2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SL-CLASS ROADSTER Owners Manual

G
WARNING
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result in

drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle's ABS will not prevent
this type of loss of control. G
WARNING
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out of parking position
P or
neutral position N if the engine speed is
higher than

idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
! 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
maximum engine speed is restricted in
order to protect the engine. To protect the
engine and maintain smooth engine
operation, avoid driving at full throttle when
the engine is cold. SmartKey positions
SmartKey g
To remove the SmartKey
1 Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windshield wipers
2 Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
3 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
a SmartKey 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 ignition lock 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
is only the case if you are not depressing the
brake pedal.
If you depress the brake pedal and press the
Start/Stop button, the engine starts
immediately. Driving
135
Driving and parking Z

The Start/Stop button can be removed from
the ignition lock. Then, you can insert the
SmartKey into the ignition lock.
i
You do
not have to remove the Start/Stop
button from the ignition lock when you
leave the vehicle. You should, however,
always take the SmartKey with you when
leaving the vehicle. As long as the
SmartKey is in the vehicle:
R the vehicle can be started using the
Start/Stop button and
R electrically powered equipment can be
operated.
i The engine can be turned off while the
vehicle is in motion by pressing and holding
the Start/Stop button for three seconds.
This function operates independently from
the ECO start/stop automatic engine
switch-off function.
Key positions with KEYLESS-GO :
Start/Stop button
; Ignition lock
X Insert Start/Stop button : into ignition
lock ;.
i When you insert Start/Stop button :
into ignition lock ;, the system needs
approximately two seconds recognition
time. You can then use Start/Stop
button :. Start/Stop button
=
USA only
? Canada only
Activating power supply
X If Start/Stop button : has not yet been
pressed, this

corresponds to the SmartKey
being removed from the ignition.
X Press Start/Stop button : once.
The power supply is switched on. You can
now activate the windshield wipers, for
example.
i The power supply is switched off:
R when the driver's door is open and
R you press Start/Stop button : twice
when in this position
Switching on the ignition
X Press Start/Stop button : twice.
The ignition is switched on.
i The ignition is switched off:
R when the driver's door is open and
R you press Start/Stop button : once
when in this position
As soon

as the ignition is switched on, all the
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster light
up. If an indicator lamp does not go out after
starting the engine or lights up while driving,
there may be a technical problem
(Y page 257). 136
Driving
Driving and parking

Removing the Start/Stop button
You can remove the Start/Stop button from
the ignition lock and start the vehicle as
normal using the SmartKey.
X
Remove Start/Stop button : from ignition
lock ;.
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
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your
health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do not

run the engine in confined areas (such
as a garage) which are not properly ventilated.
If you think that exhaust gas fumes are
entering the vehicle while driving, have the
cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine.
i The catalytic converter is preheated for
up to 30seconds after a cold 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 3 in the
ignition lock

(Y page 135) and release it as
soon as the engine is running.
Using KEYLESS-GO to start the engine G
WARNING
As long as the SmartKey is in your vehicle, the
vehicle can

be started. Therefore, never leave
children unattended in the vehicle, as they
could otherwise accidentally start the engine.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Do
not leave children unattended in the vehicle,
or with access to an unlocked vehicle. A
child's unsupervised access to a vehicle could
result in an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
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 into 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 display in the
multifunction display shows P.
i You can also start the engine when the
transmission is in position N.
X Press the Start/Stop button once
(Y page 135).
The engine starts. Driving
137
Driving and parking Z

Pulling away
Automatic transmission G
WARNING
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out of parking position P or
neutral position N if the engine speed is
higher than

idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
i It is only possible to shift the transmission
from position P to 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 D or R.
X Release the electric parking brake
(Y page 155).
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.The 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 218).
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 start assist G
WARNING
Never leave the vehicle when it is being held
by hill start assist. After approximately one
second, hill start assist will no longer brake
your vehicle and it could roll away.
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 and the ECO
symbol is

shown in green in the multifunction
display, the engine has been switched off
automatically. All of the vehicle's systems
remain active. If you open the door, unfasten
your seat belt or remove your foot from the
brake pedal, the engine will automatically
start. The vehicle may begin moving. You
could suffer serious or even fatal injury or
cause an accident resulting in injury or death.
Never leave the vehicle while the ECO symbol
in the multifunction display is shown in green
or yellow. Always secure the vehicle against
rolling away before leaving it. 138
Driving
Driving and parking

!
Always switch
the ignition off and take the
key with you when leaving the vehicle.
General notes ECO start/stop display
AMG vehicles:
the ECO start/stop function
is only available in drive program C.
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically when the vehicle
stops moving.
The engine starts automatically when the
driver wants to pull away again. The ECO
start/stop function thereby helps you to
reduce the fuel consumption and emissions
of your vehicle.
Every time

you switch on the engine using the
SmartKey or the Start/Stop button, the ECO
start/stop function is activated. The system
is operational when ECO symbol : is shown
in green in the multifunction display.
AMG vehicles: the AMG menu in the
multifunction display additionally shows the
Stop/Start Active message.
Deactivating/activating the ECO start/
stop function ECO button Deactivating (except for AMG vehicles)
X
Press button :.
Indicator lamp ; and the ¤ symbol in
the multifunction display go out.
Activating (except for AMG vehicles)
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up and the ¤
symbol is shown in green in the
multifunction display.
If not all conditions are fulfilled, the ¤
symbol is shown in yellow in the
multifunction display.

If this is the case, the
ECO start/stop function is not available.
If indicator lamp ; is
off, the ECO start/stop
function has been deactivated manually or as
the result of a malfunction. The engine will
then not be switched off automatically when
the vehicle stops. ECO button in AMG vehicles
Deactivating (AMG vehicles)
X
Press button : in drive program C.
or
X Switch to one of the drive programs S, S+
or M(Y page 147).
Indicator lamp ; on button : and the
¤ symbol

in the multifunction display go
out.
The Stop/Start Active or Stop/Start
Inactive message in the AMG menu in the
multifunction display goes out. Driving
139
Driving and parking Z

Activating (AMG vehicles)
X
Press button :.
If one of the drive programs S, S+ or M is
active, the automatic transmission
switches to drive program C.
Indicator lamp ; lights up and the ¤
symbol is shown in green in the
multifunction display. The Stop/Start
Active message is shown in the AMG
menu in the multifunction display.
If not all conditions are fulfilled, the ¤
symbol is shown in yellow in the
multifunction display.
If this is the case, the
ECO start/stop function is not available.
The Stop/Start Inactive message is
shown in the AMG menu in the
multifunction display.
Automatic engine switch-off If the vehicle is braked to a standstill in
D or
N, the ECO start/stop function switches off
the engine automatically.
The engine is only switched off if:
R the vehicle is stationary.
R the outside

temperature is within the range
which is suitable for the system.
R the engine is at normal operating
temperature.
R the battery is sufficiently charged.
R the system detects that the windshield is
not fogged up when automatic climate
control is switched on.
R the hood is closed.
R the driver's door is closed and the driver's
side belt buckle is engaged.
i If not all conditions are fulfilled, the
¤ symbol is shown in yellow in the
multifunction display.
i The HOLD function can be activated if the
engine has been switched off
automatically. It is then not necessary to
continue applying the brakes during the
automatic stop phase. When you depress the accelerator pedal, the engine starts
automatically
and

the braking effect of the
HOLD function is deactivated. Depress the
accelerator pedal carefully, as the engine
must be started first.
If you shift the transmission from R to D, the
ECO start/stop function is available again
once the ¤ symbol reappears in green in
the multifunction display.
The engine can be switched off automatically
a maximum of four times (first stop and three
subsequent stops, except AMG vehicles) in
succession. The ¤ symbol is shown in
yellow in the multifunction display after the
engine has been started automatically for the
fourth time. The engine can only be switched
off automatically again when the ¤
symbol is shown in green in the multifunction
display.
AMG vehicles: times which the engine can
be automatically switched off is unlimited.
Automatic engine start The engine starts automatically if:
R
you switch

off the ECO start/stop function
by pressing the ECO button.
R you switch to one of the drive programs S,
S+ or M (AMG vehicles).
R the vehicle starts to roll.
R the brake system requires this.
R the system detects that the windshield is
fogged up when automatic climate control
is switched on.
R the condition of charge of the battery is too
low.
R the driver's seat belt is removed or the
driver's door is opened.
R you shift out of P.
R in transmission position D or N the brake
pedal is released and the HOLD function is
not active.
R you engage reverse gear R.
R you depress the accelerator pedal.140
DrivingDriving and parking

Shifting the transmission to position
P does
not start the engine. Driving
141Driving and parking Z

Problems with the engine
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
The engine does not
start. The HOLD function is activated.
X
Deactivate the HOLD function (Y page 175).
X Try to start the engine again. The engine does not
start.
The

starter motor
can be heard. R
There is a malfunction in the engine electronics.
R There is a malfunction in the fuel supply.
X Turn
the SmartKey back to position
0
in
the ignition lock before
attempting to start the engine again.
or
X Press the Start/Stop button repeatedly until all indicator lamps
in the instrument cluster go out.
X Try to start the engine again (Y page 137). Avoid excessively
long and

frequent attempts to start the engine, as this will drain
the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine does not
start. You cannot hear
the starter motor. The on-board voltage is too low because the battery is too weak
or discharged.
X
Jump-start the vehicle (
Y page 516).
If the engine does not start despite attempts to jump-start it:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The starter motor was exposed to a thermal load that was too high.
X Allow the starter motor to cool down for approximately two
minutes.
X Try to start the engine again.
If the engine still does not start:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine is not
running smoothly and
is misfiring. There is a malfunction in the engine electronics or in a mechanical
component of the engine management system.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
X Have the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic
converter and damage it.142
Driving
Driving and parking