SRS Warning MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350 2006 R171 Owner's Manual

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Multifunction display
with:Main odometer
128
Trip odometer
122
Automatic transmission*:
Gear range indicator
51,
158
Automatic transmission*:
Program mode
163,
169
Outside temperature
indicator (or actual speed
when selected)
138
2
Tachometer with:?
Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only
364
±
Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only
364
Item
Page
<
Seat belt telltale
71,
366
A
High beam
headlamp indicator
lamp
55,
114
3
Fuel gauge with:4
Fuel reserve warning
lamp
365
The arrow indicates that the
fuel filler flap is on the rear
right-hand side.
304
4
Clock
122
5
Speedometer with:1
Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp
64,
366
-
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
indicator lamp
82,
362
Item
Page
L
Left turn signal
indicator lamp
K
Right turn signal
indicator lamp
55
v
Electronic Stability
Program (ESP
®)
warning lamp
84,
365
;
Brake warning lamp,
USA only
59,
363
3
Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
363
6
Reset button
120
7
Knobs for instrument
cluster illumination
120

65 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Air bags
Warning!
G
In the event that the 1indicator lamp
comes on during driving or does not come
on at all, the SRS self-check has detected a
malfunction. 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 acci-
dent, which could result in serious or fatal
injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly and
unnecessarily which could also result in
injury.
In addition, improper work on the SRS cre-
ates a risk of rendering the SRS inoperative
or causing unintended air bag deployment.
Work on the SRS must therefore only be per-
formed by qualified technicians. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Air bags are designed to reduce the poten-
tial of injury in certain frontal impacts (front
air bags, kneebags), or side impacts
(head-thorax air bags) which may cause sig-
nificant injuries. However, no system avail-
able today can totally eliminate injuries and
fatalities.
The activation of the air bags temporarily re-
leases a small amount of dust from the
air bags. This dust, however, is neither inju-
rious to your health, nor does it indicate a
fire in the vehicle. The dust might cause
some temporary breathing difficulty for peo-
ple with asthma or other breathing trouble.
To avoid this, you may wish to get out of the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you
have any breathing difficulty but cannot get
out of the vehicle after the air bag inflates,
then get fresh air by opening a window or
door.
Warning!
G
To reduce the risk of injury when the front
air bags inflate, it is very important for the
driver and passenger to always be in a prop-
erly seated position and to wear their seat
belts.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision always be in normal seated position
with your back against the backrest. Fasten
your seat belt and ensure it is properly posi-
tioned on your body.
Since the air bag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating and hands
on steering wheel position will help to keep
you at a safe distance from the air bag.
Occupants who are unbelted, out of position
or too close to the air bag can be seriously
injured or killed by an air bag as it inflates
with great force in the blink of an eye:

Sit properly belted in a nearly upright
position with your back against the seat
backrest.


68 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
emergency tensioning device and
air bag
iAir bags are designed to activate only
in certain frontal impacts (front
air bags, kneebags), or side impacts
(head-thorax air bags) which exceed
preset thresholds.
Only during these types of impacts, if of
sufficient severity to meet the deploy-
ment thresholds, will they provide their
supplemental protection.
The driver and passenger should al-
ways wear their seat belts. Otherwise it
is not possible for the air bags to pro-
vide their supplemental protection.
In cases of other frontal impacts, an-
gled impacts, roll-overs, other side im-
pacts, rear collisions, or other
accidents, the air bags will not be acti-
vated. The driver and the passenger will
then be protected by the fastened seat
belts.
We caution you not to rely on the pres-
ence of the air bags in order to avoid
wearing your seat belt.
Your vehicle was originally equipped
with air bags that are designed to acti-
vate in certain impacts exceeding a
preset threshold to reduce the poten-
tial and severity of injury. It is important
to your safety and that of your passen-
gers that you replace deployed air bags
and repair any malfunctioning air bags
to make sure the vehicle will continue
to provide supplemental crash protec-
tion for occupants.
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 belts in-
stalled or supplied by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.


Air bags and emergency tensioning de-
vices (ETDs) are designed to function on
a one-time-only basis. An air bag or ETD
that was activated must be replaced.


No modifications of any kind may be
made to any components or wiring of
the SRS. This includes changing or re-
moving any component or part of the
SRS, the installation of additional trim
material, badges etc. over the steering
wheel hub, passenger air bag cover, out-
board sides of the seat backrests, door
trim panels, or door frame trims,

69 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
When you sell your vehicle, we strongly
urge you to give notice to the subsequent
owner that it is equipped with an SRS by
alerting them to the applicable section in
the Operator’s Manual.
and installation of additional electri-
cal/electronic equipment on or near
SRS components and wiring. Keep area
between air bags and occupants free
from objects (e.g. packages, purses,
umbrellas, etc.).


Do not pass belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.


Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the belts.


Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this
may severely weaken them. In a crash
they may not be able to provide ade-
quate protection.


Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, or on the seat. Always keep both
feet on the floor in front of the seat.


Air bag system components will be hot
after an air bag has inflated. Do not
touch.


In addition, improper repair work on the
SRS creates a risk of rendering the SRS
inoperative or causing unintended
air bag deployment. Work on the SRS
must therefore only be performed by
qualified technicians. Contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.


For your protection and the protection
of others, when scrapping the air bag
unit or emergency tensioning device,
our safety instructions must be fol-
lowed. These instructions are available
from your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.


Given the considerable deployment
speed and the textile structure of the
air bags, there is the possibility of abra-
sions or other injuries resulting from
air bag deployment.
Warning!
G
Only use seat covers which have been test-
ed and approved by Mercedes-Benz for your
vehicle model. Using other seat covers may
interfere with or prevent the deployment of
the head-thorax airbags. Contact your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center for availabil-
ity.

73 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
belts. This can lead to unintended activation
of the ETDs or to failure.
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.
Have all work carried out only by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized
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 his or her
seat belt at all times, because seat belts
help reduce the likelihood and potential
severity of injuries in accidents, includ-
ing rollovers. The integrated restraint
system includes SRS (driver air bag,
passenger air bag, kneebags,
head-thorax air bags) and ETD (seat belt
emergency tensioning device).
The system is designed to enhance the
protection offered to properly belted oc-
cupants in certain frontal (front air bags,
kneebags, and EDT) and side (head-tho-
rax air bags and EDT) impacts which ex-
ceed 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.


366 Practical hintsWhat to do if …4
The yellow fuel reserve warning lamp
flashes after starting the engine.
The fuel cap is not closed properly.

Close the fuel cap.
<
The red seat belt telltale comes on
after starting the engine with all
doors closed.
The seat belt telltale reminds you
and your passenger to fasten your
seat belts before driving off.

Fasten your seat belts (
page 71).
The red seat belt telltale flashes and
you additionally hear an intermittent
warning signal with increasing inten-
sity for a maximum of 60 seconds
when the vehicle’s speed exceeds
15 mph (25 km/h).
You and/or your passenger have
forgotten to fasten your seat belts.
There are items placed on the pas-
senger seat and therefore the sys-
tem senses the passenger seat as
being occupied.

Fasten your seat belts (
page 71).

Remove the items from the passenger seat
and put them in a safe place.
1
The red SRS indicator lamp comes
on while driving.
There is a malfunction in the re-
straint systems. The air bags or
emergency tensioning devices
(ETDs) could deploy unexpectedly or
fail to deploy in an accident.

Drive with added caution to the nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
Warning!
G
In the event that a malfunction of the SRS is
indicated as outlined above, the SRS may
not be operational. For your safety, we
strongly recommend that you visit an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immedi-
ately 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 also result in an accident and/or
injury to you or to others.

459 Technical terms
ETD
(E
mergency T
ensioning D
evice)
Device which deploys in certain frontal
and rear collisions exceeding the sys-
tem’s threshold to tighten the seat
belts. ->SRS
FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles)
(F
lexible S
ervice S
ystem PLUS)
Maintenance service indicator in the
multifunction display that informs the
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. FSS PLUS evalu-
ates engine temperature, oil level,
vehicle speed, engine speed, distance
driven and the time elapsed since your
last maintenance service, and calls for
the next maintenance service accord-
ingly.
GAWR
(G
ross A
xle W
eight R
ating)
(
page 344)Gear range*
Number of gears which are available to
the automatic transmission for shifting.
The automatic gear shifting process
can be adapted to specific operating
conditions using the selector lever.
GPS
(G
lobal P
ositioning S
ystem)
Satellite-based system for relaying
geographic location information to and
from vehicles equipped with special re-
ceivers.
GVW
(G
ross V
ehicle W
eight)
(
page 344)
GVWR
(Gross V
ehicle W
eight R
ating)
(
page 345)Head-thorax air bag
Installed in the doors, these air bags
protect occupants during side impact
collisions exceeding a preset thresh-
old. Unlike normal side air bags,
head-thorax air bags are also designed
to provide protection for the head area.
Instrument cluster
The displays and indicator/warning
lamps in the driver’s field of vision, in-
cluding the tachometer, speedometer,
coolant temperature and fuel gauge.
Kickdown*
Depressing the accelerator past the
point of resistance shifts the automatic
transmission down to the lowest possi-
ble gear. This very quickly accelerates
the vehicle and should not be used for
normal acceleration needs.
Kilopascal (kPa)
(
page 345)

471 Index
L
Labels 436
Lamp in center console 367
Lamps in instrument cluster 362
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 362
Battery (SmartKey) 95
Brakes 363
CHECK ENGINE 364
ESP
®
84, 86, 365
Fuel reserve 365, 366
Passenger front air bag off 367
Seat belts 366
SRS 64, 65, 366
Language in multifunction display (Control
system) 137
Layout of poly-V-belt drive 437
License plate lamps 401
Light alloy wheels
Cleaning 358
Technical data 441, 442
Lighter see Cigarette lighterLighting 110
Combination switch 114
Corner-illuminating front fog
lamps* 115
Daytime running lamp mode 112
Door entry lamps 119
Exterior lamp switch 110
Exterior lamps, cleaning 357
Fog lamps 113
Footwell lighting* 118
Hazard warning flasher 117
Headlamp mode,
automatic/manual 111
High beam 115
High beam flasher 115
Individual settings (Control
system) 143
Instrument cluster illumination 120
Interior lighting 117
Low beam headlamps 110
Night security illumination (Control
system) 145
Reading lamps 119
Standing lamps 110
Trunk 118Limp Home Mode (Automatic
transmission*) 172
Line of fall 460
Loading 265, 320, 344
Loading the vehicle 320
Locator lighting (Control system) 144
Locking
And parking 59
Centrally (Control system) 147
Centrally from inside 102
Locking knob (Doors) 97, 460
Locking the vehicle 62
Long trip, checking before 305
Loss of
Service and Warranty Booklet 435
SmartKey or mechanical key 97
Low beam headlamps 110, 401
Lubricants, technical data 449