airbag off MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2006 R230 Owner's Manual

Contents
Practical hints................................. 331
What to do if … .................................. 332
Lamps in the instrument cluster .. 332
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp ......... 344
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 345
Where will I find ...? ........................... 383
First aid kit ................................... 383
Vehicle tool kit, jack, and
spare wheel.................................. 383
Locking/unlocking in an emergency . 385
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 385
Locking the vehicle ...................... 387
Lowering the load assist
manually ...................................... 388
Replacing SmartKey batteries ........... 389
SmartKey ..................................... 389
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ...... 390
Replacing bulbs ................................. 391
Bulbs ............................................ 391
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 394
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps..... 396
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 397
Removing wiper blades ................ 397
Installing wiper blades................. 398Flat tire ............................................... 399
Preparing the vehicle .................... 399
Sealing tires with TIREFIT.............. 399
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 404
MOExtended system* ................... 411
Batteries ............................................. 413
Disconnecting the batteries .......... 415
Removing the batteries ................. 416
Charging and reinstalling
batteries ....................................... 417
Reconnecting the batteries ........... 418
Jump starting ...................................... 419
Towing the vehicle .............................. 421
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 423
Fuses .................................................. 425
Main fuse box ............................... 425
Emergency engine shut-down ....... 426
Technical data.................................. 427
Parts service ...................................... 428
Warranty coverage ............................. 429
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 429
Identification labels ............................ 430
Layout of poly-V-belt drive.................. 431
SL 500 .......................................... 431
SL 55 AMG ................................... 431
SL 600, SL 65 AMG ...................... 431
Engine ................................................ 432
Rims and tires .................................... 434
Same size tires ............................. 436
Mixed size tires ............................. 438
MOExtended tires* ....................... 440
Spare wheel .................................. 441
Electrical system ................................ 442
Main dimensions ................................ 443
Weights .............................................. 444

46 Getting startedDriving
Fastening the seat belts
Warning!
G
Do not lay any objects in the driver’s foot-
well. Be careful that floor mats or carpets in
the driver’s footwell have sufficient clear-
ance for the pedals.
During sudden driving or braking maneu-
vers, the objects could get caught between
the pedals. You could then no longer brake
or accelerate.
Warning!
G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even pregnant women.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-
sition your seat belt greatly increases your
risk of injuries and their likely severity in an
accident. You and your passenger should al-
ways wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The airbags can only provide the
protection they were designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
(page 64).
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in this vehicle, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat, which operates with
the BabySmart
TM system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger front air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or
fatal injury will result.

67 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Warning!
G
Should you choose to place a child 12 years
old or under in the passenger seat of your
vehicle, you must properly use a
BabySmart
TM child restraint which will turn
off the passenger front airbag (
page 76).
BabySmart
TM will not, however, turn off any
side impact airbag.
It should be noted, however, that there is a
possibility for a head-thorax airbag related
injury if occupants, especially children, are
not properly seated or restrained when next
to a head-thorax airbag which needs to de-
ploy rapidly in a side impact in order to do its
job.
To help avoid the possibility of injury, please
follow these guidelines:
(1) Occupants, especially children, should
never place their bodies or lean their
heads in the area of the door where the
head-thorax airbag inflates. This could
result in serious injuries or death should
the head-thorax airbag be activated.
(2) Always sit nearly upright, properly use
the seat belts and use an appropriately
sized infant or child restraint system for
all children 12 years old or under.
(3) Always wear seat belts properly.
If you believe that, even with the use of
these guidelines, it would be safer for your
passenger seat occupants to have the pas-
senger side head-thorax airbag deactivated,
then deactivation can be accomplished
upon your written election to do so at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center at an addi-
tional cost. Please contact your local
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
our Customer Assistance Center at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372)
for details.

72 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyAlways wear your seat belt. All vehicle
occupants always need to have their seat
belts fastened and wear them properly.
In addition, applicable motor vehicle safety
laws require you to wear seat belts. Even
where this is not the case, we strongly rec-
ommend that all vehicle occupants have
their seat belts fastened and wear them
properly.
For information on fastening seat belts,
see “Fastening the seat belts” (
page 46).
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and re-
straint systems for infants and chil-
dren, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 76).
Warning!
G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even pregnant women.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-
sition your seat belt greatly increases your
risk of injuries and their likely severity in an
accident. You and your passenger should al-
ways wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are properly wearing
your seat belt. Airbags can only protect as
they are designed if the occupants are prop-
erly wearing their seat belts (
page 65).
Warning!
G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. This could cause serious or
even fatal injuries. The seat backrest and
seat belt provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a nearly upright position and the
belt is properly positioned on the body.
Keep door storage compartments closed
while vehicle is in motion. Failure to do so
may cause the seat belt to catch at the rear
and prevent proper positioning of the seat
belt.

73 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Warning!
G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Be sure
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly re-
strained with a separate seat belt. Never use
a seat belt for more than one person at a
time.
Warning!
G
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced
and their anchoring points must also be
checked.
Only use seat belts which have been ap-
proved by Mercedes-Benz.
Do not make any modifications to the seat
belts. This can lead to unintended activation
or to failure.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash, they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Have all work carried out only by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY

Seat belts can only work when used
properly. Never wear seat belts in any
other way than as described in this sec-
tion, as that could result in serious inju-
ries in case of an accident.


Each occupant should wear their seat
belt at all times, because seat belts help
reduce the likelihood of and potential
severity of injuries in accidents, includ-
ing rollovers. The integrated restraint
system includes SRS (driver airbag, driv-
er-side knee bag, passenger airbag,
head-thorax airbags) and ETD (seat belt
emergency tensioning device). The sys-
tem is designed to enhance the protec-
tion offered to properly belted
occupants in certain frontal (front air-
bags, driver-side knee bag and ETD) and
side (head-thorax airbags and ETD) im-
pacts which exceed preset deployment
thresholds.


129 Controls in detail
Lighting
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam

Turn the exterior lamp switch toB
or toU (
page 123).

Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 to switch on the high
beam headlamps.
The high beam indicator lamp A in
the instrument cluster comes on.

Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow 2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam headlamps.
The high beam indicator lamp A in
the instrument cluster goes out.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter switch
or with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle.
The hazard warning flasher switches on au-
tomatically when an airbag deploys.
The switch is located on the dashboard be-
tween the center air vents.
1Hazard warning flasher switch

130 Controls in detailLightingSwitching on the hazard warning
flasher
Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signals are flashing.
Switching off the hazard warning
flasher

Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
Interior lighting
1Left reading lamp
2Right reading lamp
3Interior lighting on/off
4Slide switch for interior lighting controlAutomatic control
Activating

Slide switch4 to the left.
Interior lamps are switched on in dark-
ness when you

unlock the vehicle


open a door


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch


open the trunk
In addition, the entry/exit lamps in the
door trays will come on when you open
a door.
The interior lamps are switched off af-
ter a preset time (
page 155).
iWith the hazard warning flasher acti-
vated and the combination switch set
for either left or right turn, only the re-
spective turn signals will operate when
the ignition is switched on.iIf the hazard warning flasher was
switched on automatically because of
an airbag that has deployed, press haz-
ard warning flasher switch 1 once to
switch it off.
iIf the door remains open, the interior
lamps switch off automatically after ap-
proximately 5 minutes.

344 Practical hintsWhat to do if …AIRBAG OFF indicator lampProblem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
7
The AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
comes on and remains illuminat-
ed.
A BabySmart
TM child seat is installed on the
front passenger seat. Therefore the passen-
ger front airbag is switched off.
The system is malfunctioning if the
7indicator lamp comes on with no
BabySmart
TM child seat installed on the front
passenger seat.

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
7
The AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
does not come on with a
BabySmart
TM child seat properly
installed on the front passenger
seat or does not remain illumi-
nated.
The system is malfunctioning.

Make sure there is nothing between
seat cushion and child seat.

Check installation of the child seat.
If the indicator lamp remains out:

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
Do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint to
transport children on the front passenger
seat until the system has been repaired.

461 Index
A
ABC 219, 453
Messages in display 347
Oil level 277
ABS 83, 453
Indicator lamp 27, 333
Messages in the multifunction
display 349
Warning lamp 25, 332
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 166
Accessory weight 310
Accident 57
Active Body Control see ABC
Air conditioning system see Automatic cli-
mate control system
Air distribution 184, 185
Air pressure 310
Tire inflation pressure 291
Air pump 384, 408
Air recirculation mode 187
Air vents 181
Air volume 184, 186
AIRBAG OFF
Warning lamp 344Airbags 65
Children 66
Front 70
Head-thorax 70, 71
Knee bag 70
Passenger 70
Alarm system see Anti-theft systems
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 407, 453
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 446, 451
Antiglare, Interior rear view mirror 177
Antilock Brake System see ABS
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft alarm system 91
Immobilizer 91
Tow-away alarm 93
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest 229
Ashtray 29, 233
Aspect ratio 310
ATF 277
Auto-dimming, Rear view mirrors 177
Automatic central locking 112
Control system 155Automatic climate control system 180
Air conditioning, Cooling 189
Air conditioning refrigerant 447
Air distribution 184, 185
Air recirculation mode 187
Air vents 181
Air volume 184, 186
Control panel 181
Deactivating system 183
Defrosting 179, 186
Residual heat utilization 190
Temperature 184
Temperature sensor 31
Automatic lighting control, Interior
lighting 130
Automatic locking when driving 112
Automatic shift program 168

466 IndexEngine oil 274, 447
Adding 276, 445
Additives 447
Checking level 274
Consumption 274
Filler neck 276
Messages in the multifunction
display 275, 369
Recommended engine oils and
filters 447
ESP
®
82, 85, 455
Switch 30
Switching off 86
Switching on 87
Synchronizing 354
Warning lamp 25, 332
ETD 74, 455
Safety guidelines 69
Warning and indictor lamps 341
Exterior lamp switch 123
Exterior rear view mirrors 44, 177
F
Filler neck, Engine oil 276
First aid kit 383Flat tire 399
Preparing the vehicle 399
Spare wheel 383, 404
TIREFIT kit 384, 399
Flexible Service System see FSS
Fluids
Automatic climate control
system 445
Automatic transmission 277, 445
Brake system 271, 445, 447
Capacities 445
Engine coolant 278, 445, 450
Engine oil 274, 445, 447
Power steering 445
Retractable hardtop, Hydraulics 445
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system 445
Fog lamps 126
Messages in the multifunction
display 375, 377
Replacing bulbs 392
Front airbags 70
Front lamps see Headlamps
Front passenger front airbag off indicator
lamp 78
FSS (Canada only) 318, 455Fuel 269
Additives 449
Capacity, Fuel tank 445
Consumption statistics 157
Filler flap 269
Fuel reserve warning lamp 27, 338
Gasoline additives 449
Gauge 27
Premium unleaded gasoline 270,
446, 448
Refuelling 269
Requirements 448
Fuel cap
Messages in the multifunction
display 371
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Capacities 445
Functions (control system) 137
Fuse chart see Vehicle tool kit
Fuses 425
G
Garage door opener 247
Gasoline see Fuel
GAWR 311, 455