2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR CLASS check engine

300 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
D
The red coolant warning lamp
comes on when the engine is
running.
There is insufficient coolant in the reservoir.

Immediately add coolant to prevent
engine from overheating
(page 249).
If this warning lamp comes on frequently,
there is a leak in the cooling system.

Have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If the coolant level is correct, the electric
radiator fan may be broken.

If the coolant temperature is below
248°F (120°C), you can continue
driving to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Avoid high engine loads (e.g. driving
uphill) and stop-and-go driving.
D
The red coolant warning lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning sound.
The coolant temperature has exceeded
248°F (120°C).

Stop as soon as possible and allow
the engine and coolant to cool down.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly overheat-
ed can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns and can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.

302 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
<
The red seat belt telltale comes
on briefly after starting the
engine.
The telltale reminds you and your passenger
to fasten your seat belts.

Fasten your seat belt.
The telltale goes out.
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
nearest 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.

311 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Visit
workshop!
The battery is no longer charg-
ing. Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning


broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake
system requires electrical ener-
gy and may be operating with
restricted capability. Consider-
ably greater brake pedal force
is required and the stopping
distance is increased.

Stop your vehicle safely 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 authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Adjust driving to be consis-
tent with reduced braking responsiveness.

Observe the additional messages in the instrument
cluster.
There is a malfunction in the
electronic system.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.

314 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
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 immediately.
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
fluid before checking the brake system.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can re-
sult in spilling brake fluid on hot engine
parts and the brake fluid catching fire. You
can be seriously burned.

319 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
B
Coolant
Check level!
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 249).

If you have to add coolant frequently, have the cooling
system checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately.
Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You can be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning. Extended driving with
the message and symbol displayed
may cause serious engine damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount
of coolant in the cooling system. The
engine will overheat causing major
engine damage.

321 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off!
The poly-V-belt could be bro-
ken.

Stop immediately and check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:

Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the engine will over-
heat due to an inoperative water pump which may result
in damage to the engine. Notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:

Do not continue to drive with this message displayed.
Doing so could result in serious engine damage that is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

Observe the coolant temperature gauge in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 29).

Drive immediately to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Coolant
Visit
workshop!
The cooling fan for the coolant
is malfunctioning.

Observe the coolant temperature gauge in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 29).

Have the fan replaced immediately.

380 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Coolants
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion/antifreeze, which pro-
vides:

corrosion protection


freeze protection


boiling protection (by increasing the
boiling point)
The cooling system was filled at the factory
with a coolant providing freeze protection
to approximately -22°F (-30°C) and corro-
sion protection.
If the antifreeze mixture is effective to
-22°F (-30°C), the boiling point of the cool-
ant in the pressurized cooling system is
reached at approximately 266°F (130°C).
The coolant solution must be used year
round to provide the necessary corrosion
protection and increase in the boil-over
protection. Refer to Service Booklet for re-
placement interval.Coolant system design and coolant used
determine the replacement interval. The
replacement interval published in the
Service Booklet is only applicable if
MB 325.0 anticorrosion/antifreeze solu-
tion or other Mercedes-Benz approved
products of equal specification (see Facto-
ry Approved Service Products pamphlet)
are used to renew the coolant concentra-
tion or bring it back up to the proper level.
To provide important corrosion protection,
the solution must be at least 45% anticor-
rosion/antifreeze (equivalent to freeze
protection to approximately
- 22°F [-30°C]). If you use a solution that is
more than 55% anticorrosion/antifreeze
(freeze protection to approximately
- 49°F [-45°C]), the engine temperature
will increase due to the lower heat transfer
capability of the solution. Therefore, do not
use more than this amount of anticorro-
sion/antifreeze.If the coolant level is low, water and
MB 325.0 anticorrosion/antifreeze should
be used to bring it up to the proper level
(have cooling system checked for signs of
leakage). Please make sure the mixture is
in accordance with label instructions.
The water in the cooling system must meet
minimum requirements, which are usually
satisfied by normal drinking water. If you
are not sure about the water quality, con-
sult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

381 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
Your vehicle contains a number of alumi-
num parts. The use of aluminum compo-
nents in motor vehicle engines
necessitates that anticorrosion/antifreeze
coolant used in such engines be specifical-
ly formulated to protect the aluminum parts. (Failure to use such anticorro-
sion/antifreeze coolant will result in a sig-
nificantly shortened service life.)
Therefore, the following product is strongly
recommended for use in your vehicle:
Mercedes-Benz 325.0 anticorrosion/anti-
freeze agent.Before the start of the winter season (or
once a year in hot southern regions), you
should have the anticorrosion/antifreeze
concentration checked. The coolant is also
regularly checked each time you bring your
vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for service.
Anticorrosion/antifreeze quantity
Approximately freeze protection– 35°F (– 37°C)
– 49°F (– 45°C)
Main cooling system
5.2 US qt (5.0 l)
5.8 US qt (5.5 l)
Low temperature cooling system
2.6 US qt (2.5 l)
2.9 US qt (2.75 l)