check engine MERCEDES-BENZ SLR CLASS 2007 Owner's Manual

305 Practical hints
What to do if ...
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
ú(USA only)
±(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
The fuel cap is not closed tightly.Check the fuel cap (page 247).
If it is not closed properly:
Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:
Have the fuel system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iSome states may by law require you to visit
a workshop immediately as soon as the engine
malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Check
local requirements.

306 Practical hints
What to do if ...
During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tempera-
ture may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
DThe red coolant temperature
warning lamp comes on while
the engine is running.There is insufficient coolant in the reservoir.Immediately add coolant to prevent en-
gine from overheating (
page 255).
If this warning lamp comes on frequently,
there is a leak in the cooling system.Have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If the coolant level is correct, the electric
radiator fan may be broken. If the coolant temperature is below
248°F (120°C), you can continue driv-
ing to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Avoid high engine loads (e.g. driving
uphill) and stop-and-go driving.
DThe red coolant temperature
warning lamp comes on while
the engine is running and you
hear a warning sound.The coolant temperature has exceeded
248°F (120°C).Stop as soon as possible in a safe loca-
tion and allow the engine and coolant
to cool down.
Warning!G
Driving when your engine is overheated can
cause some fluids which may have leaked
into the engine compartment to catch fire.
You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns which can occur just by open-
ing the engine hood. Stay away from the en-
gine if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle
until the engine has cooled down.
!The engine should not be operated with the
coolant temperature above 248°F (120°C). Do-
ing so may cause serious engine damage which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

307 Practical hints
What to do if ...
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solutions
lamp comes on while driving
and you hear a warning
sound.The Airbrake or the central locking system
is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center immediately.
>The red gearshift indicator
lamp comes on while driving.You are driving with the manual shift pro-
gram. The engine is in the overrevving
range.Shift to the next higher gear. Otherwise the
fuel supply will be interrupted to prevent the
engine from overrevving.
AThe yellow fuel reserve warn-
ing lamp comes on while
driving.The fuel level has dropped below the
reserve mark.Refuel at the nearest gas station
(
page 247).
The fuel cap is not closed tightly.Check the fuel cap (page 247).
=The engine oil temperature
indicator comes on in the
tachometer while driving.The engine oil has not yet reached its
operating temperature.Warm up the engine and do not drive at full
power until the operating temperature has
been reached.
The symbol will go out as soon as the engine
oil has reached its operating temperature.

310 Practical hints
What to do if ...
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
1The red SRS indicator lamp
comes on while the engine is
running.There is a malfunction in the restraint sys-
tems. The air bags or emergency tensioning
device (ETD) could deploy unexpectedly or
fail to activate in an accident.Drive with added caution to the
nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
In the event that a malfunction of the SRS is
indicated as outlined above, the SRS may
not be operational. For your safety, we
strongly recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immedi-
ately to have the system checked, otherwise
the SRS may not be deployed when needed
in an accident, which could result in serious
or fatal injury, or it might deploy
unexpectedly and unnecessarily which
could also result in an accident and/or
injury to you or to others.

323 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
PGear selector
lever to PYou wish to start the engine and the
selector lever is not in park
positionP.Move the selector lever to park positionP.
Shift to Nto startMove the selector lever to neutral
positionN.
SLRACL malfunction
Visit
workshop
The locking system is
malfunctioning.

The transmission cooling system
is malfunctioning.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
SRSRestraint
system malfunction
Visit
workshopThere is a malfunction in the supple-
mental restraint systems. The
air bags or emergency tensioning de-
vices (ETDs) could deploy unexpect-
edly or fail to activate in an accident.Drive with added caution and have the
system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Warning!G
In the event that a malfunction of the SRS is
indicated as outlined above, the SRS may
not be operational. For your safety, we
strongly recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately to have the system checked;
otherwise the SRS may not be deployed
when needed in an accident, which could re-
sult in serious or fatal injury, or it might de-
ploy unexpectedly and unnecessarily which
could result in an accident and/or injury to
you or to others.

328 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/
consequencePossible solution
#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 capability.
Considerably greater brake
pedal force is required and the
pedal travel is longer. The stop-
ping distance is increased. If
necessary, apply full pressure
to the brake pedal.
Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe location 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. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is in order:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center imme-
diately. Adjust driving to be consistent with reduced
braking responsiveness.
Read and observe additional messages in the
multifunction display.
The starter battery has been
charged with a battery charger
or jump started.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
There is a malfunction in the
electronic system.Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.

330 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/
consequencePossible solution
;(USA only)
3(Canada only)
Check
brake fluid levelRisk of accident!
There is insufficient brake fluid
in the reservoir.Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon as
it is safe to do so.
Do not drive any further.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
Warning!G
Driving with the message Check brake
fluid level
displayed can result in an
accident. Have your brake system checked
immediately. Do not add brake fluid before
checking the brake system. Overfilling the
brake fluid reservoir can result 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.

333 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/
consequencePossible solution
;(USA only)
3(Canada only)
Brakes overheated
Drive on, but with
even greater careThe 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.
Use the engine’s braking power more frequent-
ly. Shift into a lower gear (
page 174).
Cautiously continue driving so that the air
stream will cool down the brakes.
The message disappears after driving carefully
for a few minutes.
Warning!G
Overheating of the brake system will short-
en the service life of the brake disks. The
brake disks could fail. Have the brake disks
checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

335 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/
consequencePossible solution
BTop up
coolant
See Oper. ManualThe coolant level is too low.Add coolant (page 255).
Comply with all warnings while doing so.
If you have to add coolant frequently, have the cooling
system checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately.
•The cooling fan for the coolant
is malfunctioning.Observe the coolant temperature gauge in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 29).
If the coolant temperature is under 248°F (120°C), you
may continue driving to the nearest specialist workshop.
Avoid placing heavy loads on the engine (e.g. by driving
uphill) as well as stop-and-go traffic.
Have the fan replaced as soon as possible.
Warning!G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You could be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant level
warning. Extended driving with the message and
symbol displayed may cause serious engine
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount of coolant
in the cooling system. The engine will overheat
causing major engine damage.

336 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/
consequencePossible solution
•Coolant
Stop car –

Turn engine off
The coolant is too hot.
Among other possible causes,
the poly-V-belt could be
broken.Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon as it is safe to
do so.
Turn off the engine.
Check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise, the engine will over-
heat due to an inoperative water pump which may result in
damage to the engine. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:
Wait for the message to disappear before restarting the
engine.
Doing otherwise could result in serious engine damage that
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
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