traction control MERCEDES-BENZ SLK-CLASS ROADSTER 2015 Owners Manual

DoorsAutomatic locking (on-board com-
puter) ............................................ .206
Automatic locking (switch) .............. .79
Central locking/unlocking
(SmartKey) ...................................... .72
Control panel .................................. .37
Display message ............................ 240
Emergency locking ........................... 80
Emergency unlocking ....................... 80
Important safety note s.................... 78
Opening (from inside) ...................... 78
Overview .......................................... 78
Drinking and driving ......................... 165
Drive program
Automatic ...................................... 154
Display ........................................... 151
Manual ........................................... 154
Manual (vehicles with Sports
package AMG) ............................... 155
SETUP (on-board computer) .......... 209
Driver's door
see Doors
Driving abroad
Mercedes-Benz Service ................. 285
Driving on flooded roads .................. 168
Driving safety systems
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) ....... 61
ADAPTIVE BRAK E............................. 67
BAS (Brake Assist System) .............. 62
BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System
PLUS) ............................................... 62
EBD (electronic brake force distri- bution) ............................................. 66 ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram) ............................................... 63
ETS (Electronic Traction System) ..... 63
Important safety information ........... 61
Overview .......................................... 61
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake ............................. 67
Driving systems
ATTENTION ASSIST ........................ 188
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 189
Cruise control ................................ 169
Display message ............................ 231
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 171
Driving Assistance packag e........... 189 Dynamic handling package ............ 180
HOLD function ............................... 180
Lane Keeping Assist ...................... 190
Parking Guidance ........................... 185
PARKTRONIC ................................. 182
Driving tips
Automatic transmission ................. 152
Brakes ........................................... 166
Break-in period .............................. 138
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 178
Downhill gradient ........................... 166
Drinking and driving ....................... 165
Driving in winter ............................. 168
Driving on flooded roads ................ 168
Driving on wet roads ...................... 168
Exhaust check ............................... 165
Fuel ................................................ 165
General .......................................... 164
Hydroplaning ................................. 168
Icy road surfaces ........................... 168
Limited braking efficiency on sal-
ted roads ....................................... 167
Snow chains .................................. 315
Wet road surface ........................... 167
DVD video
Operating (on-board computer) ..... 201
Dynamic handling package
Function/note s............................. 180
E
EASY-ENTRY feature
Activating/deactivating ................. 207
Function/note s............................. 101
EASY-EXIT feature
Crash-responsive ........................... 102
Function/note s............................. 101
Switching on/of f........................... 207
EBD (electronic brake force distri-
bution)
Display message ............................ 215
Function/note s................................ 66
ECO display
Function/note s............................. 165
On-board computer ....................... 198
ECO start/stop function
Automatic engine start .................. 146
Automatic engine switch-off .......... 144
8Index

Deactivating/activating ................. 147
General information ....................... 144
Important safety notes.................. 143
Introduction ................................... 143
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Emergency
Automatic measures after an acci-
dent ................................................. 57
Emergency release
Driver's door .................................... 80
Trunk ............................................... 83
Vehicle ............................................. 80
Emergency spare wheel
General notes ................................ 343
Important safety notes .................. 343
Removing ....................................... 344
Stowing .......................................... 344
Technical data ............................... 346
Emergency Tensioning Devices
Activation ......................................... 54
Emissions control
Service and warranty information .... 22
Engine
Check Engine warning lamp ........... 252
Display message ............................ 228
ECO start/stop function ................ 143
Engine number ............................... 349
Irregular running ............................ 149
Jump-starting ................................. 303
Starting problems .......................... 149
Starting the engine with the
SmartKey ....................................... 142
Starting with KEYLESS-GO ............. 142
Switching off .................................. 162
Tow-starting (vehicle) ..................... 307
Engine electronics
Problem (malfunction) ................... 149
Engine oil
Adding ........................................... 282
Additives ........................................ 352
Checking the oil level ..................... 281
Checking the oil level using the
dipstick .......................................... 281
Display message ............................ 230
Filling capacity ............................... 352
Notes about oil grade s................... 351
Notes on oil level/consumption .... 281 Temperature (on-board com-
puter) ............................................. 208
Viscosity ........................................ 352
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram)
AMG menu (on-board computer) ... 209
Characteristics ................................. 64
Deactivating/activating (AMG
vehicles) .......................................... 65
Deactivating/activating (notes;
except AMG vehicles) ...................... 64
Display message ............................ 213
ETS .................................................. 63
Function/note s................................ 63
General notes .................................. 63
Important safety information ........... 64
Warning lamp ................................. 248
ETS (Electronic Traction System) ....... 63
Exhaust check ................................... 165
Exhaust pipe (cleaning instruc-
tions) .................................................. 289
Exterior lighting
Setting options .............................. 108
see Lights
Exterior mirrors
Adjusting ....................................... 103
Dipping (automatic) ....................... 104
Folding in when locking (on-board
computer) ...................................... 208
Folding in/out (automatically )....... 104
Folding in/out (electrically) ........... 104
Out of position (troubleshooting) ... 104
Storing settings (memory func-
tion) ............................................... 106
Storing the parking position .......... 105
Eyeglasses compartment ................. 259
F
Filler cap
see Fuel filler flap
Filling capacities (Technical data) ... 349
Flat tire
MOExtended tire s.......................... 295
Preparing the vehicle ..................... 295
TIREFIT kit ...................................... 296
see Emergency spare wheel
Floormats ........................................... 276
Index9

Recognition by the radar sensor system is
also impaired in the event of:R there is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R there is interference by other radar sources
R there are strong radar reflections, for
example in parking garages
R a narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle traveling in front on a different line
relative to the center of your vehicle
Following damage to the front end of the vehi-
cle, have the configuration and operation of
the radar sensors checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. This also applies to colli-
sions at low speeds where there is no visible
damage to the front of the vehicle.
Function
To avoid a collision, BAS PLUS calculates the
brake force necessary if:
R you approach an obstacle, and
R BAS PLUS has detected a risk of collision
When driving at a speed under 20 mph
(30 km/h) : if you depress the brake pedal,
BAS PLUS is activated. The increase in brake pressure will be carried out at the last possi-
ble moment.
When driving at a speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h) : if you depress the brake pedal
sharply, BAS PLUS automatically raises the
brake pressure to a value adapted to the traf-
fic situation.
BAS PLUS provides braking assistance in haz-
ardous situations with vehicles in front within a speed range between 4 mph (7 km/h) and
155 mph (250 km/h).
At speeds of up to approximately 40 mph
(70 km/ h), BAS PLUS can also react to sta-
tionary objects. Examples of stationary
objects are stopped or parked vehicles.
iIf BAS PLUS demands particularly high
braking force, preventative passenger pro- tection measures (PRE-SAFE
®
) are activa-
ted simultaneously.
X Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
BAS PLUS is deactivated and the brakes func- tion as usual again, if:
R you release the brake pedal.
R there is no longer a risk of collision.
R no obstacle is detected in front of your
vehicle.
R you depress the accelerator pedal.
R you activate kickdown.
ESP®(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Ypage 61).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between the tires and
the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilize the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified to keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP ®
assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize the vehicle during braking.
ETS (Electronic Traction System)
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Ypage 61).
ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
.
ETS brakes the drive wheels individually if
they spin. This enables you to pull away and
accelerate on slippery surfaces, for example
if the road surface is slippery on one side. In
addition, more drive torque is transferred to
the wheel or wheels with traction.
Driving safety systems63
Safety
Z

iActivate ESP®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the vehi-
cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin.
!Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
X
To switch off: press button:.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To switch on: press button:.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes. In such situa-
tions, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut-
ting action for better traction on loose sur- faces.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
Deactivating/activating ESP®(AMG
vehicles)
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Ypage 61).
You can select between the following states
of ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated.
R SPORT handling mode is activated.
R ESP ®
is deactivated.
GWARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated,
there is a greater risk of skidding and acci-
dents.
Only activate SPORT handling mode in the sit-
uations described in the following.
GWARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
In the following situations, it may be better to activate SPORT handling mode or deactivate ESP ®
:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
R on designated roads when the vehicle's
own oversteering and understeering char-
acteristics are desired
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without ESP ®
requires an extremely qualified and
experienced driver.
iActivate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the vehi-
cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin.
Driving safety systems65
Safety
Z

!Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
X
To activate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button :.
The M SPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up. The
SPORT handling modeSPORT handling modemessage
appears in the multifunction display.
X To deactivate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button :.
The M SPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.
X To deactivate ESP ®
:press button :until
the å ESP®
OFF warning lamp lights up
in the instrument cluster. The ÷
OFFOFFmessage appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
X To activate ESP ®
:briefly press button :.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out. The ÷
ESP ®
ONONmessage appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
Characteristics of activated SPORT han-
dling mode
If SPORT handling mode is activated and one or more wheels start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes. ESP ®
only stabilizes the vehicle to a
limited degree. When SPORT handling mode is activated:
R ESP ®
only improves driving stability to a
limited degree.
R the engine's torque is restricted only to a
limited degree and the drive wheels can
spin. The spinning of the wheels results in a
cutting action, which provides better grip.
R ETS is still active.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster does not flash. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut-
ting action for better traction on loose sur- faces.
R traction control is still activated.
R PRE-SAFE ®
is no longer available, nor is it
activated if you brake firmly and ESP ®
intervenes.
R PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is no longer available, it
is also not activated if you brake firmly and
ESP ®
intervenes.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
EBD (electronic brake force distribu- tion)
General information
EBD monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure on the rear wheels to improve driving
stability while braking.
66Driving safety systems
Safety

GDANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases
such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter thevehicle. This is the case, e.g. if the vehicle
becomes trapped in snow. There is a risk of
fatal injury.
If you leave the engine or the auxiliary heating
running, make sure the exhaust pipe and area
around the vehicle are clear of snow. To
ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open a window on the side of the vehicle that is not
facing into the wind.
Have your vehicle winter-proofed at a quali-
fied specialist workshop at the onset of win-
ter.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering and braking maneuvers. Do not use cruise
control.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
shift to neutral.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position N.
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
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. The vehicle could skid if you fail to adapt your
driving style. Always adapt your driving style
and drive at a speed to suit the prevailing
weather conditions.
You should pay special attention to road con-
ditions when temperatures are around freez-
ing point.
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see ( Ypage 315). For more information on driving with summer
tires, see ( Ypage 314).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Ypage 314).
Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden, you must select a lower gear
in good time. By doing so, you will make use of the braking effect of the engine. This relievesthe load on the brake system and prevents
the brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con- ditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You canstore any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise
control can neither reduce the risk of an acci- dent nor override the laws of physics. Cruise
control cannot take into account the road,
traffic and weather conditions. Cruise control
is only an aid. You are responsible for the dis-
tance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time and for staying in
lane.
Do not use cruise control: R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed e.g.
in heavy traffic or on winding roads
R on slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
erating could cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle could then skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
Driving systems169
Driving and pa rking
Z

!If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automati-
cally in certain situations. To prevent dam-
age to the vehicle, deactivate DISTRONIC
PLUS and the HOLD function in the follow-
ing or other similar situations:
R when towing the vehicle
R in the car wash
If you fail to adapt your driving style,
DISTRONIC PLUS can neither reduce the risk
of accident nor override the laws of physics.
DISTRONIC PLUS cannot take into account
the road, traffic and weather conditions.
DISTRONIC PLUS is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in your lane.
Do not use DISTRONIC PLUS:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed e.g.
in heavy traffic or on winding roads
R on slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
erating could cause the drive wheels to lose traction and the vehicle could then skid
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect narrow
vehicles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or
vehicles driving on a different line.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if:
R there is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R there is snow or heavy rain
R there is interference by other radar sources
R there are strong radar reflections, for
example, in parking garages
If DISTRONIC PLUS no longer detects a vehi- cle in front, DISTRONIC PLUS may unexpect-
edly accelerate the vehicle to the storedspeed. This speed may:
R be too high if you are driving in a filter lane
or an exit lane
R be so high when driving in the right-hand
lane that you overtake vehicles in the left-
hand lane
R be so high when driving in the left-hand lane
that you overtake vehicles in the right-hand
lane
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever
Cruise control lever :
To store the current speed or a higher speed
;To set the specified minimum distance
=To store the current speed or call up the
last stored speed
?To store the current speed or a lowerspeed
ATo deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS
Driving systems173
Driving and parking
Z

Display messagesPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
Check
Tires
The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped significantly.
The wheel position is displayed in the multifunction display.
A warning tone also sounds.
GWARNING
Tire pressures that are too low pose the following hazards:
R they may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed
increase.
R they may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may greatly
impair tire traction.
R the driving characteristics, as well as steering and braking, may
be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Ypage 161).
X Check the tires and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a
flat tire ( Ypage 295).
X Check the tire pressure ( Ypage 320).
X If necessary, correct the tire pressure.
Warning
Tire Malfunction
The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped suddenly. The
wheel position is shown in the multifunction display.
GWARNING
Driving with a flat tire poses a risk of the following hazards:
R a flat tire affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
R you could lose control of the vehicle.
R continued driving with a flat tire will cause excessive heat build-
up and possibly a fire.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away ( Ypage 161).
X Check the tires and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a
flat tire ( Ypage 295).
Display messages237
On-board computer and displays
Z

ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
÷
The yellow ESP®
warn-
ing lamp flashes while
the vehicle is in motion.ESP ®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of
skidding or at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
X When pulling away, only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
In rare cases ( Ypage 64), it may be best to deactivate ESP ®
.
Observe the important safety notes on ESP ®
(Y page 64).
å
The yellow ESP ®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.ESP ®
is deactivated.
GWARNING
If ESP ®
is switched off, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
In rare cases ( Ypage 64), it may be best to deactivate ESP ®
.
Observe the important safety notes on ESP ®
(Y page 64).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Drive on carefully.
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
M
AMG vehicles only:
The yellow SPORT han-
dling mode warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.SPORT handling mode is activated.
GWARNING
When SPORT handling mode is switched on, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Only switch on SPORT handling mode in certain situations (Y page 65).
Warning and indicator lamps249
On-board computer and displays
Z

curbs, speed humps or similar elevations, tryto do so slowly and at an obtuse angle. Oth-
erwise, the tires, particularly the sidewalls,
may be damaged.
Regular checking of wheels and tires
GWARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control ofyour vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Regularly check the wheels and tires of your
vehicle for damage at least once a month, as well as after driving off-road or on rough
roads. Damaged wheels can cause a loss of
tire pressure. Pay particular attention to dam-
age such as:
R cuts in the tires
R punctures
R tears in the tires
R bulges on tires
R deformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width of the tire ( Ypage 313). If necessary, turn the
front wheels to full lock in order to inspect the
inner side of the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
mount anything onto the valve other than the standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved by Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle.
Do not use any other valve caps or systems,
e.g. tire pressure monitoring systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires
particularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire pressure as necessary ( Ypage 315).
Observe the notes on the emergency spare
wheel ( Ypage 343). The service life of tires depends, among other
things, on the following factors:
R Driving style
R Tire pressure
R Distance covered
Notes on tire tread
GWARNING
Insufficient tire tread will reduce tire traction.
The tire is no longer able to dissipate water.
This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk
of hydroplaning increases, in particular where speed is not adapted to suit the driving con-
ditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tire pressure is too high or too low, tires
may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tires.
Minimum tire tread depth for:
R Summer tires: âin (3 mm)
R M+S tires: ãin (4 mm)
For safety reasons, replace the tires before
the legally prescribed limit for the minimum
tire tread depth is reached.
Marking :shows where the bar indicator for
tread wear (arrow) is integrated into the tire
tread.
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned on the tire
tread. They are visible once a tread depth of
Operation313
Wheels and tires
Z