2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR CLASS brake

301 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solutions
<
The red Airbrake warning
lamp comes on while driving
and you hear a warning
sound.
The Airbrake or the central locking system
is malfunctioning.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immeditaly.
>
The red gearshift indicator
lamp comes on while you are
driving.
You are driving with the manual shift pro-
gram. The engine is in the overrevving
range.

Shift to the next higher gear. Otherwise the
fuel supply will be interrupted to prevent the
engine from overrevving.
A
The yellow reserve fuel warn-
ing lamp lights up while you
are driving.
The fuel level has fallen into the reserve
range.

Refuel at the nearest gas station
(page 240).
=
The engine oil temperature
symbol comes on in the
tachometer while you are
driving.
The engine oil has not yet reached its
operating temperature.

Warm up the engine and do not drive at full
power until the operating temperature has
been reached.
The symbol will go out as soon as the engine
oil has reached its operating temperature.

306 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Text messagesLeft display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABS
malfunction!
Visit
workshop!
The ABS has detected a mal-
function and has switched off.
The ESP and the BAS are also
deactivated.
The SBC brake system is still
functioning normally but with-
out the ABS available.

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

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident.
Display malfunc-
tion
Visit
workshop!
The ABS or the ABS display is
malfunctioning.

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

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident.

307 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
malfunction!
Visit
workshop!
The ESP has detected a mal-
function and switched off. The
SBC brake system is still func-
tioning normally. The ABS may
still be operational.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident.
Unavailable!
See Oper.'s Man.
The ESP is deactivated because
the power supply has been in-
terrupted. The SBC brake sys-
tem is still functioning
normally.

Synchronize the ESP. With the vehicle stationary, turn
the steering wheel completely to the left and then to the
right.
Ensure that you can turn the steering wheel to the stop
without the wheels touching an object (e.g. the road
curb).
If the ESP message does not go out:

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident.

310 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Electric
consumers
offline!
The consumer battery has in-
sufficient voltage and can no
longer supply the convenience
functions.
The electrical consumers will come back online as soon as
on-board voltage is sufficient.
Battery/
Alternator
Stop vehicle!
The battery or the alternator is
malfunctioning.
The SBC brake system requires
electrical energy and therefore
has only limited operation.
Considerably greater brake
pedal force is required and the
stopping distance is increased.

Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. Adjust driv-
ing to be consistent with reduced braking responsive-
ness.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediate-
ly.

Observe the additional messages in the instrument clus-
ter.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident.

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.

312 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
T
Brake malfunction!
Stop vehicle!
The SBC brake system is in
emergency operation mode.
Considerably 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 immediately.

Significantly greater force must be applied to the brake
pedal.

Call for Roadside Assistance.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident.

313 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
Reduced
brake effect
Visit
workshop!
The SBC brake system is
in emergency operation
mode. Considerable
brake pedal force is re-
quired and the stopping
distance is increased.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immedi-
ately. Adjust driving to be consistent with reduced
braking responsiveness.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of
an accident.
Increased
braking distance
Visit
workshop!
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 357).
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. Stopping distance is increased!

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.