MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2003 R230 Owner's Manual

271 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
F
KEYLESS GO
Check system
The KEYLESS-GO* system is mal-
functioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Key
Do not forget
This display appears (for a maximum
of 60 seconds) if the driver’s door is
opened with the engine shut off and
no key in the starter switch.
Message is only a reminder.

Insert key in the starter switch.

Take the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with
you when leaving the vehicle.
_
Entry position
Do not drive!
Seat, mirrors and steering wheel
have not yet moved into their preset
driving positions.

Wait until the seat, mirrors and steering
wheel have moved to their driving positions.
The message disappears.
Except Canada:;Canada only:!
Release
parking brake!
You are driving with the parking
brake set.

Release the parking brake (
page 41).

272 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
<
Seat belt system
Visit workshop!
The seat belt system is malfunction-
ing.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Ê
Close
trunk lid!
This message will appear whenever
the trunk lid is open.

Close the trunk lid.
Close
trunk separator!
You are trying to open or close the
roof even though the luggage cover
in the trunk is not pulled out.

Pull out the luggage cover and secure it
(page 160).
B
Coolant
Check level!
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 230).

If you have to add coolant frequently, have
the cooling system checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You can be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning. Extended driving with
this message and symbol displayed
may cause serious engine damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount
of coolant in the cooling system. The
engine will overheat, causing major en-
gine damage.

273 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off!
The coolant is too hot.
The poly-V-belt could be broken.

Stop the vehicle.

Only start the engine again after the message
disappears. You could otherwise damage the
engine.

Stop immediately and check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken, do not drive any further.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
If it is in order, drive immediately to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly overheat-
ed can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns and can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until it
cools down. The engine should not be oper-
ated with the coolant temperature above
266°F (130°C). Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

274 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Visit workshop!
The cooling fan for the coolant is
malfunctioning.

Observe the coolant temperature gauge.

Have the fan replaced as soon as possible.
.
Low beam,
left
The left low beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Low beam,
right
The right low beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Display defective
Visit workshop!
The display for the lights is malfunc-
tioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Turn signal R, L
Substitute
lamp on!
The left rear turn signal lamp is mal-
functioning. A backup bulb has been
brought into use.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal R, R
Substitute
lamp on!
The right rear turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning. A backup bulb has
been brought into use.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.

275 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
L. turn sig. rflectr
The left turn signal in the side mirror
is malfunctioning. This message will
only appear if all light emitting di-
odes have stopped working.

Have the LEDs replaced as soon as possible.
R. turn sig. rflectr
The right turn signal in the side mir-
ror is malfunctioning. This message
will only appear if all light emitting
diodes have stopped working.

Have the LEDs replaced as soon as possible.
Turn signal F, L
Substitute
lamp on!
The left front turn signal lamp is mal-
functioning. A backup bulb has been
brought into use.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal F, R
Substitute
lamp on!
The right front turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning. A backup bulb has
been brought into use.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Brake light
!
Visit workshop!
Brake lamp illumination is delayed or
lamp is permanently on.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.

276 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Brake lamp, L
Substitute
lamp on!
The left brake lamp is malfunction-
ing. A backup bulb has been brought
into use.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Brake lamp, R
Substitute
lamp on!
The right brake lamp is malfunction-
ing. A backup bulb has been brought
into use.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
3rd brake light
The high mounted brake lamp is mal-
functioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
High beam, left
The left high beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
High beam, right
The right high beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Fr. left
marker lamp
The front left side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Fr. rt marker lamp
The front right side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Re. left
marker lamp
The rear left side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Re. rt marker lamp
The rear right side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.

277 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Licence plate
lamp, L
The left licence plate lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Licence plate
lamp, R
The right licence plate lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Front foglamp, L
The left front fog lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Front foglamp, R
The right front fog lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Rear foglight, L
The left rear fog lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Rear foglight, R
The right rear fog lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Reverse lamp, L
The left backup lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Reverse lamp, R
The right backup lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.

278 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Tail lamp, L
Substitute
lamp on!
The left tail lamp is malfunctioning. A
backup bulb has been brought into
use.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Tail lamp, R
Substitute
lamp on!
The right tail lamp is malfunctioning.
A backup bulb has been brought into
use.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Fr. left parkg lamp
Substitute
lamp on!
The left front parking lamp is mal-
functioning. A backup bulb has been
brought into use.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Fr. right parkg lamp
Substitute
lamp on!
The right front parking lamp is mal-
functioning. A backup bulb has been
brought into use.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.

279 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Light sensor
Visit workshop!
The light sensor is malfunctioning.
The headlamps switch on automati-
cally.

In the control system, set lamp operation to
manual (
page 124).

Switch on headlamps using the exterior lamp
switch.
?
Visit workshop!
There may be a malfunction in the

fuel injection system


ignition system


exhaust system


fuel system

H a v e t h e e n g i n e c h e c k e d a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
(page 256).
O
Close hood!
You are driving with the hood open.

Close the hood (
page 228).
:
Engine oil level
Stop, engine off!
There is no oil in the engine. There is
a danger of engine damage.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt as soon
as possible.

Turn off the engine.

Add engine oil.

280 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
:
Engine oil level
Check level!
The engine oil level is too low.

Check the engine oil level (
page 228) and
add oil as required.
Engine oil level
Reduce oil level!
You have added too much engine oil.
There is a risk of damaging the en-
gine or the catalytic converter.

Have oil siphoned. Observe all legal require-
ments with respect to its disposal.
Engine oil
Visit workshop!
The engine oil has dropped to a crit-
ical level.
There is water in the oil.

Check the engine oil level (
page 228) and
add oil as required.

If you must add engine oil frequently, have
the engine checked for possible leaks.

Have the oil checked.
Engine oil level
Visit workshop!
The measuring system is malfunc-
tioning.

Have the measuring system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.