cruise control MERCEDES-BENZ SLK320 2003 R170 Owner's Manual

Contents
Automatic central locking .............. 78
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 80
Seats.................................................... 81
Heated seats* ................................ 81
Head restraints............................... 82
Lighting ................................................ 83
Exterior lamp switch ....................... 83
Combination switch........................ 84
Hazard warning flasher................... 85
Interior lighting ............................... 86
Instrument cluster ............................... 88
Instrument cluster illumination....... 88
Coolant temperature gauge............ 88
Trip odometer................................. 89
Tachometer .................................... 89
Outside temperature indicator ....... 90
Setting clock .................................. 90
Manual transmission ............................ 91
Shifting into reverse ....................... 92
Automatic transmission* ..................... 93
One-touch gearshifting ................... 94
Gear ranges .................................... 95
Gear selector lever position ........... 96
Program mode selector switch ....... 97
Accelerator position ....................... 98Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ........................ 98
Good visibility ...................................... 99
Rear view mirror............................. 99
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 100
Sun visors .................................... 101
Climate control .................................. 102
Setting the temperature ............... 104
Adjusting air volume .................... 104
Adjusting air distribution .............. 104
Air recirculation mode .................. 105
Rear window defroster ................. 105
Air conditioning ............................ 106
Residual heat ............................... 107
Basic settings ............................... 108
Special settings............................ 108
Deactivating 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 .................................. 116Cassette mode............................. 118
CD mode ...................................... 120
Telephone* operation .................. 123
Power windows.................................. 127
Opening and closing
the side windows ......................... 127
Retractable hardtop........................... 129
Opening and closing
the retractable hardtop ................ 129
Wind screen ................................. 134
Driving systems ................................. 136
Cruise control .............................. 136
Useful features .................................. 139
Interior storage spaces ................ 139
Ashtray ........................................ 142
Cigarette lighter ........................... 143
Telephone* .................................. 143
Tele Aid ........................................ 144
Garage door opener ..................... 152
Operation......................................... 157
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 158
Driving instructions ........................... 159
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 159
Drinking and driving ..................... 159

19 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch

Turn signals
43


Windshield wipers
44


High beam
43
2
Cruise control lever
136
3
Instrument cluster
20, 88
4
Voice control system* le-
ver (see separate operat-
ing instructions)
5
Steering lock with ignition
29
6
Overhead control panel
25
7
Glove box
139
8
Center console
23, 24
9
Horn
10
Steering wheel adjustment
handle*
34
11
Hood lock release
171
12
Exterior lamp switch
43

136 Controls in detailDriving systems
Driving systemsThe driving system of your vehicle is
described on the following pages:

Cruise control, with which the vehicle
can maintain a preset speed
The BAS, ABS and ESP driving systems are
described in the “Safety and Security” sec-
tion (page 66).
Cruise control
Cruise control automatically maintains the
speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set any speed
over 20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column (
page 18).
Warning!
G
Cruise control is a convenience system de-
signed to assist the driver during vehicle op-
eration. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use cruise control if the road, traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate cruise control when driving
in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

137 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Cancel cruise control
4Resume at previously set speed
Saving current speed
Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever.
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated.Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel cruise
control:

Step on the brake pedal.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position3.
Cruise control will be canceled. The
last speed set will be stored for later
use.iOn uphill or downhill grades, cruise
control may not be able to maintain the
set speed. Once the grade eases, the
set speed will be resumed.
!Moving gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear se-
lector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding (e.g. on icy roads).iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.

138 Controls in detailDriving systemsSetting stored speed
(“Resume” function)
Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position4.
Cruise control will resume the last pre-
viously set speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.Setting a higher speed

Lift the cruise control lever to
position1 and hold it up until the de-
sired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed

Depress the cruise control lever to
position2 and hold it down until the
desired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Fine adjustment in 1 mph (1 km/h) in-
crements
Faster

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow1.
Slower

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow2.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to preset
speed could cause an accident and/or seri-
ous injury to you and others.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing),
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iVehicles with automatic transmission:
When you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will au-
tomatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not brake the vehi-
cle sufficiently.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
The set cruise controlled speed is
switched off when declutching exceeds
4 seconds during downshifting a gear.

164 OperationDriving instructionsVehicles with Sport Package*
Your vehicle is factory equipped with
“Y”-rated tires, which have a speed rating
of 186 mph (300 km / h).
Despite of the tire speed rating, local
speed limits should be obeyed. Use pru-
dent driving speeds appropriate to prevail-
ing conditions.Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move selector lever to positionN or de-
clutch in case of manual transmission. Try
to keep the vehicle under control by cor-
rective steering action.
Road salts and chemicals can adversely af-
fect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce
the normal brake effect.
We therefore recommend depressing the
brake pedal periodically when traveling at
length on salt-strewn roads. This can bring road salt impaired braking
efficiency back to normal. Be very careful
that you carry out these braking maneu-
vers without endangering any other road
users.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt-treated roads, the braking efficien-
cy should be tested as soon as possible af-
ter driving is resumed while observing the
safety rules in the previous paragraph.
iInformation on driving with snow
chains (
page 184).
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.
Warning!
G
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make
sure that snow is kept clear of the exhaust
pipe and from around the vehicle with the
engine running. Otherwise, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle in-
terior resulting in unconsciousness and
death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation,
open a window slightly on the side of the ve-
hicle not facing the wind.

279 Technical terms
ABS
(A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)
Prevents the wheels from locking up
during braking so that the vehicle can
continue to be steered.
Alignment bolt
Metal pin with thread. The centering
pin is an aid used when changing a tire
to align the wheel with the wheel hub.
BabySmart
TM
airbag deactivation
system
This system detects if a special system
compatible child restraint seat is in-
stalled on the passenger seat. The sys-
tem will automatically deactivate the
passenger front airbag when such a
seat is properly installed (indicator
lamp
7
in the center console lights
up). See your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for availability.BabySmart
TM
compatible child seats
Special restraint system for children.
The sensor system for the passenger
seat prevents deployment of the pas-
senger front airbag if a BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat is installed.
BAS
(B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)
System for potentially reducing braking
distances in emergency braking situa-
tions. The system is activated when it
senses an emergency based on how
fast the brake is applied.
CAC
(C
ustomer A
ssistance C
enter)
Mercedes-Benz customer service cen-
ter, which can help you with any ques-
tions about your vehicle and provide
assistance in the event of a break-
down.CAN system
(C
ontroller A
rea N
etwork)
Data bus network serving to control ve-
hicle functions such as door locking or
windshield wiping.
Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the passen-
ger compartment needed for vehicle
operation and monitoring.
Collapsible tire
An especially compact spare tire that
must be inflated with a provided air
pump before using. It should only be
used to bring the vehicle to the nearest
service station.
Cruise control
Driving convenience system for auto-
matically maintaining the vehicle speed
set by the driver.

288 IndexChild safety 60
Airbags 54
Infant and child restraint systems 57,
60
Cigarette lighter 143
Cleaning
Cloth upholstery 192
Cup holder 191
Gear selector lever 191
Hard plastic trim items 191
Headliner 192
Instrument cluster 191
Leather upholstery 192
Light alloy wheels 191
Plastic and rubber parts 192
Rear window 190
Seat belts 192
Steering wheel 191
Windows 190
Windshield 45
Wiper blades 190
Cleaning*
Headlamps 100
Climate control 102
Adjusting air distribution 104
Adjusting air volume 104Air conditioning 106
Air recirculation mode 105
Deactivating the climate control
system 110
Defogging windshield 109
Defrosting 108
Reactivating the climate control
system 110
Rear window defroster 105
Residual heat utilization 107
Residual ventilation 107
Setting the temperature 104
Clock 21
Setting 90
Closing
Glove box 139
Hood 172
Retractable hardtop 215
Side windows 127
Trunk 77
Windows 127
Closing hardtop
In an emergency 215
Cloth upholstery
Cleaning 192
Cockpit 18, 279Coin holder 142
Collapsible tire 279
Combination switch 84, 85
High beam flasher 44, 85
Turn signals 43
Windshield wipers 44
Consumer information 276
Control and operation of radio
transmitters 166
Coolant 176, 273
Adding 176, 177
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
quantity 273
Capacities 269
Checking level 176
Temperature 167
Temperature gauge 88
Coolant level
Checking 170, 176
Cruise control 136, 279
Canceling 137
Driving downhill 137
Driving uphill 137
Fine adjustment 138
Saving current speed 137
Setting speeds 138

289 Index
Cruise control lever 136
For cruise control 136
Cup holder 140
Cleaning 191
Customer Assistance Center (CAC) 279
D
Daytime running lamp mode 83
Deactivating
Air conditioning 106
Air recirculation mode 105
Alarm 71
Anti-theft alarm system 71
Climate control 103
Cruise control 137
ESP 70
Hazard warning flasher 85
Headlamps 48
Immobilizer 71
Rear window defroster 105
Residual heat 107
Seat heater* 81
Tow-away alarm 72
Deactivating automatic central
locking 79
Deep water see Standing water 165
DefoggingWindshield 109
Defrosting 108
Difficulties
While driving see Problems while
driving 45
With starting 41
Direction of rotation (tires) 181
Discharged battery
Jump starting 247
Disconnecting
Vehicle battery 246
Display elements
Audio system 112
Displays
Service indicator 185
Door unlock
With Tele Aid 151
Doors
Opening from inside vehicle 78
Opening from outside 75
Downhill driving
Cruise control 137
Downshifting 92, 94
Drink holder see Cup holder 140
Drinking and driving 159
DrivingGeneral instructions 37, 159
In winter 164
Problems 45
Safety systems 66
Through standing water 165
Traveling abroad 165
Driving instructions 159
Driving off 161
Driving safety systems
ABS 66
BAS 68
ESP 68
Driving systems 136
Cruise control 136
Driving safety systems 66
E
Electrical fuses 253
Electrical system
Technical data 266
Electronic Stability Program see ESP 22,
68
Electronic stability program see ESP 280
Emergency call system 145
Requirements 145

290 IndexEmergency calls
Initiating an emergency call 147
With Tele Aid 146
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 98
Emergency operations
Closing hardtop 215
Opening hardtop 215
Remote door unlock 151
Unlocking the vehicle 210
Emergency release for trunk lid 78
Emergency tensioning device see
ETD 60, 280
Emission control 167
Emission control label 258
Engine
Compartment 171
Starting with automatic
transmission* 41
Starting with manual
transmission 40
Starting with the key 40, 41
Technical data 260
Turning off with the key 48
Engine cleaning 189
Engine compartment 171Hood 171
Engine malfunction indicator lamp 21,
199
Engine number 280
Engine oil 172, 271
Adding 175
Additives 271
Checking level 172
Consumption 172
Filler neck 175
Viscosity 280
Engine oil level see Oil level 170
ESP 22, 68, 280
Switching off 70
Switching on 70
Warning lamp 194
ETD 280
Safety guidelines 55
ETD (Emergency tensioning device) 60
Exterior lamp switch 83
Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting 35
F
Fastening the seat belts 37
Fine adjustment
Cruise control 138First aid kit 206
Flat tire 229
Lowering the vehicle 242
Mounting the spare wheel 238
Preparing the vehicle 229
Spare wheel 207
TIREFIT 208, 209
Flexible Service System (FSS) 185, 280
Fog lamp, rear 84, 222
Fog lamps
Replacing bulbs 221
Fog lamps, front
Replacing bulbs 222
Switching on 84
Front airbags 56
Front lamps
Replacing bulbs 221, 223
Switching on 83
Front seats
Heater* 81
FSS (Flexible Service System) 185, 280