2019 MERCEDES-BENZ SLC brake

Display messagesPossible causes/consequences andPPSolutions
Service RequiredService RequiredDo Not Shift GearsDo Not Shift GearsVisit DealerVisit Dealer
You cannot change the transmission position due to a malfunction.
A warning tone also sounds.
If transmission position[is selected:
XDrive to a qualified specialist workshop without shifting the trans-mission from position[.
If position^,\\or]is selected:
XNotify a qualified specialist workshop or breakdown service.
Reversing Not Pos‐Reversing Not Pos‐sible Servicesible ServiceRequiredRequired
You can no longer shift to transmission position^due to a mal-function.
Transmission positions],\\or[continue to be available.
A warning tone also sounds.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.
Transmission Mal‐Transmission Mal‐function Stopfunction StopA malfunction has occurred in the mechanical transmission compo-nents.
A warning tone also sounds. The transmission shifts automaticallyto position\\.
XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, payingattention to road and traffic conditions.
XShift the transmission to position].
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away (Ypage 134).
XNotify a qualified specialist workshop or breakdown service.
Stop Vehicle LeaveStop Vehicle LeaveEngine RunningEngine RunningWait TransmissionWait TransmissionCoolingCooling
The transmission has overheated. Pulling away can be temporarilyimpaired or not possible.
XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, payingattention to road and traffic conditions. Do not continue drivingunder any circumstances.
XWait until the display message disappears before pulling away.
Auxiliary BatteryAuxiliary BatteryMalfunctionMalfunctionThe auxiliary battery for the automatic transmission is no longerbeing charged.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop at the next opportunity.
XUntil then, always shift the transmission to position]beforeyou switch off the engine.
XBefore leaving the vehicle, apply the electric parking brake.

Safety systems
Warning/indicatorlamp
QQSignal type
Possible causes/consequences andPPSolutions
'MQ'(USA only) orM(Canada only): the red brake system warning lampis lit while the engine is running. A warning tone also sounds.
GWARNING
There is not enough brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir.
The braking effect may be impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying attention toroad and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving under any circumstances.
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away (Ypage 134).
XDo not add brake fluid. Adding more will not correct the malfunction.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
'QUSA only: the red brake system warning lamp is lit while the engine is run-ning. The multifunction display also shows a display message with the&symbol.
The brake pads/linings have reached their wear limit.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.
%QThe yellow ABS warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
ABS (anti-lock braking system) is malfunctioning.
If there is an additional warning tone, the EBD (electronic brake force distribu-tion) is malfunctioning.
Other driving systems and driving safety systems may also malfunction.
GWARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions lis-ted above. The front and rear wheels could therefore lock if you perform a fullbrake application, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely affected. The brak-ing 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.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
XDrive on carefully.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
If the ABS control unit is defective, there is also a possibility that other systems,such as the navigation system or the automatic transmission, will not be availa-ble.
210Warning and indicator lamps
On-board computer and displays

Rsolvents
Rcleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces and films withhard objects, e.g. rings or ice scrapers. Oth-erwise, you may scratch or damage the sur-faces and films.
!Do not park your vehicle for a long periodof time directly after cleaning, particularlyafter cleaning the wheel rim with wheelcleaner. Wheel cleaner can lead to theincreased corrosion of the brake discs andpads. Therefore, drive for a few minutesafter cleaning. By heating up the brakes, thebrake discs and pads dry. The vehicle canthen be parked for a long period of time.
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition forretaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents recom-mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Washing the vehicle and cleaning
the paintwork
Automatic car wash
GWARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
After the vehicle has been washed, brake
carefully while paying attention to the traffic
conditions until full braking power is
restored.
!When DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD func-tion is activated, the vehicle brakes auto-matically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivateDISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function inthe following or similar situations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
!It is preferable to use car washes withadjustable high-pressure pre-cleaning thatcorresponds to the specification for theCabriolet program. In car washes that usehigh water pressures, there is a risk that asmall amount of water may leak into thevehicle.
!Lock the car if you wash it in an automaticcar wash. Otherwise, the vehicle might bedamaged.
!Never clean your vehicle in a TouchlessAutomatic Car Wash as these use specialcleaning agents. These cleaning agents candamage the paintwork or plastic parts.
If you have your vehicle cleaned in a high-pressure automatic car wash, smallamounts of water may enter the vehicle.
!Make sure that the automatic transmissionis in positionNwhen washing your vehiclein a tow-through car wash. The vehicle couldbe damaged if the transmission is in anotherposition.
!Make sure that:
Rthe side windows and the roof are com-pletely closed
Rthe climate control blower is switched off
Rthe windshield wiper switch is at position0
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
You can clean the vehicle at an automatic carwash from the very start.
Preferably clean the vehicle at automatic carwashes that use textile washing elementswithout brushes. This prevents fine scratchesfrom forming on the paintwork and film.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it beforecleaning it in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe offwax from the windshield and the wiper blades.This will prevent smears and reduce wipingnoises caused by residue on the windshield.
iVehicles with decorative film: select awash program without hot wax at the auto-matic car wash.
Washing by hand
In some countries, washing by hand is onlyallowed at specially equipped washing bays.Observe the legal requirements in each coun-try.
XDo not use hot water and do not wash thevehicle in direct sunlight.
XUse a soft sponge to clean.
XUse a mild cleaning agent, such as a carshampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz.
246Care
Maintenance and care

XThoroughly hose down the vehicle with agentle jet of water.
XDo not point the water jet directly towardsthe air inlet or the edges of decorative foils.
XUse plenty of water and rinse out thesponge frequently.
XRinse the vehicle with clean water and drythoroughly with a chamois.
XDo not let the cleaning agent dry on thepaintwork or the decorative foils.
Carefully remove all deposits of road salt assoon as possible when driving in winter.
Power washers
GWARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior dam-
age to the tires or chassis components.
Components damaged in this way may fail
unexpectedly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
!Vehicles with decorative film: parts of yourvehicle are covered with decorative film.Maintain a distance of at least 27.5 in(70 cm) between the film-covered parts ofthe vehicle and the nozzle of the powerwasher.
Information about the correct distance isavailable from the equipment manufacturer.
Move the power washer nozzle around whencleaning your vehicle.
The water temperature of the power washermust not exceed 140 ‡ (60 †).
!Always maintain a distance of at least12 in (30 cm) between the vehicle and thepower washer nozzle. Information about thecorrect distance is available from the equip-ment manufacturer.
Move the power washer nozzle around whencleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following:
RTires
RDoor gaps, roof gaps, joints, etc.
RElectrical components
RBattery
RPlug-type couplings
RLight bulbs
RSeals
RTrim elements
RVentilation slots
Damaged seals or electrical componentscan lead to leaks or failures.
!If you clean the tank filler recess when it isopen, do not use a power washer. This cancause damage to the seals or other compo-nents.
Cleaning the paintwork
!Do not affix:
Rstickers
Rfilms
Rmagnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces. You could otherwisedamage the paintwork.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affectedby corrosion and damage caused by inade-quate care cannot always be completelyrepaired. In such cases, visit a qualified spe-cialist workshop.
XRemove dirt immediately, where possible,while avoiding rubbing too hard.
XSoak insect remains with insect removerand rinse off the treated areas afterwards.
XSoak bird droppings with water and rinse offthe treated areas afterwards.
XRemove tree resin, oils, fuels and greases byrubbing gently with a cloth soaked in petro-leum ether or lighter fluid
XRemove coolant and brake fluid with a moistcloth and clear water.
XUse tar remover to remove tar stains.
XUse silicone remover to remove wax.
If water no longer forms "beads" on the paintsurface, use the paint care products recom-mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Thisis the case approximately every three to fivemonths, depending on the climate conditionsand the care product used.
If dirt has penetrated the paint surface or ifthe paint has become dull, the paint cleanerrecommended and approved by Mercedes-Benz should be used.
Care247
Maintenance and care
Z

Cleaning the vehicle parts
Cleaning the wheels
GWARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior dam-
age to the tires or chassis components.
Components damaged in this way may fail
unexpectedly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
!Do not use acidic wheel cleaning productsto remove brake dust. This could damagewheel bolts and brake components.
!Do not park your vehicle for a long periodof time directly after cleaning, particularlyafter cleaning the wheel rim with wheelcleaner. Wheel cleaner can lead to theincreased corrosion of the brake discs andpads. Therefore, drive for a few minutesafter cleaning. By heating up the brakes, thebrake discs and pads dry. The vehicle canthen be parked for a long period of time.
Cleaning the windows
GWARNING
You could become trapped by the wind-
shield wipers if they start moving while
cleaning the windshield or wiper blades.
There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield
or wiper blades.
!Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,solvents or cleaning agents containing sol-vents to clean the inside of the windows. Donot touch the insides of the windows withhard objects, e.g. an ice scraper or ring.There is otherwise a risk of damaging thewindows.
!Clean the water drainage channels of thewindshield and the rear window at regularintervals. Deposits such as leaves, petalsand pollen may under certain circumstances
prevent water from draining away. This canlead to corrosion damage and damage toelectronic components.
XClean the inside and outside of the windowswith a damp cloth and a cleaning productthat is recommended and approved byMercedes-Benz.
Cleaning wiper blades
GWARNING
If the windshield wipers are set in motion
while you are cleaning the windshield, you
can be trapped by the wiper arm. There is a
risk of injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield.
!Do not pull the wiper blade. Otherwise, thewiper blade could be damaged.
!Do not clean wiper blades too often anddo not rub them too hard. Otherwise, thegraphite coating could be damaged. Thiscould cause wiper noise.
!Hold the wiper arm securely when foldingback. The windshield could be damaged ifthe wiper arm smacks against it suddenly.
XFold the windshield wiper arms away fromthe windshield.
XCarefully clean the wiper blades with adamp cloth.
XFold the windshield wiper arms back againbefore switching on the ignition.
Cleaning the exterior lighting
!Only use cleaning agents or cleaningcloths that are suitable for plastic lenses.Caustic, irritant or otherwise unsuitablecleaning agents or cleaning cloths couldscratch or damage the exterior lighting plas-tic lenses.
XClean the plastic lenses of the exterior lightswith a wet sponge and a mild cleaningagent, e.g. Mercedes-Benz car shampoo orcleaning cloths.
Care249
Maintenance and care
Z

RMake sure that the positive terminal of a connected battery does not come into contact with
vehicle parts.
RNever place metal objects or tools on a battery.
RIt is important that you observe the described order of the battery terminals when connect-
ing and disconnecting a battery.
RWhen jump-starting, make sure that the battery poles with identical polarity are connected.
RIt is particularly important to observe the described order when connecting and disconnect-
ing the jumper cables.
RNever connect or disconnect the battery terminals while the engine is running.
GWARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at temperatures below freezing point. When jump-starting the
vehicle or charging the battery, gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explo-
sion.
Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before charging it or jump-starting.
!Avoid repeated and lengthy starting attempts. Otherwise, the catalytic converter could bedamaged by the non-combusted fuel.
If the indicator/warning lamps do not light up at low temperatures, it is very likely that the dis-charged battery has frozen. In this case, you may neither charge the battery nor jump-start thevehicle. The service life of a thawed-out battery may be shorter. The starting characteristics canbe impaired, particularly at low temperatures. Have the thawed-out battery checked at a quali-fied specialist workshop.
Do not start the vehicle using a rapid charging device. If your vehicle's battery is discharged, theengine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a donor battery using jumper cables.Observe the following points:
RThe battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible,jump-start the vehicle using a donor battery or a jump-starting device.
RYou may only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust system are cold.
RDo not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
ROnly jump-start from batteries with a 12 V voltage rating.
ROnly use jumper cables which have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps.
RIf the battery is fully discharged, leave the battery that is being used to jump-start connectedfor a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the battery slightly.
RMake sure that the two vehicles do not touch.
Make sure that:
RThe jumper cables are not damaged.
RBare parts of the terminal clamp do not come into contact with other metal parts while thejumper cables are connected to the battery.
RThe jumper cables cannot come into contact with parts which can move when the engine isrunning, such as the V-belt pulley or the fan.
XSecure the vehicle by applying the electric parking brake.
XShift the transmission to position].
XMake sure that the ignition is switched off. All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster mustbe off. When using the SmartKey, turn the SmartKey to position

Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissi-
ble gross weight of your vehicle, the:
Rthe towing eye could detach itself
Rthe vehicle/trailer combination could roll-
over.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehi-
cle, its weight should not be greater than
the permissible gross weight of your vehicle.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle weightof your vehicle can be found on the vehicleidentification plate (Ypage 297).
!When Active Brake Assist, Active DistanceAssist DISTRONIC or the HOLD function isactivated, the vehicle brakes automaticallyin certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivatethese systems in the following or similar sit-uations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
!Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at thetowing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could bedamaged.
!Do not use the towing eye for recovery,this could damage the vehicle. If in doubt,recover the vehicle with a crane.
!When towing, pull away slowly andsmoothly. If the tractive power is too high,the vehicles could be damaged.
!Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Thiscould damage the vehicle.
!When towing away vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the key instead of the Start/Stopbutton. The automatic transmission mayotherwise shift to position]when youopen the driver's or front-passenger door,which could damage the transmission.
!Make sure that the electric parking brakeis released. If the electric parking brake isfaulty, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
!You may tow the vehicle for a maximumdistance of 30 miles (50 kilometers). A tow-ing speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) must not beexceeded.
For towing distances over 30 miles(50 kilometers), the entire vehicle must beraised and transported.
!When you are tow-starting or towinganother vehicle, its weight must not exceedthe maximum permissible gross weight ofyour vehicle.
It is better to have the vehicle transportedthan to have it towed away.
The automatic transmission must be in posi-tion\\when the vehicle is being towed away.
The battery must be connected and charged.Otherwise, you:
Rcannot turn the SmartKey to positionHinthe ignition lock
Rcannot shift the automatic transmission toposition\\
Deactivate the automatic locking featurebefore the vehicle is towed (Ypage 178). Youcould otherwise be locked out when pushingor towing the vehicle.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
GWARNING
The exhaust tail pipe may be very hot. There
is a risk of burns when removing the rear
cover.
Do not touch the exhaust pipe. Take particu-
lar care when removing the rear cover.
Towing and tow-starting263
Breakdown assistance
Z

The brackets for the screw-in towing eye arelocated in the bumpers. They are at the frontand at the rear, behind the covers.
XRemove the towing eye from the vehicle toolkit (Ypage 252).
XPress the mark on coverCinwards in thedirection of the arrow.
XTake coverCoff the opening.
XScrew in the towing eye clockwise as far asit will go and tighten it.
Removing the towing eye
XUnscrew and remove the towing eye.
XAttach coverCto the bumper and pressuntil it engages.
XPlace the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit.
Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground
GWARNING
You can no longer steer the vehicle if the
steering wheel lock has been engaged.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always switch off the ignition when towing
the vehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar.
The automatic transmission shifts to position]automatically when you open the driver'sor front-passenger door or when you removethe SmartKey from the ignition lock.
In order to ensure that the automatic trans-mission stays in position\\when towingaway the vehicle, you must observe the follow-ing points:
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps(Ypage 99).
XTurn the SmartKey to positionHin the igni-tion lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use theSmartKey instead of the Start/Stop button(Ypage 118).
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.
XShift the transmission to position\\.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the electric parking brake.
XLeave the SmartKey in positionHin theignition lock.
In order to signal a change of direction whentowing the vehicle with the hazard warninglamps switched on, use the combinationswitch as usual. In this case, only the indicatorlamps for the direction of travel flash. Whenyou reset the combination switch, the hazardwarning flashers start flashing again.
It is important that you observe the safetyinstructions when towing away your vehicle(Ypage 263).
Permitted towing methods
Mercedes-Benz recommends transporting yourvehicle in the case of a breakdown, rather thantowing it away.
When towing away, use a towing rope or atowing bar with both axles on the ground. Donot use any tow bar systems.
Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
!The ignition must be switched off if youare towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP®could other-wise damage the brake system.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission mustnot be towed with the rear axle raised. Thevehicle/trailer combination may otherwiseswerve or even roll over.
264Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance