air MERCEDES-BENZ C-Class 2011 W204 Owner's Guide

In order to ensure proper operation of the air
bag system and OCS:
R Sit with the seat belt properly fastened in a
position that is as upright as possible with
your back against the seat backrest.
R When seated, a passenger should not
position him/herself in such a way as to
cause the passenger's weight to be lifted
from the seat cushion as this may result in
the OCS being unable to correctly
approximate the passenger's weight
category.
R Read and observe all warnings in this
chapter.
System self-test
The 45 indicator lamp illuminates
when you:
R turn the SmartKey to position 1 or 2 in the
ignition lock
R on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button once or twice
If an adult is seated properly on the passenger
seat and the OCS classifies the occupant as
an adult, the 45 indicator lamp
illuminates and goes out again after
approximately 6 seconds.
If the seat is not occupied and the OCS
classifies the front passenger seat as being
unoccupied, the 45 indicator lamp
will illuminate and not go out.
GWarning!
If the 4 5 indicator lamp does not
illuminate, the system is not functioning. You
must contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center before seating any child on the front
passenger seat.
For more information, see "Problems with the
Occupant Classification System"
( Y page 45).
GWarning
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. a pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the OCS. The underside
and rear side child restraint system must be
placed entirely on the seat cushion and the
backrest of the front-passenger seat
backrest.
If necessary, adjust the tilt of the passenger
seat backrest.
An incorrectly mounted child seat could cause
injuries to the child in case of an accident,
instead of increasing protection for the child.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for
installation of child restraint systems.
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Problems with the occupant classification systemProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe 45
indicator lamp
illuminates and
remains illuminated.
The person sitting on
the front-passenger
seat:
R weighs as much as a
typical adult
R weighs more than a
childOCS is malfunctioning.XHave OCS checked as soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction
display ( Y page 187).GWarning
If the 45 indicator lamp illuminates and remains illuminated when the weight of a typical
adult or someone larger than a small individual has been detected on the passenger seat, do not
allow any occupant to use the passenger seat until the system has been repaired.
ProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe 45
indicator lamp does not
illuminate and/or does
not remain illuminated.
The front-passenger
seat is:
R unoccupied
R occupied with the
weight of a typical
12-month-old child in
a standard child
restraint or lessOCS is malfunctioning.XMake sure there is nothing between the seat cushion and the
child seat.XCheck the installation of the child restraint system.XMake sure there are no objects applying additional weight onto
the seat.XIf the 45 indicator lamp remains out, have OCS checked
as soon as possible at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Do
not transport a child on the front-passenger seat until OCS has
been repaired.XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction
display ( Y page 187).GWarning
If the 45 indicator lamp does not illuminate or remains out with the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child restraint or less, or is unoccupied, on the front-passenger
seat, do not transport a child on the front-passenger seat until the system has been repaired.
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BabySmart™ air bag deactivation
system
How the air bag deactivation system
functions
The BabySmart™ system is standard
equipment in Canada.
GWarning
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained on the rear
seats than on the front-passenger seat. For
this reason, Mercedes-Benz strongly advises
that you always secure children in the rear
seats. Regardless of seating position, children
12 years old and under must be seated and
properly secured in an appropriately sized
child restraint system or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child.
Secure the infant restraint system or child
restraint system, using:
R the vehicle's seat belt
R the seat belt and a Top Tether belt
R the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat mount
and a Top Tether belt
The child restraint system must be installed
and secured correctly, observing the
manufacturer's installation instructions.
Occupants, especially children, should always
sit as upright as possible, wear the seat belt
properly and use an appropriately sized infant
restraint, toddler restraint, or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child.
Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag. Observe the following
important information if it is necessary to
carry a child on the front-passenger seat:
R Children under 12 years may only sit in the
front-passenger seat if they are seated in a
child restraint system which is compatible
with BabySmart™ and approved by
Mercedes-Benz. If the child restraint
system is installed properly, the front-
passenger front air bag is deactivated in
conjunction with the BabySmart™ system.
Otherwise, the child could be struck by the
air bag when it inflates in a crash. This could
lead to serious or fatal injury.
R A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
front-passenger seat will be seriously
injured or even killed if the front-passenger
front air bag inflates in a collision which
could occur under some circumstances,
even with the air bag technology installed
in your vehicle. The only means to eliminate
this risk completely is never to place a child
in a rear-facing child restraint in the front-
passenger seat. We therefore strongly
recommend that you always place a child
in a rear-facing child restraint on the rear
seat.
R If it is necessary to install a BabySmart™-
compatible rear-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat, make
sure the 45 indicator lamp is
illuminated. This indicates that the front-
passenger front air bag is deactivated. If the
45 indicator lamp does not light up
or goes out when the child restraint system
is installed, check the anchorages of the
restraint system. Periodically check the
45 indicator lamp while driving to
make sure the 45 is illuminated. If
the 45 indicator lamp goes out or
remains out, do not transport a child on the
front-passenger seat until the system has
been repaired.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
front-passenger seat will be seriously46Occupant safetySafety
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injured or even killed if the front-passenger
front air bag inflates.
R If you have to place a child in a forward-
facing child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat, you must:
- move the seat as far back as possible
- use the proper child restraint
recommended for the age, size and
weight of the child
- secure child restraint with the vehicle's
seat belt according to the child seat
manufacturer's instructionsGWarning
The BabySmart™ air bag disabling system
ONLY works with specially adapted child
restraint systems. It does not work with child
restraint systems that are not compatible with
BabySmart™.
Never place anything between the seat
cushion and the child restraint system (e.g. a
cushion), as this reduces the effectiveness of
the BabySmart™ air bag deactivation system.
The underside of the child restraint system
must lie against the seat cushion of the front-
passenger seat. In the event of an accident,
an incorrectly installed child restraint system
could injure the child instead of offering
protection.
Observe the manufacturer's instructions
when installing special child restraint
systems.
GWarning
When using a BabySmart™-compatible child
restraint system on the front-passenger seat,
the front-passenger front air bag is only
disabled if the 45 indicator lamp is
illuminated.
Check the 45 indicator lamp
repeatedly, every time you use a
BabySmart™-compatible child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat. Should
the 45 indicator lamp not illuminate
or go out while the restraint is installed,
please check installation. If the 45
indicator lamp remains out, do not use the
BabySmart™ child restraint system to carry a
child on the front-passenger seat until the
system has been repaired.
Special child restraint systems which are
compatible with BabySmart™ are necessary
for deactivating the front-passenger front air
bag. When the special child restraint system
which is compatible with BabySmart™ is
installed correctly and is recognized by the
sensor system in the front-passenger seat,
the front-passenger front air bag is
deactivated. In this case, 45 indicator
lamp : illuminates. If you have any
questions regarding the special child
restraint systems which are compatible with
BabySmart™, consult an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If the key has been removed from the ignition
lock or is in position 0, indicator lamp
45 : does not light up.
The system does not deactivate:
R the side impact air bag
R the pelvis air bag
R the window curtain air bag
R the Emergency Tensioning Devices
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System self-test
The 45 indicator lamp illuminates
when you:
R turn the SmartKey to position 1 or 2 in the
ignition lock
R on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start-Stop button once or twice
The 45 indicator lamp goes out again
after approximately six seconds.
If the 45 indicator lamp does not
illuminate or is lit continuously, the system is
malfunctioning. Before transporting a child
on the front-passenger seat, have the
BabySmart™ system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
For more information, see "Problems with the
air bag deactivation system" section
( Y page 49)
GWarning
Do not place powered-on laptops, mobile
phones, electronic tags such as those used in
ski passes or similar electronic devices on the
front passenger seat. Signals from such
devices may interfere with the BabySmart™
air bag deactivation system. Such signal
interference may cause the 45
indicator lamp not to come on during self-test.
The 6 SRS indicator lamp and/or the
45 indicator lamp could be
continuously lit, indicating that the system is
not functioning. The front-passenger front air
bag could deploy inadvertently or fail to
deploy in an accident.
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Problems with the air bag deactivation systemProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe 45
indicator lamp
illuminates and
remains illuminated.A special BabySmart™ compatible child restraint system is
installed on the front-passenger seat.
The front-passenger front air bag is therefore deactivated.A BabySmart™-compatible child restraint system is not installed
on the front-passenger seat. The BabySmart™ system is
malfunctioning.XHave the BabySmart™ system checked as soon as possible at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.GWarning
If the 45 indicator lamp illuminates and remains illuminated when the weight of a typical
adult or someone larger than a small individual has been detected on the passenger seat, do not
allow any occupant to use the passenger seat until the system has been repaired.
ProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe 45
indicator lamp does not
illuminate or does not
remain illuminated with
a BabySmart™-
compatible child
restraint system
properly installed on
the front-passenger
seat.The BabySmart™ system is malfunctioning.XMake sure there is nothing between the seat cushion and the
child seat.XCheck the installation of the child restraint system.XIf the 45 indicator lamp does not illuminate, have the
BabySmart™ system checked as soon as possible at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not transport a child on the front-passenger seat until the
child seat recognition system has been repaired.NECK-PRO head restraints (except
C63 AMG)
The NECK-PRO head restraints increase
protection for the driver's and front-
passenger's head and neck. In the event of a
rear collision of a certain severity, the head
restraints on the driver's and the front-
passenger seats are moved forwards and
upwards. This provides better head support.GWarning
Do not secure any objects (e.g. coat hangers)
on the NECK-PRO head restraints. Otherwise,
the NECK-PRO head restraints may not
function properly, or in the event of a rear-end
collision may not be able offer the level of
protection they are designed to provide.GWarning
Only use seat covers/head restraint covers
that have been tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your model.
Using seat covers and head restraint covers
other than those recommended may cause a
malfunction when NECK-PRO head restraints
are triggered or front side impact air bags/
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pelvis air bags may be prevented from
deploying.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for availability.
If the NECK-PRO head restraints have been
triggered in an accident, you must reset the
NECK-PRO head restraints on the driver's and
front-passenger seat (Y page 50).
Otherwise, the additional protection will not
be available in the event of another rear-end
collision. You can recognize that NECK-PRO
head restraints have been triggered by the
fact that they have moved forwards and can
no longer be adjusted.
GWarning!
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that it is as close
to the head as possible and the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of an
accident or similar situation.
Resetting triggered NECK-PRO head
restraints (except AMG vehicles)
GWarning
For safety reasons, have the NECK-PRO head
restraints checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center after a rear-end
collision.
GWarning
When pushing back the NECK-PRO head
restraint cushion, make sure your fingers do
not become caught between the head
restraint cushion and the cover. Failure to
observe this could result in injuries.
iResetting the NECK-PRO head restraints
requires a lot of strength. If you have
difficulty resetting the NECK-PRO head
restraints, have this work carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
XPress the base of the NECK-PRO head
restraint cushion back in the direction of
arrow ; as far as it will go.
XPush the NECK-PRO head restraint cushion
down into the guide in the direction of
arrow = as far as it will go.
XFirmly fold the NECK-PRO head restraint
cushion back in the direction of arrow :
until it engages.
XRepeat this procedure for the second
NECK-PRO head restraint.
Seat belts
Important safety notes
The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in all 50
states, the District of Columbia, the U.S.
territories and all Canadian provinces.
Even where this is not the case, all vehicle
occupants should have their seat belts
fastened when the vehicle is in motion.
iSee "Children in the vehicle"
(Y page 55) for more information on
infants and children traveling with you in
the vehicle and restraints for infants and
children.
GWarning!
Always fasten your seat belt before driving off.
Always make sure all of your passengers are
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properly restrained. You and your passengers
should always wear seat belts.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and
position your seat belt greatly increases your
risk of injuries and their likely severity in an
accident.
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. The air bags can only protect
as intended if the occupants are properly
wearing their seat belts.GWarning
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 seat belt would apply force at the
abdomen 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 position that is as upright as
possible and the seat belt is properly
positioned on the body.
GWarning
Never let more people ride in the vehicle than
there are seat belts available. Make sure
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly
restrained with a separate seat belt. Never
use a seat belt for more than one person at a
time.
GWarning
Damaged seat belts or seat belts that have
been subjected to stress in an accident must
be replaced and their anchoring points must
also be checked.
Only use seat belts which have been approved
by Mercedes-Benz.
Do not make any modifications to the seat
belts. This can lead to unintended activation
of the ETDs or to their failure to activate when
necessary.
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.
Correct use of the seat beltGWarning
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY
R Seat belts can only work when used
properly. Never wear seat belts in any other
way than as described in this section, as
that could result in serious injuries in the
event of an accident.
R Each occupant should wear their seat belt
at all times, because seat belts help reduce
the likelihood of and potential severity of
injuries in accidents, including rollovers.
The integrated restraint system includes
SRS (driver front air bag, driver's side knee
bag, front-passenger front air bag, side
impact air bags, pelvis air bags, window
curtain air bags for the side windows),
Emergency Tensioning Devices, seat belt
force limiters, and front seat knee bolsters.
The system is designed to enhance the
protection offered to properly belted
occupants in certain frontal (front air bags,
driver's side knee bag, and ETDs) and side
(side impact air bags, pelvis air bags,
window curtain air bags, and ETDs) impacts
which exceed preset deployment
thresholds.
R Never wear the shoulder belt under your
arm, across your neck or off your shoulder.
In a frontal crash, your body would move
too far forward. That would increase the
chance of head and neck injuries. The seat
belt would also apply too much force to the
ribs or abdomen, which could severely
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injure internal organs such as your liver or
spleen.
Adjust the seat belt so that the shoulder
section is located as close as possible to
the middle of the shoulder. It should not
touch the neck. Never pass the shoulder
portion of the seat belt under your arm.
R Position the lap belt as low as possible on
your hips and not across the abdomen. If
the lap belt is positioned across your
abdomen, it could cause serious injuries in
a crash.
R Never wear seat belts over rigid or
breakable objects in or on your clothing,
such as eyeglasses, pens, keys etc., as
these might cause injuries.
R Make sure the seat belt is always fitted
snugly. Take special care of this when
wearing loose clothing.
R Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time. Do not fasten a seat belt
around a person and another person or
other objects at the same time.
R Seat belts should not be worn twisted. In a
crash, you would not have the full width of
the seat belt to distribute impact forces.
The twisted seat belt against your body
could cause injuries.
R Pregnant women should also always use a
lap-shoulder belt. The lap belt portion
should be positioned as low as possible on
the hips to avoid any possible pressure on
the abdomen.
R Place the seat backrest in a position that is
as upright as possible.
R Check your seat belt during travel to make
sure it is properly positioned.
R 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.
R When using a seat belt to secure infant
restraints, toddler restraints, or children in
booster seats, always follow the child seat
manufacturer's instructions.GWarning
Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do not allow the seat belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the seat belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to seat
belts. This could impair the effectiveness of
the seat belts.
Fastening seat belts
GWarning
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained on the rear
seats than on the front-passenger seat. Thus,
we strongly recommend that children be
placed in the rear seat whenever possible.
Regardless of seating position, children 12
years old and under must be seated and
properly secured in an appropriately sized
child restraint system or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child. For additional information, see the
"Children in the vehicle" section.
A child's risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and/
or the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
GWarning
Canada only: children 12 years old and under
may ride on the front seat if a BabySmart™
compatible child restraint system is installed
on the front-passenger seat. Use only
Mercedes-Benz approved BabySmart™
compatible child restraint systems. A
BabySmart™ compatible child restraint
system will deactivate the front-passenger
front air bag when installed correctly. The
front-passenger front air bag will not be
deactivated if the child restraint systems that
are installed are not BabySmart™ compatible
or if BabySmart™ compatible child restraint
systems are not installed correctly. If the
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front-passenger front air bag is deployed in a
collision, the child will be struck by the air bag.
If this happens, serious or fatal injury will
result.
XAdjust the seat and move the backrest to
an almost vertical position (Y page 92).
XPull the seat belt smoothly through belt
sash guide :.
XWithout twisting it, guide the shoulder
section of the seat belt across the middle
of your shoulder and the lap section across
your hips.
XEngage belt tongue ; in buckle =.XIf necessary, adjust the seat belt to the
appropriate height (Y page 53).
XIf necessary, pull upwards on the shoulder
section of the seat belt to tighten the belt
across your body.
All seat belts in the vehicle, except the
driver's seat belt, are equipped with a special
seat belt retractor to secure child restraint
systems properly. For further information on
"Special seat belt retractors", see
(Y page 58).
For more information about releasing the seat
belt with release button ?, see "Releasing
seat belts" (Y page 53).
Seat belt outlet height adjustment
You can adjust the seat belt height on the
driver's seat and the front-passenger seat.
Adjust the height so that the upper part of the
seat belt is routed across the center of your
shoulder.
XTo raise: slide the belt sash guide upwards.
The belt sash guide engages in various
positions.
XTo lower: press and hold belt sash guide
release :.
XSlide the belt sash guide downwards.XRelease belt sash guide release : and
make sure that the belt sash guide has
engaged.
Releasing seat belts
XPress release button ? (Y page 52) and
guide belt tongue ; back towards belt
sash guide :.
! Make sure that the seat belt is fully rolled
up. Otherwise, the seat belt or belt tongue
will be trapped in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This could damage the door,
the door trim panel and the seat belt.
Damaged seat belts can no longer fulfill
their protective function and must be
replaced. Consult an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
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