2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 brake

301 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Except Canada:;Canada only:3
Brake fluid
below min. level!
Visit
workshop!
There is insufficient brake fluid in
the reservoir.

Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle as soon as
it is safe to do so 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.
Warning
G
Low brake fluid in the reservoir may cause
the braking system to fail!
If necessary, apply full pressure to the brake
pedal. Brakes are only applied to the front
wheels. Stopping distance is increased!
Low brake fluid in the reservoir may cause
the braking system to fail!
Do not add brake fluid before checking the
brake system. Overfilling the brake fluid res-
ervoir can result in spilling brake fluid on hot
engine parts and the brake fluid catching
fire. You can be seriously burned.

302 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Except Canada:;Canada only:3
Service brake
Visit
workshop!
There are malfunctions, but the SBC
brake system is operating normally.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Except Canada:;Canada only:3
Brakes overheated!
Drive carefully!
The brake system is overheated due
to an excessive load on the brakes.

Relieve the load on the brake system.

Drive more smoothly and think ahead to avoid
unnecessary braking.

When driving down steep grades, shift into a
lower gear to use the engine’s braking power
(page 157).

Cautiously continue driving so that the air
stream will cool down the brakes.
Except Canada:;Canada only:!
Release
parking brake!
You are driving with the parking
brake set.

Release the parking brake (
page 52).

311 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
F
Key
not recognized!
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is
not recognized while the engine is
running because

the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is not in the vehi-
cle


there is strong radio-frequency
interference

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

Search for the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
or continue to operate the vehicle with the
SmartKey.
Otherwise the vehicle cannot be centrally
locked nor can the engine be started again af-
ter the engine is stopped.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is
momentarily not recognized.

Change the position of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the vehicle.

Operate the vehicle with the SmartKey if
necessary.
F
Key
still
in vehicle!
A SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* left
in the vehicle was recognized while
locking the vehicle from the out-
side.

Take the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* out of
the vehicle.
.
3rd brake light
The high mounted brake lamp is
malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Brake lamp
Left
Back-up
lamp on!
The left brake lamp is malfunction-
ing. A backup bulb has been
brought into use.

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

312 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Brake lamp
Right
Back-up
lamp on!
The right brake lamp is malfunction-
ing. A backup bulb has been
brought into use.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Brake light
!
Drive to
workshop!
Brake lamp illumination is delayed
or lamp is permanently on.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Front foglamp
Left
The left front fog lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Front foglamp
Right
The right front fog lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Rear foglamp
Left
The left rear fog lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
High beam
Left
The left high beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
High beam
Right
The right high beam lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Left turn signal
Mirror
The left turn signal in the side mirror
is malfunctioning. This message will
only appear if all light emitting di-
odes have stopped working.

Have the LEDs replaced as soon as possible.

317 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ì
Function
Unavailable!
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.
H
Tire pressure
Caution
tire defect!
The tire pressure in one or more
tires is dropping.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Tire pressure
ChecK
tires!
The tire pressure in one or more
tires is already below the minimum
value.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
H
Tire pressure
ChecK
tires!
The tire pressure in one or more
tires is low.

Check and correct tire pressure as required
(page 264).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

318 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pres.
monitor
Visit
workshop!
The tire inflation pressure monitor*
is malfunctioning.

Have the tire inflation pressure monitor*
checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

Change the wheel.
A wheel without proper sensor was
installed.
H
Tire pressure, RL
Caution
tire defect!
The left rear tire is rapidly deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Tire pressure, RL
Check tires!
The left rear tire pressure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire pressure.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

319 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pressure, RR
Caution
tire defect!
The right rear tire is deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Tire pressure, RR
Check tires!
The right rear tire pressure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire pressure.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Tire pressure, FL
Caution
tire defect!
The left front tire is deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

320 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pressure, FL
Check tires!
The left front tire pressure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire pressure.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Tire pressure, FR
Caution
tire defect!
The right front tire is deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Tire pressure, FR
Check tires!
The right front tire pressure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Change the wheel (
page 350).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.