Starting And Turning Off The Engine - Mercedes-Benz 380 SL Owner's Manual

Engage parking brake or service
brake before starting the engine.
Place the gear selector lever in
either "N" or " P" position before
starting the engine.
Turn key in steering lock to
position "2 ". The charge indicator
lamp must come on.
Cold Engine
Turn key in steering lock clockwise
to the stop. If necessary, depress
the accelerator slowly after the
engine has started firing.
Release key only when the engine
is running smoothly.
Hot Engine
Turn key in steering lock clockwise
to the stop. Do not actuate
accelerator. If the engine has not
fired after approx. 4 seconds, de­
press accelerator to the floor and
continue cranking until the engine
runs smoothly. Release key and
back off accelerator after the
engine has started.
Cold Start at Normal Ambient
Temperatures (about 15° C - 3 5 ° C /
59° F -9 5 ° F)
Turn the key in steering lock clock­
wise to the stop. Start without
actuating accelerator.
Release key only when the engine
is running smoothly.
Turning off
Turn the key in the steering lock to
0
position " " and only remove the
key when the vehicle is at standstill.
If the coolant temperature is very
high (e.g. after hard driving on
mountain roads), do not shut off
the engine immediately but allow it
1 -2
to run on for minutes at
increased idle speed.

Starting and Turning off the Engine

Hints
Observe the oil pressure gauge
immediately after starting the
engine. In a very cold engine the oil
pressure will only rise slowly, some
time after the engine has started.
Do not rev up the engine before
pressure is registered on the pres­
sure gauge.
The charge indicator lamp must go
out as soon as the engine has star­
ted.
Do not engage the starter con­
20
tinuously for more than
At ambient temperatures of less
than -2 0 ° C /-4 ° F, depress the
accelerator three times prior to
starting.
seconds.