I purchased a 2005 about 5 months ago with only 5400 miles on it. Now that new has worn off, I have noticed a wrench, clock and the number -730 on the display which has never changed. I called the local Chrysler dealer where the previous owner had taken it and they said the wrench icon was for service but they had no idea what the -730 stood for. From what the dealership told me it should be due an oil change in about 3000 miles. Any idea what the -730 means?

 

The car says you are 730 past due for whichever service type it is indicating needs to be done. Its either miles or days, but most likely miles.

Read your owners manual, it will explain what this means, and how to check it, and also, how to reset it.

BC.

 

Yes, use the service manual for explanation. Bottom line, it's either not been serviced or they didn't reset it. I bought mine with 5600 miles on it and it had similar indication. I expect mine was for time past due -- because from a mileage perspective, it still wasn't due for a change yet. Anyway, I reset it myself because it was annoying me -- and took it in for and oil change and then reset it again. I do my own oil changes now and reset it as appropriate. My suspision is it wasn't serviced --- because it had such low miles --- so get it done ASAP. BTW - the dealer mechanic should know this if they know the car ---- but as you'll find out on here (and I have by experience) most dealers don't know the car, don't know how to service it and even if they have a certified crossfire mechanic at the shop --- you'll likely know more than they do if you spend anytime reading the great info on this forum. Even if you don't service your own car, you should read symptoms and fixes on here so you are armed with knowledge when you take it in................... it will certainly help protect you from the stealerships ......... but more importantly, protect your car.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

The clock means 730 days ...... I think .... someone confirm? Means 2 years past service? OUCH

 

Yes, 730 days over. That is really not a bad as it seems . Indicates that the car was garaged more than anything. I would much rather see that than 730 miles over. Mine read -667 days over but I saw proof where the oil was changed a little over 2000 ago. I reset the FSS as soon as I got home.

Of course in order for the FSS to mean anything it needs to be reset after service. Might not have been. Can be tricky to do for first timers.

 

the -730 SHOULD be the miles overdue...that's what it is in the Benz SLK...and since i put about 75 miles on per day and it increments that much, the logic still holds true.

I bought my '05 last year with 6000 miles on it. Called the local Chrysler dealer this week and said "i need a Service B on my Crossfire"...and he said "a what?"

i groaned...

1) i'm female
2) i actually read my owners manual from cover to cover
3) i sold an SLK about 4 years ago so i was familiar with the platform
4) i had been married to an auto mechanic and used to help maintain my own vehicles
5) i worked for a convenience store corporation and the oil vendors even say 5K is outdated now.

i said "a Service B..." he says - what's that?

me: that's where the little wrenches flash on your dashboard telling you that you need to come in for service.

him: what does the owners manual say?

me: it says i NEED A SERVICE B when two wrenches appear. Now, i don't have the manual in front of me at work, but that would probably be an oil change and some other stuff. I did an oil change about 5000 miles ago with synth so I can hold out a little bit.

him: you need to change your oil every 3-5000 miles. I don't know who told you that you could go that long but they're wrong.

me: uhhh...the OWNERS MANUAL says 7500 and the flexible fuel system tells me.

him: you don't have one of them.

me: thanks for your time...bye.

any problem if I go to my local Jiffy Lube with manual in hand and say "please?!?" I love what they do for my 95 GMC Suburban!

thanks, 3YZMK

 

Maybe on the SLK, I don't know. I have never owned or driven one.

On to the Crossfire.

Page 107 of the Owner's Manual explains the Icon that is the wrench with a clock next to it on the left. It reads as follows:

Depending on operating conditions through out the year, the next service is calculated and displayed next to this symbol in days remaining before the next service is required.

Further on page 107, lower right side, second paragraph from the end reads as follows:

Once the suggested term has passed, the message plus either the symbol for Service A or the symbol for Service B preceded by a -(minus symbol) blinks for approx. 30 seconds and a signal sounds every time when turning the key to the ON/RUN position.

 

Personally, I would never take my roadster to a Jiffy Lube. I have found an independent mechanic that is familiar with the SLK platform and Mercedes in general. That seems to be a popular scenario for many here as well.

 

Jiffy Lube ? I would suggest ABSOLUTELY NOT !!! First of all, they don't have the right oil filter, and secondly I personally don't want a 17yr old changing my oil OR even touching my car. Either do it yourself, or take it to a MB mechanic. Do a search on Oil changes for our Crossfires ..... it should tell you a lot. Just my $.02

EDIT: Tired Retired beat me to it ..... LOL