2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 hood release

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Parking brake pedal
45
2
Hood lock release
253
3
Parking brake release
52
4
Door control panel
28
5
Exterior lamp switch
46,
117
6
Headlamp washer button
168
7
Combination switch

Turn signals


Windshield wipers


High beam
47
47
120
Item
Page
8
Cruise control switch

Cruise control


Distronic*
193
196
9
Instrument cluster
22,
124
a
Multifunction steering
wheel
24,
128
b
Lever for voice control
system*, see separate
operating instructions
c
Front Parktronic* warn-
ing indicator
210
d
Digital clock
140
e
Overhead control panel
27
Item
Page
f
Interior storage compart-
ments (locking/unlock-
ing)
216
g
7 indicator lamp
72
h
Glove box
214
j
Center console
25, 26
k
Starter switch
33
l
Horn
m
Steering wheel adjust-
ment lever
Heated steering wheel*
37
220

85 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door


the trunk lid


the hood


a storage compartment in the rear


the glove box


the storage compartment under the
armrest
The alarm will stay on, even if the activat-
ing element (a door, for example) is imme-
diately closed.The alarm system will also be triggered
when


someone attempts to raise the vehicle


unlocking and opening the driver’s
door with the mechanical key


someone opens a door from the inside
if the vehicle was locked from the out-
side with the SmartKey


someone opens the trunk lid with the
emergency release buttonArming the alarm system
The alarm system is armed after locking
the vehicle with the SmartKey or
KEYLESS-GO*. The turn signal lamps flash
three times to indicate that the alarm sys-
tem is activated. The ‹ indicator lamp
in the central locking switch (
page 25)
begins to flash after arming the alarm sys-
tem.
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
20 seconds, an emergency call is initi-
ated automatically by the Tele Aid sys-
tem (
page 225) provided Tele Aid
service was subscribed to and properly
activated, and that necessary cellular
service and GPS coverage are avail-
able.
iIf the turn signal lamps do not flash
three times, a door or the trunk lid may
not be properly closed.
Close the respective element and lock
the vehicle again.

253 Operation
Engine compartment
Engine compartment
Hood
Opening
1Hood release

Pull lever1 downwards.
The hood is unlocked.
2Lever for opening the hood

Push lever2 on the hood upwards.

Pull up on the hood and then release it.
The hood will be automatically held
open at shoulder height by gas-filled
struts.
Warning!
G
Do not pull the release lever while the vehi-
cle is in motion. Otherwise the hood could
be forced open by passing air flow.
!To avoid damage to the windshield wip-
ers or hood, never open the hood if the
wiper arms are folded forward away
from the windshield.
Warning!
G
To help prevent personal injury, stay clear of
moving parts when the hood is open and the
engine is running. Make sure the hood is
properly closed before driving. When closing
the hood, use extreme caution not to catch
hands or fingers.
The radiator fan may continue to run for ap-
proximately 30 seconds or may even restart
after the engine has been turned off. Stay
clear of fan blades.

278 OperationVehicle care
Clean the wiper blade inserts with a
clean cloth and detergent solution.Window cleaning

Turn on the wipers and place them in a
vertical position.
For information how to position the wipers
in a vertical position, see “Replacing wiper
blades” (
page 337).

Use a window cleaning solution on all
glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.
Warning
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch before
cleaning the wiper blade. Otherwise, the
wiper motor might suddenly turn on and
cause injury.!Fold the windshield wiper arms back
onto the windshield before turning the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the
wiper arm back. If released, the force
of the impact from the tensioning
spring could crack the windshield.
!Fold the windshield wiper arms away
from the windshield to a vertical posi-
tion only. They could otherwise dam-
age the hood.Warning
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch before
cleaning the wiper blade. Otherwise, the
wiper motor might suddenly turn on and
cause injury.
!Fold the windshield wiper arm back
onto the windshield before turning the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the
wiper arm back. If released, the force
of the impact from the tensioning
spring could crack the windshield.


338 Practical hintsReplacing wiper bladesInstalling wiper blades
Slide the wiper blade onto the wiper
arm until it locks in place.

Rotate the wiper blade into a position
parallel to the wiper arm.

Fold the wiper arm backward to rest on
the windshield. Make sure you hold on
to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back.
!Never open the hood when the wiper
arms are folded forward.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the
wiper arm back. If released, the force
of the impact from the tensioning
spring could crack the windshield.
Do not allow the wiper arms to contact
the windshield glass without a wiper
blade inserted.
Make sure the wiper blades are proper-
ly installed. Improperly installed wiper
blades may cause windshield damage.
For your convenience, we recommend
that you have this work carried out by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.