MERCEDES-BENZ SLR CLASS 2005 Owners Manual

290 OperationVehicle careVehicle washingTo wash the car, use:


a car shampoo, which is recommended
by Mercedes-Benz


a soft sponge or a washing brush


plenty of water

Spray the car down thoroughly using
plenty of water.

Wash out the sponge and chamois fre-
quently.

Rinse off with clean water.

Dry the car well with a chamois.Power washer
!When washing the vehicle, fine and rig-
id particles in sponges or brushes
could scratch or otherwise damage the
paint. This applies to both, hand-wash
or automatic car wash. Mercedes-Benz
recommends you to have your vehicle
cleaned at an automatic car wash from
the start, preferably one without brush-
es, or to use plenty of water when
hand-washing your vehicle.
Do not wash the car in direct sunlight
and when the body surface is hot.
In the winter, remove salt residue
quickly and thoroughly.
!Do not use power washer to clean your
vehicle or the engine.

291 Operation
Vehicle care
Wiper blades

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.

Fold the wiper arm away from the wind-
shield (
page 348).
You must feel the wiper arm engage in
position. You can now clean the wiper
blade.

Clean the wiper blade insert with a
clean cloth and detergent solution.

After cleaning the wiper blade, fold the
windshield wipers back again before
turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
!The hood must be opened
(page 243) before folding the wiper
arm away from the windshield. You
could otherwise damage the hood
and/or the wiper arms.
!Never open or close the hood when the
wiper arms are folded away from the
windshield. You could otherwise dam-
age the hood and/or the wiper arm. Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove SmartKey from starter switch
before cleaning the wiper blades. Otherwise
the wiper motor could suddenly turn on and
cause injury.
!Fold the windshield wiper arms back
onto the windshield before turning the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the
wiper arm back. If released, the force
of the impact from the tensioning
spring could crack the windshield.

292 OperationVehicle careWindow cleaning

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.

Fold the wiper arm away from the wind-
shield (
page 348).
You must feel the wiper arm engage in
position. You can now clean the wind-
shield.

Use a window cleaning solution on all
glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.

After cleaning the windshield, fold the
windshield wipers back again before
turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
!The hood must be opened
(page 243) before folding the wiper
arm away from the windshield. You
could otherwise damage the hood
and/or the wiper arms.
!Never open or close the hood when the
wiper arms are folded away from the
windshield. You could otherwise dam-
age the hood and/or the wiper arm. Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove SmartKey from starter switch
before cleaning the windshield. Otherwise
the wiper motor could suddenly turn on and
cause injury.
!Fold the windshield wiper arms back
onto the windshield before turning the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the
wiper arm back. If released, the force
of the impact from the tensioning
spring could crack the windshield.

293 Operation
Vehicle care
Cleaning the headlamps
Wipe the headlamp lens with a damp
sponge.!Use only windshield washer fluid suit-
able for plastic lamp lenses. Unsuitable
windshield washer fluid may cause
damage to the plastic lenses of the
headlamps.
Do not use

a dry cloth


abrasive products


solvents


cleaning agents containing solvents
You could otherwise scratch or damage
the lens surface.

Practical hintsWhat to do if ...
Where will I find ...?
Locking/unlocking in an emergency
Replacing SmartKey batteries
Replacing bulbs
Replacing the wiper blades
Flat tire
Batteries
Towing the vehicle
Fuses

296 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during the bulb self-check when switching on the igni-
tion, have the respective bulb checked and
replaced if necessary.Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solutions
v
The yellow ABS/ESP warning
lamp comes on while driving.
The ESP is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.

Switch the ESP back on (
page 83).
If the ESP cannot be switched back on, 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.
v
The yellow ABS/ESP warning
lamp flashes while driving.
The ESP, ABS, or traction control has
come into operation because of detected
traction loss in at least one tire.

When driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.

While driving, ease up on the accelerator.

Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.

Do not deactivate ESP. Exceptions:
(page 83).
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.

297 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solutions
-
The yellow ABS indicator
lamp comes on while driving.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and
has switched off. The BAS and the ESP are
also switched off (see messages in dis-
play).
The SBC brake system is still functioning
normally but without ABS available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning
the automatic transmission may also be
malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability.

Read and observe messages in the display
(page 304).

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts and the ABS was switched off.
When the voltage is above this value again, the
ABS is operational again.
If necessary, have the generator and battery
checked.

298 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solutions
3
(Canada only)
;
(USA only)The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving and
you hear a warning sound.
You are driving with the parking brake on.

Release the parking brake (
page 49).
There is a malfunction in the SBC brake
system.

Read and observe messages in the display
(page 304).
3
(Canada only)
;
(USA only)
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving
There is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.

Risk of accident! Carefully stop the vehicle
and notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Do not add brake fluid! This will not
solve the problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with the brake warning lamp illumi-
nated can result in an accident. Have your
brake system checked immediately if the
brake warning lamp stays on. Do not add
brake fluid before checking the brake sys-
tem.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can re-
sult in spilling brake fluid on hot engine
parts and the brake fluid catching fire. You
can be seriously burned.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.

299 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solutions
ú
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes on
while driving.
There is a malfunction in:

The fuel injection system


The ignition system


The emission control system


Systems which effect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive
emissions values and may switch the en-
gine to its limp-home (emergency opera-
tion) mode.

Have the vehicle checked as soon as possi-
ble by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is used by
the service station to link the vehicle to the
shop diagnostics system. It allows the accu-
rate identification of system malfunctions
through the readout of diagnostic trouble
codes. It is located in the front left area of
the footwell next to the parking brake.
Your gas tank is empty.

After refuelling, start, turn off and restart the
engine three or four times in succession.
The limp-home mode is canceled. You do not
need to have your vehicle checked.
The fuel cap is not closed tightly.

Check the fuel cap.