hood open MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2007 R230 Owner's Manual

23 At a glance
Exterior view
Item
Page
1
TrunkOpening the trunk
111
Closing the trunk
113
Spare wheel
388
Vehicle tool kit
388
2
Rear lamps
398
3
Rear window defroster
183
4
Fuel filler flap
271
Refueling
271
Gasoline
447
5
DoorsLocking and unlocking
102
Opening and closing
111
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency
391
6
Exterior rear view mirrorsAdjusting
48
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors
180
Item
Page
7
Towing
421
Installing towing eye bolt
423
8
Tires and wheels
283
Checking tire inflation
pressure
292
Run Flat Indicator*
293
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
295
Advanced Tire Pressure
Monitoring System
(Advanced TPMS)*
298
General information
283
Flat tire
405
Vehicle tool kit
388
9
HoodOpening
274
Engine oil
275
Coolant
280,
449
Item
Page
a
Headlamp cleaning
system
180,
282
b
Front lamps
398
c
Windshield wipers
57
Wiper blades, replacing
403
Wiper blades, cleaning
326
d
WindshieldCleaning with wiper fluid
58
Cleaning
326
e
Retractable hardtopOpening/closing
199
Wind screen
204
Luggage cover
205
Sunshade for panorama
roof*
208

96 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsImmobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
With the SmartKey
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
With KEYLESS-GO*

Press the start/stop button on the gear
selector lever once.
The engine is turned off.

Open the driver’s door.Deactivating
With the SmartKey

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position2 (
page 40).
With KEYLESS-GO*

Switch on the ignition (
page 41).
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door


the trunk lid


the hood


a storage compartment in the rear


the glove box


the storage compartment under the
armrest
The alarm will stay on, even if the activat-
ing element (a door, for example) is imme-
diately closed.
i
Starting the engine will also deactivate the
immobilizer.
In case the engine cannot be started (yet the
vehicle’s battery is charged), the system is not
operational. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA), or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).

137 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
To brighten illumination
Turn reset button 1 in the instrument
cluster clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination

Turn reset button 1 in the instrument
cluster counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Coolant temperature gauge
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip
odometer display (
page 139).

If it is not displayed, press the j or
k button on the multifunction
steering wheel repeatedly until the trip
odometer appears.

Press and hold reset button1
(page 136) until the trip odometer is
reset.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is overheated
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 which can occur
just by opening the 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 the
engine has cooled down.
!
Excessive coolant temperature triggers the
coolant temperature warning lamp (
page 337)
and a warning in the multifunction display
(
page 371).
The engine should not be operated with the cool-
ant temperature above 248°F (120°C). Doing so
may cause serious engine damage which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
i
During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant temperature may
rise close to 248°F (120°C).

270 OperationDriving instructions
Coolant temperature
During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to approx. 266°F
(130°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature over 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause un-
consciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while driving,
have the cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one win-
dow fully open at all times.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids, which
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment, to catch fire. You could be se-
riously 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 the engine has cooled
down.

272 OperationAt the gas station
Insert fuel cap 2 into fuel filler neck
and turn fuel cap clockwise until it au-
dibly engages.

Close fuel filler flap 1.
You should hear the latch close shut.
Check regularly and before a long trip
For information on quantities and require-
ments of operating agents, see “Fuels,
coolants, lubricants, etc.” (
page 444).

Open the hood (
page 274).
1Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system
2Brake fluid
3Coolant levelWindshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system
For information on refilling the reservoir,
see “Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system” (
page 282).
Brake fluid
For information on brake fluid, see “Fuels,
coolants, lubricants, etc.” (
page 444).
i
Only use premium unleaded gasoline with a
minimum Posted Octane Rating of 91 (average of
96 RON/86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can normally be
found on the fuel pump.
For more information on gasoline, see “Premium
unleaded gasoline” (
page 447) or the Factory
Approved Service Pamphlet.
i
Leaving the engine running and the fuel cap
open can cause the engine malfunction indicator
lamp ú (USA only) or the engine malfunction
indicator lamp ± (Canada only) to illuminate.
For more information, see the “Practical hints”
section (
page 336).
!
If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks immediately. Notify an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Do not add brake fluid as this will not solve the
problem. For more information, see the “Practi-
cal hints” section (
page 369).


274 OperationEngine compartmentHood
Opening
1Hood releaseWarning!
G
Do not pull the release lever while the vehi-
cle is in motion. Otherwise the hood could
be forced open by passing air flow.
This could cause the hood to come loose
and injure you and/or others.Warning!
G
If you see flames or smoke coming from the
engine compartment, or if the coolant tem-
perature gauge indicates that the engine is
overheated, do not open the hood. Move
away from the vehicle and do not open the
hood until the engine has cooled. If neces-
sary, call the fire department.
Warning!
G
You could be injured when the hood is open
– even when the engine is turned off.
Parts of the engine can become very hot. To
prevent burns, only touch owner serviceable
components described in the Operator's
Manual and comply with all relevant safety
precautions.Warning!
G
To help prevent personal injury, stay clear of
moving parts when the hood is open and the
engine is running.
The radiator fan may continue to run for ap-
proximately 30 seconds or may even restart
after the engine has been turned off. Stay
clear of fan blades.
Warning!
G
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage
it is dangerous to touch any components (ig-
nition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnostic
socket) of the ignition system

with the engine running


while starting the engine


if ignition is “on” and the engine is
turned manually

275 Operation
Engine compartment

Pull hood release1.
The hood is unlocked.
2Lever for opening the hood

Push lever2 on the hood upwards.

Pull up on the hood and then release it.
The hood will be automatically held
open at shoulder height by gas-filled
struts. Closing

Let the hood drop from a height of ap-
proximately 1
1/2ft (50 cm).
The hood will lock audibly.

Check to make sure the hood is fully
closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point
above the headlamps, then it is not
properly closed. Open it again and let it
drop with somewhat greater force.
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Higher oil consumption can
occur when

the vehicle is new


the vehicle is driven frequently at
higher engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.
!
To avoid damage to the windshield wipers or
hood, never open the hood if the wiper arms are
folded forward away from the windshield.
Warning!
G
When closing the hood, use extreme caution
not to catch hand or fingers. Be careful that
you do not close the hood on anyone.
Make sure the hood is securely engaged be-
fore driving. Do not continue driving if the
hood can no longer engage after an accident
for example. The hood could otherwise
come loose while the vehicle is in motion
and injure you and/or others.
i
Do not use any special lubricant additives,
as these may damage the drive assemblies. Us-
ing special additives not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may cause damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. More
information on this subject is available at any
Mercedes-Benz Center.

278 OperationEngine compartmentChecking engine oil level with the oil
dipstick (SL 550 only)
When checking the oil level

the vehicle must be parked on level
ground


the vehicle must have been stationary
for at least 5 minutes with the engine
turned off
1Oil dipstick
2Upper mark
3Lower mark

Open the hood (
page 274).

Pull out oil dipstick 1.

Wipe oil dipstick 1 clean.

Fully insert oil dipstick 1 into the dip-
stick guide tube.

Pull out oil dipstick 1 again after ap-
proximately 3 seconds to obtain accu-
rate reading.
The oil level is correct when it is be-
tween lower mark 3 (min.) and upper
mark 2 (max.) of the oil dipstick.

If necessary, add engine
oil (
page 278).
For more information on engine oil, see
“Technical data” section (
page 444) and
(
page 446).
For information on messages in the multi-
function display concerning engine oil, see
the “Practical hints” section (
page 375).Adding engine oil
i
In vehicles without an oil dipstick, the engine
oil level is measured via the control
system (
page 276).
i
The filling quantity between the upper and
lower marks on the oil dipstick is approximately
2.1 US qt. (2.0 l).
!
Only use approved engine oils and oil filters
required for vehicles with Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS (Canada vehicles). For a
listing of approved engine oils and oil filters, re-
fer to the Factory Approved Service Products
pamphlet in your vehicle literature portfolio, or
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Using engine oils and oil filters of specification
other than those expressly required for the Main-
tenance System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS (Canada
vehicles), or changing of oil and oil filter at
change intervals longer than those called for by
the Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS
(Canada vehicles) will result in engine or emis-
sion control system damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

280 OperationEngine compartmentCoolantThe engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion/antifreeze. To check
the coolant level, the vehicle must be
parked on level ground and the engine
must be cool.
The coolant expansion tank is located on
the passenger side of the engine compart-
ment.
1Coolant expansion tank

Using a rag, slowly turn the cap approx-
imately one half turn counterclockwise
to release any excess pressure.

Continue turning the cap counterclock-
wise and remove it.
The coolant level is correct if the level


for cold coolant: is up to the upper
mark on the bracing rib of the coolant
expansion tank (translucent)


for warm coolant: is approx. 0.6 in
(1.5 cm) higher

Add coolant as required.

Replace and tighten cap.
For more information, see “Coolants”
(
page 449).
Warning!
G
In order to avoid any possibly serious burns:

Use extreme caution when opening the
hood if there are any signs of steam or
coolant leaking from the cooling system,
or if the coolant temperature gauge indi-
cates that the coolant is overheated.


Do not remove pressure cap on coolant
reservoir if coolant temperature is
above 158°F (70°C). Allow engine to
cool down before removing cap. The
coolant reservoir contains hot fluid and
is under pressure.


Using a rag, slowly open the cap approx-
imately
1/2 turn to relieve excess pres-
sure. If opened immediately, scalding
hot fluid and steam will be blown out un-
der pressure.


Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine
parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene gly-
col which may burn if it comes into con-
tact with hot engine parts.
!
SL 600 and SL 65 AMG: Only open the cap
on coolant expansion tank1. Never open the
cap between the two charge-air coolers. Other-
wise, the engine could be damaged.

326 OperationVehicle care
Restart the engine after cleaning
sensor cover1.
Cleaning the Parktronic system*
sensors
1Parktronic system* sensors in front
bumper

Use a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car
Shampoo, with plenty of water and a
soft, non-scratching cloth to clean
sensors1 on the bumpers.Cleaning the windows and the wiper
blades

Make sure the hood is fully closed.

Switch on the ignition (
page 39).

Turn combination switch to wiper
settingII (
page 57).

With wiper arms in vertical position,
switch off the ignition (
page 39).
!
To prevent scratches or damage, never ap-
ply strong force and only use a soft, non-scratch-
ing cloth when cleaning Distronic system sensor
cover1. Do not attempt to wipe dirty sensor
with a dry cloth or sponge.
!
Do not apply strong pressure to the sensor
covers. Applying strong pressure may damage
the sensor covers.
Follow the instructions provided by the power
washer manufacturer on maintaining a distance
between the vehicle and the nozzle of the power
washer.
!
To prevent scratches, never apply strong
force and only use a soft, non-scratching cloth
when cleaning the sensors. Do not attempt to
wipe dirty sensors with a dry cloth or sponge.
!
The windshield wipers must be in a vertical
position before folding them away from the wind-
shield. They could otherwise damage the hood.
Never open the hood when the wiper arms are
folded forward.