engine MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG 2008 R230 Owner's Guide

60 Getting started
Driving
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Press the combination switch in
direction of arrow2 (
page 58) past
the resistance point.
The windshield wipers operate with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 289).
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.

The engine electronics may not be
operating properly.

Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.The coolant temperature gauge is
above 248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible in
a safe location and turn off the engine.
Allow engine and coolant to cool off.
Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 288).
iTo prevent smears on the windshield or
noisy/chattering wiper blades, wipe with wind-
shield washer fluid every now and then even
when it is raining.

61 Getting started
Driving
In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:
Do not start the engine under any
circumstances.
Notify local fire and/or police
authorities.
If the extent of the damage cannot be
determined:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call Roadside Assistance.
If no damage can be determined on the

major assemblies

fuel system

engine mount:
Start the engine in the usual manner.

62 Getting started
Parking and locking
You have now completed your first drive.
You have properly stopped and parked
your vehicle. End your drive as follows.
Warning!G
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
vehicle.
Warning!G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury or
damage to the vehicle drivetrain as a result
of vehicle movement, before turning off the
engine and leaving the vehicle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.

Firmly depress parking brake pedal.

Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.

Slowly release brake pedal.

When parked on an incline, turn front
wheels towards the road curb.

Turn the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* to starter switch
position0 and remove, or press the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button.

Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you and lock vehicle
when leaving.

63 Getting started
Parking and locking
Parking brake
1Parking brake pedalStep firmly on parking brake pedal1.
When the engine is running, the indica-
tor lamp;(USA only) or3
(Canada only) in the instrument cluster
will be illuminated.
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
position M (
page 131).
Warning!G
Engaging the parking brake while the vehicle
is in motion can cause the rear wheels to
lock up. You could lose control of the vehicle
and cause an accident. In addition, the
vehicle’s brake lights do not light up when
the parking brake is engaged.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could release the
parking brake and/or move the gear selec-
tor lever from positionP, either of which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
Warning!G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear se-
lector lever not fully engaged in positionP is
dangerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 174).
When parked on an incline, also turn front
wheels towards the road curb.

64 Getting started
Parking and locking
Turning off the engine
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.
Apply the parking brake (page 63).
Turning off with the SmartKey
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0 (
page 40).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
The immobilizer is activated.Turning off with KEYLESS-GO*
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton (
page 41) to turn off the engine.
With the driver’s door closed, the
starter switch is now in position1. With
the driver’s door opened, the starter
switch is set to position0, same as
SmartKey removed from starter switch
(
page 40).
Releasing seat belts
Press the seat belt release button
(
page 51).
Allow the retractor to completely
rewind the seat belt by guiding the
latch plate.
iAlways set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP.
When parked on an incline, also turn front
wheels towards the road curb.
iThe SmartKey can only be removed from the
starter switch with the gear selector lever in
positionP.
iWith the SmartKey removed and the driver’s
door open, a warning sounds if the vehicle’s
exterior lamps are not switched off.
iIf you hear a warning signal you have tried to
turn off the engine while the gear selector lever
was not inP.
In addition, the message
Gear Selector
Lever To P
appears in the multifunction
display.
Place the gear selector lever in positionP.
!M a k e s u r e t h e s e a t b e l t r e t r a c t s f u l l y s o t h a t
the seat belt and/or latch plate cannot get
caught or pinched in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This can damage the seat belt and
impair the effectiveness of the seat belt, and/or
cause damage to the door and/or door trim
panel. Such damage is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Damaged seat belts must be replaced. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

68 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
In this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint systems
of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are

Seat belts (page 79)

Child restraints (page 85)
Additional protection potential provided by

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
with

Air bags (page 70)

Air bag control unit (with crash
sensors)

Emergency Tensioning Device
(ETD) for seat belts (
page 82)

Roll bar (page 83)Air bag system components with

Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp (
page 78)

Passenger seat with Occupant
C
lassification System (OCS)
(
page 74)
Although independent systems, their
protective 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
1indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on when the ignition is
switched on and goes out no later than a
few seconds after the engine has been
started.
The SRS components are in operational
readiness if the
1indicator lamp is not
lit when the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the
1indicator 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
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and restraint
systems for infants and children, see “Children
in the vehicle” (
page 84).

75 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Both driver and the passenger should
always use the 5/ indicator lamp
as an indication of whether or not the
passenger is properly positioned.
iIf the seat, including the trim cover and
cushion needs to be serviced in any way, take
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Only use seat accessories approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Warning!G
If the 5/ indicator lamp illuminates
when an adult or someone larger than a
small individual is in the passenger seat,
have the passenger re-position himself or
herself in the seat until the 5/ indi-
cator lamp goes out.
More information about air bag display
messages (
page 368).
In the event of a collision, the air bag control
unit will not allow passenger front air bag
deployment when the OCS classified the
passenger seat occupant as being up to or
less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child
restraint or if the passenger seat is sensed
as being empty.
When the OCS senses that the passenger
seat occupant is classified as being up to or
less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child
restraint, the 5/ indicator lamp will
illuminate when the engine is started and
remain illuminated, indicating that the pas-
senger front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the passenger
seat is classified as being empty, the
5/ indicator lamp will illuminate
when the engine is started and remain
illuminated, indicating that the passenger
front air bag is deactivated.


76 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
When 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/indicator lamp will illuminate for
approximately 6 seconds when the engine is
started and then, depending on occupant
weight sensor readings from the seat, re-
main illuminated or go out. With the
5/ indicator lamp illuminated, the
passenger front air bag is deactivated. With
the 5/ indicator lamp out, the pas-
senger front air bag is activated.
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

the passenger’s weight category as
identified 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.


82 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Enhanced seat belt reminder system
When the engine is started, the seat belt
telltale< will always illuminate for
6 seconds to remind you and your pas-
senger to fasten your seat belts.
If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened
when the engine is started, an additional
warning chime will also sound for a
maximum of 6 seconds or until the driver’s
seat belt is fastened.
If after these 6 seconds, the driver’s or the
passenger’s seat belt (with the passenger
seat occupied) are not fastened with both
doors closed,

the seat belt telltale< remains
illuminated for as long as either the
driver’s or passenger’s seat belt is not
fastened.

and if the vehicle speed once exceeds
15 mph (25 km/h), the seat belt
telltale< starts flashing and a
warning chime sounds with increasing intensity for a maximum of 60 seconds
or until the driver’s and passenger’s
seat belts are fastened.
If the driver’s or the passenger’s seat
belt remain unfastened after
60 seconds, the warning chime stops
sounding. The seat belt telltale<
stops flashing but continues to be
illuminated.
The seat belt telltale< will only go out
if both the driver’s and the passenger’s
seat belt (with the passenger seat occu-
pied) are fastened, or the vehicle is stand-
ing still and a door is opened.
For more information, see the “Practical
hints” section (
page 352).Emergency tensioning device (ETD),
seat belt force limiter
The seat belts are equipped with
emergency tensioning devices and belt
force limiters.
The ETD is designed to activate in the
following cases:

in frontal or rear-end impacts
exceeding the system deployment
threshold

if the restraint systems are operational
and functioning correctly, see
1indicator lamp (
page 68)

in certain vehicle rollovers if the
system determines an additional
degree of protection
iThe ETDs will only activate if the seat belts
are fastened (latch plate properly inserted into
buckle).

84 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Raising the roll bar
Lift the switch for the retractable hard-
top.
Press and hold button1 until the roll
bar is raised.Lowering the roll bar
Lift the switch for the retractable hard-
top.
If the roll bar was raised manually:
Press and hold button2 until the roll
bar is lowered.
If the roll bar was raised automatically:
Press and hold button1 until you hear
the roll bar lock into place.
Press and hold button2 until the roll
bar is lowered.
Children in the vehicle
If an infant or child is traveling with you in
the vehicle:
Secure the child using an infant or child
restraint appropriate to the age and
size of the child.
Make sure the infant or child is
properly secured at all times while
the vehicle is in motion.
Warning!G
If the roll bar warning lamp in the
instrument cluster does not go out after
starting the engine, flickers, or if it comes on
while driving, the roll bar system is not
operating properly and may not activate in
an accident. At the same time, the message
Raise Roll-over Bar appears in the
multifunction display. In this case, raise the
roll bar manually before continuing to drive.
For safety reasons, drive only with the roll
bar raised until the malfunction has been
repaired. Have your vehicle checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iIf you have raised the roll bar manually using
the button, the roll bar will automatically be low-
ered and then raised again when you close and
open the retractable hardtop.
Warning!G
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system. The children could

injure themselves on parts of the vehicle

be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or
cold