2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 engine

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.

416 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*
Turn off the engine (page 64).
With the driver’s door closed, the
starter switch is now in position1.
Turn combination switch to wiper
settingII (
page 58).
With wiper arms in the vertical position,
open the driver’s door.
The starter switch is set to position0,
same as SmartKey removed from
starter switch.
Turn combination switch to wiper
setting0 (
page 58).
Removing wiper blades
Fold the wiper arm forward until it
snaps into place.
Turn wiper blade at a right angle to the
wiper arm.
Slide the wiper blade sideways out of
the retainer.
Installing wiper blades
Slide the wiper blade onto the wiper
arm in opposite direction of arrow.
Rotate the wiper blade into a position
parallel to the wiper arm.
Fold the wiper arm backward to rest on
the windshield. Make sure you hold on
to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back.
!Do not pull on the wiper blade inserts. They
could tear.
!Make sure the wiper blades are properly
installed. Improperly installed wiper blades may
cause windshield damage.

417 Practical hints
Flat tire
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.
Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight ahead
position.
Set the parking brake (page 63).
Move the gear selector lever to
position P.
Turn off the engine (page 64).
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Vehicles with Smartkey: Remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Open the
driver’s door (this puts the starter
switch in position 0, same as with the
SmartKey removed from the starter
switch). The driver’s door then can be
closed again.Mounting the spare wheel
iOpen door only when conditions are safe to
do so.
Warning!G
The dimensions of the spare wheel are dif-
ferent from those of the road wheels. As a
result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a mounted spare
wheel. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with spare wheel mounted, en-
sure proper tire inflation pressure and do
not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the spare wheel
replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.

427 Practical hints
Batteries
Batteries
For more information on batteries, see
“Battery” (
page 290).
Your vehicle is equipped with two
batteries:

The starter battery

The battery for electrical consumers
(consumer battery), located in the
trunk
The starter battery is located on the
right-hand side of the engine compart-
ment.
1Positive terminal
2Negative terminal
3Battery ventilationThe consumer battery is located on the
right-hand side of the trunk.
4Positive terminal
5Negative terminal
!The starter battery, its filler caps, and the
ventilation hose must always be securely
installed when the vehicle is in operation.!The consumer battery located in the trunk is
a valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery, also
referred to as “fleece” battery. Such batteries do
not require topping-up of the electrolyte level.
VRLA batteries therefore do not have cell caps
and the battery cover is non-removable. Do not
attempt to open the consumer battery as other-
wise the battery will be damaged.
Even though VRLA batteries do not require top-
ping-up of the electrolyte level and cannot be
opened to check the electrolyte level, the bat-
tery condition must be checked periodically by
performing a battery conductance test. Refer to
Maintenance Booklet for battery condition test-
ing intervals.
As with any other battery, disconnect the con-
sumer battery if you do not intend to operate
your vehicle for an extended period of time to
prevent battery discharge or connect an acces-
sory battery charge unit expressly approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle model to main-
tain the battery charge. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further information.

428 Practical hints
Batteries
!The factory-equipped VRLA battery is
leak-proofed. Only use a battery as replacement
that has the same security features and is of
identical size, voltage, and capacity as the
factory-equipped battery.
The battery, the battery ventilation and the
lateral plug must always be securely installed
when the vehicle is in operation.
Warning!G
Failure to follow these instructions can
result in severe injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting,
you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc.
!Never loosen or detach battery terminal
clamps while the engine is running or the
SmartKey is in the starter switch. Otherwise the
alternator and other electronic components
could be severely damaged.
Have the starter battery checked regularly by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for maintenance
intervals or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further information.
Warning!G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof batteries only to avoid the
risk of acid burns in the event of an acci-
dent.
Warning!G
The brake system requires electrical power
to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. The same applies if
battery is disconnected. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes are only applied to the
front wheels.
Stopping distance is increased! Adjust your
driving style accordingly. For more informa-
tion, see “Electro-hydraulic brake system”
(
page 94).

429 Practical hints
Batteries
Disconnecting the batteries
Apply the parking brake (page 63).
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to position P (
page 172).
Close the retractable hardtop
(
page 204).
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Turn off the engine (page 64).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Open
the driver’s door.
Open the trunk.
Read and observe safety instructions
and precautions (
page 290).
Open the luggage cover in the trunk
(
page 211).
Remove the trunk floor.
The battery for electrical consumers is
located in the right hand area of the
trunk (
page 400).
Use the 10 mm open-end wrench from
the vehicle tool kit to disconnect the
negative lead from negative
terminal5 of the consumer battery
(
page 427).
Warning!G
With a disconnected battery

you will no longer be able to turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch and
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever will
have no effect

the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP
!Always disconnect the batteries in the order
described below, even if you only want to charge
the starter battery, for example. Otherwise the
vehicle’s electronics can be damaged.


430 Practical hints
Batteries
Open the hood (page 282).
Use the 10 mm open-end wrench from
the vehicle tool kit to disconnect the
negative lead from negative
terminal2 of the starter battery
(
page 427).
Remove the covers from the positive
terminals 1 and 4 (
page 427).
Disconnect the positive lead from pos-
itive terminal 4 of the consumer bat-
tery (
page 427).
Disconnect the positive lead from pos-
itive terminal 1 of the starter battery
(
page 427).
Removing the batteries
Removing the consumer battery
Remove the screws securing the bat-
tery in the trunk.
Remove the battery support and
bracket.
Pull out the battery ventilation hose
from the battery.
Depending on battery arrangement in
your vehicle model, the ventilation tube
is located either on the left or right side
of the battery.
Take out the battery.
Removing the starter battery
Remove the screws securing the start-
er battery in the engine compartment.
Pull battery ventilation 3
(
page 427) out of the battery.
Lift the retaining bracket.
Remove the battery.
Charging and reinstalling batteries
Warning!G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle unless the accessory battery
charge unit approved by Mercedes-Benz is
being used. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury.
An accessory battery charge unit specially
adapted for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz is
available, permitting the charging of the
battery in its installed position. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for infor-
mation and availability. Charge battery in
accordance with the separate instructions
for the accessory battery charger.


431 Practical hints
Batteries
Charge batteries in accordance with
the instructions of the battery charger
manufacturer.
Reinstall the charged batteries. Follow
the previously described steps in re-
verse order.
Reconnecting the batteries
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Install starter battery in the designated
location in the engine compartment.
Install consumer battery in the desig-
nated location in the trunk.
Attach supports and brackets.
Tighten support and bracket screws.
Connect positive lead 4 (page 427)
of the consumer battery and positive
lead 1 (
page 427) of the starter bat-
tery and fasten covers.
Connect negative lead 2
(
page 427) of the starter battery.
Connect negative lead 5
(
page 427) of the consumer battery.
Reinstall the trunk floor.
Close trunk luggage cover
(
page 211).
!Always connect the batteries in the order
described below. Otherwise the vehicle’s elec-
tronics can be damaged.
!Never invert the terminal connections!
iThe following procedures must be carried
out following any interruption of battery power
(e.g. due to reconnection):

Synchronize the ESP® (page 367).

Synchronize side windows (page 203).