tether MERCEDES-BENZ S550 2007 W221 Owner's Manual

44 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyIn this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint systems
of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are

Seat belts (
page 55)


Child restraints (
page 61)


Lower anchors and tethers for children
(LATCH) (
page 64)
Additional protection potential provide


Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
with

Air bags (
page 45)


Air bag control unit (with crash
sensors)


Emergency tensioning device (ETD)
for seat belts (
page 58)


Seat belt force limiter (
page 58)


Preventive occupant safety
(PRE-SAFE
®) (page 60)Air bag system components with


The front passenger front air bag off in-
dicator lamp (
page 53)


Front passenger seat with Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
(page 50)
As independent systems, their protective
functions 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 early detection of malfunctions.
The =indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (page 28) 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 when the =indicator lamp is
not lit when the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the =indicator lamp:


fails to go out not later than approxi-
mately 4 seconds after the engine was
started


does not come on at all


comes on after the engine was started
or while driving
i
For information on infants and children trav-
eling with you in the vehicle and restraint sys-
tems for infants and children, see “Children in
the vehicle” (
page 61).
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.

52 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety

independently of the side impact air
bags.
If the front passenger air bag is deployed,
the rate of inflation will be influenced by:


the rate of relevant vehicle deceleration
as assessed by the air bag control unit


front passenger’s weight category as
identified by the Occupant Classification
System (OCS).
Warning!
G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriate infant or child restraint
recommended for the size and weight of the
child.
The infant or child restraint must be properly
secured with the vehicle’s seat belt, the seat
belt and top tether strap, or lower anchors
and top tether strap, fully in accordance
with the child seat manufacturer’s
instructions.
Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag. Note the following im-
portant information when circumstances re-
quire you to place a child in the front
passenger seat:

Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to turn off the front
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when the system senses the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child or less along
with the weight of a standard appropri-
ate child restraint on the front passen-
ger seat.


A child in a rear-facing child restraint on
the front passenger seat will be serious-
ly 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 completely eliminate
this risk is to never place a child in a
rear-facing child restraint in the front
seat. We therefore strongly recommend
that you always place a child in a rear-
facing child restraint in the back seat.


If you must install a rear-facing child
restraint on the front passenger seat
because circumstances require you to
do so, make sure that the
59 indicator lamp is illumi-
nated, indicating that the front passen-
ger front air bag is deactivated. Should
the 59not illuminate or go
out while the restraint is installed,
please check installation. Periodically
check the 59indicator
lamp while driving to make sure the
59indicator lamp is illumi-
nated.


62 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyInfant and child restraint systems
We recommend all infants and children be
properly restrained at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
All lap-shoulder belts except the driver’s
seat belt have special seat belt retractors
for secure fastening of child restraints.
To fasten a child restraint, follow child
restraint instructions for mounting. Then
pull the shoulder belt out completely and
let it retract. During seat belt retraction, a
ratcheting sound can be heard to indicate
that the special seat belt retractor is acti-
vated. The belt is now locked. Push down
on child restraint to take up any slack.
To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and
let seat belt retract completely. To deacti-
vate the special seat belt retractor for the
front passenger seat, the front passenger
seat must be in the most backward posi-
tion. The seat belt can again be used in the
usual manner.
Warning!
G
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat
belt retractor will be deactivated.i
Information on child seats with mounting fit-
tings for tether anchorages (
page 64).
For information on LATCH-type child seat
mounts (
page 65).
!
The use of infant or child restraints is re-
quired by law in all 50 states, the District of Co-
lumbia, the U.S. territories and all Canadian
provinces.
Infants and small children should be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system prop-
erly secured by a lap/shoulder belt or, if so
equipped, a top tether anchorage point and a
child restraint lower anchorage system that
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian Motor Ve-
hicle Safety Standard 213 and 210.2.
A statement by the child restraint manufacturer
of compliance with this standard can be found
on the instruction label on the restraint and in
the instruction manual provided with the re-
straint.
When using any infant or child restraint system,
make sure to carefully read and follow all manu-
facturer’s instructions for installation and use.
Please read and observe warning labels affixed
to the inside of the vehicle and to infant or child
restraints.Warning!
G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriate infant, or toddler restraint, or
booster seat recommended for the size and
weight of the child.

63 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
The infant or child restraint must be properly
secured with the vehicle’s seat belt, the seat
belt and top tether strap, or lower anchors
and top tether strap, fully in accordance
with the child seat manufacturer’s
instructions.
Always sit nearly upright, properly use the
seat belts and use an appropriately sized in-
fant or toddler restraint or booster seat rec-
ommended for the size and weight of the
child.
Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag. Note the following im-
portant information when circumstances
require you to place a child in the front
passenger seat:

Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to turn off the front
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when the OCS senses the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child or less along
with the weight of a standard
appropriate child restraint on the front
passenger seat.


A child in a rear-facing child restraint on
the front passenger seat will be serious-
ly 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 completely eliminate
this risk is to never place a child in a
rear-facing child restraint in the front
seat. We therefore strongly recommend
that you always place a child in a
rear-facing child restraint in the back
seat.


If you must install a rear-facing child
restraint on the front passenger seat be-
cause circumstances require you to do
so, make sure that the 59
indicator lamp is illuminated, indicating
that the front passenger front air bag is
deactivated. Should the
59indicator lamp not illu-
minate or go out while the restraint is in-
stalled, please check installation.
Periodically check the 59
indicator lamp while driving to make
sure the lamp is illuminated.
If the 59indicator lamp
goes out or remains out, do not trans-
port 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 serious-
ly injured or even killed if the front pas-
senger front air bag inflates.


If you have to place a child in a for-
ward-facing child restraint on the front
passenger seat, move the seat as far
back as possible, use the proper child
restraint recommended for the age, size
and weight of the child, and secure child
restraint with the vehicle’s seat belt ac-
cording to the child seat manufacturer’s
instructions. For children larger than the
typical 12-month-old child, the front
passenger front air bag may or may not
be activated (
page 51).

64 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Installation of infant and child restraint
systems
This vehicle is equipped with tether an-
chorages for a top tether strap at each of
the rear seating positions.
1Cover of top anchorage ring
Bring the rear power seat backrest* to
a fully upright position (
page 320).

Remove cover1 from anchorage ring.

Store cover1 in a convenient place
(e.g. glove box).

Guide tether strap between head re-
straint and top of seat back.
Warning!
G
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.
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.
Children too big for a toddler restraint must
ride in seats using regular seat belts. Posi-
tion shoulder belt across chest and shoul-
der, not face or neck. A booster seat may be
necessary to achieve proper belt positioning
for children over 41 lbs until they reach a
height where a lap/shoulder belt fits
properly without a booster.
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.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system. Unsupervised chil-
dren in a child restraint system may use
vehicle equipment and may cause an acci-
dent and/or serious personal injury.

65 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Head restraints must be positioned such
that the top tether strap can pass freely
between the head restraint and top of seat
back.
Make sure the tether strap is not twist-
ed.
2Hook
3Anchorage ring

Securely fasten hook2, which is part
of the tether strap, to anchorage
ring3.Once the top tether anchorage hook is at-
tached, the child restraint itself can be se-
cured. Tighten the top tether strap
according to the child restraint manufac-
turer’s instructions.

Reinstall cover after removing the
tether strap.Child seat anchors – LATCH type
This vehicle is equipped with two LATCH
(L
ower A
nchors and T
ethers for CH
ildren)
type anchors (at each of the rear seats) for
the installation of a LATCH child seat with
the matching anchor fittings.
If you have not installed a child seat, the
LATCH anchor are covered with an uphol-
stery blend.
1Indicates the position of the anchors
2Anchors
3Upholstery blend
4Installation device
i
For safety reasons, make sure hook2 has
attached to ring3 beyond the safety catch, as
illustrated.
Warning!
G
Vehicles with adjustable rear seats/bench*:
Never adjust the rear seat position after in-
stalling the child restraint. Adjusting the rear
seat position after installing the child re-
straint could damage the child restraint
and/or introduce undesirable slack or ten-
sion into the seat belt and loosen or mispo-
sition the child restraint, lessening the
effectiveness of the child restraint and thus
i n c r e a s i n g t h e c h a n c e o r s e v e r i t y o f i n j u r y i n
an accident.


682 IndexChildren in the vehicle 61
Air bags 61
Indicator lamp front passenger front air
bag off 53, 555
Indicator lamp, front passenger front
air bag off 53
Infant and child restraint systems 62
LATCH-type child seat anchors 65
Override switch for rear passenger
compartment 67
Tether attachment points 64
Cigarette lighter 457
Cloth upholstery, Cleaning and care
of 542
Cockpit 26, 671
Cockpit management and data system see
COMAND
COMAND 671
Adjusting volume 89
Components 79
Controller 82
Display 80
Function buttons 80
Main menus 89
Menu overview 84
Navigation system 140Operating 84
Operating safety 78
Operating seats 236
Phone book* 129
Radio, FM/AM 93
Selecting sound settings 90
SMS messages 137
Surround sound 91
Switching off/on the audio
source 92
Switching on or off 79
Swiveling display 81
system settings 213
Telephone keypad* 82
Telephone menu* 115
Vehicle menu 220
Voice Control* settings 215
Combination switch 346
Corner-illuminating lamps 347
High beam 346
High beam flasher 347
Turn signals 362
Windshield wipers 351
Command list (Voice Control*) 288
Address book commands 293
Audio commands 295General commands 288
Navigation commands 290
Telephone* commands 289
Control system instrument cluster 241
Multifunction display 241
Multifunction steering wheel 242
Control system instrument cluster menus
Assistance* 252
Audio 248
Navi 246
Service 253
Settings 254
Telephone* 249
Trip 245
Vehicle status message memory 253
Controller Area Network see CAN system
Coolant 497
Adding 498
Anticorrosion/antifreeze mixing ratio
and quantity 665
Checking level 497
Messages in display 587
Temperature 488
Temperature gauge 29, 378
Coolant level
Checking 497

698 IndexTemperature
Outside temperature indicator 29
Setting interior temperature
(COMAND) 230
Tires 510
Tie-down hooks, Trunk 453
Tightening torque, Wheel bolts 633, 678
Tilt/sliding sunroof see Power tilt/sliding
sunroof
Time
Setting (COMAND) 213
TIN 527
Tire and Loading Information
Placard 504
Tire Identification Number see TIN
Tires 500
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)* 511
And Rims 655
And Wheels 500
Care and maintenance 501
Chains 531
Checking inflation pressure electroni-
cally with Advanced Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (Advanced
TPMS)* 511Checking inflation pressure electroni-
cally with Run Flat Indicator (Canada
only) 515
Cleaning 502
Cold tire inflation pressure 526
Direction of rotation 503
Driving instructions 482
Important notes on tire inflation
pressure 510
Inflation pressure 509
Information placard 504
Inspection 501
Load rating 519, 528
Load rating, Maximum 523, 527
Minispare wheel 613, 658
Ply composition and material
used 528
Problems under-/overinflation 509
Retreads 500
Rotating 529
Run Flat Indicator (Canada only) 515
Service life 501
Sizes 655
Snow 530
Speed rating 484, 520, 528
Storing 502Supplemental tire inflation pressure
information 489
Temperature 510, 525
Terminology 526
TPMS malfunction telltale 553
Traction 483, 528
Tread depth 502
Tread depth, Winter 530
Treadwear indicators 528
Vehicle maximum load on 528
Wear pattern 529
Winter 530
Tools 611
Top tether
Children in the vehicle 64
Tow-away alarm 76
Tow-away alarm (COMAND) 228
Towing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit) 611,
644
Towing the vehicle 642
Tow-start 639, 642
Traction 73, 483, 525, 528
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Traveling abroad 486
Tread 528
Tread depth, Tires 502