2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG trunk

290 Operation
Engine compartment
Battery
Your vehicle is equipped with two
batteries:

The starter battery (located in the
engine compartment)

The battery for electrical consumers
(located in the trunk)
These batteries should always be suffi-
ciently charged in order to achieve their
rated service life. Refer to Maintenance
Booklet for battery maintenance intervals.
If you use your vehicle mostly for
short-distance trips, you will need to
have the battery charge checked more
frequently.
When replacing batteries, always use
batteries approved by Mercedes-Benz.
If you do not intend to operate your vehicle
for an extended period of time, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center about
steps you need to observe.Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
Warning!G
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries.
Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and smoking
are prohibited when handling
batteries. Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic. Do not
allow it to come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective cloth-
ing, especially gloves, apron and
faceguard.
Wear eye protection.
Rinse any acid spills imme-
diately with clear water. Contact
a physician if necessary.
Keep children away.
Follow the instructions in this
Operator’s Manual.

399 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ÊThis message will appear when the
trunk lid is open and you are trying
to open or close the retractable
hardtop.Close the trunk lid.
MTrunk Partition
OpenYou 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 210).
WTop Up
Washer FluidThe washer fluid in the washer fluid
reservoir has fallen below the mini-
mum level.Add washer fluid (page 289).
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.

400 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is located in storage com-
partment under the passenger seat.
1Handle
2Lid
Pull handle 1 up.
Fold lid 2 down.
You can now remove the first aid kit.
Vehicle tool kit, jack, and spare wheel
The vehicle tool kit, jack, and spare wheel
are stored in the space underneath the
trunk floor.
Lift up the trunk floor cover.
You can now remove the tools and
accessories.
The vehicle tool kit includes

One pair of universal pliers

Two open-end wrenches

One hex-socket wrench

One interchangeable slot/Phillips
screwdriver

One towing eye bolt

One alignment bolt

One fuse chartiCheck expiration dates and contents for
completeness at least once a year and replace
missing/expired items.
Warning!G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack tubes built into
both sides of the vehicle. To help avoid per-
sonal injury, use the jack only to lift the ve-
hicle during a wheel change. Never get
beneath the vehicle while it is supported by
the jack. Keep hands and feet away from the
area under the lifted vehicle. Always firmly
set parking brake and block wheels before
raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on a hard level surface. Be sure that the jack
arm is fully inserted in the jack tube. Always
lower the vehicle onto sufficient capacity
jackstands before working under the vehi-
cle.

401 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
1Spare wheel
2Electric air pump
3Vehicle tool kit
4Storage well casing
Take spare wheel 1 out of the trunk,
see “Removing the spare wheel”
(
page 401), to access jack 5 and
wheel wrench 6.5Jack
6Wheel wrench
Removing the spare wheel
Open the trunk (page 114).
Lift up the trunk floor cover.
Remove storage well casing that con-
tains the vehicle tool kit and the elec-
tric air pump.1Spare wheel
2Tensioning strap (vehicles with
19" spare wheel only)
3Retaining screw
4Storage well casing base
Remove storage well casing base 4.
Remove retaining screw 3 by turning
it counterclockwise.
Remove spare wheel 1.

402 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Storing the spare wheel after use
If you wish to store the spare wheel after
use, carry out the following steps. Other-
wise, the spare wheel may not fit the spare
wheel well.
Unscrew the valve cap from the valve
of the collapsible tire.
Take the valve extractor from the
vehicle tool kit (
page 400).
Unscrew the valve insert from the valve
and allow the air to escape.
Screw the valve insert back into the
valve.
Screw the valve cap back onto the
valve.
Store the spare wheel by carrying out
the steps described in “Removing the
spare wheel” (
page 401) in reverse
order.
Compressing the collapsible tire
(vehicles with 19" spare wheel only)
The collapsible tire on a 19" spare wheel
must be compressed with two tensioning
straps before you can store it back in the
trunk.
Extend the tensioning strap by pulling
the slider.
Place tensioning strap around spare
wheel rim and collapsible tire with the
buckle facing the inside of the rim.
Close the buckle.
Pull the loose end of the tensioning
strap.
The tensioning strap must be pulled as
tight as possible.
!Make sure the spare wheel is dry before
storing it.
iIt may take a few minutes for the collapsible
tire to deflate completely.
iVehicles with 19" spare wheel only: Before
storing the spare wheel in trunk fasten tension-
ing straps, see “Compressing the collapsible tire
(vehicles with 19" spare wheel only)”
(
page 402).
iThe tensioning straps are shown in red for
illustration purposes. The tensioning straps on
the spare wheel of your vehicle are black.

403 Practical hints
Locking/unlocking in an emergency
Locking/unlocking in an emergency
Unlocking the vehicle
If you cannot unlock the vehicle using the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, unlock the
driver’s door and the trunk using the
mechanical key.
1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key
Move locking tab 1 direction of arrow
and slide the mechanical key 2 out of
the housing.Unlocking the driver’s door
Insert mechanical key 2 into the
driver’s door lock until it stops.
Turn mechanical key 2 counterclock-
wise to position 1.
The driver’s door is unlocked. You can
now open the driver’s door.
iUnlocking the vehicle with the mechanical
key and opening the driver’s door or the trunk
will trigger the anti-theft alarm system
(
page 98).
To cancel the alarm, insert the SmartKey or the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* in the starter
switch.
1Unlocking
2Mechanical key

404 Practical hints
Locking/unlocking in an emergency
Unlocking the trunk
A minimum height clearance of 6.2 ft
(1.89 m) is required to open the trunk lid.
Insert mechanical key 3 into the trunk
lid lock until it stops.
Turn mechanical key 3 counterclock-
wise to position 1.
The trunk is unlocked
Pull handle 2 and lift lid.
Turn mechanical key 3 back and
remove it from the trunk lid lock.
Unlocking the glove box
Lockable storage areas in the passenger
compartment include:

the glove box

the storage compartment under the
armrest

the rear storage compartments
If these cannot be unlocked by means of
the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*, use the mechanical key to
unlock the glove box.
Slide mechanical key 2 out of
SmartKey housing (
page 403).
Insert mechanical key 2 into the glove
box lock and turn it counterclockwise
to position1.
You can now open the glove box.
1Unlocking
2Handle
3Mechanical key
iTo unlock the remaining storage compart-
ments, the cause for the malfunction of the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
must be determined and corrected, see
(
page 105) and (page 109).
1Separately unlocking the glove box
2Mechanical key

405 Practical hints
Locking/unlocking in an emergency
Locking the vehicle
If you cannot lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey, lock it with the mechanical key
as follows:
Close the passenger door and the
trunk.
Press the central locking switch in the
center console (
page 122).
Check whether the locking knob on the
passenger door has moved down.
If necessary push it down manually.
Remove the mechanical key from the
SmartKey (
page 403).
Check whether the trunk is locked.
If necessary, lock the trunk with the
mechanical key (
page 120).
Except for the driver’s door, the vehicle
should now be locked.
Insert mechanical key 2 into the
driver’s door lock until it stops.
Turn mechanical key 2 clockwise to
position 1.
The driver’s door is locked.
iUnlocking the glove box with the mechanical
key will trigger the anti-theft alarm system. To
cancel the alarm, do one of the following:

Press button Œ or ‹on the
SmartKey.

Insert the SmartKey in the starter switch.

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(
page 41).

Grasp an outside door handle (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO* only).
1Locking
2Mechanical key
iThis procedure does not arm the anti-theft
alarm system, nor does it lock the fuel filler flap
and the storage compartments.
The storage compartments can be locked
separately (
page 240).