2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 ESP

359 Operation
Vehicle care
Plastic and rubber parts
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or
mild detergent for delicate fabrics as a
washing solution.
Instrument cluster and cup holders

Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or
mild detergent for delicate fabrics as a
washing solution.

Wipe with a cloth moistened in a luke-
warm solution.Hard plastic trim items

Use Pour Mercedes-Benz approved
Interior Care, a soft, lint-free cloth and
apply with light pressure onto.
Steering wheel and gearshift/gear se-
lector lever

Wipe with a damp cloth and dry thor-
oughly or clean with Mercedes-Benz
approved Leather Care.
Carpets

Use Mercedes-Benz approved Carpet
and Fabric Care for cleaning the car-
pets.
!The vehicle should not be parked for an
extended period of time immediately
after it has been cleaned, especially not
after the wheel rims have been cleaned
with wheel rim cleaner. Wheel rim
cleaners can lead to increased corro-
sion of the brake discs and brake pads.
Therefore, the vehicle’s brake system
should always be warmed-up before it
is parked after cleaning. To do so,
please drive your vehicle for several
minutes to allow the brakes to dry.
When applying Mercedes-Benz ap-
proved Tire Care and Mercedes-Benz
approved Wheel Care products, take
care not to spray them on the brake
discs.
!Do not use oil or wax on these parts.!To prevent scratches, do not use scour-
ing agents.
!To prevent scratches, do not use scour-
ing agents.

362 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during thebulb self-check when switching on ignition
(
page 36), have the respective bulb
checked and replaced if necessary.
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
-
The yellow ABS indicator lamp comes on
while driving.
The ABS has detected a malfunction
and has switched off. The BAS and
ESP
® are also switched off (see mes-
sages in display).
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ABS avail-
able.
If the ABS control unit is malfunction-
ing, other systems such as the
automatic transmission* may also be
malfunctioning.

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

Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display (
page 368).

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts and the ABS has switched
off.
The battery might not be charged suf-
ficiently.

Switch off electrical consumers that
are currently not needed, e.g. seat
heating*.

If necessary, have the generator and
battery checked.
When the voltage is above this value
again, the ABS is operational again.

365 Practical hints
What to do if …
v
The yellow ESP
® warning lamp
comes on while driving.
The ESP
® is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road, weather and traffic
conditions.

Switch the ESP
® back on (
page 86).
If the ESP
® cannot be switched back on, have the
system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
The yellow ESP
® warning lamp flash-
es while driving.
The ESP
® or traction control has
come into operation because of de-
tected traction loss in at least one
tire.

When driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.

While driving, ease up on the accelerator.

Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing
road and weather conditions.

Do not deactivate the ESP
®.
Exceptions: (
page 84).
Failure to follow these instructions increases the
risk of an accident.
4
The yellow fuel reserve warning lamp
comes on while driving.
Additionally you see the message Reserve fuel
in the multifunction
display.
The fuel level has gone below the re-
serve mark.

Refuel at the next gas station (
page 304).
After refueling you will see the message
1 message
in the multifunction display.

Press reset buttonJ to confirm the message
(page 24).
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution

370 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Text messagesDisplay message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ABS
malfunction
Visit workshop
The ABS has detected a malfunction
and has switched off. The ESP
® and
the BAS are also deactivated.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ABS avail-
able.

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

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
The ABS or the ABS display is mal-
functioning.

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

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Cruise
control
Cruise control
Drive to workshop
Cruise control is malfunctioning.

Have cruise control checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

371 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ESP
malfunction
Visit workshop
The ESP
® was deactivated because of
a malfunction.
The ABS might not be operational.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ESP
® avail-
able.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
The self-diagnosis has not been com-
pleted.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ESP
® avail-
able.
The display will clear after driving a short dis-
tance at more than 12 mph (20 km/h).
The charging voltage has fallen below
ten volts. The ESP
® has switched off.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ESP
® avail-
able.

Continue driving with added caution.
When the voltage is above this value again,
the ESP
® is operational again.

If necessary, have the generator and bat-
tery checked.

372 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ESP
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
The ESP
® or the ESP
® display is mal-
functioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
SRS
Restraint system
malfunction
Drive to workshop
The SRS system is malfunctioning.

Drive with added caution to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Transmis-
sion
Visit workshop
Vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion*:
The provided operating safety of the
automatic transmission is reduced.

Drive with added caution to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

374 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Symbol messagesDisplay symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
#
Battery/Alternator
Visit workshop
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

Alternator malfunctioning


Broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake system
requires electrical energy and may
be operating with restricted capa-
bility. Considerably greater brake
pedal force is required and the stop-
ping distance is increased.

Stop immediately and check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Notify an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is in order:

Drive immediately to the nearest autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center. Adjust driv-
ing to be consistent with reduced
braking responsiveness.

380 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
N
Engine oil level
Stop, engine off
SLK 55 AMG only:
There is no oil in the engine. There
is a danger of engine damage.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt as soon
as possible.

Turn off the engine.

Add engine oil (
page 312) and check the
engine oil level (page 308).
Engine oil level
Visit workshop
SLK 55 AMG only:
The measuring system is malfunc-
tioning.

Have the measuring system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Engine oil level
Reduce oil level
SLK 55 AMG only:
You have added too much engine
oil. There is a risk of damaging the
engine or the catalytic converter.

Have oil siphoned or drained off.
Observe all legal requirements with respect
to its disposal.
Engine oil
Visit workshop
SLK 55 AMG only:
There may be water in the engine
oil.

Have the engine oil checked.