1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 lists its engine as a 5.0L V8 displacing 303 cubic inches, a naturally aspirated gasoline unit with double overhead camshafts. It sits in one body, the two-door convertible, and one trim, Base. People working on a car like this usually want exact values and a clear route through the wiring, and the manual gives specifications and wiring diagrams for the engine, fuel, cooling, chassis and body.

Engines covered

• 5.0L V8 (303 cu in) — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 2-door convertible

Trims covered

• Base

Known issues on the 1997 SL500. The federal record holds one recall for the 1997 SL500, covering certain vehicles whose driver's air bag could go off without warning. Where humidity stays high much of the time, the igniter wire inside the inflator module could corrode, and dealers swapped in a new driver's air bag module. Air bags also lead the complaints: four of the 8 lodged about this car concern them. Among those 8, 2 complaints reported a crash, 1 a fire and 2 an injury. The 1997 SL-Class line adds 2 complaints of its own. Restraint system procedures, wiring diagrams and diagnostics in this manual cover that system.