ignition MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2003 R230 Owner's Guide

146 Controls in detailGood visibilityHeadlamp cleaning system
The switch is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer switch
Switch on ignition.

Press switch1.
Rear window defroster
For information on the rear window de-
froster (
page 153).
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving.
Swing sun visors down when you expe-
rience glare.1Mounting
2Mirror cover
3Mirror lamp
4Holder for gas cards

To use mirror, lift up cover2.
Warning!
G
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the mirrors in the sun visors closed
while vehicle is in motion. Reflected glare
can endanger you and others.
iIf sunlight enters through a side win-
dow, disengage sun visor from
mounting1 and pivot to the side.
The mirror lamp3 will switch off.

154 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlResidual heat and ventilation
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.
Activating
Turn the key in the starter switch to
position1 o r r e m ov e i t f r o m t h e s t a r t e r
switch.

Press button
T
(page 148).
The indicator lamp on button
T

comes on.Deactivating

Press button
T
(page 148).
The indicator lamp on button
T

goes out.
The residual heat is automatically turned
off:


when the ignition is switched on


after about 30 minutes


if the battery voltage dropsDeactivating the automatic climate
control system
Deactivating
It is possible to completely deactivate the
automatic climate control system. 
Press button
M
(page 148).
The indicator lamp on button
M

comes on.
iHow long the system will provide heat-
ing depends on the coolant tempera-
ture and the temperature set by the
operator. The blower will run at speed
setting1 regardless of the air distribu-
tion control setting.
iThis setting is only recommended when
the retractable hardtop is open.

160 Controls in detailRetractable hardtopLuggage cover
The luggage cover is located in the trunk.
1Handle
2Holders
Closing luggage cover
Pull out the luggage cover using the
handle1.

Hook the luggage cover into the left
and right side holders2.Opening luggage cover

Unhook luggage cover from side hold-
ers.

While holding onto the handle1, guide
luggage cover back into its storage
compartment. Opening the retractable hardtop with
the switch
Hardtop switchBefore pulling on the hardtop switch, you
must make sure that:

the parking brake is engaged
(page 41)


the luggage cover is closed, see Lug-
gage cover


the trunk lid is closed


the ignition is switched on (key in start-
er switch position2)
!To prevent damage to the hardtop or
luggage/cargo when lowering the roof:

load trunk only to the height of the
luggage cover


do not permit luggage/cargo to
push up the closed luggage cover


do not load anything on top of or in
front of the luggage cover


do not place anything on the shelf
behind the roll bar

161 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop

Pull up on the hardtop switch as indi-
cated by the arrow until the hardtop is
completely lowered into its trunk stor-
age compartment and the indicator
lamp in the hardtop switch goes out.
The multifunction display will briefly
show the message
Hardtop open
.Closing the retractable hardtop with
the switch
Before pressing the hardtop switch, you
must make sure that:


the parking brake is engaged
(page 41)


the luggage cover is closed
(page 160)


the trunk lid is closed


the ignition is switched on (key in start-
er switch position2)

Press the hardtop switch as indicated
by the arrow until the hardtop is com-
pletely closed and locked and the indi-
cator lamp in the hardtop switch goes
out.
The multifunction display will briefly
show the message
Hardtop closed
.
iBe sure that the roof is dry before you
open it. Otherwise water may enter the
trunk interior.
Warning!
G
If the retractable hardtop is not fully opened
or closed, a warning will sound after 15 sec-
onds, pressure in the hardtop’s hydraulic
system will drop and the hardtop will lower.
Be sure to keep the hardtop switch pulled or
pressed until the hardtop is fully opened or
closed. The hydraulic pump will then shut
off.
To prevent possible accidents, drive the ve-
hicle only with the hardtop either completely
closed and locked, or fully lowered into its
storage compartment.

162 Controls in detailRetractable hardtopLocking the retractable hardtop after
raising/lowering
If the retractable hardtop is not properly
locked, lock it as described below.Unlocked status noticed when stopped

Switch on the ignition.

To lock the hardtop in its fully closed
position, press hardtop switch forward.
The message
Hardtop Closed
will be
shown in the multifunction display.
or:

To lock the hardtop in its fully opened
position, pull up on the hardtop switch.
The message
Hardtop Open
will be
shown in the multifunction display.
Unlocked status noticed while driving

Stop the vehicle.

Leave the ignition switched on.

To lock the hardtop in its fully closed
position, press hardtop switch forward.
The message
Hardtop Closed
will be
shown in the multifunction display.
or:

To lock the hardtop in its fully opened
position, pull up on the hardtop switch.
The message
Hardtop Open
will be
shown in the multifunction display.
Warning!
G
The hardtop is not fully closed and locked or
not fully opened and locked if:

the indicator light in the hardtop switch
remains lit


the message
Hardtop in operation!

is shown in the multifunction display
and the indicator lamp in the hardtop
switch does not go out


the indicator lamp blinks and a warning
sounds for 10 seconds and the message Lock hardtop
is shown in the multi-
function display when starting to drive
Warning!
G
Stop the vehicle and lock the hardtop before
continuing to drive. You could otherwise en-
danger yourself and others.

163 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Opening the retractable hardtop with
the key

Aim the transmitter eye at the door
handle.

Press and hold button
Œ
until the
retractable hardtop is completely
open.
The seat ventilation switches on. The
rear side windows open. In the tachom-
eter display you will see the message
Hardtop open
.
Warning!
G
If the retractable hardtop does not com-
pletely open or close, the roof hydraulics will
lose pressure and the retractable hardtop is
lowered

after approximately seven minutes
when the ignition is switched on


after approximately 15 seconds when
the ignition is switched off
Shortly before the hardtop is lowered, a
warning will sound and the hardtop switch
lamp will blink. In the speedometer display
you will see
K
, in the tachometer display
you will see the message
being lowered!


Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(page 162) before continuing to drive
Warning!
G
Before operating the switch for the retract-
able hardtop make sure that no persons are
injured by the moving parts (retractable
roof, roof frame, and trunk lid) due to inat-
tention.
Hands must never be placed near the roof
frame, upper windshield area, hardtop, shelf
behind roll bars, or trunk lid while the re-
tractable hardtop is being raised or lowered.
Serious personal injury may occur.
If potential danger exists, release the re-
spective button on the SmartKey. This im-
mediately interrupts the raising or lowering
procedure. You then can operate
Œ
or
‹
to raise or lower the hardtop away
from the danger zone.

186 Controls in detailDriving systemsParktronic system*
The Parktronic system is an electronic aid
designed to assist the driver during park-
ing maneuvers. It visually and audibly indi-
cates the relative distance between the
vehicle and an obstacle.
The Parktronic system is automatically ac-
tivated when you switch on the ignition
and release the parking brake. The Park-
tronic system deactivates at speeds over
11 mph (18 km/h). At lower speeds the
Parktronic system turns on again.The Parktronic system monitors the sur-
roundings of your vehicle with six sensors
in the front bumper and four sensors in the
rear bumper.
1Sensors in the front bumperWarning!
G
Parktronic is a supplemental system. It is
not intended to, nor does it replace, the
need for extreme care. The responsibility
during parking and other critical maneuvers
always rests with the driver.
Special attention must be paid to objects
with smooth surfaces or low silhouettes
(e.g. trailer couplings, painted posts, or road
curbs). Such objects may not be detected by
the system and can damage the vehicle.
The operational function of the Parktronic
can be affected by dirty sensors, especially
at times of snow and ice. See Cleaning the
Parktronic system sensors (
page 246).
Interference caused by other ultrasonic sig-
nals (e.g. working jackhammers or the air
brakes of trucks) can cause the system to
send erratic indications, and should be tak-
en into consideration.
Warning!
G
Make sure that no persons or animals are in
the area in which you are maneuvering. Oth-
erwise you run the risk of causing injury.

189 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Switching the Parktronic system
on/off
You can switch off the Parktronic system
manually.
The Parktronic switch is located in the low-
er section of the center console.
1Parktronic on/off switch
2Indicator lamp
Switching off the Parktronic system
Press switch1.
The indicator lamp2 comes on.Switching on the Parktronic system

Press switch1 again.
The indicator lamp2 goes out.
Parktronic malfunction
There is a malfunction in the Parktronic
system if the red segments of the Park-
tronic warning indicator light up and a
warning sounds. The Parktronic system
will switch itself off after 30 seconds and
the indicator lamp on the Parktronic switch
lights up.

Have the Parktronic system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.If only the red segments of the Parktronic
warning indicator light up and no warning
sounds, then the sensors of the Parktronic
system are dirty or malfunctioning. Mal-
function may also be caused by interfer-
ence from other radio or ultrasonic signals.
The Parktronic system will switch itself off
after 20 seconds.

Clean Parktronic system sensors
(page 246).

Switch on the ignition.
or

Check Parktronic operation at another
location to rule out interference from
outside radio or ultrasonic signals.

197 Controls in detail
Useful features
Cigarette lighter
The lighter socket can be used to accom-
modate electrical accessories up to a
maximum of 180 W.
1Cigarette lighter
Switch on the ignition.

Push in the cigarette lighter1.
The lighter will pop out automatically
when hot.Heated steering wheel* (Canada
only–model SL 500)
The steering wheel heating warms up the
leather area of the steering wheel.
The lever is on the lower left-hand side of
the steering wheel.
1Switching on
2Indicator lamp
3Switching off
Warning!
G
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the lighter; they are extremely hot. Hold the
knob only.
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
key from the starter switch. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
serious personal injury.

198 Controls in detailUseful featuresSwitching on
Make sure that the ignition is switched
on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
should light up.

Turn lever in the direction of arrow1.
The steering wheel is heated. Indicator
lamp2 lights up.
Switching off

Turn lever in the direction of arrow3.
The steering wheel heating is turned
off. Indicator lamp2 goes out.
Easy-Pack load assist in the trunk
To facilitate trunk loading after opening the
lid, use the Easy-Pack feature to raise the
retracted hardtop from its storage position
in the trunk.
1Retracted hardtop
2Luggage cover
3Easy-Pack buttonRaising the hardtop
The hardtop can only be raised when the
luggage cover is closed and the trunk lid is
completely opened.

Press button3.
The hardtop rises a short distance.
Button3 lights up brightly. You can
now open the luggage cover.
iThe steering wheel heating does not
turn off automatically.
Warning!
G
To prevent injuries, make sure that there is
no possibility of body parts getting caught in
moving parts. If potential danger exists,
press the switch again. This will immediately
stop the movement of the hardtop.