2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR CLASS brake

295 Operation
Vehicle care
Vehicle care
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
If you have any questions about proper
care of your SLR, please contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Depending on body color the characteris-
tic carbon structure of the body surface
may become visible due to high ambient
temperatures and humidity. This phenom-
enon is related to the technology and
concept of the vehicle’s body.
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external
influences which, if gone unchecked, can
attack the paintwork as well as the
underbody and cause lasting damage.
Such damage is caused not only by
extreme and varying climatic conditions,
but also by:

Air pollution

Road salt

Tar

Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should
immediately remove:

Grease and oil

Fuel

Coolant

Brake fluid

Bird droppings

Insects

Tree resins, etc.
Frequent washing reduces and/or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.
More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:

near the ocean

in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)

during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
Any damage should be repaired as soon as
possible.
Warning!G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not
designed for cleaning your vehicle.
iMercedes-Benz recommends that you use
Mercedes-Benz care products. These have been
specially developed to suit Mercedes-Benz vehi-
cles and are state of the art. Mercedes-Benz
care products are available from any
Mercedes-Benz Center.
!Affixing stickers, magnets, adhesive tape or
similar materials to painted body components
may damage the paintwork.

302 Practical hints
What to do if ...
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solutions
-The yellow ABS indicator
lamp comes on while the
engine is running.Risk of accident!
The ABS has detected a malfunction and
has switched off. The BAS and the ESP
®
are also switched off.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning,
other systems such as the automatic
transmission may also be malfunctioning.
The electro-hydraulic brake system is still
functioning normally but without ABS
available.
Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display (
page 314).
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts. The ABS has switched off.
The battery may not be charged
sufficiently.When the voltage is above this value again, the
ABS is operational again and the ABS indicator
lamp should go out.
If the ABS indicator lamp does not go out:
Have the generator (alternator) and the
battery checked.

303 Practical hints
What to do if ...
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solutions
3(Canada only)
;(USA only)
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving and
you hear a warning sound.
You are driving with the parking brake set.Release the parking brake (page 49).
3(Canada only)
;(USA only)
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while the engine is
running and you hear a
warning sound.
Risk of accident!

There is a malfunction in the
electro-hydraulic brake system.

There is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.
Carefully stop the vehicle in a safe location
or as soon as it is safe to do so and contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Do
not add brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display (
page 314).
Warning!G
Driving with the brake warning lamp illumi-
nated can result in an accident. Have your
brake system checked immediately if the
brake warning lamp stays on. Do not add
brake fluid before checking the brake
system.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can re-
sult in spilling brake fluid on hot engine
parts and the brake fluid catching fire. You
can be seriously burned.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks.

304 Practical hints
What to do if ...
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solutions
ú(USA only)
±(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes on
while the engine is running.
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 possi-
ble 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 system. It allows the accu-
rate identification of system malfunctions
through the readout of diagnostic trouble
codes. It is located in the front left area of
the footwell next to the parking brake pedal.
Your fuel tank is empty.After refueling, start, turn off, and restart the
engine three or four times in succession.
The limp-home mode is canceled. You do not
need to have your vehicle checked.
iSome states may by law require you to visit
a workshop immediately as soon as the engine
malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Check
local requirements.

307 Practical hints
What to do if ...
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solutions
lamp comes on while driving
and you hear a warning
sound.The Airbrake or the central locking system
is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center immediately.
>The red gearshift indicator
lamp comes on while driving.You are driving with the manual shift pro-
gram. The engine is in the overrevving
range.Shift to the next higher gear. Otherwise the
fuel supply will be interrupted to prevent the
engine from overrevving.
AThe yellow fuel reserve warn-
ing lamp comes on while
driving.The fuel level has dropped below the
reserve mark.Refuel at the nearest gas station
(
page 247).
The fuel cap is not closed tightly.Check the fuel cap (page 247).
=The engine oil temperature
indicator comes on in the
tachometer while driving.The engine oil has not yet reached its
operating temperature.Warm up the engine and do not drive at full
power until the operating temperature has
been reached.
The symbol will go out as soon as the engine
oil has reached its operating temperature.

316 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Text messages
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABSABS, ESP
unavailable
See
Oper. ManualRisk of accident!
The ABS and ESP
® are not available
due to a malfunction. The BAS is also
deactivated.
The system’s self-diagnosis may not
be completed yet.
The electro-hydraulic brake system
is still functioning normally but with-
out the ABS, the ESP
®, and the BAS
available.
Drive a short distance with added caution at
a vehicle speed of above 12 mph
(20 km/h).
When the message disappears, the ABS, the
ESP
®, and the BAS are available again.
If the message does not disappear:
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.

317 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABSABS, ESP
inoperative
See
Oper. ManualRisk of accident!
The ABS and ESP
® ha ve s witc he d off
due to a malfunction.
The BAS is also deactivated.
The electro-hydraulic brake system
is still functioning normally but with-
out the ABS, the ESP
®, and the BAS
available.
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.
Convenience
functionstemporarily
unavailableThe battery for electrical consumers
has insufficient voltage and can no
longer supply the convenience func-
tions such rear window heating.As soon as the on-board voltage is sufficient,
you will see the following message in the multi-
function display:
Convenience functions
available again
. The electrical consumers are
switched on again.
Cruise control––– mph
(USA only)
––– km/h
(Canada only)
You have attempted to resume a
stored speed, but nothing is stored.Store a speed (page 204).
You have attempted to set a speed
below 20 mph (30 km/h).Accelerate to a speed exceeding
20 mph (30 km/h) and set the speed
(
page 204).
The ESP® is switched off.Switch on the ESP® (page 86).
Exceptions: (
page 85).

318 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ESPESP
inoperative
See
Oper. ManualRisk of accident!
The ESP
® has detected a malfunc-
tion and switched off.
The ABS may not be operational.
The electro-hydraulic brake system
is still functioning normally but with-
out the ESP
® available.
Continue driving with added caution.
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.
ESPESP unavailable
See
Oper. ManualRisk of accident!
The ESP
® is deactivated because the
power supply has been interrupted.
The ABS may not be operational.
The electro-hydraulic brake system
is still functioning normally but with-
out the ESP
® available.
Synchronize the ESP®. With the vehicle sta-
tionary, turn the steering wheel completely
to the left and then to the right.
If the ESP
® message does not go out:
Continue driving with added caution.
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.
!When synchronizing the ESP®, make sure
you can turn the steering wheel in both direc-
tions as far as it will go without the wheels hitting
any objects, e.g. a road curb.