2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 Time

353 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
––– mph
Distronic
You have attempted to set a speed be-
low 20 mph (30 km/h).

Accelerate to a speed exceeding
20 mph (30 km/h) and set the speed
(page 210).
The ESP
® is switched off.

Switch on the ESP
® (page 92).
The gear selector lever is set to posi-
tion P, R, or N.

Move the gear selector lever or position D.
The vehicle is secured with the parking
brake.

Release the parking brake (
page 54).
DISTRONIC
Inoperative
Distronic* is malfunctioning or the dis-
play is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Currently
unavailable.
See
Oper. Manual
Distronic* is deactivated because the
functionality is impaired by external in-
terferences, e.g. high-frequency sourc-
es such as too stations, speed
measuring systems etc.

Leave the area of the external interfer-
ence.

Activate Distronic* again (
page 218)
when the message
DISTRONIC available
again
appears.
Distronic* is deactivated because the
Distronic* sensor has not sensed any
other vehicles or objects, e.g. road
sign or such, for a long time.

Try to activate Distronic* again
(page 218) when the message
DISTRONIC available again
appears.

357 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag
enabled
See Oper. Manual
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition switched on,

the 5/indicator lamp between the center air
vents should illuminate and remain illuminated, indicating
that the OCS (
page 72) has deactivated the air bag.


the message Front passenger airbag enabled See Oper.
Manual or the message Front passenger airbag disabled
See Oper. Manual should not appear in the multifunction
display at any time the seat is unoccupied. Wait at last
60 seconds for the system to complete the necessary
check cycles and to make sure neither message appears
in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the passenger
seat again. Depending on the passenger classification
sensed by the OCS (
page 72), the 5/indicator
lamp will remain illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working
properly. Have the system checked as soon as possible by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the 5/ indicator lamp remains
out even after performing the above correc-
tive steps, do not have any children 12 years
old and under and other small individuals
use the passenger seat until the system has
been repaired.

359 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag
disabled
See Oper. Manual
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition switched on,

the 5/indicator lamp between the center air
vents should illuminate and remain illuminated, indicating
that the OCS (
page 72) has deactivated the air bag.


the message Front passenger airbag enabled See Oper.
Manual or the message Front passenger airbag disabled
See Oper. Manual should not appear in the multifunction
display at any time the seat is unoccupied. Wait at last
60 seconds for the system to complete the necessary
check cycles and to make sure neither message appears
in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the passenger
seat again. Depending on the passenger classification
sensed by the OCS (
page 72), the 5/indicator
lamp will remain illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working
properly. Have the system checked as soon as possible by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the 5/indicator lamp remains
illuminated with an adult occupant on the
passenger seat even after performing the
above corrective steps, do not have any
passenger use the passenger seat until the
system has been repaired.

397 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Replacing bulbs
Bulbs
Safe vehicle operation depends on proper
exterior lighting and signaling. It is there-
fore essential that all bulbs and lamp as-
semblies are in good working order at all
times.
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely
important. Have headlamps checked and
readjusted at regular intervals and when a
bulb has been replaced. See an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for headlamp ad-
justment.
Warning!
G
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing
a bulb.
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A
bulb can explode if you:

touch or move it when hot


drop the bulb


scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.
i
If the headlamps or front fog lamps are
fogged up on the inside as a result of high humid-
ity, driving the vehicle a distance with the lights
on should clear up the fogging.
i
Auxiliary bulbs will be brought into use when
the following lamps malfunction:


Turn signal lamps


Brake lamps


Parking lamps


Tail lamps
Observe the messages in the multifunction dis-
play (page 347).

414 Practical hintsBatteriesFor more information on batteries, see
“Battery” (
page 281).
Your vehicle is equipped with two
batteries:


The starter battery


The battery for electrical consumers
(consumer battery), located in the
trunk
The starter battery is located on the
right-hand side of the engine compart-
ment.
1Positive terminal
2Negative terminal
3Battery ventilationThe consumer battery is located on the
right-hand side of the trunk.
4Positive terminal
5Negative terminal
!
The starter battery, its filler caps, and the
ventilation hose must always be securely in-
stalled when the vehicle is in operation.
!
The consumer battery located in the trunk is
a valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery, also
referred to as “fleece” battery. Such batteries do
not require topping-up of the electrolyte level.
VRLA batteries therefore do not have cell caps
and the battery cover is non-removable. Do not
attempt to open the consumer battery as other-
wise the battery will be damaged.
Even though VRLA batteries do not require top-
ping-up of the electrolyte level and cannot be
opened to check the electrolyte level, the bat-
tery condition must be checked periodically by
performing a battery conductance test. Refer to
Maintenance Booklet for battery condition test-
ing intervals.
As with any other battery, disconnect the con-
sumer battery if you do not intend to operate
your vehicle for an extended period of time to
prevent battery discharge or connect an acces-
sory battery charge unit expressly approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle model to main-
tain the battery charge. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further information.

421 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehi-
cle may be towed with all wheels on the
ground or front wheels raised only so far as
necessary to have the vehicle moved to a
safe location where the recommended
towing methods can be employed.!
Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment
with SmartKey in starter switch turned to
position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Towing
with sling-type equipment over bumpy roads will
damage radiator and supports.
To prevent damage during transport, do not tie
down vehicle by its chassis or suspension parts.
Switch off the tow-away alarm and the automatic
central locking.
!
If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised, the gear selector lever must be in
positionN and the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1).
Otherwise, the ESP
® will immediately be en-
gaged and will apply the rear wheel brakes.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the gear selector lever must be in
positionN and the SmartKey must be in starter
switch position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground or the front axle raised, the vehicle
may be towed only for distances up to
30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to exceed
30 mph (50 km/h).
To be certain to avoid a possibility of damage to
the transmission, however, we recommend the
drive shaft be disconnected at the rear axle drive
flange for any towing beyond a short tow to a
nearby garage.
Warning!
G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:

the engine will not run


there is a malfunction in the
electro-hydraulic brake system


there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
as that will be necessary to adequately con-
trol the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that the SmartKey
is in starter switch position2.
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch
position0 for an extended period of time, it
can no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock, re-
move SmartKey from starter switch and re-
insert.

451 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
Your vehicle contains a number of alumi-
num parts. The use of aluminum compo-
nents in motor vehicle engines
necessitates that anticorrosion/antifreeze
coolant used in such engines be specifical-
ly formulated to protect the aluminum parts. (Failure to use such anticorro-
sion/antifreeze coolant will result in a sig-
nificantly shortened service life.)
Therefore, the following product is strongly
recommended for use in your vehicle:
Mercedes-Benz 325.0 anticorrosion/anti-
freeze agent.Before the start of the winter season (or
once a year in hot southern regions), you
should have the anticorrosion/antifreeze
concentration checked. The coolant is also
regularly checked each time you bring your
vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for service.
Anticorrosion/antifreeze quantityModel
Approx. freeze protection
– 35°F (– 37°C)
– 49°F (– 45°C)
SL 550
6.1 US qt (5.8 l)
6.8 US qt (6.4 l)
SL 600 (main cooling system)
6.9 US qt (6.5 l)
7.5 US qt (7.1 l)
SL 600 (low temperature cooling system)
1.2 US qt (1.1 l)
1.3 US qt (1.2 l)
SL 55 AMG
6.3 US qt (6.0 l)
7.0 US qt (6.6 l)
SL 65 AMG (main cooling system)
8.2 US qt (7.75 l)
9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
SL 65 AMG (low temperature cooling system)
1.5 US qt (1.45 l)
1.7 US qt (1.6 l)

455 Index
Center console
Lower part 32
Upper part 31
Central locking
Automatic 119, 162
Central locking/unlocking switch 31,
119
Locking/unlocking from inside 119
Certification label 430
Check engine see Lamps, indicator and
warning
Checking tire pressure electronically with
the Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)*,
(Canada only) 298
Children in the vehicle
Air bags 83
Front passenger front air bag off indica-
tor lamp 76, 345
Infant and child restraint systems 83
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) 72
Cigarette lighter 239
Clock 25, 157
Cockpit 24
Cold tire inflation pressure 312COMAND system 31
Driving instructions 268
Combination switch
High beam 56, 133
Turn signals 56
Windshield wipers 57
Consumer battery 281
Control and operation of radio
transmitters 268
Control system 139, 142
Control system menus
AMG Menu 146
AUDIO 149
NAV 151
Settings 153
Standard display 145
TEL* 165
Trip computer 163
Vehicle status message memory 152
Control system submenus 143
Convenience 162
Instrument cluster 156
Lighting 159
Time 157
Vehicle 162
Convenience feature 201Coolant 449
Anticorrosion/antifreeze mixing ratio
and quantity 451
Checking coolant level 280
Coolant warning lamp 337
Messages in the multifunction
display 371, 373
Temperature 270
Temperature gauge 137
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps 132
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
Replacing bulbs 397
Courtesy lighting 135
Cruise control 209
Messages in the multifunction
display 352, 353
Cup holder 238
Curb weight 312
D
Daytime running lamp mode 130
Setting 159
Deep water see Standing water
Defogging, Windshield 191
Defrosting, Front 190
Defrosting, Rear 183