2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 check engine

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.

392 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Anticorrosion/antifreeze
Your vehicle contains a number of alumi-
num parts. The use of aluminum compo-
nents in motor vehicle engines
necessitates that anticorrosion/antifreeze
coolant used in such engines be specifical-
ly formulated to protect the aluminum parts. (Failure to use such anticorro-
sion/antifreeze coolant will result in a sig-
nificantly shortened service life.)
Therefore, the following product is strongly
recommended for use in your vehicle:
Mercedes-Benz 325.0 Anticorrosion/Anti-
freeze Agent.Before the start of the winter season (or
once a year in hot southern regions), you
should have the anticorrosion/antifreeze
concentration checked. The coolant is also
regularly checked each time you bring your
vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for service.
Anticorrosion / antifreeze quantityModel
Approx. freeze protection
– 35°F (– 37°C)
– 49°F (– 45°C)
SL 500
6.1 US qt (5.8 l)
6.8 US qt (6.4 l)
SL 600 (main cooling system)
6.9 US qt (6.5 l)
7.5 US qt (7.1 l)
SL 600 (low temperature cooling system)
1.2 US qt (1.1 l)
1.3 US qt (1.2 l)
SL 55 AMG
7.3 US qt (6.9 l)
7.9 US qt (7.5 l)

406 IndexCentral locking
Automatic 105
Central locking switch 105
Switching on/off (control
system) 146
Unlocking from inside 105
Central locking switch 25
Central unlocking switch 25
Changing
Batteries (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 329
Batteries (SmartKey) 328
SmartKey setting 91
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
settings 96
Vehicle level 209
Charging
Vehicle batteries 361
CHECK ENGINE
Messages in display 303
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 23, 285Checking
Coolant level 258
Oil level 252, 255
Tire inflate pressure 252
Vehicle lighting 252
Child safety
Airbags 60
Automatic child seat recognition 72
Infant and child restraint systems 58
Cigarette lighter 25, 219
Cleaning
Cup holder 279
Gear selector lever 279
Hard plastic trim items 279
Headlamps 168
Headliner 279
Leather upholstery 280
Plastic and rubber parts 280
Seat belts 279
Steering wheel 279
Upholstery 280
Windshield 47
Wood trims 280Clock 21
Closing
Hood 254
Power window with
KEYLESS-GO* 183
Retractable hardtop (SmartKey) 189
Retractable hardtop (switch) 186
Side windows 182
Sunshade 192
Trunk lid 102
Windows 181
Windows with KEYLESS-GO* 183
Cockpit 398
Collapsible tire 398
COMAND 25, 398
COMAND, radio and telephone 247
Combination switch 21, 47, 120, 121
Comfort driving
Transmission program mode 161
Consumer information 394

407 Index
Control system 127, 130, 398
AUDIO menu 132
Convenience submenu 148
Distronic* menu 135
Functions 128
Instrument cluster submenu 140
Lighting submenu 142
Malfunction memory menu 136
Menus 128
Multifunction display 127
Multifunction steering wheel 128
NAVI menu 134
Standard display menu 127, 132
Submenus 131
TEL* menu 152
Trip computer menu 150
Vehicle submenu 145
Convenience feature 189
Coolant 391
Adding 259
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
quantity 392Checking level 258
Messages in display 303, 304, 305
Temperature 249
Temperature gauge 124
Temperature warning lamp 23
Warning lamp 286
Coolant temperature gauge 23
Cooling see Air conditioner
Courtesy lighting 123
Cruise control 193, 398
"Resume" function 195
Canceling 194
Driving downhill 194
Driving uphill 194
Fine adjustment 195
Setting a higher speed 195
Setting a lower speed 195
Setting current speed 194
Setting to last stored speed 195Cruise control lever 21, 193
For cruise control 193
For Distronic* 200
Cup holder 25, 214
Cleaning 279
Customer Assistance Center 397
D
Daytime running lamp mode 119
Setting 142
Deactivating
Air conditioning (cooling) 179
Air recirculation mode 176
Alarm 86
Anti-theft alarm system 86
Automatic climate control 179
Central locking (control system) 146
Cruise control 194
Distance warning function* 204
Distronic* 202
Engine with KEYLESS-GO* 54

410 IndexEngine oil 255, 388
Adding 257
Additives 388
Checking level 255
Consumption 255
Display messages 307
Filler neck 257
Messages in display 256
Engine oil level see Oil level
ESP 75, 78, 398
Control switch 26
Switching off 79
Switching on 80
Synchronizing 295
Warning lamp 78
ESP/ABS warning lamp 23
ETD see Emergency Tensioning Device
Express-close front side windows 182
Express-open front side windows 182F
Fahrenheit
Setting temperature units 140
Fastening the seat belts 40
Fine adjustment
Cruise control 195
First aid kit 323
Flat tire 339
Spare wheel 350
TIREFIT kit 340, 345
Flexible Service System (FSS) 271
Fluid level 258
Fog lamp, rear 120, 332
Replacing bulb 335
Fog lamps, front 120
Replacing bulbs 332
Front airbags 64
Front lamps 332
Replacing bulbs 334
FSS (Flexible Service System) 271, 399Fuel 250
Additives 390
Fuel reserve warning lamp 23, 287
Gasoline additives 390
Premium unleaded gasoline 251,
387, 389
Requirements 389
Fuel consumption statistics
After start 150
Since reset 151
Fuel filler flap 250
Locking 250
Opening 250
Unlocking 250
Fuel requirements 389
Fuel reserve tank
Message in display 309
Fuel tank
Filler flap 250
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. -
capacities 386
Functions (control system) 128

412 IndexI
Identification labels 374
Ignition 31, 33
Switching on 31
Immobilizer 84
Activating 53, 84
Deactivating 84
Indicator lamps see Lamps, indicator and
warning
Infant and child restraint systems 70
Instrument cluster 22, 124, 399
Select language 141
Instrument lighting 124
Interior lighting 122
Automatic control 122
Delayed switch-off 145
Interior lighting control 27
Manual operation 123
Intermittent wiping 48J
Jack 324
K
Key, Mechanical 325
Key-dependent memory 149
KEYLESS-GO* 399
Closing power window with 183
Closing windows with 183
Important notes 94
Key positions 32
Starting the engine 44
Turning off the engine 54
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button 25, 33,
44
Keys
Loss of 93
Kickdown 162, 399
Kilometers/miles in speedometer 141
Kneebag 64L
Labels, identification 374
Lamp bulbs, exterior 331
Lamps, exterior
Delayed switch-off 143
Exterior lamp switch 21, 46
Front 332
Headlamps 276
Light sensor 313
Replacing bulbs for rear 332, 335
Switching off 117
Switching on 117
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 23, 283
ABS/ESP 282
AIRBAG OFF 290
Airbag Off 64
Brakes 284
CHECK ENGINE 285

414 IndexMaximum cooling MAXCOOL 174
Memory function 399
Storing exterior rear view mirror park-
ing positions 115
Storing key-dependent settings 149
Menus 128
AUDIO 132
Distronic* 135
Malfunction memory 136
NAVI 134
Standard display 132
TEL* 152
Trip computer 150
Microphone
Hands-free microphone 27
Miles/kilometers in speedometer 141
Minimum distance (Parktronic*) 211
Mirrors 38, 166
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position 167
Adjusting interior rear view mirror 38
Automatic antiglare for interior rear
view mirror 166Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 149
Exterior rear view mirrors 38
Storing exterior rear view mirror park-
ing position 115
Misfiring 49
MON 251, 399
Mph or km/h in speedometer 141
Multicontour backrest* 109
Multifunction display 127, 400
Left display field 23
Right display field 23
Selecting language 141
Standard display 127
Multifunction display messages
ABC 292
ABS 293
Battery 297, 298
Brake pads 298
Brake system 302
CHECK ENGINE 303Coolant 304
Coolant level 303, 305
Display malfunction 306
Doors 306
Easy-entry/exit feature 306
Fuel reserve tank 309
Hood 309
Luggage cover 322
Retractable hardtop 309
Roll bar 316
SBC brake system 299, 300
Seat belts 316
SmartKey 309
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 311
Tele Aid 316
Telephone* 317
Tires 317
Trunk 322
Washer fluid 322
Multifunction steering wheel 24, 128,
400
Buttons 128