MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG 2006 R171 Manual PDF

70 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyFront air bags
1Driver’s air bag
2Passenger air bag
3Kneebag (passenger side)
4Kneebag (driver’s side)Driver and passenger air bags are de-
ployed


in the event of certain frontal impacts


if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold


independently of the head-thorax
air bags
The air bags will not deploy in impacts
which do not exceed the system’s deploy-
ment thresholds. You will then be protect-
ed by the fastened seat belts.
The passenger air bag will only be de-
ployed if


the passenger seat is occupied


the 75indicator lamp in the
center console is not lit (
page 77)


the impact exceeds a preset deploy-
ment thresholdKneebags
The driver-side kneebag is located on the
driver’s side lower instrument panel. The
passenger-side kneebag is located on the
passenger side below the glove box. They
are designed to operate together with the
air bags in certain frontal impacts exceed-
ing a preset threshold. The kneebags oper-
ate best in conjunction with properly
positioned and fastened seat belts.
!Do not place objects heavier than
20 lbs (9 kg) on the passenger seat.
This could cause the front air bag or
head-thorax air bag on the passenger
side to deploy in a crash which exceeds
the system’s deployment threshold.

71 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Head-thorax air bags
1Head-thorax air bag
The head-thorax air bags are deployed

on the impacted side of the vehicle


in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold


independently of the front air bags
The passenger-side head-thorax air bag
will only deploy if the system senses that
the passenger seat is occupied.
The head-thorax air bags are not deployed
in impacts which do not exceed the sys-
tem’s deployment threshold.
Seat belts
When the engine is started, the seat belt
telltale< illuminates for a maximum of
6 seconds and a warning chime sounds to
remind you and your passenger to fasten
your seat belt.
If after these 6 seconds, the driver’s or the
passenger’s seat belt (with the passenger
seat occupied) are not fastened with all
doors closed,

and the vehicle speed does not exceed
15 mph (25 km/h), the seat belt
telltale< remains illuminated for as
long as either the driver’s or passen-
ger’s seat belt is not fastened.


and the vehicle speed exceeds 15 mph
(25 km/h), the seat belt telltale<
starts flashing and a warning chime
sounds with increasing intensity until
both the driver’s and passenger’s seat
belt are fastened, or for a maximum of
60 seconds from the time the vehicle
speed exceeded 15 mph (25 km/h) if
either the driver’s or passenger’s seat
belt remains unfastened.
If the driver’s or passenger’s seat belt
remains unfastened after 60 seconds,
the seat belt telltale< stops flash-
ing and the warning chime stops
sounding. The seat belt telltale<
then continues to be illuminated for as
long as either the driver’s or passen-
ger’s seat belt are not fastened.
The seat belt telltale< will only go out
if both the driver’s and passenger’s seat
belt (with the passenger seat occupied)
are fastened, or the vehicle is standing still
and a door is opened.

72 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyAlways wear your seat belt. All vehicle oc-
cupants always need to have their seat
belts fastened and wear them properly.
In addition, applicable motor vehicle safety
laws require you to wear seat belts. Even
where this is not the case, we strongly rec-
ommend that all vehicle occupants have
their seat belts fastened and wear them
properly.
For more information, see “Fastening the
seat belts” (
page 47).
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and re-
straint systems for infants and chil-
dren, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 75).
Warning!
G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passenger is
properly restrained, even pregnant women.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-
sition your seat belt greatly increases your
risk of injuries and their likely severity in an
accident. You and your passenger should al-
ways wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are properly wearing
your seat belt. Air bags can only protect as
they are designed if the occupants are prop-
erly wearing their seat belts.
Warning!
G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. That could cause serious or
even fatal injuries. The seat backrest and
seat belt provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a nearly upright position and the
belt is properly positioned on the body.Warning!
G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Be sure
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly re-
strained with a separate seat belt. Never use
a seat belt for more than one person at a
time.

73 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Warning!
G
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced
and their anchoring points must also be
checked.
Only use seat belts which have been ap-
proved by Mercedes-Benz.
Do not make any modifications to the seat
belts. This can lead to unintended activation
of the ETDs or to failure.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Have all work carried out only by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY

Seat belts can only work when used
properly. Never wear seat belts in any
other way than as described in this sec-
tion, as that could result in serious inju-
ries in case of an accident.


Each occupant should wear his or her
seat belt at all times, because seat belts
help reduce the likelihood and potential
severity of injuries in accidents, includ-
ing rollovers. The integrated restraint
system includes SRS (driver air bag,
passenger air bag, kneebags,
head-thorax air bags) and ETD (seat belt
emergency tensioning device).
The system is designed to enhance the
protection offered to properly belted oc-
cupants in certain frontal (front air bags,
kneebags, and EDT) and side (head-tho-
rax air bags and EDT) impacts which ex-
ceed preset deployment thresholds.


Never wear the shoulder belt under your
arm, against your neck or off your shoul-
der. In a crash, your body would move
too far forward. That would increase the
chance of head and neck injuries. The
belt would also apply too much force to
the ribs or abdomen, which could se-
verely injure internal organs such as
your liver or spleen.


Never wear belts over rigid or breakable
objects in or on your clothing, such as
eyeglasses, pens, keys, etc., as these
might cause injuries.


Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips and not across the abdo-
men. If the belt is positioned across your
abdomen, it could cause serious injuries
in a crash.


Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time. Do not fasten a seat
belt around a person and another per-
son or other objects.


74 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Emergency tensioning device (ETD),
seat belt force limiter
The seat belts are equipped with
emergency tensioning devices (ETDs) and
seat belt force limiters.
The ETD is designed to activate in the fol-
lowing cases:

in frontal or rear-end impacts exceed-
ing a preset severity level.


if the restraint systems are operational
and functioning correctly, see
1indicator lamp (
page 64).In an impact emergency tensioning
devices remove slack from the belts in
such a way that the seat belts fit more
snugly against the body. Belt force limiters
reduce the force exerted by the seat belts
on occupants during a crash.


Belts should not be worn twisted. In a
crash, you wouldn’t have the full width
of the belt to manage impact forces. The
twisted belt against your body could
cause injuries.


Pregnant women should also use a
lap-shoulder belt. The lap belt portion
should be positioned as low as possible
on the hips to avoid any possible pres-
sure on the abdomen.


Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
iThe ETDs for the seats will only activate
if the respective seat belt is fastened
(latch plate properly inserted into
buckle).
Warning!
G
An emergency tensioning device (ETD) that
was activated must be replaced.
When scrapping the emergency tensioning
device, our safety instructions must be fol-
lowed. These are available at your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.


75 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Children in the vehicle
If an infant or child is traveling with you in
the vehicle:

Secure the child using an infant or child
restraint appropriate to the age and
size of the child.


Ensure the infant or child is properly
secured at all times while the vehicle is
in motion.
Infant and child restraint seats and infor-
mation on choosing an appropriate re-
straint system can be obtained from any
Mercedes-Benz Center.Infant and child restraint systems
Use only a BabySmart
TM compatible child
restraint for the passenger seat in this
vehicle.
We recommend all infants and children be
properly restrained at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
The passenger lap-shoulder belt has a spe-
cial seat belt retractor for secure fastening
of child restraints.
To fasten a child restraint, follow child re-
straint instructions for mounting. Then pull
the shoulder belt out completely and let it
retract. During seat belt retraction, a ratch-
eting sound can be heard to indicate that
the special seat belt retractor is activated.
The belt is now locked. Push down on child
restraint to take up any slack.
To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and
let seat belt retract completely. The seat
belt can again be used in the usual man-
ner.
!Do not place objects heavier than
20 lbs (9 kg) on the passenger seat.
This could cause the front air bag or
head-thorax air bag on the passenger
side and, with the seat belt fastened to
secure the object, the ETD to deploy in
a crash which exceeds the system’s
deployment threshold.

76 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyWarning!
G
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat
belt retractor will be deactivated.!The use of infant or child restraints is
required by law in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, the U.S. territo-
ries and all Canadian provinces.
Infants and small children should be
seated in an appropriate infant or child
restraint system properly secured by
a lap-shoulder belt that complies with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 210.2.
A statement by the child restraint man-
ufacturer of compliance with this stan-
dard can be found on the instruction
label on the restraint and in the instruc-
tion manual provided with the restraint.
When using any infant or child restraint
system, be sure to carefully read and
follow all manufacturer’s instructions
for installation and use.
Please read and observe warning labels
affixed to inside of vehicle and to infant
or child restraints.
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in this vehicle, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat, which operates with
the BabySmart
TM system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger front
air bag when it is properly installed. Other-
wise they will be struck by the air bag when
it inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious
or fatal injury can result.
Infants and small children must be seated in
an appropriate BabySmart
TM compatible in-
fant or child restraint system, which is prop-
erly secured with the vehicle’s seat belt,
fully in accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.
Infants and small children should never
share a seat belt with another occupant.
During an accident, they could be crushed
between the occupant and seat belt.

77 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
BabySmart
TM air bag deactivation
system
175indicator lampSpecial BabySmart
TM compatible child
seats, designed for use with the
Mercedes-Benz system and available at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center are
required for use with the BabySmart
TM
air bag deactivation system. With the spe-
cial child seat properly installed, the pas-
senger front air bag will not deploy.
The 75indicator lamp will be il-
luminated, except with the SmartKey re-
moved or in starter switch position0.
Children too big for child restraint systems
should use regular seat belts. Position the
shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not
face or neck. A booster seat may be neces-
sary to achieve proper belt positioning for
children from 41 lbs until they reach a
height where a lap/shoulder belt fits proper-
ly without a booster.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
When the child restraint is not in use, re-
move it from the vehicle or secure it with the
seat belt to prevent the child restraint from
becoming a projectile in the event of an ac-
cident.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle; even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system. Unsupervised chil-
dren in a child restraint system may use ve-
hicle equipment and may cause serious
personal injury.
iThe system does not deactivate the
head-thorax air bag and the ETD (emer-
gency tensioning device).

78 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetySelf-test BabySmart
TM without special
child seat installed
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position1or2, the
75indicator lamp comes on for
approximately 6 seconds and then goes
out.
If the 75indicator lamp should
not come on or is continuously lit, the sys-
tem is not functioning. You must see an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center before
seating any child on the passenger seat.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 367).
Warning!
G
The BabySmart
TM air bag deactivation sys-
tem will ONLY work with a special child seat
designed to operate with it. It will not work
with child seats which are not BabySmart
TM
compatible.
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the deactivation sys-
tem. The bottom of the child seat must
make full contact with the passenger seat
cushion. An incorrectly mounted child seat
could cause injuries to the child in case of an
accident, instead of protecting the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of special child seats.
Warning!
G
When using a BabySmart
TM compatible child
seat on the passenger seat, the front pas-
senger air bag will not deploy only if the
75indicator lamp remains illumi-
nated.
Please be sure to check the
75indicator lamp every time you
use the special system child seat. Should
the 75indicator lamp go out while
the restraint is installed, please check instal-
lation. If the 75indicator lamp re-
mains out, do not use the BabySmart
TM
restraint to transport children on the pas-
senger seat until the system has been re-
paired.

79 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Warning!
G
Do not place powered-on laptops, cell
phones, electronic tags such as those used
in ski passes, and like electronic devices on
the passenger seat. Signals from such de-
vices may interfere with the BabySmart
TM
system. Such signal interference, for exam-
ple, may cause the 75indicator
lamp not to come on during self-test or be
continuously lit, indicating that the system
is not functioning.