2009 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR air conditioning

Contents
Setting the temperature ............... 189
Adjusting air distribution .............. 190
Adjusting air volume .................... 191
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ...... 191
Front defroster ............................. 192
Air recirculation mode.................. 193
Air conditioning ............................ 194
Residual heat and ventilation ....... 195
Open air ............................................. 196
Opening and closing the door windows
196
Synchronizing power windows ..... 198
Opening and closing the soft top . 198
Wind screen ................................. 201
Linkage covers ............................. 202
Driving systems ................................. 205
Cruise control .............................. 205
Useful features .................................. 209
Map pocket in passenger footwell 209
Storage compartments ................ 209
Parcel net in trunk........................ 210
Ashtray and cigarette lighter ........ 210
Power outlet................................. 212
Telephone .................................... 212
Tele Aid ........................................ 215
Garage door opener ..................... 221Floormat, driver’s side .................. 227
Floormats* (Only Mercedes-Benz SLR
McLaren Roadster 722S) .............. 228
Dust cover .................................... 229
Roof and trunk lid racks ................ 230
Operation.......................................... 232
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) .......... 234
Driving instructions ............................ 235
Drive sensibly – save fuel.............. 235
Drinking and driving ...................... 235
Pedals ........................................... 235
Power assistance .......................... 236
Brakes........................................... 236
Driving off ..................................... 239
Parking.......................................... 240
Tires .............................................. 240
Hydroplaning................................. 241
Tire traction .................................. 241
Tire speed rating ........................... 242
Winter driving instructions ............ 242
Standing water.............................. 243
Passenger compartment ............... 244
Driving abroad .............................. 244Control and operation of radio
transmitters .................................. 244
Catalytic converter ....................... 245
Emission control ........................... 245
Coolant temperature .................... 246
At the gas station ............................... 247
Refueling....................................... 247
Check regularly and before a long trip .
248
Engine compartment .......................... 250
Hood ............................................. 250
Engine oil ...................................... 253
Transmission fluid level ................ 254
Coolant ......................................... 255
Trunk .................................................. 256
Batteries ....................................... 256
Windshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system ................... 257
Tires and wheels ................................ 259
Important guidelines ..................... 259
Tire care and maintenance ........... 260
Direction of rotation ..................... 262
Loading the vehicle ....................... 262
Recommended tire inflation pressure ..
268
Checking tire inflation pressure .... 270

Contents
Weights.............................................. 392
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 393
Capacities .................................... 393
Approved engine oils.................... 395
Engine oil additives ...................... 395
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 396
Brake fluid .................................... 396
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 396
Fuel requirements ........................ 397
Gasoline additives ........................ 397
Coolants....................................... 398
Windshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system .................. 401Technical terms............................... 402Index................................................. 408

187 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
The automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can
operate the climate control system in ei-
ther the automatic or manual mode. The
system cools or heats the interior depend-
ing on the selected interior temperature
and the current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the ±mode is activated
(
page 194).
Warning!
G
When operating the automatic climate con-
trol, the air that enters the passenger com-
partment through the air vents can be very
hot or very cold (depending on the set tem-
perature). This may cause burns or frostbite
to unprotected skin in the immediate area of
the air vents. Always keep sufficient dis-
tance between unprotected parts of the
body and the air vents. If necessary, use the
air distribution controls (
page 190) to di-
rect the air to air vents in the vehicle interior
that are not in the immediate area of
unprotected skin.
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following
pages. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you
and/or others.
i
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before its
scheduled interval. A clogged filter will reduce
the air volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the interior
before driving off. The automatic climate control
will then adjust the interior temperature to the
set value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow and debris.

188 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlDeactivating the automatic climate control system
Deactivating
It is possible to completely deactivate the
automatic climate control system. 
Press button M (
page 186).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Reactivating

Press button M (
page 186).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
or

Turn one of the temperature controls
on the automatic climate control
(page 186).
The indicator lamp on button M
goes out.Operating the automatic climate
control system in automatic mode
Air distribution and air volume can be
adjusted automatically by the automatic
climate control system. You can also ad-
just the settings for air distribution and air
volume manually.
Warning!
G
When the automatic climate control system
is switched off, the outside air supply and
circulation are also switched off. Only
choose this setting for a short time. Other-
wise the windows could fog up, impairing
visibility and endangering you and/or
others.
i
Under certain circumstances, e.g. when the
fuel system is too hot and needs to be cooled,
the cooling switches on again automatically. The
red lamp on the ± button the automatic
climate control panel flashes.
After cooling the fuel system sufficiently, the air
conditioning switches off again and the red lamp
stops flashing.
i
When operating the automatic climate
control system in automatic mode, you will only
rarely need to adjust the temperature, air volume
and air distribution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehumidifica-
tion is switched on. This function can be
switched off if necessary (
page 194).

192 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlFront defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
door windows.
Activating
Press button P (
page 186).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning switches to the
following functions automatically:


cooling on to dehumidify


maximum blower speed and
heating power


air flows onto the windshield
and the door windows


the air recirculation mode is
switched offDeactivating

Press button P (
page 186).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
The previous settings are in effect
again.Windshield fogged on the outside

Switch the windshield wipers on
(page 52).
If the automatic air distribution and air
volume are switched off:

Turn air distribution controls1 and 5
(page 186) to position h ork.
or

Press control buttons 1, 5 and 9
(page 186).
The control buttons are engaged.
TheU symbol on the control
buttons come on. Air distribution and
air volume are adjusted automatically.
i
Keep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the door windows are clear again.
i
The cooling remains switched on.
i
Keep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.

193 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside. This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.Activating

Press button , (
page 186).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating

Press button , (
page 186).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
At outside temperatures above 79°F
(26°C) the system will not automatically
switch back to outside air.
Warning!
G
Fogged windows impair visibility, endanger-
ing you and others. If the windows begin to
fog on the inside, switching off the air
recirculation mode immediately should clear
interior window fogging. If interior window
fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 194) is activated, or
press buttonP.
i
The air recirculation mode is activated auto-
matically


at high outside temperatures


if the concentration of carbon monoxide
(CO) and nitrogen oxide (NO
X) in the outside
air increases, for example in a tunnel
A quantity of outside air is added after approxi-
mately 30 minutes.
If you have turned off the air conditioning
(
page 194) or the outside temperature is be-
low 41°F (5°C), the air recirculation mode will
not switch on automatically.
i
The manually selected air recirculation
mode is deactivated automatically


after 5 minutes if the outside temperature is
below approximately 41°F (5°C)


after 5 minutes if the air conditioning is
turned off


after 30 minutes if the outside temperature
is above approximately 41°F (5°C)

194 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlAir conditioning
The air conditioning (cooling) function is
operational when the engine is running and
cools the vehicle interior down to the se-
lected temperature. In addition, the cool-
ing function dehumidifies the air in the
vehicle interior, thus preventing the
windows from fogging up.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the cooling
function of the automatic climate control
system. The air in the vehicle will then no
longer be cooled or dehumidified.

Press ± button (
page 186).
The indicator lamp on the ±
button comes on. The cooling function
switches off after a short delay.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air
conditioning.

Press ± button again (
page 186).
The indicator lamp on the ± button
goes out.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.
Warning!
G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and/or
others.i
Condensation may drip out from underneath
the vehicle. This is normal and not an indication
of a malfunction.
i
Under certain circumstances, e.g. when the
fuel system is too hot and needs to be cooled,
the cooling switches on again automatically. The
red lamp on the ± button the automatic
climate control panel flashes.
After cooling the fuel system sufficiently, the air
conditioning switches off again and the red lamp
stops flashing.
!
If you press the ± button on the auto-
matic climate control panel and it starts to flash,
this indicates that the air conditioning is losing
refrigerant. The compressor has turned off. The
air conditioning cannot be turned on again.
Have the air conditioning checked at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

286 OperationTires and wheelsTire ply material
1Plies in sidewall
2Plies under tread
This marking tells you about the type of
cord and number of plies in the sidewall
and under the tread.
Tire and loading terminology
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those
standard items which may be replaced) of
automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power
seats, radio, and heater, to the extent that
these items are available as
factory-installed equipment (whether
installed or not).
Air pressure
The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire.
Air pressure is expressed in pounds per
square inch (psi), or kilopascal (kPa) or
bars.
Aspect ratio
Dimensional relationship between tire
section height and section width
expressed in percentage.Bar
Another metric unit for air pressure. There
are 14.5038 pounds per square inch (psi)
to 1 bar; there are 100 kilopascals (kPa)
to 1 bar.
Bead
The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped
by steel cords that hold the tire onto the
rim.
Cold tire inflation pressure
Tire inflation pressure when your vehicle
has been sitting for at least three hours or
driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Curb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with stan-
dard equipment including the maximum
capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so
equipped, air conditioning and additional
optional equipment, but without passen-
gers and cargo.
i
For illustration purposes only. Actual data
on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary
from data shown in above illustration.