2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 light

255 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
C
The yellow roll bar warning lamp
lights up or flickers when the en-
gine is running.
The roll bar is not operational.

For safety reasons, always have the
roll bar raised when driving with the
retractable hardtop open. Attempt to
raise the roll bar manually.

Have the roll bar checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
A
The yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp lights while driv-
ing.
The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 225).
The fuel cap is not closed tight.

Check the fuel cap (
page 225).
Warning!
G
If the roll bar warning lamp does not light up,
does not go out after a long time, flickers or
lights up while driving as described above,
then the roll bar system is not operating
properly and may not activate in an acci-
dent. In this case, raise the roll bar manually
(page 61) before continuing to drive.

256 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
?
The yellow CHECK ENGINE mal-
function indicator lamp comes
on while driving.
There is a malfunction in:

The fuel injection system


The ignition system


The emission control system


Systems which effect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive
emissions values and may switch the engine
to its limp-home (emergency operation)
mode.

Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics sys-
tem. It allows the accurate identifica-
tion of system malfunctions through
the readout of diagnostic trouble
codes. It is located in the front left
area of the footwell next to the park-
ing brake.
The fuel cap is not closed tightly.

Check the fuel cap.
Your gas tank is empty.

After refuelling, start the engine three
or four times in succession.
The limp-home mode is canceled. You
do not need to have your vehicle
checked.
<
The red seat belt warning lamp
lights up after starting the en-
gine.
The warning lamp reminds you to fasten seat
belts.

Fasten your seat belt.

274 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Visit workshop!
The cooling fan for the coolant is
malfunctioning.

Observe the coolant temperature gauge.

Have the fan replaced as soon as possible.
.
Low beam,
left
The left low beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Low beam,
right
The right low beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Display defective
Visit workshop!
The display for the lights is malfunc-
tioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Turn signal R, L
Substitute
lamp on!
The left rear turn signal lamp is mal-
functioning. A backup bulb has been
brought into use.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal R, R
Substitute
lamp on!
The right rear turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning. A backup bulb has
been brought into use.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.

275 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
L. turn sig. rflectr
The left turn signal in the side mirror
is malfunctioning. This message will
only appear if all light emitting di-
odes have stopped working.

Have the LEDs replaced as soon as possible.
R. turn sig. rflectr
The right turn signal in the side mir-
ror is malfunctioning. This message
will only appear if all light emitting
diodes have stopped working.

Have the LEDs replaced as soon as possible.
Turn signal F, L
Substitute
lamp on!
The left front turn signal lamp is mal-
functioning. A backup bulb has been
brought into use.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal F, R
Substitute
lamp on!
The right front turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning. A backup bulb has
been brought into use.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Brake light
!
Visit workshop!
Brake lamp illumination is delayed or
lamp is permanently on.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.

276 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Brake lamp, L
Substitute
lamp on!
The left brake lamp is malfunction-
ing. A backup bulb has been brought
into use.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Brake lamp, R
Substitute
lamp on!
The right brake lamp is malfunction-
ing. A backup bulb has been brought
into use.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
3rd brake light
The high mounted brake lamp is mal-
functioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
High beam, left
The left high beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
High beam, right
The right high beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Fr. left
marker lamp
The front left side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Fr. rt marker lamp
The front right side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Re. left
marker lamp
The rear left side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Re. rt marker lamp
The rear right side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.

277 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Licence plate
lamp, L
The left licence plate lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Licence plate
lamp, R
The right licence plate lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Front foglamp, L
The left front fog lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Front foglamp, R
The right front fog lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Rear foglight, L
The left rear fog lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Rear foglight, R
The right rear fog lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Reverse lamp, L
The left backup lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Reverse lamp, R
The right backup lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.

279 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Light sensor
Visit workshop!
The light sensor is malfunctioning.
The headlamps switch on automati-
cally.

In the control system, set lamp operation to
manual (
page 124).

Switch on headlamps using the exterior lamp
switch.
?
Visit workshop!
There may be a malfunction in the

fuel injection system


ignition system


exhaust system


fuel system

H a v e t h e e n g i n e c h e c k e d a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
(page 256).
O
Close hood!
You are driving with the hood open.

Close the hood (
page 228).
:
Engine oil level
Stop, engine off!
There is no oil in the engine. There is
a danger of engine damage.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt as soon
as possible.

Turn off the engine.

Add engine oil.

286 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
I
Remove key!
You have forgotten to remove the
key.

Remove the key from the starter switch.
Replace key
The batteries in the key are dead.

Change the batteries (
page 293).
Automat. light on
Remove key!

Remove the key from the starter switch.
A
Reserve fuel
The fuel level has dropped below
the reserve mark.

Refuel at the next gas station (
page 225).
The fuel cap is not closed tightly.

Check the fuel cap (
page 225).
J
Door open!
You are attempting to drive with
one or more doors open.

Close the doors.
C
Raise
roll-over bar
The roll bar is malfunctioning.

Raise the roll bar using the roll bar switch
(page 61).

Have the roll bar checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
G
Display defective
Visit workshop!
The displays for several systems
have malfunctioned. Some sys-
tems themselves may also have
malfunctioned.

Have the electronic systems checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.