2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG display

364 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABSABS, ESP
Inoperative
See
Oper. ManualThe ABS and ESP® have switched off
due to a malfunction.
The BAS is also deactivated.
The electro-hydraulic brake system is
still functioning normally but without
the ABS, the ESP
®, and the BAS avail-
able.
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.
Cruise Control––– MPHYou 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 215).
The ESP® is switched off.Switch on the ESP® (page 94).
The gear selector lever is set to
position P, R, or N.Move the gear selector lever to position D.
The vehicle is secured with the parking
brake.Release the parking brake (page 55).
Cruise Control
AND SPEEDTRONICInoperativeThe cruise control is malfunctioning.Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.

365 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
DISTRONIC––– MPHYou 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 215).
The ESP® is switched off.Switch on the ESP® (page 94).
The gear selector lever is set to
position 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 55).
InoperativeDistronic* is malfunctioning or the
display is malfunctioning.Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.

366 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
DISTRONICCurrently
Unavailable.
See
Oper. ManualDistronic* is deactivated because:

The Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille is dirty.

The functionality is impaired by
heavy precipitation or fog.

The functionality is impaired by ex-
ternal interferences, e.g. high-fre-
quency sources such as toll
stations, speed measuring systems
etc.

The Distronic* sensor has not
sensed any other vehicles or ob-
jects, e.g. road sign or such, for a
long time.
Distronic* becomes operational again and
the message in the multifunction display
disappears 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, because the
road is drying, or because you have left
the area of an external interference for
example.
If the message in the multifunction display
does not disappear:
Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille (
page 336).
Restart the engine.

367 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ESPESP
Inoperative
See
Oper. ManualThe ESP® has detected a malfunction
and switched off.
The ABS may not be operational.
The electro-hydraulic brake system is
still functioning normally but without
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.
ESP Unavailable
See
Oper. ManualThe ESP® is deactivated because the
power supply has been interrupted.
The electro-hydraulic brake system is
still functioning normally but without
the ESP
® available.
Synchronize the ESP®. With the vehicle
stationary, turn the steering wheel com-
pletely 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.

368 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display Right display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Front Passeng.
AirbagEnabled
See Oper. ManualThe passenger front air bag is
activated while driving even
though a child, small individual,
or object below the system’s
weight threshold is on the pas-
senger seat, or the passenger
seat is empty. Objects on the
seat or forces acting on the seat
may make the system sense
supplemental weight.Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and
check the passenger seat for the following:
Switch off the ignition (page 40).
Apply the parking brake (page 63).
Remove child and child restraint from passenger seat.
Make sure that no objects which are applying supple-
mental weight onto the seat are present. The system
may recognize such supplemental weight and sense that
an occupant on the passenger seat is of a greater weight
than actually present.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the passenger door
and switch on the ignition (
page 40).
Monitor the 5/indicator lamp (
page 78) and the
multifunction display in the instrument cluster (
page 143)
for the following:
(Continued on next page)

369 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display Right display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition switched on,

the 5/indicator lamp (page 78) should illumi-
nate and remain illuminated, indicating that the OCS
(
page 74) has deactivated the air bag.

the message Front Passeng. Airbag Enabled See
Oper. Manual
or the message Front Passeng. Airbag
Disabled See Oper. Manual
should not appear in the
multifunction display at any time the seat is unoccupied.
Wait at least 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 74), 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 individualsuse the passenger seat until the system has
been repaired.

370 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display Right display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Front Passeng.
AirbagDisabled
See Oper. ManualThe passenger front air bag is
deactivated while driving even
though an adult or someone
larger than a small individual is
occupying the passenger seat.
Forces acting on the seat may
make the system sense a
decrease in weight.Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and
check the passenger seat for the following:
Switch off the ignition (page 40).
Apply the parking brake (page 63).
Have the passenger vacate the seat and exit the vehicle.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the passenger door
and switch on the ignition (
page 40).
Monitor the 5/indicator lamp (
page 78) and the
multifunction display in the instrument cluster (
page 143)
for the following:
(Continued on next page)

371 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display Right display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition switched on,

the 5/indicator lamp (page 78) should illumi-
nate and remain illuminated, indicating that the OCS
(
page 74) has deactivated the air bag.

the message Front Passeng. Airbag Enabled See
Oper. Manual
or the message Front Passeng. Airbag
Disabled See Oper. Manual
should not appear in the
multifunction display at any time the seat is unoccupied.
Wait at least 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 74), 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 anypassenger use the passenger seat until the
system has been repaired.