MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2008 Workshop Manual

Occupant safety
48 Weight categories and
ages Manufacturer Type Approval number Daimler order num-
ber Automatic child seat
recognition
Group I: 9 to 18 kg;
between approx. 8
months and 4 years Britax-Römer
DUO PLUS
5 E1 03 301133 A 000 970 11 00 Yes
A 000 970 16 00
No
7 Category II/III: 15 to 36 kg
between approx. 3½ and
12 years Britax-Römer
KID
5 E1 03 301148 A 000 970 12 00 Yes
A 000 970 17 00
No
7 ISOFIX child seat securing system in the
rear compartment
ISOFIX is a standardised securing system for
specially-designed child restraint systems on
the rear seats. Securing rings for two child
restraint systems are fitted on the left and
right rear seats. G
Risk of injury
A child restraint system secured by the ISO-
FIX child seat securing system does not
provide sufficient protection for children
weighing more than 22 kg. For this reason,
do not secure children weighing more than
22 kg in a child restraint system secured by
the ISOFIX child seat securing system. If the child weighs more than 22 kg, secure
the child restraint system using a lap-shoul-
der belt. G
Risk of injury
The child restraint system cannot perform
its protective function if is not correctly fit-
ted to a suitable vehicle seat. The child can-
not be restrained in the event of a sudden
change of direction, heavy braking or an
accident. This may lead to serious or even
fatal injuries. For this reason, when fitting
a child restraint system, observe the man-
ufacturer's installation instructions and the
correct use of the child restraint system. On the rear seats, only use child restraint
systems with an ISOFIX child seat securing
system which have been recommended for
use in Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
An incorrectly fitted child restraint system
could come loose and seriously or even
fatally injure the child or other vehicle occu-
pants. When fitting the child restraint sys-
tem, make sure that it is engaged in the
securing rings on both sides.
G
Risk of injury
Please note that child restraint systems
cannot provide a protective function if they
or their retaining systems are damaged or
subjected to a load in an accident. This
5 Move the front-passenger seat to the highest position.
7 For child restraint systems without automatic child seat recognition, move the front-passenger seat to the rearmost position. Safety
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Occupant safety
49could result in serious or even fatal injuries
to the secured child in the event of an acci-
dent, heavy braking or a sudden change in
direction.
For this reason, have child restraint sys-
tems and their anchorages which have
been damaged or subjected to a load in an
accident checked immediately at a quali-
fied specialist workshop.
! When fitting the child restraint system,
make sure that the seat belt for the middle
seat does not become trapped. It could
otherwise be damaged. 1
Securing rings TopTether
TopTether provides an additional connection
between the child restraint system secured
with ISOFIX and the front-passenger seat. It
helps reduce the risk of injury even further.
Both TopTether anchorages are attached to
the rear of the rear seat backrests.
1
Head restraints
2 Rear seat backrests
3 Luggage compartment cover*
4 TopTether anchorages 4
TopTether anchorage
5 TopTether hook*
6 TopTether belt* for the ISOFIX child
restraint system
X Move head restraint 1upwards.
X Vehicles with a luggage compartment
cover*: release rear seat backrest 2
(Y page 150) and fold it forwards slightly.
X All: guide TopTether belt* 6under head
restraint 1between the two head restraint
rods.
X Fit TopTether hook* 5into TopTether
anchorage 4on the back of rear seat
backrest 2. Safety
* optional
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Occupant safety
50Vehicles with a luggage compartment
cover*: make sure you do not route the belt
across luggage compartment cover 3.
X Vehicles with a luggage compartment
cover*: swing back rear seat backrest 2
until it engages.
The red lock verification indicator is no lon-
ger visible (Y page 151). G
Risk of injury
Make sure that the rear seat backrest is
fully locked. The red lock verification indi-
cators on the left and right should no longer
be visible. If they are, the rear seat backr-
ests are not locked. If this is the case, occu-
pants could be injured in the event of an
accident, e.g. by objects being thrown for-
wards from the luggage compartment.
X All: move head restraints 1slightly down
again if necessary (Y page 66). Make sure
that you do not interfere with the correct
routing of TopTether belt* 6.
X Install the ISOFIX child restraint system
with TopTether*. Comply with the manu-
facturer's installation instructions. Integrated child seat* The child seats are integrated into the right
and left-hand sides of the seats of the rear
bench seat. They comply with the legal
requirements of ECE Regulation 44.03.
Mercedes-Benz recommends the integrated
child seat for children from approximately
two to twelve years of age or with a body
weight of 12.5 kg to 36 kg.
For children between approximately two and
four years of age or weighing between
approximately 12.5 kg and 22 kg, you must
also use a padded table* which has been spe-
cially approved for the integrated child seat
(Y
page 51). 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 Do not modify the integrated child seat.
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 an integrated child seat that has
been damaged or subjected to a heavy
load as the result of an accident.
R Be aware that children under two years
of age require a different child restraint
system. Information about other child
restraint systems is available from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
R The rear seat backrest in the vehicle
must be securely locked in position.
Folding out the child seat 1
Release catch
2 Hook Safety
* optional
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Occupant safety
51
X
Press release catch 1.
The child seat folds upwards.
X Push the child seat back to the stop so that
it engages.
Fastening a child's seat belt 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 The shoulder belt section of the seat belt
must be routed across the middle of the
child's shoulder – never across the
child's neck – and be pulled tight against
the child's chest. The lap section of the
seat belt must be routed across the
child's pelvis – not across the abdomen
– and be pulled tight against the child's
body; retighten the belt strap if neces-
sary.
R Never secure more than one child at a
time in the child restraint system.
R The belt must be routed through the
hook.
R The belt strap must not be trapped or
twisted, nor rub against any sharp edges. X
Pull the belt smoothly from the inertia reel.
X Guide the lower lap section of the belt
through hook 2.
X Engage the seat belt tongue in the belt
buckle.
X Make sure that the belt:
R
is routed as low as possible across the
pelvic area, in front of the hips
R is tightened across the lap by pulling
upwards on the child's shoulder belt
R is tight and is routed across the middle
of the child's shoulder
R is not twisted and does not pass across
the child's neck or under the child's arm
X Adjust the head restraint (Y page 66)Folding in the child seat 1
Release catch
X Press release catch 1.
X Push the child seat back into the seat until
it engages.
Padded table*for the integrated child
seat* For children between approximately two and
four years of age or weighing between
approximately 12.5 kg and 22 kg, you must
also use a padded table which has been spe-
cially approved for the integrated child seat.
You can obtain the approved padded table
with ECE approval number 03301101 from a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre under the
order number B6 687 0096. Safety
* optional
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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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Occupant safety
54
Child-proof locks If children are travelling in the vehicle, you can
activate the child-proof locks for the rear
doors.
Child-proof locks on the rear doors (5-
door vehicles)
The child-proof locks on the rear doors enable
you to secure each door individually. A locked
door cannot be opened from the inside. The
door can be opened from the outside if the
vehicle is unlocked. G
Risk of accident and injury
Activate the child-proof locks for the rear
doors and the override switch for the rear
compartment side windows when children
are travelling in the vehicle. The children
could otherwise open doors or windows
while the vehicle is in motion and injure
themselves or others. 1
To deactivate
2 To activate
X To activate: press latch2downwards.
X Make sure that the child-proof locks are
working properly.
X To deactivate: press latch1upwards.
Child-proof locks for the electric side win-
dows in the rear*(5-door vehicle) G
Risk of accident and injury
Activate the child-proof locks for the rear
doors and the override switch for the rear
compartment side windows when children
are travelling in the vehicle. The children
could otherwise open doors or windows
while the vehicle is in motion and injure
themselves or others. 1
Switch
X To activate/deactivat e:press switch 1.
Switch 1engages or pops up. If the rear
switch is engaged, you can only operate the
rear side windows using the switches on
the driver's door. Safety
* optional
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Driving safety sys
tems 55Driving safety systems
Overview of driving safety systems
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
R ABS ( Anti-lock Braking System)
R BAS ( Brake Assist System)
R ESP ®
( Electronic Stability Program)
R Steering assistant STEER CONTROL
i In wintry road conditions, always use win-
ter tyres (M+S tyres) and, where necessary,
snow chains. Only in this way will the driv-
ing safety systems described in this section
work as effectively as possible. G
Risk of accident
The risk of an accident is significantly
increased by driving too fast. This is partic-
ularly the case when cornering as well as
on wet or slippery roads or when driving too
close to the vehicle in front.
The driving safety systems described in this
section can neither reduce this risk nor
override the laws of physics.
For this reason, always adapt your driving
style to suit prevailing road and weather
conditions. Maintain sufficient distance from other road users and objects on the
road.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi-
cle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h
upwards, regardless of road surface condi-
tions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even
when you only brake gently. G
Risk of accident
Do not depress the brake pedal several
times in quick succession (pumping).
Depress the brake firmly and evenly. Pump-
ing the brake pedal reduces the braking
effect.
Braking If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit-
uation is over. X
To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force. G
Risk of accident
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. This limits the steerability of the
vehicle when braking and the braking dis-
tance may increase.
If ABS is deactivated due to a malfunction,
then BAS and ESP are also deactivated.
There is an increased risk of your vehicle
skidding in certain situations.
You should always adapt your driving style
to suit prevailing road and weather condi-
tions. BAS (Brake Assist)
BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,
BAS automatically boosts the braking force,
thus shortening the stopping distance.
X Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. Safety
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Driving safety sys
tems56 G
Risk of accident
If BAS has malfunctioned, the braking sys-
tem remains available with full brake boost-
ing effect. However, braking force is not
automatically increased in emergency
braking situations and the stopping dis-
tance may increase. Adaptive brake lamps
i Adaptive brake lamps are only available in
certain countries.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 50 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS,
the brake lamps flash rapidly. In this way,
traffic travelling behind you is warned in an
even more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warn-
ing lamps are activated automatically. If the
brakes are applied again, the brake lamps
light up continuously. The hazard warning
lamps switch off automatically if you travel
faster than 10 km/h. You can also switch off
the hazard warning lamps using the hazard
warning switch button ( Ypage 80). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between tyres and
the road surface.
ESP ®
detects when a wheel spins or the vehi-
cle starts to skid. ESP ®
stabilises the vehicle
by targeted braking of individual wheels and
by limiting engine power. It assists you when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
also stabilises the vehicle during braking.
When ESP ®
intervenes, the vwarning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster. G
Risk of accident
If the v warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes, proceed as follows:
R only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
R adapt your driving style to suit the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
The vehicle could otherwise go into a skid.
ESP ®
cannot reduce the risk of an accident
if you drive too fast. ESP ®
cannot override
the laws of physics.
! The ignition must be switched off (key in
position 0or 1in the ignition lock), if: R
the parking brake is being tested using a
dynamometer
R the vehicle is being towed with the front
axle raised
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
could
otherwise destroy the brake system on the
front axle.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly. Steering assistant STEER CONTROL
The steering assistant STEER CONTROL helps
you by transmitting a noticeable steering
force to the steering wheel in the direction
required for vehicle stabilisation. This steer-
ing assistance is provided in particular if:
R both right wheels or both left wheels are on
a wet or slippery road surface when you
brake
R the vehicle starts to skid
You have control over the steering at all
times. G
Risk of accident
If there is an ESP ®
malfunction, you will not
receive any steering assistance from the Safety
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Anti-theft syste
ms 57steering assistant STEER CONTROL. The
steering continues to function with power
assistance. Anti-theft systems
Immobiliser
The immobiliser prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct key.
X To activate: remove the key from the igni-
tion lock.
X To deactivate: turn the key to position 2
in the ignition lock. ATA* (anti-theft alarm system)
A visual and audible alarm is triggered when
the alarm system is primed and you open:
R a door
R a door using the emergency key element
R the tailgate
R the bonnet
The alarm is not switched off even if you close
a door again. 1
Indicator lamp
X To prime: lock the vehicle using the key.
Indicator lamp 1flashes. The alarm sys-
tem is primed after approximately 15 sec-
onds.
X To deactivate: unlock the vehicle using the
key.
Deactivating the alarm X
Insert the key into the ignition lock.
The alarm is deactivated.
or
X Press the korj button on the key.
The alarm is deactivated. Safety
* optional
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