2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS light

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.

234 Tires, Wheels
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Tire inflation pressure
A table (see fuel filler flap) lists the tire inflation
pressures specified for Mercedes-Benz recommended
tires as well as for the varying operating conditions.
Important!
Tire pressure changes by approx. 1.5 psi (0.1 bar) per
18°F (10°C) of air temperature change. Keep this in
mind when checking tire pressure inside a garage -
especially in the winter.
Example:
If garage temperature = approx. +68°F (+20°C) and
ambient temperature = approx. +32°F (0°C) then the
adjusted air pressure = specified air pressure +3psi
(+0.2 bar).
Tire pressures listed for light loads are minimum values
offering high driving comfort. Increased inflation
pressures for heavy loads produce favorable handling
characteristics with lighter loads and are perfectly
permissible. The ride of the vehicle, however, will
become somewhat harder.
Tire temperature and pressure increase with the vehicle
speed. Tire pressure should therefore only be checked
and corrected on cold tires. Correct tire pressure in
Wa r n i n g !
Do not drive the vehicle while the wheel change
switch is activated since the vehicle suspension
will not function properly.Wa r n i n g !
The spare wheel rim is for temporary use only. Use
for over a total of 12 000 miles (20 000 km) may
cause wheel rim failure leading to an accident and
possible injuries. Vehicles with Sport Package:
The dimensions of the spare wheel are different
from those of road wheels. As a result, the vehicle
handling characteristics change when driving with
a mounted spare wheel.The spare wheel should only be used temporarily,
and replaced with a regular road wheel as quickly
as possible.

239 Jump starting
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index Proceed as follows:
1. Position the vehicle with the charged battery so that
the jumper cables will reach, but never let the
vehicles touch. Make sure the jumper cables do not
have loose or missing unsulation.
2. On both vehicles:
• Turn off engine and all lights and accessories,
except hazard warning flashers or work lights.
• Apply parking brake and shift selector lever to
position “P”.
Important!
3. Clamp one end of the first jumper cable to the
positive (+) terminal of the discharged battery and
the other end to the positive (+) terminal of the
charged battery. Make sure the cable clamps do not
touch any other metal parts.
4. Clamp one end of the second jumper cable to the
grounded negative (-) terminal of the charged
battery and the final connection to the negative (-)
terminal of the discharged battery.Important!
5. Start engine of the vehicle with the charged battery
and run at high idle. Make sure the cables are not
on or near pulleys, fans, or other parts that will
move when the engine is started. Allow the
disch arge d ba ttery to ch arge for a few minu tes. Sta rt
engine of the disabled vehicle in the usual manner.
6. After the engine has started, remove jumper cables
by exactly reversing the above installation
sequence, starting with the last connection made
first. When removing each clamp, make sure that it
does not touch any other metal while the other end
is still attached.
Note:
If engine does not run after several unsuccessful
starting attempts, have it checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Excessive unburned fuel may damage the catalytic
converter.

251 Remote control
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index Changing batteries in the remote control
Checking batteries
If the transmit buttonŒ or‹ is pressed longer
than 1 second, the battery check lamp in the transmitter
eye (1) lights up briefly – indicating that the batteries
are in order.
Change batteries if the battery check lamp does not light
up briefly.Changing batteries
Unfold master key from holder by pressing key release
button (2). Pull off battery cover (3).

260 Contents – Vehicle care
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Vehicle careCleaning and care
of the vehicle ............................. 261
Power washer ..............................262
Tar stains .....................................262
Paintwork, Painted Body
Components ................................262
Engine cleaning ..........................263
Vehicle washing .........................263Ornamental moldings ............... 263
Headlamps, taillamps,
turn signal lenses ...................... 263
Window cleaning ....................... 264
Light alloy wheels ..................... 264
Instrument cluster ..................... 264
Steering wheel and
gear selector lever ..................... 264
Cup holder .................................. 264
Seat belts ..................................... 265
Headliner, shelf behind
roll bars, and other hard
plastic trim items ....................... 265Soft top .........................................265
Headliner .....................................266
Wind screen ................................266
Automatic antenna .....................266
Wiper blade .................................266
Headlamp cleaning system .......266
Leather upholstery .....................267
Plastic and rubber parts ............267
Illuminated door sill panels .....267

263 Cleaning and care of the vehicle
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar careIndex Engine cleaning
Prior to cleaning the engine compartment make sure to
protect electrical components and connectors from the
intrusion of water and cleaning agents.
Corrosion protection, such as MB Anticorrosion Wax
should be applied to the engine compartment after
every engine cleaning. Before applying, all control
linkage bushings and joints should be lubricated. The
poly-V-belt and all pulleys should be protected from any
wax.
Ve h i c l e w a s h i n g
Do not use hot water or wash your vehicle in direct
sunlight. Use only a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Shampoo.
Thoroughly spray the vehicle with a diffused jet of
water. Direct only a very weak spray towards the
ventilation intake. Use plenty of water and rinse the
sponge and chamois frequently.
Rinse with clear water and thoroughly wipe dry with a
chamois. Do not allow cleaning agents to dry on the
finish.If the vehicle has been run through an automatic car
wash – in particular one of the older installations -
rewipe the recessed sections in the taillamps (designed
to prevent soiling) if necessary. No solvents (fuels,
thinners etc.) must be used.
In the winter thoroughly remove all traces of road salt
as soon as possible.
When washing the underbody, do not forget to clean the
inner sides of the wheels.
Ornamental moldings
For regular cleaning and care of very dirty chrome-
plated parts, use a chrome cleaner.
Headlamps, taillamps, turn signal lenses
Use a mild car wash detergent such as Mercedes-Benz
approved Car Shampoo, with plenty of water.
To prevent scratches, never apply strong force and use
only a soft, non-scratchy cloth when cleaning the lenses.
Do not attempt to wipe dirty lenses with a dry cloth or
sponge.