2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 visit workshop

238 Controls in detailUseful featuresShortly after the completion of your Tele
Aid acquaintance call, you will receive a
user ID and password. By visiting
www.mbusa.com and selecting “Tele Aid”
(USA only), you will have access to account
information, remote door unlock, and
more.System self-check
Initially, after switching on the ignition,
malfunctions are detected and indicated
(the indicator lamps in the SOS button, the
Roadside Assistance button• and the
Information button¡ stay on longer
than ten seconds or do not come on). The
message
TeleAid malfunction – Visit workshop appears for approximately ten seconds in
the multifunction display.
iThe SOS button is located above the in-
terior rear view mirror.
The Roadside Assistance button•
and the Information button¡ are
located below the center armrest cov-
er.!The Tele Aid system utilizes the cellular
network for communication and the
GPS (Global Positioning System) satel-
lites for vehicle location. If either of
these signals are unavailable, the Tele
Aid system may not function and if this
occurs, assistance must be summoned
by other means.
Warning!
G
If the indicator lamps in the SOS button, in
the Roadside Assistance button, and/or in
the Information button do not come on dur-
ing the system self-check, or if any of these
indicators remain illuminated continuously
in red and/or the message
TeleAid
malfunction – Visit workshop
is dis-
played in the multifunction display after the
system self-check, a malfunction in the sys-
tem has been detected.
If a malfunction is indicated as outlined
above, the system may not operate as ex-
pected. Have the system checked at the
nearest Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible

338 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABC
Display malfunction
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The ABC display or the ABC system it-
self is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
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The capability of the ABC system is re-
stricted.

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

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
ABS
Malfunction!
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workshop!
The ABS has detected a malfunction
and has switched off.
The ESP and the BAS are also deacti-
vated.
The SBC brake system is still function-
ing normally but without the ABS avail-
able.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing 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.

339 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABS
Display malfunction
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workshop!
The ABS or the ABS display is malfunc-
tioning.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing 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.
Cruise control
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Cruise control or Distronic* is mal-
functioning.

Have the cruise control or Distronic*
checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

340 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Distronic
Currently
unavailable.
See Oper. Manual
Distronic* is switched off because

the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille is dirty


functionality is impaired by heavy
rain or thick fog

Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille (
page 318).

Restart the vehicle.
or
Distronic* becomes operational again with-
out the engine being started again when the
conditions that had impaired the functionality
no longer prevail, e.g. lessening rain or slush
or snow has fallen off the Distronic* cover
while driving. You can then operate Distronic*
as usual again.
Drive to
workshop
Distronic* is malfunctioning or the dis-
play is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
ESP
Malfunction
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The ESP has detected a malfunction
and switched off.
The ABS may not be operational.
The SBC brake system is still function-
ing normally but without the ESP avail-
able.

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.

341 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
Display malfunction
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workshop
The ESP or the ESP display is malfunc-
tioning.

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.
Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
The ESP is deactivated because the
power supply has been interrupted.
The SBC brake system is still function-
ing normally but without the ESP avail-
able.

Synchronize the ESP. With the vehicle
stationary, turn the steering wheel com-
pletely 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 an accident.
!When sychronizing the ESP, make sure
you can turn the steering wheel in both
d i r e c t i o n s a s f a r a s i t w i l l g o w i t h o u t t h e
wheels hitting any objects, e.g. a road
curb.

345 Practical hints
What to do if …
Symbol messagesLeft display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicle
The battery is malfunctioning.
The SBC brake system requires
electrical energy and therefore has
only limited operation. Consider-
ably greater brake pedal force is re-
quired and the stopping distance is
increased.

Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
Adjust driving to be consistent with reduced
braking responsiveness.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
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workshop!
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning


broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake system
requires electrical energy and may
be operating with restricted capa-
bility. Considerably greater brake
pedal force is required and the stop-
ping distance is increased.

Stop immediately and check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise, the
engine will overheat due to an inoperative
water pump which may result in damage
to the engine. Notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is in order:

Drive immediately to the nearest autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center. Adjust driv-
ing to be consistent with reduced braking
responsiveness.

346 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Visit
workshop!
There is a malfunction in the elec-
tronic system.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
#
Electric
consumers
offline!
The consumer battery has insuffi-
cient voltage and can no longer sup-
ply the convenience functions such
as seat ventilation*.
The electrical consumers will come back online
as soon as on-board voltage is sufficient.
2
Brake
wear
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workshop
The brake pads have reached their
wear limit.

Have the brake pads replaced as soon as pos-
sible.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Maintenance
Booklet.

348 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
USA only:;Canada only:3
Reduced
brake effect
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workshop
The SBC brake system is in emer-
gency operation mode. Consider-
able brake pedal force is required
and the stopping distance is in-
creased.

Continue driving with added caution.

Adjust driving to be consistent with reduced
braking responsiveness.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center im-
mediately. Adjust driving to be consistent
with reduced braking responsiveness.
Warning!
G
Driving while these messages are displayed
can result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately.
If there is a malfunction in the SBC brake
system, we recommend that the vehicle be
transported with all wheels off the ground
using flatbed or appropriate wheel lift/dolly
equipment.
A tow bar must be used if circumstances do
not permit the use of the recommended
towing methods and the vehicle requires
towing with all four wheels on the ground.
Towing the vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is only permissible for distances
up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). For more infor-
mation, see “Towing the vehicle”
(page 408).
If the SBC brake system enters its emergen-
cy operation mode, the driver must apply
significantly greater brake pedal pressure
and depress the pedal much further than
normal to obtain braking effect.
If necessary, apply full pressure to the brake
pedal. Brakes are only applied to the front
wheels. Stopping distance is increased!