2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER radiator

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The coolant temperature
display is showing more
than 120 †. The coolant warning lamp may also
be on 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 279). Observe the warning notes
as you do so and top up the 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 If the coolant temperature is below 120 †, you can continue driving
to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in moun-
tainous terrain and stop-start traffic. DYNAMIC SELECT button (all vehicles
except Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
Use the DYNAMIC SELECT button to change the drive program. Depending on the drive program
selected, the following vehicle characteristics
will change:
R the drive (engine and transmission manage-
ment)
R the suspension
R the steering
R the curve tilting function (vehicles with Active
Body Control)
R the control thresholds of ESP ®
If the ignition is switched off for less than four
hours, the previously selected drive program is
activated when the engine is next started. If the ignition is switched off for more than four hours,
drive program Cis activated when the engine is
next started. X
Press DYNAMIC SELECT controller :as
many times as necessary until the desired
drive program is selected.
The selected drive program appears in the
multifunction display. After a short time the
display goes out and the status icon of the
selected drive program appears.
In addition, the current drive program settings are displayed briefly in the display of the mul-
timedia system.
i In a few countries, the ECO start/stop func-
tion is deactivated at the factory due to the
quality of the available fuel. In this case, the
ECO start/stop function is not available in any
drive program, regardless of the display in the
multimedia system display.
Available drive programs: C
Comfort Comfortable and economi-
cal driving characteristics
S
Sport Sporty driving characteris-
tics
S+
Sport Plus Particularly sporty driving
characteristics
I
Individual Individual settingsDYNAMIC SELECT button (all vehicles except Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
139Driving and parking Z

Speed limit with unknown restriction
:
Maximum permitted speed
; Maximum permitted speed for vehicles for
which the restriction in the additional sign is
relevant
= Additional sign for unknown restriction
A maximum permitted speed of 80 km/h
(80 mph) and a speed limit of 60 km/h (60 mph) with an unknown restriction apply.
No entry (wrong-way warning) If no entry signs are passed, a warning message
is displayed in the instrument cluster should
Traffic Sign Assist detect that you are driving in the wrong direction. You will then also hear a
warning tone. You should immediately check
your direction of travel in order to avoid danger
to yourself and other road users.
i This function is not available in all countries. Active Driving Assistance package
General notes The Active Driving Assistance package consists
of Distance Pilot DISTRONIC (Y page 161),
Steering Pilot and Stop&Go Pilot, Active Blind
Spot Assist (Y page 193) and Active Lane Keep-
ing Assist (Y page 195). Active Blind Spot Assist General notes
Active Blind Spot Assist monitors the areas on
either side of the vehicle that are not directly
visible to the driver with two lateral, rear-facing radar sensors. A warning light in the exterior
mirrors draws your attention to vehicles detec-
ted in the monitored area. If you then switch on
the corresponding turn signal to change lanes,
you will also receive a visual and audible colli-
sion warning. If a risk of side impact is detected,
corrective braking may help you avoid a colli-
sion. Active Blind Spot Assist evaluates the free space in the direction of travel and to the side
before making a course-correcting brake appli-
cation. For this, Active Blind Spot Assist uses
the forward-facing radar sensors.
Active Blind Spot Assist supports you from a
speed of approximately 30 km/h.
Important safety notes Active Blind Spot Assist is only an aid and is not
a substitute for attentive driving. G
WARNING
Active Blind Spot Assist does not react to
vehicles:
R overtaking too closely on the side, placing
them in the blind spot area
R if the difference in the speed of approach
and overtaking is too great
As a result, Active Blind Spot Assist may nei-
ther give warnings nor intervene in such sit-
uations. There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and maintain a safe distance at the side of the vehicle.
Radar sensors
The radar sensors for Active Blind Spot Assist
are integrated in the rear bumper and in the
radiator trim. Make sure that the bumpers and
radiator trim are free from dirt, ice and slush.
The rear sensors must not be covered, e.g. by
bicycle racks or overhanging loads. Following a
severe impact or in the event of damage to the
bumpers, have the function of the radar sensors
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Active Blind Spot Assist may otherwise no lon-
ger function properly. Driving systems
193Driving and parking Z

Engine
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ?
Top up coolant See Top up coolant See
Owner's Manual Owner's Manual The coolant level is too low.
! Avoid making long journeys with too little coolant in the engine
cooling system. The engine will otherwise be damaged.
X Top up the coolant, observing the warning notes before doing so
(Y page 279).
X If the coolant needs topping up more often than usual, have the
engine coolant system checked at a qualified specialist workshop. ? The fan motor is faulty.
X If the coolant temperature is below 120 †, you can continue driving
to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in moun-
tainous terrain and stop-start traffic. ?
Coolant Stop vehi‐ Coolant Stop vehi‐
cle Switch engine cle Switch engine
off off The coolant is too hot.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
Never drive with an overheated engine. Driving when your engine is
overheated can cause some fluids which may have leaked into the
engine compartment to catch fire.
In addition, steam from an overheated engine can cause serious
burns, which can occur just by opening the bonnet.
There is a risk of injury.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traffic
conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 153).
X Leave the vehicle and keep a safe distance from the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
X Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not blocked,
e.g. by frozen slush.
X Do not start the engine again until the display message goes out and
the coolant temperature is below 120 †. The engine may otherwisebe damaged.
X Pay attention to the coolant temperature gauge, observing the
warning notes (Y page 279).
X If the temperature increases again, consult a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.
Under normal operating conditions and with the specified coolant
level, the coolant temperature may rise to 120 †. Display messages
229On-board computer and displays Z

Warning/
indicator
lamp
N N
Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
M Solutions ?
N
The red coolant warning lamp comes on while the engine is running.
The coolant level is too low.
If the coolant level is correct, the airflow to the engine radiator may be blocked or the electric engine radiator fan may be malfunctioning.
The coolant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled sufficiently.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traffic conditions,
and switch off the engine.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 153).
X Leave the vehicle and keep a safe distance from the vehicle until the engine has
cooled down.
X Check the coolant level and top up the coolant, observing the warning notes
(Y page 279).
X If you have to top up the coolant frequently, have the engine cooling system
checked.
X Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not blocked, e.g. by frozen
slush.
X Do not start the engine again until the coolant temperature is below 120 †. The
engine may otherwise be damaged.
X Drive to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in mountainous terrain
and stop-start traffic. ?
N
The red coolant warning lamp comes on while the engine is running.
The coolant temperature has exceeded 120 †. The airflow to the engine radiator may be blocked or the coolant level may be too low.
G WARNING
The engine is not being cooled sufficiently and may be damaged.
Never drive with an overheated engine. Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire.
In addition, steam from an overheated engine can cause serious burns, which can
occur just by opening the bonnet.
There is a risk of injury.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traffic conditions,
and switch off the engine.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 153).
X Leave the vehicle and keep a safe distance from the vehicle until the engine has
cooled down.
X Check the coolant level and top up the coolant, observing the warning notes
(Y page 279).
X If you have to top up the coolant frequently, have the engine cooling system
checked. 250
Warning and indicator lampsOn-board computer and displays

Warning/
indicator
lamp
N N
Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
MSolutions X
Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not blocked, e.g. by frozen
slush.
X If the coolant temperature is below 120 †, you can continue driving to the
nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in mountainous terrain
and stop-start traffic. Driving systems
Warning/
indicator
lamp
N N
Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
MSolutions ·
N
The red distance warning lamp lights up while the vehicle is in motion.
The distance to the vehicle in front is too small for the speed selected.
X Increase the distance. ·
N
The red distance warning lamp lights up while the vehicle is in motion. A warning
tone also sounds.
You are approaching a vehicle, a pedestrian or a stationary obstacle in your line of travel at too high a speed.
X Be prepared to brake immediately.
X Pay careful attention to the traffic situation. You may have to brake or take
evasive action.
Further information on Distance Pilot DISTRONIC (Y page 161).
Further information on Active Brake Assist (Y page 64).
Further information on Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function (Y page 72). Warning and indicator lamps
251On-board computer and displays Z

Engine compartment
Bonnet
Important safety notes G
WARNING
An unlocked bonnet may open up when the
vehicle is in motion and block your view. There is a risk of an accident.
Never unlock the bonnet when driving. Before
every trip, ensure that the bonnet is locked. G
WARNING
When being opened and closed, the bonnet
may suddenly fall into the closed position.
There is a risk of injury to persons in the range of movement of the bonnet.
Open and close the bonnet only when nobody
is in the range of movement. G
WARNING
If you open the bonnet while the engine is
overheating or while there is a fire in the
engine compartment, you could come into
contact with hot gases or other leaking ser-
vice products. There is a danger of injury.
Allow an overheating engine to cool down
before opening the bonnet. If there is a fire in the engine compartment, leave the bonnet
closed and notify the fire brigade. G
WARNING
There are moving components in the engine
compartment. Certain components may con-
tinue to move or suddenly move again even
after the ignition has been switched off, e.g.
the radiator fan. There is a risk of injury.
If you have to carry out work in the engine
compartment:
R switch off the ignition
R never touch the dangerous areas surround-
ing moving components, e.g. the rotation
area of the fan R
remove jewellery and watches
R keep items of clothing and hair, for exam-
ple, away from moving parts.
Active bonnet (pedestrian protection) Operating principle
! An active bonnet that had been triggered
must be repaired at a qualified specialist
workshop. The active bonnet function will
then be available again. The additional pedes- trian protection provided by the active bonnet
will then be restored.
The active bonnet is only available in certain
countries.
The active bonnet can reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians in certain accident situations. Rais-
ing the active bonnet increases the clearance to hard components, such as the engine.
If the active bonnet has been triggered, it is
raised at the rear in the area around the hinge byapproximately 85 mm. The active bonnet is trig-
gered by pyrotechnics.
For the drive to the workshop, reset the trig-
gered active bonnet yourself. If the active bon-
net has been triggered, pedestrian protection
may be limited.
Resetting G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment could be very hot, e.g. the engine, the
radiator and parts of the exhaust system.
There is a risk of injury when accessing the
engine compartment.
As far as possible, allow the engine to cool
down and only touch the components descri- bed in the following. 276
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

X
With your hand flat, push down active bon-
net :in the area around the hinges on both
sides (arrows) until you feel it engage.
If you can raise the active bonnet slightly in the
area around the hinges, it is not engaged cor-
rectly. Repeat the step.
Opening the bonnet G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment could be very hot, e.g. the engine, the
radiator and parts of the exhaust system.
There is a risk of injury when accessing the
engine compartment.
As far as possible, allow the engine to cool
down and only touch the components descri- bed in the following. G
WARNING
When the bonnet is open, and the windscreen wipers are set in motion, you can be injured by
the wiper linkage. There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
the ignition before opening the bonnet.
! Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
not folded away from the windscreen. Other-
wise, you could damage the windscreen wip-
ers or the bonnet. X
Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off.
X Pull release lever :on the bonnet.
The bonnet is released. X
Reach into the gap, pull bonnet catch han-
dle ;up and lift the bonnet :.
If you lift the bonnet by approximately 40 cm, the bonnet is opened and held open automat-
ically by the gas-filled struts.
Closing the bonnet X
Lower the bonnet and let it fall from a height
of approximately 20 cm.
X Check that the bonnet has engaged properly.
If the bonnet can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Open it again and close it
with a little more force. Engine oil
Notes on oil level Depending on your driving style, the vehicle
consumes up to 0.8 litres of oil per 1,000 km.
The oil consumption may be higher than this Engine compartment
277Maintenance and care Z

when the vehicle is new or if you frequently drive
at high engine speeds.
Depending on the engine, the oil dipstick may be
installed at a different location.
When checking the oil level:
R park the vehicle on a level surface
R the engine should be switched off for approx-
imately five minutes if the engine is at normal
operating temperature
R if the engine is not at normal operating tem-
perature, e.g. if the engine was only started
briefly, wait approximately 30 minutes before
carrying out the measurement
Checking the oil level using the oil dip-
stick G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment could be very hot, e.g. the engine, the
radiator and parts of the exhaust system.
There is a risk of injury when accessing the
engine compartment.
As far as possible, allow the engine to cool
down and only touch the components descri- bed in the following. Example
X Pull oil dipstick :out of the oil dipstick tube.
X Wipe off oil dipstick :.
X Slowly slide oil dipstick :into the guide tube
to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark =and MAX
mark ;, the oil level is correct.
X If the oil level has dropped to MIN mark =or
below, top up with 1.0 l of engine oil. Topping up engine oil G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment could be very hot, e.g. the engine, the
radiator and parts of the exhaust system.
There is a risk of injury when accessing the
engine compartment.
As far as possible, allow the engine to cool
down and only touch the components descri- bed in the following. G
WARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot com- ponents in the engine compartment, it may
ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Make sure that engine oil does not spill out
over the filler neck. Allow the engine to cool
down and thoroughly clean the components
that have come into contact with engine oil
before you start the engine. H
Environmental note
When topping up the oil, take care not to spill
any. If oil enters the soil or waterways, it is
harmful to the environment.
! Only use engine oils and oil filters that have
been approved for vehicles with a service sys-
tem. You can obtain a list of the engine oils
and oil filters tested and approved in accord-
ance with the Mercedes-Benz Specifications
for Service Products at any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
Damage to the engine or exhaust system is
caused by the following:
R using engine oils and oil filters that have not
been specifically approved for the service
system
R changing the engine oil and oil filter after
missing the change interval required by the
service system
R using engine oil additives
! Do not add too much oil. If the oil level is
above the "max" mark on the dipstick, too
much oil has been added. This can lead to
damage to the engine or the catalytic con-
verter. Have excess oil siphoned off. 278
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care