2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 display

157 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear ranges
With the gear selector lever in positionD,
you can limit the transmission’s gear range
by pressing the gear selector lever to the
left (D-), and reverse the gear range limit
by pressing the gear selector lever to the
right (D+).
The selected gear range appears in the
right multifunction display. If you press on
the accelerator when the engine has
reached its rpm limit, the transmission will
upshift beyond any gear range limit
selected.
Effect
ï
The transmission shifts through
sixth gear only (applies to
vehicles with 7-speed automatic
transmission only).
î
The transmission shifts through
fifth gear only (applies to
vehicles with 7-speed automatic
transmission only).
é
The transmission shifts through
fourth gear only.
è
The transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.
Effect
ç
The transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s
braking power when driving:

on steep downgrades


in mountainous regions


under extreme operating
conditions
æ
The transmission operates in
first gear only.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.

162 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the letter of
the desired shift program appears in
the right multifunction display
(page 127).SelectCfor comfort driving:


The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range1 is selected.


Traction and driving stability are
improved on icy roads.


Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.


The power transmission ratio for
gear selector lever positionR
changes depending on the program
mode selected (SorC).
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear.

Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.
!Never change the program mode when
the gear selector lever is out of
positionP. This could result in a
change of driving characteristics for
which you may not be prepared.

163 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Manual shift program SL 55 AMG
In the manual shift program mode you can
change the gears manually on the steering
wheel (
page 160) or by using the gear
selector lever (
page 156).
Allow engine to warm up under low load
use. Do not place full load on the engine
until the operating temperature has been
reached. Shift into reverse gear only when
the vehicle is stopped.Program mode selector switch
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
S Sport For standard driving
C Comfort For comfort driving
MANUAL For manual gear shifting
The selected shift program (
C/S/M) is
indicated in the right multifunction display
(
page 127).Activating manual shift program

Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the
M for
manual shift program appears in the
right multifunction display.
The program mode switches to manual
program modeM. Automatic shifting is
switched off. The gear range is not
limited.
You can change the gears manually when
the gear selector lever is in positionD. You
can upshift or downshift through the gears
in succession.
The current gear selector lever position
and the selected shift program (
C/S/M) is
indicated in the right multifunction display
(
page 127).
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

165 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Deactivating manual shift program
Press the program mode selector
switch repeatedly until
S or
C appears
in the right multifunction display.
or

Restart the engine.
The transmission will go into the auto-
matic shift program mode last selected
(SorC).
Program modeM is not stored.Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode only second gear and reverse gear
can be activated.
Stop the vehicle.

Move gear selector lever toP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least ten seconds before
restarting.

Restart the engine.

Move gear selector lever to positionD
(for second gear) orR.

Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
iThe last selected automatic program
mode (S orC) is switched on when the
engine is restarted in the automatic
program mode.

186 Controls in detailRetractable hardtop
Pull up on the hardtop switch as indi-
cated by the arrow until the hardtop is
completely lowered into its trunk stor-
age compartment and the indicator
lamp in the hardtop switch goes out.
The multifunction display will briefly
show the message
K
Vario-Roof open
.Closing the retractable hardtop with
the switch
Before pressing the hardtop switch, you
must make sure


the parking brake is engaged
(page 45)


the luggage cover is closed
(page 185)


the trunk lid is closed


the ignition is switched on

Press the hardtop switch as indicated
by the arrow until the hardtop is com-
pletely closed and locked and the indi-
cator lamp in the hardtop switch goes
out.
The multifunction display will briefly
show the message
+
Vario-Roof Closed
.
iBe sure that the roof is dry before you
open it. Otherwise water may enter the
trunk interior.
Warning!
G
If the retractable hardtop is not fully opened
or closed, a warning will sound after 15 sec-
onds, pressure in the hardtop’s hydraulic
system will drop and the hardtop will lower.
Be sure to keep the hardtop switch pulled or
pressed until the hardtop is fully opened or
closed. The hydraulic pump will then shut
off.
To prevent possible accidents, drive the ve-
hicle only with the hardtop either completely
closed and locked, or fully lowered into its
storage compartment.

187 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Locking the retractable hardtop after
raising/lowering
If the retractable hardtop is not properly
locked, lock it as described below.Unlocked status noticed when stopped

Switch on ignition.

To lock the hardtop in its fully closed
position, press hardtop switch forward.
The message
+
Vario-Roof Closed
appears in
the multifunction display.
or:

To lock the hardtop in its fully opened
position, pull up on the hardtop switch.
The message K
Vario-Roof Open

appears in the multifunction display.
Unlocked status noticed while driving

Stop the vehicle.

Leave the ignition switched on.

To lock the hardtop in its fully closed
position, press hardtop switch forward.
The message
+
Vario-Roof Closed
appears in
the multifunction display.
or:

To lock the hardtop in its fully opened
position, pull up on the hardtop switch.
The message K
Vario-Roof Open

appears in the multifunction display.
Warning!
G
The hardtop is not fully closed and locked or
not fully opened and locked if:

the indicator light in the hardtop switch
remains lit


the message
K
in operation!
is
shown in the multifunction display and
the indicator lamp in the hardtop switch
does not go out


the indicator lamp flashes and a warning
sounds for 10 seconds and the message K
Lock Vario-Roof
is shown in
the multifunction display when starting
to drive
Warning!
G
Stop the vehicle and lock the hardtop before
continuing to drive. You could otherwise en-
danger yourself and others.

188 Controls in detailRetractable hardtop
Opening the retractable hardtop with
the SmartKey (Summer opening
feature)

Aim the transmitter eye at the door
handle.

Press and hold button Πuntil the
retractable hardtop is completely
open.
The seat ventilation for the driver’s seat
switches on. The rear side windows
open. In the tachometer display you
will see the message
Vario-Roof open
.

Release button Πto interrupt pro-
cedure.
Warning!
G
If the retractable hardtop does not com-
pletely open or close, the roof hydraulics will
lose pressure and the retractable hardtop is
lowered

after approximately seven minutes
when the ignition is switched on


after approximately 15 seconds when
the ignition is switched off
Shortly before the hardtop is lowered, a
warning will sound and the hardtop switch
lamp will flash. In the speedometer display
you will see
K
, in the tachometer display
you will see the message
being lowered!


Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(page 187) before continuing to drive.
Warning!
G
Before operating the switch for the retract-
able hardtop make sure that no persons can
be injured by the moving parts (retractable
roof, roof frame, and trunk lid) due to inat-
tention.
Hands must never be placed near the roof
frame, upper windshield area, hardtop, shelf
behind roll bars, or trunk lid while the re-
tractable hardtop is being raised or lowered.
Serious personal injury may occur.
If potential danger exists, release the re-
spective button on the SmartKey. This im-
mediately interrupts the raising or lowering
procedure. You then can operate
Œ
or
‹
to raise or lower the hardtop away
from the danger zone.

189 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Closing the retractable hardtop with
the SmartKey (Convenience feature)
Aim the transmitter eye at the door
handle.

Press and hold button ‹ until the
retractable hardtop is completely
closed.
The retractable hardtop and the side
windows close. In the tachometer dis-
play you will see the message Vario-Roof closed
.Problems when operating the
retractable hardtop
Indicator lamp in the retractable hard-
top switch is flashing
Several problems may cause the indicator
lamp in the hardtop switch to flash when
activated:


The luggage cover in the trunk is not
closed.
Close the luggage cover in the
trunk.


The trunk lid is open.
Close the trunk lid.


The battery voltage is too low.
Start engine and let run while acti-
vating switch.


The hardtop drive system has shut it-
self down. For safety reasons, no more
than five consecutive attempts may be
made to raise or lower the hardtop.
After about ten minutes you may
again attempt to open or close the
retractable hardtop again.
If the indicator lamp in the retractable
hardtop switch flashes when starting off or
while driving and you hear a warning sound
for a maximum of 10 seconds, the retract-
able hardtop is not locked.

Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(page 187) before continuing to
drive.
If the indicator lamp continues to flash af-
ter you have carried out the above actions,
there is a malfunction.

Have the retractable hardtop system
checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the retractable hardtop does not com-
pletely open or close a warning sounds and
the retractable hardtop switch flashes. In
the speedometer display you will see
K
,
in the tachometer display you will see the
message
being lowered!
. After about
15 seconds the roof hydraulics lose pres-
sure.
Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(
page 187) before continuing to drive.