engine MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER 2012 Service Manual

The hazard warning lamps switch on auto-
matically if:
R an airbag is deployed or
R the vehicle decelerates rapidly from a
speed of above 70 km/h and comes to a
standstill
The hazard warning lamps switch off auto-
matically if the vehicle reaches a speed of
above 10 km/ha gain after a full brake appli-
cation.
i The hazard warning lamps continue to
operate even if the ignition is switched off. Headlamp cleaning system
The headlamps are cleaned automatically if
the "Wipe with washer fluid" function is oper-
ated five times (Y page 135) while the lights
are on and the engine is running. When you
switch off the ignition, the automatic head-
lamp cleaning system is reset and counting is
resumed from 0. Intelligent Light System
General notes The Intelligent Light System is a system that
adjusts the headlamps automatically to suit
the prevailing driving and weather conditions. It offers advanced functions for improved illu-
mination of the road surface, e.g. depending
on the vehicle speed or weather conditions.
The system includes the active light function, cornering light function, motorway mode and
extended range foglamps. The system is only
active when it is dark.
You can activate or deactivate the "Intelligent Light System" using the on-board computer
(Y page 240). Active light function
The active light function is a system that
moves the headlamps according to the steer-
ing movements of the front wheels. In this
way, relevant areas remain illuminated while
driving. This allows you to recognise pedes-
trians, cyclists and animals.
Active: when the lights are switched on
Cornering light function The cornering light function improves the illu-
mination of the road over a wide angle in the direction you are turning, enabling better vis-
ibility in tight bends, for example. The corner- ing light function can only be activated when
the dipped-beam headlamps are switched on.
Active:
R if you are driving at speeds below 40 km/h
and switch on the turn signal or turn the
steering wheel
R if you are driving at speeds between
40 km/ha nd 70 km/h and turn the steer-
ing wheel Exterior lighting
131Lights andwindscreen wipers Z

4
° Continuous wipe, slow
5 ¯ Continuous wipe, fast
B í Single wipe/ îto wipe the wind-
screen using washer fluid
X Turn the key to position 1or 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 155).
X Turn the combination switch to the corre-
sponding position.
In the ÄorÅ position, the appropriate
wiping frequency is set automatically accord- ing to the intensity of the rain. In the Å
position, the rain sensor is more sensitive
than in the Äposition, causing the wind-
screen wipers to wipe more frequently.
If the wiper blades are worn, the windscreen
will no longer be wiped properly. This could
prevent you from observing the traffic condi-
tions, thereby causing an accident.
i The vehicle is equipped with the MAGIC
VISION CONTROL wipe/wash system. The
washer fluid is fed through the wiper blades
and when the screen is wiped with washer
fluid î, the water is emitted directly
from the blades. Replacing the wiper blades
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the windscreen wipers begin to move while
you are changing the wiper blades, you can be trapped by the wiper arm. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
ignition before changing the wiper blades.
! To avoid damaging the windscreen wiper
blades, make sure that you touch only the
wiper arm of the windscreen wiper.
! Never open the bonnet if a windscreen
wiper arm has been folded away from the
windscreen. Never fold a windscreen wiper arm without
a wiper blade back onto the windscreen.
Hold the windscreen wiper arm firmly when you change the wiper blade. If you release
the windscreen wiper arm without a wiper
blade and it falls onto the windscreen, the
windscreen may be damaged by the force
of the impact.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have the wiper blades changed at a qualified
specialist workshop.
! Always position the windscreen wiper
arms vertically before folding them away
from the windscreen. By doing so, you will
avoid damage to the bonnet.
Replacing the windscreen wiper blades Moving the wiper blades to a vertical posi-
tion
On vehicles without KEYLESS-GO:
X Turn the key to position 1or 2in the ignition
lock.
X Set the windscreen wipers to posi-
tion °.
X When the wiper arms have reached a ver-
tical position, turn the key to position 0and
remove it from the ignition lock.
X Fold the wiper arm away from the wind-
screen until it engages.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: X Switch off the engine.
X Remove your foot from the brake pedal.
X Set the windscreen wipers to posi-
tion °.
X Press the Start/Stop button repeatedly
until the windscreen wipers start.
X When the wiper arms have reached a ver-
tical position, press the Start/Stop button.
X Fold the wiper arm away from the wind-
screen until it engages. 136
Windscreen wipersLights and windscreen wipers

Problems with the windscreen wipers
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The windscreen wipers
are jammed. Leaves or snow, for example, may be obstructing the windscreen
wiper movement. The wiper motor has been deactivated.
X For safety reasons, you should remove the key from the ignition
lock.
or
X Switch off the engine using the Start/Stop button and open the
driver's door.
X Remove the cause of the obstruction.
X Switch the windscreen wipers back on. The windscreen wipers
fail completely. The windscreen wiper drive is malfunctioning.
X Select another wiper speed on the combination switch.
X Have the windscreen wipers checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. 138
Windscreen wipersLights and windscreen wipers

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els, series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. National variations are pos- sible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all of the functions descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 34). Overview of climate control systems
Important safety notes
Observe the settings recommended on the
following pages. The windows could other-
wise mist up.
To prevent the windows from misting up:
R switch off climate control only briefly
R switch on air-recirculation mode only
briefly
R switch on the cooling with air dehumidifi-
cation function
R switch on the "demist windscreen" function
briefly, if required
Climate control regulates the temperature
and the humidity in the vehicle interior and
filters undesirable substances out of the air.
Climate control is only operational when the
engine is running. Optimum operation is only achieved when the side windows and the roof
are closed.
The residual heat function can only be acti-
vated or deactivated with the ignition
switched off (Y page 149).
i Ventilate the vehicle for a brief period
during warm weather. This will speed up the cooling process, and the desired vehicle
interior temperature will be reached more
quickly. i
An hour after the key has been removed,
it is possible that the residual heat function may be activated automatically in order to
dry the air-conditioning system. The vehicleis then ventilated for 30 minutes to dry the air-conditioning system. 140
Overview of climate control systemsClimate control

when in a tunnel. The windows could oth-
erwise mist up, as no fresh air is drawn into
the vehicle in air-recirculation mode.
R Use the ZONE function to adopt the tem-
perature settings on the driver's side for
the front-passenger side as well. The indi-
cator lamp in the ábutton goes out.
R Use the residual heat function if you want to
heat or ventilate the vehicle interior when
the ignition is switched off. The residual
heat function can only be activated or deac- tivated with the ignition switched off.
R Vehicles with COMAND Online: if you
change the settings of the climate control
system, the climate status display appears for three seconds at the bottom of the
screen in the COMAND display. See also
the separate COMAND Online operating
instructions. You will see the current set-
tings of the various climate control func-
tions.
ECO start/stop function During automatic engine switch-off, the cli-
mate control only operates at a reduced capa- city. If you require full climate control capa-
city, the ECO start/stop function can be
deactivated by pressing the ECO button
(Y page 160). Operating the climate control system
Switching climate control on/off
General notes When the climate control is switched off, the
air supply and air circulation are also
switched off. The windows could mist up.
Therefore, only switch off climate control
briefly.
i Activate climate control primarily using
the à button (Y page 144). Activating/deactivating X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 155).
X To switch on: press theÃbutton on
the control panel for the climate control.
The indicator lamp in the Ãbutton lights
up. Airflow and air distribution are set to
automatic mode.
or
X Press the ^button on the control panel
for the climate control.
The indicator lamp in the ^button goes
out. The previous settings are reactivated.
X To switch off: press the^button.
The indicator lamp in the ^button lights
up. Activating/deactivating the cooling
with air dehumidification function
General notes If you deactivate the "Cooling with air-dehu-
midification" function, the air inside the vehi-
cle will not be cooled. The air inside the vehi-
cle will also not be dehumidified. The win-
dows can mist up more quickly. Therefore,
only switch off cooling with air dehumidifica-
tion for a short period.
The "Cooling with air dehumidification" func-
tion is only available when the engine is run-
ning. The air inside the vehicle is cooled and
dehumidified according to the temperature
selected.
Condensation may drip from the underside of the vehicle when cooling mode is active. Thisis normal and not a sign that there is a mal-
function. 142
Operating the climate control systemClimate control

between the side window and window frame.
There is a risk of injury.
When opening, make sure that nobody is
touching the side window. If someone
becomes trapped, press the Wswitch
immediately to open/close the side window
in the door. The side window stops. To con-
tinue closing the side window, pull on the
W switch. X
Convenience closing feature: press and
hold the gbutton until the side win-
dows are closed.
The indicator lamp in the gbutton lights
up. Air-recirculation mode is activated.
If parts of the body are in the closing area
during convenience closing, proceed as fol-
lows: X Press the Wbutton for opening/closing
the side windows.
The side window stops.
X To then open the side window, press the
W button again.
i Notes on the reversing feature for the side
windows (Y page 99).
X Convenience opening feature: press and
hold the gbutton until the side win-
dows are opened. The side windows move
back to their original positions.
The indicator lamp in the gbutton goes
out. Air-recirculation mode is deactivated.
i If you open the side windows manually
after closing them with the convenience
closing feature, they will remain in this posi- tion when opened using the convenience
opening feature. Activating/deactivating the residual
heat function
General notes It is possible to make use of the residual heat
of the engine to continue heating the station- ary vehicle for up to 30 minutesafter the
engine has been switched off. The heating
time depends on the temperature that has
been set for the vehicle interior.
Activating/deactivating X
Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock or remove it (Y page 155).
X To activate: press theÌbutton.
The indicator lamp in the Ìbutton lights
up.
i The blower will run at a low speed regard-
less of the airflow setting.
i If you activate the residual heat function
at high temperatures, only the ventilation
will be activated. The blower runs at
medium speed.
X To deactivate: press theÌbutton.
The indicator lamp in the Ìbutton goes
out. Operating the climate control system
149Climate control Z

Residual heat is deactivated automatically:
R after approximately 30 minutes
R when the ignition is switched on
R if the battery voltage drops Adjusting the air vents
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Very hot or very cold air can flow from the air vents. This could result in burns or frostbite in the immediate vicinity of the air vents. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that all vehicle occupants always
maintain a sufficient distance to the air out-
lets. If necessary, redirect the airflow to
another area of the vehicle interior. G
WARNING
When AIRSCARF is switched on, very hot air
can flow from the vents in the head restraints. This could result in burns in the immediate
vicinity of the air vents. There is a risk of injury.
Reduce the heater output before it becomes
too hot.
In order to ensure the direct flow of fresh air
through the air vents into the vehicle interior, please observe the following notes:
R keep the air inlet grille on the bonnet and in
the engine compartment on the front-
passenger side free of blockages, such as
ice, snow or leaves.
R never cover the vents or ventilation grilles
in the vehicle interior.
i You can move the adjusters for the air
vents vertically or horizontally to set the
direction of the airflow.
i Optimal climate control function is ach-
ieved by opening the air vents fully and set-
ting the adjusters to the middle position. Setting the centre air vents
X
To open the centre air vent: turn the
adjuster in one of centre air vents :anti-
clockwise.
X To close the centre air vent: turn the
adjuster in one of centre air vents :clock-
wise until it engages. Adjusting the side air vents
:
Side window demister vent
; Side air vent
X To open a side air vent: turn the adjuster
in side air vent ;anti-clockwise.
X To close a side air vent: turn the adjuster
in side air vent ;clockwise until it
engages. Adjusting the glove compartment air
vent
! Close the air vent when heating the vehi-
cle. 150
Adjusting the air ventsClimate cont
rol

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els, series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. National variations are pos- sible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all of the functions descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 34). Running-in notes
Important safety notes
In certain driving and driving safety systems,
the sensors adjust automatically while a cer-
tain distance is being driven after the vehicle has been delivered or after repairs. Full sys-
tem effectiveness is not reached until the end
of this teach-in procedure.
Brake pads/linings and discs that are either
new or have been replaced only achieve opti- mum braking effect after several hundred kil-
ometres of driving. Compensate for the
reduced braking effect by applying greater
force to the brake pedal. The first 1,500 km
If you treat the engine with sufficient care
from the very start, you will be rewarded with excellent performance for the remainder of
the engine's life.
R Drive at varying vehicle speeds and engine
speeds for the first 1,500 km.
R Avoid overstraining the vehicle during this
period, e.g. driving at full throttle.
R Change gear in good time, before the rev
counter needle is Ôof the way to the red
area of the rev counter. R
Do not shift down a gear manually in order
to brake.
R Try to avoid depressing the accelerator
pedal beyond the point of resistance (kick-
down).
After 1,500 km, you may gradually bring the
vehicle up to full road and engine speeds.
Additional running-in notes for AMG vehicles:
R Do not drive at speeds above 140 km/ hfor
the first 1,500 km.
R Only briefly allow the engine to reach a
maximum engine speed of 4,500 rpm.
R It is advisable to select drive program Cfor
Controlled Efficiency.
i You should also observe these notes on
running-in if the engine or parts of the drive train on your vehicle have been replaced. AMG vehicles with self-locking rear
axle differential
Your vehicle is equipped with a self-locking
differential on the rear axle. Change the oil
after a running-in period of 3,000 km to
improve protection of the rear axle differen-
tial. This oil change prolongs the service life of
the differential. Have the oil change carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop. Driving
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell may restrict
the clearance around the pedals or block a
depressed pedal. This jeopardises the oper-
ating and road safety of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Stow all objects securely in the vehicle so that
they do not get into the driver's footwell.
Always fit the floormats securely and as pre-
scribed in order to ensure that there is always sufficient room for the pedals. Do not use 154
DrivingDriving and parking

loose floormats and do not place several floor-
mats on top of one another. G
WARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage of the pedals, e.g.:
R shoes with thick soles
R shoes with high heels
R slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals. G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off.
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only set the automatic transmission to the
respective drive positions when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. Otherwise, you could damage the
drive train.
! AMG vehicles:
at low engine oil temper-
atures (below +20 †), the maximum
engine speed is restricted in order to pro- tect the engine. To protect the engine and
maintain smooth engine operation, avoid
driving at full throttle when the engine is
cold. Key positions
Key g
To remove the key
1 Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windscreen wipers
2 Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
3 To start the engine
i If the key does not belong to the vehicle, it
can still be turned in the ignition lock. How-
ever, the ignition will not be switched on.
The engine cannot be started.
KEYLESS-GO General notes
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO are equipped with
a key featuring an integrated KEYLESS-GO
start function and a detachable Start/Stop
button.
You can switch the engine on and off with the
Start/Stop button. The Start/Stop button
must be inserted in the ignition lock and the
key must be in the vehicle.
Pressing the Start/Stop button several times
in succession corresponds to the different
key positions in the ignition lock. This is only Driving
155Driving and parking Z

the case if you are not depressing the brake
pedal.
If you depress the brake pedal and press the
Start/Stop button, the engine starts immedi-
ately.
The Start/Stop button can be removed from
the ignition lock. The key can then be inserted into the ignition lock.
i You do not have to remove the Start/Stop
button from the ignition lock when you
leave the vehicle. You should, however,
always take the key with you when leaving
the vehicle. As long as the key is in the
vehicle:
R the vehicle can be started using the
Start/Stop button and
R electrically powered equipment can be
operated
i The engine can be switched off while the
vehicle is in motion by pressing and holding the Start/Stop button for three seconds.
This function operates independently of the
ECO start/stop automatic engine switch-
off function.
Key positions with KEYLESS-GO X
Insert Start/Stop button :into ignition
lock ;.
i When you insert Start/Stop button
:
into ignition lock ;, the system needs
approximately two seconds' recognition
time. You can then use Start/Stop but-
ton :. If Start/Stop button
:has not yet been
pressed, this corresponds to the key being
removed from the ignition.
X To switch on the power supply: press
Start/Stop button :once.
The power supply is switched on. You can
now activate the windscreen wipers, for
example.
i The power supply is switched off if you
press Start/Stop button :twice when in
this position and the driver's door is open.
X To switch on the ignition: press Start/
Stop button :twice.
The ignition is switched on.
i The power supply is switched off if you
press Start/Stop button :twice when in
this position and the driver's door is open.
When you switch on the ignition, all of the
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster light up. If an indicator lamp does not go out after
the engine is started or if a one lights up while
you are driving, there may be a technical
problem (Y page 275).
Removing the Start/Stop button 156
DrivingDriving an
d parking