2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG Owner's Manual

343 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Tire pres. monitor
reactivated

The tire pressure monitoring system is
using the current pressure values as
the basis for monitoring.
Tire pressure
displayed only
after driving
a few minutes
The tire inflation pressure is being
checked.
Tire pres.
monitor
temporarily
unavailable
The tire inflation pressure monitor is
unable to monitor the tire inflation
pressure due to

the presence of several wheel sen-
sors in the vehicle.


excessive wheel sensor tempera-
tures.


a nearby radio interference source.


unrecognized wheel sensors
mounted.

Remove any extra wheel sensors from the
vehicle
As soon as the causes of the malfunction have
been removed, the tire pressure monitoring
system automatically becomes active again.

344 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Reactivate tire
pressure monitor
after rectifying
pressure
There was a tire inflation pressure
warning message.
The yellow warning lamp for the tire
pressure monitoring system comes on
and you have not reactivated the sys-
tem since the last tire inflation pres-
sure warning message.

Reactivate the tire pressure monitoring
system after correcting the tire inflation
pressure values (
page 293).
Tire pres.
monitor inoperative
Drive to workshop
The tire inflation pressure monitor is
malfunctioning.

Have the tire inflation pressure monitor
checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
A wheel without proper sensor was in-
stalled.

Have the wheel checked.
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.

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.
Visit
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
Visit
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.

347 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
T
Reduced
braking power!
Depress brake
pedal fully!
The SBC brake system is in emer-
gency operation mode. Consider-
ably greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping distance
is increased.
The maximum speed is limited to
55 mph (90 km/h).

Do not drive any further.

Stop the vehicle and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
blocking the wheels with wheel chocks or oth-
er sizable objects.

Call for roadside assistance.
USA only:;Canada only:3
Reduced
brake effect
Start engine
The battery has insufficient voltage
and cannot supply sufficient power
to the SBC brake system.

Start the engine.
The message disappears when sufficient
voltage is available
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon-
sciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated.

348 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
USA only:;Canada only:3
Reduced
brake effect
Visit
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!

349 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
USA only:;Canada only:3
Brake fluid
below min. level
Visit
workshop
There is insufficient brake fluid in
the reservoir.

Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle as soon as
it is safe to do so and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.
Warning
G
Driving with this message displayed can re-
sult in an accident. Have your brake system
checked immediately. Do not add brake flu-
id before checking the brake system. Over-
filling the brake fluid reservoir can result in
spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts and
the brake fluid catching fire. You can be se-
riously burned.

350 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
USA only:;Canada only:3
Service brake
Visit
workshop
There are malfunctions, but the SBC
brake system is operating normally.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
USA only:;Canada only:3
Brakes overheated
Drive carefully
The brake system is overheated due
to an excessive load on the brakes.

Relieve the load on the brake system.

Drive more smoothly and think ahead to avoid
unnecessary braking.

When driving down steep grades, shift into a
lower gear to use the engine’s braking power
(page 166).

Cautiously continue driving so that the air
stream will cool down the brakes.
USA only:;Canada only:!
Release
parking brake
You are driving with the parking
brake set.

Release the parking brake (
page 57).