warning MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS 2011 Owner's Manual

If the 007F0080 indicator lamp is illuminated,
the passenger front air bag is deactivated and
will not be deployed.
If the 007F0080 indicator lamp is not
illuminated, the passenger front air bag is
activated and will be deployed
R in the event of certain frontal impacts
R if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold
R independently of the head-thorax air bag
If the passenger front air bag is deployed, the
rate of inflation will be influenced by
R the rate of relevant vehicle deceleration as
assessed by the air bag control unit
R the passenger’s weight category as
identified by the OCS
For more information on air bag display
messages in the multifunction display, see
( Y page 229).GWarning!
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an appropriate
infant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster
seat recommended for the size and weight of
the child.
The infant or child restraint must be properly
secured with the vehicle’s seat belt fully in
accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s 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. Note the following
important information:
R Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to deactivate the
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 appropriate
child restraint on the passenger seat.
R A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
passenger seat will be seriously injured or
even killed if the passenger front air bag
inflates in a collision which could occur
under some circumstances, even with the
air bag technology installed in your vehicle.
R If you install a rear-facing child restraint on
the passenger seat, make sure the
007F0080 indicator lamp is illuminated,
indicating that the passenger front air bag
is deactivated. Should the 007F0080
indicator lamp not illuminate or go out while
the restraint is installed, please check
installation. Periodically check the
007F0080 indicator lamp while driving to
make sure the 007F0080 indicator lamp is
illuminated. If the 007F0080 indicator lamp
goes out or remains out, do not transport a
child on the passenger seat until the
system has been repaired.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
passenger seat will be seriously injured or
even killed if the passenger front air bag
inflates.
R If you place a child in a forward-facing child
restraint on the 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
according to the child seat manufacturer’s
instructions. For children larger than the
typical 12-month-old child, the passenger
front air bag may or may not be activated.
Deployment of the driver front air bag does
not mean that the passenger front air bag also
should have deployed.
The OCS may have determined
R that the seat was empty or occupied by the
weight up to or less than that of a typical
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with the passenger seat cushion and
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 seats.
Seat belts
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 whenever the vehicle is in motion.
i See “Children in the vehicle”
( Y page 51) for information on
R infants and children traveling with you in
the vehicle
R restraint systems for infants and children
GWarning!
Always fasten your seat belt before driving off.
Always make sure your passenger is properly
restrained. You and your passenger 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!
Keep the door storage compartments closed
while vehicle is in motion. Failure to do so may
cause the seat belt to catch at the rear and
prevent proper positioning of the seat belt.
GWarning!
Damaged seat belts or seat belts that have
been subjected to stress in an accident must
be replaced. Also, the seat belt anchoring
points must 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.
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Have all work carried out only by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Proper use of seat beltsGWarning!
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY
R Seat belts can only protect 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.
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 side knee
bag, passenger front air bag, head-thorax
air bags), Emergency Tensioning Devices
(ETDs) and seat belt force limiters.
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
(head-thorax air bags and ETDs) impacts
which exceed preset deployment
thresholds.
R Never wear the shoulder belt under your
arm, against 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
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.
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Never attempt to make modifications to seat
belts. This could impair the effectiveness of
the seat belts.
Fastening the seat belts
GWarning!
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an
appropriately sized infant restraint, toddler
restraint, or booster seat recommended for
the size and weight of the child. For additional
information, see section “Children in the
vehicle”.
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.
XWith a smooth motion, pull the seat belt out
of seat belt housing \000F.
XPlace the shoulder portion of the seat belt
across the top of your shoulder and the lap
portion across your hips.
XPush latch plate \000G into buckle \000

If after these 6 seconds the driver’s or the
passenger’s seat belt (with the passenger
seat occupied) is not fastened with both
doors closed,
R the seat belt telltale 0082 remains
illuminated for as long as either the driver’s
or passenger’s seat belt is not fastened.
R and if the vehicle speed once exceeds
15 mph (25 km/h), the seat belt telltale
0082 starts flashing and a warning chime
sounds with increasing intensity for a
maximum of 60 seconds or until the
driver’s and passenger’s seat belt are
fastened.
If you and/or your passenger release the
seat belt during driving, the seat belt
telltale 0082 starts flashing and the
warning chime sounds as described before.
If the driver’s or the passenger’s seat belt
remains unfastened after 60 seconds, the
warning chime stops sounding, the seat
belt telltale 0082 stops flashing but
continues to be illuminated.
After a vehicle standstill, the warning chime
is reactivated and the seat belt telltale
0082 is flashing again if the vehicle speed
once exceeds 15 mph (25 km/h).
The seat belt telltale 0082 will only go out if
both the driver’s and the passenger’s seat
belt (with the passenger seat occupied) are
fastened, or the vehicle is standing still and a
door is opened.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
( Y page 256).
Emergency Tensioning Device (ETD),
seat belt force limiter
The seat belts are equipped with ETDs and
seat belt force limiters.
The ETDs are designed to activate in the
following cases:
R in frontal or rear-end impacts exceeding
the system’s preset deployment threshold
R if the restraint systems are operational and
functioning correctly, see “SRS indicator
lamp” ( Y page 38)
R in certain vehicle rollovers if the system
determines an additional degree of
protection
The ETDs will only activate if the seat belts are
fastened (latch plate properly inserted into
buckle).
In an impact, the ETDs remove slack from the
seat belts in such a way that the seat belts fit
more snugly against the body. Seat belt force
limiters, when activated, are employed to
help reduce the peak force exerted by the
seat belts on occupants during a crash.
i The ETDs do not correct an incorrect seat
position or incorrectly worn seat belts.
The ETDs do not pull occupants back
toward the seat backrest.GWarning!
Pyrotechnic ETDs that were activated must be
replaced.
For your safety, when disposing of the
pyrotechnic ETDs always follow our safety
instructions. These are available at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Automatic comfort-fit feature seat belt
The automatic comfort-fit feature reduces the
retracting force of the seat belts when they
are in normal use.
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Correct driver seat adjustmentGWarning!
In order to avoid possible loss of vehicle
control the following must be done before the
vehicle is put into motion:
Rseat adjustment
Rhead restraint adjustment
Rsteering wheel adjustment
Rrear view mirror adjustment
Rfastening of seat belts
Steering wheel
GObserve Safety notes, see page 84.XPosition steering wheel \000F properly
(Y page 85).
Make sure:
RYou can reach the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent at the elbows.
RYou can move your legs freely.
RAll displays (including malfunction and
indicator lamps) on the instrument cluster
are clearly visible.
Seat beltGObserve Safety notes, see page 46.XFasten and position your seat belt \000G
correctly (Y page 48).
Make sure:
RThe seat belt is always fitted snugly.
RAdjust the seat belt so that the shoulder
section is located as close as possible to
the middle of the shoulder.
RPlace the lap portion of the seat belt as low
as possible on your hips.
Seat and head restraint
GObserve Safety notes, see page 80.XPosition seat \000

Roll barGWarning!
This vehicle is a two occupant vehicle. The
rear storage area is not equipped to properly
seat or restrain occupants and therefore is
not permitted for use by any persons.
Make sure that the roll bar’s path of motion is
clear and no persons are injured by the
moving roll bar. Raising or lowering of the roll
bar could injure someone in it’s proximity.
For your own safety, we recommend to drive
with the roll bar raised if the outside
temperature is below +5‡ (-15†).
! If the outside temperature falls below
+5‡ (-15†), the roll bar must be raised
manually using the buttons provided to
avoid damaging the hydraulics.
The roll bar raises automatically in an
accident or in a critical driving situation.
iWhen the roll bar is raised automatically,
you will hear a ratcheting sound.
You can also raise and lower the roll bar
manually using the buttons provided.
The buttons for the roll bar are on the center
console under the retractable hardtop switch.
The roll bar can be moved manually when the
ignition is switched on.
GWarning!
If the yellow roll bar warning lamp \000W in the
instrument cluster does not go out after
starting the engine, or if it comes on while
driving, the roll bar system is not operating
properly and may not activate in an accident.
At the same time, the message Raise Roll-
over Bar appears in the multifunction
display. In this case, raise the roll bar
manually before continuing to drive.
For safety reasons, drive only with the roll bar
raised until the malfunction is repaired. Have
your vehicle checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
XRaising: Lift the switch for the retractable
hardtop.
XPress and hold button \000F until the roll bar
is raised.
XLowering: Lift the switch for the
retractable hardtop.
If the roll bar was raised manually:
XPress and hold button \000G until the roll bar
is lowered.
If the roll bar was raised automatically:
XPress and hold button \000F until you hear the
roll bar lock into place.
XPress and hold button \000G until the roll bar
is lowered.
iIf you have raised the roll bar manually
using the button, the roll bar will
automatically be lowered and then raised
again when you close and open the
retractable hardtop.
Children in the vehicle
Safety notes
If an infant or child is traveling with you in the
vehicle:
XSecure the child using an infant or child
restraint appropriate to the age and size of
the child.
XMake sure the infant or child is properly
secured at all times while the vehicle is in
motion.
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GWarning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch. Always
take the SmartKey with you and lock the
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. The children
could
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system’s
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and the child could be burned by these
parts.
GWarning!
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment unless they are
firmly secured in place.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child’s risk of injury in the event
of
R strong braking maneuvers
R sudden changes of direction
R an accident
Infant and child restraint systemsGObserve Safety notes, see page 51.
We recommend all infants and children be
properly restrained at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
The passenger lap/shoulder belt has a
special seat belt retractor for secure
fastening of child restraints.
To fasten a child restraint, follow the child
restraint manufacturer’s instructions for
mounting.
To activate the special seat belt retractor:
XPull 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 activated.
The seat belt is now locked.XPush down on child restraint to take up any
slack.
To deactivate the special seat belt retractor:
XRelease the seat belt buckle and let the
seat belt retract completely.
The seat belt can then again be used in the
usual manner.GWarning!
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat belt
retractor will be deactivated.
The use of infant or child restraints is required
by law in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, the U.S. territories and all
Canadian provinces.
Infants and small children should be seated
in an appropriate infant or child restraint
system. They must be properly secured by a
lap/shoulder belt in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions for the child
restraint. All infant or child restraint systems
must comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and
210.2.
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A statement by the child restraint
manufacturer of compliance with these
standards can be found on the instruction
label on the restraint and in the instruction
manual provided with the restraint.
When using any infant restraint, toddler
restraint, or booster seat, make sure to
carefully read and follow all manufacturer’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.GWarning!
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an appropriate
infant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster
seat recommended for the size and weight of
the child.
The infant or child restraint must be properly
secured with the vehicle’s seat belt fully in
accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s 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. Note the following
important information:
R Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to deactivate the
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 appropriate
child restraint on the passenger seat.
R A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
passenger seat will be seriously injured or
even killed if the passenger front air bag
inflates in a collision which could occur
under some circumstances, even with the
air bag technology installed in your vehicle.
R If you install a rear-facing child restraint on
the passenger seat, make sure the
007F0080 indicator lamp is illuminated,
indicating that the passenger front air bag
is deactivated. Should the 007F0080
indicator lamp not illuminate or go out while
the restraint is installed, please check
installation. Periodically check the
007F0080 indicator lamp while driving to
make sure the 007F0080 indicator lamp is
illuminated. If the 007F0080 indicator lamp
goes out or remains out, do not transport a
child on the passenger seat until the
system has been repaired.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
passenger seat will be seriously injured or
even killed if the passenger front air bag
inflates.
R If you place a child in a forward-facing child
restraint on the 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
according to the child seat manufacturer’s
instructions. For children larger than the
typical 12-month-old child, the passenger
front air bag may or may not be activated.GWarning!
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. Position
shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not
face or neck. A booster seat may be
necessary to achieve proper seat belt
positioning for children over 41 lb (18 kg) until
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Safety notesGWarning!
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:
R Excessive speed, especially in turns
R Wet and slippery road surfaces
R Following another vehicle too closely
The driving safety systems described in this
section cannot reduce these risks or prevent
the natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle. They cannot increase braking or
steering efficiency beyond that afforded by
the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires
or the traction afforded.
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents.
The capabilities of a vehicle equipped with the
driving safety systems described in this
section must never be exploited in a reckless
or dangerous manner which could jeopardize
the user’s safety or the safety of others.
Always adjust your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather conditions and
keep a safe distance to other road users and
objects on the street.
If a driving system malfunctions, other driving
safety systems may also switch off. Observe
indicator and warning lamps that may come
on as well as messages in the multifunction
display that may appear.
ABS
GObserve Safety notes, see page 55.GWarning!
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm, steady
brake pedal pressure instead. Pumping the
brake pedal defeats the purpose of the ABS
and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do not
lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of
approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure.
The ABS indicator lamp 0031 in the
instrument cluster comes on when you switch
on the ignition. It goes out when the engine
is running.
Braking
If the ABS activates during braking, the ABS/
ESP ®
warning lamp 00F2 or 0067 7
in the
instrument cluster flashes. Because of the
electro-hydraulic brake system, you will not
feel any pulsation in the brake pedal.
XKeep firm and steady pressure on the brake
pedal.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to steer
the vehicle.
The ABS/ESP ®
warning lamp 00F2 or 0067 7
flashes whenever the ABS is activated. It can
be an indication for hazardous road
conditions and functions as a reminder to
take extra care while driving.
Emergency brake maneuver
XKeep continuous full pressure on the brake
pedal.GWarning!
If the ABS malfunctions, other driving safety
systems such as the BAS or the ESP ®
are also
switched off. Observe indicator and warning
lamps that may come on as well as messages
in the multifunction display that may appear.
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