2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 Hardtop

236 Controls in detailUseful featuresLoad assist in the trunk
To facilitate trunk loading after opening the
lid, use the load assist feature to raise the
retracted hardtop from its storage position
in the trunk.
1Retracted hardtop
2Luggage cover
3Load assist buttonRaising the hardtop
The hardtop can only be raised when the
luggage cover is closed and the trunk lid is
completely opened.

Press button3.
The hardtop rises a short distance.
Button3 comes on brightly. You can
now open the luggage cover.Lowering the hardtop
The hardtop can only be lowered when the
luggage cover is closed and the trunk lid is
completely opened.

Close the luggage cover.

Press button3.
The hardtop lowers. Button3 is dimly
lit.
Warning!
G
To prevent injuries, make sure that there is
no possibility of body parts getting caught in
moving parts. If potential danger exists,
press the switch again. This will immediately
stop the movement of the hardtop.
!Only close the trunk if the roof is com-
pletely lowered. Otherwise you could
damage the hardtop.
If you begin to close the trunk lid before
the hardtop is completely lowered,
button3 will flash and a warning will
sound.

328 OperationVehicle care
Fold the wiper arms forward until they
snap into place.

Clean the wiper blade inserts with a
clean cloth and detergent solution.

Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild win-
dow cleaning solution on all outside
and inside glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.Rear window cleaning
Clean the rear window with the hardtop
fully raised and closed.

Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild win-
dow cleaning solution on all outside
and inside 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 windshield
and/or 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 or
pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*).
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.!To clean the window interior, do not
use a dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or
cleaners containing solvents. Do not
touch the inside of the front, rear or
side windows with hard objects such as
an ice scraper or ring. Doing so may
damage the windows.
Warning!
G
Do not clean the rear window with the hard-
top in a position other than the fully raised
and closed position. Otherwise, the hardtop
may move unexpectedly which may result in
personal injury to you or others.


339 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
C
The yellow roll bar warning lamp
comes on or flickers when the
engine is running.
The roll bar is not operational.
For safety reasons, always have the roll
bar raised when driving with the retract-
able hardtop open.
Attempt to raise the roll bar manually
(page 75).

Have the roll bar checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the roll bar warning lamp does not come
on, does not go out after a long time, flickers
or comes on while driving as described
above, then the roll bar system is not oper-
ating properly and may not activate in an
accident. In this case, raise the roll bar man-
ually (
page 75) before continuing to drive.

371 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
A
Reserve fuel
The fuel level has dropped below
the reserve mark.

Refuel at the next gas station (
page 269).
Check
fuel cap
See Oper. Manual
A loss of pressure has been detect-
ed in the fuel system. The fuel cap
may not be closed properly or the
fuel system may be leaky.

Check the fuel cap (
page 269).
If it is not closed properly:

Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:

Have the fuel system checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
K
being lowered
The retractable hardtop is not com-
pletely opened or closed. The roof
hydraulics will start to lose pres-
sure.

Make sure the retractable hardtop is com-
pletely opened or closed (
page 195).
Lock
retractable roof
The retractable hardtop is not
locked properly.

Push or pull on the retractable hardtop switch
until the indicator lamp in the switch goes out
and the retractable hardtop is completely
open or closed (
page 195).
locked
in driving mode
You have attempted to open the re-
tractable hardtop while driving.

Stop the vehicle in a safe location and try to
open the hardtop again.
Visit
workshop
The retractable hardtop is malfunc-
tioning.

Have the retractable hardtop checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

382 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Ê
Close
trunk lid
This message will appear whenever
the trunk lid is open.

Close the trunk lid.
M
Close
trunk partition
You are trying to open or close the
retractable hardtop even though
the luggage cover in the trunk is not
pulled out.

Pull out the luggage cover and secure it
(page 196).
W
Washer fluid
Check level
The fluid level has dropped to about 1/3 of total reservoir capacity.

Add washer fluid (
page 280).
Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may ignite when if it comes into contact with
hot engine parts. You could be seriously
burned.

388 Practical hintsLocking/unlocking in an emergency1Locking
Insert the mechanical key into the driv-
er’s door lock until it stops.

Turn the mechanical key clockwise to
position1.
The driver’s door is locked.
Lowering the load assist manually
If the load assist feature does not fully low-
er the retractable hardtop into the trunk
compartment and you are unable to close
the trunk lid, follow the instructions below.
1Hex-socket wrench
2Locking screw
Remove the trunk floor from the trunk.

Lift up the lid located at the lower left
side of the trunk.

Have a second person lift and hold the
retracted hardtop.

Using the hex-socket wrench provided
in the vehicle tool kit, carefully turn the
locking screw 2 approximately one
quarter of a turn.

Hook luggage cover into holders
(page 196).

Let go of the hardtop.
It should gradually lower into the trunk.

When top is completely lowered, return
locking screw 2 to its original posi-
tion.

Close the lid.

Replace the trunk floor.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.!Do not overtighten the screw.


410 Practical hintsFlat tire
Detach the electric air pump.

Stow the electrical plug and the air
hose behind the flap and place the air
pump back in the trunk.Lowering the vehicle

Lower vehicle by turning crank coun-
terclockwise until the full weight of the
vehicle is resting on the ground.

Pull the jack out of the jack support
tube.
1 - 5 Wheel bolts

Tighten the five wheel bolts evenly, fol-
lowing the diagonal sequence illustrat-
ed (1 to 5), until all bolts are tight.
Observe a tightening torque of 96 lb-ft
(130 Nm).
Warning!
G
Follow recommend inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires
can result in sudden deflation (blowout) be-
cause they are more likely to become punc-
tured or damaged by road debris, potholes,
etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.
iThe flat tire may be transported in the
trunk when the retractable hardtop is
raised. Use the protective sheet provid-
ed with the spare wheel. Do not acti-
vate the tire inflation pressure monitor
until the deflated tire has been re-
moved from the vehicle.


415 Practical hints
Batteries
Disconnecting the batteries
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to position P.

Close the retractable hardtop
(page 195).

Turn off the engine (
page 60).

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
or

Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Open the
driver’s door.
Warning!
G
The brake system requires electrical power
to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. The same applies if
battery is disconnected. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes are only applied to the
front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased! Adjust your driving style according-
ly. For more information, see
“Electro-hydraulic brake system”
(page 88).
Warning!
G
With a disconnected battery

you will no longer be able to turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch and
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever will
have no effect


the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP
!Always disconnect the batteries in the
order described below, even if you only
want to charge the starter battery, for
example. Otherwise the vehicle’s
electronics can be damaged.