2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 keyles go

244 OperationVehicle careScratches, corrosive deposits, corrosion or
damage due to negligent or incorrect care
cannot always be removed or repaired with
the car-care products recommended here.
In such cases it is best to seek aid at your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The following topics deal with the cleaning
and care of your vehicle and give important
“how-to” information as well as references
to Mercedes-Benz approved car-care prod-
ucts.
Additional information can be found in the
“Vehicle Care Guide” booklet.
Power washer
When using a power washer for cleaning
the vehicle, always observe manufactur-
er’s operating instructions.
Tar stains
Quickly remove tar stains before they dry
and become more difficult to remove. A tar
remover is recommended.Paintwork, painted body components
Mercedes-Benz approved Paint Care
should be applied when water drops on the
paint surface do not “bead up”, normally
every 3 to 5 months, depending on climate
and washing detergent used.
Mercedes-Benz approved Paint Cleaner
should be applied if the paint surface
shows signs of dirt embedding (i.e. loss of
gloss).
Do not apply any of these products or wax
if your vehicle is parked in the sun or if the
hood is still hot.
Use the appropriate MB-Touch-Up Stick
for quick and provisional repairs of minor
paint damage (i.e. chips from stones, vehi-
cle doors, etc.).
iVehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
If a door handle is hit by a strong jet of
water, and a KEYLESS-GO* card is in
close proximity, i.e. within approx. 3 ft.
(approx. 1 m), the vehicle could be in-
advertently locked or unlocked.!Never use a round nozzle to power
wash tires. The intense jet of water can
result in damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.
Always keep the jet of water moving
across the surface. Do not aim directly
at electrical parts, electrical connec-
tors, seals, or other rubber parts.

245 Operation
Vehicle care
Engine cleaning
Prior to cleaning the engine compartment
make sure to protect electrical compo-
nents and connectors from the intrusion of
water and cleaning agents.
Corrosion protection, such as MB Anticor-
rosion Wax, should be applied to the en-
gine compartment after every engine
cleaning. Before applying, all control link-
age bushings and joints should be lubricat-
ed. The poly-V-belt and all pulleys should
be protected from any wax.
Vehicle washing
Do not use hot water or wash your vehicle
in direct sunlight. Only use a mild car wash
detergent, such as Mercedes-Benz ap-
proved Car Shampoo.
Thoroughly spray the vehicle with a dif-
fused 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 dry
with a chamois. Do not allow cleaning
agents to dry on the finish.
Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in out-
side mirrors prior to running the vehicle
through an automatic car wash to prevent
damage to the mirrors.
In the winter, thoroughly remove all traces
of road salt as soon as possible.
When washing the underbody, do not for-
get to clean the inner sides of the wheels.Ornamental moldings
For regular cleaning and care of very dirty
chrome-plated parts, use a chrome clean-
er.
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 only use a soft, non-scratchy
cloth when cleaning the lenses. Do not at-
tempt to wipe dirty lenses with a dry cloth
or sponge.
iVehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
If a door handle is hit by a strong jet of
water, and a KEYLESS-GO* card is in
close proximity, i.e. within approx 3 ft.
(approx. 1 m), the vehicle could be in-
advertently locked or unlocked.

262 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Distronic
External fault
Reactivate!
Distronic* is switched off and is
temporarily unavailable.

Try activating Distronic* again later.
Clear sensor!
See Owner’s Man.
Distronic* is switched off be-
cause the Distronic* cover in the
radiator grille is dirty.

Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator grille
(page 246).

Restart the vehicle.
Visit workshop!
Distronic* is malfunctioning or
the display is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
P
Selector lever
to P!
You have turned off the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button* and opened
the driver’s door.

Place the selector lever in position P.
Cruise
Control
Visit workshop!
Cruise control or Distronic* is
malfunctioning.

Have the cruise control or Distronic* checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

269 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
F
Chip card
Check battery!
The KEYLESS-GO* card batteries are
discharged.

Change the batteries (
page 294).
Chip card
not recognised!
The KEYLESS-GO* card is not recog-
nized while the engine is running be-
cause

the card is not in the vehicle


there is strong radio-frequency
interference

Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.

Search for the card or continue to operate
the vehicle with the key.
Otherwise the vehicle cannot be centrally
locked nor can the engine be started again
after the engine is stopped.
The KEYLESS-GO* card is momen-
tarily not recognized.

Change the position of the card in the vehi-
cle.

Operate the vehicle with the key if neces-
sary.
Chip card
still in vehicle!
A KEYLESS-GO* card left in the vehi-
cle was recognized while locking the
vehicle from the outside.

Take the card out of the vehicle.
KEYLESS-GO
Visit workshop!
The KEYLESS-GO* system is mal-
functioning.

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

270 Practical hintsWhat to do if …F
Chip card!
Do not forget!
This display appears (for a maximum
of 60 seconds) if the driver’s door is
opened with the engine shut off and
no key in the starter switch.
Message is only a reminder.

Insert key in the starter switch.

Take the KEYLESS-GO* card with you when
leaving the vehicle.
ì
Function
not available!
This display appears if button
ì

or
í
on the multifunction steer-
ing wheel is pressed and the vehicle
is not equipped with a telephone.
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution

271 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
F
KEYLESS GO
Check system
The KEYLESS-GO* system is mal-
functioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Key
Do not forget
This display appears (for a maximum
of 60 seconds) if the driver’s door is
opened with the engine shut off and
no key in the starter switch.
Message is only a reminder.

Insert key in the starter switch.

Take the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with
you when leaving the vehicle.
_
Entry position
Do not drive!
Seat, mirrors and steering wheel
have not yet moved into their preset
driving positions.

Wait until the seat, mirrors and steering
wheel have moved to their driving positions.
The message disappears.
Except Canada:;Canada only:!
Release
parking brake!
You are driving with the parking
brake set.

Release the parking brake (
page 41).

290 Practical hintsLocking/unlocking in an emergency
Locking/unlocking in an emergencyUnlocking the vehicle
Unlocking the driver’s door
If you are unable to unlock the driver’s
door using the key, open the door using
the mechanical key.
1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key

Move locking tab 1 direction of arrow
and slide the mechanical key out of the
housing.
3Unlocking
4Locking

Unlock the door with the mechanical
key. To do so, push the mechanical key
in the lock until it stops and turn it to
the left.
iUnlocking your vehicle with the me-
chanical key will trigger the anti-theft
alarm system. To cancel the alarm, do
one of the following:

Press button
Œ
or
‹
on the
key.


Insert the key in the starter switch.


Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 30).

291 Practical hints
Locking/unlocking in an emergency
Unlocking the trunk
If you are unable to unlock the trunk with
the key, open the trunk with the mechani-
cal key as follows:Trunk lid lock1Unlocking
Insert the mechanical key into the
trunk lid lock.

Perform the following two steps simul-
taneously:
Turn the key counterclockwise to
position 1.

Pull the trunk lid handle and lift lid.Unlocking interior storage compart-
ments
Locking storage areas in the passenger
compartment include:


the glove box


the storage space under the armrest


the rear storage compartments
If these cannot be unlocked by means of
the key, the KEYLESS-GO* card or the cen-
tral locking button, use the mechanical key
to open the glove box.1Separately unlock storage compart-
ments
2Centrally lock/unlock storage com-
partments
3Separately lock storage compartments

Slide mechanical key out of key hous-
ing (
page 290).

Insert the mechanical key into the
glove box lock and turn it to position 2.
All storage compartments are now un-
locked.
iThe storage space under the armrest
and the rear storage compartments
can only be unlocked using the me-
chanical key at the glove box lock.