2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG Owner's Manual

288 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
C
The yellow roll bar warning lamp
comes on or flickers when the
engine is running.
The roll bar is not operational.

For safety reasons, always have the
roll bar raised when driving with the
retractable hardtop open. Attempt to
raise the roll bar manually.

Have the roll bar checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the roll bar warning lamp does not come
on, does not go out after a long time, flickers
or comes on while driving as described
above, then the roll bar system is not oper-
ating properly and may not activate in an ac-
cident. In this case, raise the roll bar
manually (
page 69) before continuing to
drive.

289 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
<
The red seat belt telltale comes
on briefly after starting the en-
gine.
The warning lamp reminds you to fasten seat
belts.

Fasten your seat belt.
1
The red SRS indicator lamp
comes on while driving.
There is a malfunction in the restraint sys-
tems. The airbags or emergency tensioning
device (ETD) could deploy unexpectedly or
fail to activate in an accident.

Drive with added caution to the near-
est authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
In the event that a malfunction of the SRS is
indicated as outlined above, the SRS may
not be operational. For your safety, we
strongly recommend that you visit an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immedi-
ately to have the system checked; otherwise
the SRS may not be activated when needed
in an accident, which could result in serious
or fatal injury, or it might deploy
unexpectedly and unnecessarily which
could also result in an accident and/or
injury to you or to others.

290 Practical hintsWhat to do if …AIRBAG OFF indicator lampProblem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
7
The AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
comes on.
A BabySmart
TM1
child seat is installed on the
front passenger seat. Therefore the passen-
ger front airbag is switched off.
The system is malfunctioning if the
7indicator lamp comes on with no
BabySmart
TM child seat installed on the front
passenger seat.

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
7
The AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
does not come on with a
BabySmart
TM child seat properly
installed on the front passenger
seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Make sure there is nothing between
seat cushion and child seat.

Check installation of the child seat.
If the indicator lamp remains out:

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
Do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint to
transport children on the front passenger
seat until the system has been repaired.
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.

291 Practical hints
What to do if …
Messages in the display
The control system shows warning and
malfunction messages in the multifunction
display.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in
this Operator’s Manual.
High priority messages appear in the mul-
tifunction display in red color.
Certain messages of high priority cannot
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (
page 22) or a
steering wheel button.
Other high priority messages and messag-
es of less immediate priority (regular dis-
play colors) can be cleared from the
multifunction display using the reset but-
ton or one of the steering wheel buttons.
These are then stored in the malfunction
message memory (
page 136).Selecting the malfunction memory menu in
the control system (
page 136) displays
both cleared and uncleared messages.On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may ap-
pear in the display. High priority messages
appear on a red background.
Warning!
G
All categories of messages contain impor-
tant information which should be taken note
of and, where a malfunction is indicated, ad-
dressed as soon as possible at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty, or result in property dam-
age or personal injury.Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative.
Contact your nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
iSwitching on the ignition causes all
lamps as well as the multifunction dis-
play to come on. Make sure they are all
in working order before starting your
journey.

292 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Text messagesLeft display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABC
Drive carefully!
The capability of the ABC system is
restricted. This can impair handling.

Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
The vehicle is losing oil.

Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
Stop,
car too low
The car is parked on an extremely
uneven surface.

Press the vehicle level control button to select
level 2 (
page 209).
ABC is malfunctioning.

Stop and press the ABC button to select a
higher vehicle level (
page 209).

Do not turn steering wheel too far to avoid
damaging the front fenders.

Listen for scraping noises.

Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).

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

293 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABC
Display malfunction
Visit
workshop!
The ABC display or the ABC system
itself is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Visit
workshop!
The capability of the ABC system is
restricted.

Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
ABS
malfunction!
Visit
workshop!
The ABS has detected a malfunc-
tion and has switched off. The ESP
and the BAS are also deactivated.
The SBC brake system is still func-
tioning normally but without the
ABS available.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking, reduc-
ing steering capability.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.
Display malfunction
Visit
workshop!
The ABS or the ABS display is mal-
functioning.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking, reduc-
ing steering capability.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.

294 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Distronic
Currently
unavailable!
See Oper’s Man.
Distronic* is switched off because
the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille is dirty.

Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille (
page 277).

Restart the vehicle.
Visit
workshop!
Distronic* is malfunctioning or the
display is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
ESP
malfunction!
Visit
workshop!
The ESP has detected a malfunction
and switched off. The SBC brake
system is still functioning normally.
The ABS may still be operational.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.
Display malfunction
Visit
workshop!
The ESP or the ESP display is mal-
functioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of accident.

295 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
Unavailable!
See Oper.’s Man.
The ESP is deactivated because the
power supply has been interrupted.
The SBC brake system is still func-
tioning normally.

Synchronize the ESP. With the vehicle station-
ary, turn the steering wheel completely to the
left and then to the right.
If the ESP message does not go out:

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of accident.
!When sychronizing the ESP, make sure
you can turn the steering wheel in both
directions as far as it will go without the
wheels hitting any objects, e.g. a road
curb.