2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 brake

381 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
USA only:
;
Canada only:
3
Check
Brake Fluid LevelThere is insufficient brake fluid in
the reservoir.Risk of accident!
Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so.
Do not drive any further.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
Warning!G
Driving with the message Check Brake
Fluid Level
displayed can result in an
accident. Have your brake system checked
immediately. Do not add brake fluid before
checking the brake system. Overfilling the
brake fluid reservoir can result in spilling
brake fluid on hot engine parts and the
brake fluid catching fire. You could 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.

382 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
USA only:
;
Canada only:
3
Brake
Service
RequiredThere are malfunctions, but the
electro-hydraulic brake system is
operating normally.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Brakes Overheated
Drive on, but with
even greater care
.
The brake system is overheated due
to an excessive load on the brakes.Relieve the load on the brake system:
Drive more smoothly and think ahead to
avoid unnecessary braking.
When driving down steep grades, shift into
a lower gear to use the engine’s braking
power (
page 179).
Cautiously continue driving so that the air
stream will cool down the brakes.
USA only:
;
Canada only:
!
Release
Parking BrakeYou are driving with the parking
brake set.Release the parking brake (page 63).

392 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
FKey Detected
In VehicleA SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* left
in the vehicle was recognized while
locking the vehicle from the out-
side.Take the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* out of
the vehicle.
.3rd Brake LampThe high mounted brake lamp is
malfunctioning. This message will
only appear if a critical number of
LEDs have stopped working.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
AUTO Light
InoperativeThe light sensor is malfunctioning.
The headlamps switch on automati-
cally.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
To switch off the headlamps (U.S. vehicles only):
In the control system, set lamp operation to
manual mode (
page 163).
Switch on headlamps using the exterior lamp
switch (
page 131).
Brake Lamp
Left
Auxiliary Bulb OnThe left brake lamp is malfunction-
ing. An auxiliary bulb has been
brought into use.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Brake Lamp
Right
Auxiliary Bulb OnThe right brake lamp is malfunction-
ing. An auxiliary bulb has been
brought into use.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.

397 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
HPlease correct
the tire pressure.The tire inflation pressure is too
low in one or more tires.Check and correct tire inflation pressure as required
(
page 302).
Tire Pressure
Caution
Tire DefectOne or more tires are deflating.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers.
If necessary, change the wheel (page 417).
Caution
Tire defectOne or more tires are deflating.
Vehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The respective tire is indicated in
the multifunction display.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers.
If necessary, change the wheel (page 417).
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Warning!G
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being over-
heated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.

398 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
HTire Pressure
Check TiresThe tire pressure in one or more
tires is already below the mini-
mum value.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers.
Check and adjust tire pressure as required.
If necessary, change the wheel.
Check TiresThe tire pressure in one or more
tires is already below the mini-
mum value.
Vehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The respective tire is indicated in
the multifunction display.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers.
Check and adjust tire pressure as required.
If necessary, change the wheel (page 417).
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Warning!G
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being over-
heated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.

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.

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).

410 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Front lamps Rear lamps
LampType
1 Additional turn signalLED
2Turn signal lamp1156 NA
3Low beam1,2
1Vehicles with Bi-Xenon* headlamps: Low beam
and high beam use the same D2S-35W lamp.
2Vehicles with Bi-Xenon* headlamps: Do not
replace the Xenon and Bi-Xenon* bulbs yourself.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
D2S-35W
4Xenon headlamp:
High beam, high beam
flasherH7 (55 W)
Bi-Xenon headlamp*:
High beam flasherH7 (55 W)
Parking and standing
lampW 5 W
5Front fog lamp,
Corner-illuminating
front fog lamp*H11 (55 W)
6Side marker lampW 5 W
LampType
7 Rear fog lamp
(driver’s side only)P 21 W
8 High mounted brake
lampLED
9 Backup lampP 21 W
a Tail, parking and
standing lamp, side
marker lampLED
b Brake lampLED
c License plate lampC 5 W
d Turn signal lampPY 21 W