2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS battery

95 Automatic climate control
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Rear window defroster
(only functions with hardtop installed)
Turn electronic key in steering lock to position 2.
To select, press F button.
To cancel, press F button again.
Note:
H eavy accu mul ation of snow and ic e shoul d be removed
before activating the defroster.
Th e rea r window defroster u ses a large am ou nt of power.
To keep the battery drain to a minimum, turn off the
defroster as soon as the window is clear.
The defroster is automatically turned off after a
maximum of 12 minutes of operation.
If several power consumers are turned on
simultaneously, or the battery is only partially charged,
it is possible that the defroster will automatically turn
itself off. When this happens, the indicator lamp inside
the switch starts blinking.
As soon as the battery has sufficient voltage, the
defroster automatically turns itself back on.Air distribution
Press b button repeatedly until the requested
symbol is displayed.
Air volume
Press “-” or “+” side of rocker switch ï until the
requested blower speed is attained. A choice of 7 blower
speeds is available.
To switch the automatic climate control off, press “-”
side of rocker switch ï until symbol OFF is
displayed.
The fresh air supply to the car interior is shut off.
While driving, use this setting only temporarily,
otherwise the windshield could fog up.
To switch the automatic climate control on again,
pressU, P, or “+” side ofï.

96 Automatic climate control
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Air recirculation
This mode can be selected to temporarily reduce the
entry of annoying odors or dust into the vehicle’s
interior.
Outside air is not supplied to the car’s interior.
To select, press O button.
To cancel, press O button again.
The system will automatically switch from recirculated
air to fresh air
• after approx. 5 minutes at outside temperatures
below approx. 40°F (5°C),
• after approx. 30 minutes, at outside temperatures
above approx. 40°F (5°C),
• after approx. 5 minutes, if button S is pressed.
Notes:
If the windows should fog up from the inside, switch
from recirculated air back to fresh air.
At high outside temperatures, the system automatically
engages the recirculated air mode thereby increasing
the cooling capacity performance, switching to partially
fresh air within 20 minutes.Residual engine heat utilization
With the engine switched off, it is possible to continue
heating the interior for a short while.
Air volume and distribution are controlled
automatically.
To select:
Turn electronic key in steering lock to position 1 or 0 or
remove electronic key.
Press T button.
This function selection will not activate if the battery
charge level is insufficient.
To c a n c e l :
Press T button.
The system will automatically shut off
• If you turn electronic key in steering lock to
position 2,
• after approx. 30 minutes,
• if the battery voltage drops.

102 Audio system
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Operation
Switching on and off
Press the control knob .
Th e ra dio is switch ed of f wh en the ignition key is tu rned
to position 0 or removed from the ignition. The radio is
switched on again when the ignition key is turned to
position 1 or 2.
Note:
The radio can also be switched on even if the ignition
key is not inserted, but will switch itself off
automatically after one hour to conserve vehicle battery
power.
Adjusting the volume
Turn the control knob - Turning the knob clockwise will
increase the volume, counterclockwise will decrease the
volume.Audio functions
The AUD key is used to select the BASS, TREBLE and
BALANCE functions. Settings for bass and treble are
stored separately for the radio, cassette and CD modes.
Tone level settings are identified by the vertical bars.
The center (flat) setting is shown by one longer bar in
the center of the display.
Bass
Press the AUD key repeatedly
until “BASS” appears in the
display.
Treble
Press the AUD key repeatedly
until “TREBLE” appears in th e
display.
Press the “+” key to increase
or the “-” key to decrease the level.

117 Interior equipment
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Express opening of door windows
Press switch k past resistance point and release –
window lowers to fully open position. To interrupt
procedure, briefly press j or k.
Note:
The power windows can also be closed with the key or
infrared remote control while locking the vehicle doors
or trunk, see page 41.
Important!
Do not close a door with the windows fully closed while
the power supply is interrupted (battery disconnected or
empty). Doing so could damage the window frame.
The power windows should first be resynchronized.
After a power interruption, first synchronize the
windows to enable activation of the soft top.Synchronizing power windows
When opening a door after the power supply was
interrupted (battery disconnected or low), the window
will open slightly, indicating that the Express feature
should be resynchronized.
Press j side of power window switch until the
window is completely closed and hold for additional 2
seconds. Repeat procedure for each window.
The automatic full opening procedure of the windows
should now be restored.

120 Interior equipment
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Interior lighting
Interior lamps
The switches are located above the inside rear view
mirror.
1Interior lamps are switched on, and off (soft fade)
delayed, when unlocking or locking the vehicle, or
when opening or closing either door. However, there
will be no (soft fade) delay when the key is in
steering lock position 2.2Interior lamps switched off
3Interior lamps switched on continuously
Reading lamps
4Left reading lamp switched on
5Reading lamps switched off
6Right reading lamp switched on
Entrance lamps in footwells, exit lamps in doors
These lamps are switched on and off by the door contact
switches.
Note:
To prevent t he veh icl e battery from being discha rged, do
not leave doors open for a long period of time.
1
2
3
4
5
6P68.00-0508-26

142 Hardtop
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Notes:
For safety reasons, the hardtop can only be unlocked
while the vehicle is standing still, and within
10 seconds after turning the key to steering lock
position 2 or beyond.
If the indicator lamp in the soft top switch blinks while
activating the switch, the battery voltage may be
insufficient - start engine to charge battery before
shutting engine off and attempting to unlock the roof
again.
If the indicator lamp continues to blink, remove the
hardtop (see page 137), and have the system checked at
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
Wa r n i n g !
The raising or lowering procedure of the soft top is
not completed if the indicator lamp in the soft top
switch:
• does not go out (with key in steering lock
position 2),
• blinks when starting to drive and an alarm
sounds.When safe to do so, immediately stop the vehicle
and lock the soft top:
• Turn key in steering lock to position 2,
• Slide soft/hardtop switch forward.Do not drive the car with the hardtop not locked, as
that could cause personal injury to you or your
passenger, or personal injury or property damage
to others.

147 Soft top
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index For safety reasons, the soft top cannot be unlocked
while driving.
However, if the soft top is not completely locked, it can
be locked while driving by pushing the soft/hardtop
switch forward.
If the indicator lamp in the soft top switch blinks while
activating the switch,
• the battery voltage may be insufficient - start engine
and let run while activating switch,
• the system may be overloaded (for example after
lowering or raising the soft top approx.
5 consecutive times) - after approx. 2 minutes the
soft top switch may be activated again,
• and the power supply was interrupted (battery
disconnected or empty), the soft top cannot be fully
raised or lowered.
To raise the soft top, for safety reasons, first remove key
from steering lock. Lower soft top by hand into
compartment, and resynchronize the power windows.
See page 116.
To lower the soft top, first resynchronize the power
windows. See page 116.If t he indicator la mp continues to bl ink, l ock th e sof t top
manually. See page 253.
Have the system checked at your authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible.
Note:
If the roll bar was raised automatically, the process of
raising or lowering the soft top will take somewhat
longer, as the roll bar must first be lowered.
Whenever possible, park vehicle in the shade as
continuous exposure to sun rays can prematurely
deteriorate the soft top material.
Permanent creases in the plastic window, caused by
storage of the soft top in the storage compartment,
cannot be avoided.
The soft top may become moldy if it is kept in the
storage compartment for an extended period.
Therefore, we recommend raising and airing it
thoroughly with the side windows open (do not expose
it to the sun) at regular intervals during the wet and
cold seasons.

155 Tele Aid
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Tele Aid
Important!
The initial activation of the Tele Aid system may only be
performed by completing the subscriber agreement and
placing an acquaintance call using the “SOS” button.
Failure to complete either of these steps will result in a
system that is not activated.
If you have any questions regarding activation, please
call the Response Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA)
or 1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).
(Telematic Alarm Identification on Demand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three types of response;
automatic and manual emergency, roadside assistance
and information.
The Tele Aid system is always operational, providing
that the vehicle’s battery is charged and properly
connected. To activate, press the “SOS” button, the
Roadside Assistance button or the Information
button¡, depending on the type of response
required.System self-check
Initially, after turning the key in steering lock to
position 2, malfunctions are detected and indicated (the
indicator lamps in the “SOS” button, the Roadside
Assistance button and the Information
button¡ stay on longer than 5 seconds or do not
come on).
If a malfunction is indicated as outlined above, have the
system checked at the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Important!
Always make sure that the indicator lamp in the
“SOS” button remains illuminated for approx. 5 seconds
during the system self-check after turning key in
steering lock to position 2.
Emergency calls
An emergency call is initiated automatically following
an accident in which the Emergency Tensioning
Retractors (ETR’s) or airbags deploy. An emergency call
can also be initiated manually by opening the cover next
to the interior rear view mirror labeled “SOS”, then