2011 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK300 Owner's Manual

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutionsb Turn
Signal
Front Left
or
Turn
Signal
Front
Right The left or right front turn signal lamp is malfunctioning.
X
Replace the bulb as soon as possible (Y page 267). b Left
Mirror
Turn
Signal
or
Right
Mirror
Turn
Signal The turn signal in the left or right exterior rear view mirror is
malfunctioning.
This message will only appear if all LEDs have
stopped working.
X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible. Tires
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutionsh Please
correct
the tire
pressure. The tire inflation pressure is too low in at least one tire.
or
The tire inflation pressure of the individual tires differ from
each other significantly.
X
Check and correct tire inflation pressure as required
(Y page 201). h Tire
Pressure
Caution -
Tire
Defect At least one tire is deflating.
X
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers.
X If necessary, change the wheel (Y page 273). h Tire
Pressure
Check
Tires The tire inflation pressure in at least one tire is significantly
below the reference value.
X
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers.
X Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as required.
X If necessary, change the wheel (Y page 273). Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
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G
Warning!
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. G
Warning!
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 overheated.
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. What to do if …
Lamps in instrument cluster
Notes If any of the following lamps in the instrument
cluster fails to come on during the bulb self-
check when switching on the ignition, have
the respective bulb checked and replaced if
necessary.
When you switch on the ignition, all lamps in
the instrument cluster come on. The high-
beam headlamp indicator lamp and turn
signal indicator lamps will only come on if
activated. If a lamp in the instrument cluster
fails

to come on when the ignition is switched
on, have it checked and replaced if necessary. 256
What to do if …
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Brake
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions!
The yellow ABS
indicator lamp
comes on while
the engine is
running. The ABS has detected a malfunction and switched off. The BAS
and the ESP
®
are also switched off.
The brake system is still functioning normally but without the
systems specified above available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning, other systems such as
the
navigation system or the automatic transmission may also be
malfunctioning.
X Continue driving with added caution. Wheels may lock during
hard braking, reducing steering capability.
X Adjust driving to be consistent with reduced braking
responsiveness.
X Read and observe messages that may appear in the
multifunction display

(Y page 236).
X Have the system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident. !
The yellow ABS
indicator lamp
comes on while
the engine is
running. The ABS has switched off due to insufficient power supply.
The battery might not be charged sufficiently.
When the voltage is above the required value again, the ABS is
operational again. The ABS indicator lamp should go out.
X
Continue driving with added caution. Wheels may lock during
hard braking, reducing steering capability.
X Adjust driving to be consistent with reduced braking
responsiveness.
X Read and observe messages that may appear in the
multifunction display

(Y page 236).
X If the ABS indicator lamp does not go out: Have the alternator
and the battery checked. !
The yellow ABS
indicator lamp
comes on while
the engine is
running. The self-diagnosis has not been completed yet.
The indicator lamp will go out after driving a short distance at a
vehicle speed of above 12 mph

(20 km/h). What to do if …
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Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions$ (USA only)
J (Canada only)
The red brake warning
lamp comes on while
driving and an acoustic
warning sounds. You are driving with the parking brake engaged.
X
Release the parking brake. $ (USA only)
J (Canada only)
The red brake warning
lamp comes on while
the engine is running. There is insufficient brake fluid in the reservoir.
Risk of accident!
X
Do not drive any further. Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as it is safe to do so.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Read and observe messages that may appear in the
multifunction display
(Y page 236).
X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve the problem. G
Warning!
Driving with the brake warning lamp
illuminated can result in an accident. Have
your

brake system checked immediately if the
brake warning lamp stays on. 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 can 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. 258
What to do if …
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Safety systems
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions7
The red seat belt
telltale comes
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.
X
Fasten your seat belts.
Regardless of whether the seat belts are fastened or not, the seat
belt telltale always comes on and remains lit for 6 seconds after
starting the engine. 7
The red seat belt
telltale comes
on. In addition
you hear a
warning chime
for a maximum
of 6 seconds
after
starting the
engine. You have forgotten to fasten your seat belt.
X
Fasten your seat belt.
The warning chime stops sounding. 7
The red seat belt
telltale comes
on while the
vehicle is
standing still
and

the engine is
running or while
driving. You and/or your passenger have forgotten to fasten your seat
belts.
X
Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out. There are items placed on the passenger seat and therefore the
system senses the passenger seat as being occupied.
X
Remove the items from the passenger seat and put them in a
safe place.
The seat belt telltale goes out. 7
The red seat belt
telltale flashes
while driving. In
addition, an
intermittent
warning chime
sounds with
increasing
intensity. The vehicle’s speed once exceeded 15 mph (25 km/h) and you
and/or your passenger have forgotten to fasten your seat belts.
X
Fasten your seat belts.
The seat belt telltale goes out and the warning chime stops
sounding. There are items placed on the passenger seat and therefore the
system senses the passenger seat as being occupied.
X
Remove the items from the passenger seat and put them in a
safe place.
The seat belt telltale goes out and the warning chime stops
sounding. What to do if …
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i
After 60 seconds with an unfastened seat belt the warning chime stops sounding and the
seat belt telltale illuminates continuously. The seat belt telltale will only go out if both, the
driver and passenger’s seat belt are fastened, or the vehicle is standing still and a door is
opened. Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions+
The red SRS
indicator lamp
comes on while
driving. There is a malfunction in the restraint systems. The air bags or
Emergency

Tensioning Devices (ETDs) could deploy unexpectedly
or fail to activate in an accident.
X Drive with added caution to the nearest authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center. G
Warning!
In the event 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 immediately to have the system
checked. Otherwise the SRS may not be
activated

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 injury. Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutionsd
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp
comes on while
the engine is
running. The ESP
®
has been switched off.
Risk of accident!
When

the ESP ®
is switched off it will not stabilize the vehicle if the
system recognizes that the vehicle starts to skid or that a wheel
is spinning.
X Switch the ESP ®
back on.
Exceptions:
(Y page 50).
X If leaving the ESP ®
switched off, adapt your speed and driving
to the prevailing road and weather conditions.
X If the ESP ®
cannot be switched back on: Have the system
checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible. d
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp
comes on while
the engine is
running. The ESP
®
is not operational due to a malfunction.
Risk of accident!
X Read and observe additional messages that may appear in the
multifunction display.
X Continue driving with added caution. Wheels may lock during
hard braking, reducing steering capability.
X Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road and weather
conditions.
X Have the system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible. 260
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Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutionsd
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp
flashes while
driving. The ESP
®
or the Electronic Traction System (ETS) has come into
operation because of detected traction loss in at least one tire.
X When driving off, apply as little throttle as possible.
X While driving, ease up on the accelerator pedal.
X Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road and weather
conditions.
X Do not deactivate the ESP ®
.
Exceptions: (Y page 50).
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident. Vehicle
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions8
The yellow fuel
tank reserve
warning lamp
comes on when
the engine is
running.
In addition the
message
Reserve Fuel
appears in the
multifunction
display. The fuel level has gone below the reserve mark.
X
Refuel at the next gas station.
After refueling you will see the message 1 Message in the
multifunction display.
X Press reset button . to confirm the message ( Y page 92).8
The yellow fuel
tank reserve
warning lamp
comes on when
the engine is
running. The fuel cap is not closed properly.
X
Close the fuel cap. What to do if …
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Engine
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions! (USA only)
; (Canada only)
The yellow engine
malfunction indicator
lamp comes on when
the engine is running. There may be a malfunction in
R
the fuel management system
R the ignition system
R the emission control system
R systems which affect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive emissions values and
may
switch the engine to limp-home (emergency operation) mode.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
i Some states may by law require you to visit a workshop as
soon

as the engine malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Check
local requirements. Tires
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutionsh
USA only:
Combination
low

tire pressure
telltale/TPMS
malfunction
telltale for the
Advanced TPMS
illuminates
continuously. The Advanced TPMS detects a loss of pressure in at least one tire.
X
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt steering and
braking maneuvers. Observe the traffic situation around you.
X Read and observe messages in the multifunction display
(Y page 236).
If the tire inflation pressure in the respective tire(s) has (have) been
corrected, the combination low tire pressure/TPMS malfunction
telltale goes out after a few minutes of driving. h
USA only:
Combination
low

tire pressure
telltale/TPMS
malfunction
telltale for the
Advanced TPMS
flashes 60
seconds and
then stays
illuminated. There is a malfunction in the Advanced TPMS.
X
Read and observe messages in the multifunction display
(Y page 236).
X Have the Advanced TPMS checked at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
After the malfunction has been remedied, the combination low tire
pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale goes out after a few minutes
of driving. 262
What to do if …
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