2008 Mercedes SLK-Class Owner's Manual - Page 168

Controls in detail Automatic transmission* Downshifting Warning! Kickdown Emergency operation (Limp-Home Mode) If vehicle acceleration becomes less responsive or sluggish or the transmission no longer shifts, the transmission is most likely operating in limp-home (emergency operation) mode. In this mode only second gear and reverse gear can be selected. Stop the vehicle in a safe location. Move the gear selector lever to park position P. Turn off the engine. Wait at least 10 seconds before restarting. Restart the engine. Move the gear selector lever to position D (for second gear) or position R. Have the transmission checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible. G Using the kickdown when driving in the manual program mode M is not possible. Deactivating manual shift program Press the program mode selector switch ( page 165) repeatedly until C or S appears in the multifunction display. or Restart the engine. The transmission will go to the automatic program mode (C or S). The manual program mode M is not stored. On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in order to obtain braking action. This could result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle control. Your vehicle's ABS will not prevent this type of loss of control. Briefly press the gear selector lever to the left in the D- direction. or Briefly pull left shift paddle 1 ( page 164). The transmission shifts to the next lower gear. i When you brake or stop, the transmission shifts down to a gear from which you can easily accelerate or take off. 167