Srs MERCEDES-BENZ C230 2007 W203 Owner's Manual

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
ItemPage
1Speedometer with:
vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP®)
warning lamp
85,
327
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only48, 54,
324
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only48, 54,
324
BLow beam headlamp
indicator lamp50,
109
2LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp50
3Multifunction display
with:121

Trip odometer119

Main odometer121

Gear selector lever
position*47,
121,
153
ItemPage

Program mode* 157

Status indicator (outside
temperature/digital
speedometer)120,
135

Digital clock121
4KRight turn signal
indicator lamp50
5Tachometer with:120
-Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
indicator lamp82,
322
úEngine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only325,
326
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only325,
326
1Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp58,
330
ItemPage
328
AHigh beam head-
lamp indicator lamp50,
113
6Fuel gauge with:
Fuel reserve warning lamp328
4The arrow indicates
that the fuel filler cap
is on the rear
right-hand side.
7Coolant temperature gauge119
8Button for:

Resetting trip odometer119

Resetting all settings131

Instrument cluster
illumination118

58 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
In this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint system
components of the vehicle.

Seat belts (page 69)

Child restraints (page 77)

Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren (LATCH) (
page 79)
Additional protection potential provide

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
with

Air bags (page 59)

Air bag control unit (with crash
sensors)

Emergency tensioning device (ETD)
for seat belts (
page 72)

Active head restraints (page 73)Air bag system components with

Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp (
page 68)

Front passenger seat with Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
(
page 64)
Although independent systems, their pro-
tective effects work in conjunction with
each other.
The SRS system conducts a self-test when
the ignition is switched on and in regular
intervals while the engine is running. This
facilitates detection of system malfunc-
tions. The1indicator lamp in the in-
strument cluster comes on when the
ignition is switched on and goes out no lat-
er than a few seconds after the engine has
been started.The SRS components are in operational
readiness if the 1indicator lamp is not
lit when the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the 1indicator lamp:
fails to go out after approximately
4 seconds after the engine was started

does not come on at all

comes on after the engine was started
or while driving.
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and restraint
systems for infants and children, see “Children
in the vehicle” (
page 74). Warning!G
Modifications to or work improperly con-
ducted on restraint systems (such as seat
belts and anchors, emergency tensioning
devices, seat belt force limiters or air bags)
or their wiring, as well as tampering with in-
terconnected electronic systems, can lead
to the restraint systems no longer function-
ing as intended.

59 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Air bagsAir bags or emergency tensioning devices,
for example, could deploy inadvertently or
fail to deploy in accidents although the de-
celeration threshold for air bag deployment
is exceeded. Therefore, never modify the re-
straint systems. Do not tamper with elec-
tronic components or their software.
Warning!G
In the event that the 1 indicator lamp
comes on during driving or does not come
on at all, the SRS self-check has detected a
malfunction. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have
the system checked; otherwise the SRS may
not deploy when needed in an accident,
which could result in serious or fatal injury,
or it might deploy unexpectedly and unnec-
essarily which could also result in injury.
In addition, improper repair work on the SRS
creates a risk of rendering the SRS inopera-
tive or causing unintended air bag deploy-
ment. Work on the SRS must therefore only
be performed by qualified technicians. Con-
tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is necessary to modify an air bag system
to accommodate a person with disabilities,
contact your local authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or call our Customer
Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes
(1-800-367-6372) for details.
Warning!G
Air bags are designed to reduce the poten-
tial of injury and fatality in certain frontal im-
pacts (front air bags) or side impacts (front
side impact air bags, rear side impact
air bags* and window curtain air bags).
However, no system available today can to-
tally eliminate injuries and fatalities.
The deployment of the air bags temporarily
releases a small amount of dust from the air
bags. This dust, however, is neither injurious
to your health, nor does it indicate a fire in
the vehicle. The dust might cause some tem-
porary breathing difficulty for people with
asthma or other breathing trouble. To avoid
this, you may wish to get out of the vehicle
as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have any
breathing difficulty but cannot get out of the
vehicle after the air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.

62 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
emergency tensioning device and
air bag
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 belts in-
stalled or supplied by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Air bags and emergency tensioning de-
vices (ETDs) are designed to function on
a one-time-only basis. An air bag or ETD
that is deployed must be replaced.

Do not pass belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.

Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the belts.

Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this
may severely weaken them. In a crash
they may not be able to provide ade-
quate protection.

No modifications of any kind may be
made to any components or wiring of
the SRS. This includes changing or
removing any component or part of the
SRS, the installation of additional trim
material, badges, etc. over the steering
wheel hub, front passenger front air bag
cover, outboard sides of the front seat
backrests, door trim panels, or door
frame trims, and installation of addition-
al electrical/electronic equipment on or
near SRS components and wiring. Keep
area between air bags and occupants
free from objects (e.g. packages, purs-
es, umbrellas, etc.).

Do not hang items such as coat hangers
from the coat hooks or handles over the
door. These items may turn into projec-
tiles and cause head and other injuries
when the window curtain air bag is de-
ployed.

Air bag system components will be hot
after an air bag has inflated. Do not
touch.

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.

In addition, improper repair work on the
SRS creates a risk of rendering the SRS
inoperative or causing unintended air
bag deployment. Work on the SRS must
therefore only be performed by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

For your protection and the protection
of others, when scrapping the air bag
unit or emergency tensioning device,
our safety instructions must be fol-
lowed. These instructions are available
from your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

Given the considerable deployment
speed, required inflation volume, and
the textile structure of the air bags,
there is the possibility of abrasions or
other, potentially more serious injuries
resulting from air bag deployment.

63 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
When you sell your vehicle we strongly
urge you to give notice to the subsequent
owner that it is equipped with an SRS by
alerting them to the applicable section in
the Operator’s Manual.
Front air bags
1Driver air bag
2Passenger air bagDriver and front passenger front air bags
are deployed:

in the event of certain frontal impacts

if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold

independently of the front side impact
air bags and/or the rear side impact
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 front passenger front air bag will only
be deployed if:
the system, based on OCS weight sen-
sor readings, senses that the front pas-
senger seat is occupied

the 56indicator lamp in the
center console is not lit (
page 68)

the impact exceeds a preset deploy-
ment threshold
iThe front air bags in this vehicle have been
designed to inflate in two stages. This allows the
air bag to have different rates of inflation that are
based on the rate of relevant vehicle decelera-
tion as assessed by the air bag control unit.
On the front passenger side, the front air bag de-
ployment is additionally influenced by the pas-
senger’s weight category as identified by the
Occupant Classification System (OCS)
(
page 64).
The lighter the front passenger side occupant,
the higher the vehicle deceleration rate required
for the second stage inflation of the air bag.

70 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
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
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 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. Make
sure everyone riding in the vehicle is cor-
rectly restrained with a separate seat belt.
Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time.
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
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.
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
section, as that could result in serious
injuries in case of an accident.

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, includ-
ing rollovers. The integrated restraint
system includes SRS (driver air bag,
passenger front air bag, front side im-
pact air bags, rear side impact air bags*,
window curtain air bags for side win-
dows), ETD (seat belt emergency ten-
sioning device), and front seat knee
bolsters. The system is designed to en-
hance the protection offered to properly
belted occupants in certain frontal (front
air bags and ETD)

330 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
1The red SRS indicator lamp comes
on while driving.There is a malfunction in the restraint
systems. The air bags or emergency
tensioning devices (ETDs) could deploy
unexpectedly or fail to deploy in an acci-
dent.Drive with added caution to the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is
indicated as outlined above, the SRS may
not be operational. For your safety, we
strongly recommend that you visit an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately to have the system checked;
otherwise the SRS may not be deployed
when needed in an accident, which could
result in serious or fatal injury, or it might
deploy unexpectedly and unnecessarily
which could also result in an accident
and/or injury to you or to others.

342 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
SRSRestraint
system
malfunction
Visit
workshopThe system is malfunctioning.Drive with added caution to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is
indicated as outlined above, the SRS may
not be operational.
For your safety, we strongly recommend
that you visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center immediately to have the system
checked; otherwise the SRS may not be
deployed when needed in an accident,
which could result in serious or fatal injury,
or it might deploy unexpectedly and
unnecessarily which could also result in
injury.

428 Index
SRS 25, 59, 330
Turn signals 25
Language, Setting 134
LATCH-type child seat anchors see
Children in the vehicle
Leather upholstery,
Cleaning and care of 320
License plate lamps
Messages in display 351
Replacing bulbs 368
Light alloy wheels
Cleaning 317
Technical data 404, 405
Light sensor 349
Message in display 349
Lighter see Cigarette lighter
Lighting, Exterior and interior 109
Limp-home mode 159
Loading see Vehicle loading
Loading terminology 304
Loading the vehicle 284
Locator lighting 112, 140
Loss of keys 95
Loss of Service and
Warranty Information Booklet 397Low beam headlamps
Indicator lamp 25
Messages in display 351
Replacing bulbs 368, 370
Switching on 50
Lubricants 409
Technical data 409
Lumbar support* 105
M
Main dimensions 408
Main fuse box
In passenger compartment 392
Main odometer 121
Maintenance 12, 310
Calling up
service indicator display 312
Clearing
service indicator message 311
FSS (Canada vehicles) 310
Maintenance System 310
Resetting service indicator 312
Service indicator message 310
Service term exceeded 312
Vehicles with E85 fuel 415Maintenance System 310
Manual headlamp mode see Headlamps
Manual seat see Seat, Manual 35
Manual transmission 149, 150
Gearshift lever 46, 150
Shift positions 150
Starting the engine 46
Maximum load rating, Tires 305
Maximum loaded vehicle weight 305
Maximum tire inflation pressure 305
MB Tex upholstery,
Cleaning and care of 320
Mechanical key 361
Memory function* see Steering wheel
Menus see Control system
Microphone, Hands-free 29
Minispare wheel see Spare wheel
Mirrors
Adjusting 41
Auto-dimming* 161
Exterior rear view mirror 42
Interior rear view mirror 42, 160
Mobile phone see Telephone*

429 Index
MOE tires* see MOExtended system*
MOE* see MOExtended system*
MOExtended system* 382
MOExtended tires* 403
Multicontour seats* (Canada only) 105
Multifunction display 121
Changing settings see
Control system menus and
Control system submenus
Multifunction display messages
ABS 335
Brake fluid 344
Brake lamps 349
Brake pads 344
Coolant 345–347
Engine coolant 345–347
Engine oil 348
ESP
®335
Fog lamps 350, 352
Front passenger
front air bag 337, 340
Fuel cap 326, 349
Headlamps 350, 351
Key, SmartKey 349
Lamps, exterior 349–353
Parking brake 344Parking lamp 351
SRS 342
Steering gear oil 354
Tele Aid* 355
Telephone* 355
Turn signals 353
Windshield washer fluid 355
Multifunction steering wheel 26, 122
Button operation 122
N
Navigation system* 129
See separate COMAND*
operating instructions
Net, parcel 239
Neutral gear position,
Automatic transmission 151, 153
Neutral gear position,
Manual transmission 150
New vehicle break-in 260
Night security illumination 112
Setting 141
Normal occupant weight 305
Number, paintwork code 398
Number,
vehicle identification (VIN) 398, 399O
Occupant Classification System see OCS
Occupant distribution 305
Occupant safety 58
Air bags 59
Children and air bags 60
Children in the vehicle 74
Fastening the seat belt 43
Front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp 68, 331
Infant and child restraint systems 74
LATCH-type child seat anchors 79
Seat belts 43, 62
OCS 64
Self-test 68
Odometer 121
Oil level see Engine oil level,
Checking oil level
Oil see Engine oil
One-touch gearshifting
Automatic transmission 158
Gear selector lever 158
Operating safety 187
Ornamental moldings, Cleaning 316
Outside temperature see Displays
Overhead control panel 29