steering MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2004 R230 Workshop Manual

293 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABC
Display malfunction
Visit
workshop!
The ABC display or the ABC system
itself is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Visit
workshop!
The capability of the ABC system is
restricted.

Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
ABS
malfunction!
Visit
workshop!
The ABS has detected a malfunc-
tion and has switched off. The ESP
and the BAS are also deactivated.
The SBC brake system is still func-
tioning normally but without the
ABS available.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking, reduc-
ing steering capability.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.
Display malfunction
Visit
workshop!
The ABS or the ABS display is mal-
functioning.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking, reduc-
ing steering capability.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.

295 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
Unavailable!
See Oper.’s Man.
The ESP is deactivated because the
power supply has been interrupted.
The SBC brake system is still func-
tioning normally.

Synchronize the ESP. With the vehicle station-
ary, turn the steering wheel completely to the
left and then to the right.
If the ESP message does not go out:

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of accident.
!When sychronizing the ESP, make sure
you can turn the steering wheel in both
directions as far as it will go without the
wheels hitting any objects, e.g. a road
curb.

306 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
G
Display malfunction
Visit
workshop!
The displays for several systems
have malfunctioned. Some systems
themselves may also have malfunc-
tioned.

Continue driving with added caution.
When the display is malfunctioning, warnings
and malfunction messages might not be dis-
played.

Have the electronic systems checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
±
Display defective
Visit workshop!
Certain electronic systems are un-
able to relay information to the con-
trol system. The following systems
may have failed:

Coolant temperature gauge


Tachometer


Cruise control display

Have the electronic systems checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
(page 285).
J
Door open!
You are attempting to drive with
one or more doors open.

Close the doors.
_
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.

317 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ì
Function
Unavailable!
This display appears if button ì
or í on the multifunction steer-
ing wheel is pressed and the vehicle
is not equipped with a telephone.
H
Tire pressure
Caution
tire defect!
The tire pressure in one or more
tires is dropping.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Tire pressure
ChecK
tires!
The tire pressure in one or more
tires is already below the minimum
value.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
H
Tire pressure
ChecK
tires!
The tire pressure in one or more
tires is low.

Check and correct tire pressure as required
(page 264).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

318 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pres.
monitor
Visit
workshop!
The tire inflation pressure monitor*
is malfunctioning.

Have the tire inflation pressure monitor*
checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

Change the wheel.
A wheel without proper sensor was
installed.
H
Tire pressure, RL
Caution
tire defect!
The left rear tire is rapidly deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Tire pressure, RL
Check tires!
The left rear tire pressure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire pressure.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

319 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pressure, RR
Caution
tire defect!
The right rear tire is deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Tire pressure, RR
Check tires!
The right rear tire pressure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire pressure.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Tire pressure, FL
Caution
tire defect!
The left front tire is deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

320 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pressure, FL
Check tires!
The left front tire pressure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire pressure.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Tire pressure, FR
Caution
tire defect!
The right front tire is deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Tire pressure, FR
Check tires!
The right front tire pressure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

339 Practical hints
Flat tire
Flat tire
Your SL 55 AMG may be equipped with a
TIREFIT kit.
You can identify which TIREFIT kit
(SL 55 AMG only) you have as follows:

The TIREFIT container of kit 1 is a
squeeze container.
For information on sealing a damaged
tire with TIREFIT kit 1, see
(page 340).


The TIREFIT container of kit 2 is a rigid
container.
For information on sealing a damaged
tire with TIREFIT kit 2, see
(page 345).
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle as far as possible from
moving traffic on a hard surface.

Turn on the hazard warning flashers.

Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight ahead po-
sition.

Set the parking brake.

Move the gear selector lever to P.
Vehicles with SmartKey :

Turn off the engine (
page 53).

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.Vehicles with SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*:

Turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* button on the gear se-
lector lever once (
page 54).

Open the driver’s door (this puts the
starter switch in position 0, same as
with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch). The driver's door then
can be closed again.

Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway. iOpen door only when conditions are
safe to do so.

366 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
!
To be certain to avoid a possibility of
damage to the transmission, however,
we recommend the drive shaft be dis-
connected at the rear axle drive flange
for any towing beyond a short tow to a
nearby garage.
Warning!
G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:

the engine will not run


there is a malfunction in the SBC brake
system


there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
as that will be necessary to adequately con-
trol the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that the SmartKey
is in starter switch position2.
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch
position0 for an extended period of time, it
can no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock, re-
move SmartKey from starter switch and re-
insert.
iTo signal turns while being towed with
the hazard warning flasher in use, turn
SmartKey in starter switch to
position2 and activate the combina-
tion switch for the left or right turn sig-
nal in the usual manner – only the
selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the haz-
ard warning flasher will operate again.

367 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Warning!
G
The brake system requires electrical power
to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes are only applied to the
front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased! Adapt your driving style according-
ly. SBC brake system (
page 81).
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the follow-
ing:
With the automatic central locking acti-
vated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel
as well as the right rear wheel are turn-
ing at vehicle speeds of approx. 9 mph
(15 km / h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (
page 105).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to the vehicle chas-
sis, frame or suspension parts.
iThe gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP and the SmartKey
will not turn in the starter switch if the
battery is disconnected or discharged.
See notes on the battery (
page 358)
or on jump starting (
page 363).