2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG engine

376 Practical hintsWhat to do if …When the message
Add 1 qt engine oil
at next refueling (Canada:
1l
) appears
while the engine is running and at
operating temperature, the engine oil level
has dropped to approximately the
minimum level.When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.
If no oil leaks are noted, continue to drive
to the nearest service station where the
engine oil should be topped to the required
level with an approved oil specified in the
Factory Approved Service Products pam-
phlet.
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
N
Engine oil level
Cannot
measure
engine oil level
Vehicles with engine oil measuring
system only:
The measuring system is malfunc-
tioning.

Have the measuring system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Engine oil level
Check level
Vehicles with oil dipstick only:
The engine oil has dropped to a crit-
ical level.

Check the engine oil level (
page 276) and
add oil as required (
page 278).

If you must add engine oil frequently, have the
engine checked for possible leaks.
!
The engine oil level warnings should not be
ignored. Extended driving with the symbol dis-
played could result in serious engine damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limit-
ed Warranty.

379 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
F
Key
not detected
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is
not recognized while the engine is
running because:

The SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is not in the vehi-
cle.


There is strong radio-frequency
interference.

Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so.

Search for the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.
Otherwise the vehicle cannot be centrally
locked nor can the engine be started again af-
ter the engine is stopped.

Operate the vehicle with the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the starter switch
Key
not detected
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is
not recognized when attempting to
start the engine with the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button* on
the gear selector lever because:

The SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is not in the vehi-
cle.


The battery in the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* is not insert-
ed properly or completely dis-
charged.

Change the position of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the vehicle.

Make sure the batteries in the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* are properly inserted
(page 395) and are not discharged
(page 110).

Start the engine with the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the starter switch if
necessary.

387 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Ê
This message will appear when the
trunk lid is open and you are trying
to open or close the retractable
hardtop.

Close the trunk lid.
M
Close
trunk partition
You are trying to open or close the
retractable hardtop even though
the luggage cover in the trunk is not
closed and/or properly engaged.

Close the luggage cover and engage it into
side holders (
page 205).
W
Washer fluid
Please refill
The washer fluid in the washer fluid
reservoir has fallen below the mini-
mum level.

Add washer fluid (
page 282).
Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may ignite when if it comes into contact with
hot engine parts. You could be seriously
burned.

404 Practical hintsReplacing wiper bladesVehicles with KEYLESS-GO*
Turn off the engine (
page 62).
With the driver’s door closed, the start-
er switch is now in position1.

Turn combination switch to wiper
settingII (
page 57).

With wiper arms in the vertical position,
open the driver’s door.
The starter switch is set to position0,
same as SmartKey removed from start-
er switch.

Turn combination switch to wiper
setting0 (
page 57).
Removing wiper blades
Fold the wiper arm forward until it
snaps into place.

Turn wiper blade at a right angle to the
wiper arm.

Slide the wiper blade sideways out of
the retainer.
Installing wiper blades
Slide the wiper blade onto the wiper
arm in opposite direction of arrow.

Rotate the wiper blade into a position
parallel to the wiper arm.

Fold the wiper arm backward to rest on
the windshield. Make sure you hold on
to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back.
!
Do not pull on the wiper blade inserts. They
could tear.

405 Practical hints
Flat tire
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.

Turn on the hazard warning flashers.

Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight ahead po-
sition.

Set the parking brake.

Move the gear selector lever to P.
Vehicles with SmartKey:

Turn off the engine (
page 62).

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* button on the gear
selector lever once (
page 62).

Open the driver’s door (this puts
the starter switch in position 0,
same as with the SmartKey re-
moved from the starter switch). The
driver’s door then can be closed
again.

Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Mounting the spare wheel
i
Open door only when conditions are safe to
do so.
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the spare wheel are dif-
ferent from those of the road wheels. As a
result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a mounted spare
wheel. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with spare wheel mounted, en-
sure proper tire inflation pressure and do
not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the spare wheel
replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.

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.

415 Practical hints
Batteries
!
The factory-equipped VRLA battery is
leak-proofed. Only use a battery as replacement
that has the same security features and is of
identical size, voltage, and capacity as the
factory-equipped battery.
The battery, the battery ventilation and the later-
al plug must always be securely installed when
the vehicle is in operation.
Warning!
G
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting,
you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc.
!
Never loosen or detach battery terminal
clamps while the engine is running or the
SmartKey is in the starter switch. Otherwise the
alternator and other electronic components
could be severely damaged.
Have the starter battery checked regularly by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for maintenance
intervals or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further information.
Warning!
G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof batteries only to avoid the
risk of acid burns in the event of an acci-
dent.
Warning!
G
The brake system requires electrical power
to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. The same applies if
battery is disconnected. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes are only applied to the
front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased! Adjust your driving style according-
ly. For more information, see
“Electro-hydraulic brake system”
(page 92).

416 Practical hintsBatteries
Disconnecting the batteries
Apply the parking brake (
page 61).

Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to position P (
page 168).

Close the retractable hardtop
(page 199).

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Turn off the engine (
page 62).

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Open
the driver’s door.

Open the trunk.

Read and observe safety instructions
and precautions (
page 281).

Open the luggage cover in the trunk
(page 206).

Remove the trunk floor.
The battery for electrical consumers is
located in the right hand area of the
trunk (
page 388).

Use the 10 mm open-end wrench from
the vehicle tool kit to disconnect the
negative lead from negative
terminal5 of the consumer battery
(page 414).
Warning!
G
With a disconnected battery

you will no longer be able to turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch and
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever will
have no effect


the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP
!
Always disconnect the batteries in the order
described below, even if you only want to charge
the starter battery, for example. Otherwise the
vehicle’s electronics can be damaged.