2014 MERCEDES-BENZ SL-CLASS ROADSTER Owners Manual

Vehicle
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions M The hood is open.
G WARNING
The open hood may block your view when the vehicle is in motion.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 130).
X Close the hood. Ð
Power Steering Power Steering
Malfunction See Malfunction See
Operator's Manual Operator's Manual The power steering is malfunctioning.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
You will need to use more force to steer.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Check whether you are able to apply the extra force required.
X If you are able to steer safely: carefully drive on to a qualified
specialist workshop.
X If you are unable to steer safely: do not drive on. Contact the
nearest qualified specialist workshop. Warning and indicator lamps
General notes
This section describes indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster relevant to safety
and solutions. A description of other indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster
and their solutions can be found in the Digital Operator's Manual. Warning and indicator lamps
175On-board computer and displays Z

Safety
Seat belts Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ü
After starting the
engine, the red seat
belt warning lamp lights
up. In addition, a
warning tone sounds
for up to six seconds.
The driver's seat belt is not fastened.
X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 60).
The warning tone ceases. ü
The red seat belt
warning lamp lights up
after the engine starts,
as soon as the driver's
or the front-passenger
door is closed.
The driver or front passenger has not fastened their seat belt.
X Fasten your seat belt (Y page 60).
The warning lamp goes out. There are objects on the front-passenger seat.
X
Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow
them in a secure place.
The warning lamp goes out. ü
The red seat belt
warning lamp flashes
and an intermittent
audible warning
sounds.
The driver or front passenger has not fastened their seat belt. The
car is being driven faster than 15 mph (25 km/h) or has briefly
been driven faster than 15 mph (25 km/h).
X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 60).
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. There are objects on the front-passenger seat. The car is being
driven faster than 15 mph (25 km/h) or has briefly been driven
faster than 15 mph (25 km/h).
X Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow
them in a secure place.
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. 176
Warning and indicator lampsOn-board computer and displays

Safety systems
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions $
(USA only)
J (Canada only)
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the engine is
running. A warning tone
also sounds. There is not enough brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir.
G WARNING
The braking effect may be impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving
under any circumstances.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 130).
X Do not add brake fluid. Adding more will not remedy the
malfunction.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display. !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) is deactivated due to a
malfunction. BAS (Brake Assist), BAS PLUS, ESP
®
(Electronic
Stability Program), PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD
function and hill start assist are therefore also deactivated, for
example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely
affected. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation
can increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
If the ABS control unit is faulty, there is also a possibility that other
systems, such as the navigation system or the automatic
transmission, will not be available. Warning and indicator lamps
177On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
ABS is temporarily unavailable. BAS, BAS PLUS, ESP
®
, EBD
(electronic brake force distribution), PRE-SAFE ®
,
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD function, hill start assist are therefore
also deactivated, for example.
Possible causes are:
R self-diagnosis is not yet complete.
R the on-board voltage may be insufficient.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock if you brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely
affected. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation
can increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Carefully drive a suitable distance, making slight steering
movements at a speed above 12 mph (20 km/h).
The functions mentioned above are available again when the
warning lamp goes out.
If the warning lamp is still on:
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 178
Warning and indicator lampsOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. A
warning tone also
sounds.
EBD is not available due to a malfunction. Therefore, ABS, BAS,
BAS PLUS, ESP
®
, PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD
function and hill start assist are also unavailable, for example.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock if you brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely
affected. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation
can increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. $
(USA only)
J (Canada only)
֌!
The red brake warning
lamp, the yellow ESP ®
and ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps and the yellow
ABS warning lamp are
lit while the engine is
running. ABS and ESP
®
are not available due to a malfunction. Therefore,
BAS, BAS PLUS, EBD, PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD
function and hill start assist, for example, are not available either.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock if you brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely
affected. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation
can increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Warning and indicator lamps
179On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ÷
The yellow ESP
®
warning lamp flashes
while the vehicle is in
motion. ESP
®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of
skidding or at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
X When pulling away, only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 69).å
The yellow ESP
®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while
the engine is running. ESP
®
is deactivated.
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is switched off, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 69).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Drive on carefully.
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. M
AMG vehicles only:
The yellow SPORT
handling mode warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. SPORT handling mode is activated.
G WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is switched on, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Only switch on SPORT handling mode in certain situations
(Y page 71). 180
Warning and indicator lampsOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ֌
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. ESP
®
, BAS, BAS PLUS, PRE-SAFE ®
, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake, the HOLD
function and hill start assist are not available due to a malfunction.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can thus
increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Warning and indicator lamps
181On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ֌
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. ESP
®
, BAS, PRE-SAFE ®
, the HOLD function and hill start assist are
temporarily unavailable.
BAS PLUS and PRE-SAFE ®
Brake may also have failed.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
Self-diagnosis is not yet complete.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can thus
increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Carefully drive a suitable distance, making slight steering
movements at a speed above 12 mph (20 km/h).
The functions mentioned above are available again when the
warning lamp goes out.
If the warning lamp is still on:
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 6
The red SRS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
There is a malfunction in the SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System).
G WARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be
triggered unintentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not
be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Drive on carefully.
X Have SRS checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately.
For further information about the Supplemental Restraint System,
see (Y page 45). 182
Warning and indicator lampsOn-board computer and displays