2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 engine

351 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
CThe yellow roll bar warning lamp
comes on or flickers when the
engine is running.The roll bar system is malfunctioning.For safety reasons, always have the roll
bar raised when driving with the retract-
able hardtop open.
Attempt to raise the roll bar manually
(
page 83).
Have the roll bar checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Warning!G
If the roll bar warning lamp in the
instrument cluster does not go out after
starting the engine, flickers, or if it comes on
while driving, the roll bar system is not oper-
ating properly and may not activate in an
accident. At the same time, the message
Raise Roll-over Bar appears in the
multifunction display. In this case, raise the
roll bar manually before continuing to drive
(
page 83).
For safety reasons, drive only with the roll
bar raised until the malfunction has been
repaired. Have your vehicle checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

352 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
on for a maximum of 6 seconds
after starting the engine.The seat belt telltale reminds you and your
passenger to fasten your seat belts before
driving off.Fasten your seat belts.
Regardless of whether the seat belts
are fastened or not, the seat belt tell-
tale always comes on and remains lit
for 6 seconds after starting the en-
gine.
maximum of 6 seconds after
starting the engine.You have forgotten to fasten your seat belt.Fasten your seat belt.
The warning chime stops sounding.
on while the vehicle is standing
still and the engine is running or
during driving.You and/or your passenger have forgotten to
fasten your seat belts.Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out.
There are items placed on the passenger seat
and therefore the system senses the passen-
ger seat as being occupied.Remove the items from the passenger
seat and put them in a safe place.
The seat belt telltale goes out.

354 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
1The red SRS indicator lamp
comes on when the engine is
running.There is a malfunction in the restraint sys-
tems. The air bags or Emergency Tensioning
Devices (ETDs) could deploy unexpectedly or
fail to activate in an accident.Drive with added caution to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Warning!G
In the event that a malfunction of the SRS is
indicated as outlined above, the SRS may
not be operational. For your safety, we
strongly recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immedi-
ately to have the system checked; otherwise
the SRS may not be deployed when needed
in an accident, which could result in serious
or fatal injury, or it might deploy
unexpectedly and unnecessarily which
could also result in an accident and/or
injury to you or to others.

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.

372 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
PGear Selector
Lever To PYou have tried to start the engine with
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
with the gear selector lever not in
position P.Place the gear selector lever in position P.
You have tried to turn off the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button with the gear selector lever not
in position P.
Run Flat IndicatorInoperativeThe Run Flat Indicator is
malfunctioning.Have the Run Flat Indicator checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The Run Flat Indicator has been
switched off due to an error.

376 Practical hints
What to do if …
Symbol messages
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
# The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning

broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake system
requires electrical energy and may
be operating with restricted capa-
bility. Considerably greater brake
pedal force is required and the stop-
ping distance is increased.
Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe loca-
tion and check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise, the
engine will overheat due to an inoperative
water pump which may result in damage
to the engine. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is in order:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center immediately. Adjust driving to be
consistent with reduced braking respon-
siveness.
There is a malfunction in the elec-
tronic system.Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

377 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
# Battery/
Alternator
Stop CarThe battery is malfunctioning.
The electro-hydraulic brake system
requires electrical energy and
therefore has only limited opera-
tion. Considerably greater brake
pedal force is required and the stop-
ping distance is increased.Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
Adjust driving to be consistent with reduced
braking responsiveness.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
USA only:
;
Canada only:
3
Reduced
Brake Effect
Start EngineThe battery has insufficient voltage
and cannot supply sufficient power
to the electro-hydraulic brake sys-
tem.Start the engine.
The message disappears when sufficient
voltage is available.
Warning!G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and lead to death. Do not
run the engine in confined areas (such as a
garage) which are not properly ventilated.

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.