five minutes.

87 Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual control
Activating
Press switch2.
The interior lighting is switched on.
Deactivating

Press switch2 again.
The interior lighting is switched off.Night security illumination
If you exit the vehicle after driving with the
exterior lighting on, it switches on again for
added security for approximately
30 seconds after closing the last door.
The lamp-on time period can be changed at
your Mercedes-Benz Center.iIf the interior lighting is switched on
manually, it will not go out automatical-
ly. This could cause the battery to be-
come discharged.
iThe trunk lighting is switched on and
off simultaneously with the interior
lighting.

88 Controls in detailInstrument cluster
Instrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
page 20).
The instrument cluster is activated when
you


open the driver’s door


turn the key in steering lock to
position2 (
page 29)


press the left knob3 (
page 20)
Instrument cluster illumination
Instrument lamps
To brighten illumination
Turn knob3 (
page 20) clockwise.
The instrument lamps will brighten.
To dim illumination

Turn knob3 counterclockwise.
The instrument lamps will dim.
Display illumination

Press knob3.
With key removed or in steering lock
position0 or1 (
page 29), the display
is illuminated for a short time.
Coolant temperature gauge
Under normal driving conditions, the cool-
ant temperature may rise to 248°F
(120°C). The coolant temperature may
climb to the red marking:

at high outside temperatures


during stop-and-go city traffic


when driving on hilly terrain
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature in the red zone.
Doing so may cause serious engine dam-
age which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

89 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Trip odometer
Press the left knob3 (
page 20) once
with key in steering lock position2
(
page 29) until the trip odometer is
reset
or

Press the left knob3 (
page 20) twice
with key removed or in steering lock
position0 or1 (
page 29) until the
trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
(page 20) denotes excessive engine
speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly overheat-
ed can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns and can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until it
cools down.
iAvoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

90 Controls in detailInstrument clusterOutside temperature indicator
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
Setting clock
Hours
Pull out the right knob5 in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 20) and turn it
counterclockwise.
Minutes

Pull out the right knob5 in the instru-
ment cluster and turn it clockwise.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
iTo adjust the time by a single hour or a
few minutes, turn knob5 just a few de-
grees in the direction indicated for
hours or minutes.