2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 bulb

Contents
Practical hints................................. 281
What to do if … .................................. 282
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 282
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp ......... 290
Messages in the display ............... 291
Where will I find ...? ........................... 323
First aid kit ................................... 323
Vehicle tool kit, jack, and spare
wheel ........................................... 323
Locking/unlocking in an emergency . 325
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 325
Locking the vehicle ...................... 327
Lowering the load assist manually 327
Replacing batteries in the
SmartKey/SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* .............................. 328
Replacing bulbs ................................. 331
Bulbs ............................................ 331
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 334
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps..... 335Replacing wiper blades....................... 337
Removing wiper blades ................. 337
Installing wiper blades .................. 338
Flat tire ............................................... 339
Preparing the vehicle .................... 339
Sealing tires with TIREFIT kit 1...... 340
Sealing tires with TIREFIT kit 2...... 345
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 350
Batteries ............................................. 358
Disconnecting the batteries .......... 360
Removing the batteries ................. 361
Charging and reinstalling
batteries ....................................... 361
Reconnecting the batteries ........... 361
Jump starting ...................................... 363
Towing the vehicle .............................. 365
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 368
Fuses .................................................. 369
Main fuse box ............................... 369
Technical data.................................. 371
Spare parts service ............................ 372
Warranty coverage ............................. 373
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 373
Identification labels ............................ 374
Layout of poly-V-belt drive.................. 375
SL 500 .......................................... 375
SL 55 AMG ................................... 375
SL 600 .......................................... 375
Engine ................................................ 376
Rims and tires .................................... 378
Same size tires ............................. 379
Mixed size tires ............................. 380
Spare wheel .................................. 382
Electrical system ................................ 383
Main dimensions ................................ 384
Weights .............................................. 385

252 OperationAt the gas stationCheck regularly and before a long trip
1Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system
For information on refilling the reser-
voir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 261).
2Brake fluid
For information on brake fluid, see “Fu-
els, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(page 386).3Coolant level
For information on coolant, see “Cool-
ant” (
page 258).
Brake fluidEngine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Checking engine oil level with the control
system” (
page 255).
Opening hood see (
page 253).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For more
information, see “Replacing bulbs”
(
page 331).
Exterior lamp switch see “Switching on
headlamps” (
page 46).
Tire inflation pressure
For information on tire inflation pressure,
see “Checking tire inflation pressure”
(
page 263).
!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 immediately. Noti-
fy an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately. Do not add brake fluid as
this will not solve the problem. For
more information, see the “Practical
hints” section (
page 301).

281 Practical hints
What to do if …
Where will I find ...?
Locking/unlocking in an emergency
Replacing bulbs
Replacing wiper blades
Flat tire
Batteries
Jump starting
Towing the vehicle
Fuses

282 Practical hintsWhat to do if …
What to do if …Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If a bulb in the instrument cluster fails to
come on during the bulb self-check when the ignition is switched on, have it checked
and replaced if necessary.Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
v
The yellow ABS/ESP warning
lamp comes on while driving.
The ESP is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.

Switch the ESP back on (
page 80).
If the ESP cannot be switched back on,
have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
v
The yellow ABS/ESP warning
lamp flashes while driving.
The ESP, ABS, or traction control has come
into operation because of detected traction
loss in at least one tire.
Distronic* is deactivated.

When driving off, apply as little throt-
tle as possible.

While driving, ease up on the acceler-
ator.

Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.

Do not deactivate the ESP.
Exceptions: (
page 79).
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.

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.

313 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
License plate
lamp, L
The left license plate lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
License plate
lamp, R
The right license plate lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Light sensor
Drive to
workshop!
The light sensor is malfunctioning.
The headlamps switch on automati-
cally.

In the control system, set lamp operation to
manual (
page 142).

Switch on headlamps using the exterior lamp
switch.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Marker lamp
Front left
The front left side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Marker lamp
Front right
The front right side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Marker lamp
Rear left
The rear left side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Marker lamp
Rear right
The rear right side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.

314 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Parking lamp
Front left
Back-up
lamp on!
The left front parking lamp is mal-
functioning. A backup bulb has
been brought into use.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Parking lamp
Front right
Back-up
lamp on!
The right front parking lamp is mal-
functioning. A backup bulb has
been brought into use.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Reverse lamp
Left
The left backup lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Reverse lamp
Right
The right backup lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Right turn signal
Mirror
The right turn signal in the side mir-
ror is malfunctioning. This message
will only appear if all light emitting
diodes have stopped working.

Have the LEDs replaced as soon as possible.
Tail lamp
Left
Back-up
lamp on!
The left tail lamp is malfunctioning.
A backup bulb has been brought
into use.

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