Automatic Transmission - Mercedes-Benz 500 SL Owner's Manual

Automatic Transmission

The automatic transmission selects
individual gears automatically,
dependent upon
•
Selector lever position
•
Program mode selector
•
Accelerator position
•
Vehicle speed
The gear shifting process is
continuously adapted, dependent on the
driving style, the driving situation and
the road characteristics.
Important!
When parking the car or before
working on the vehicle with the engine
running, firmly depress the parking
brake pedal and shift the selector lever
into "P".
Driving
The selector lever is automatically
locked while in position "P". To move
the selector lever out of position "P",
the service brake pedal must be firmly
depressed before the shift lock will
release.
Shift selector lever to the desired
driving position only when the engine
is idling and the service brake is
applied. Do not release the brake until
ready to drive. The vehicle may
otherwise start creeping when the
selector lever is in drive or reverse
position.
Warning!
It is dangerous to shift the se
lector lever out of "P" or "N" if
the engine speed is higher than idle
speed. If your foot is not firmly on
the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in
reverse. You could lose control of
the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally
and when your right foot is firmly
on the brake pedal.
Important!
After selecting any driving position
from "N" or "P", wait a moment to
allow the gear to fully engage before
accelerating, especially when the
engine is cold.
Accelerator position
Partial throttle = early upshifting =
normal acceleration
Full throttle = later upshifting =
rapid acceleration
Kickdown (depressing the accelerator
beyond full throttle) = downshifting to
next lowest gear = maximum
acceleration. Once the desired speed is
attained, ease up on the accelerator -
the transmission shifts up again.
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