2009 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR cooling

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

54 Getting startedDrivingProblems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.


The engine electronics may not be
operating properly.


Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.

Give very little gas.

Have the problem repaired by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.The coolant temperature is
above 248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.

Stop the vehicle as soon as possible in
a safe location and turn off the engine.
Allow engine and coolant to cool off.

Check the coolant level and add
coolant if necessary (
page 255).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:

Do not start the engine under any
circumstances.

Notify local fire and/or police
authorities.
If the extent of the damage cannot be
determined:

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call Roadside Assistance.
If no damage can be determined on the


major assemblies


fuel system


engine mount:

Start the engine in the usual manner.

186 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlAutomatic climate control panel
Function
1
Air distribution, left (automatic or
manual operation)
2
Front defroster
3
Air recirculation
4
Rear window defroster (
page 183)
5
Air distribution, right (automatic or
manual operation)
Function
6
Temperature control, right
7
Automatic climate control on/off
(entire system)
8
Residual heat/ventilation
9
Air volume control (automatic or
manual operation)
a
AC cooling on/off
b
Temperature control, left

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).

191 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control

Turn control button to the desired
symbol.
The air distribution is adjusted accord-
ing to the chosen setting.
Opening the center air vents

Turn thumbwheel 7 (
page 185)
upward.
Center air vents 2 and 4
(
page 185) are open.
Closing the center air vents

Turn thumbwheel 7 (
page 185)
downward.
Center air vents 2 and 4
(
page 185) are closed.Opening the side air vents

Turn thumbwheel 6 and 8
(page 185) upward.
The corresponding side air vent is
open.
Closing the side air vents

Turn thumbwheel 6 and 8
(page 185) upward.
The corresponding side air vent is
closed.
Adjusting air volume
Use air volume control9 (
page 186) for
both automatic (
page 188) and manual
air volume adjustment. Nine blower
speeds are available.

Press control button9 (
page 186).
The control button sticks up slightly.
The U symbol on the control button
goes out. Automatic air volume control
is switched off. The air volume is ad-
justed corresponding to the set blower
speed.
Maximum cooling MAX COOL
If the left and right air distribution controls
as well as the airflow volume control are
set to U and there is a high need for
cooling, MAX COOL is activated.
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior, when the soft top is
closed.
i
You can also turn the air distribution control
to a position between two symbols.
i
The air vents are continuously variable.

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.

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.