airbag off MERCEDES-BENZ C230 KOMPRESSOR 2003 W203 Owner's Manual

41 Getting started
Driving
Driving
Fastening the seat beltWarning!
G
Do not lay any objects in the driver’s foot-
well. Be careful that floor mats or carpets in
the driver’s footwell have sufficient clear-
ance for the pedals.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate.Warning!
G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even those sitting in the
rear and 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 wearing your
seat belt. The airbags can only protect as ex-
pected if the occupants are using their seat
belts (
page 61).
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in the front seat, 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 side front
airbag when it is properly installed. Other-
wise they will be struck by the airbag when
it inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious
or fatal injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing positions. Infants and small children
must ride in back seats and be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system,
which is properly secured with the vehicle’s
seat belt and top tether strap, or secured via
lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in
accordance with the child seat manufactur-
er’s instructions.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is

58 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety

Sit properly belted in an upright position
with your back against the seat back-
rest.


Adjust the driver seat as far as possible
rearward, still permitting proper opera-
tion of vehicle controls. The distance
from the center of the driver’s breast-
bone to the center of the airbag cover on
the steering wheel must be at least ten
inches (25 cm) or more. You should be
able to accomplish this by a combina-
tion of adjustments to the seat and
steering wheel. If you have any prob-
lems, please see your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.


Do not lean with your head or chest
close to the steering wheel or dash-
board.


Keep hands on the outside of steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in-
side the rim can increase the risk and
potential severity of hand/arm injury
when driver front airbag inflates.


Adjust the front passenger seat as far as
possible rearward from the dashboard
when the seat is occupied.


Occupants, especially children, should
never lean their heads in the area of the
door where the side airbag inflates. This
could result in serious injuries or death
should the airbag be triggered. Always
sit upright, properly use the seat belts
and appropriate size infant or child re-
straint system.


Children 12 years old and under must
never ride in the front seat, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized
BabySmart
TM compatible child seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM
system installed in the vehicle to deacti-
vate the passenger side front airbag
when it is properly installed. Otherwise
they will be struck by the airbag when it
inflates in a crash. If this happens, seri-
ous or fatal injury will result.
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injuries to you or other occu-
pants.
If you sell your vehicle you are responsible
to make the buyer aware of these points. Be
sure to give the buyer this Operator’s Manu-
al.
Warning!
G
Accident research shows that the safest
place for children in an automobile is in the
rear seat. Should you choose to place a child
12 years old or under in the front passenger
seat of your vehicle, you must properly use
a BabySmart
TM child restraint which will
turn off the passenger side front airbag.
BabySmart
TM will not, however, turn off any
side impact airbag.
It should be noted that with respect to both
front and rear side impact airbags there is a
possibility for a side airbag related injury if
occupants, especially children, are not prop-
erly seated or restrained when next to a side
airbag which needs to deploy rapidly in a
side impact in order to do its job.
To help avoid the possibility of injury, please
follow these guidelines:
(1) Occupants, especially children, should
never place their bodies or lean their
heads in the area of the door where the
side airbag inflates. This could

62 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyThe use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in
most states and all Canadian provinces.
Even where this is not the case, all vehicle
occupants should have their seat belts fas-
tened whenever the vehicle is in motion.
Information on fastening seat belts is
found in the “Getting started” section
(page 41).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 65).
Warning!
G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even those sitting in the
rear and 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 passengers should
always 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. Airbags 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 reclined. Sitting in an excessively
reclined position 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 re-
straint when the wearer is in an upright po-
sition 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
restrained with a separate seat belt.

63 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
b e l t s . T h i s c a n l e a d t o u n i n t e n d e d a c t i v a t i o n
or to failure.
Have all work carried out only by an autho-
rized 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 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 airbag,
front passenger airbag, side impact air-
bags, head protection window curtain
airbags for side windows), ETD (seat belt
emergency tensioning device), and front
seat knee bolsters. The system is de-
signed to enhance the protection of-
fered to properly belted occupants in
certain frontal (front airbags) and side
(side impact airbags and window curtain
airbags) impacts which exceed 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.


Belts should not be worn twisted. In a
crash, you wouldn’t have the full

104 Controls in detailLightingCombination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left side of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasher
Switching on high beams
Turn exterior lamp switch to
position
B
or to
U

(
page 101).

Push the combination switch in
direction1.
The high beam symbol is illuminated on
the instrument cluster.High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction2.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be activat-
ed with the ignition switched on or off. It is
activated automatically when an airbag is
deployed.
The switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on the hazard warning
flasher

Press the hazard warning flasher
switch.
All turn signals will blink.
Switching off the hazard warning
flasher

Press hazard warning flasher switch
again.iWith the hazard warning flasher acti-
vated and the combination switch set
for either left or right turn, only the re-
spective left or right turn signals will
operate when the key in the starter
switch is in position1 or2.

257 Practical hints
What to do if …
-
The yellow ABS malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and has
switched off. The BAS and the ESP are also
switched off (see messages in display).
The brake system is still functioning normally
but without the ABS available.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking
reducing steering capability.

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts and the ABS has switched off.

When the voltage is above this value
again, the ABS is operational again.

If necessary, have the generator and
battery checked.
1
The red SRS indicator lamp lights
up while driving.
There is a malfunction in the restraint sys-
tems. The airbags or emergency tensioning
device (ETDs) could deploy unexpectedly or
fail to activate in an accident.

Drive with added caution to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
Warning!
G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is indi-
cated 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 activated when needed in an
accident, which could result in serious or
fatal injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly
and unnecessarily which could result in an
accident and/or injury to you or to others.

260 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Lamp in center consoleProblem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
7
The indicator lamp lights up.
A BabySmart
TM child seat is installed on the
front passenger seat. Therefore the front
passenger airbag is switched off.
The system is malfunctioning when there is
no BabySmart
TM child seat installed on the
front passenger seat.

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
7
The indicator lamp does not light
up with a BabySmart
TM child
seat properly installed on the
front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Make sure that there is nothing be-
tween seat cushion and child seat and
check installation of the child seat.

If the light remains out, have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint
to transport children on the front pas-
senger seat until the system has been
repaired.

348 IndexAir vents, rear passenger compartment
Adjustable 155, 164
Air volume
Adjusting 151, 159
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp 260
Airbags 57
BabySmart
TM deactivation
system 67, 341
Children 58
Front 60
Passenger 61
Safety guidelines 59
Side impact 61
Window curtain 61
Alarm
Audible 72, 80
Canceling 80
Visual 79
Alarm system
Anti-theft 79
Tow-away 80
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 299, 341
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 337
Antiglare
Automatic* 144
Manual 144Antilock brake system (ABS) 341
Anti-theft alarm system
Arming 79
Canceling alarm 80
Disarming 80
Anti-theft systems 79
Anti-theft alarm system 79
Immobilizer 79
Tow-away alarm 80
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning 227
Armrest
Storage compartment in front of 205
Storage spaces 206
Ashtray 207
ATF (automatic transmission fluid) 238
AUDIO menu 116
Selecting radio station 117
Audio system 165
Audio and telephone, operation 165
Button and soft key operation 168
Cassette mode 174
CD mode 178
Operating and display elements 166
Operating safety 165
Operation 168
Radio mode 171Switching off 168
Switching on 168
Telephone operation 182
Automatic antiglare*
for rear view mirror 144
Automatic central locking
Activating/deactivating
(control system) 129
Automatic climate control* 156
Activating 157
Adjusting air distribution 159
Adjusting air volume 159
Air recirculation mode 160
Deactivating 157
Defrosting 160
Rear window defroster 153, 162
Residual heat utilization 163
Residual ventilation 163
Setting the temperature 158
Automatic headlamp mode 102
Automatic lighting control
Activating 105
Deactivating 105
Automatic locking when driving 91

350 IndexButton
Audio system 168
C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 341
California
Important notice 11
Calling up
Range (distance to empty) 133
Service indicator 248
CAN system 341
Capacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 329
Cargo area see Trunk 86
Casette mode
Playing cassettes 174
Cassette player
Operating 118
Catalytic converter 231
CD changer* 178
CD mode 178
CD player*
Operating 117
Center console 25
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp 260
Lower part 26
Upper part 25Centigrade
Setting temperature units 123
Central locking
Automatic 91
From inside 92
Switch 92
Switching on/off
(control system) 129
Unlocking from inside 92
Central locking switch 92
Certification label 318
Changing
Batteries (SmartKey) 287
Key setting 129
Changing CDs 178
Charcoal filter 161
Charging
Vehicle battery 304
CHECK ENGINE malfunction
indicator lamp 259
Checking
Brake fluid 234
Coolant level 234, 238
Oil level 234, 236
Tire inflate pressure 234
Vehicle lighting 234Child safety 65
Airbags 58
Infant and child restraint
systems 62, 65
LATCH child seat anchors 69
Child safety switch see Blocking of
rear door window operation 71
Child seat anchors
see LATCH child seat anchors 70
Cigarette lighter 208
Cleaning
Cup holder 252
Gear selector lever 252
Hard plastic trim items 252
Headlamps 146
Headliner 252
Instrument cluster 252
Leather upholstery 253
Light alloy wheels 252
MB Tex upholstery 253
Plastic and rubber parts 252
Seat belts 252
Steering wheel 252
Windows 251
Windshield 49
Wiper blades 251

354 Index
Messages in display 269
Switching off 76
Switching on 77
Warning lamp 256
ETD 64, 342
Safety guidelines 59
Ethanol fuel
At the gas station 233
Requirements 334
Switching fuels 334
Exterior lamp switch 47, 101
Exterior lamps
Delayed shut-off 126
Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting 39
Parking position* for 131
F
Fahrenheit
Setting temperature units 123
Fastening the seat belts 41
Fine adjustment
Cruise control 195
First aid kit 279
Flat tire 297
Lowering the vehicle 301
Mounting the spare wheel 297Preparing the vehicle 297
Spare wheel 281
Flexible fuel vehicles 334
At the gas station 233
Switching fuels 334
Flexible Service System (FSS) 247, 342
Fog lamp, rear 103, 291
Fog lamps
Replacing bulbs 290
Fog lamps, front 103
Messages in display 274
Replacing bulbs 291
Switching on 103
Four wheel electronic traction system
(4MATIC) with ESP 78
4MATIC 78
Front airbags 60
Front lamps
Bi-Xenon type* 293
Halogen-type 292
Messages in display 272–275
Replacing bulbs 290, 292
Switching on 101
Front seat head restraints
Installing 94
Manual seat 94Power seat* 94
Removing 94
Front seats
Heater* 97
FSS (Flexible Service System) 247, 342
Fuel 234
Additives 334
Cruising range 335
E85 (Ethanol fuel) 335
Fuel reserve warning lamp 259
Gasoline additives 334
Premium unleaded
gasoline 234, 330, 333
Requirements 333, 334
Reserve warning 23
Switching (Flexible fuel vehicle) 334
Technical data 329
Fuel additives 334
Fuel consumption statistics
After start 132
Since last reset 132, 133
Fuel filler flap 233
Locking 233
Opening 287
Unlocking 233