2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 Page 120

45 Getting started
Driving
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Push switch in the direction of arrow1
past the resistance point.
The windshield wiper operates with
washer fluid.
Information on filling up the washer reser-
voir can be found in the "Operation" sec-
tion (page 233).
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.


The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.


Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.

Give very little gas.

Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
The coolant temperature gauge is over
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.

Stop the vehicle as soon as possible
and turn off the engine. Allow engine
and coolant to cool.

Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 230).
!If leaves, snow, etc. block the wind-
shield wipers, the wiper motor turns
off.

For safety reasons, withdraw key
from starter switch. Remove block-
age.


Turn the windshield wipers on
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at
all in switch positionI,


set the combination switch to the
next highest wiper speed.


have the windshield wipers
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

108 Controls in detailInstrument cluster
Instrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
page 20).
The instrument cluster is activated when
you:


open a door


turn on the ignition


press the reset knob (
page 20)


switch on the exterior lamps
Only opening a door will activate the in-
strument cluster for approximately
30 seconds.
You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the Instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 122).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset knob to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster
and the switches on the center console.
To brighten illumination
Turn the reset knob in the instrument
cluster (
page 20) clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.To dim illumination

Turn the reset knob in the instrument
cluster (
page 20) counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Coolant temperature gauge
Under normal driving conditions, the cool-
ant temperature may rise to 248°F
(120°C). The coolant temperature may
rise to 266°F (130°C) at high outside tem-
peratures or when driving in hilly terrain.
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 266°F
(130°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened to suit ambient
light conditions.

119 Controls in detail
Control system
The stored messages will now be displayed
in order. See the “Practical hints” section
for malfunction and warning messages
(page 257).
Should any malfunctions occur while driv-
ing, the number of malfunctions will reap-
pear in the right display field when the key
in the starter switch is turned to position0
or removed from the starter switch.
Settings menu
In the
Settings
menu there are two func-
tions:


The function
Reset to factory set-
tings using reset button
, with which
you can reset all the settings to those
set at the factory.


A collection of submenus with which
you can make individual settings for
your vehicle.

Press button
è
or
ÿ
repeatedly
until the
Settings...
menu is seen in
the left display.The following settings and submenus are
available:
iThe message memory will be cleared
when you turn the key in the starter
switch to position1 or2. You will then
only see Priority 1 malfunctions
(page 257).
Function
Page
Resetting all settings
120
Submenus in the Settings menu
120
Resetting the functions of a sub-
menu
120
Instrument cluster submenu
122
Lighting submenu
124
Vehicle submenu
127
Convenience submenu
129