rear seats MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 1997 Complete Service Manual

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Restraint systems
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data
Instruments
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Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Emergency tensioning retractor (ETR)
The seat belts for the outboard passenger seats (except
in the optional 3rd row seats) are equipped with
emergency tensioning retractors. These tensioning
retractors are located in each belt’s inertia reel and
become operationally ready with the key in steering
lock position 1 or 2.
The emergency tensioning retractors are designed to
activate only when the seat belts are fastened during
frontal impacts exceeding the first threshold of the SRS
and in rear impacts exceeding a preset severity level.
They remove slack from the belts in such a way that the
seat belts fit more snugly against the body restricting its
forward movement as much as possible. In cases of other frontal impacts, angled impacts, roll-
overs, certain side impacts, or other accidents without
sufficient frontal or rear impact forces, the emergency
tensioning retractors will not be activated. The driver
and passengers will then be protected by the fastened
seat belts and inertia reel in the usual manner.
For seat belt and emergency tensioning retractor see
page 63.

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Restraint systems
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Instruments
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Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Wa r n i n 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 vehicle to deactivate the passenger
front airbag when it is properly installed.
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal
injury can result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating positions.
Infants and small children must ride in back seats
and be seated in an infant or child restraint system,
which is properly secured with the vehicle’s seat
belt, fully in accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.
Infants and small children should never share a
seat belt with another occupant. During an
accident, they could be crushed between the
occupant and seat belt.Children too big for child restraint systems must
ride in back seats using regular seat belts. Position
shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not face or
neck. A booster seat may be necessary to achieve
proper belt positioning for children from 41 lbs. to
the point where a lap / shoulder belt fits properly
without one.When the child restraint is not in use, remove it
from the vehicle or secure it with the seat belt to
prevent the child restraint from becoming a
projectile in the event of an accident.

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Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Split rear seat bench
The rear seat bench can be moved fore / aft, folded and
lowered to increase the cargo area. The left, right or
both seat back sections may folded down according to
need. To slide rear seat bench fore / aft:
1. Pull lever (1) in direction of arrow, and slide seat bench section to desired position until it locks in
place.
To enlarge cargo area: 1. Close cup holder in rear center console.
2. Move front seats forward, see page 39 for manual seats and page 40 for power seats.
3. Pull lever (1) in direction of arrow, and slide seat bench section forward.
4. Remove head restraint(s). The head restraint(s) should be stored beneath the cargo f loor plates.

122
Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
To return seat bench section to sitting position: 1. Pull lever (1) and raise seat bench section until it locks in place.
2. Pull lock button (2) up, and unfold seat back to upright position. Check for secure locking by
pushing and pulling on the backrest. The red
backrest lock indicators at the lock buttons (2) are
not visible in locked position.
3. Pull lever (1) in direction of arrow, and slide seat bench section rearward to desired position. 4. Install and adjust head restraint.
For installation of head restraints see page 124.
Wa r n i n g !
Failure to assure that seats are locked into place
could result in an increased chance of injury in an
accident.Never place hands under seat or near any moving
parts while a seat is being adjusted.

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Interior equipment
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Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Easy entry/exit feature

(only in vehicles with third row seats)
Folding right seat bench section for access to rear
compartment area:
1. Move right front seat forward.
2. Slide seat bench section forward.
3. Push head restraint fully down and tilt it forward, see page 43. 4. Pull lock button (2) of seat back up, and fold seat
back forward.
5. Remove respective cargo floor plate, see page 129.
6. Pull lever (6) up, and fold seat bench section forward.
Resetting seat bench: 1. Pull down on seat bench section until it locks into place.
2. Pull lock button (2) up, and unfold seat back to upright position. Check for secure locking by
pushing and pulling on the backrest. The backrest
lock indicators at the lock buttons (2) are not visible
in locked position.
3. Pull up and adjust head restraint.
Caution!
Never drive with the second row right seat folded
forward (easy entry/exit feature). It could open and fold
back unintentionally.
When unfolding the seat, be sure that there is no danger
of anyone being harmed by the procedure.

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Interior equipment
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Instruments
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7. Pull release lever (3) and unfold seat back until it
locks securely in place.
8. Install head restraint in seat back.
Note:
For removal and installation of head restraint refer to
rear seat head restraints on page 124.
To sto r e s ea t: 1. Remove head restraint from seat back.
2. Pull release lever (3) and fold seat back forward until it audibly locks securely in place. Place seat
belt between lever (3) and backrest.
3. Remove cargo floor plates from the backrest.
4. Pull seat release (4) and fold seat up. Engage hook (2) in ceiling mount. Pull on free end of strap
until tight.
5. Install head restraint in openings provided in seat cushion.
6. Install cargo floor plates, see page 129.
Wa r n i n g !
Failure to assure that seats are locked into place
could result in an increased chance of injury in an
accident.Never place hands under seat or near any moving
parts while a seat is being adjusted.For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.Adjust head restraint to support the back of the
head approximately at ear level.

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Interior equipment
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Instruments
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Driving Instrument
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Cargo tie-down rings Carefully secure cargo by applying even load on all
rings with rope of sufficient strength to hold down the
cargo. The cargo area is provided with four tie-down
anchors. Additional two rings are located at the rear of
front seats.
Caution!
While the partition net will help protect you from
smaller objects, it cannot prevent the movement of
large, heavier objects into the passenger area in an
accident. Such items must be properly secured using
the cargo tie-down rings in the cargo area floor.

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Interior equipment
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Instruments
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Hooks
Four hooks, located on the rear compartment trim
panels can be used to secure light weight items
(maximum permissible weight per hook: 9 lbs. [4 kg]). Partiti on net
(Optional)
Use of the partition net is a particularly important safety
factor when the vehicle is loaded higher than the top of
the seat backrests with smaller objects.
The partition net can be installed behind the backrests
of the front or rear seats.
Note:
Passenger use of seats behind installed partition net is
restricted because of the footwell being taken up by the
net.

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Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
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Instruments
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Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Installation: 1. Engage partition net in holders (1) and close rear cover. 2. Insert tie down hooks (2) in rings (3) behind the
front seats.
3. Pull on loose ends of tie downs until net is tight.
For installation behind the rear seats, see next page.

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Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
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Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Installation behind rear seats
1. Insert tie down hooks (2) in rings (3) behind the rear seats.
2. Pull on loose ends of tie downs until net is tight. Removal:
1. Lift tensioner (4) upward to a horizontal position to release tensioning of the strap.
2. Disengage tie down hooks (2) from rings (3).
3. Remove partition net from holders (1) and close the covers.
Storage: 1. Roll up and close partition net.
2. Store partition net behind rear seat bench.
Caution!
While the partition net will help protect you from
smaller objects, it cannot prevent the movement of
large, heavier objects into the passenger area in an
accident. Such items must be properly secured using
the cargo tie-down rings in the cargo area floor, see
page 132.