2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 ESP

250 Practical hintsWhat to do if …
What to do if …Lamps in instrument clusterProblem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
v
The yellow ABS/ESP warning
lamp lights up while driving.
ESP is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions.

Turn the ESP back on (
page 72).
If the ESP cannot be turned back on,
have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
v
The yellow ABS/ESP warning
lamp flashes while driving.
The ESP, ABS or traction control has come
into operation because of detected traction
loss in at least one tire. Distronic* is deacti-
vated.

During take-off apply as little throttle
as possible.

While driving ease up on the accelera-
tor.

Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.

Do not deactivate the ESP (excep-
tions: (
page 71)).
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of accidents.

251 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
-
The yellow ABS malfunction indi-
cator lamp comes on while driv-
ing.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and has
switched off. The BAS and ESP are also
switched off (see messages in display).
The SBC brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without ABS available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning, oth-
er systems such as Parktronic*, Distronic*,
or the automatic transmission may also be
malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.

Read and observe messages in the
display (
page 257).
E
The red DTR indicator lamp lights
up while driving.
You are too close to the vehicle in front of you
to maintain selected speed.

Apply the brakes immediately to in-
crease the following distance.
E
The red DTR indicator lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning sound.


You are gaining too rapidly on the vehicle
ahead of you.


The distance warning system has recog-
nized a stationary obstacle on your prob-
able line of travel.

Apply the brakes immediately.

Carefully observe the traffic situation.
You may need to brake or maneuver
to avoid hitting an obstacle.
E
The white DTR indicator lamp
lights up while driving.
The Distronic* distance sensor has recog-
nized a vehicle in front of you.

259 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABC
Visit workshop!
The capability of the ABC system is re-
stricted.

Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Display defective
Visit workshop!
The ABC display or the ABC system it-
self is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
ABS
Defective!
Visit workshop!
The ABS has detected a malfunction
and has switched off. The ESP and
BAS are also deactivated. The SBC
brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without ABS available.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of accident.
Display defective
Visit workshop!
ABS or the ABS display is malfunction-
ing.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of accident.

260 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
BAS
Defective!
Visit workshop!
The BAS has detected a malfunc-
tion and switched off. The ESP
and ABS are also deactivated.
The SBC brake system is still
functioning normally but without
ABS available.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of accident.
Display defective
Visit workshop!
BAS or the BAS display is mal-
functioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of accident.

261 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
Defective!
Visit workshop!
The ESP is deactivated because of
a malfunction or an interrupted
power supply. The SBC brake sys-
tem is still functioning normally.
The ABS may still be operational.

With the vehicle stationary, turn the steering
wheel completely to the left and then to the
right to synchronize the ESP.
If the ESP message does not go out:

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of accident.
Display defective
Visit workshop!
ESP or the ESP display is malfunc-
tioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of accident.

263 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
G
Display defective
The instrument cluster display is
malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
L
Visit workshop!
One or more main functions of the
Tele Aid system are malfunctioning.

Have the Tele Aid system checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
#
Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicle!
The battery is malfunctioning.
The SBC brake system requires elec-
trical energy and therefore has only
limited operation. Considerably
greater brake pedal force is required
and the stopping distance is in-
creased.

S t o p t h e v e h i c l e a s s o o n a s i t i s s a f e t o d o s o .
Adjust driving to be consistent with reduced
braking responsiveness.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

264 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Electric consumers
offline!
The consumer battery has insuffi-
cient voltage and can no longer sup-
ply the convenience functions such
as seat ventilation*.
The electrical consumers will come back online
as soon as on-board voltage is sufficient.
Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicle!
The battery was charged with a bat-
tery charger or jump started.
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes

alternator malfunctioning


broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake system
requires electrical energy and may
be operating with restricted capabil-
ity. Considerably greater brake ped-
al force is required and the stopping
distance is increased.

Have the battery checked at a service sta-
tion.

Stop immediately and check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken
Do not continue to drive. Notify an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is in order

Drive immediately to the nearest autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center. Adjust driv-
ing to be consistent with reduced braking
responsiveness.

266 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Except Canada:;Canada only:3
Reduced
brake effect
Visit workshop!
Incr.
braking dist.
Visit workshop!
The SBC brake system is in emer-
gency operation mode. Consider-
able brake pedal force is required
and the stopping distance is in-
creased.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately. Adjust driving to be consistent
with reduced braking responsiveness.
Brake fluid
below min. level!
Visit workshop!
There is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.

Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle and notify
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Do
not add brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.