2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SL-Class warning

The rear window defroster has a high current
draw. You should therefore switch it off as
soon as the rear window is clear. Otherwise,
the rear window defroster switches off
automatically after several minutes.
If the battery voltage is too low, the rear
window defroster may switch off.
X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock.
X Press the 0010button.
The indicator lamp in the 0010button lights
up or goes out.
Problems with the rear window
defroster The rear window defroster has deactivated
prematurely or cannot be activated.
X
Switch off any consumers that are not
required, e.g. reading lamps or interior
lighting.
When the battery is sufficiently charged,
the rear window defroster is activated
again automatically. Activating/deactivating air-
recirculation mode
G
WARNING
At low outside temperatures, only switch over
to air-recirculation mode for brief periods.
Otherwise, the windows could fog up, thus
impairing visibility and endangering yourself
and others. This may prevent you from observing the traffic conditions and thereby
cause an accident.
X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock.
X To activate: press the0015button.
The indicator lamp in the 0015button lights
up.
i Air-recirculation mode is automatically
activated at high levels of pollution or at
high outside temperatures. When air-
recirculation mode is activated
automatically, the indicator lamp in the
0015 button is not lit.
Outside air is added after about
30 minutes.
X To deactivate: press the0015button.
The indicator lamp in the 0015button goes
out.
i Air-recirculation mode deactivates
automatically:
R after approximately five minutes at
outside temperatures below
approximately 41 ‡ (5 †)
R after approximately five minutes if
cooling with air dehumidification is
deactivated
R after approximately 30 minutes at
outside temperatures above
approximately 41 ‡(5† ) and when the
"Cooling with air dehumidification"
function is active 148
Operating the climate control systemsClimate control

Activating/deactivating the residual
heat function
The residual heat function is only available on
vehicles for Canada. It is possible to make use of the residual heat
of the engine to continue heating the
stationary vehicle for up to 30 minutes after
the engine has been switched off .The heating
time depends on the temperature that has
been set.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0in the
ignition lock or remove it.
X To activate: press the0003button.
The indicator lamp in the 0003button lights
up.
i The blower will run at a low speed
regardless of the airflow setting.
i If you activate the residual heat function
at high temperatures, only the ventilation
will be activated. The blower runs at
medium speed.
X To deactivate: press the0003button.
The indicator lamp in the 0003button goes
out.
Residual heat is deactivated automatically:
R after approximately 30 minutes
R when the ignition is switched on
R if the battery voltage drops
R when the auxiliary heating is activated Setting the air vents
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Very hot or very cold air can flow from the air
vents.T his could cause burns or frostbite to
bare skin in the immediate vicinity of the
vents.K eep bare skin away from these air
vents. If necessary, direct the airflow away to
a different area of the vehicle interior.
In order to ensure the direct flow of fresh air
through the air vents into the vehicle interior,
please observe the following notes:
R keep the air inlet grille on the hood and in
the engine compartment on the front-
passenger side free of blockages, such as
ice, snow or leaves.
R never cover the air vents or air intake grilles
in the vehicle interior.
i You can move the adjuster sfor the air
vents vertically or horizontally to set the
direction of the airflow.
i For optimal climate control in the vehicle,
open the air vents completely and set the
adjusters to the central position. Setting the center air vents Setting the air vents
149Climate control Z

X
To open the center air vent: turn the
adjuster in one of center air vents 0002
counter-clockwise.
X To close the cente rair vent: turn the
adjuster in one of center air vents 0002
clockwise until it engages. Setting the side air vents
0002
Side window defroste rvent
0003 Side air vent
X To open aside air vent: turn the adjuster
in side air vent 0003counter-clockwise.
X To close aside air vent: turn the adjuster
in side air vent 0003clockwise until it
engages. Setting the glove box air vent
! Close the air ven twhen heating the
vehicle.
At high outside temperatures, open the air
vent and activate the "cooling with air
dehumidification" function. Otherwise,
temperature-sensitive items stored in the
glove box could be damaged. 0002
Air vent thumbwheel
0003 Air vent
When automatic climate control is activated,
the glove box can be ventilated, for instance
to cool its contents. The level of airflow
depends on the airflow and air distribution
settings.
X To open/close: turn thumbwheel 0002
clockwise or counterclockwise. AIRSCARF, setting the vents
G
WARNING
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature). This
could cause burns or frostbite to unprotected
skin in the immediate area of the air vents.
Always keep sufficient distance between
unprotected parts of the body and the air
vents.Ifn ecessary, use the air distribution
adjustment to direct the air to air vents in the
vehicle interior that are not in the immediate
area of unprotected skin. 150
Setting the air ventsClimate control

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Y page 38).Notes on breaking-in
anew vehicle Important safety notes
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after
several hundred kilometers of driving.
Compensate for this by applying greater force
to the brake pedal. The first 1,000miles (1,500 km)
The more you look after the engine when it is
new, the more satisfied you will be with its
performance in the future.
R You should therefore drive at varying
vehicle and engine speeds for the first
1,000miles (1,500km).
R Avoid heavy loads, e.g .driving at full
throttle, during this period.
R Change gearing ood time, before the
tachometer needle is 0001of the way to the
red area of the tachometer.
R Do not manually shift to a lower gear to
brake the vehicle.
R If possible, do not depress the accelerator
pedal past the point of resistance
(kickdown). R
Only select shift ranges 3,2or 1when
driving slowly, e.g. in mountainous terrain.
R Ideally, drive for the first 1,000 miles
(1,500km) in drive program C.
After 1,000 miles (1,500km), you can
increase the engine speed gradually and bring
the vehicle up to full speed.
Additional breaking-in notes for AMG
vehicles:
R Do not drive faster than 85 mph
(140 km/h) for the first 1,000 miles
(1,500 km).
R Only allow the engine to reach a maximum
engine speed of 4,500 rpm briefly.
R Change gear in good time.
i You should also observe these notes on
breaking in if the engine or parts of the drive
train on your vehicle have been replaced. AMG vehicles with self-locking rear
axle differential
Your vehicle is equipped with aself-locking
differential on the rear axle. To protect the
differential on the rear axle, carry out an oil
change after a breaking-in phase of
2,000 miles (3,000 km). This oil change
prolongs the service life of the differential.
Have the oil change carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you use an authorized
Mercedes-BenzC enter for this purpose. Driving
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell can restrict the
pedal travel or obstruct adepressed pedal.
The operating and road safety of the vehicle
is jeopardized. There is a risk of an accident.
Make sure that all objects in the vehicle are
stowed correctly, and that they cannot enter
the driver's footwell. Install the floormats 154
DrivingDriving and parking

securely and as specified in order to ensure
sufficient clearance for the pedals. Do not use
loose floormats.
G
WARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage
of the pedals, e.g.:
R shoes with thick soles
R shoes with high heels
R slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals. G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off.
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only shift the automatic transmission to
the desired drive position when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. You could otherwise damage the
drive train.
! AMG vehicles: at low engine oil
temperatures below 68 ‡(+20 †), the maximu
mengine speed is restricted in
order to protect the engine .To protec tthe
engine and maintain smooth engine
operation, avoid driving at full throttle when
the engine is cold. Key positions
SmartKey 0010
To remove the SmartKey
0007 Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windshield wipers
0008 Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
0009 To start the engine
i The SmartKey can be turned in the
ignition lock even if it is not the correct
SmartKey for the vehicle. The ignition is not
switched on. The engine cannot be started.
KEYLESS-GO General notes
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO are equipped with
aS
martKey featuring an integrated KEYLESS-
GO start function and a detachable Start/
Stop button.
You can switch the engine on and off with the
Start/Stop button. The Start/Stop button
must be inserted into the ignitio nlock and the
SmartKey must be in the vehicle.
Pressing the Start/Stop button several times
in succession corresponds to the different
SmartKey positions in the ignition lock. This Driving
155Driving and parking Z

Removing the Start/Stop button
You can remove the Start/Stop button from
the ignition lock and star
tthe vehicle as
normal using the SmartKey.
X Remove Start/Stop button 0002from ignition
lock 0003.
i You do not have to remove the Start/Stop
button from the ignition lock when you
leave the vehicle. Starting the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
R open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
R get out and disrupt traffic.
R operate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of
parking position P.
R starting the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children. G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces
without sufficient ventilation.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine.
i The catalytic converter is preheated for
up to 30 seconds after acold start. During
this time, the engine sound may be
different.
Starting procedure with the SmartKey X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
The transmission position display in the
multifunction display shows P.
i You can also start the engine when the
transmission is in position N.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 3in the
ignition lock (Y page 155) and release it as
soon as the engine is running.
Using KEYLESS-GO to startt he engine i
The Start/Stop button can be used to
start the vehicle without inserting the
SmartKey into the ignition lock. The Start/
Stop button must be inserted in the ignition
lock and the SmartKey must be in the
vehicle.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
The transmission position displa yinthe
multifunction display shows P. Driving
157Driving and parking Z

i
You can also star tthe engine when the
transmission is in position N.
X Press the Start/Stop button once
(Y page 155).
The engine starts. Pulling away
Automatic transmission G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor
R, the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There
is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate.
i It is only possible to shift the transmission
from position Pto the desired position if
you depress the brake pedal. Only then is
the shift lock released.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
X Release the electric parking brake
(Y page 176).
X Release the brake pedal.
X Carefully depress the accelerator pedal.
! If a warning tone sounds and the
Release Park. Brake message appears
in the multifunction display, the parking
brake is still applied. Release the parking
brake.
i The vehicle locks centrally once you have
pulled away.T he locking knobs in the doors
drop down.
You can open the doors from the inside at
any time.
You can also deactivate the automatic
locking feature (Y page 235). i
Upshifts take place at higher engine
speeds after a cold start. This helps the
catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature more quickly.
Hill starta ssist G
WARNING
After a short time, hill start assist will no
longer brake your vehicle and it could roll
away. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, quickly move your foot from the
brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. Never
leave the vehicle when it is held by hill start
assist.
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient.
It holds the vehicle for a short time after you
have removed your foot from the brake pedal.
This gives you enough time to move your foot
from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal
and to depress it before the vehicle begins to
roll.
X Remove your foot from the brake pedal.
The vehicle is then held for about a second.
X Pull away.
Hill start assist will not function if:
R you are pulling away on a level road or on
a downhill gradient.
R the transmission is in position N.
R the parking brake is applied.
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning. ECO start/stop function
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the engine is switched off automatically and
you exit the vehicle, the engine is restarted
automatically. The vehicle may begin moving.
There is a risk of accident and injury. 158
DrivingDriving and parking

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0003 Solutions
The coolant
temperature display is
showing more than
248 ‡ (120 †). The
coolant warning lamp
may also be lit and a
warning tone may
sound. The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled sufficiently.
X Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant
to cool down.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 514). Observe the warning
notes as you do so and add coolant if necessary. If the coolant level is correct, the engine radiator fan may be faulty.
The coolant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled
sufficiently.
X At coolant temperatures below 248 ‡(120 †), drive to the next
qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain and stop-and-go traffic. Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor
R, the vehicle could pull away suddenly .There
is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate. G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to
neutral position Nwhen you switch off the
engine. The vehicle may roll away.T here is a
risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked
vehicle from rolling away by applying the
parking brake. Selector lever
Overview of transmission positions !
If the engine speed is too high or if the
vehicle is rolling, do not shift the
transmission directly from Dto R, from R
to Dor directly to P.
Do not open the driver's door while the
vehicle is in motion. At low speeds in
transmission position Dor R, park position
P is otherwise engaged automatically.
The transmission could be damaged. Selector lever
0014
Park position
0011 Reverse gear Automatic transmission
163Driving and parking Z