belt MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2008 Owner's Manual

Occupant safety
52
You must not use the integrated child seat
with padded table directly attached to a baby
car seat on which a body weight of up to
10 kg is permitted. G
Risk of injury
If the padded table is not installed and used
correctly on the integrated child seat, it
cannot provide the intended protection. It
would then not be possible to restrain the
child in the event of an accident, sudden
braking or abrupt change in direction and
this could result in serious or even fatal
injury to the child. For this reason, observe
the following description when fitting the
padded table:
The padded table is only suitable for use
together with the folded-out integrated
child seat.
On the rear seats, only use the padded table
which is recommended for Mercedes-Benz
vehicles.
An incorrectly fitted padded table could
come loose and seriously or even fatally
injure the child or other vehicle occupants.
Fit the padded table and ensure that it is
correctly secured. G
Risk of injury
If the padded table is damaged or subjected
to a load in an accident, it cannot provide
the intended protection. It would then not
be possible to restrain the child in the event
of an accident, sudden braking or abrupt
change in direction and this could result in
serious or even fatal injury to the child.
You must therefore have padded tables
that are damaged or have been subjected
to a heavy load in an accident checked
immediately along with their mountings at
a qualified specialist workshop and
replaced if necessary. G
Risk of injury
To reduce the risk of serious or even fatal
injury to the child in the event of a sudden
change in direction, braking or an accident:
R observe the following description when
fitting the padded table.
R do not modify the padded table.
R When the child seat is occupied, adjust
the head restraint to a position at which
the back of the child's head is supported
by the centre of the head restraint at
about eye level. R
replace a damaged padded table or one
that has been subjected to a load in an
accident.
R be aware that children under two years
of age or children weighing less than
12.5 kg require a different child restraint
system. Information about other child
restraint systems is available from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. G
Risk of injury
Do not modify the padded table, integrated
child seat or seat belts. The padded table
must not be used without a cover. The
cover must not be removed from the pad-
ded table or replaced with a cover from
another manufacturer. Otherwise, the offi-
cial approval becomes invalid and its pro-
tective function could be restricted.
Do not subject the padded table to unnec-
essary heat nor expose it to direct sunlight.
Parts of the padded table could heat up and
the child could be burnt by the hot parts. Safety
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Occupant safety
53
!
Make sure that the padded table is not
trapped or damaged, for example when
you:
R close the doors
R adjust the seat
R store the padded table or transport
heavy objects
Fitting the padded table 1
Head restraint
2 Padded table
3 Seat belt guide points 4
Hook
5 Left leg
6 Integrated child seat
7 Right leg
X Fold out integrated child seat 6
(Y page 50).
X Place the child on integrated child seat
6.
X Fold both legs 5and 7down.
X Place padded table 2over integrated child
seat 6. G
Risk of injury
Ensure that:
R the belt is routed as described below
R the belt is not twisted
R the padded table is close to the child's
body
R the belt is routed through the hook
R the belt strap is not trapped or twisted
and does not rub against any sharp edges
It would otherwise not be possible to
restrain the child in the event of an acci-
dent, sudden braking or abrupt change in
direction and this could result in serious or
even fatal injury to the child. X
Pull the belt smoothly from the inertia reel.
X Guide the lower section of the belt through
hook 4.
X Attach the lower and upper sections of the
belt in left seat belt guide point 3.
X Guide both sections of the belt to right seat
belt guide point 3and attach.
X Engage the seat belt tongue in the belt
buckle.
X Slide padded table 2close to the child's
body.
X Pull both parts of the belt tight. Ensure that
the belt is not twisted.
X Adjust the head restraint (Y page 66)
Storing the padded table G
Risk of injury
The padded table must be secured in the
vehicle correctly or stowed securely in the
luggage compartment. It could otherwise
become loose in the event of an accident,
sudden braking or abrupt change in direc-
tion and could injure vehicle occupants or
cause damage to the vehicle.
X Fold in both legs 5and 7. Safety
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59
Opening and closing
...........................60
Key positions ....................................... 62
Seats .................................................... 63
Steering wheel .................................... 70
Mirrors ................................................. 70
Seat belts ............................................. 73
Lights ................................................... 77
Windscreen wipers .............................83
Side windows ...................................... 84Driving and parking
............................87
Transmission ....................................... 92
Instrument cluster ..............................97
On-board computer .............................98
Driving systems ................................ 115
Air conditioning ................................. 129
Roof .................................................... 142
Loading and stowing ........................144
Features ............................................. 162 Controls
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Seats
68
Folding the backrest forwards X
Push the backrest backwards slightly, pull
seat release 1forwards and fold the back-
rest forwards until it engages.
X Slide the seat forwards whilst pulling the
seat release.
X Swing the belt guide downwards.
Folding back the backrest X
Pull the seat release and slide the seat
backwards until it engages.
X Fold down the backrest until the seat and
backrest engage.
X Swing the belt guide up. Armrest* (rear seat backrest)
i There is a cup holder in the armrest
(Y page 144). The armrest can be removed
(Y page 147). 1
Armrest
! Do not sit or lean on the armrest when it
is folded down as you could otherwise dam-
age it.
X To fold the armrest down/up: swing arm-
rest 1all the way down or all the way up.
! Only fold the armrest up once you have
closed the cup holder. Lumbar support*
The lumbar support for the front seats can be
adjusted to provide optimum support for your
back. 1
Adjustment lever
X Move adjustment lever 1until the desired
backrest contour is achieved. Controls
* optional
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Seat belts
73Seat belts
Wearing seat belts
Seat belts are the most effective means of
restraining the movement of vehicle occu-
pants in the event of an accident. This
reduces the risk of vehicle occupants coming
into contact with the vehicle interior. G
Risk of injury
A seat belt which is not worn correctly, or
which has not been engaged in the seat belt
buckle correctly, cannot perform its inten-
ded protective function. Under certain cir-
cumstances this could cause severe or
even fatal injuries.
Make sure that all occupants – in particular,
pregnant women – wear their seat belt cor-
rectly at all times.
R The seat belt must pass closely over your
body and must not be twisted. You
should therefore avoid wearing bulky
clothing (e.g. a winter coat). The shoulder
belt section must be routed across the
middle of your shoulder – on no account
across your neck or under your arm – and
pulled tight against your upper body. The
lap belt must always pass across your lap
as low down as possible, i.e. over your hip joints – not across your abdomen. If
necessary, push down the belt strap
slightly and then retighten it in the roll-up
direction.
R 3-door vehicle: the swivelling belt guide
must be in the correct position.
R Do not route the belt strap across sharp
or fragile objects, especially if these are
located on or in your clothing, e.g. spec-
tacles, pencils, keys, etc. The seat belt
strap could be damaged and tear in an
accident and you or other vehicle occu-
pants could be injured.
R Only one person should use each seat
belt at any one time. Children must never
travel sitting on the lap of other occu-
pants. It would not be possible to restrain
the child in the event of a sudden change
in direction, braking or an accident. This
could result in severe or even fatal inju-
ries to the child and other occupants.
R Persons less than 1.50 m tall cannot
wear the seat belts correctly. For this
reason, secure persons less than 1.50 m
tall in specially designed, suitable
restraint systems. R
Children less than 1.50 m tall or under
12 years of age cannot wear the seat
belts properly. Therefore, always secure
these children in suitable child restraint
systems on suitable vehicle seats. You
can find more information under "Chil-
dren in the vehicle" in the "Safety" sec-
tion of the Owner's Manual. Follow the
manufacturer's installation instructions
when fitting the child restraint system.
R Do not secure any objects with a seat belt
if the seat belt is also being used by one
of the vehicle's occupants. G
Risk of injury
The seat belt does not offer the intended
level of protection unless the backrest is
almost vertical. Under certain circumstan-
ces this could cause severe or even fatal
injuries.
Before starting a journey, make sure that
the seat is properly adjusted and that the
backrest is almost vertical. G
Risk of injury
A dirty or damaged seat belt or a seat belt
that has been subjected to a load in an
accident or modified no longer offers the Controls
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Seat belts
74 intended level of protection. Under certain
circumstances this could cause severe or
even fatal injuries.
For this reason, check regularly that the
seat belts are not damaged or dirty.
Always have damaged seat belts or seat
belts that have been subjected to a load in
an accident replaced at a qualified special-
ist workshop. Choose a qualified specialist
workshop which has the necessary special-
ist knowledge and tools for the work
required. Mercedes-Benz recommends
that you use a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre for this purpose.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use seat belts which
have been approved by Mercedes-Benz for
your vehicle. 3-door vehicle
1
Belt sash guide
2 Belt tongue
3 Buckle
4 Release button
5 Swivelling belt guide 5-door vehicle
1
Belt sash guide
2 Belt tongue
3 Buckle
4 Release button
Routing the belt X
Adjust the seat and move the backrest to
an almost vertical position (Y page 63).
X Pull the belt smoothly through belt sash
guide 1. Controls
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Seat belts
75
X
Route the belt over the centre of the shoul-
der without twisting it.
X Engage belt tongue 2into buckle 3.
X 5-door vehicle: if necessary, adjust the
belt to the appropriate height
(Y page 75).
X 3-door vehicles: make sure that swivelling
belt guide 5is in the correct position.
X All: if necessary, pull upwards on the shoul-
der section of the belt to tighten the belt
across your body.
Routing the belt X
Press release button 4and guide belt
tongue 2back towards belt sash guide
1. Belt warning for driver and front
passenger
The < seat belt warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster reminds you that all passengers
should fasten their seat belts. It may light up
continuously or flash. Additionally, there may
be a warning tone.
The < seat belt warning lamp goes out and
the acoustic signal ceases as soon as the
driver and passenger have fastened their seat
belts.
For certain countries only: regardless of
whether the driver or the front passenger
already have their seat belt fastened, the
< seat belt warning lamp lights up for six
seconds after the engine has been started. It
then goes out when the driver and front
passenger have already fastened their seat
belts.
i Further information about the belt warning lamp (Y page 228). Belt height adjustment
5-door vehicles only: you can adjust the
seat belt height on the driver's seat and front-
passenger seat.
Adjust the belt to a height that allows it to be
routed across the middle of your shoulder. 1
Release catch
X To raise: slide the belt sash guide upwards.
The belt sash guide engages in various posi-
tions.
X To lower: press and hold release button
1.
X Slide the belt sash guide downwards.
X Let go of release button 1and make sure
that the belt sash guide has engaged. Controls
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Seat belts
76 Rear seat belt status indicator
The rear-compartment seat belt status indi-
cator tells you if the rear passengers have
fastened their seat belts. The status indicator
for the rear rear-compartment also tells you
how many of the belt tongues are inserted
into the seat belt buckles.
The rear-compartment seat belt status indi-
cator appears in the multi-function display for
around 30 seconds if:
R you set off and have reached a speed of
approx. 10 km/h
R the rear passengers fasten or unfasten
their seat belts while driving
R someone gets in or out of the vehicle
You can also cancel the messages immedi-
ately (Y page 202).
The following messages appear in the multi-
function display:
R < No rear seat belt engaged
R < 1 rear seat belt engaged
R < 2 rear seat belts engaged
R < 3 rear seat belts engaged i
The status indicator for the rear-compart-
ment seat belts is only available for certain
countries. Correct driver's seat position
1
Steering wheel
2 Seat belt
3 Seat G
Risk of accident
Only adjust the driver's seat when the vehi-
cle is stationary. You will otherwise be dis-
tracted from the road and traffic conditions
and you could lose control of the vehicle as
a result of the seat moving. This could
cause an accident. G
Risk of accident
Only adjust the steering wheel when the
vehicle is stationary and do not pull away
until the steering wheel adjustment mech-
anism is locked in position. You might oth-
erwise drive without the steering wheel
adjustment mechanism being locked in
position. As a result, you could be distrac-
ted from road and traffic conditions by an
unexpected movement of the steering
wheel and thereby cause an accident.
However, the steerability of the vehicle is
not affected.
X Check whether seat 3and the head
restraint are adjusted properly
(Y page 63). Controls
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Lights
77
Make sure that:
R
you are as far away from the driver's front
airbag as possible
R you are sitting in a normal upright posi-
tion
R you can fasten the seat belt properly
R you have moved the backrest to an
almost vertical position
R you have set the seat angle so that your
thighs are gently supported
R you can depress the pedals properly
R you have adjusted the head restraint so
that the back of your head is supported
at eye level by the central area of the
head restraint
X Check whether steering wheel 1is adjus-
ted properly (Y page 70).
Make sure that:
R you can hold the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent
R you can move your legs freely
R you can see all the displays in the instru-
ment cluster clearly
X Check whether you have fastened seat belt
2 properly (Y page 73). It should:
R
fit snugly across your body
R be routed across the middle of your
shoulder
R routed in your pelvic area across the hip
joints Lights
Light switch
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you drive with the lights switched
on even during the daytime. In some coun-
tries, daytime operation of headlamps varies
due to legal and voluntary requirements. In
these countries, the constant headlamp
mode is automatically switched on when the
engine is started.
i If you drive in countries in which traffic
drives on the opposite side of the road to
the country where the vehicle is registered,
oncoming traffic may be dazzled by the
asymmetrical dipped-beam headlamps.
Have the headlamps changed to symmet-
rical dipped beam when driving in these
countries. You can obtain information
about this from any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre. Controls
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Roof
142
i
If you open the side windows or the pan-
orama louvred sliding sunroof* manually
after closing with the convenience closing
feature, they will remain in this position
when opened using the convenience open-
ing feature. Switching the residual heat on/off
The "residual heat" function is only available
with Thermotronic*.
It is possible to make use of the residual heat
of the engine to continue heating the station-
ary vehicle for up to 30 minutes after the
engine has been switched off. The heating
time depends on the set interior temperature.
i The blower will run at a low speed regard-
less of the airflow setting.
i If you activate the "residual heat" function
at high temperatures, only the ventilation
will be activated. The blower runs at
medium speed.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock or remove it.
X To activate: press theTbutton.
The indicator lamp in the Tbutton lights
up. X
To deactivate: press theTbutton.
The indicator lamp in the Tbutton goes
out.
i The residual heat automatically switches
off after around 30 minutes or if:
R the ignition is switched on
R the battery voltage drops Roof
Panorama roof*
G
Risk of injury
The glass in the panorama sunroof* could
break in an accident.
If you are not wearing a seat belt, there is
a risk that you could be thrown through the
opening in the event of the vehicle over-
turning. Therefore, always wear a seat belt
to reduce the risk of injuries. Panorama louvred sliding sunroof*
G
Risk of injury
Make sure that nobody can become trap-
ped when closing the panorama louvred
sliding sunroof. If danger threatens, release
the switch and press the switch again to
reopen the panorama louvred sliding sun-
roof. G
Risk of injury
Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. Always remove the key from the
ignition lock, even if you are leaving the
vehicle only briefly. Controls
* optional
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