Mercedes-Benz 560 SL 1986 User manual

Owner's Manual

Drive Sensibly — Save Fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent,
depends on driving habits and oper
ating conditions.
To save uel you should:
• keep tires at the recommended
in lation pressures
• remove unnecessary loads
• remove ski racks or roo -
mounted luggage racks when
not in use
• allow engine to warm up under
low load use
• avoid requent acceleration and
deceleration
• have all maintenance work per
ormed at regular intervals by an
authorized MERCEDES-BENZ
dealer.
Driving in cold weather, in stop-
and-go city tra ic, on short trips,
and in hilly country also increase
uel consumption.

Owner’s Manual
560 SL
Model 107
1986

Printed in Germany
We reserve the right to modi y the technical details o the
vehicle as given in the data and illustrations o this Owner’s
Manual (s.e.e.o.). Reprinting, translation and copying, even o
excerpts, is not permitted without our prior authorization in
writing.
ZKD/09.85/Rung

O u r company and sta congratulate you on the purchase
o your new MERCEDES-BENZ.
Your selection o our product is a demonstration o your
trust in our company name. Further, it exempli ies your
desire to own an automobile that will be as easy to
operate as possible and provide years o service.
Your MERCEDES-BENZ represents the e orts o many
skilled engineers and cra tsmen. To ensure your pleasure
in owning it, we ask you to make a small investment o
your time:
• Please read this manual care ully be ore putting it aside.
• Please consider the recommendations contained in this
manual. They are designed to acquaint you with the
operation o your MERCEDES-BENZ.
We extend our best wishes or many miles o sa e,
pleasurable driving.
Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellscha t
3

Introduction
This Owner’s Manual contains a great deal o use ul
in ormation. We urge you to read it care ully and
amiliarize yoursel with the vehicle be ore driving.
For your own sa ety and longer service li e o the
vehicle, we urge you to ollow the instructions and
warnings. Ignoring them could result in damage to
the vehicle or personal injury.
Your vehicle may have some or all o the equipment
described. There ore, your may ind explanations o
equipment not installed in your vehicle. I you have
any questions about the operation o any equipment,
your MERCEDES-BENZ dealer will be glad to de
monstrate the proper procedures.
Owner’s Service and Warranty Policy
The Owner’s Service and Warranty Policy Booklet
contains detailed in ormation about the warranties
covering your MERCEDES-BENZ, including:
• New Car Limited Warranty
• Emissions Systems Warranty
• Emission Per ormance Warranty
• Cali ornia Emission Control System
Warranty (Cali ornia Only)
4
Maintenance
The Maintenance Booklet describes all the necessary
maintenance work which should be per ormed at re
gular intervals.
Always have the Maintenance Booklet with you when
you take the vehicle to a MERCEDES-BENZ dealer or
service. The Service Advisor will record each service.
Roadside Assistance
Although your Mercedes-Benz is built to be as
trouble ree as possible, a Roadside Assistance
Program is available to provide emergency roadside
service a ter normal dealer hours and on weekends
and holidays in the contiguous United States.
Roadside Assistance is available Monday through Fri
day rom 5:00 PM to 12:00 Midnight and on Saturday,
Sunday and legal holidays rom 8:00 AM to
12:00 Midnight. In the event o a breakdown during
these hours, telephone this toll- ree number:
1-800-222-0100.
For additional in ormation, re er to the Mercedes-Benz
Roadside Assistance Program Booklet in your glove
compartment.

Chan e of Address or Ownership
I you change your address, be sure to send in the
“Change o Address Notice” ound in the Owner’s
Service and Warranty Policy Booklet. It is in your own
interest that we can contact you should the need
arise.
I you sell your Mercedes, please leave all owner’s
literature with the vehicle to make it available to the
next owner.
I you bought this vehicle used, be sure to send in
the “Notice o Purchase o Used Car” ound in the
Owner’s Service and Warranty Policy Booklet.
Operatin Your Vehicle Outside the U.S.A. or Canada
I you plan to operate your vehicle in oreign coun
tries, please be aware that:
• unleaded uels or vehicles with catalytic conver
ters may not be available; the use o leaded uels
will damage the catalysts,
• uel may have a considerably lower octane rating,
and improper uel can cause engine damage,
• service acilities or replacement parts may not be
readily available.
Certain Mercedes-Benz models are available or deliv
ery in Europe under our European Delivery Program.
For details, consult your authorized
MERCEDES-BENZ dealer or write to:
Mercedes-Benz o North America, Inc.
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645
5

Instruments and Controls, Starting the Engine
Driving Hints, Service and Maintenance
O eration
Driving
Practical Hints
Technical Data
Fuels Coolants Lubricants etc.
Index

Check Re ularly and
Before a Lon Trip
See page 104
What You Should Know
at the Gas Station
See last page
The First 1500 km (1000 Miles)
The more cautiously you treat your
engine during the break-in period,
the more satis ied you will be with
its per ormance later on. There ore,
drive your vehicle during the irst
1500 km (1000 miles) at moderate
vehicle and engine speeds.
During this period, avoid heavy
loads ( ull throttle driving) and high
RPMs (no more than % o maxi
mum permissible speed in each
gear).
Avoid accelerating by kickdown. It
is not recommended to brake the
vehicle by manually shi ting to a
lower gear. We recommend to se
lect positions “3” or “2” only at mo
derate speeds ( or hill driving).
A ter 1500 km (1000 miles) speeds
may gradually be increased to the
permissible maximum.
8

Instruments and Controls, Starting the Engine
Driving Hints, Service and Maintenance
Instruments and Controls 10
Instrument Cluster 12
Catalytic Converter Cautions 14
Starting and Turning o the
Engine 15
Driving Hints 16
MERCEDES-BENZ
Maintenance System 18

Instruments and Controls
For more detailed descriptions see quoted pages.
1 Adjustable air outlets (page 20)
2 Slide lever or adjustable air outlet (page 20)
3 Parking brake release button (page 54)
4 Hood release handle (page 64)
5 Parking brake pedal (page 54)
6 Combination switch (page 38)
7 Exterior lamp switch (page 37)
8 Instruction tag (except tourist vehicle).
Use only unleaded gasoline
9 Cruise control (page 57)
10 Instrument cluster (page 12)
11 Horn control, airbag
12 Steering lock with ignition/starter switch
(page 36)
13 Adjustable air outlets (page 20)
14 Outside temperature indicator (page 60)
15 Rear window de roster switch (page 41)
16 Automatic antenna switch (page 51)
17 Front dome lamps switch (page 42)
18 Radio (page 47)
19 Air recirculation switch
20 Automatic climate control (page 20)
21 Ash tray with lighter (page 40, 84)
22 Le t power window switch (page 42)
23 Le t seat heater switch (page 30)
24 Hazard warning lasher system switch
25 Right seat heater switch (page 30)
26 Right power window switch (page 42)
27 Adjusting lever or exterior mirror on ront
passenger side (page 39)
28 Glove compartment, illuminated (only with key in
steering lock positions 1 or 2)
To open, shi t handle sideways
29 Loudspeaker cover, right and le t

11

Instrument Cluster
1 Economical driving indicator (ECONOMY).
See page 61
2 Coolant temperature gauge
Up to red marking: Maximum permissible
temperature or an anticorrosion/anti reeze-
blended ill protecting down to —30° C (—22° F).
See page 60
3 Fuel gauge with reserve warning lamp (yellow).
See page 60
Fuel reserve and capacity, re er to page 92 and
last page
4 Oil pressure gauge (bar). See page 59
5 Main odometer
6 Trip odometer
7 Knob or clock adjustment
(press in or adjustments)
8 Electric clock
9 Tachometer
10 Red marking on tachometer:
Excessive engine speed
11 Turn signal indicator lamp, right (green)
12 Seat belt warning lamp (red)
13 0 2-Sensor mal unction indicator lamp (red):
I the indicator lamp comes on, it indicates a
mal unction in the 0 2-sensor circuit. The 02-sen-
sor circuit should be checked by an authorized
MERCEDES-BENZ dealer at the irst opportunity.
14 Supplemental restraint system indicator
lamp (red). See page 33
15 Antilock brake system (ABS) indicator
lamp (yellow). See page 58
16 Dimmer knob or instrument lamps,
continuous adjustment
17 Exterior light ailure indicator lamp (yellow).
See page 60
18 Low windshield washer level indicator lamp
(yellow). See page 60
19 Low engine coolant level indicator lamp (yellow).
See page 60
20 Low engine oil level indicator lamp (yellow).
See page 59
21 Resetting knob or trip odometer
(push button)
22 Brake pad wear indicator lamp (yellow).
See page 59
23 Brake warning lamp (red). See pages 54, 59
24 Charge indicator lamp (red). See page 59
25 High beam indicator lamp (blue)
26 Turn signal indicator lamp, le t (green)

• :
13

Catalytic Converter Cautions Caution! Warnin !
Your MERCEDES-BENZ is equipped
with monolithic catalytic converters,
an important element in conjunction
with the 0 2-sensor to achieve
substantial control o the pollutants
in the exhaust emissions. Keep
your vehicle in proper operating
condition by ollowing our recom
mended maintenance instructions
as outlined in your maintenance
booklet.
To prevent damage to the catalytic
converters, only use unleaded
gasoline in this vehicle.
Should any noticeable irregularities
in the engine operation occur, ex
cessive unburned uel may reach
the converter causing it to over
heat.
As with any vehicle, do not idle,
park or operate this vehicle in
areas where combustible
materials such as rass, hay or
leaves can come into contact
with the hot exhaust system, as
these materials could be i nited

Startin and Turnin off the En ine
Engage parking brake and move
the gear selector lever in either “P”
or “N” position be ore starting the
engine.
Turn key to steering lock position 2.
The charge indicator lamp should
come on.
Cold En ine
Turn key in steering lock clockwise
to the stop. Do not depress accel
erator. Release key only when the
engine is iring regularly.
At ambient temperatures o less
than —18° C (0° F), depress accel
erator three times prior to starting.
Hot En ine
Turn key in steering lock clockwise
to the stop. Do not depress accel
erator. I the engine has not ired
a ter approx. 4 seconds, depress
accelerator and continue cranking
until the engine is iring regularly.
Release key and back o accele
rator.
At very high coolant temperatures
the engine starting time can be
shortened i the accelerator is
depressed slowly at the beginning
o the starting process.
Turnin off
Turn the key to steering lock posi
tion 0 and only remove the key
when the vehicle is stopped.
I the coolant temperature is very
high (e.g. a ter hard driving on
mountain roads), do not shut o
the engine immediately, allow it to
run or 1-2 minutes at increased
idle speed.
Important:
Due to the installed starter non
repeat unit, the key must be
returned to steering lock position 0
be ore a new starting attempt is
made.
Observe the oil pressure gauge im
mediately a ter starting the engine.
In a very cold engine the oil pres
sure will only rise slowly, some time
a ter the engine has started. Do not
speed up the engine be ore pres
sure is registered on the pressure
gauge.
The charge indicator lamp should
go out as soon as the engine has
started.
Should too much uel have entered
the engine due to several unsuc
cess ul starting attempts and the
engine will no longer ire, depress
the accelerator while starting. This
should make the mixture combus
tible again. Back o the accelerator
only when the engine is iring regu
larly.
In areas where temperatures
requently drop below —25° C
(—13° F), we recommend that a
block heater is installed. Every
MERCEDES-BENZ dealer will
advise you on this subject.

Drivin Hints
Power assistance
When the engine is not running, the
brake and steering systems are
without power assistance. Under
these circumstances, a much
greater e ort is necessary to steer
or stop the vehicle.
Tires
Do not allow your tires to wear
down too ar. With less than 3 mm
('/a in) o tread, the antiskid proper
ties on a wet road are sharply re
duced.
Depending upon the weather and/
or road sur ace (conditions), the
traction varies widely.
Speci ied tire pressure must be
maintained. This applies particularly
i the tires are subjected to high
loads (e.g. high speeds, heavy
loads, high ambient temperatures).
Aquaplanin
Depending on the depth o the
water layer on the road, aquaplan
ing may occur, even at low speeds.
Avoid track grooves in the road and
apply brakes cautiously in the rain.
Tire friction
The sa e speed on a wet or icy
road is always lower than on a dry
road.
You should pay particular attention
to the condition o the road as
soon as the prevailing temperatures
all close to the reezing point.
Warnin !
If ice has formed on the road, tire
traction will be substantially
reduced. Under such weather
conditions, drive, steer and brake
with extreme caution.
We recommend M + S radial-ply
tires or the cold season. On
packed snow, they can reduce your
stopping distance as compared
with summer tires. Stopping dis
tance, however, is still considerably
greater than when the road is wet
or dry.
Brakes
Warnin !
When drivin down lon and
steep rades, relieve the brakes
by shiftin into “3”, “2” or “B”.
This helps prevent overheatin of
the brakes and reduces brake
pad wear.
A ter hard braking it is advisable to
drive on or some time so the air
stream will cool down the brakes
aster.
Warnin !
After drivin in heavy rain for
some time without applyin the
brakes or throu h water deep
enou h to wet brake components,
the first brakin action may be
somewhat reduced and increased
pedal pressure may be neces
sary. Be sure to maintain a safe
distance from vehicles in front.
The condition o the parking brake
system is checked each time the
car is in the shop or maintenance.
Between maintenance checks it is
a good practice to apply the
parking brake once or twice while
driving at approximately 50 km/h
(30 mph) on a dry road. Apply
brake lightly until a slight drag on
the wheels is elt. Keep applying
brakes or about 10 seconds while
pulling release knob out be ore
releasing parking brake completely.
This practice will keep the parking
brake at maximum e iciency.

Warnin !
The stop lamps will not come on
when applyin the parkin brake
only. Perform the procedure in
the previous para raph only when
the road is clear of other traffic.
All checks and maintenance work
on the brake system should be
carried out by an authorized
MERCEDES-BENZ dealer.
I the parking brake is released and
the brake warning lamp in the ins
trument cluster stays on, the brake
luid level in the reservoir is too low.
Brake pad wear or a leak in the
system may be the reason or low
brake luid in the reservoir.
Have the brake system inspected
at an authorized MERCEDES-BENZ
dealer without delay.
Install only brake pads recommend
ed by us.
I other than recommended brake
pads are installed, the braking pro
perties o the vehicle can be a ect
ed to an extent that the sa ety is
substantially impaired.
Parkin
Warnin !
To reduce the risk of personal in
jury as a result of vehicle move
ment, before leavin the vehicle
always:
1. Keep foot on brake pedel.
2. Move the selector lever to
position “P”.
3. Turn front wheels towards the
road curb.
4. Firmly depress parkin brake
pedal.
5. Turn the key to steerin lock
position 0 and remove.
Winter Drivin Hints
The most important rule or slippery
or icy roads is to drive sensibly and
to avoid abrupt acceleration, brak
ing and steering action. Do not use
the cruise control system under
such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger o
skidding, move selector lever to
position “N”. Try to keep the
vehicle under control by corrective
steering action.
Road salts and chemicals can
adversely a ect braking e iciency.
Increased pedal orce may become
necessary to produce the normal
brake e ect. We there ore recom
mend depressing the brake pedal
repeatedly when traveling on salt-
strewn roads at length. This can
bring road salt impaired braking
e iciency back to normal. A prere
quisite is, however, that this is
possible without endangering other
drivers on the road.
I the vehicle is parked a ter being
driven on salt treated roads, the
braking e iciency should be tested
as soon as possible a ter driving is
resumed while adhering to the
sa ety requirements.

MERCEDES-BENZ Maintenance
System
A maintenance booklet is included
with your car listing all the mainten
ance jobs that must be carried out
a ter the ollowing mileages:
Routine Maintenance
Inspection at
1300-1600 km (800-1000 miles)
Lubrication Service every
12000 km (7500 miles)
Maintenance Service every
24000 km (15000 miles)
Additional Work every
48000 km (30000 miles)
For additional details re er to the
Maintenance Booklet.
In the case o low mileage opera
tion, the Maintenance Service must
be carried out at least once every
2 years.
Severe Operatin Conditions
In the case o severe operating
conditions or heavy use mainly in
city tra ic or over short distances,
requent mountain driving, poor
roads, dusty and muddy conditions,
trailer operation, hard and sporty
driving etc., it may be necessary to
carry out maintenance work at
shorter than normal intervals, as
ollows:
Engine: Oil change with ilter change
every 6000 km (3750 miles)
Automatic transmission: Fluid
change without ilter change every
24000 km (15000 miles)
Tires: Inspect
Air cleaner: Clean or replace
element
Special Maintenance Measures
Brake fluid should be replaced
annually, pre erably in the spring.
It is recommended to use only
brake luid approved by
MERCEDES-BENZ. Do not mix
di erent types o brake luids.
The coolant should be checked or
su icient protection be ore the start
o and during the hot and cold
season.
Have the coolant (water/anticorro
sion/anti reeze mixture) replaced at
least every three years (see “Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.”).
Maintenance Vouchers
Your authorized MERCEDES-BENZ
dealer will certi y in the mainten
ance booklet that all lubrication and
maintenance services have been
carried out at the correct intervals.
En ine Oil and Filter Chan e
Required every 12000 km
(7500 miles), or at least once a
year ( all) when using year-round
multigrade oil; otherwise at least
twice a year (spring and all).
For engine oil recommendations,
see page 91.
18