2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 remote control

1 Contents
IntroductionProduct information .......................... 7
Operator’s manual ............................. 8
Where to find it ................................ 13
Problems with your vehicle ........... 14
Reporting Safety Defects ................ 15Instruments and controlsInstruments and controls ............... 18
Door control panel ....................... 20
Overhead control panel ............... 21
Dashboard ..................................... 22
Center console .............................. 24OperationVehicle keys ...................................... 28
Remote control with folding
master key ..................................... 28
Central locking system ................... 30
Remote control ............................. 30
Locking and unlocking ................ 31Choosing global or selective mode
on remote control ........................ 32
Opening the trunk ....................... 32
Panic button ................................. 33
Start lock-out .................................... 34
General notes on the
central locking system ............... 34
Doors ................................................. 35
Central locking switch .................... 37
Automatic central locking .......... 38
Emergency unlocking in case of
accident ........................................ 39
Trunk ................................................. 39
Trunk lid release switch ................ 40
Power windows .................................41
Antitheft alarm system ................... 42
Tow-away alarm ............................... 43
Power seats ....................................... 44
Storing position in memory ....... 46
Backrest ............................................ 48
Multicontour seats .......................... 49
Seat heater ........................................ 50
Seat belts and integrated
restraint system .......................... 52Seat belts ........................................... 52
Seat belt nonusage
warning system ............................ 53
Fastening of seat belts ................. 54
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system ........................................... 58
Self-test BabySmart
TM without
special child seat installed ........ 59
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS) ................................ 59
Emergency tensioning retractor
(ETR) ............................................. 60
Airbags .............................................. 60
Front airbags ................................ 62
Side impact airbags ..................... 63
Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
emergency tensioning retractor
and airbag ..................................... 66
Infant and child
restraint systems .......................... 67
Adjusting steering column ............. 70
Storing steering column
position in memory ..................... 70
Rear view mirrors ............................ 71
Inside rear view mirror ............... 71

5 ContentsPassenger airbag
indicator lamp ............................. 213
Practical hintsFirst aid kit ..................................... 215
Stowing things in the vehicle ...... 215
Vehicle tools .................................... 216
Vehicle jack ..................................... 217
Fuses ................................................ 218
Hood ................................................. 219
Automatic transmission
fluid level ...................................221
Checking engine oil level .............221
Coolant level ...................................223
Adding coolant ...............................224
Windshield and headlamp
washer fluid mixing ratio ........225
Wheels .............................................226
Tire replacement ............................226
Rotating wheels ..............................227
Spare wheel ....................................228
Changing wheels ...........................230
Tire inflation pressure ..................234
Battery .............................................236Battery Recycling ....................... 237
Jump starting ................................. 238
Towing the vehicle ........................ 240
Exterior lamps ............................... 242
Headlamp assembly
(Halogen) .................................... 243
Taillamp assemblies .................. 249
Changing batteries in
the remote control .................... 251
Synchronizing ............................ 252
Raising soft top manually ............ 253
Replacing wiper blade insert ...... 257
Manual release of
fuel filler flap ............................ 259
Trunk lamp ..................................... 259
Vehicle careCleaning and care
of the vehicle ............................. 261
Power washer ............................. 262
Tar stains .................................... 262
Paintwork, Painted Body
Components ................................ 262
Engine cleaning ......................... 263Vehicle washing .........................263
Ornamental 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 .......................265
Soft 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

26 Contents – Operation
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
OperationVehicle keys ...................................... 28
Remote control with folding
master key ..................................... 28
Central locking system ................... 30
Remote control ............................. 30
Locking and unlocking ................ 31
Choosing global or selective mode
on remote control ......................... 32
Opening the trunk ....................... 32
Panic button .................................. 33
Start lock-out .................................... 34
General notes on the
central locking system ............... 34
Doors .................................................. 35
Central locking switch .................... 37
Automatic central locking .......... 38
Emergency unlocking in case of
accident ........................................ 39
Trunk ................................................. 39
Trunk lid release switch ................. 40
Power windows ................................. 41
Antitheft alarm system ................... 42Tow-away alarm ............................... 43
Power seats ....................................... 44
Storing position in memory ....... 46
Backrest ............................................ 48
Multicontour seats .......................... 49
Seat heater ........................................ 50
Seat belts and integrated
restraint system .......................... 52
Seat belts .......................................... 52
Seat belt nonusage
warning system ............................ 53
Fastening of seat belts ................ 54
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system .......................................... 58
Self-test BabySmart
TM without
special child seat installed ........ 59
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS) ............................... 59
Emergency tensioning retractor
(ETR) ............................................. 60
Airbags .............................................. 60
Front airbags ................................ 62
Side impact airbags ..................... 63Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
emergency tensioning retractor
and airbag ..................................... 66
Infant and child
restraint systems .......................... 67
Adjusting steering column ............. 70
Storing steering column
position in memory ..................... 70
Rear view mirrors ............................ 71
Inside rear view mirror ............... 71
Antiglare night position .............. 71
Exterior rear view mirrors .......... 72
Storing mirror positions in
memory .......................................... 73
Instrument cluster ........................... 74
Indicator lamps in the
instrument cluster ....................... 76
Additional function indicator
lamps .............................................. 77
Instrument lamps ......................... 77
Display illumination .................... 77
Coolant temperature gauge ........ 78
Outside temperature
indicator ........................................ 78

28 Central locking system
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Ve h i c l e k ey s
Included with your vehicle are:
• 2 remote controls with folding master keys,
•1 valet key.Remote control with folding master key
The remote control operates all locks on the vehicle.
To release the key, press button (1). The key unfolds
from the holder by itself.
The transmitter for the remote control is located in the
ke y ho ld e r.
The infrared receivers are located in the door handles.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the key
from the steering lock, and lock your vehicle. Do
not leave children unattended in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment may cause serious
personal injury.
1

30 Central locking system
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Central locking system
Remote control
Due to the extended operational range of the remote
control, it could be possible to unintentionally lock or
unlock the vehicle by pressing the transmit button.
The vehicle doors, trunk, storage compartment in
armrest, and fuel filler flap can be centrally locked and
unlocked via remote control.
1Transmit button
‹ Locking
ΠUnlocking
Š Opening trunk
2PANIC button
3Release button for master key
4Transmitter eye and lamp for battery check

31 Central locking system
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Locking and unlocking with remote control
Unlocking:
Press transmit button Œ. All turn signal lamps blink
once to indicate that the vehicle is unlocked.
The remote control can be programmed for two kinds of
unlocking modes (see below):
Selective unlocking mode –
Press transmit button Œ once to unlock driver’s door,
storage compartment in armrest, and fuel filler flap.
Press transmit button Πtwice to unlock both doors,
storage compartment in armrest, fuel filler flap, and
trunk.
Global unlocking mode –
Press transmit button Πonce to unlock both doors,
storage compartment in armrest, fuel filler flap, and
trunk.
Notes:
If the trunk was previously locked separately, it will
remain locked, see page 39.
The presently active unlocking mode (selective or
global) can only be determined by unlocking the vehicle
with the remote control (see below for changing mode).If within 40 seconds of unlocking with the remote
control, neither door is opened, the key is not inserted
in the steering lock, or the central locking switch is not
activated, the vehicle will automatically lock.
Locking:
Press transmit button ‹ once. All turn signal lamps
blink three times to indicate that the vehicle is locked.
Note:
If the vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked by pressing
the transmit button, then it may be necessary to change
the batteries in the remote control (if ok, battery check
lamp in transmitter will light briefly when transmitting)
or to synchronize the remote control, see page 251 and
page 252.

32 Central locking system
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Choosing global or selective mode on remote control
Press and hold transmit buttons ‹ and Œ
simultaneously for five seconds to reprogram the
remote control. Battery check lamp will blink two times
indicating the completed mode change.Opening the trunk
Press the transmit button Š until the trunk lid is
open.
Important!
Do not place remote control in trunk since trunk is
locked when the lid is closed if the vehicle is centrally
locked.
Note:
If the trunk was previously locked separately, it will
remain locked. See page 39.

34 Central locking system
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Start lock-out
Important!
Removing the key from the steering lock activates the
start lock-out. The engine cannot be started.
Turning the key in the steering lock to position 2
deactivates the start lock-out.
Note:
In case the engine cannot be started (vehicle’s battery is
in order), and Á and î are shown in the
odometer display field, the system is not operational.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call 1-
800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in
Canada).General notes on the central locking system
• If the key in the steering lock is in position 2, the
vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked with the
remote control.
If the vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked:
• Aim transmitter eye at a receiver of either door
handle and press button‹ orŒ.
• Check the batteries of the remote control,
see page 251.
• Synchronize the central locking system,
see page 252.