2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS stop start

167 Starting and turning off the enging
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Starting and turning off the engine
Before starting
Ensure that parking brake is engaged and that selector
lever is in position “P” or “N”. Turn key in steering lock
to position 2.
Starting
Do not depress accelerator. Briefly turn key in steering
lock clockwise to the stop and release. The starter will
engage until the engine is running.
If engine will not run, and the starting procedure stops,
turn key completely to the left and repeat starting the
engine.
After several unsuccessful attempts, have the system
checked at the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.Important!
Due to the installed starter nonrepeat feature, the key
must be turned completely to the left before attempting
to start the engine again.
In areas where temperatures frequently drop below
-4°F (-20°C) we recommend that an engine block heater
be insta lled . You r a ut horized Mercedes-Benz Center will
advise you on this subject.
Turning off
Turn th e key in th e steering lock to position 0 to stop the
engine.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
The key can only be removed with your foot off the
brake pedal and the selector lever in position “P”.

172 Automatic transmission
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Maneuvering
To maneuver in tight areas, e.g. when pulling into a
parking space, control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes. Accelerate gently and never
abruptly step on the accelerator.
To rock a vehicle out of soft ground (mud or snow),
alternately shift from forward to reverse, while applying
only slight partial throttle.
Rocking a vehicle free in this manner may cause the
ABS malfunction indicator lamp to come on. Turn off
and restart the engine to clear the malfunction
indication.
Stopping
For brief stops, e.g. at traffic lights, leave the
transmission in gear and hold vehicle with the service
brake.
For longer stops with the engine idling, shift into “N”
or “P” and hold the vehicle with the service brake.
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill gradient, do not
hold it with the accelerator, use the brake. This avoids
unnecessary transmission heat build up.
Wa r n i n g !
Getting out of your vehicle with the selector lever
not fully engaged in position “P” is dangerous.
Also, when parked on an incline, posi tion “P” alone
may not prevent your vehicle from moving,
possibly hitting people or objects.Always set t he parki ng brake in addi tion to sh ifting
to position “P”.When parked on an incline, also turn front wheel
towards the road curb.

174 Automatic transmission
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
WWinter/Wet (snow and ice) mode
Press switch on symbol "W". The vehicle starts
out in 2nd gear, except with selector lever in 1st
gear, or with accelerator pedal in kick-down
position.
The "W" mode helps to improve traction and
driving stability of the vehicle.
The gear shifting process occurs at lower vehicle
and engine speeds than in the "S" program mode.
Important!
Dependent on the program mode selector switch
position “S” or “W” and the gear selector lever in
position “R”, the ratio of power transmission changes.Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens, or the transmission no
longer shifts, the transmission is most likely operating
in Limp Home Mode which engages when there is a
malfunction of the transmission. This condition may be
accompanied by the “CHECK ENGINE” malfunction
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster coming on.
In this mode only the 2nd gear or reverse gear can be
activated.
To engage 2nd gear or reverse:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Move selector lever to position “P”.
3. Turn off the engine.
4. Wait approx. 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Move selector lever to position “D” (for 2nd gear), or
move selector lever to position “R” (for reverse gear).
Have the transmission checked at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

210 Malfunction and indicator lamps
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Low windshield and headlamp washer system fluid
level warning lamp
With the key in steering lock position 2, the
warning lamp comes on. It should go out
when the engine is running.
If the warning lamp does not go out after starting the
engine, or if it comes on while driving, the level of the
reservoir has dropped to approx. 1/3 of the total volume.
The reservoir should be refilled with MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate "S" and water (or commercially
available premixed windshield washer solvent/
antifreeze, depending on ambient temperature - see
page 88) at the next opportunity. The reservoir for the
windshield and headlamp washer systems is located in
the engine compartment.Low engine oil level warning lamp
With the key in steering lock position 2, the
oil level warning lamp comes on. It should
go out immediately when the engine is
running.
If the warning lamp does not go out after starting the
engine, or comes on with the engine running and at
operating temperature, the engine oil level has dropped
to approximately the minimum mark on the dipstick.
When this occurs, the warning lamp will first come on
intermittently and then stay on if the oil level drops
further.
If no leaks are noted, continue to drive to the nearest
service station where the engine oil should be topped to
the “full” mark on the dipstick with an approved oil.
The low engine oil level warning light should not be
ignored. Extended driving with the light illuminated
could result in serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
In addition to the warning lamp, the engine oil level
should be periodically checked with the dipstick, for
example during a fuel stop, or before a long trip,
see page 221.

211 Malfunction and indicator lamps
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Charge indicator lamp
Should the charge indicator lamp fail to
come on prior to starting when the key is in
steering l ock position 2 or sh ou ld it fa il to go
out after starting or during operation, this indicates a
malfunction which must be repaired immediately at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If th e ch arge indica tor l amp com es on, or a loss of power
steering assistance is noticeable while the engine is
running, this may indicate that one of the two poly-V-
belts has broken. Should this condition occur, the poly-
V-belt mu st be repl aced before continuing to operate t he
vehicle. Otherwise, the engine may overheat due to an
inoperative water pump which may result in damage to
the engine.
Do not continue to drive the vehicle with the charge
indicator lamp illuminated. Doing so could result in
serious engine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Exterior lamp failure indicator lamp
With the key in steering lock position 2, an
indicator lamp comes on. It should go out
when the engine is running.
If the warning lamp does not go out after starting the
engine, or if it comes on while driving, this lamp
indicates a failure in the parking lamp, taillamp, stop
lamp, or low beam headlamp.
If a n exterior lamp fa ils, the indica tor lamp will com e on
only when that lamp is switched on.
If a brake lamp fails, the lamp failure indicator will
come on when applying the brake and stays on until the
engine is turned off.
Note:
If additional lighting equipment is installed (e.g.
auxiliary headlamps etc.) be certain to connect into the
fuse before the failure indicator monitoring unit in
order to avoid damaging the system.

232 Tires, Wheels
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
8. Insert jack arm fully into the tube hole up to the
stop. Place jack on firm ground. Position the jack so
that it is always vertical (plumb-line) as seen from
the side (see arrow), especially if the vehicle is
parked on an incline.
9. Jack up the vehicle until the wheel is clear of the
ground. Never start engine while vehicle is raised.
10. Unscrew upper-most wheel bolt and install
alignment bolt (1) supplied in the tool kit. Remove
the remaining bolts. Keep bolt threads protected
from dirt and sand.11. Remove wheel. Grip wheel from the sides. Keep
hands from beneath the wheels.
12. Clean contact surfaces of wheel and wheel hub.
Install spare wheel on wheel hub. Insert wheel bolts
and tighten them slightly.
To avoid paint damage, place wheel f lat against hub
and hold it there while installing first wheel bolt.
Unscrew the alignment bolt (1) to install the last
wheel bolt.