Electrical MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350 2005 R171 User Guide

254 Controls in detailUseful featuresCigarette lighter
1Cigarette lighter

Switch on the ignition (
page 35).

Push in cigarette lighter1.
Cigarette lighter1 will pop out auto-
matically when hot.

Reinsert cigarette lighter1 in its
socket after use.
Electrical outlet
An electrical outlet1 is located in the
passenger footwell on the side panel of the
center console.
Switch on the ignition (
page 35).

Flip up cover of electrical outlet1 and
insert electrical plug (cigarette lighter
type).
Warning!
G
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the cigarette lighter; they are extremely hot.
Hold the knob only.
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. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.iThe lighter socket can be used to ac-
commodate electrical accessories up
to a maximum of 85 W.
iThe electrical outlet can be used to ac-
commodate electrical consumers
(e.g. air pump, auxiliary lamps) up to a
maximum of 180 W.

280 OperationDriving instructionsRoad salts and chemicals can adversely af-
fect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce
the normal brake effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn
roads can bring road-salt-impaired braking
efficiency back to normal.
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.
For more information, see “Winter driving”
(
page 327).
Standing water
Warning
G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking ma-
neuvers.
Warning!
G
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make
sure snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe
and from around the vehicle with the engine
running. Otherwise, deadly carbon monox-
ide (CO) gases may enter the vehicle interi-
or, 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.Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose. In-
dicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice.
!Do not drive through flooded areas or
water of unknown depth. Before driving
through water, determine its depth.
Never accelerate before driving into
water. The bow wave could force water
into the engine and auxiliary equip-
ment, thus damaging them.
If you must drive through standing wa-
ter, drive slowly to prevent water from
entering the passenger compartment
or the engine compartment. Water in
these areas could cause damage to
electrical components or wiring of the
engine or transmission, or could result
in water being ingested by the engine
through the air intake, causing severe
internal engine damage. Any such dam-
age is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

335 Operation
Vehicle care
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others ap-
plied later.
We have selected car-care products and
compiled recommendations which are
specially matched to our vehicles and
which always reflect the latest technology.
You can obtain Mercedes-Benz approved
car-care products at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.Scratches, corrosive deposits, corrosion or
damage due to negligent or incorrect care
cannot always be removed or repaired with
the car-care products recommended here.
In such cases it is best to seek aid at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The following topics deal with the cleaning
and care of your vehicle and give important
“how-to” information as well as references
to Mercedes-Benz approved car-care
products.Power washer
When using a power washer for cleaning
the vehicle, always observe manufactur-
er’s operating instructions.
Tar stains
Quickly remove tar stains before they dry
and become more difficult to remove. A tar
remover is recommended.
!Never use a round nozzle to
power-wash tires. The intense jet of
water can result in damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.
Always keep the jet of water moving
across the surface. Do not aim directly
at electrical parts, electrical connec-
tors, seals, or other rubber parts.

336 OperationVehicle carePaintwork, painted body components
Mercedes-Benz approved Paint Care
should be applied when water drops on the
paint surface do not “bead up”, normally
every three to five months, depending on
climate and washing detergent used.
Mercedes-Benz approved Paint Cleaner
should be applied if the paint surface
shows signs of embedded dirt (i.e. loss of
gloss).
Do not apply any of these products or wax
if your vehicle is parked in the sun or if the
hood is still hot.
Use the appropriate MB-Touch-Up Stick
for quick and provisional repairs of minor
paint damage (i.e. chips from stones, vehi-
cle doors, etc.).Engine cleaning
Prior to cleaning the engine compartment,
make sure to protect electrical compo-
nents and connectors from the intrusion of
water and cleaning agents.
Corrosion protection, such as
MB Anticorrosion Wax should be applied to
the engine compartment after every en-
gine cleaning. Before applying, all control
linkage bushings and joints should be lu-
bricated. The poly-V-belt and all pulleys
should be protected from any wax.Vehicle washing
Do not use hot water or wash your vehicle
in direct sunlight. Only use a mild car wash
detergent, such as Mercedes-Benz ap-
proved Car Shampoo.
Thoroughly spray the vehicle with a dif-
fused jet of water. Direct only a very weak
spray towards the ventilation intake. Use
plenty of water and rinse the sponge and
chamois frequently.
Rinse with clear water and thoroughly dry
with a chamois. Do not allow cleaning
agents to dry on the finish.
Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in ex-
terior rear view mirrors prior to running the
vehicle through an automatic car wash to
prevent damage to the mirrors.

342 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during thebulb self-check when switching on ignition
(
page 35), have the respective bulb
checked and replaced if necessary.
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
-
The yellow ABS indicator lamp comes on
while driving.
The ABS has detected a malfunction
and has switched off. The BAS and
ESP are also switched off (see mes-
sages in display).
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ABS avail-
able.
If the ABS control unit is malfunction-
ing, other systems such as the
automatic transmission* may also be
malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.

Read and observe the messages in
the display (
page 348).

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts and the ABS has switched
off.
The battery might not be charged suf-
ficiently.

Switch off electrical consumers that
are currently not needed, e.g. seat
heating*.

If necessary, have the generator and
battery checked.
When the voltage is above this value
again, the ABS is operational again.

355 Practical hints
What to do if …
Symbol messagesDisplay symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Battery/Alternator
Visit workshop
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

Alternator malfunctioning


Broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake system
requires electrical energy and may
be operating with restricted capa-
bility. Considerably greater brake
pedal force is required and the stop-
ping distance is increased.

Stop immediately and check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Notify an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is in order:

Drive immediately to the nearest autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center. Adjust driv-
ing to be consistent with reduced
braking responsiveness.

393 Practical hints
Flat tire
Inflating the collapsible tire
1Flap
2Air pump switch
3Electrical plug
4Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
5Union nut

Take the electric air pump out of the
trunk (
page 369).

Open flap1 on air pump.

Pull out electrical plug3 and air hose
with pressure gauge4.

Close vent screw on air hose4.

Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve.

Screw air hose4 with union nut5
onto the collapsible tire valve.

Make sure electric air pump switch2
is set to0.

Insert electrical plug3 into vehicle
cigarette lighter socket.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1.
Warning!
G
Inflate collapsible tire only after the wheel is
properly mounted.
Inflate the collapsible tire using the electric
pump (
page 369) before
lowering the ve-
hicle.
Warning!
G
Observe instructions on air pump label.!Do not lower the vehicle before inflat-
ing the collapsible tire. Otherwise the
rim may be damaged.


394 Practical hintsFlat tire
PressI on electric air pump switch2.
The electric air pump switches on and
inflates the collapsible tire.

Inflate the collapsible tire to approxi-
mately 51 psi (3.5 bar).
This takes about five minutes for the
collapsible tire. Air hose4 and union
nut5 can become hot during infla-
tion. Exercise proper caution to avoid
burning yourself when using the equip-
ment.

Press0 on electric air pump switch2.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0.
The electric air pump should now be
switched off.

If the tire inflation pressure is above
51 psi (3.5 bar), release excess tire in-
flation pressure using the vent screw
on air hose4.

Detach the electric air pump.

Reinstall collapsible tire valve cap.

Store electrical plug3 and air
hose4 behind flap 1 and place the
electric air pump back in the trunk.
!Do not operate the electric air pump
longer than six minutes without inter-
ruption. Otherwise it may overheat.
You may operate the electric air pump
again after it has cooled off.
Warning!
G
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and / or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being over-
heated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.


397 Practical hints
Battery
Disconnecting the battery
1Water tray
2Lock

Depress parking brake firmly or move
g e a r s e l ec t o r le v e r * t o p o s it io nP (man-
ual transmission to Neutral).

Switch off all electrical consumers.

Remove SmartKey from starter switch.

Open the hood (
page 287).

Turn locks2 one quarter turn.

Remove water tray1.

Read and observe safety instructions
and precautions (
page 396).

Disconnect the battery negative lead.

Remove the cover from the positive
terminal.

Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing the battery
Remove the screw on the swivel bar.

Remove the swivel bar.

Take out the battery.
Charging and reinstalling battery
Warning!
G
With a disconnected battery

you will no longer be able to turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch


automatic transmission*: the gear se-
lector lever will remain locked in
positionP
Warning!
G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle unless the accessory battery
charge unit approved by Mercedes-Benz is
being used. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury.
An accessory battery charge unit specially
adapted for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz is
available, permitting the charging of the bat-
tery in its installed position. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for infor-
mation and availability. Charge battery in
accordance with the separate instructions
for the accessory battery charger.


398 Practical hintsBattery
Charge battery in accordance with the
instructions of the battery charger
manufacturer.

Reinstall the charged battery. Follow
the previously described steps in re-
verse order.
Reconnecting the battery
Switch off all electrical consumers.

Connect the positive lead and fasten its
cover.

Connect the negative lead.

Reinstall the water tray.Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Large 12-volt storage batteries contain
lead. Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.!Never invert the terminal connections!!The battery, its filler caps and the vent
tube must always be securely installed
when the vehicle is in operation.
iThe following procedures must be car-
ried out following any interruption of
battery power (e.g. due to reconnec-
tion):

Set the clock (
page 133).


Resynchronize side windows
(page 236).