2011 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG ESP

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions? Coolant
Stop,
turn
engine
off. The poly-V-belt could be broken.
X
Stop the vehicle immediately as soon as it is safe to do so.
X Turn off the engine immediately.
X Check the poly-V-belt.
X 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.
X If it is intact: Do not continue to drive the vehicle with this
message displayed. Doing so could result in serious engine
damage that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
X Observe the coolant temperature in the multifunction
display.
X Drive to the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately. ? The radiator cooling fan is malfunctioning.
X
Observe the coolant temperature in the multifunction
display.
If

the coolant temperature is below 248‡ (120†), you may
continue driving to an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
X Avoid placing heavy loads on the engine (e.g. by driving
uphill) as well as stop-and-go traffic.
X Have the fan replaced as soon as possible. # The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:
R
alternator malfunctioning
R broken poly-V-belt
X Stop immediately in a safe location or as soon as it is safe
to do so and check the poly-V-belt.
X 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.
X If it is intact: Drive to the nearest authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center immediately. Adjust driving to be consistent
with reduced braking responsiveness. Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions4 Cannot
Measure
Engine
Oil Level SLK 55 AMG only:
The measuring system is malfunctioning.
X
Have the measuring system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. 4 Engine
Oil Level
Reduce
Oil Level SLK 55 AMG only:
You have added too much engine oil. There is a risk of
damaging the engine or the catalytic converter.
X
Have oil siphoned or drained off. Observe all legal
requirements with respect to its disposal. 4 Engine
Oil Level
Stop,
turn
engine
off. The engine oil level is too low. There is a danger of engine
damage.
X
Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon as it is safe
to do so.
X Turn off the engine.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Add engine oil ( Y page 195) and check the engine oil level
(Y page 193). C The fuel level is low.
X
Refuel at the next gas station. 8 Reserve
Fuel The fuel level has dropped below the reserve mark.
X
Refuel at the next gas station. 8 Gas Cap
Is Open A loss of pressure has been detected in the fuel system. The
fuel cap may not be closed properly or the fuel system may
be leaking.
X
Check the fuel cap ( Y page 191).
X If it is not closed properly: Close the fuel cap.
X If it is closed properly: Have the fuel system checked at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 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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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
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G
Warning!
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked at least once a month
when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door B-
pillar
or the tire inflation pressure label on the
inside of the fuel filler flap. If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated
on the Tire and Loading Information placard
or the tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure
for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires are significantly underinflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly underinflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s
handling and stopping ability. Please note that
the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached

the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly. The
TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with
the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will
flash for approximately 1 minute and then
remain continuously illuminated. This
sequence will continue upon subsequent
vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction
exists. When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able to
detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of
reasons, including the installation of
incompatible replacement or alternate tires
or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale after
replacing one or more tires or wheels on your
vehicle to ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to
continue to function properly. Lamp in center console
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions04
The passenger front air
bag off indicator lamp
illuminates and
remains illuminated
with the weight of a
typical adult or
someone larger than a
small individual on the
passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.
X
Have the system checked as soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
X Read and observe messages in the multifunction display and
follow corrective steps (Y page 236). What to do if …
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