Mercedes-Benz 380 SL, 380 SLC, 1982 380 SL Owner's Manual

Owner s Ma nu al
380 SL
380 SLC
Drive Sensibly - Save Fuel
Fuel consumption depends to a great extent on driving habits and operating conditions.
In order to save fuel you should:
ensure that tire pressures are correct
not carry unnecessary loads
remove ski racks or roof- mounted luggage racks when not in use
not warm up your engine at idle and with the vehicle at standstill
avoid frequent acceleration and deceleration
avoid frequent braking
avoid unnecessarily high speeds
have all the maintenance jobs specified by us carried out at regular intervals by a MERCEDES-BENZ service station.
Driving in low temperature weather, in stop-and-go city traffic and on short hops, and in hilly country also increases fuel consumption.
380 SL 380 SLC
Type 107
1981
You have chosen to drive a MERCEDES-BENZ, a car in whose construction and production we have taken great pains because we believe that quality is not a matter of chance.
Perhaps you have already had experience with a MERCEDES, maybe this is your first car from the DAIMLER-BENZ company. In both cases - for your own benefit - please read this owner’s manual before putting it away. Even though you have been driving a car for years, some things in this car may be new to you, and this manual certainly contains a few hints which will help you to make the most of your new car.
We wish you safe and pleasant motoring. DAIMLER-BENZ Aktiengesellschaft
3
Contents
This Owners Manual also
describes optional extras as far as an introduction on their handling is required. As these extras need to be ordered separately, the equipment of your vehicle may deviate from the descriptions and illustrations to some extent.
The last page
What you should know at the
gas station
4
Vehicle Operation
Instruments and Controls 8 Instrument Cluster
.......................
10
Keys, D oors
....................................
12
Rat Key, Master Key and Supplementary Ke y 12 Obtaining Replacement Keys . 12 Opening, Locking and Unlocking of Doors
.................
12
Master Lock System
................
13
Seats ............................................... 14
Adjustment of Driver’s Seat and Front Passenger S eat 14 Safety Headrest
.........................
15
Seat Heater
..............................
15
Safety B elts
................................
16
Controls
.........................................
18
Steering L o ck
............................
18
Lighting Switch
.........................
19
Combination S witch
..................
20
Cruise Control
...........................
21 Automatic Climate Control 22 Various Equipment
........................
25
Interior Lamps
............................
25
Rear View M irrors
......................
25
Sun V iso r.................................... 25
Lighter
.........................................
26
Heated Rear W indow
.................
26
Shelf below Rear W indow 26 Electric Window Lifters 27
Roadster Top
................................
28
Hardtop
.........................................
29
Sliding R oof
..................................
30
Radio
.............................................
31
Driving
Hood
.............................................
40
Parking Brake
...............................
40
Regular Inspections
......................
41 Catalytic Converter Cautions ... 42 Starting and Turning off the Engine
...............................
43 Starting and Shifting G ears 44 Safe Driving
..................................
46
Brake Pad Wear Indicator Lamp
............................................
47
Brake Fluid
...............................
47
Charge Indicator Lam p 47 Oil Pressure Gauge
..................
48 Coolant Temperature Gauge . 48 Emission Control
......................
48
Engine Oil Consumption
.........
48
The First 1500 km/1000 Miles .. 49
Driving Economically
..................
49 Gauge for Economical Driving (ECONOMY)
..................
49
Special Operating Conditions ... 49
Winter Driving
...........................
49
Hints for Driving
.......................
50
Tire Chains
...............................
50
Traveling Abroad
......................
50
Contents
Vehicle Care
MERCEDES-BENZ Maintenance System
.........................................
52 Severe Operating Conditions . 52 Engine Oil Change and Filter Change
......................................
53 Automatic Transmission- Fluid and Filter Change
...........
53
Spare Parts Service
......................
53
Cleaning and Care of the Vehicle 54
Jobs related to Care
.................
55
Practical Hints
Ash trays
......................................
58
Rear Seat Cushion
........................
58
First Aid Kit
..................................
59
Luggage or Ski Racks
..................
59 Spare Wheel, Jack, Vehicle Tool Kit
...........................
59 Wheels, Tires, Changing Wheels
..........................
60
Wheels, Tires
........................
60
Changing Wheels
......................
61
Tire Inflation Pressure
...............
62 Checking Fuels, Coolants, Lubricants, etc
.................................
63
Engine Oil Level Check
...........
63
Checking Coolant Level 64 Automatic Transmission Fluid Level
................................
65
Electrical System
............................
66
Replacing Bulbs
........................
66
Fuses
..........................................
70
Battery
......................................
70
Spark Plugs
...............................
70 Sliding Roof-Emergency Operation
......................................
71
Unlocking of the Filler Rap
.........
71
Emergency-starting and Towing
the V ehicle
....................................
72
Jump S tarting
.................................
73
Technical Data - Fuels, Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
Identification Plates
........................
76 Vehicle Data C ards
........................
77 Warranty Coverage
........................
77 Technical Data
...............................
78 Fuels, Coolants, Lubricants, etc. 80
Capacities
.................................
80
Engine Oils
.................................
82
Brake Ruid
.................................
82
Coolants
....................................
83
Service Literature
..........................
84
Vehicle Operation
Driving
Vehicle Care
Practical Hints
Technical Data - Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
5
Vehicle Operation
Instruments and Controls
For more detailed descriptions see quoted pages.
1 Swivelling side ventilation outlets (page 22) 2 Control lever for side ventilation (page 22) 3 Parking brake release button (page 40) 4 Hood release lever (page 40) 5 Parking brake pedal (page 40) 6 Combination switch (page 20) 7 Lighting switch (page 19) 8 Instruction tag (except tourist vehicle).
Use only unleaded gasoline
9 Cruise control (page 21) 10 Instrument cluster (page 10) 11 Horn control 12 Steering lock with ignition/starter
switch (page 18)
13 Swivelling outlets for cooled air (page 22)
14 380 SL: Switch for front dome lamps
380 SLC: Switch for rear dome lamp
15 Switch for automatic antenna (page 33) 16 Switch for heated rear window (page 26) 17 380 SLC: Switch for electric sliding roof
(page 30) 18 Radio (page 31) 19 Automatic climate control (page 22) 20 Ash tray with lighter (page 26, 58)
21 Switch for left front seat heater (page 15) 22 Switch for right front seat heater (page 15)
23 380 SLC: Loudspeaker - fader control 24 Switch group for window lifters (page 27)
25 Hazard warning flasher switch
Push switch = hazard warning flasher system
switched on Push switch once more = hazard warning flasher system switched off
26 Glove compartment (to open, shift handle
sideways). Only illuminated if steering lock is in position 1” or 2.
27 Loudspeaker cover, right and left
Instruments and Controls
9
Instrument Cluster
1 Gauge for economical driving (ECONOMY).
See page 49
2 Coolant temperature gauge C)
Up to red marking: Maximum permissible temperature for an antifreeze-blended fill protecting down to -30° 0,1-22° F. See page 48
3 Fuel gauge with reserve warning lamp (yellow)
Fuel reserve and capacity, refer to page 81 and last page
4 Oil pressure gauge (bar). See page 48 5 Main odometer
6 Trip odometer
7 Knob for clock adjustment
(press in for adjustments)
8 Electric clock
9 Tachometer
10 Red marking on tachometer:
Excessive engine revolutions
11 Turn signal indicator lamp, right (green)
12 02-Sensor replacement indicator lamp (red):
When the indicator lamp comes on, the
02-Sensor must be replaced 13 Seat belt warning lamp (red) 14 Brake pad wear indicator lamp (yellow):
Lights up during braking if the front wheel brake pads are worn down. See page 47
15 Dimmer knob for instrument lamps,
continuous adjustment
16 Resetting knob for trip odometer
(push button)
17 Brake warning lamp (red) comes on if
the parking brake is engaged
too little brake fluid is in the reservoir
18 High beam indicator lamp (blue) 19 Charge indicator lamp (red):
Comes on when the steering lock key is moved to driving position 2 and must go out when the engine is idling. See page 47
20 Turn signal indicator lamp, left (green)
Note
A stop is provided on the speedometer at the
138 km/h/85 mph reading. Speeds in excess of 138 km/h/85 mph will no longer be recorded.
Instrument Cluster
11
Keys Doors
Flat Key
The flat key fits all vehicle locks. We recommend that you carry the flat key with you and keep it in a safe
place so that it is always handy, if needed (e.g. in your wal let). Never leave the flat key in the vehicle.
Master Key - square headed - fits all locks on the car.
Supplementary Key - rounded head - fits only the door locks and the steering lock. This key is inten ded to be used whenever the car is
left with an attendant. Be sure to lock glove compartment and trunk with the master key.
Obtaining Replacement Keys
Replacement keys can be obtained only via MERCEDES-BENZ service stations. If the keys are lost, assis tance is rather time consuming and expensive.
Opening the Doors
From outside: pull handle
outwards (1).
From inside: pull handle in door panel (4).
Locking and Unlocking of Doors
From the outside: turn key. From the inside: actuate safety catch.
2 Unlocking 3 Locking
One cannot lock:
the drivers door if it is open.
any door if the door lock has not engaged fully. In this case open the door and shut it again.
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Master Lock System
The master lock system enables the front passenger door, the fuel tank filler flap and the trunk lid to be locked or unlocked together with the driver’s door. When locking or unlocking, the locking levers on both doors must move simulta neously. If one locking lever fails to do so, the lock of that particular door is not properly engaged. The door must then be opened and closed correctly.
With the master lock system in the locked position, the front passenger door can be locked and unlocked either with the locking lever or with the key.
Actuation of the locking lever on
the front passenger door, however,
is not possible when the master lock system is in the unlocked position.
The trunk lid can also be unlocked
separately by turning master key counterclockwise to the stop. Push
the trunk lock button in with it and lift the lid. Return the key to its ini tial position and withdraw it. To lock
the lid, close it firmly. It will then
be locked again by the master lock
system. A provision has been made to faci
litate permanent locking of the trunk lid for positive prevention of access to trunk by unauthorized persons.
Before leaving vehicle with an attendant, lock trunk with master key (square head) by turning key clockwise to stop (tumbler slot ver tical), then provide attendant with
round-headed supplementary key. Thus, the trunk lock has been ex cluded from the operation of the
master lock system and cannot be opened except with the square
headed master key.
Keys Doors
To reverse this, turn trunk lock counterclockwise back to horizontal position of the tumbler slot with master key. Lock will then be reen gaged in master lock system; that is, it will automatically be locked or
unlocked depending on whether the driver’s door is locked or unlocked.
The master lock system operates on vacuum generated by the engine. A reservoir allows the master lock system to be actuated about five times after the engine is turned off. If the system can then no longer be engaged, idle engine for a short period.
If no vacuum is available, doors and trunk have to be locked individually in the normal manner. The fuel tank filler flap, however, remains unlocked.
Note: If the filler flap cannot be opened
when the master lock system is unlocked, refer to Unlocking of the Filler Rap (page 71).
13
Seats
Adjustment of Driver’s Seat and
Front Passenger Seat
Forward/backward adjustment: lift handle (1), push seat backward or forward and allow handle to
reengage. Height adjustment of driver’s seat
(3 positions): pull out rotary hand les (2) at the rear ends of the guide
rails, turn to desired position and allow to reengage. The height of the front passenger seat can be adjusted, if necessary,
by relocating the guide rails
(2 positions). To do so, unscrew
both the rear clamping screws and
14
screw in again at the respective bore. Back rest tilt: turn handwheel (3) back or forth.
For full reclining of backrest, seat should be moved to one of the for- wardmost positions and headrest
removed. For driving, return back
rest to upright position and push seat back. Replace headrest.
380 SL: After disengaging the stop
by lifting knob (4), the back rest can be folded forwards.
380 SLC: Backrests are vacuum-
locked when the doors are closed. One can unlock them from the rear
seat by means of a button (5) accommodated in the respective lateral panelling of the rear passen ger compartment. With opened doors the backrests will fold for ward without pressing the buttons.
Note: Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver should adjust the seat height for proper vision as well as fore-aft placement and seat back angle to insure adequate control, reach, operation, and comfort. The head rest should also be adjusted for proper height so that when the cushion is tipped completely for ward, it should form a cradle
behind the seat occupant’s head.
Both the inside and outside rear view mirrors should then be adjus ted for adequate rearward vision.
Fasten seat belts. Children under the age of six or under the weight of 23 kg/50 lb should be seated in the back seat with an approved
restraint system properly secured. All seat, headrest, and rear view
mirror adjustments as well as fas tening of seat belts should be accomplished before the vehicle is
put into motion.
Seats
Safety Headrest
Adjust headrest to support the back of the head approximately at ear level.
Height adjustment: Press headrest slightly forward (1)
and reset upward or downward. Detaching headrests: Pull headrest out to the stop. Re
lease arrester by depressing release knob to be felt under the covering
material in rear of back rest and pull up headrest quickly, holding it by the LH headrest post (viewed in driving direction). Finally pull out headrest completely with both hands.
The headrest locking knob of the front seat is located below the LH headrest post (2).
Seat Heater
The seat heater can be switched on when the steering lock is in position 1” or 2".
An indicator lamp in the switch comes on when the seat heater is switched on.
To save battery power, position 2 should not be switched on any lon ger than absolutely necessary if the engine is switched off.
$ 9348
Pushbutton center position = seat heater switched off
Pushbutton position 1 = continuous
operation
Pushbutton position 2 = quick heating
15
Seats
>
380 SL
Safety Belts
Warning System: The indicator is illuminated for
4-8 seconds after turning the steering lock key to position 2.
If the safety belt of the drivers seat is not fastened a warning buzzer
sounds simultaneously.
Fastening:
Pull belt with latch plate (1) over shoulder and lap. The belt must not be twisted.
Press latch plate (1) into buckle (2) and allow to engage audibly.
The belt must be tight and must be checked for tightness imme diately after fastening and regularly during the trip. If required, tighten lap belt by pulling up on the upper belt section.
On the coupe, the swivelling fitting which is mounted on the lower anchoring point to facilitate entering the vehicle must point forward.
16
Unfastening:
Depress red button (3) in buckle.
Return latch plate (1) to initial position.
380 SLC: On entering or leaving the rear passenger compartment, the safety belt must be disengaged from guide (4).
Operation: The safety belt inertia reel stops
the belt from unwinding further in case of vehicle deceleration in any direction or if the belt is pulled out quickly.
Functional test:
The locking function of the inertia reel can be tested by braking, driv ing around a bend or by pulling the belt out quickly.
Lap belt in rear passenger com partment:
Pull belt with latch plate (1) across the lap, press tongue in lock (2) and allow to engage audibly. The belt must not be twisted but must be tight.
Seats
To shorten the belt, pull belt end with the latch plate engaged. To lengthen the belt, turn the latch plate so that it is at a little more than 90° to the belt and pull before fastening the belt.
To disengage the belt, push red
button (3) in the lock.
Note:
No safety belt can be used for
more than one person. Belts are
not intended for children.
After an accident, inspect the safety belts and replace them, if
required. The belt anchors in the
vehicle should also be checked.
Renew damaged belt webbing.
Belt webbing must not be routed via sharp edges.
No modifications which may affect the efficiency of the belts must be made.
For cleaning and care of belt web bing, refer to page 55.
17
Controls
Steering Lock
0 Steering is locked when the key
is withdrawn and the steering lock is engaged. The key can be withdrawn only in zero position.
Note: Do not remove key from steer
ing lock while the vehicle is in motion as this will cause the engagement of the steering lock thus rendering the vehicle in operable.
18
1 Steering is unlocked.
(If necessary, move steering wheel slightly to turn the key clockwise to position 1”.)
2 Driving position.
Starting:
Continue turning key clockwise to the stop. The starter is engaged when the key is pressed against the stop. The starter nonrepeat unit
requires the key to be returned to
position 0prior to a new starting attempt.
For starting and turning off the engine, refer to page 43.
Notes: The following items can be opera
ted with the key in steering lock position 1”.
Wiper, windshield washer, head lamp flasher, lighter, glove compart ment lamp, radio, electric seat hea ter.
The power supply to the standing
lamps is disrupted if the key in the
steering lock is in position 2. A warning buzzer sounds when the
key has been left in steering lock positions 1or 0and the driver’s door is opened.
Controls
(
Lighting Switch
0 Off-position
1 Parking lamps (includes side
marker lamps, tail lamps, license plate lamps, instrument panel lamps)
2 Same as pos. 1 plus headlamps
3 Standing lamps, right 4 Standing lamps, left A Turn to position 2 and pull out
to first detent = same as position 2 plus fog lamps
B Available for an option
Note: With the steering lock key removed
and the driver’s door or the front
passenger’s door open a signal
sounds if the vehicle’s exterior
lamps are not switched off (standing lamps excepted).
19
Controls
>
Combination Switch
1 Low beam (lighting switch
turned clockwise to 2nd notch)
2 High beam (lighting switch
turned clockwise to 2nd notch)
3 Headlamp flasher (high beam
available independent of lighting switch position)
4 Turn signals, right
5 Turn signals, left
To operate the turn signals, move the combination switch past the point of resistance (up or down). The switch is automatically can celled when the steering wheel is turned by a large enough angle.
To signal minor directional changes of the vehicle, such as changing
lanes on a highway, move combina
tion switch to the point of resis tance only and hold it there.
6 Control for windshield washer
system
When the washer system is switched on, the wipers also operate
7 Windshield wiper control
0 Windshield wiper switched off 1 Intermittent wiping II Normal wiper speed III High wiper speed
Hints: If one of the turn signals fails, the
turn signal indicator system flashes and sounds at a faster sequence than under normal operating condi tions.
Fog lamps will only operate to
gether with low beam headlamps.
Fog lamps are turned off automati
cally when lighting switch is
returned to off-position.
20
Controls
8623
Cruise Control
Any given speed above approxi mately 40 km/h/25 mph can be maintained with the cruise control by operating the switch.
1 =Setting (touch switch)
Accelerating (hold switch)
2=Setting (touch switch)
Decelerating (hold switch)
Normally the vehicle is accelera ted to the desired speed with the accelerator. Speed is set by
briefly pushing the switch to position 1" or 2, and the accelerator can be released.
The speed can be increased
(e. g. for passing) by using the accelerator. As soon as the accelerator is released, the pre viously set speed will be re sumed automatically.
If a set speed is to be increased or decreased slightly, e.g. to
adapt to the traffic flow, retain switch in position 1” or 2 until the desired speed is reached. When the switch is released, the newly set speed remains.
3=Cancelling
To cancel the cruise control, briefly push lever to position 3.
The cruise control will also be cancelled if the brake pedal is actuated or if the vehicle speed drops below 40 km/h/25 mph.
4=Resume
If the lever is briefly pushed to
position 4when driving at a speed exceeding approximately 40 km/h/25 mph, that speed is resumed which was set prior to the cancellation of the cruise control.
The last memorized speed is
cancelled when the key in the steering lock is turned to posi tion 1or 0.
Important:
Only use the cruise control if the traffic conditions make it advisable to travel at a steady speed.
Position Resume should be engaged only if the driver is fully aware of the previously set speed and wishes to resume this particu
lar preset speed. When driving with the cruise con
trol, the selector lever must not be shifted to position N as otherwise the engine will overrev.
21
Automatic Climate Control
1 Temperature selector wheel 2 OFF” button 3 AUTO-LO button 4 AUTO-HI” button 5 BI-LEVELbutton
6 DEF” button 7 Refrigerant compressor switch 8 Swivelling outlets for cooled air 9 Swivelling outlets for side
ventilation
10 Lever for side ventilation
open = towards center of vehicle closed = towards outside of vehicle
22
Automatic Climate Control
The automatic climate control is designed to maintain the desired temperature in the vehicle interior.
Heating, cooling and air distribution
(top, center, bottom) are controlled automatically. The blower speeds will be varied automatically depending on the push button set ting, operating and temperature conditions.
The automatic climate control is operational only if the engine is running.
For adaptation to the weather con ditions various functions can be selected with the pushbuttons. Air outlets 8 - 9 must then be adjusted as required. Buttons 2 -6 can be pressed only individually. The indi cator lamps in the individual but
tons come on if the buttons are
pressed and the vehicle lamps are switched on.
1 Temperature selector wheel
The desired temperature in the vehicle interior can be set with the selector wheel.
Normally only one adjustment is necessary for the entire year. If required to be altered, only
slight adjustments should be
made to this temperature setting.
2 OFF button:
Switching off the automatic
climate control.
Simultaneously the fresh air supply to the vehicle interior is cut off. This position can be
briefly selected in the case of odorous or dust annoyances or when passing through an auto
matic car wash.
3 AUTO-LO button:
Normal vehicle operation. This setting will provide heating
or cooling of the vehicle’s inte
rior depending on the selector wheel setting and the outside temperature. If heating is re quired, the fresh air supply and the blower will remain in the off position until the engine cooling water is slightly warmed up.
Only then will warm air enter the interior of the vehicle and be distributed mainly to the footwell outlets. A small amount of air is directed to the windshield to ensure defogging under normal weather conditions. For the defogging of the side windows, air can be diverted from the side outlets 9 depending on the position of levers 10. The center outlets 8 remain closed during heating operation.
If cooling of the interior is re quired, the blower will start immediately regardless of engine temperature. The air is routed via center outlets 8 into the vehicle’s interior and addi tionally via the side outlets 9 depending on the position of lever 10. No air is allowed to flow to the windshield and to the footwell. The blower speed will be automatically reduced in several steps in the heating or cooling cycle as the interior temperature approaches the preselected temperature on the temperature wheel 1.
Automatic Climate Control
4 AUTO-HI” button:
Fast heating or cooling of
vehicle interior.
Air conditioning, air distribution and blower control are the same as in position 3 AUTO-LO. The blower, however, operates at a higher speed.
5 BI-LEVELbutton:
For fogged-up windows. During heating and cooling ope
rations air is channelled to the windshield and to the footwell. During the cooling operation air also enters via the center swi velling outlets 8.
The vehicle interior is cooled practically free of draft with more air being blown into the footwell. The blower then operates at a higher speed than AUTO-LO.
We recommend this position at low ambient temperatures.
6 DEF” button:
For iced-up windows. Independent of the position of
the temperature selector wheel air heated to maximum tempera ture is channelled to the wind shield.
For the side windows, open swivelling outlets 9.
7 Refrigerant compressor switch:
Switching the air conditioning compressor on and off.
The compressor can be switched off completely in the positions AUTO-LOand AUTO-HI”, e. g.
if no cooling is required because of low ambient tempe ratures (fuel economy).
Fresh air is supplied to the foot well if the refrigerant compres sor is switched off while the
system is working in the cooling
mode.
Fresh air enters the vehicle through openings in front of the windshield
(keep free of snow).
380 SLC and 380 SL with hardtop: When the windows are closed the air is emitted through ventilation opening below the rear window.
Do not cover up ventilation open ings with clothes etc.
Important!
In order to keep the air condition
ing section of the climate control system in good working condition at all times, it is necessary to operate the A /C compressor briefly at least once a month even during the seasons it is normally not re
quired. Switch compressor switch to ONand depress AUTO-LOor
AUTO-HI” button. Make sure that the ambient temperature is above
2° C/36° F since the A/ C compres
sor will not operate below this tem
perature.
Various Equipment
Interior Lamps
The footwell lamps below the ins trument panel are switched on as long as one of the doors is open.
380 SL: The front dome lamps are switched on and off by means of a rocker switch on the instrument panel.
380 SLC: The switch for the front lamp has 3 positions.
Position I: lamp is switched on and off by the door contact switches.
Position II: lamp is continuously
switched off.
Position III: lamp is continuously
switched on. The rear dome lamp is switched on
and off by means of the toggle switch on the instrument panel.
Rear View Mirrors
Outside rear view mirror: Outside rear view mirror (2) can be
randomly adjusted by means of lever (1).
Inside rear view mirror: Mirror housing can be randomly
adjusted. In addition mirror can be
dimmed by means of lever on lower mirror edge. Lever in opposite driv ing direction = normal position. Lever in driving direction = anti dazzle position.
Sun Visor
Swing sun visor down to protect against sun dazzle.
If sunlight enters through the side windows, disengage visor from inner mounting and swing to the side.
25
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