2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 stop start

429 Practical hints
Batteries
Disconnecting the batteries
Apply the parking brake (page 63).
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to position P (
page 172).
Close the retractable hardtop
(
page 204).
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Turn off the engine (page 64).
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 290).
Open the luggage cover in the trunk
(
page 211).
Remove the trunk floor.
The battery for electrical consumers is
located in the right hand area of the
trunk (
page 400).
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 427).
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.


434 Practical hints
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
vehicle 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.
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!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 (
page 100) and
the automatic central locking (
page 166).
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
This is necessary to adequately control the
towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that the SmartKey
is in starter switch position2.
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. 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
increased! Adapt your driving style
accordingly. For more information, see
“Electro-hydraulic brake system”
(
page 94).
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.

435 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
!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).
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system.
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).
!Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt.
Never attach a tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to
the vehicle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
iWhen towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, please note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and
the SmartKey in starter switch position2, or
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button in position2,
the vehicle doors lock if the left front wheel as
well as the right rear wheel are turning at vehicle
speeds of approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or
more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking
(
page 122).
iTo signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, turn SmartKey in
starter switch to position2 and activate the
combination switch for the left or right turn
signal in the usual manner – only the selected
turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard warn-
ing flasher will operate again.
iIf the battery is disconnected or discharged

the SmartKey will not turn in the starter
switch

the gear selector lever will remain locked in
positionP.
For more information, see “Batteries”
(
page 427) and “Jump starting” (page 432).

437 Practical hints
Fuses
Fuses
The electrical fuses in your vehicle serve to
switch off malfunctioning power circuits.
If a fuse is blown, the components and sys-
tems secured by that fuse will stop operat-
ing.If a newly inserted fuse blows again, have
the cause determined and rectified by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
A fuse chart explains the fuse allocation
and fuse amperages. It is located in the
trunk with the vehicle tool kit
(
page 400).
The electrical fuses are located in different
fuse boxes:

on the driver’s side of the engine com-
partment (
page 438)

on the passenger side of the engine
compartment (
page 438)

under passenger-side rear storage
compartment (
page 439)

in the trunk (page 439)Before replacing fuses:
Apply the parking brake (page 63).
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to position P (
page 172).
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Turn off the engine (page 64).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Open
the driver’s door.
Warning!G
Only use fuses approved by Mercedes-Benz
with the specified amperage for the system
in question and do not attempt to repair or
bridge a blown fuse. Using other than
approved fuses or using repaired or bridged
fuses may cause an overload leading to a
fire, and/or cause damage to electrical
components and/or systems. Have the
cause determined and remedied by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
iA blown fuse must be replaced by an appro-
priate spare fuse (recognizable by its color or the
fuse rating given on the fuse) of the amperage
recommended in the fuse chart.
Any Mercedes-Benz Center will be glad to advise
you on this subject.
iIn case of a blown fuse contact Roadside
Assistance or an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

475 Index
Key, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 108
Batteries 407
Battery check lamp 108
Checking the batteries 113
Factory setting 111
Global locking 111, 112
Global unlocking 111, 112
Locking/unlocking 39, 65, 108
Loss of 113
Messages in the multifunction
display 390, 391
Opening, Trunk 115
Opening/closing retractable
hardtop 206
Remote control 108
Replacing batteries 407
Reprogramming 112
Restoring to factory settings 112
Selective setting 112
Starter switch positions 41
Starting the engine 54
Turning off the engine 64
Unlocking, Trunk lid 114KEYLESS-GO*
Closing windows 203
Important notes 109
Locking/unlocking 39, 65, 108
Messages in the multifunction
display 390
Start/stop button 31, 41, 54
Starter switch positions 41
Starting the engine 54
Turning off the engine 64
Unlocking, Trunk lid 114
Kickdown 175
Kilopascal 323
Knee bag 74
L
Labels, identification 444
Lamp bulbs, exterior 409
Lamps, exterior
Delayed switch-off 164
Exterior lamp switch 25, 57
Front 410
Light sensor 392
Replacing bulbs for rear 410, 414
Switching off 131
Switching on 131Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 29, 344
ABS/ESP
®342
Brakes 345
CHECK ENGINE 346, 347
Coolant 348
Distronic* indicator and warning
lamp 27, 221
Electro-hydraulic brake system 94
Engine diagnostics 346, 347
Engine malfunction 29
ESP
®91
Fuel reserve 350
Passenger front air
bag off 74, 78, 357
Seat belt telltale 352
Seat belts 352–353
SRS 69, 354
Turn signals 27
Language
Multifunction display 160
Leather upholstery
Cleaning 340
License plate lamps 163, 410, 414
Light alloy wheels, cleaning 338

481 Index
Selective (SmartKey) 107
Speedometer display mode 160
Time 161
Units in speedometer 160
Shift program mode, Automatic
transmission 177
Shifting, Automatic transmission 172
Shoulder support
Seat adjustment 125
Side marker lamps 410
Cleaning lenses 336
Side windows
Automatic closing 203
Automatic opening 202
Closing 201, 202
Closing fully 203
Closing with KEYLESS-GO* 203
Express-close 203
Express-open 202
Opening 201, 202
Opening fully 202
Stopping 203
Synchronizing power windows 203Sidewall 324
SmartKey see Key, SmartKey
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* see
Key, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Snow chains 329
Spare tire see Spare wheel 417
Spare wheel 400, 401, 417, 453
Collapsible tire 422, 453
Inflating collapsible tire 422
Tire inflation pressure 422
Speed settings
Cruise control 217
Distronic* 224
Speedometer 27
Setting units 160
Sporty driving style 233
SRS
Indicator lamp 354
Messages in the multifunction
display 373
Standing lamps 131, 410
Standing water
Driving instructions 275Starter battery 290, 427
Starter switch 25, 40
Starter switch positions 40
Starting difficulties 54
Starting position 40
Starting the engine
With the SmartKey 53
With the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 54
Steering column
Up/down adjustment 47
Steering wheel
Adjusting 46
Buttons 30
Cleaning 339
Height adjustment 47
Steering wheel adjustment stalk 25
Steering wheel gearshift control one-touch
gearshifting*
Automatic transmission 180
Stopping
Windows 203