ignition MERCEDES-BENZ SLR CLASS 2007 Owner's Guide

292 Operation
Maintenance
In order to maintain the performance and
safety of your SLR, we strongly recom-
mend that you have your vehicle serviced
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center,
every 12 months, even if the vehicle has
covered less than 10 000 miles
(15 000 km) in that time.
The maintenance service indicator will
notify you when the next maintenance ser-
vice is due within the next 12 months or
10 000 miles (15 000 km), whichever
comes sooner.Before the next maintenance service is
due, one of the following messages will ap-
pear in the right multifunction display while
you are driving or when you switch on the
ignition:
Service in .. days
Service in .. miles

When the maintenance service is due, the
following message appears in the multi-
function display:
Service Due now
Clearing the maintenance service
indicator message
The maintenance service indicator mes-
sage is automatically cleared after 30 sec-
onds when you switch on the ignition. You
can also clear it yourself.
1Reset button
Press reset button 1.
The maintenance service indicator
message is cleared and the standard
display appears in the multifunction
display (
page 117).
!Failure to have the vehicle maintained in ac-
cordance with the Maintenance Booklet and
maintenance service indicator at the designated
times/mileage will result in vehicle damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!Excessive load on the brake system causes
increased wear of brake pads and brake disks. If
the brake pads have to be replaced multiple
times within one maintenance service interval,
the brake disks must be checked. Observe the
information given in the Maintenance Booklet
and contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

293 Operation
Maintenance
Maintenance service term exceeded
If you have exceeded the suggested main-
tenance service term, you will see the fol-
lowing message in the right multifunction
display:
Service exceeded by .. days
Service exceeded by .. miles
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
reset the maintenance service indicator
following a completed maintenance
service.Calling up the maintenance service due
date
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Press buttonè orÿ on the
multifunction steering wheel repeated-
ly until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display (
page 117).
Press button k or j on the
multifunction steering wheel until the
maintenance service indicator service
symbol 9 appears in the left multi-
function display and the maintenance
service deadline appears in the right
multifunction display.
iIf the vehicle is not be used for a longer pe-
riod of time, do not disconnect the consumer
battery. Instead, maintain the condition of the
battery by using the battery charger approved by
Mercedes-Benz for use on the SLR and supplied
with the car (
page 369). This charger automat-
ically controls the charge rate, and can be left
connected to the car for long periods without
damage to the battery.
If the battery supplying the vehicle’s electrical
consumers is disconnected, the days of discon-
nection will not be included in the count shown
by the maintenance service indicator. To arrive
at the true maintenance service deadline, you
will need to subtract these days from the days
shown in the maintenance service indicator.
Do not confuse the maintenance service indica-
tor with the engine oil level indicator:.

300 Practical hints
What 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
ignition, have the respective bulb checked
and replaced if necessary.
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solutions
vThe yellow ABS/ESP® warn-
ing lamp comes on while the
engine is running.Risk of accident!
The ESP
® has been switched off.
When the ESP
® is switched off it will not
stabilize the vehicle if the system recog-
nizes that the vehicle starts to skid or that
a wheel is spinning.
Switch the ESP® back on (page 86).
Exceptions: (
page 85).
If leaving the ESP® switched off, adapt your
speed and driving to the prevailing road and
weather conditions.
If the ESP
® cannot be switched on:
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Risk of accident!
The ESP
® is not operational due to a
malfunction.
Read and observe additional messages in
the multifunction display (
page 314).
Continue driving with added caution.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

304 Practical hints
What to do if ...
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solutions
ú(USA only)
±(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes on
while the engine is running.
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
engine to its limp-home (emergency
operation) 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 pedal.
Your fuel tank is empty.After refueling, 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.
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.

315 Practical hints
What to do if ...
On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may
appear in the multifunction display. High
priority messages appear in red color.
For your convenience the messages are
divided into two sections:

Text messages (page 316)

Symbol messages (page 327)
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with
added caution. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
iSwitching on the ignition causes all instru-
ment cluster lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator lamps
unless activated) as well as the multifunction
display to come on. Make sure the lamps and
multifunction display are in working order before
starting your journey.

319 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display Right display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Front passenger
airbagenabled
See Oper. ManualThe passenger front air bag and
the passenger knee air bag are
activated while driving even
though a child, small individual,
or object below the system’s
weight threshold is on the pas-
senger seat, or the passenger
seat is empty. Objects on the
seat or forces acting on the seat
may make the system sense
supplemental weight.Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and
check the passenger seat for the following:
Switch off the ignition (page 40).
Apply the parking brake (page 55).
Remove child and child restraint from passenger seat.
Make sure that no objects which are applying supplemen-
tal weight onto the seat are present. The system may rec-
ognize such supplemental weight and sense that an
occupant on the passenger seat is of a greater weight
than actually present.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the passenger door and
switch on the ignition (
page 40).
Monitor the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
(
page 70) and the multifunction display in the instrument
cluster (
page 117) for the following:
(Continued on next page)

320 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display Right display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition switched on,

the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp (page 70) should
illuminate and remain illuminated, indicating that the OCS
(
page 67) has deactivated the passenger front air bag and the
passenger knee air bag.

the message Front passenger airbag enabled See Oper. Manual
or the message
Front passenger airbag disabled See Oper.
Manual
should not appear in the multifunction display at any time
the seat is unoccupied. Wait at least 60 seconds for the system to
complete the necessary check cycles and to make sure neither
message appears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the passenger seat again.
Depending on the passenger classification sensed by the OCS
(
page 67), the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp will remain
illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working properly.
Have the system checked as soon as possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp remains out even after performing the
above corrective steps, do not have any
children 12 years old and under and other small individuals use the passenger seat
until the system has been repaired.

321 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display Right display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Front passenger
airbagdisabled
See Oper. ManualThe passenger front air bag is
deactivated while driving even
though an adult or someone
larger than a small individual is
occupying the passenger seat.
Forces acting on the seat may
make the system sense a
decrease in weight.Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and
check the passenger seat for the following:
Switch off the ignition (page 40).
Apply the parking brake (page 55).
Have the passenger vacate the seat and exit the vehicle.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the passenger door and
switch on the ignition (
page 40).
Monitor the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
(
page 70) and the multifunction display in the instrument
cluster (
page 117) for the following:
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition switched on,

the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp (page 70)
should illuminate and remain illuminated, indicating that
the OCS (
page 67) has deactivated the passenger front
air bag and the passenger knee air bag.
(Continued on next page)

324 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
Tire pressure
monitorreactivatedThe TPMS is using the current pressure
values as the basis for monitoring.
Tire pressuredisplayed only
after driving
a few minutesThe tire inflation pressure is being checked.Drive the vehicle for a few minutes.
Tire pressuredisplayed only
when ignition
is switched onSwitch on the ignition (page 40).
Tire pressure
monitortemporarily
unavailableThe tire inflation pressure monitor is unable
to monitor the tire inflation pressure due to

the presence of several wheel sensors in
the vehicle.

excessive wheel sensor temperatures.

a nearby radio interference source.

unrecognized wheel sensors mounted.
Remove any extra wheel sensors
from the vehicle.
As soon as the causes of the malfunc-
tion have been removed, the TPMS auto-
matically becomes active again.
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.

372 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing/reinstalling towing eye bolt
Take the towing eye bolt1 from its
storage compartment (
page 353).
1Towing eye bolt
Remove cover from the access hole.
Screw towing eye bolt1 clockwise in
to its stop.
Remove the towing eye bolt when you
no longer need it. To do this, carry out
the above steps in reverse order.
Points to bear in mind

The vehicle must not be tow-started.

If the vehicle is to be towed, only tow it
with all wheels on the ground.

If the vehicle has suffered transmission
damage, only tow it with the propeller
shaft disconnected.

Before towing the vehicle, make sure
the battery is connected and charged.
Otherwise you will not be able to switch
on the ignition and move the selector
lever to neutral positionN. There will
then be no power assistance when
steering and braking.
Transporting the vehicle
The towing eye bolt can be used to pull the
vehicle onto a trailer or transporter for
transporting purposes.
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Move the selector lever to neutral
positionN.
!Only secure the tow bar to the towing eye
bolt. The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
!Your vehicle is equipped with a front towing
eye bolt only (
page 372).
You cannot tow other vehicles with your vehicle.
!Due to the low clearance height of the SLR,
care must be taken when loading and unloading
from a transporter to avoid damaging the vehicle
body work.
To secure the vehicle, only tie it down by the
wheels or tires. Otherwise it could be damaged.