sensor MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2007 R230 Owner's Manual

33 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
Item
Page
1
Left reading lamp on/off
134
2
Temperature sensor for
automatic climate control
184
3
Right reading lamp on/off
134
4
Interior lighting control
134
5
Interior rear view mirror
47, 180
6
Reading lamp
134
7
Garage door opener
251
8
Tele Aid (emergency call
system) button
244

57 Getting started
Driving
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Switching on windshield wipers
2Single wipe
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Switch on the ignition (
page 39).Switching on windshield wipers

Turn the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow 1 to the desired position,
depending on the intensity of the rain.
0Windshield wipers off
IIntermittent wiping
IINormal wiper speed
IIIFast wiper speedIntermittent wiping
The intermittent wiping interval is depen-
dent on the wetness of the windshield.

Turn the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow 1 to positionI.
After the initial wipe, pauses between
wipes are controlled by the rain sensor.
!
Do not operate the windshield wipers when
the windshield is dry. Dust that accumulates on
a windshield might scratch the glass and/or
damage the wiper blades when wiping occurs on
a dry windshield. If it is necessary to operate the
windshield wipers in dry weather conditions, al-
ways operate the windshield wipers with wind-
shield washer fluid (
page 58).
!
Do not leave windshield wipers in intermit-
tent setting when the vehicle is taken to an auto-
matic car wash or during windshield cleaning.
Windshield wipers will operate in the presence of
water sprayed on the windshield, and windshield
wipers may be damaged as a result.
!
If you have set intermittent wiping, dirt on
the surface of the rain sensor or optical effects
may cause the windshield wipers to wipe in an
undesired fashion. This could then damage the
windshield wiper blades or scratch the windows.
You should therefore switch off the windshield
wipers when weather conditions are dry.


66 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyIn this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint systems
of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are

Seat belts (
page 77)


Child restraints (
page 83)
Additional protection potential provided by


Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
with

Air bags (
page 68)


Air bag control unit (with crash
sensors)


Emergency tensioning device (ETD)
for seat belts (
page 81)


Roll bar (
page 81)Air bag system components with


Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp (
page 76)


Front passenger seat with Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
(page 72)
Although independent systems, their pro-
tective functions work in conjunction with
each other.The SRS system conducts a self-test when
the ignition is switched on and in regular
intervals while the engine is running. This
facilitates detection of malfunctions. The
1
indicator lamp in the instrument clus-
ter comes on when the ignition is switched
on and goes out no later than a few sec-
onds after the engine has been started.
The SRS components are in operational
readiness if the
1
indicator lamp is not
lit when the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the
1
indicator lamp:


fails to go out after approximately
4 seconds after the engine was started


does not come on at all


comes on after the engine was started
or while driving
i
For information on infants and children trav-
eling with you in the vehicle and restraint sys-
tems for infants and children, see “Children in
the vehicle” (
page 83).

72 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyThe passenger front air bag will only be de-
ployed if:

the system, based on OCS weight sen-
sor readings, senses that the front pas-
senger seat is occupied


the5/ indicator lamp in the
center console is not lit (
page 76)


the impact exceeds a preset deploy-
ment threshold
Knee bag
The knee bag is located on the driver-side
lower instrument panel. It is designed to
operate together with the driver air bag in
certain frontal impacts exceeding a preset
threshold. The knee bag operates best in
conjunction with a properly positioned and
fastened seat belt.Head-thorax air bags
1Head-thorax air bag
The head-thorax air bags are deployed:


in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold


on the impacted side of the vehicle


independently of the front air bags
The head-thorax air bags are not deployed
in impacts which do not exceed the sys-
tem’s deployment threshold.
Occupant Classification System
The O
ccupant C
lassification S
ystem (OCS)
automatically turns the passenger front air
bag on or off based on the classified occu-
pant weight category determined by
weight sensor readings from the
passenger seat.
Occupants must sit properly belted in a
nearly upright position with their back
against the seat backrest and feet on the
floor to be correctly classified. If the
occupant's weight is transferred to
another object in the vehicle (e.g. by
leaning on armrests), the OCS may not be
able to properly approximate the
occupant’s weight category.
i
The system does not deactivate the
head-thorax air bag and the emergency tension-
ing device.

74 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyWhen the OCS senses that the passenger
seat occupant is classified as being heavier
than the weight of a typical 12-month-old
child seated in a standard child restraint or
as being a small individual (such as a young
teenager or a small adult), the 5/ in-
dicator lamp will illuminate for approximate-
ly 6 seconds when the engine is started and
then, depending on occupant weight sensor
readings from the seat, remain illuminated
or go out. With the 5/ indicator lamp
illuminated, the passenger front air bag is
deactivated. With the 5/ indicator
lamp out, the passenger front air bag is acti-
vated.
When the OCS senses that the passenger
seat occupant is classified as an adult or
someone larger than a small individual, the
5/ indicator lamp will illuminate for
approximately 6 seconds when the engine is
started and then go out, indicating that the
passenger front air bag is activated.
If the 5/ indicator lamp is
illuminated, the passenger front air bag is
deactivated and will not be deployed.
If the 5/ indicator lamp is not
illuminated, the passenger front air bag is
activated and will be deployed:

in the event of certain frontal impacts


if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold


independently of the head-thorax air
bags.
If the passenger front air bag is deployed,
the rate of inflation will be influenced by:


the rate of relevant vehicle deceleration
as assessed by the air bag control unit


passenger's weight category as identi-
fied by the Occupant Classification
System (OCS).
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an appropri-
ate infant or child restraint recommended
for the size and weight of the child.
The infant or child restraint must be properly
secured with the vehicle's seat belt fully in
accordance with the child seat manufactur-
er's instructions.
Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag. Note the following
important information:

Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to turn off the pas-
senger front air bag in your vehicle when
the system senses the weight of a typi-
cal 12-month-old child or less along with
the weight of a standard appropriate
child restraint on the passenger seat.


138 Controls in detailInstrument clusterTachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the left or right multifunction display
(page 26), depending on the setting
(page 156).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. There-
fore, the accuracy of the displayed temper-
ature can only be verified by comparison to
a thermometer placed next the sensor, not
by comparison to external displays, e.g.
bank signs, etc.
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
!
Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds, as
it may result in serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

180 Controls in detailGood visibilityFor information on windshield wiper opera-
tion, see “Windshield wipers” (
page 57).
Headlamp cleaning system
The button is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer button
Switch on the ignition (
page 39).

Press button1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.
For information on filling up the washer flu-
id reservoir, see “Windshield washer sys-
tem and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 282).
Rear view mirrors
For information on setting the rear view
mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 47).
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when


the ignition is switched on
and


incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view mir-
ror.
The interior rear view mirror will not react if


reverse gear is engaged


the interior lighting is switched on
i
The headlamps will automatically be
cleaned when you have


switched on the headlamps
and


operated the windshield wipers with wind-
shield washer fluid fifteen times
When you switch off the ignition, the counter re-
sets.

213 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic*
When activated, the Distronic adaptive
cruise control system increases the driving
convenience afforded by the cruise control
while traveling on expressways and other
major roadways.

If the Distronic distance sensor detects
a slower moving vehicle directly ahead,
your vehicle’s speed will be reduced so
that you follow that vehicle at the pre-
set following distance.


If there is no vehicle directly ahead of
you, Distronic will function in the same
way as standard cruise control
(page 209).
Warning!
G
Distronic adaptive cruise control is not a
substitute for active driving involvement. It
does not react to pedestrians or stationary
objects, recognize or predict the lane curva-
ture nor the movement of preceding
vehicles.
Distronic can only apply a maximum of 20%
of the vehicle’s braking power.
It is the driver’s responsibility at all times to
be attentive to the road, weather and traffic
conditions. In addition, the driver must pro-
vide the steering, braking and other driving
inputs necessary to remain in control of the
vehicle.Warning!
G
Distronic is a convenience system. Its speed
adjustment reduction capability is intended
to make cruise control more effective and
usable when traffic speeds vary. It is not
however, intended to, nor does it, replace
the need for extreme care. The responsibili-
ty for the vehicle’s speed, distance to the
preceding vehicle and, most importantly,
brake operation to assure a safe stopping
distance, always rests with the driver.
Warning!
G
Distronic requires familiarity with its opera-
tional characteristics. We strongly recom-
mend that you review the following
information carefully before operating the
system.Warning!
G
Distronic cannot take street and traffic con-
ditions into account. Only use Distronic if
the road, weather and traffic conditions
make it advisable to travel at a constant
speed.

214 Controls in detailDriving systemsWarning!
G
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on slip-
pery roads. Rapid changes in tire traction
can result in wheel spin and loss of control.
Distronic does not act upon adverse sight
distance conditions. Do not use Distronic
during conditions of fog, heavy rain, snow or
sleet.
Warning!
G
Distronic cannot take weather conditions
into account. Switch off Distronic or do not
switch it on if:

roads are slippery or covered with snow
or ice
The wheels could lose traction while
braking or accelerating and the vehicle
could skid.


the sensor is dirty or visibility is dimin-
ished due to snow, rain or fog for exam-
ple
The distance control system functional-
ity could be impaired.
Always pay attention to surrounding traffic
conditions even while Distronic is switched
on. Otherwise, you may not be able to recog-
nize dangerous situations until it is too late.
This could cause an accident in which you
and/or others could be injured.
Warning!
G
Close attention to road and traffic condi-
tions is imperative at all times, regardless of
whether or not Distronic is activated.
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on wind-
ing roads or in heavy traffic because condi-
tions do not allow safe driving at a constant
speed.
Distronic will not react to stationary objects
on the roadway (e.g. a stopped vehicle in a
traffic jam or a disabled vehicle). Distronic
will also not respond to oncoming vehicles.

215 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic displays in the speedometer
dial
1Red distance warning lamp E
2Set speed
When Distronic is activated, distance
warning lamp1 and the set speed 2 ap-
pear in the speedometer dial.
Switch off Distronic:

when changing from the left to the right
lane if vehicles are moving more slowly
in the left lane


when entering a turn lane or highway off
ramp


in complex driving situations, such as in
highway construction zones
In these situations, Distronic will continue to
maintain the set speed unless deactivated.
Distronic is designed and intended only to
maintain a set speed and keep a set dis-
tance from moving objects in front of your
vehicle.
Warning!
G
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.
i
USA only:
This device has been approved by the FCC as a
“Vehicle Radar System”. The radar sensor is in-
tended for use in an automotive radar system
only. Removal, tampering, or altering of the de-
vice will void any warranties, and is not permitted
by the FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
i
Canada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Removal, tampering, or altering of the device will
void any warranties, and is not permitted by the
FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in any
non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
i
The vehicle speed displayed in the speedom-
eter can briefly vary from the speed setting for
the Distronic.