MERCEDES-BENZ SLK ROADSTER 2014 Workshop Manual

Therefore, have pyrotechnic belt tensioners
which have been triggered immediately
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have
the vehicle towed to a qualified specialist
workshop after an accident. This is particu-
larly important if a belt tensioner or an airbag
have been triggered.
An electric motor is used by PRE-SAFE ®
to
trigger the tightening of the seat belt in haz-
ardous situations. This procedure is reversi-
ble.
If the belt tensioners or airbags are deployed, you will hear a bang, and a small amount of
powder may also be released. The 6
restraint system warning lamp lights up.
Only in rare cases will the bang affect your
hearing. The powder that is released gener-
ally does not constitute a health hazard, how-
ever it may cause short-term breathing diffi-
culties to persons suffering from asthma or
other pulmonary conditions. If it is safe to do so, you should leave the vehicle immediately
or open a window in order to prevent breath-
ing difficulties.
Mode of operation During the first stage of a collision, the
restraint system control unit evaluates impor-
tant physical data relating to vehicle deceler- ation or acceleration, such as:
R duration
R direction
R intensity
Based on the evaluation of this data, the
restraint system control unit triggers the belt
tensioners in the event of a frontal or rear
collision.
If the restraint system control unit detects a
high accident severity, additional compo-
nents of the restraint system are activated
independently of one another in certain fron- tal collision situations:
R Front airbags Depending on the person in the front-
passenger seat, the front-passenger front air-
bag is either enabled or disabled. The front-
passenger front airbag can only be deployed
in an accident if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFFindicator lamp is off. Observe the information
on the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp (Y page 41).
Your vehicle has dual-stage front airbags. In
the first deployment threshold, the front air-
bag is filled with propellant gas to reduce the risk of injuries. The front airbag is filled with
the maximum amount of propellant gas if the
second deployment threshold is then reached within a few milliseconds.
The activation thresholds for the belt ten-
sioner and airbag are determined by evaluat-
ing the vehicle deceleration or vehicle accel-
eration that occurs at different points in the
vehicle. This process is pre-emptive in nature. The triggering process must take place in
good time at the start of the collision.
The rate of vehicle deceleration or accelera-
tion and the direction of the force are essen- tially determined by:
R the distribution of the force during the
impact
R the collision angle
R the deformation characteristics of the vehi-
cle
R the characteristics of the object with which
the vehicle has collided
Factors which can only be seen and measured
after a collision has occurred do not play a
decisive role in the deployment of an airbag,
nor do they provide an indication of airbag
deployment.
The vehicle may be deformed significantly
without an airbag being deployed. This is the
case if only parts which are relatively easily
deformed are affected and the rate of decel-
eration is not high. Conversely, an airbag may be deployed even though the vehicle suffers
only minor deformation. This is the case if, for
example, very rigid vehicle parts such as lon- 48
Occupant safetySafety

gitudinal body members are hit, and sufficient
deceleration occurs as a result.
If the restraint system control unit detects a
side impact or an overturn situation, the rel-
evant restraint system components are acti-
vated independently of one another depend-
ing on the apparent type of accident. If addi-
tional protection for the vehicle occupants is determined in this situation, the belt tension-
ers are also triggered.
R Sidebag on the side on which the impact
occurs, independently of the belt tensioner
and of the use of the seat belt
Vehicles with automatic child seat recog-
nition on the front-passenger seat: the
sidebag on the front-passenger side
deploys under the following conditions:
- an occupant is detected on the front-
passenger seat or
- the belt tongue has engaged in the belt
buckle of the front-passenger seat.
R Headbag on the side on which the impact
occurs, independently of the use of the seat
belt and independently of whether the
front-passenger seat is occupied
R Headbags on the driver's and front-
passenger sides in certain overturn situa-
tions if the system determines that they
can offer additional protection to that pro-
vided by the seat belt
i Not all airbags are deployed in an acci-
dent. The various airbag systems work
independently of one another.
How the airbag system works is deter-
mined by the severity of the accident detec- ted, especially the vehicle deceleration or
acceleration, and the apparent type of acci- dent:
R frontal collision
R side impact
R overturn NECK-PRO head restraints
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The function of the head restraint may be
impaired if you:
R attach objects such as coat hangers to the
head restraints, for example
R use unsuitable head restraint covers
If you do so, the head restraints cannot fulfil
their intended protective function in the event of an accident. In addition, objects attached
to the head restraints could endanger other
vehicle occupants. This poses an increased
risk of injury.
Do not attach any objects to the head
restraints and only use suitable head restraint
covers.
Consult a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre
regarding the availability of suitable seat or
head restraint covers.
Operation NECK-PRO head restraints reduce the likeli-
hood of head and chest injuries. The NECK-
PRO head restraints on the driver's and front-
passenger seats are moved forwards and
upwards in the event of a rear-end collision of
a certain severity. This provides better head
support.
If the NECK-PRO head restraints have been
triggered in an accident, you must reset the
NECK-PRO head restraints on the driver’s and
front-passenger seat (Y page 50). Other-
wise, the additional protection will not be
available in the event of another rear-end col-
lision. You can recognise when NECK-PRO
head restraints have been triggered by the
fact that they have moved forwards and can
no longer be adjusted.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have
the NECK-PRO head restraints checked for
functionality at a qualified specialist work-
shop after a rear-end collision. Occupant safety
49Safety Z

Resetting triggered NECK-PRO head
restraints Do not insert your finger between the uphols-
tery of the head restraint and the seat. Pay
particular attention while resetting the NECK-PRO head restraints.
X Tilt the top of the NECK-PRO head restraint
cushion forwards in the direction of
arrow :.
X Push the NECK-PRO head restraint cushion
down as far as it will go in the direction of
arrow ;.
X Firmly push the NECK-PRO head restraint
cushion back in the direction of arrow =
until the cushion engages.
X Repeat this procedure for the second
NECK-PRO head restraint.
i Resetting the NECK-PRO head restraints
requires a lot of strength. If you have diffi-
culty resetting the NECK-PRO head
restraints, have this work carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. PRE-SAFE
®
(anticipatory occupant
protection)
Introduction In certain hazardous situations, PRE-SAFE
®
takes pre-emptive measures to protect the
vehicle occupants. Important safety notes !
Make sure that there are no objects in the
footwell or behind the seats. There is a risk that the seats and/or the objects could be
damaged when PRE-SAFE ®
is activated.
Although your vehicle is equipped with PRE-
SAFE ®
, the possibility of injury in the event of
an accident cannot be ruled out. Always
adapt your driving style to suit the prevailing
road and weather conditions and maintain a
safe distance from the vehicle in front. Drive
carefully.
Function PRE-SAFE
®
intervenes:
R in emergency braking situations, e.g. when
BAS is activated
R in critical driving situations, e.g. when phys-
ical limits are exceeded and the vehicle
understeers or oversteers severely
R on vehicles with the Driving Assistance
package: if BAS PLUS intervenes power-
fully or the radar sensor system detects an imminent danger of collision in certain sit-
uations
PRE-SAFE ®
takes the following measures
depending on the hazardous situation detec-
ted:
R the seat belts are pre-tensioned.
R if the vehicle skids, the side windows are
closed so that only a small gap remains.
R vehicles with the memory function: the
front-passenger seat is adjusted if it is in an
unfavourable position.
If the hazardous situation passes without
resulting in an accident, PRE-SAFE ®
slackens
the belt pre-tensioning. All settings made by
PRE-SAFE ®
can then be reversed.
If the seat belt pre-tensioning is not reduced:
X Move the seat backrest or seat back
slightly when the vehicle is stationary.
Seat belt pre-tensioning is reduced and the
locking mechanism is released. 50
Occupant safetySafety

The seat-belt adjustment is an integral part of
the PRE-SAFE ®
convenience function. Infor-
mation about the convenience function can
be found under "Belt adjustment"
(Y page 45). Automatic measures after an acci-
dent
Immediately after an accident, the following
measures are implemented, depending on
the type and severity of the impact:
R the hazard warning lamps are activated
R the emergency lighting is activated
R the vehicle doors are unlocked
R the front side windows are lowered
R in vehicles with a memory function: the
electrically adjustable steering wheel is
raised
R the engine is switched off
R vehicles with the Mercedes-Benz emer-
gency call system: automatic emergency
call Children in the vehicle
Important safety notes
If a child younger than 12 years old and under
1.50 m in height is travelling in the vehicle:
R always secure the child in a child restraint
system suitable for Mercedes-Benz vehi-
cles. The child restraint system must be
appropriate to the age, weight and size of
the child
R be sure to observe the instructions and
safety notes in this section in addition to
the child restraint system manufacturer's
installation instructions G
WARNING
If you leave children unattended in the vehi-
cle, they may be able to set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake
R shift the automatic transmission out of park
position Por shift manual transmission into
neutral
R start the engine
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. There is a risk of
an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave
children unattended in the vehicle. G
WARNING
If persons (particularly children) are exposed
to heat or cold for a prolonged period, there is a risk of serious or even fatal injuries. Never
leave persons (particularly children) unatten-
ded in the vehicle. G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is placed in direct sunlight, the parts could become very hot.
Children could be suffer burns by touching
these parts, in particular on the metallic parts
of the child restraint system. There is a risk of injury.
If you and your child leave the vehicle, always
make sure that the child restraint system is
not in direct sunlight. Cover it with a blanket, for example. If the child restraint system has
been exposed to direct sunlight, leave it to
cool down before securing the child in it.
Never leave children unattended in the vehi-
cle.
Always ensure that all vehicle occupants have their seat belts fastened correctly and are sit-
ting properly. Particular attention must be
paid to children.
Observe the safety notes on the seat belt
(Y page 42) and the information on the cor-
rect use of the seat belt (Y page 43). Children in the vehicle
51Safety Z

Child restraint system
Observe the instructions for correct use of
the child restraint system (Y page 57).
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use a child restraint sys- tem recommended by Mercedes-Benz
(Y page 58). G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is incorrectly fit-
ted on the seat position suitable for this pur-
pose, it cannot perform its intended protec-
tive function. In the event of an accident,
sharp braking or a sudden change in direction, the child may not be held securely. There is an
increased risk of serious or even fatal injuries.
Observe the manufacturer's installation
instructions and the correct use for the child
restraint system. Make sure that the entire
surface of the child restraint system is resting
on the seat surface. Never place objects
under or behind the child restraint system,
e.g. cushions. Only use child restraint sys-
tems with the original cover designed for
them. Only replace damaged covers with gen- uine covers. G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is fitted incor-
rectly or is not secured, it can come loose in
the event of an accident, heavy braking or a
sudden change in direction. The child
restraint system could be thrown about, strik- ing vehicle occupants. There is an increased
risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Always fit child restraint systems properly,
even if they are not being used. Make sure
that you observe the child restraint system
manufacturer's installation instructions.
Further information on stowing objects, lug-
gage and loads securely can be found under
“Stowing options/stowage compartments”
(Y page 264). G
WARNING
Child restraint systems or their securing sys-
tems that have been damaged or subjected to a load in an accident cannot perform their
intended protective function. In the event of
an accident, sharp braking or a sudden
change in direction, the child may not be held securely. There is an increased risk of serious
or even fatal injuries.
Immediately replace child restraint systems
that have been damaged or subjected to a
load in an accident. Have the child restraint
securing systems checked in a qualified spe-
cialist workshop before fitting a child restraint
system again.
i If a child is carried on the front-passenger
seat, be sure to observe the information on "Child restraint systems on the front-
passenger seat" (Y page 54). There you
will also find information on disabling the
front-passenger front airbag.
Observe the warning labels in the vehicle inte-
rior and on the child restraint system.
i It is advisable to use Mercedes-Benz care
products to clean child restraint systems
recommended by Mercedes-Benz. You can obtain information about this at any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Automatic child seat recognition on
the front-passenger seat
The sensor system for child restraint systems
in the front-passenger seat detects whether a special Mercedes-Benz child restraint system
with a transponder for automatic child seat
recognition has been fitted. In this case, the
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp
lights up briefly when the ignition is switched on. The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is lit continuously. The front-passenger
front airbag is disabled. 52
Children in the vehicleSafety

i
If the front-passenger front airbag is dis-
abled by the automatic child seat recogni-
tion, the following remain enabled on the
front-passenger side:
R the sidebag
R the headbag
R the belt tensioner G
WARNING
If you secure a child in a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat and the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is
off, the front-passenger front airbag can
deploy in the event of an accident. The child
could be struck by the airbag. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Make sure that the front-passenger front air-
bag has been disabled. The PASSENGER AIR- BAG OFF indicator lamp must be lit. G
WARNING
If the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp is lit, the front-passenger front airbag is disa-
bled. It will not be deployed in the event of an
accident and cannot perform its intended pro-
tective function. A person in the front-
passenger seat could then, for example, come
into contact with the vehicle's interior, espe-
cially if the person is sitting too close to the
dashboard. This poses an increased risk of
injury or even fatal injury.
In this case the front-passenger seat may not be used. Only suitable rearward-facing or
forward-facing child restraint systems may be installed on the front-passenger seat. Always
observe the information about suitable posi-
tioning of the child restraint system in this
Owner's Manual as well as the child restraint
system manufacturer's installation instruc-
tions. G
WARNING
If you secure a child in a forward-facing child
restraint system on the front-passenger seat
and you position the front-passenger seat too close to the dashboard, in the event of an
accident, the child could:
R come into contact with the vehicle's inte-
rior if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indi-
cator lamp is lit, for example
R be struck by the airbag if the PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is off
This poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Move the front-passenger seat as far back as
possible. Always make sure that the shoulder belt strap is correctly routed from the belt
loop on the vehicle to the shoulder belt guideon the child restraint system. The shoulder
belt strap must be routed forwards and down-
wards from the belt loop. Always observe the
information about suitable positioning of the
child restraint system in this Owner's Manual as well as the child restraint system manu-
facturer's installation instructions.
i Always observe the information under
"Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat" (Y page 54) and on suit-
able positioning of the child restraint sys-
tem (Y page 57). :
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
; PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp Children in the vehicle
53Safety Z

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
:
shows you whether the front-passenger front airbag is disabled.
X Turn the key to position 1or 2in the ignition
lock or on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press
the Start/Stop button once or twice.
The system carries out a self-diagnosis.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp must light up for approximately six seconds.
If, after the system self-test, the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp:
R lights up , the front-passenger front airbag
is disabled. It will then not be deployed in
the event of an accident.
R is not lit, the sensor system did not detect
a child restraint system with transponder
for automatic child seat recognition. If, in
the case of an accident, all deployment cri-
teria are met, the front-passenger front air-
bag is deployed. G
WARNING
Electronic devices on the front-passenger
seat can affect the function of the automatic
child seat recognition, for example:
R laptop
R mobile phone
R transponder cards such as ski passes or
access passes
The front-passenger front airbag could deploy unintentionally or not function as intended
during an accident. This poses an increased
risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Do not place any of the devices mentioned
above or similar devices on the front-
passenger seat. Be aware of the status of the front-passenger front airbag both before and
during the journey. Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat
General notes If you secure a child in a child restraint system
on the front-passenger seat, always observe
the information on "Automatic child seat rec-
ognition on the front-passenger seat"
(Y page 52).
You can thus avoid the risks that could arise
as a result of:
R a child restraint system that is not detected
by the automatic child seat recognition
sensor system
R the unintentional disabling of the front-
passenger front airbag
R the unsuitable positioning of the child
restraint system, e.g. too close to the dash-
board Please observe the warning notice on the
front-passenger sun visor, see the illustra-
tion.
G
WARNING
If you secure a child in a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat and the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is
off, the front-passenger front airbag can
deploy in the event of an accident. The child
could be struck by the airbag. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Make sure that the front-passenger front air-
bag has been disabled. The PASSENGER AIR-BAG OFF indicator lamp must be lit. 54
Children in the vehicleSafety

NEVER use a rearward facing child restraint
on a seat protected by an ACTIVE AIRBAG in
front of it, DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the
CHILD can occur.
Rearward-facing child restraint system Warning symbol for a rearward-facing child
restraint system
If you secure a child in a rearward-facing child restraint system on the front-passenger seat,
always make sure that the front-passenger
front airbag is disabled. Only if the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is
permanently lit (Y page 41) is the front-
passenger front airbag disabled.
Always observe the information on suitable
positioning of the child restraint system
(Y page 57) in addition to the child restraint
system manufacturer's installation and oper-
ating instructions.
Forward-facing child restraint system If you secure a child in a forward-facing child
restraint system on the front-passenger seat,
always move the front-passenger seat as far
back as possible. The entire base of the child
restraint system must always rest on the seat cushion of the front-passenger seat. The
backrest of the child restraint system must,
as far as possible, lie flat against the backrest
of the front-passenger seat. The child
restraint system must not touch the roof or be
put under strain by the head restraint. Adjust the angle of the seat backrest and the head
restraint position accordingly. Always make sure that the shoulder belt strap is correctly
routed from the front-passenger seat belt
loop to the shoulder belt guide on the child
restraint system. The shoulder belt strap
must be routed forwards and downwards
from the front-passenger seat belt loop.
Always observe the information on suitable
positioning of the child restraint system
(Y page 57) in addition to the child restraint
system manufacturer's installation and oper- ating instructions. Children in the vehicle
55Safety Z

Problems with automatic child seat recognition
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator
lamp on the centre con-
sole is lit. A special Mercedes-Benz child restraint system with a trans-
ponder for automatic child seat recognition has been fitted to the
front-passenger seat. The front-passenger front airbag has there- fore been disabled as desired. G
WARNING
There is no child restraint system fitted to the front-passenger
seat. Automatic child seat recognition is malfunctioning, for exam-
ple due to electronic devices on the front-passenger seat.
There is a risk of injury.
X Remove electronic equipment from the front-passenger seat,
e.g.:
R laptop
R mobile phone
R a card with a transponder, such as a ski pass or access pass
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp remains lit, the
front-passenger seat may not be used. X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. When you switch the
ignition on, the
6
restraint system warn-
ing lamp lights up and/ or
R the PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator
lamp does not light
up briefly, or
R the PASSENGER AIR
BAG ON indicator
lamp does not light
up briefly, or
R the PASSENGER AIR
BAG ON indicator
lamp lights up and
does not go out after
60 seconds G
WARNING
Automatic child seat recognition is malfunctioning.
Do not install a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat. X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
X Please also refer to the notes about the restraint system warning
lamp (Y page 230). 56
Children in the vehicleSafety

Suitable positioning of the child
restraint system
Introduction Only child restraint systems which are
approved in accordance with the ECE stand-
ard ECE R44 are permitted for use in the vehi-
cle.
Rearward-facing child restraint systems with-
out a transponder for automatic child seat
recognition may not be installed on the front- passenger seat.
Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat – if you secure a child in a
child restraint system on the front-passenger seat:
X Always pay attention to the instructions
under "Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat" (Y page 54).
There you will find instructions on how to
correctly route the shoulder belt strap from the front-passenger seat belt loop to the
shoulder belt guide on the child restraint
system (Y page 55).
X Move the front-passenger seat as far back
as possible and into the highest position.
X Move the backrest to an almost vertical
position.
The entire base of the child restraint sys-
tem must always rest on the seat cushion of
the front-passenger seat. The backrest of
the forwards-facing child restraint system
must, as far as possible, be resting on the
backrest of the front-passenger seat. The
child restraint system must not touch the
roof. Adjust the backrest angle accord-
ingly. Also observe the child restraint sys-
tem manufacturer's installation instruc-
tions.
X Move the seat cushion angle to the highest,
most vertical position.
"Universal" category child restraint systems
can be recognised by their orange approval
label and the text "Universal". Example: approval label on the child restraint sys-
tem
"Universal" category child restraint systems
can be used on seats indicated with U or UF in
accordance with the "Suitability of the front-
passenger seat for attaching belted child
restraint systems" table.
Semi-universal child restraint systems are
indicated by the text "Semi-universal" on the
approval label. These can be used if the vehi- cle and the seat are listed in the child restraint
system manufacturer's vehicle model list. For more information, contact the child restraint
system manufacturer or visit their website.
Suitability of the front-passenger seat
for attaching belted child restraint sys-
tems Legend for the table:
XS
eat which is unsuitable for children in
this weight category
US uitable for child restraint systems in the
"Universal" category that are approved
for use in this weight category
UF Suitable for forward-facing child restraint systems that belong to the "Uni-
versal" category and are approved for
use in this weight category
LS uitable for child restraint systems as
recommended; see the following table of
"Recommended child restraint systems" (Y page 58). Suitable for semi-univer-
sal child restraint systems if the vehicle
and the seat are listed in the child Children in the vehicle
57Safety Z