MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER 2012 Owners Manual

Pulling away
Automatic transmission G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor R,
the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do not simultaneously accelerate.
i It is only possible to shift the transmission
from position Pto the desired position if
you depress the brake pedal. Only then is
the shift lock released.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
X Release the electric parking brake
(Y page 176).
X Release the brake pedal.
X Carefully depress the accelerator pedal.
i The vehicle locks centrally once you have
pulled away. The locking knobs in the doors
drop down.
You can open the doors from the inside at
any time.
You can also deactivate the automatic lock- ing feature (Y page 242).
i Upshifts take place at higher engine
speeds after a cold start. This helps the
catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature more quickly.
Hill start assist Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient. It
holds the vehicle for a short time after you
have removed your foot from the brake pedal. This gives you enough time to move your footfrom the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal
and depress it before the vehicle begins to
roll. G
WARNING
After a short time, hill start assist will no lon-
ger brake your vehicle and it could roll away.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, quickly move your foot from the
brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. Never
leave the vehicle when it is held by hill start
assist.
X Remove your foot from the brake pedal.
The vehicle is then held for about a second.
X Pull away.
Hill start assist is not active if: R you are pulling away on a level road or a
downhill gradient.
R the transmission is in position N.
R the electric parking brake is applied.
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning. ECO start/stop function
Introduction The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle is stop-
ped under certain conditions.
When pulling away again, the engine starts
automatically. The ECO start/stop function
thereby helps you to reduce the fuel con-
sumption and emissions of your vehicle.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the engine is switched off automatically and you exit the vehicle, the engine is restarted
automatically. The vehicle may begin moving. There is a risk of accident and injury.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
the ignition and secure the vehicle against
rolling away. 158
DrivingDriving and parking

General notes
:
ECO start/stop display
If the ¤ symbol is shown in green in the
multifunction display, the ECO start/stop
function switches the engine off automati-
cally if the vehicle stops moving.
The ECO start/stop function is activated
whenever you switch on the engine using the
key or the Start/Stop button.
If the ECO start/stop function has been man- ually deactivated (Y page 160) or a malfunc-
tion has caused the system to be deactivated, the ¤ symbol is not displayed.
AMG vehicles: the ECO start/stop function
is only available in drive program C.
For further information on automatic engine
switch-off (Y page 159) and automatic
engine start (Y page 159).
Automatic engine switch-off If the vehicle is braked to a standstill in
Dor N,
the ECO start/stop function switches off the engine automatically.
The ECO start/stop function is operational
and the ¤symbol is lit green in the multi-
function display if:
R the indicator lamp in the ECO button is lit
green
R the outside temperature is within the range
that is suitable for the system
R the engine is at normal operating temper-
ature
R the set temperature for the vehicle interior
has been reached
R the battery is sufficiently charged R
the system detects that the windscreen is
not misted up when the air-conditioning
system is switched on
R the bonnet is closed
R the driver's door is closed and the driver's
seat belt is fastened
If the conditions for automatic engine switch- off are not all fulfilled, the ¤symbol is lit
yellow.
i All of the vehicle's systems remain active
when the engine is switched off automati-
cally.
i All vehicles (except AMG vehicles):
automatic engine switch-off can take place a maximum of four times consecutively (ini-
tial stop, then three subsequent stops). The
¤ symbol is lit yellow in the multifunc-
tion display after the engine has been star- ted automatically for the fourth time. Whenthe ¤ symbol is lit green in the multi-
function display, automatic engine switch-
off is again possible.
i AMG vehicles:
the number of consecu-
tive automatic engine stops is unlimited.
i The HOLD function can be activated if the
engine has been switched off automati-
cally. It is then not necessary to continue
applying the brakes during the automatic
stop phase. When you depress the accel-
erator pedal, the engine starts automati-
cally and the braking effect of the HOLD
function is deactivated.
Automatic engine start The engine is started automatically if:
R
you switch off the ECO start/stop function
by pressing the ECO button
R in transmission position Dor N, the brake
pedal is released and the HOLD function is not active
R you depress the accelerator pedal
R you engage reverse gear R Driving
159Driving and parking Z

R
you move the transmission out of position
P
R you switch to drive program S, S+orM
(AMG vehicles)
R you unfasten your seat belt or open the
driver's door
R the vehicle starts to roll
R the brake system requires this
R the temperature in the vehicle interior devi-
ates from the set range
R the system detects moisture on the wind-
screen when the air-conditioning system is
switched on
R the battery's charge status is too low
i Shifting the transmission to position
P
does not start the engine.
i If you shift the transmission from
Rto D,
the ECO start/stop function is available
again once the ¤symbol reappears in
green in the multifunction display.
Deactivating/activating the ECO start/
stop function ECO button
Deactivating (except for AMG vehicles)
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;and the ¤symbol in
the multifunction display go out.
Activating (except for AMG vehicles)
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. If all conditions
for automatic engine switch-off (Y
page 159) are met, the ¤symbol is lit
green in the multifunction display.
If not all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off (Y page 159) are met, the ¤
symbol is lit yellow in the multifunction dis- play. If this is the case, the ECO start/stop
function is not available.
i If indicator lamp
;is off, the ECO start/
stop function has been deactivated man-
ually or as the result of a malfunction. The
engine will then not be switched off auto-
matically when the vehicle stops. ECO button in AMG vehicles
Deactivating (AMG vehicles)
X Press button :in drive program C.
or
X Switch to drive program S,S+ orM
(Y page 168).
Indicator lamp ;and the ¤symbol in
the multifunction display go out.
Activating (AMG vehicles)
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up.
If drive program S,S+ orMis active, the
automatic transmission switches to drive
program C.
If all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off (Y page 159) are met, the ¤
symbol is lit green in the multifunction dis- play.
If not all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off (Y page 159) are met, the ¤
symbol is shown in yellow in the multifunc- 160
DrivingDriving and pa
rking

tion display. If this is the case, the ECO
start/stop function is not available.
i If indicator lamp
;is off, the ECO start/
stop function has been deactivated man-
ually or as the result of a malfunction. The
engine will then not be switched off auto-
matically when the vehicle stops. Driving
161Driving an d parking Z

Problems with the engine
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The engine does not
start. The HOLD function is activated.
X Deactivate the HOLD function (Y page 196).
X Try to start the engine again. The engine does not
start. The starter motor
can be heard. R
There is a malfunction in the engine electronics.
R There is a malfunction in the fuel supply.
X Turn the key back to position 0in the ignition lock before
attempting to start the engine again.
or X Press the Start/Stop button repeatedly until all indicator lamps
in the instrument cluster go out.
X Try to start the engine again (Y page 157). Avoid excessively
long and frequent attempts to start the engine, as this will drain
the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts: X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine does not
start. You cannot hear
the starter motor. The on-board voltage is too low because the battery is too weak or
discharged.
X Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 586).
If the engine does not start despite attempts to jump-start it:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The starter motor was exposed to a thermal load that was too high.
X Allow the starter motor to cool down for approximately two
minutes.
X Try to start the engine again.
If the engine still does not start:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine is not run-
ning smoothly and is
misfiring. There is a malfunction in the engine electronics or in a mechanical
component of the engine management system.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic con-
verter and damage it.
X Have the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop. 162
DrivingDriving and parking

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The coolant tempera-
ture display is showing
more than 120 †. The
coolant warning lamp
may also be on and a
warning tone may
sound. The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled sufficiently.
X Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant to
cool down.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 565). Observe the warning
notes as you do so and top up the coolant if necessary. If the coolant level is correct, the engine radiator fan may be faulty.
The coolant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled
sufficiently.
X If the coolant temperature is below 120 †, you can continue
driving to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain and stop-start traffic. Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor R,
the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do not simultaneously accelerate. G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position Nwhen you switch off the engine.
The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of an
accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parking
brake. Selector lever
Overview of transmission positions !
If the engine speed is too high or if the
vehicle is rolling, do not shift the transmis- sion directly from Dto R, from Rto Dor
directly to P.
Do not open the driver's door while the
vehicle is in motion. At low speeds in trans-
mission position Dor R, park position Pis
otherwise engaged automatically.
The transmission could be damaged. Selector lever
j
Park position
k Reverse gear Automatic transmission
163Driving and parking Z

i
Neutral
h Drive
When you select a transmission position, the
selector lever subsequently returns to its
original position.
The current transmission position P,R, Nor D
appears in the transmission position display
in the multifunction display.
Engaging park position P X
When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
X Press the Pbutton in the centre console.
i Park position Pis released if you:
R depress the brake pedal and
R push the selector lever forwards or back
to the first point of resistance
The transmission shifts to neutral N.
Park position Pis engaged automatically and
the electric parking brake applied:
R if you remove the key from the ignition lock
R if you switch off the engine using the Start/
Stop button and open the driver's or front- passenger door
R if you open the driver's door while travelling
at low speed in transmission position Dor
R
R when HOLD (Y page 196) or DISTRONIC
PLUS (Y page 185) brakes your vehicle
until it is stationary and at least one of the
following conditions is fulfilled:
- the engine is switched off
- the driver's door is open and the seat belt
is not fastened
- there is a system malfunction
- the power supply is insufficient
Engaging reverse gear R !
Only shift the automatic transmission to
R
when the vehicle is stationary. X
When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
X Push the selector lever forwards past the
first point of resistance.
i When reverse gear is engaged and the
ECO start/stop function is switched on, the
engine starts up automatically
(Y page 159).
Shifting to neutral N X
When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
X Push the selector lever forwards or back to
the first point of resistance.
i If the vehicle is braked to a standstill when
in neutral Nand the brake pedal is kept
depressed, the ECO start/stop function
switches the engine off automatically
(Y page 159).
Staying in neutral (N) G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle, they can:
R open doors and endanger other persons or
road users
R climb out and be injured by the traffic
R operate vehicle equipment and, for exam-
ple, trap themselves.
Children could also set the vehicle in motion, for example by:
R releasing the parking brake
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P
R starting the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave
children unattended in the vehicle. Always
keep the key out of reach of children. 164
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

With the key:
R make sure the ignition is switched on.
R when the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
R select neutral N.
R release the brake pedal.
R if the electric parking brake is applied,
release it.
R switch off the ignition and leave the key in
the ignition lock.
With KEYLESS-GO:
R make sure the ignition is switched on.
R when the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
R engage park position P.
R release the brake pedal.
R remove the Start/Stop button from the
ignition lock.
R insert the key into the ignition lock.
R switch on the ignition.
R depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
R select neutral N.
R release the brake pedal.
R if the electric parking brake is applied,
release it.
R switch off the ignition and leave the key in
the ignition lock.
Shifting to transmission position D X
When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
X Push the selector lever back past the first
point of resistance.
i If the vehicle is braked to a standstill when
in transmission position D(Y page 159) and
the brake pedal is kept depressed, the ECO start/stop function switches the engine offautomatically. Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display
Display in transmission positions P, R
and N :
Transmission position: currently selected
transmission position will be highlighted
; Drive program (E/S/M)
In addition to drive program ;being shown
in the multifunction display, the currently
selected drive program is indicated in red on
the program selector button.
Display when in transmission position D :
Transmission position
; Gear
= Drive program (E/S)
When you have selected drive program Eor S,
the transmission position is displayed in posi-
tion :. The selected gear is displayed in
position ;. Automatic transmission
165Driving and parking Z

Display when in transmission position D
and drive program M :
Gear
; Drive program (M) Transmission positions
B Park position
This prevents the vehicle from roll-
ing away when stopped. Do not
shift the transmission into position
P (Y page 163) unless the vehicle is
stationary. The parking lock should not be used as a brake when park-
ing. In order to secure the vehicle,
always engage the electric parking brake in addition to the parking
lock.
If the key is removed from the igni-
tion lock, the transmission is
locked.
The automatic transmission shifts
into Pautomatically:
R when the key is removed from
the ignition lock.
R when the engine is switched off
with the transmission in position
R or Dand one of the doors is
opened.
In the event of a malfunction of the
vehicle's electronics, the transmis- sion may lock in position P.
Have the vehicle electronics
checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop. C Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission to
R
when the vehicle is stationary. 166
Automatic transmissionDriving and pa
rking

A Neutral
Do not shift the transmission to
N
while driving. Otherwise, the auto-
matic transmission could be dam-
aged.
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it or tow it.
If ESP ®
is deactivated or faulty:
only shift the transmission to posi-
tion Nif the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
! Rolling in neutral
Ncan lead to
damage to the transmission. 7 Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the indi- vidual gears automatically when it is in trans-
mission position D. Gearshifting is deter-
mined by:
R the selected drive program (Y page 167)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed Driving tips
Accelerator pedal position Your style of driving influences how the auto-
matic transmission shifts gear:
R little throttle: early upshifts
R more throttle: late upshifts Double-clutch function When shifting down, the double-clutch func-
tion is active regardless of the currently selec-
ted drive program. The double-clutch functionreduces load change reactions and is condu-cive to a sporty driving style. The sound gen-
erated by the double-clutch function depends
on the drive program selected.
Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up. Program selector button
Selecting drive programs Program selector button
Program selector button :allows you to
choose between different driving character-
istics.
X Press program selector button :repeat-
edly until the letter for the desired gearshift
program appears in the speedometer mul-
tifunction display. Automatic transmission
167Driving and parking Z