MERCEDES-BENZ SLK32AMG 2004 R171 Owner's Manual

171 Operation
At the gas station
At the gas station
Refueling
The fuel filler flap is located on the
right-hand side of the vehicle towards the
rear. Locking/unlocking the vehicle with
the remote control automatically
locks/unlocks the fuel filler flap.
Fuel filler flap
Remove the key from the steering lock.

Open the fuel filler flap by pushing at
the point indicated by the arrow.
The fuel filler flap springs open.

Turn the fuel cap to the left and hold on
to it until possible pressure is released.

Take off the cap and set it in the recess
on the fuel filler flap.
To prevent fuel vapors from escaping
into open air, fully insert filler nozzle
unit.

Only fill your tank until the filler nozzle
unit cuts out – do not top up or overfill.
Warning!
G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious inju-
ry. Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and skin contact, extinguish
all smoking materials. Never allow sparks,
flame or smoking materials near gasoline!
Failure to remove the cap slowly could result
in personal injury.
iUse only premium unleaded gasoline
with a minimum Posted Octane Rating
of 91 (average of 96 RON / 86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can
normally be found on the fuel pump.
More information on gasoline can be
found in the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet.


172 OperationAt the gas station
Replace the fuel cap by turning it to the
right.
You will hear when the fuel cap is tight-
ened.

Close the fuel filler flap.
You should hear the latch close shut.
Check regularly and before a long trip
1Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system*
More information on filling up the res-
ervoir can be found in the “Operation”
section (
page 184).
2Brake fluid3Coolant level
More information on coolant can be
found in the “Operation” section
(
page 180).
4Engine oil level
More information on engine oil can be
found in the “Operation” section
(page 175).
Opening hood (
page 174).
Warning!
G
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create pres-
sure in the system which could cause a gas
discharge. This could cause the gas to spray
back out when removing the fuel pump noz-
zle, which could cause personal injury.iLeaving the engine running and the fuel
cap open can cause the? lamp to
illuminate.
More information can be found in the
“Practical hints” section (
page 205).
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks immediately. Noti-
fy an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately. Do not add brake fluid as
this will not solve the problem. For
more information, (
page 204).


173 Operation
At the gas station
Coolant
For normal replenishing, use water (pota-
ble water quality). More information on
coolant can be found in the “Operation”
section (
page 180).
Exterior lamp switch (
page 83).Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For infor-
mation on replacing light bulbs, see “Prac-
tical hints” section (
page 226).
Exterior lamp switch (page 83).
Tire inflation pressure
More information on tire inflation pressure
can be found in the “Operation” section
(
page 186).

174 OperationEngine compartment
Engine compartmentHood
Opening
1Hood release

Pull hood release1 downwards.
The hood is unlocked.
2Lever for opening the hood

Push lever2 on the hood upwards.

Open the hood (do not pull up on the
lever) and then release it.
The hood will be automatically held
open at shoulder height by gas-filled
struts.
Warning!
G
Do not pull the release lever while the vehi-
cle is in motion. Otherwise the hood could
be forced open by passing air flow.
!To avoid damage to the windshield wip-
ers or hood, never open the hood if the
wiper arms are folded forward away
from the windshield.
Warning!
G
To help prevent personal injury, stay clear of
moving parts when the hood is open and the
engine is running. Make sure the hood is
properly closed before driving. When closing
the hood, use extreme caution not to catch
hands or fingers.
The radiator fan may continue to run for ap-
proximately 30 seconds or even restart af-
ter the engine has been turned off. Stay
clear of fan blades.

175 Operation
Engine compartment
Closing
Let the hood drop from a height of ap-
proximately 1ft (30cm).
The hood will lock audibly.

Make sure the hood is fully closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point
above the headlamps, then it is not
properly closed. Open it again and let it
drop with somewhat greater force.
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Higher oil consumption can
occur when

the vehicle is new


the vehicle is driven frequently at
higher engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.
Warning!
G
If you see flames or smoke coming from the
engine compartment, or if the coolant tem-
perature gauge indicates that the engine is
overheated, do not open the hood. Move
away from vehicle and do not open the hood
until the engine has cooled down. If neces-
sary, call the fire department.Warning!
G
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage
it is dangerous to touch any components (ig-
nition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnostic
socket) of the ignition system

with the engine running


while starting the engine


if ignition is “on” and the engine is
turned manually
Warning!
G
Be careful that you do not close the hood on
anyone.
iDo not use any special lubricant addi-
tives, as these may damage the drive
assemblies. Using special additives not
approved by Mercedes-Benz will
restrict your warranty entitlement.
More information on this subject is
available at any authorized Mer-
cedes-Benz Center.

176 OperationEngine compartmentChecking engine oil level via display
(SLK 320, SLK 32 AMG only)
When checking the oil level the vehicle
must

be parked on level ground


be at normal operating temperature


have been stationary for at least five
minutes with the engine turned off
To check the engine oil level via the display
in the speedometer, do the following:

Turn the key in the steering lock to
position2.
1Button

Wait until the symbols: andI
appear in the speedometer display.

Within one second press button1
twice.
One of the following messages will
subsequently appear in the display:

OKThe oil level is correct. Engine oil
does not to be added.


-1.0 Q(Canada:
-1.0 L
)

Add 1.0 quart (Canada:
1.0 liter) of engine oil.


-1.5 Q

(Canada:
-1.5 L
)

Add 1.5 quarts (Canada:
1.5 liters) of engine oil.


-2.0 Q(Canada:
-2.0 L
)

Add 2.0 quarts (Canada:
2.0 liters) of engine oil.For adding engine oil see (
page 179).
More information on engine oil can be
found in the “Technical data” section
(
page 277) and (
page 279).
Other display messages
If there is excess engine oil with the engine
at normal operating temperature, a signal
sounds and the following message will
blink in the display:
HIThe oil level is too high.
Have excess oil siphoned or drained
off. Contact your authorized Mer-
cedes-Benz Center.!If the message
-2.0 Q

(Canada:
-2.0 L
) blinks and a signal
sounds, add oil according to amount
displayed.

177 Operation
Engine compartment
TheI symbol flashes in the
speedometer display if a proper oil level
check cannot be performed.
If engine is at normal operating
temperature, wait five minutes before
repeating check procedure.

If engine is not yet at normal operating
temperature, wait 30 minutes before
repeating check procedure.See the “Practical hints” section
(
page 199) if the low engine oil level
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
comes on.
Checking engine oil level with the oil
dipstick
When checking the oil level the vehicle
must


be parked on level ground


be at normal operating temperature


have been stationary for at least five
minutes with the engine turned off
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained
off. It could cause damage to the
engine and catalytic converter not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iPerform the engine oil level check with
the dipstick if it cannot be completed
via the speedometer display
(page 177).
In this case we recommend that you
have the system checked at a
Mercedes-Benz Center.
iIf the: andI symbols are
continuously illuminated after pressing
button1 (
page 176) twice, and if
there is no change in the speedometer
display or the low engine oil level
warning lamp comes on, a malfunction
has occurred to the system.
Perform the engine oil level check with
the dipstick (page 177).
Visually check for oil leaks. If no obvi-
ous oil leaks are noted, drive to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to have the system checked.
iThe engine oil level can be checked by
either the oil dipstick or via the
speedometer display (SLK 320,
SLK 32 AMG only) in the instrument
cluster (
page 176). The amount of
engine oil needed is shown more
precisely in the speedometer display.

178 OperationEngine compartmentTo check the engine oil level with the oil
dipstick, do the following:
Open the hood (
page 174).

Pull out oil dipstick1 (
page 179)

Wipe oil dipstick1 clean.

Fully insert oil dipstick1 into the
dipstick guide tube.

Pull out oil dipstick1 again after
approximately three seconds to obtain
accurate reading.
Oil dipstickThe oil level is correct when it is between
the lower (min) and upper (max) mark of
the oil dipstick.

If necessary, add engine oil.
For adding engine oil see (
page 179).
More information on engine oil can be
found in the “Technical data” section
(
page 277) and (
page 279).
See the “Practical hints” section
(
page 199) if the low engine oil level
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
comes on.
iThe filling quantity between the upper
and lower marks on the oil dipstick is
approximately 2.1 US qt. (2.0 l).

179 Operation
Engine compartment
Adding engine oil
SLK 230 Kompressor1Oil dipstick
2Filler cap
Unscrew filler cap2 from filler neck.

Add engine oil as required. Be careful
not to overfill with oil.
Be careful not to spill any oil when adding.
Avoid environmental damage caused by oil
entering the ground or water.

Screw filler cap2 back on filler neck.
SLK 320, SLK 32 AMG1Oil dipstick
2Filler cap
Unscrew filler cap2 from filler neck.

Add engine oil as required. Be careful
not to overfill with oil.
!Only use approved engine oils. For a
listing of approved engine oils, refer to
the Factory Approved Service Products
pamphlet in your vehicle literature port-
folio.
In addition, check the oil filler cap for
important information pertaining to the
engine oil needing to meet a specific
Mercedes-Benz specification (e.g. MB
229.5). If such information is printed
on the oil filler cap, only use an engine
oil from the list of approved engine oils
in the Factory Approved Service Prod-
ucts pamphlet that meets the specifi-
cation indicated on the oil filler cap.
Using engine oils of other specification
may cause the FSS to incorrectly deter-
mine the next service interval and will
result in engine damage not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained
off. It could cause damage to the
engine and catalytic converter not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.


180 OperationEngine compartmentBe careful not to spill any oil when adding.
Avoid environmental damage caused by oil
entering the ground or water.
Screw filler cap2 back on filler neck.
More information on engine oil can be
found in the “Technical data” section
(
page 277) and (
page 279).
Transmission fluid level
The transmission fluid level does not need
to be checked. If you notice transmission
fluid loss or gear shifting malfunctions,
have an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
check the transmission.Coolant
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion/antifreeze. To check
the coolant level, the vehicle must be
parked on level ground and the engine
must be cool.
The coolant expansion tank is located on
the passenger side of the engine compart-
ment.
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained
off. It could cause damage to the
engine and catalytic converter not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Warning!
G
In order to avoid any possibly serious burns:

Use extreme caution when opening the
hood if there are any signs of steam or
coolant leaking from the cooling system,
or if the coolant temperature gauge indi-
cates that the coolant is overheated.


Do not remove pressure cap on coolant
reservoir if engine temperature is above
194°F (90°C). Allow engine to cool
down before removing cap. The coolant
reservoir contains hot fluid and is under
pressure.


Using a rag, slowly open the cap approx-
imately ½ turn to relieve excess pres-
sure. If opened immediately, scalding
hot fluid and steam will be blown out un-
der pressure.


Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine
parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene gly-
col which may burn if it comes into con-
tact with hot engine parts.