2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 Battery warning light on

153 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the defrost-
er as soon as the rear window is clear. The
defroster is automatically deactivated af-
ter approximately 6 to 17 minutes of oper-
ation depending on the outside
temperature.
Activating
Press button
F
(page 148).
The indicator lamp on the button lights
up.Deactivating

Press button
F
(page 148) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
Warning!
G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.!The rear window defroster cannot be
switched on when the retractable hard-
top is open. The indicator lamp will
start blinking if the hardtop is open.

Close the retractable hardtop.
The rear window defroster can again be
turned on.
!If the rear window defroster switches
off too soon and the indicator lamp
starts blinking, this means that too
many electrical consumers are operat-
ing simultaneously and there is insuffi-
cient voltage in the battery. The system
responds automatically by deactivating
the rear window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient
voltage, the rear window defroster au-
tomatically turns itself back on.

324 Practical hintsJump startingThe starter battery is located in the engine
compartment.
Make sure that the two vehicles do not
touch.

Turn off the engine.

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Apply parking brake.

Shift selector lever to positionP.1Negative terminal of charged battery
2Negative terminal of discharged
battery
3Positive terminal of discharged battery
4Positive terminal of charged battery

Remove the red cover from positive ter-
minal on both vehicles (
page 319).

Connect the positive terminals 3 and 4
of the batteries with the jumper cables.
Start with the charged battery.

Start the engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.

Connect the negative terminals 1 and 2
of the batteries with the jumper cables.
Start with the charged battery.

Start the engine of the disabled vehi-
cle.
Now you can again turn on the electri-
cal consumers. Do not turn on the
lights under any circumstances.

Remove the jumper cables first from
the negative terminals 1 and 2 of the
batteries and then from the positive
terminals 3 and 4.

Have the battery checked at the near-
est Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Never lean over the battery while connect-
ing or jump starting.Warning!
G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 232).
iThe vehicle cannot be started via
tow-start.

364 IndexI
Ignition 29, 31
Switching on 29
Immobilizer 75
Activating 48, 75
Deactivating 75
Indicator lamps see Lamps, indicator and
warning
Infant and child restraint systems 62
Instrument cluster 20, 108, 353
Select language 123
Instrument lighting 108
Interior lighting 106
Automatic control 106
Delayed switch-off 127
Manual operation 107
Interior lighting control 25
Interior storage spaces 190
Locking storage compartments 194
Unlocking storage
compartments 194, 291
Intermittent wiping 44
J
Jack 289K
Key
Opening retractable hardtop 163
Key dependent memory 130
Key positions 29
Key, electronic
Battery check lamp 81
Changing the batteries 293
Checking the batteries 82
Closing retractable hardtop 164
Factory setting 81
Global locking 81
Global unlocking 81
Individual setting 81
Messages in display 286
Positions in starter switch 29
Remote controls 80
Reprogramming 81
Starting the engine 40
Turning off the engine 48
Unlocking 28
Key, Mechanical 290
KEYLESS-GO* 353
Key positions 30
Starting the engine 40
Turning off the engine 49KEYLESS-GO* card 84
Changing the batteries 294
Checking the batteries 87
Checking vehicle lock status 87
Factory setting 86
Global locking 86
Global unlocking 86
Locking 88
Loss of 89
Messages in display 269
Reprogramming 86
Unlocking 30, 84
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button 23, 30,
40
Keys 80
Loss of 84
Kickdown 142, 353
Kilometers/miles in speedometer 123
Kneebag 57

371 Index
Starter battery 232, 319
Starter switch 19, 29
Starting difficulties 41
Starting position 29
Starting the engine
With KEYLESS-GO* 40
With the key 40
Steering column
Height adjustment 35
Length adjustment 34
Steering wheel 34
Adjusting 34
Buttons 22
Heating* 197
Height adjustment 35
Shifting gears (SL 55 AMG) 142
Steering wheel adjustment stalk 19
Steering wheel gearshift control
Activating 143
Deactivating 143
Storage spaces
Armrest 193
Cup holder 190
Glove box 190
In door 192
In rear 193Locking 194
Locking compartments
separately 194
Rear 193
Storage tray 193
Unlocking 194
Unlocking compartments
separately 194
Ventilated compartments 156
Submenus 114
Convenience 129
Instrument cluster 122
Lighting 124
Selecting 120
Settings menus 120
Vehicle 127
Sun blind see Sunshade
Sun visors 146
Sunshade* 166
Closing 167
Opening 167
Suspension tuning
For regular driving style 183
For sporty driving style 183
Setting 183Switching off
ABC 24
Switching on
ABC 24
Front fog lamps 104
Rear fog lamp 104
Switching on headlamps 43
Symbol
Distance warning function* 117, 174
Synchronizing
Power windows 158
T
Tachometer 21, 109
Displaying gear range 139
Tail lamps 296, 299
Technical data 332
Electrical system 339
Main dimensions 340
Rims and tires 337
Weights 341
Windshield and headlamp washer
system 347