2002 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS belt

69 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Important!
The use of infant or child restraints is required by law in
all 50 states and all Canadian provinces.
Infants and small children should be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system properly
secured by a lap-shoulder belt, and that complies with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 and
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
A statement by the child restraint manufacturer of
compliance with this standard can be found on the
instruction label on the restraint and in the instruction
manual provided with the restraint.
When using any infant or child restraint system, be sure
to carefully read and follow all manufacturer’s
instructions for installation and use.
Please read and observe warning labels affixed to inside
of vehicle and to infant or child restraints.
U.S.A. Mod els only:
Since 1986 all U.S. child restraints comply with
U.S. regulations without the use of a tether strap.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
this vehicle, except in a Mercedes-Benz authorized
BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, which operates
with the BabySmart
TM system installed in the
vehicle to deactivate the passenger front airbag
when it is properly installed. Otherwise they will
be struck by the airbag when it inflates in a crash.
If this happens, serious or fatal injury can result.
Infants and small children must be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system, which
is properly secured with the vehicle’s seat belt,
fully in accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.Infants and small children should never share a
seat belt with another occupant. During an
accident, they could be crushed between the
occupant and seat belt.When the child restraint is not in use, remove it
from the vehicle or secure it with the seat belt to
prevent the child restraint from becoming a
projectile in the event of an accident.

76 Instrument cluster
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
Fuel reserve and fuel cap placement
warning, see page 207
High beam, see page 86
Battery not being charged properly,
see page 211
Low windshield and headlamp washer
system fluid level see page 210
Coolant level low, see page 209
Engine oil level low, see page 210
Exterior lamp failure indicator lamp,
see page 211
Roll bar warning lamp, see page 212
ESP warning lamp. Adjust driving to road
condition, see page 207
ADS indicator lamp, see page 212BAS/ESP malfunction, see page 207
ABS malfunction, see page 208
Brake pads worn down, see page 205
Brake fluid low (except Canada)
Parking brake engaged, see page 205
Brake fluid low (Canada only)
Parking brake engaged, see page 205
SRS malfunction, see page 206
Fasten seat belt, see page 206
If the lamp comes on when the engine is
running, it indicates a malfunction of the
fuel management system or the emission
control system, or the fuel cap is not closed
tight. In all cases, we recommend that you
have the malfunction checked as soon as
possible, see page 204.
ABS

119 Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Items being transported in the area behind the seats
should be placed in such a manner as not to affect the
movement of the roll bar when being raised.Note:
If the indicator lamps in the switch are blinking or if the
warning lamp in the instrument cluster comes on, then
a malfunction has been detected.
In this case, drive only with the roll bar raised until the
problem has been corrected. Raise the roll bar by
pressing the upper half of the roll bar switch. The
indicator lamps in the switch will go out, however, the
warning lamp in the instrument cluster will stay on.
Have the system checked at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Important!
The roll bar is intended to be a safety enhancement to
the other features designed into the vehicle. No system
in any vehicle can eliminate the possibility of serious
injury or fatality in an accident. Properly fastened seat
belts and child restraints must be used!
Wa r n i n g
This vehicle is a two occupant vehicle. The rear
storage area should never be used by any persons.
Raising or lowering of the roll bar could injure rear
seated occupants.Before operating the roll bar switch make sure that
the roll bar’s path is clear and no persons due to
inattention are injured by the moving roll bar.For your own safety we recommend to drive with
the roll bar raised, if• the outside temperature is below +5°F (-15°C)
• the soft top is closed and pets are placed in the
rear storage area.

203 Contents - Instrument cluster display
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Instrument cluster display Malfunction and indicator
lamps in the
instrument cluster ....................204
On-board
diagnostic system .......................204
Check engine malfunction
indicator lamp .............................204
Brake warning lamp ..................205
Brake pad wear
indicator lamp .............................205
Seat belt warning lamp .............206
Supplemental
restra int system
(SRS) indicator lamp ..................206Fuel reserve and fuel cap
placement warning ................... 207
Electronic stability program
(ESP)- warning lamp ................. 207
BAS/ESP malfunction
indicator lamp ............................ 207
ABS malfunction
indicator lamp ............................ 208
Low engine coolant
level warning lamp .................... 209
Low windshield and
headlamp washer
system fluid level
warning lamp ..............................210
Low engine oil level
warning lamp ..............................210Charge indicator lamp ............... 211
Exterior lamp failure
indicator lamp ............................. 211
Roll bar warning lamp ............... 212
ADS indicator lamp .................... 212
High beam
indicator lamp ............................. 213
Additional function
indicator lamps
(in the odometer display) .......... 213
Malfunction and
indicator lamp
(in the dashboard) .................... 213
Passenger airbag
indicator lamp ............................. 213

206 Malfunction and indicator lamps
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Seat belt warning lamp
With the key in steering lock position 2, the
seat belt warning lamp comes on, and a
warning sounds for a short time if the
drivers seat belt is not fastened.
If a backrest is not engaged in its lock, a warning will
sound intermittently for up to approx. 20 seconds.
After starting the engine, the seat belt warning lamp
blinks for a brief period to remind the driver and
passengers to fasten seat belts before driving off.
If the warning lamp does not go out after blinking
briefly, but is instead lit continuously, then a backrest is
not engaged in its lock.
The warning lamp goes out as soon as the backrest is
engaged in its lock.
If the backrest is locked and the warning lamp does not
go out, have the system checked at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.Supplemental restraint system (SRS) indicator lamp
The operational readiness of the airbag
system is verified by the indicator lamp
“SRS” in the instrument cluster when
turning the key in steering lock to position 1 or 2. If no
fault is detected, the lamp will go out after
approximately 4 seconds; after the lamp goes out, the
system continues to monitor the components and
circuitry of the airbag system and will indicate a
malfunction by coming on again.
See page 60 for notes on airbags, see page 59 for belt
tensioners and page 68 for infant and child seat
restraint.
Wa r n i n g !
In the event a malfunction of the “SRS” is indicated
as outlined above, the “SRS” may not be
operational. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have the
system checked; otherwise the “SRS” may not be
activated when needed in an accident, which could
result in serious or fatal injury, or it might deploy
unexpectedly and unnecessarily which could also
result in injury.

211 Malfunction and indicator lamps
Te ch n ica l
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 the charge indicator lamp comes 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 must be replaced before continuing to operate the
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.

261 Contents - Vehicle care
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar careIndex
Vehicle care Cleaning and care
of the vehicle .............................262
Power washer ..............................263
Tar stains .....................................263
Paintwork, Painted Body
Components ................................263
Engine cleaning ..........................264
Vehicle washing .........................264Ornamental moldings ............... 264
Headlamps, taillamps,
turn signal lenses ...................... 264
Window cleaning ....................... 265
Light alloy wheels ..................... 265
Instrument cluster ..................... 265
Steering wheel and
gear selector lever ..................... 265
Cup holder .................................. 265
Seat belts ..................................... 266
Headliner, shelf behind
roll bars, and other hard
plastic trim items ....................... 266Soft top .........................................266
Headliner .....................................267
Wind screen ................................267
Automatic antenna .....................267
Wiper blade .................................267
Headlamp cleaning
system ..........................................267
Leather upholstery .....................268
Plastic and rubber parts ............268
Illuminated door sill panels .....268

264 Cleaning and care of the vehicle
Te ch n ica l
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.