2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 turn signal

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 7
Product information ................................ 7
Operator’s Manual .................................. 8
Service and warranty information ..... 8
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles ............. 9
Maintenance .................................. 10
Roadside Assistance ...................... 10
Change of address or ownership.... 10
Operating your vehicle outside the USA
or Canada ...................................... 11
Where to find it .................................... 12
Symbols ............................................... 13
Operating safety .................................. 14
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 14
Problems with your vehicle .................. 15
Reporting safety defects...................... 16
Reporting safety defects ................ 16At a glance......................................... 17
Cockpit ................................................ 18
Instrument cluster ............................... 20
Multifunction steering wheel ............... 22Center console ..................................... 23
Upper part ...................................... 23
Lower part ...................................... 24
Overhead control panel ........................ 25
Door control panel................................ 26
Getting started................................... 27
Unlocking ............................................. 28
Unlocking with the SmartKey.......... 28
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO* ......... 30
Adjusting .............................................. 32
Seats............................................... 32
Steering wheel ................................ 34
Mirrors ............................................ 35
Driving .................................................. 37
Fastening the seat belts.................. 37
Starting the engine ......................... 39
Switching on headlamps ................. 43
Turn signals and high beam ............ 43
Windshield wipers ........................... 44
Problems while driving .................... 45
Parking and locking .............................. 47
Parking brake.................................. 47
Switching off headlamps................. 48
Turning off engine with the key ....... 48Turning off engine with
KEYLESS-GO* ................................ 49
Emergency engine shut-down ......... 50
Safety and Security........................... 51
Occupant safety ................................... 52
Airbags ........................................... 53
Seat belts ....................................... 58
Roll bar ........................................... 61
Children in the vehicle .................... 62
Panic alarm .......................................... 67
Activating........................................ 67
Deactivating.................................... 67
Driving safety systems ......................... 68
ABS ................................................. 68
BAS ................................................. 69
ESP ................................................. 70
SBC brake system .......................... 72
Anti-theft systems ................................ 75
Immobilizer ..................................... 75
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 75
Tow-away alarm .............................. 77

19 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Parking brake pedal
41
2
Hood lock release
227
3
Parking brake release
47
4
Door control panel
26
5
Exterior lamp switch
43,
102
6
Headlamp washer switch
146
7
Combination switch

Turn signals


Windshield wipers


High beam
43
44
104
8
Cruise control switch

Cruise control


Distronic*
168
171
9
Instrument cluster
20,
108
10
Multifunction steering
wheel
22,
111
11
Lever for voice control
system, see separate
operating instructions
12
Front Parktronic* warn-
ing indicator
186
13
Digital clock
122
14
Overhead control panel
25
15
Interior storage compart-
ments (locking/unlock-
ing)
194
16
7
indicator lamp
64
17
Glove box
190
18
Center console
23, 24
19
Starter switch
31
20
Horn
21
Steering wheel adjust-
ment stalk
Heated steering wheel*
34
197
Item
Page

21 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature
gauge with:D
Coolant temperature
warning lamp
254
2
Speedometer with:;
Brake warning lamp,
except Canada
253
3
Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
v
Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS)/Electronic
Stability Program
(ESP) warning lamp
250
E
Distronic (DTR)* indi-
cator lamp (white) or
warning lamp (red)
1
1Vehicles without Distronic*: Indicator lamp with-
out function. It illuminates with the key in starter
switch position2. It should go out when the engine
is running.
251
L
K
Turn signal indicator
lamps
Item
Page
3
Left multifunction display
with:
Trip odometer
109
Main odometerStored speed for
Distronic*
117
4
Reset knob
5
Tachometer with:
109
A
High beam headlamp
indicator
104
?
Engine malfunction in-
dicator lamp
256
C
Roll bar warning lamp
255
-
Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) malfunc-
tion indicator lamp
251
Item
Page
1
Supplemental
restraint system
(SRS) indicator lamp
252
<
Seat belt nonusage
warning lamp
256
6
Right multifunction
display with:
Selector lever
position
39
Outside temperature
display
109
Program mode
141
7
Fuel gauge with:A
Fuel reserve warning
lamp
255

30 Getting startedUnlockingUnlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
The functions of the KEYLESS-GO card are
nearly identical to those of the key, except
that it cannot be used to open the retract-
able hardtop. When using the key and the
card at the same time, the key overrules
the card.

Grasp the door handle.
The turn signal lamps blink once. The
locking knobs on the doors move up.Pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton on the selector lever corresponds to
turning the key to the various starter
switch positions.
1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have the status0 (as with key
removed).
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.
Do not depress the brake pedal.
iThe KEYLESS-GO card must be outside
the vehicle to unlock it.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
key and the KEYLESS-GO card with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.iThe SBC brake system is activated.

41 Getting started
Driving
Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
If you are starting the engine with the
key: Turn key in starter to position0
and repeat starting procedure.

If you are starting the engine with
KEYLESS-GO: Close any doors that
may be open to allow for better detec-
tion of the card.
Or:
Start the engine with the key as radio
signals from another source may be in-
terfering with the KEYLESS-GO card.

Repeat the starting procedure
(page 39). Remember that extended
starting attempts can drain the battery.

Get a jump start (
page 323).
If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the
fuel supply system.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Parking brake
1Parking brake
2Release handle

Release the parking brake by pulling on
handle2.
The indicator lamp
;
(USA only) or
3
(Canada only) in the
speedometer goes out.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
key from the starter switch, take the KEY-
LESS-GO card (if so equipped) with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could release the
parking brake, which could result in an acci-
dent and/or serious injury.

43 Getting started
Driving
Switching on headlampsExterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn the switch to
B
.
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (page 102).
Turn signals and high beam
The combination switch is on the left of the
steering column.Combination switch1Turn signals, right
2Turn signals, left
Press the combination switch up1 or
down2.High beam

Push the combination switch forward.
The high beam symbol
A
in the
tachometer lights up.
iTo signal minor directional changes,
move combination switch to point of
resistance only and release. The turn
signal blinks three times.

49 Getting started
Parking and locking

After exiting the vehicle, press the lock
button
‹
on the remote control
(
page 28).
The locking knobs on the doors move
down.
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 80).
Turning off engine with KEYLESS-GO* 
Place the gear selector lever inP.

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton until the engine shuts off.
With the driver's door closed, the start-
er switch is now in the position1. With
the driver's door opened, the starter
switch is set to position0, same as key
removed from starter switch
(page 29).

Press the seat belt release button
(page 37).
!If you hear a warning signal you have ei-
ther

forgotten to turn off the lights, or


not put the gear selector lever inP
before opening the driver’s door.
Turn off the lights or place the gear se-
lector lever inP.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
Before closing doors, make sure that there
is no possibility of someone getting caught
in a door during closing.
!If you hear a warning signal you have ei-
ther

forgotten to turn off the lights, or


not put the gear selector lever inP
before opening the driver’s door.
Turn off the lights or place the gear se-
lector lever inP.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
Before closing doors, make sure that there
is no possibility of someone getting caught
in a door during closing.

76 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsArming the alarm system
The alarm system is armed after locking
the vehicle with the remote control. The
turn signal lamps blink three times to indi-
cate that the alarm system is activated.
The
‹
indicator lamp in the central
locking switch (
page 23) will blink after
approximately 10 seconds when the alarm
system is completely armed.Disarming the alarm system
The alarm system is disarmed when you
unlock your vehicle with the remote con-
trol. The turn signal lamps blink once to in-
dicate that the alarm system is
deactivated.
Canceling the alarm
To cancel the alarm:
With the key

Insert the key in the starter switch.
or

Press the
Œ
or
‹
button.
The alarm is canceled.With KEYLESS-GO*

Grasp the outside door handle.
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton.
The alarm is canceled.
iIf the turn signal lamps do not blink
three times, a door or the hood may not
be closed properly.
Close the respective element and lock
the vehicle again.
iThe alarm system will rearm automati-
cally again after aprroximately 40 sec-
onds if no door was opened.