2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG warning light

340 Operation
Vehicle care
Headliner
Use a soft bristle brush or a dry-sham-
poo cleaner in case of excessive dirt.
Seat belts
Only use clear, lukewarm water and
soap.Upholstery
Using aftermarket seat covers or wearing
clothing that have the tendency to give off
coloring (e.g. when wet, etc.) may cause
the upholstery to become permanently dis-
colored. By lining the seats with a proper
intermediate cover, contact-discoloration
will be prevented.
Leather upholstery
Please note that leather upholstery is a
natural product and is therefore subject
to a natural aging process. Leather
upholstery may also react to certain
ambient influences such as high humidity
or high temperature by showing wrinkles
for example.
Wipe leather upholstery with a damp
cloth and dry thoroughly or clean with
Mercedes-Benz approved Leather
Care.Exercise particular care when cleaning
perforated leather as its underside should
not become wet.
Wood trims
Dampen cloth using water and use
damp cloth to clean wood trims in your
vehicle.
Chrome-plated exhaust tip*
Regular cleaning and care of
chrome-plated exhaust tips will help
to maintain their shine and the classy
appearance.
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Chrome
Polishing Paste each time the vehicle
has been washed, especially during the
winter.
!The seat belts must not be treated with
chemical cleaning agents. Do not dry the seat
belts at temperatures above 176°F (80°C) or in
direct sunlight.
Warning!G
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
!Wipe with light pressure, to avoid damage to
the upholstery.
!Do not use solvents like tar remover or
wheel cleaner nor polishes or waxes as these
may be abrasive.
!Do not use alkaline cleaners such as wheel
cleaners as they could cause corrision.

350 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
EThe white Distronic* indicator
lamp comes on while driving.The Distronic* distance sensor has recog-
nized a preceding vehicle.
EThe red distance warning lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning sound.
You are gaining too rapidly on the vehicle
ahead of you.

The distance warning system has
recognized a stationary obstacle on
your probable line of travel.
Apply the brakes immediately.
Carefully observe the traffic situation.
You may need to brake or maneuver
to avoid hitting an obstacle.
AThe yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp lights when the
engine is running.The fuel level has dropped below the reserve
mark.Refuel at the next gas station
(
page 279).
The fuel filler cap is not closed tightly.Check the fuel filler cap (page 279).

409 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Replacing bulbs
Bulbs
Safe vehicle operation depends on proper
exterior lighting and signaling. It is there-
fore essential that all bulbs and lamp
assemblies are in good working order at
all times.
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely
important. Have headlamps checked and
readjusted at regular intervals and when a
bulb has been replaced. See an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for headlamp
adjustment.
Warning!G
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot.
Allow the lamp to cool down before chang-
ing a bulb.
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas.
A bulb can explode if you:

touch or move it when hot

drop the bulb

scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.
iIf the headlamps or front fog lamps are
fogged up on the inside as a result of high
humidity, driving the vehicle a distance with
the lights on should clear up the fogging.
iAuxiliary bulbs will be brought into use when
the following lamps malfunction:

Turn signal lamps

Brake lamps

Parking lamps

Tail lamps
Observe the messages in the multifunction
display (
page 359).

421 Practical hints
Flat tire
Keeping jack in this position, turn
crank3 clockwise until the jack base
meets the ground. Make sure the jack
is vertical (plumb line).
Continue to turn the crank until the tire
is a maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the
ground.Removing the wheel
1Alignment bolt
Unscrew upper-most wheel bolt and
remove.
Replace this wheel bolt with alignment
bolt1 supplied in the tool kit.
Remove the remaining bolts.
Remove the wheel.Mounting the new wheel
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.
Guide the spare wheel onto the align-
ment bolt and push it on.
Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt. This
could result in damage to the bolt and wheel hub
threads.
Warning!G
Inflate spare wheel tire only after the wheel
is properly mounted.
Inflate the spare wheel tire using the
electric pump (
page 422) before lowering
the vehicle.

422 Practical hints
Flat tire
Unscrew the alignment bolt, install last
wheel bolt and tighten slightly.
Inflating the spare tire (collapsible tire)
Take the electric air pump out of the
trunk (
page 400).1Flap
2Air pump switch
3Electrical plug
4Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
5Union nut
Open flap 1 on air pump.
Pull out electrical plug 3 and air hose
with the pressure gauge 4.
Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve.
Screw union nut 5 onto the tire valve.
Warning!G
Always replace wheel bolts that are dam-
aged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be
repaired immediately. Do not continue to
drive under these circumstances! Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to
come off. This could cause an accident. Be
sure to use the correct wheel bolts.
Warning!G
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts. They are identified by the Mercedes
star. Other wheel bolts may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the ve-
hicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle could
fall off the jack.
!Do not lower the vehicle before inflating the
spare wheel tire. Otherwise the rim may be dam-
aged.
Warning!G
Observe instructions on air pump label.

461 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Premium unleaded gasolineFuel requirements
Only use premium unleaded fuel:

The octane number (posted at the
pump) must be 91 min. It is an average
of both the Research Octane Number
(RON) and the Motor Octane Number
(MON): (RON+MON)/2. This is also
known as the ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates
such as ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be
used provided the ratio of any one of these
oxygenates to gasoline does not exceed
10%; MTBE must not exceed 15%.
The ratio of methanol to gasoline must not
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.Warning!G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flame or smoking mate-
rials near gasoline!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and skin contact, extinguish
all smoking materials.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation of fuel vapors are damaging to
your health.
!To maintain the engine’s durability and
performance, premium unleaded gasoline must
be used. If premium unleaded gasoline is not
available and low octane fuel is used, follow
these precautions:

Have the fuel tank only partially filled with
unleaded regular gasoline and fill up with
premium unleaded gasoline as soon as
possible.

Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt
acceleration.

Do not exceed an engine speed of 3 000 rpm
if the vehicle is loaded with a light load such
as two occupants and no luggage.

Do not exceed 2/3 of maximum accelerator
pedal position if the vehicle is fully loaded or
operating in mountainous terrain.

469 Index
Brake system
Messages in the multifunction
display 382
Brakes 268
BAS 91
Brake fluid 280, 458, 460
Electro-hydraulic brake system 94
High-performance brake system
(AMG vehicles only) 270
Warning lamp 345
Break-in period 266
Bulbs
Messages in the multifunction
display 392
Replacing 409
C
California retail buyers and lessees,
important notice for 11
Call priority, Tele Aid 256
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants 457
Cargo area see Trunk
Carpets, cleaning 339
Catalytic converter 277
CD changer 155, 240CD player
Operating 155
Center console
Lower part 32
Upper part 31
Central locking
Automatic 122, 166
Central locking/unlocking
switch 31, 122
Locking/unlocking from inside 122
Certification label 444
Check engine see Lamps, indicator and
warning
Checking tire pressure electronically with
the Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)*, (Canada
only) 308
Children in the vehicle
Air bags 84
Infant and child restraint systems 84
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) 74
Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp 78, 357
Cigarette lighter 244
Clock 25, 161Cockpit 24
Cold tire inflation pressure 323
Collapsible tire (spare wheel) 453
COMAND system 31
Driving instructions 276
Combination switch
High beam 57, 135
Turn signals 57
Windshield wipers 58
Consumer battery 290
Control and operation of radio
transmitters 276
Control system 143, 146
Control system menus
AMG 150
AUDIO 153
Distronic* 156, 222
NAV 155
Settings 157
Standard display 149
TEL* 169
Trip computer 167
Vehicle status message memory 156

470 Index
Control system submenus 147
Convenience 166
Instrument cluster 160
Lighting 163
Time 161
Vehicle 166
Convenience feature 206
Coolant 463
Anticorrosion/antifreeze mixing ratio
and quantity 464
Checking coolant level 288
Coolant warning lamp 348
Messages in the multifunction
display 383, 385
Temperature 278
Temperature gauge 141
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps* 136
Replacing bulbs 409
Courtesy lighting 139
Cruise control 214
Messages in the multifunction
display 364, 365
Cup holder 243
Curb weight 323D
Daytime running lamp mode 133
Setting 163
Deep water see Standing water
Defogging, Windshield 196
Defrosting, Front 195
Defrosting, Rear 187
Delayed switch-off
Exterior lamps 164
Interior lighting 165
Department of Transportation see DOT
Difficulties
While driving 60
With starting the engine 54
Digital clock see Clock
Digital speedometer 149
Dimensions, Vehicle 455
Dipstick see Oil dipstick
Direction of rotation (tires) 294
Displays
Digital speedometer 149
Distronic* 156, 220, 222
Maintenance service indicator 330
Multifunction display 143Outside temperature 142, 149
Symbol messages 376
Text messages 361
Vehicle status message memory 156
Vehicle status messages 359
Distance to empty (range), Trip
computer 169
Distance warning function* 229
Activating 230
Deactivating 230
Intermittent warning sound 229
Symbol 222
Distronic* 218
“Resume” function 225
Activating 223
Cleaning system sensor cover 336
Control system 156, 222
Distance warning function* 229
Driving hints 227
System sensor cover 336
Warning and indicator
lamps 27, 220, 221, 229, 350