2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 service interval

358 Practical hintsBatteries
BatteriesYour vehicle is equipped with two
batteries:

The starter battery (located in the en-
gine compartment)


The battery for electrical consumers
(located in the trunk)
Starter battery in the engine compartment1Positive terminal
2Negative terminal
Warning!
G
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting,
you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc.
!Never loosen or detach battery termi-
nal clamps while the engine is running
or the SmartKey is in the starter switch.
Otherwise the alternator and other
electronic components could be se-
verely damaged.
Have the starter battery checked regu-
larly by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Refer to Service Booklet for mainte-
nance intervals or contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for further
information.

388 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines. Therefore, use
only engine oils approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Information on approved
products is available in the
Factory Approved Service Products pam-
phlet, or at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Please follow FSS recommendations for
scheduled oil changes. Failure to do so
could result in engine damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil.
They may damage the engine.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from
blending oil additives are not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioner refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG
lubricating oil are used in the air condition-
er system.
Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based lu-
bricating oil. Otherwise damage to the
system will occur.
!Always check the oil filler cap
(page 257) for important informa-
tion pertaining to the engine oil need-
ing to meet a specific Mercedes-Benz
specification (e.g. MB 229.5). If such
information is printed on the oil filler
cap, only use an engine oil from the list
of approved engine oils in the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet
that meets the specification indicated
on the oil filler cap.
Using engine oils of other specification
may cause the FSS to incorrectly deter-
mine the next service interval and will
result in engine damage not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty

391 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Coolants
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion / antifreeze, which pro-
vides:

corrosion protection


freeze protection


boiling protection (by increasing the
boiling point)
The cooling system was filled at the factory
with a coolant providing freeze protection
to approximately -22°F (-30°C) and corro-
sion protection.
If the antifreeze mixture is effective to
-22°F (-30°C), the boiling point of the cool-
ant in the pressurized cooling system is
reached at approximately 266°F (130°C).
The coolant solution must be used year
round to provide the necessary corrosion
protection and increase in the boil-over
protection. Refer to Service Booklet for re-
placement interval.Coolant system design and coolant used
stipulate the replacement interval. The re-
placement interval published in the
Service Booklet is only applicable if
MB 325.0 anticorrosion/antifreeze solu-
tion or other Mercedes-Benz approved
products of equal specification (see Facto-
ry Approved Service Products pamphlet)
are used to renew the coolant concentra-
tion or bring it back up to the proper level.
To provide important corrosion protection,
the solution must be at least 45% anticor-
rosion/antifreeze (equivalent to freeze
protection to approx. - 22°F [-30°C]). If
you use a solution that is more than 55%
anticorrosion/antifreeze (freeze protec-
tion to approx. - 49°F [-45°C]), the engine
temperature will increase due to the lower
heat transfer capability of the solution.
Therefore, do not use more than this
amount of anticorrosion/antifreeze.If the coolant level is low, water and
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion /Antifreeze
should be used to bring it up to the proper
level (have cooling system checked for
signs of leakage). Please make sure the
mixture is in accordance with label instruc-
tions.
The water in the cooling system must meet
minimum requirements, which are usually
satisfied by normal drinking water. If you
are not sure about the water quality, con-
sult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

408 Index
Engine with the SmartKey 53
ESP 79
Exterior lamps 117
Hazard warning flasher 121
Headlamps 52, 117
Immobilizer 84
Interior light delayed switch-off 145
Parktronic* 212
Rear window defroster 177
Residual heat 178
Seat heating 110, 111
Seat ventilation* 113
Tow-away alarm 87
Deep water see Standing water
Defrosting 175
Delayed switch-off
Exterior lamps 143
Interior lighting 145
Digital clock 21
Direction of rotation (tires) 263Displays
Distronic* 198
Messages 256, 306
Parktronic* 211
Service indicator 271
Distance to empty (range)
Calling up 152
Distance warning function* 204
Activating 204
Deactivating 204
Intermittent warning sound 204
Symbol 135, 199
Distance warning function* switch 26
Distronic indicator lamp* 23
Distronic* 196, 398
"Resume" function 202
Activating 200
Calling up settings 135, 199
Cleaning system sensors 277
Cruise control lever 200Deactivating 202
Deceleration 199
Decreasing time interval 204
Displays 198
Distance warning function 204
Distance warning function switch 26
Driving hints 205
DTR warning lamp 198
Increasing time interval 203
Intermittent signal tone 198
Setting a higher speed 201
Setting a slower speed 202
Setting distance 26
Setting last stored speed 202
Setting speed 201
System sensor cover 277
Warning and indicator lamps 198
Distronic* warning lamp 23
Door control panel 21, 28
Door handle 28

418 Index
Self-check 82
Warning lamp 81
Seat belt force limiter 68
Seat belts 40, 58, 65
Cleaning 279
Messages in display 316
Telltale 289
Seat heating
Switching off 110
Switching on 110
Seat ventilation*
Switching off 113
Switching on 113
Seats
Adjusting height 35
Adjusting lumbar support 109
Adjusting shoulder support 109
Easy entry/exit feature 107
Heating 110
Massage function 110
Moving 108Service
Batteries 358
Calling up the service indicator 272
Major service (Service B) 271
Minor service (Service A) 271
Overdue 272
Types 271
When due 271
Service indicator 271
Clearing 271
Service life (tires) 263
Service System see FSS
Setting
Convenience functions 148
Daytime running lamp mode 142
Digital clock 21
Distronic* time interval 203
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 149
Instrument lighting 124Interior lighting delayed
switch-off 145
Key-dependent memory 149
Lamps and lighting (control
system) 142
Locator lighting 143
Miles/kilometers in
speedometer 141
Multifunction display language 141
Night security illumination 143
Radio station 133
Speedometer display mode 141
Station selection mode 146
Suspension tuning 207
Temperature (interior) 172
Temperature indicator 140
Time display mode 140
Tire inflation pressure units 147
Units
Temperature 140
Tire inflation pressure 147
Units in speedometer 141
Vehicle level control 208