windshield wipers MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG 2006 R171 Owner's Manual

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
Vehicle data recording......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices........................... 19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 26
Center console ..................................... 28
Upper part ...................................... 28
Lower part ...................................... 29
Overhead control panel ........................ 30
Door control panel................................ 31
Getting started................................... 33
Unlocking ............................................. 34
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 34
Starter switch positions .................. 36
Adjusting .............................................. 38
Seats .............................................. 38
Steering wheel ................................ 42
Mirrors ............................................ 45
Driving .................................................. 47
Fastening the seat belts ................. 47
Starting the engine ......................... 50
Parking brake ................................. 52
Driving ............................................ 53
Switching on headlamps ................. 55
Turn signals .................................... 55
Windshield wipers ........................... 56
Problems while driving.................... 58
Parking and locking .............................. 59
Parking brake ................................. 59
Switching off headlamps................. 60
Turning off engine ........................... 61
Locking ........................................... 62

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Automatic transmission*:
Steering wheel gearshift
control*
165
SLK 55 AMG:
Steering wheel gearshift
control
167
2
Multifunction steering
wheel
26,
124
3
Horn
4
Instrument cluster
24,
120
5
Overhead control panel
30,
117
6
Glove box
266
7
Center console
28, 29
8
Sun sensor for automatic
climate control*
9
Starter switch
36
Item
Page
a
Steering wheel adjustment
handle, manual
42
b
Steering wheel adjustment
lever, electrical*
43
Heated steering wheel*
(SLK 280, SLK 350, Canada
only)
288
c
Headlamp cleaning* switch
173
d
Hood lock release
307
e
Exterior lamp switch
55,
110
f
Combination switch

Turn signals
55


Windshield wipers
56


High beam headlamps
55
g
Power window switches
246
h
Door handle
97
j
Cruise control lever
260

56 Getting startedDriving
Press combination switch in direction
of arrow1 or2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lampKorL in the instrument
cluster flashes (
page 24).
The combination switch resets auto-
matically after major directional chang-
es.
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Single wipe
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
2Switching on windshield wipers
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).Switching on windshield wipers

Turn the combination switch to the de-
sired position depending on the inten-
sity of the rain.
0Windshield wipers off
IIntermittent wiping
IINormal wiper speed
IIIFast wiper speed
iTo signal minor directional changes,
press combination switch only to point
of resistance and release. The corre-
sponding turn signals will flash three
times.
!Do not operate the windshield wipers
when the windshield is dry. Dust that
accumulates on a windshield might
scratch the glass and/or damage the
wiper blades when wiping occurs on a
dry windshield. If it is necessary to op-
erate the wipers in dry weather condi-
tions, always operate the windshield
wipers with windshield washer fluid
(page 57).

57 Getting started
Driving
Intermittent wiping
Vehicles with rain sensor*:
Intermittent wiping interval is dependent
on wetness of windshield.
Turn the combination switch to
positionI.
Vehicles with rain sensor*:
After the initial wipe, pauses between
wipes are automatically controlled by
the rain sensor.Single wipe

Press the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow1 to the resistance
point.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Press the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 past the resistance
point.
The windshield wipers operate with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 315).
!Vehicles with rain sensor*:
Do not leave windshield wipers in inter-
mittent setting when vehicle is taken to
an automatic car wash or during wind-
shield cleaning. Windshield wipers will
operate in the presence of water
sprayed on the windshield, and wind-
shield wipers may be damaged as a
result.
iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when
the vehicle is at a standstill and a door
is opened. This helps to avoid people
being sprayed with water from wiper
action when getting into and out of the
vehicle.
Intermittent wiping will be continued
when

all doors are closed
and


the clutch pedal is depressed (vehi-
cles with manual transmission)
or


the gear selector lever is in
positionDorR (vehicles with auto-
matic transmission*)
or


the wiper setting is changed using
the combination switch
iTo prevent smears on the windshield,
wipe with windshield washer fluid every
now and then even when it is raining.

58 Getting startedDriving
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.


The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.


Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.

Give very little gas.

Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
The coolant temperature is above
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.

Stop the vehicle as soon as possible
and turn off the engine. Allow engine
and coolant to cool.

Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 313).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:

Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.

Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the


Major assemblies


Fuel system


Engine mount

Start the engine in the usual manner.
!If anything blocks the windshield wip-
ers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off
immediately.

For safety reasons, stop the vehicle
in a safe location, turn off the en-
gine and remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch before at-
tempting to remove any blockage.


Remove blockage.


Turn the windshield wipers on
again.
If the windshield wipers fail to function
at all with combination switch in
positionI,


set combination switch to the next
higher wiper speed


have the windshield wipers
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center

173 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Good visibility
For information on the windshield wipers,
see (
page 56).
Headlamp cleaning system*
The button is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp cleaning button
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).

Press button1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 315).
Rear view mirrors
For more information on setting the rear
view mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 45).
Interior rear view mirror, antiglare
position

Tilt the mirror to the antiglare night
position by moving the lever towards
the windshield.
The interior rear view mirror is dimmed.
iThe headlamps will automatically be
cleaned when you have

switched on the headlamps
and


operated the windshield wipers
with windshield washer fluid
15 times
When you switch off ignition, the
counter resets.

185 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating
Press buttonP (
page 179) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.Windshield fogged on the outside

Switch the windshield wipers on
(page 56).

Turn air distribution control3 to
positionaorY (
page 179).
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the interior.
iThe cooling remains switched on.
Warning!
G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 187) is activated, or
press buttonP.

198 Controls in detailAutomatic climate control*Activating
Press buttonP (
page 192).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning switches
automatically to the following functions:


cooling on to dehumidify


maximum blowing and heating
power


air flows onto the windshield and
the front side windowsDeactivating

Press buttonP (
page 192) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.Windows fogged on the outside

Switch the windshield wipers on
(page 56).

Press buttonU (
page 192).
The indicator lamp on the button come
on. Air distribution and air volume are
adjusted automatically.
If the automatic air distribution and air vol-
ume are switched off:

Turn air distribution control8 to
positionaorY (
page 192).
iThe cooling remains switched on.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.

307 Operation
Engine compartment
Engine compartment
Hood
Opening
The hood release is located on the driver
side under the instrument panel.
1Hood lock release lever

Pull hood lock release lever1 in direc-
tion of arrow.
The hood is unlocked.
2Lever for opening the hood

Push lever2 on the hood upward to
release hood.

With the hood released, lift the hood by
lifting it at the front edge.
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
wipers 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.


356 OperationVehicle careAutomatic car wash
You can have your car washed in an auto-
matic car wash from the start. Automatic
car washes without brushes are prefera-
ble.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it be-
fore running it through the automatic car
wash.Ornamental moldings
For regular cleaning and care of very dirty
chrome-plated parts, use a chrome clean-
er.
!Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in
exterior rear view mirrors prior to run-
ning the vehicle through an automatic
car wash to prevent damage to the
mirrors.
Make sure that the windshield wiper
switch is set to0 (
page 56). Other-
wise, the rain sensor could activate and
cause the wipers to move unintention-
ally. This may lead to vehicle damage.
iAfter running the vehicle through an au-
tomatic car wash, wipe any wax off of
the windshield (
page 357). This will
prevent smears and reduce wiping
noise which can be caused by residual
wax on the windshield.
When leaving the car wash, make sure
that the mirrors are folded out. Other-
wise they may vibrate.