MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG 2005 R230 Owner's Manual

339 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABS
Display malfunction
Visit
workshop!
The ABS or the ABS display is malfunc-
tioning.

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
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workshop
Cruise control or Distronic* is mal-
functioning.

Have the cruise control or Distronic*
checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

340 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Distronic
Currently
unavailable.
See Oper. Manual
Distronic* is switched off because

the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille is dirty


functionality is impaired by heavy
rain or thick fog

Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille (
page 318).

Restart the vehicle.
or
Distronic* becomes operational again with-
out the engine being started again when the
conditions that had impaired the functionality
no longer prevail, e.g. lessening rain or slush
or snow has fallen off the Distronic* cover
while driving. You can then operate Distronic*
as usual again.
Drive to
workshop
Distronic* is malfunctioning or the dis-
play is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
ESP
Malfunction
Visit
workshop
The ESP has detected a malfunction
and switched off.
The ABS may not be operational.
The SBC brake system is still function-
ing normally but without the ESP avail-
able.

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 an accident.

341 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
Display malfunction
Visit
workshop
The ESP or the ESP display is malfunc-
tioning.

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.
Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
The ESP is deactivated because the
power supply has been interrupted.
The SBC brake system is still function-
ing normally but without the ESP avail-
able.

Synchronize the ESP. With the vehicle
stationary, turn the steering wheel com-
pletely 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 an accident.
!When sychronizing the ESP, make sure
you can turn the steering wheel in both
d i r e c t i o n s a s f a r a s i t w i l l g o w i t h o u t t h e
wheels hitting any objects, e.g. a road
curb.

342 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
P
Gear selector
lever to P
You have tried to start the engine with
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
with the gear selector lever not in P.

Place the gear selector lever in position P.
You have tried to turn off the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop but-
ton with the gear selector lever not in
P.You have opened the driver’s door
while engine is running with the gear
selector lever not in P.

343 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Tire pres. monitor
reactivated

The tire pressure monitoring system is
using the current pressure values as
the basis for monitoring.
Tire pressure
displayed only
after driving
a few minutes
The tire inflation pressure is being
checked.
Tire pres.
monitor
temporarily
unavailable
The tire inflation pressure monitor is
unable to monitor the tire inflation
pressure due to

the presence of several wheel sen-
sors in the vehicle.


excessive wheel sensor tempera-
tures.


a nearby radio interference source.


unrecognized wheel sensors
mounted.

Remove any extra wheel sensors from the
vehicle
As soon as the causes of the malfunction have
been removed, the tire pressure monitoring
system automatically becomes active again.

344 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Reactivate tire
pressure monitor
after rectifying
pressure
There was a tire inflation pressure
warning message.
The yellow warning lamp for the tire
pressure monitoring system comes on
and you have not reactivated the sys-
tem since the last tire inflation pres-
sure warning message.

Reactivate the tire pressure monitoring
system after correcting the tire inflation
pressure values (
page 293).
Tire pres.
monitor inoperative
Drive to workshop
The tire inflation pressure monitor is
malfunctioning.

Have the tire inflation pressure monitor
checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
A wheel without proper sensor was in-
stalled.

Have the wheel checked.
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. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

345 Practical hints
What to do if …
Symbol messagesLeft display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicle
The battery is malfunctioning.
The SBC brake system requires
electrical energy and therefore has
only limited operation. Consider-
ably greater brake pedal force is re-
quired and the stopping distance is
increased.

Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
Adjust driving to be consistent with reduced
braking responsiveness.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Visit
workshop!
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning


broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake system
requires electrical energy and may
be operating with restricted capa-
bility. Considerably greater brake
pedal force is required and the stop-
ping distance is increased.

Stop immediately and check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise, the
engine will overheat due to an inoperative
water pump which may result in damage
to the engine. Notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is in order:

Drive immediately to the nearest autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center. Adjust driv-
ing to be consistent with reduced braking
responsiveness.

346 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Visit
workshop!
There is a malfunction in the elec-
tronic system.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
#
Electric
consumers
offline!
The consumer battery has insuffi-
cient voltage and can no longer sup-
ply the convenience functions such
as seat ventilation*.
The electrical consumers will come back online
as soon as on-board voltage is sufficient.
2
Brake
wear
Visit
workshop
The brake pads have reached their
wear limit.

Have the brake pads replaced as soon as pos-
sible.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Maintenance
Booklet.

347 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
T
Reduced
braking power!
Depress brake
pedal fully!
The SBC brake system is in emer-
gency operation mode. Consider-
ably greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping distance
is increased.
The maximum speed is limited to
55 mph (90 km/h).

Do not drive any further.

Stop the vehicle and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
blocking the wheels with wheel chocks or oth-
er sizable objects.

Call for roadside assistance.
USA only:;Canada only:3
Reduced
brake effect
Start engine
The battery has insufficient voltage
and cannot supply sufficient power
to the SBC brake system.

Start the engine.
The message disappears when sufficient
voltage is available
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon-
sciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated.

348 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
USA only:;Canada only:3
Reduced
brake effect
Visit
workshop
The SBC brake system is in emer-
gency operation mode. Consider-
able brake pedal force is required
and the stopping distance is in-
creased.

Continue driving with added caution.

Adjust driving to be consistent with reduced
braking responsiveness.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center im-
mediately. Adjust driving to be consistent
with reduced braking responsiveness.
Warning!
G
Driving while these messages are displayed
can result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately.
If there is a malfunction in the SBC brake
system, we recommend that the vehicle be
transported with all wheels off the ground
using flatbed or appropriate 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 408).
If the SBC brake system enters its emergen-
cy 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!