2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG engine

336 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
ú
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
There is a malfunction in:

The fuel injection system


The ignition system


The emission control system


Systems which effect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive
emissions values and may switch the engine
to its limp-home (emergency operation)
mode.

Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics sys-
tem. It allows the accurate identifica-
tion of system malfunctions through
the readout of diagnostic trouble
codes. It is located in the front left
area of the footwell next to the park-
ing brake pedal.
The fuel cap is not closed tightly.

Check the fuel cap (
page 271).
If it is not closed properly:

Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:

Have the fuel system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

337 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
ú
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
Your fuel tank is empty.

After refueling, start, turn off, and re-
start the engine three or four times in
succession.
The limp-home mode is canceled. You
do not need to have your vehicle
checked.
D
The red coolant warning lamp
comes on when the engine is
running.
There is insufficient coolant in the reservoir.
If this warning lamp comes on frequently,
there is a leak in the cooling system.
If the coolant level is correct, the electric ra-
diator fan may be broken.

Immediately add coolant to prevent
engine from overheating
(page 280).

Have the cooling system checked.

If the coolant temperature is below
248 °F (120 °C), you can continue
driving to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Avoid high engine loads (e.g. driving
uphill) and stop-and-go driving.
D
The red coolant warning lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning sound.
The coolant temperature has exceeded
248 °F (120 °C).

Stop in a safe location as soon as pos-
sible and allow the engine and coolant
to cool down.

338 Practical hintsWhat to do if …
During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tempera-
ture may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is overheated 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 engine 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). Do-
ing so may cause serious engine damage which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

340 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
C
The yellow roll bar warning lamp
comes on or flickers when the
engine is running.
The roll bar system is malfunctioning.
For safety reasons, always have the roll
bar raised when driving with the retract-
able hardtop open.
Attempt to raise the roll bar manually
(page 81).

Have the roll bar checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Warning!
G
If the roll bar warning lamp does not come
on, does not go out after a long time, flickers
or comes on while driving as described
above, then the roll bar system is not oper-
ating properly and may not activate in an
accident. In this case, raise the roll bar man-
ually (
page 81) before continuing to drive.

341 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
<
The red seat belt telltale comes
on and a warning chime sounds
for approximately 6 seconds
after starting the engine with all
doors closed.
The seat belt telltale reminds you and your
passengers to fasten your seat belts before
driving off.

Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out.
<
The red seat belt telltale remains
illuminated after driving off. The
vehicle’s speed does not exceed
15 mph (25 km/h).
You and/or your front passenger have
forgotten to fasten your seat belts.

Fasten your seat belts.
There are items placed on the front passen-
ger seat and therefore the system senses the
front passenger seat as being occupied.

Remove the items from the front
passenger seat and put them in a safe
place.
<
The red seat belt telltale flashes
and you additionally hear an in-
termittent warning chime with in-
creasing intensity for a maximum
of 60 seconds from the time the
vehicle’s speed exceeds 15 mph
(25 km/h).
You and/or your front passenger have
forgotten to fasten your seat belts.

Fasten your seat belts.
There are items placed on the front passen-
ger seat and therefore the system senses the
front passenger seat as being occupied.

Remove the items from the front
passenger seat and put them in a safe
place.
i
After 60 seconds with an unfastened seat
belt, the warning chime stops sounding and the
seat belt telltale illuminates continuously. The
seat belt telltale will only go out if both, the driver
and front passenger’s seat belt are fastened, or the vehicle is standing still and a front door is
opened.

354 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
DISTRONIC
Currently
unavailable.
See
Oper. Manual
Distronic* is deactivated because

the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille is dirty


the functionality is impaired by
heavy precipitation or fog

Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille (
page 325).

Restart the vehicle.
Distronic* becomes operational again with-
out the engine being restarted when


dirt on the radiator grille has fallen off
while driving (e.g. slush or snow)


the system recognizes full sensor avail-
ability due to lessening rain or because
the road is drying, for example


the message in the multifunction display
disappears
You can then operate Distronic* as usual
again.
available again
Distronic* had been deactivated and is
available again.

Activate Distronic* (
page 218).

360 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
P
Gear selector
lever to P
You have tried to start the engine with
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
with the gear selector lever not in posi-
tion P.

Place the gear selector lever in position P.
You have tried to turn off the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop but-
ton with the gear selector lever not in
position P.
Retractable roof
open/close
completely
The retractable hardtop is not locked
properly.

Push or pull on the retractable hardtop
switch until the indicator lamp in the
switch goes out and the retractable hard-
top is completely open or closed
(page 199).

365 Practical hints
What to do if …
Symbol messagesLeft display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
#
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 the vehicle immediately in a safe loca-
tion and check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise, the
engine will overheat due to an inoperative
water pump which may result in damage
to the engine. Notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is in order:

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center immediately. Adjust driving to be
consistent with reduced braking respon-
siveness.
#
There is a malfunction in the elec-
tronic system.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.