2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 flat tire

368 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pressure, FR
Caution
Tire defect
The right front tire is deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers. Observe the traffic
situation around you.

Change the wheel (
page 388).

Vehicles with Tirefit: Temporarily repair tire using
TIREFIT (
page 388) or contact Roadside Assistance.
If tire cannot be temporarily repaired using TIREFIT,
contact Roadside Assistance.

Have the damaged wheel repaired or replaced at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure, FR
Check
tires
The right front tire inflation pres-
sure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire.

Check and adjust the tire inflation pressure.

If necessary, change the wheel (
page 388).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

369 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pressure, RL
Caution
Tire defect
The left rear tire is deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers. Observe the traffic
situation around you.

Change the wheel (
page 388).

Vehicles with Tirefit: Temporarily repair tire using
TIREFIT (
page 388) or contact Roadside Assistance.
If tire cannot be temporarily repaired using TIREFIT,
contact Roadside Assistance.

Have the damaged wheel repaired or replaced at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure, RL
Check
tires
The left rear tire inflation pressure
is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire.

Check and adjust the tire inflation pressure.

If necessary, change the wheel (
page 388).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

370 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pressure, RR
Caution
Tire defect
The right rear tire is deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers. Observe the traffic
situation around you.

Change the wheel (
page 388).

Vehicles with Tirefit: Temporarily repair tire using
TIREFIT (
page 388) or contact Roadside Assistance.
If tire cannot be temporarily repaired using TIREFIT,
contact Roadside Assistance.

Have the damaged wheel repaired or replaced at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure, RR
Check
tires
The right rear tire inflation pres-
sure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire.

Check and adjust the tire inflation pressure.

If necessary, change the wheel (
page 388).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

388 Practical hintsFlat tireYour SL 65 AMG is be equipped with a
TIREFIT kit.Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle as far as possible from
moving traffic on a hard surface.

Turn on the hazard warning flashers.

Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight ahead po-
sition.

Set the parking brake.

Move the gear selector lever to P.
Vehicles with SmartKey:

Turn off the engine (
page 58).

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:

Turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* button on the gear se-
lector lever once (
page 59).

Open the driver’s door (this puts the
starter switch in position 0, same as
with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch). The driver’s door then
can be closed again.

Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Sealing tires with TIREFIT
Small tire punctures, particularly those in
the tread, can be sealed with TIREFIT.
TIREFIT can be used in ambient tempera-
tures down to -4°F (-20°C).
iOpen door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
Warning!
G
Keep TIREFIT away from sparks, open flame
or heat source.
Do not smoke.

389 Practical hints
Flat tire

Foreign objects (e.g. screws or nails)
should not be removed from the tire.

Take TIREFIT, the sticker, and the elec-
tric air pump out of the trunk.

Attach the sticker where it will be easily
seen by the driver on the instrument
cluster.1TIREFIT container
2Flap
3Notch
4Electrical plug
5Air hose
6Flange

Open flap2 on the electric air pump.

Pull plug4 and air hose5 out of the
pump housing.
Warning!
G
TIREFIT is a limited repair device. TIREFIT
cannot be used for cuts or punctures larger
than approx. 0.16 in (4 mm) and tire dam-
age caused by driving with extremely low
tire inflation pressure, or on a flat tire, or a
damaged wheel.
Do not drive the vehicle under such circum-
stances.
Contact your nearest Mercedes-Benz
Center for assistance or call Roadside
Assistance.
Warning!
G
Take care not to allow the contents of
T I R E F I T t o c o m e i n c o n t a c t w i t h h a i r , e y e s o r
clothing. TIREFIT is harmful if inhaled, swal-
lowed or absorbed through the skin - causes
skin, eye and respiratory irritation.
Any contact with eyes or skin should be
flushed immediately with plenty of water.
If clothing comes in contact with TIREFIT,
change clothing as soon as possible.
In case of allergic reaction or rash, consult a
physician immediately.Warning!
G
Keep TIREFIT out of reach of children.
If swallowed, rinse mouth immediately with
plenty of water and drink plenty of water.
Do not induce vomiting!
Consult a physician immediately.
Keep away from open flame or heat source.
iIf sealant has leaked out, let it dry. You
can then peel it off.


390 Practical hintsFlat tire
Screw the air pump’s air hose5 onto
flange6 of the TIREFIT container.

Stick TIREFIT container1 upside
down into notch3 of the electric air
pump.
7Tire valve
8Electric air pump switch
9Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
aFiller hose

Unscrew the valve cap from tire
valve7.

Screw filler hosea onto tire valve7.

Insert electrical plug4 into vehicle
cigarette lighter socket.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1 (
page 36).
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 37) on the gear selec-
tor lever once. Do not depress brake
pedal.

Press I on electric air pump switch8.
The electric air pump should now
switch on and inflate the tire.After 5 minutes, the pressure gauge must
display at least 26 psi (1.8 bar). The air
hose can become hot during inflation.
Please exercise appropriate caution.

If this tire inflation pressure is not at-
tained, turn off the electric air pump,
detach the filler hose from the tire
valve, and drive vehicle back and forth
very slowly approximately 30 ft (10 m).
This serves to better distribute the
TIREFIT sealant material inside the tire.

Unscrew the air pump’s air hose5
from flange6 of the TIREFIT contain-
er.

Screw air hose5onto tire valve7.

Inflate the tire again.
Warning!
G
Observe safety instructions on air pump la-
bel.
!Do not operate the electric air pump
longer than eight minutes without in-
terruption. Otherwise it may overheat.
You may operate the air pump again af-
ter it has cooled off.


391 Practical hints
Flat tire

After attaining a tire inflation pressure
of 26 psi (1.8 bar), press 0 on electric
air pump switch8.
The electric air pump should now be
switched off.

Turn the SmartKey in the ignition to
position0 (
page 36).
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 37) on the gear selec-
tor lever twice. Do not depress brake
pedal.

Detach the electric air pump.
The air hose may still be hot. Please ex-
ercise appropriate caution.

Store the electrical plug and the air
hose behind the flap and place the air
pump back in the trunk.

Close the trunk lid.

Drive away immediately.
The TIREFIT sealant will distribute itself
evenly inside the tire.
Warning!
G
If a tire inflation pressure of 26 psi (1.8 bar)
is not attained, tire is too severely damaged
for TIREFIT to provide a reliable tire repair.
In this case, TIREFIT cannot properly seal
the tire.
Do not drive the vehicle.
Contact the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
or call Roadside Assistance.
Warning!
G
Do not exceed vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km / h). A TIREFIT repair is not
designed to operate at higher speeds.
The sticker must be attached on the instru-
ment cluster where it will be easily seen by
the driver.
Vehicle handling characteristics may
change. Adapt your driving accordingly.


392 Practical hintsFlat tire
After driving vehicle for an initial
10 minutes, check tire inflation pres-
sure using the pressure gauge on the
air pump.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible to obtain a
new TIREFIT kit.

Bring used TIREFIT materials to an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
proper disposal.

Replace your TIREFIT container every
four years. Replacement containers are
available at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If tire inflation pressure has fallen below
20 psi (1.3 bar) do not continue to drive the
vehicle.
Park your vehicle safely away from the road-
way and contact the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or Roadside
Assistance.
If tire inflation pressure is at least
20 psi (1.3 bar), inflate tire to correct pres-
sure (see placard on the driver’s door
B-pillar), and drive vehicle to nearest tire re-
pair facility to have tire repaired or replaced.
Recommended duration of use:
300 miles (500 km) at 50 mph (80 km/h)
with the recommended tire inflation pres-
sure.
Warning!
G
Follow recommend inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires
can result in sudden deflation (blowout) be-
cause they are more likely to become punc-
tured or damaged by road debris, potholes,
etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified vehicle capacity weight (as indicat-
ed by the label on the pillar in the driver’s
door opening). Overloading the tires can
overheat them, possibly causing a blowout.
Warning!
G
Do not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h). A TIREFIT repair is not designed
to operate at higher speeds.
The sticker must be attached on the instru-
ment cluster where it will be easily seen by
the driver.
Vehicle handling characteristics may
change. Adapt your driving accordingly.