fuel MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG 2005 R171 Owner's Guide

285 Operation
At the gas station

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.

Open fuel filler flap by pushing at point
indicated by arrow1.
The fuel filler flap springs open.

Turn fuel filler cap counterclockwise
and hold on to it until possible pressure
is released.

Take off fuel filler cap and set it in di-
rection of arrow2 in the recess on the
inside of 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 over-
fill.

Replace the fuel filler cap by turning it
clockwise until it engages audibly.

Close the fuel filler flap.
Check regularly and before a long tripEngine compartment (SLK 350, example)1Windshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system* reservoir
2Brake fluid reservoir
3Coolant expansion tank
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 yellow fuel
tank reserve warning lamp to flash and
the ? malfunction indicator lamp
(USA only) or the ± malfunction in-
dicator lamp (Canada only) to illumi-
nate.
For more information, see “Practical
hints” (
page 344).
iFor opening the hood, see “Hood”
(page 287).

286 OperationAt the gas stationWindshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system*
For information on refilling the reservoir,
see “Windshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system*” (
page 295).
Brake fluid
For information on brake fluid, see “Fuels,
coolants, lubricants, etc.” (page 422).Coolant
For normal replenishing, use water (pota-
ble water quality).
For more information on coolant, see
“Coolant” (
page 293) and “Fuels, cool-
ants, lubricants, etc.” (
page 422).
Engine oil level
For information on engine oil, see “Engine
oil” (
page 288).Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness.
For more information on vehicle lighting,
see “Replacing bulbs” (
page 380).
For information on switching on the exteri-
or lighting, see “Exterior lamp switch”
(
page 106).
Tire inflation pressure
For information on tire inflation pressure,
see “Important notes on tire inflation
pressure” (
page 307).
!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, see “Practical
hints” (
page 343).

289 Operation
Engine compartment
Checking engine oil level with the
control system, SLK 55 AMG
When checking the oil level

the vehicle must be parked on level
ground.


with the engine at operating tempera-
ture, the vehicle must have been sta-
tionary for at least five minutes with
the engine turned off.


with the engine not at operating tem-
perature, the vehicle must have been
stationary for at least 30 minutes with
the engine turned off.
To check the engine oil level via the
multifunction display, do the following:

Switch on the ignition (
page 35).
The standard display appears in the
multifunction display (
page 122).

Press buttonk orj on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the following message appears in
the multifunction display (
page 118):
One of the following messages will
subsequently appear in the multifunc-
tion display:


Engine oil level
ok


Add 1.0 qt.
(Canada:
1.0 liter
)
to reach max. oil level


Add 1.5 qts.
(Canada:
1.5 liters
)
to reach max. oil level


Add 2.0 qts.
(Canada:
2.0 liters
)
to reach max. oil level

If necessary, add engine oil.
For adding engine oil, see “Adding en-
gine oil” (
page 292).
For more information on engine oil, see
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 422).iIf you want to interrupt the checking
procedure, press buttonk orj
on the multifunction steering wheel
(page 118).

291 Operation
Engine compartment
Checking engine oil level with the oil
dipstick, SLK 350
When checking the oil level

the vehicle must be parked on level
ground.


with the engine at operating tempera-
ture, the vehicle must have been sta-
tionary for at least five minutes with
the engine turned off.


with the engine not at operating tem-
perature, the vehicle must have been
stationary for at least 30 minutes with
the engine turned off.1Oil dipstick
2Upper (max) mark
3Lower (min) mark
To check the engine oil level with the oil
dipstick, do the following:

Open the hood (
page 287).

Pull out oil dipstick1.

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.
The oil level is correct when it is be-
tween the lower (min) mark3 and
upper (max) mark2 of oil dipstick1.

If necessary, add engine oil.
For adding engine oil, see “Adding en-
gine oil” (
page 292).
For more information on engine oil, see
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 422).
For more information on messages in the
multifunction display concerning engine
oil, see the “Practical hints” section
(page 348).iThe filling quantity between the upper
and lower marks on the oil dipstick is
approximately 2.1 US qt. (2.0 l).

300 OperationTires and wheelsDirection of rotation
Unidirectional tires offer added advan-
tages, such as better hydroplaning perfor-
mance. To benefit, however, you must
make sure the tires rotate in the direction
specified.
An arrow on the sidewall indicates the
intended direction of rotation (spinning) of
the tire.
Loading the vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry.

The Tire and Loading Information
placard (Example A) or the Vehicle Tire
Information placard (Example B) can be
found on the driver’s door B-pillar. This
placard tells you important information
about the number of people that can be
in the vehicle and the total weight that
can be carried in the vehicle. It also
contains information on the proper size
and recommended tire inflation
pressures for the original equipment
tires on your vehicle.


The Certification label, also found on
the driver’s door B-pillar tells you about
the gross weight capacity of your vehi-
cle, called the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants,
fuel and cargo. The Certification label
also tells you about the front and rear
axle weight capacity, called the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). The GAWR
is the total allowable weight that can be
carried by a single axle (front or rear).
Never exceed the GVWR or GAWR for
either the front axle or rear axle.
iSpare wheels may be mounted against
the direction of rotation (spinning) even
with a unidirectional tire for temporary
use only until the regular drive wheel
has been repaired or replaced. Always
observe and follow applicable tempo-
rary use restrictions and speed limita-
tions indicated on the spare wheel.

306 OperationTires and wheelsRecommended tire inflation pressure
Your vehicle is equipped with either the
Tire and Loading Information placard
(Example A) or the Vehicle Tire Information
placard (Example B) located on the driver’s
door B-pillar (
page 301).The tire inflation pressure should be
checked regularly and should only be ad-
justed on cold tires. The tires can be con-
sidered cold if the vehicle has been parked
for at least three hours or driven less than
one mile (1.6 km).
Follow recommended cold tire inflation
pressures listed on placard.
Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best handling, tread life and
riding comfort.
In addition to the tire placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar, also consult the fuel
filler flap for any additional information
pertaining to special driving situations. For
more information, see “Important notes on
tire inflation pressure” (
page 307).Placard (Example A)
1Tire and Loading Information placard
with recommended cold tire inflation
pressures
Placard (Example A) lists the recommend-
ed cold tire inflation pressures for maxi-
mum loaded vehicle weight. The tire
inflation pressures listed apply to the tires
installed as original equipment.
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.
iData shown on placard examples is for
illustration purposes only. Tire data is
specific to each vehicle and may vary
from data shown in the illustrations
below. Refer to placard on vehicle for
actual data specific to your vehicle.

307 Operation
Tires and wheels
Placard (Example B)
1Vehicle Tire Information placard with
recommended cold tire inflation
pressures
Placard (Example B) lists the recommend-
ed cold tire inflation pressures for maxi-
mum loaded vehicle weight. The tire
inflation pressures listed apply to the tires
installed as original equipment.Important notes on tire inflation
pressure
Tire temperature and tire inflation pressure
are also increased while driving, depending
on the driving speed and the tire load.
If you will be driving your vehicle at high
speeds of 100 mph (160 km / h) or higher,
where it is legal and conditions allow,
consult the placard on the inside of the fuel
filler flap on how to adjust the cold tire in-
flation pressure. If you do not adjust the
tire inflation pressure, excessive heat can
build up and result in sudden tire failure.Be sure to readjust the tire inflation
pressure for normal driving speeds. You
should wait until the tires are cold before
adjusting the tire inflation pressure.
Some vehicles may have supplemental tire
pressure information for vehicle loads less
than the maximum loaded vehicle condi-
tion. If such information is provided, it can
be found on the placard located on the in-
side of the fuel filler flap.
Tire inflation pressure changes by approxi-
mately 1.5 psi (0.1 bar) per 18°F (10°C) of
air temperature change. Keep this in mind
when checking tire inflation pressure
where the temperature is different from
the outside temperature.
iPlacard (Example B) may list
recommended cold tire inflation
pressures for different vehicle loads.
Warning!
G
If the tire inflation pressure repeatedly
drops:

Check the tires for punctures from
foreign objects.


Check to see whether air is leaking from
the valves or from around the rim.

309 Operation
Tires and wheels
Warning!
G
When the multifunction display shows the
message
Low pressure mode Check
tires max. Speed 50 mph
, one or more
of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
You should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them to the
proper tire inflation pressure as indicated on
the vehicle’s tire information placard. Driv-
ing on a significantly under-inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can lead to
tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Each tire, including the spare, should be
checked monthly when cold and set to the
recommended tire inflation pressure as
specified in the vehicle placard and owner’s
manual.
iThe recommended tire inflation pres-
sures for your vehicle can be found on
the tire placard located on the driver’s
door B-pillar (
page 301). The tire in-
flation pressures are not listed in the
owner’s manual.
Warning!
G
The Run Flat Indicator does not indicate a
warning for wrongly selected tire inflation
pressures. Always adjust tire inflation pres-
sure according to the placard on the driver’s
door B-pillar or fuel filler flap.
The Run Flat Indicator does not replace reg-
ular checks of the tire inflation pressures
since a gradual pressure loss in all four tires
cannot be detected by the Run Flat
Indicator.
The Run Flat Indicator is not able to issue a
warning due to a sudden dramatic loss of
tire inflation pressure (e.g. tire blowout
caused by a foreign object). In this case
bring the vehicle to a halt by carefully apply-
ing the brakes and avoiding abrupt steering
maneuvers.

310 OperationTires and wheels
Reactivating the Run Flat Indicator
The tire inflation pressure monitor must be
reactivated in the following situations:

If you have changed the tire inflation
pressure


If you have replaced the wheels or tires


If you have installed new wheels or
tires

Using the tire placard on the driver’s
door B-pillar or, if available, the inside
of the fuel filler flap, make sure the tire
inflation pressure of all four tires is cor-
rect.

Switch on the ignition (
page 35).
The standard display menu appears in
the multifunction display (page 122)

Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the following message appears in
the multifunction display:Run Flat Indicator
active
Reactivation poss.: +

Press buttonæ.
The following message will appear in
the multifunction display:Tire pres. now

OK?

Warning!
G
Follow recommend 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.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit or vehicle capacity
weight as indicated on the placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires
can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout.
Warning!
G
The Run Flat Indicator can only warn you in
a reliable manner if you have set the correct
tire inflation pressures for each tire.
If an incorrect tire inflation pressure was
set, the system will monitor the pressure ac-
cording to the incorrect value.

311 Operation
Tires and wheels
If you wish to confirm activation:
Press buttonæ.
The following message will appear in
the multifunction display:Run Flat Indicator
reactivated
After a certain “learning phase”, the Run
Flat Indicator checks the set pressure val-
ues for all four tires.
If you wish to cancel activation:
Press buttonç.
or

Wait until the messageTire pres. now
OK?disappears.Potential problems associated with
underinflated and overinflated tires
Underinflated tire inflation pressure
Underinflated tires can:


cause excessive and uneven tire wear


adversely affect fuel economy


lead to tire failure from being
overheated


adversely affect handling
characteristicsOverinflated tire inflation pressure
Overinflated tires can:


adversely affect handling
characteristics


cause uneven tire wear


be more prone to damage from road
hazards


adversely affect ride comfort


increase stopping distance
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
overheated.
Warning!
G
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
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.