2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG windshield wipers

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside the
USA or Canada............................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
Vehicle data recording......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices........................... 19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 28
Center console ..................................... 29
Upper part ...................................... 29
Lower part ...................................... 30
Overhead control panel ........................ 31
Door control panel................................ 32
Getting started................................... 33
Unlocking ............................................. 34
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 34
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*......... 35
Starter switch positions .................. 36
Adjusting .............................................. 39
Seats .............................................. 39
Steering wheel ................................ 42
Mirrors ............................................ 43
Driving .................................................. 45
Fastening the seat belts ................. 45
Starting the engine ......................... 48
Switching on headlamps ................. 51
Turn signals .................................... 52
Windshield wipers ........................... 53
Problems while driving.................... 55
Parking and locking .............................. 56
Parking brake ................................. 57
Switching off headlamps................. 57
Turning off the engine ..................... 58
Emergency engine shut-down ......... 60

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Parking brake pedal
50
2
Hood lock release
270
3
Parking brake release
57
4
Door control panel
32
5
Exterior lamp switch
51,
123
6
Headlamp washer button
178
7
Combination switch

Turn signals


Windshield wipers


High beam
52
53
128
Item
Page
8
Steering wheel gearshift
control
(SL55AMG,SL65AMG,
and vehicles with
Sport Package* only)
172
9
Cruise control switch

Cruise control


Distronic*
205
208
a
Instrument cluster
24,
131
b
Multifunction steering
wheel
28,
135
c
Lever for voice control
system*, see separate
operating instructions
d
Front Parktronic* warn-
ing indicator
225
Item
Page
e
Digital clock
149
f
Overhead control panel
31
g
Interior storage compart-
ments (locking/unlock-
ing)
230
h
7 indicator lamp
76
j
Glove box
228
k
Center console
29, 30
l
Starter switch
38
m
Horn
n
Steering wheel adjust-
ment lever
Heated steering wheel*
42
234

53 Getting started
Driving
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Single wipe
2Switching on windshield wipers
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).Switching on windshield wipers

Turn the combination switch to the de-
sired position depending on the inten-
sity of the rain.
0Windshield wipers off
IIntermittent wiping
IINormal wiper speed
IIIFast wiper speed
Intermittent wiping

Set the combination switch to
positionI.
iThe intermittent wiping interval is de-
pendent on the wetness of the wind-
shield. After the initial wipe, pauses
between wipes are controlled by the
rain sensor.
Wiping will not occur with a door open.
!Do not leave windshield wipers in inter-
mittent setting when vehicle is taken to
an automatic car wash or during wind-
shield cleaning. Wipers will operate in
the presence of water sprayed on the
windshield, and wipers may be dam-
aged as a result.
The combination switch should not be
left in intermittent setting as the wipers
will wipe the windshield once every
time the engine is started. Dust that ac-
cumulates on the windshield might
scratch the glass and/or damage the
wiper blades when wiping occurs on a
dry windshield.iIntermittent wiping is suspended when
the vehicle is at a standstill and a door
is opened.

54 Getting startedDrivingSingle wipe
Press the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow1.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 past the resistance
point.
The windshield wipers operate with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 278).
!If anything blocks the windshield
wipers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch
them off immediately.

For safety reasons,

turn off the engine by turning
the SmartKey to position 0 and
withdraw the SmartKey from
the starter switch
or


turn off the engine by pressing
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button and open the driver’s
door (with the driver’s door
open, the starter switch is in po-
sition 0, same as with the
SmartKey removed from the
starter switch)
before attempting to remove any
blockage.


Remove blockage.


Turn the windshield wipers on
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at
all in switch positionI,


set the combination switch to the
next higher wiper speed


have the windshield wipers
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center

178 Controls in detailGood visibilityFor information on windshield wiper opera-
tion, see “Windshield wipers” (
page 53).
Headlamp cleaning system
The switch is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer button
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).

Press button1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.
For information on filling up the washer flu-
id reservoir, see “Windshield washer sys-
tem and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 278).
Rear window defroster
For information, see “Rear window defrost-
er” (
page 189).
Rear view mirrors
For information on setting the rear view
mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 43).
Auto-dimming rear view mirror
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when


the ignition is switched on
and


incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view mir-
ror.
The interior rear view mirror will not react if


reverse gear is engaged


the interior lighting is switched on

186 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlAdjusting air distribution
Use air distribution controls2 and6
(page 183) to separately adjust the air
distribution on each side of the passenger
compartment. The following symbols are
found on the controls:
Adjusting manually

Press the control knob.
The U light on the control knob
goes out. The air distribution can be ad-
justed manually.Adjusting automatically

Press the control knob.
The U light on the control knob
comes on. The air distribution is adjust-
ed automatically.
Windshield fogged on the outside

Switch the windshield wipers on.

Turn the air distribution control to h
or j.
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
If the left and right air distribution controls
as well as the airflow volume control are
set to U and there is a high need for
cooling, MAXCOOL is activated.
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior (when retractable
hardtop is closed).
Symbol
Function
h
Directs air through the cen-
ter air vents
j
Directs air to the windows
V
Directs air into the entire
vehicle interior
k
Directs air to the footwells

318 OperationVehicle careCleaning the Distronic* system sensor
cover
1Distronic* system sensor cover
Use a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Sham-
poo, with plenty of water to clean sen-
sor cover1.
To prevent scratches, never apply strong
force and use only a soft, non-scratchy
cloth when cleaning the sensor cover. Do
not attempt to wipe dirty sensors with a
dry cloth or sponge.Cleaning the Parktronic system*
sensors
1Parktronic system* sensors in front
bumper

Clean sensors 1 on the bumpers us-
ing a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Sham-
poo, with plenty of water and a soft,
non-scratchy cloth.
When using a steam cleaner or power
washer, aim nozzle only briefly from a min-
imum distance of 12 in (30 cm) at
sensors1.Wiper blades

Turn on the wipers and place them in a
vertical position.
For information on how to position the wip-
ers in a vertical position, see “Replacing
wiper blades” (
page 386).
!Do not apply strong pressure to the
sensor covers. Applying strong pres-
sure may damage the sensor covers.!To prevent scratches, never apply
strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratchy cloth when cleaning the
sensors. Do not attempt to wipe dirty
sensors with a dry cloth or sponge.!The windshield wipers must be in a ver-
tical position before folding them away
from the windshield. They could other-
wise damage the hood.

319 Operation
Vehicle 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 386).

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 (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status0) before cleaning the wiper blades.
Otherwise the wiper motor could 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.
!The windshield wipers must be in a ver-
tical position before folding them away
from the windshield. They could other-
wise damage the hood.Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status0) before cleaning the windshield.
Otherwise the wiper motor could 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.