parking brake MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2008 R230 Owner's Guide

364 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABSABS, ESP
Inoperative
See
Oper. ManualThe ABS and ESP® have switched off
due to a malfunction.
The BAS is also deactivated.
The electro-hydraulic brake system is
still functioning normally but without
the ABS, the ESP
®, and the BAS avail-
able.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing 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.
Cruise Control––– MPHYou have attempted to set a speed
below 20 mph (30 km/h).Accelerate to a speed exceeding
20 mph (30 km/h) and set the speed
(
page 215).
The ESP® is switched off.Switch on the ESP® (page 94).
The gear selector lever is set to
position P, R, or N.Move the gear selector lever to position D.
The vehicle is secured with the parking
brake.Release the parking brake (page 55).
Cruise Control
AND SPEEDTRONICInoperativeThe cruise control is malfunctioning.Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.

365 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
DISTRONIC––– MPHYou have attempted to set a speed
below 20 mph (30 km/h).Accelerate to a speed exceeding
20 mph (30 km/h) and set the speed
(
page 215).
The ESP® is switched off.Switch on the ESP® (page 94).
The gear selector lever is set to
position P, R, or N.Move the gear selector lever or position D.
The vehicle is secured with the parking
brake.Release the parking brake (page 55).
InoperativeDistronic* is malfunctioning or the
display is malfunctioning.Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.

368 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display Right display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Front Passeng.
AirbagEnabled
See Oper. ManualThe passenger front air bag is
activated while driving even
though a child, small individual,
or object below the system’s
weight threshold is on the pas-
senger seat, or the passenger
seat is empty. Objects on the
seat or forces acting on the seat
may make the system sense
supplemental weight.Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and
check the passenger seat for the following:
Switch off the ignition (page 40).
Apply the parking brake (page 63).
Remove child and child restraint from passenger seat.
Make sure that no objects which are applying supple-
mental weight onto the seat are present. The system
may recognize such supplemental weight and sense that
an occupant on the passenger seat is of a greater weight
than actually present.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the passenger door
and switch on the ignition (
page 40).
Monitor the 5/indicator lamp (
page 78) and the
multifunction display in the instrument cluster (
page 143)
for the following:
(Continued on next page)

370 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display Right display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Front Passeng.
AirbagDisabled
See Oper. ManualThe passenger front air bag is
deactivated while driving even
though an adult or someone
larger than a small individual is
occupying the passenger seat.
Forces acting on the seat may
make the system sense a
decrease in weight.Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and
check the passenger seat for the following:
Switch off the ignition (page 40).
Apply the parking brake (page 63).
Have the passenger vacate the seat and exit the vehicle.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the passenger door
and switch on the ignition (
page 40).
Monitor the 5/indicator lamp (
page 78) and the
multifunction display in the instrument cluster (
page 143)
for the following:
(Continued on next page)

378 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
TReduced
Brake Effect
Depress brake
pedal fully.The electro-hydraulic brake system
is in emergency operation mode.
Considerably greater brake pedal
force is required and the brake
pedal travel is longer. The stopping
distance is increased.
The maximum speed is limited to
55 mph (90 km/h).Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so.
Apply the parking brake (page 63).
Do not drive any further.
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
blocking the wheels with wheel chocks or
other sizeable objects.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or call for Roadside Assistance (
page 253).
Warning!G
Driving while this message is displayed can
result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately.
If the electro-hydraulic brake system enters
its emergency operation mode, the driver
must apply significantly greater brake pedal
pressure and depress the pedal much
further than normal to obtain braking effect.
If necessary, apply full pressure to the brake
pedal. Brakes are only applied to the front
wheels. Stopping distance is increased!
If there is a malfunction in the
electro-hydraulic brake system, we recom-
mend that the vehicle be transported with
all wheels off the ground using flatbed or ap-
propriate wheel lift/dolly equipment.A tow bar must be used if circumstances do
not permit the use of the recommended
towing methods and the vehicle requires
towing with all four wheels on the ground.
Towing the vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is only permissible for distances
up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). For more infor-
mation, see “Towing the vehicle”
(
page 434).

379 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
USA only:
;
Canada only:
3
Reduced
Brake Effect
Service
RequiredThe electro-hydraulic brake system
is in emergency operation mode.
Considerably greater brake pedal
force is required and the brake
pedal travel is longer. The stopping
distance is increased.Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so.
Apply the parking brake (page 63).
Do not drive any further.
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
blocking the wheels with wheel chocks or
other sizeable objects.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or call for Roadside Assistance (
page 253).
Warning!G
Driving while this message is displayed can
result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately.
If the electro-hydraulic brake system enters
its emergency operation mode, the driver
must apply significantly greater brake pedal
pressure and depress the pedal much
further than normal to obtain braking effect.
If necessary, apply full pressure to the brake
pedal. Brakes are only applied to the front
wheels. Stopping distance is increased!
If there is a malfunction in the
electro-hydraulic brake system, we recom-
mend that the vehicle be transported with
all wheels off the ground using flatbed or ap-
propriate wheel lift/dolly equipment.A tow bar must be used if circumstances do
not permit the use of the recommended
towing methods and the vehicle requires
towing with all four wheels on the ground.
Towing the vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is only permissible for distances
up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). For more infor-
mation, see “Towing the vehicle”
(
page 434).

380 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
2 Brake WearThe brake pads have reached their
wear limit.Have the brake pads replaced as soon as pos-
sible.
Warning!G
Have brake pad replacement and other work
on the electro-hydraulic brake system
carried out by qualified technicians only.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for further information.
The electro-hydraulic brake system must be
deactivated prior to working on the system.
High pressure is intermittently built up in the
system as part of its automatic self-test.
In addition, the system is automatically
activated when the vehicle is unlocked by
remote control, when the driver or passen-
ger door is opened, when the SmartKey in
the starter switch is turned to position1 or
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button is
pressed once, when the brake pedal
is depressed or when the parking brake is
released. Failure to deactivate the system
prior to maintenance will cause brake pis-
tons to extend and brake fluid to leak, which
may result in injuries (contusions and acid
burns). Extended brake pistons may also
cause injury.!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.

382 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
USA only:
;
Canada only:
3
Brake
Service
RequiredThere are malfunctions, but the
electro-hydraulic brake system is
operating normally.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Brakes Overheated
Drive on, but with
even greater care
.
The brake system is overheated due
to an excessive load on the brakes.Relieve the load on the brake system:
Drive more smoothly and think ahead to
avoid unnecessary braking.
When driving down steep grades, shift into
a lower gear to use the engine’s braking
power (
page 179).
Cautiously continue driving so that the air
stream will cool down the brakes.
USA only:
;
Canada only:
!
Release
Parking BrakeYou are driving with the parking
brake set.Release the parking brake (page 63).

400 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is located in storage com-
partment under the passenger seat.
1Handle
2Lid
Pull handle 1 up.
Fold lid 2 down.
You can now remove the first aid kit.
Vehicle tool kit, jack, and spare wheel
The vehicle tool kit, jack, and spare wheel
are stored in the space underneath the
trunk floor.
Lift up the trunk floor cover.
You can now remove the tools and
accessories.
The vehicle tool kit includes

One pair of universal pliers

Two open-end wrenches

One hex-socket wrench

One interchangeable slot/Phillips
screwdriver

One towing eye bolt

One alignment bolt

One fuse chartiCheck expiration dates and contents for
completeness at least once a year and replace
missing/expired items.
Warning!G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack tubes built into
both sides of the vehicle. To help avoid per-
sonal injury, use the jack only to lift the ve-
hicle during a wheel change. Never get
beneath the vehicle while it is supported by
the jack. Keep hands and feet away from the
area under the lifted vehicle. Always firmly
set parking brake and block wheels before
raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on a hard level surface. Be sure that the jack
arm is fully inserted in the jack tube. Always
lower the vehicle onto sufficient capacity
jackstands before working under the vehi-
cle.

409 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Replacing bulbs
Bulbs
Safe vehicle operation depends on proper
exterior lighting and signaling. It is there-
fore essential that all bulbs and lamp
assemblies are in good working order at
all times.
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely
important. Have headlamps checked and
readjusted at regular intervals and when a
bulb has been replaced. See an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for headlamp
adjustment.
Warning!G
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot.
Allow the lamp to cool down before chang-
ing a bulb.
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas.
A bulb can explode if you:

touch or move it when hot

drop the bulb

scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.
iIf the headlamps or front fog lamps are
fogged up on the inside as a result of high
humidity, driving the vehicle a distance with
the lights on should clear up the fogging.
iAuxiliary bulbs will be brought into use when
the following lamps malfunction:

Turn signal lamps

Brake lamps

Parking lamps

Tail lamps
Observe the messages in the multifunction
display (
page 359).