2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 page 1

176 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionDownshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction.
or

Briefly press button1 on the left side
of the steering wheel (
page 172).
The transmission shifts to the next
lower gear.Kickdown
Using the kickdown when driving in the
MANUAL program mode is not possible.
Deactivating manual shift program

Press the program mode selector
switch (
page 174) repeatedly
until
Cor
S appears in the right
multifunction display.
or

Restart the engine.
The transmission will go to the
automatic program mode (C orS).
The MANUAL program mode is not
stored.Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode only second gear and reverse gear
can be activated.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.

Move gear selector lever toP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.

Restart the engine.

Move gear selector lever to positionD
(for second gear) orR.

Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.iWhen you brake or stop, the transmis-
sion shifts down to a gear from which
you can easily accelerate or take off.

177 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Good visibility
For information on windshield wiper opera-
tion, see “Windshield wipers” (
page 54).
Headlamp cleaning system
The button 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 280).
Rear view mirrors
For information on setting the rear view
mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 44).
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
iThe headlamps will automatically be
cleaned when you have

switched on the headlamps
and


operated the windshield wipers
with windshield washer fluid
fifteen times
When you switch off the ignition, the
counter resets.

179 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the defrost-
er as soon as the rear window is clear. The
defroster is automatically deactivated af-
ter approximately 6 to 17 minutes of oper-
ation depending on the outside
temperature.Activating

Switch on the ignition (
page 36).

Press button F on the automatic cli-
mate control panel (
page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating

Press button F (
page 181) once
more.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
iIf sunlight enters through a side win-
dow, close mirror cover 2 (if open),
and disengage sun visor from
mounting1 and pivot sun visor to the
side.
If the sun visor is disengaged from
mounting 1, mirror lamp3 will
switch off.
Warning!
G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.
!The rear window defroster cannot be
switched on when the retractable hard-
top is open. The indicator lamp will
start flashing if the hardtop is open.

Close the retractable hardtop.
The rear window defroster can then be
switched on.
!If the rear window defroster switches
off too soon and the indicator lamp
starts flashing, too many electrical con-
sumers are operating simultaneously
and there is insufficient voltage in the
battery. The system responds automat-
ically by switching the rear window de-
froster off.
As soon as the battery has sufficient
voltage, the rear window defroster au-
tomatically switches back on automati-
cally.

182 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlThe automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can
operate the climate control system in ei-
ther the automatic or manual mode. The
system cools or heats the interior depend-
ing on the selected interior temperature
and the current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/Cmode is deactivated
(
page 189).
Warning!
G
When operating the automatic climate con-
trol, the air that enters the passenger com-
partment through the air vents can be very
hot or very cold (depending on the set tem-
perature). This may cause burns or frostbite
on unprotected skin in the immediate area
of the air vents. Always keep sufficient dis-
tance between unprotected parts of the
body and the air vents. If necessary, use the
air distribution control (
page 181) to di-
rect the air to air vents in the vehicle interior
that are not in the immediate area of unpro-
tected skin.
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollu-
tion) may require replacement of the
filter before its scheduled interval.
A clogged filter will reduce the air vol-
ume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off. The
climate control will then adjust the
interior temperature to the set value
much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
When the retractable hardtop is closed,
do not obstruct air flow by placing ob-
jects on the air flow-through exhaust
slots below the rear window.

183 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Deactivating the automatic climate control system
Deactivating
Press button ´ (
page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Reactivating

Press button ´ (
page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The previous settings are in effect
again.
or

Turn one of the temperature controls
on the automatic climate control panel
(page 181).
The indicator lamp on button ´
goes out.Operating the climate control system
in automatic mode
Air distribution and air volume can be ad-
justed automatically by the automatic cli-
mate control system. You can also adjust
the settings for air distribution and air vol-
ume manually.
iWhen the automatic climate control
system is switched off, the outside air
supply and circulation are also
switched off. Only choose this setting
when the retractable hardtop is open.
Otherwise the windows could fog up.
iWhen operating the climate control
system in automatic mode, you will
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehu-
midify is switched on. This function can
be switched off if necessary
(page 181).

184 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlAir distribution in automatic mode
You can separately adjust the air distribu-
tion for each side of the passenger com-
partment.
Activating
Press control button2 or 6
(page 181).
The control button is engaged. The
U symbol on the control button
comes on. Air distribution for the re-
spective side of the passenger com-
partment is adjusted automatically.
Deactivating

Press control button 2 or 6
(page 181) once more.
The control button sticks up slightly.
The U symbol on the control button
goes out. Automatic air distribution for
the respective side of the passenger
compartment is switched off. Adjust
the air distribution manually
(page 185).Air volume in automatic mode
The air volume settings are the same for
the entire passenger compartment.
Activating

Press control button a (
page 181).
The control button is engaged. The
U symbol on the control button
comes on.
Deactivating

Press control button a (
page 181)
again.
The control button sticks up slightly.
The U symbol on the control button
goes out. Adjust the air volume manu-
ally (
page 186).
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls1 and7
(page 181) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The automatic climate control will adjust
to the set temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing

Turn temperature control1 and/or
7 (
page 181) slightly clockwise.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.
Decreasing

Turn temperature control1 and/or
7 (
page 181) slightly counterclock-
wise.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.

185 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Adjusting air distribution
Use air distribution controls2 and6
(page 181) to separately adjust the air
distribution on each side of the passenger
compartment. The following symbols are
found on the controls:

Press control button 2 or 6
(page 181) until the control button
sticks up slightly and the U symbol
on the control button is out.
Automatic air distribution for the re-
spective side of the passenger com-
partment is switched off.

Turn control button to the desired sym-
bol.
The air distribution is adjusted accord-
ing to the chosen setting.
Opening the center air vents

Turn the thumbwheel 7 (
page 180)
upward to the first stop.
Center air vents 1 and 5
(
page 180) are open.
Opening the cockpit air vent and center
air vents

Turn the thumbwheel 7 (
page 180)
upward all the way.
Cockpit air vent 2 and center air vents
1 and 5 (
page 180) are open.Closing the cockpit air vent and center
air vents

Turn the thumbwheel 7 (
page 180)
downward.
Cockpit air vent 2 and center air vents
1 and 5 (
page 180) are closed.
Opening the side air vents

Turn the thumbwheel 6 and 8
(page 180) upward.
The corresponding side air vent is
open.
Closing the side air vents

Turn the thumbwheel 6 and 8
(page 180) upward.
The corresponding side air vent is
closed.
Symbol
Function
h
Directs air through the cen-
ter and side air vents
j
Directs air to the windows
V
Directs air into the entire
vehicle interior
k
Directs air to the footwells
iYou can also turn the air distribution
control to a position between two sym-
bols.
iThe air vents are continuously variable.

186 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlAdjusting air volume
Use air volume controla (
page 181) for
both automatic (
page 183) and manual
air volume adjustment. Nine blower
speeds are available.

Press control buttona (
page 181).
The control button sticks up slightly.
The U symbol on the control button
goes out. Automatic air volume control
is switched off. The air volume is ad-
justed corresponding to the set blower
speed.
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.
“MAXCOOL” appears on the temperature
controls 1 and 7 (
page 181).
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior (when retractable
hardtop is closed).
Automatic climate control panel with
MAXCOOL activated
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
side windows.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are
clear again.