2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 Owner's Manual

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.

187 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Activating
Press button P (
page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning switches to the fol-
lowing functions automatically:


cooling on to dehumidify


maximum blower speed and
heating power


air flows onto the windshield
and the front side windows


the air recirculation mode is
switched off
Deactivating

Press button P (
page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
The previous settings are in effect
again.Windshield fogged on the outside

Switch the windshield wipers on
(page 54).
If the automatic air distribution and air vol-
ume are switched off:

Turn air distribution controls2 and 6
(page 181) to position h ork.
or

Press control buttons 2, 6 and a
(page 181).
The control buttons are engaged. The
U symbol on the control buttons
come on. Air distribution and air vol-
ume are adjusted automatically.
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside. This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.
iThe cooling remains switched on.iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.
Warning!
G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 189) is activated, or
press buttonP.

188 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlActivating
Briefly press button,
(page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating

Briefly press button ,
(page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
iThe air recirculation mode is activated
automatically

at high outside temperatures


if the concentration of carbon mon-
oxide and nitrogen oxide in the out-
side air increases, for example in a
tunnel
The indicator lamp on button, is
not lit when the air recirculation mode
is automatically switched on.
A quantity of outside air is added after
approximately 30 minutes.
Warning!
G
Never operate the side windows if there is
the possibility of anyone being harmed by
the closing procedure.
In the event that the procedure causes po-
tential danger, the closing of the side win-
dows can be immediately halted by
releasing the, button.iPress and hold button,. The win-
dows will close.
The closing of the windows can be im-
mediately halted by releasing
button,.
iThe air recirculation mode is deactivat-
ed automatically

after five minutes if the outside
temperature is below approximate-
ly 41°F (5 °C)


after five minutes if the air condi-
tioner is turned off


after 30 minutes if the outside tem-
perature is above approximately
41°F (5 °C)

189 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
At outside temperatures above 79°F
(26 °C) the system will not automatically
switch back to outside air.
Air conditioning
The air conditioning (cooling) function is
operational when the engine is running and
cools the vehicle interior down to the se-
lected temperature. In addition, the cool-
ing function dehumidifies the air in the
vehicle interior, thus preventing the win-
dows from fogging up.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the cooling
function of the automatic climate control
system. The air in the vehicle will then no
longer be cooled or dehumidified.

Press button 2 (
page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The cooling function switches off
after a short delay.
iPress and hold button,. The win-
dows will open.
The opening of the windows can be im-
mediately halted by releasing
button,.
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.Warning!
G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.

190 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlActivating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press button 2 once more
(page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134A. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.
Residual heat and ventilation
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.Activating
With the SmartKey:

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1 or0 , or remove it from
the starter switch.

Press button T (
page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
With KEYLESS-GO*:

Turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button and
open the driver’s door (with the driver’s
door open, the starter switch is in posi-
tion 0, same as with the SmartKey re-
moved from the starter switch)

Press button T (
page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
!If the 2 button on the automatic cli-
mate control panel starts to flash, this
indicates that the air conditioning is
losing refrigerant. The compressor has
turned off. The air conditioning cannot
be turned on again.

Have the air conditioning checked
at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
iHow long the system will provide heat-
ing depends on the coolant tempera-
ture and the selected temperature. The
blower will run at low speed regardless
of the air distribution control setting.

191 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Deactivating
Press button T (
page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The residual heat is automatically turned
off:


when the ignition is switched on


after about 30 minutes


if the battery voltage drops


when the coolant temperature is too
low
Ventilated storage compartments
The glove box and the armrest storage
compartment have their own air vents that
allow for cooling ventilation when the auto-
matic climate control system is activated.Glove box1Thumbwheel
2Air ventOpening the air vent

Turn thumbwheel1 upwards.
Closing the air vent

Turn thumbwheel1 downwards.
Storage compartment under the armrest1Thumbwheel
2Air vent
Opening the air vent
Turn thumbwheel1 to the right.
Closing the air vent

Turn thumbwheel1 to the left.
iYou should keep these air vents closed
when outside temperatures are low.