2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR warning

318 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause/
consequence
Possible solution
2
Brake wear
Visit
workshop
The brake pads have reached
their wear limit.

Have the brake pads replaced immediately.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Maintenance
Booklet.Warning!
G
Have brake pad replacement and other work
on the electrohydraulic brake system car-
ried out by qualified technicians only. Con-
tact your Mercedes-Benz Center for further
information. The electrohydraulic brake sys-
tem must be deactivated prior to working on
the system. High pressure is intermittently
built up in the system as part of its automat-
ic self-test. In addition, the system is auto-
matically activated when the vehicle is
unlocked by remote control, when the driver
or passenger door is opened, when the
SmartKey in the starter switch is turned to
position1, when the brake pedal is de-
pressed or when the parking brake is re-
leased.
Failure to deactivate the system prior to
maintenance will cause brake pistons to ex-
tend and brake fluid to leak, which may re-
sult in injuries (contusions and acid burns),
see “Electrohydraulic brake system”
(page 84).

320 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause/
consequence
Possible solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
Reduced
brake effect
Visit workshop
The electrohydraulic
brake system is in emer-
gency operation mode.
Considerably greater
brake pedal force is re-
quired and the pedal
travel is longer. The stop-
ping distance is in-
creased.

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
stopping 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 electrohy-
draulic 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 360).
If the electrohydraulic brake system enters
its emergency operation mode, the driver
must apply significantly greater brake pedal
pressure and depress the pedal much fur-
ther than normal to obtain braking effect.
If necessary, apply full pressure to the brake
pedal. Stopping distance is increased!

321 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/
consequence
Possible solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
Reduced
brake effect
Start engine
The battery has insufficient
voltage and cannot supply suffi-
cient power to the electrohy-
draulic brake system.

Start the engine.
As soon as the engine is running, the message
disappears.
Increased
stopping distance
Start engine
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon-
sciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated.

323 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/
consequence
Possible solution
B
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 250).

If you have to add coolant frequently, have the cooling
system checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately.
Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You can be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning. Extended driving with
the message and symbol displayed
may cause serious engine damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount
of coolant in the cooling system. The
engine will overheat causing major
engine damage.

324 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/
consequence
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, put engine
off
The coolant is too hot.

Stop the vehicle in a safe location and turn off the en-
gine.

Only start the engine again after the message disap-
pears. You could otherwise damage the engine.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids which may
have leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns and can occur just by opening
the hood. Stay away from the engine if you
see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
!The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

326 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause/
consequence
Possible solution
Ï
Differential
overheated
The differential oil is too hot.

Stop your vehicle immediately in a safe location.

Do not drive any further.

Wait until the instrument cluster display has cleared.
Otherwise you could damage the rear differential.
!The differential warning should not be
ignored. Extended driving with the sym-
bol displayed could result in serious
rea r di ff e renti al da ma ge that i s not c ov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

327 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/
consequence
Possible solution
G
Display malfunc-
tion
Visit
workshop
The displays for several sys-
tems have malfunctioned.
Some systems themselves may
also have malfunctioned.

Continue driving with added caution.
When the display is malfunctioning, warnings and mal-
function messages might not be displayed.

Have the electronic systems checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident.
±
Display malfunc-
tion
Visit
workshop
Certain electronic systems are
unable to relay information to
the control system. The follow-
ing systems may have failed:

Coolant temperature gauge


Tachometer


Cruise control display

Have the electronic systems checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
J
Door open
You are attempting to drive
with one or more doors open.

Close the doors.

328 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause/
consequence
Possible solution
±
Engine
Service
There may be a malfunction in
the

fuel injection system


ignition system


exhaust system


fuel system

Have the engine checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
:
Engine oil pressure
Visit
workshop
There is no oil in the engine.
There is a danger of engine
damage.

Stop your vehicle immediately in a safe location.

Switch off the engine.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately.
!The engine oil level warning should not
be ignored. Extended driving with the
symbol displayed could result in seri-
ous engine damage that is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.