2008 Mercedes-benz CLS Class Owners Manual

(such as a garage) which are not properly ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas fumes are entering the vehicle while driving, have the cause determined and corrected immediately. If you must drive under these conditions, drive only with at least one win- dow fully open.

Gearshift pattern for automatic transmission P Park position with gear selector lever

lock

R Reverse gear N Neutral D Drive position For more information, see the “Controls in detail” section (컄 page 169).

Getting started Driving

Starting with the SmartKey For information on turning off the engine with the SmartKey, see “Turning off en- gine” (컄 page 60). 왘 Make sure the gear selector lever is set

to P.

왘 Do not depress the accelerator. 왘 Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to position 3 and hold until the engine starts (컄 page 38).

i You can also use the “touch-start” function. Turn the SmartKey to position 3 and release it again immediately. The engine then starts auto- matically.

51

Getting started Driving

Starting with KEYLESS-GO*

Warning!

As long as the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is in your vehicle, the vehicle can be started. Therefore, never leave children unattended in the vehicle, as they could otherwise acci- dentally start the engine.

When leaving the vehicle, always take the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO with you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat- tended in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.

You can start your vehicle without the SmartKey in the starter switch using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button on the gear selector lever. For information on turning off the engine with KEYLESS-GO, see “Locking with KEYLESS-GO*” (컄 page 62). The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be located in the vehicle.

52

Starting difficulties If the engine does not start as described, carry out the following steps: 왘 If you are starting the engine with the

SmartKey, turn SmartKey in starter switch to position 0 and repeat starting procedure.

왘 If you are starting the engine with KEYLESS-GO: Close any doors that may be open to allow for better detec- tion of the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO. Or: Start the engine with the SmartKey as radio signals from another source may be interfering with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO.

왘 Repeat the starting procedure

(컄 page 51). Remember that extended starting attempts can drain the battery.

왘 Get a jump start (컄 page 423).

KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 1 USA only 2 Canada only 왘 Make sure the gear selector lever is set

to P.

왘 Depress the brake pedal during the starting procedure. Do not depress accelerator. The selector lever lock is released.

왘 Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop

button 1 once. The engine starts if the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is in the vehicle.

If the engine does not start after several starting attempts, there could be a mal- function in the engine electronics or in the fuel supply system. 왘 Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz

Center or call Roadside Assistance.

Parking brake

1 Release handle 2 Parking brake pedal

Warning!

When leaving the vehicle, always remove the SmartKey or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take it with you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Children could release the parking brake, which could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury.

왘 Release the parking brake pedal by

pulling on handle 1. The warning lamp ; (USA only) or 3 (Canada only) in the instrument cluster goes out.

Getting started Driving

Driving off

왘 Depress the brake pedal. 왘 Move gear selector lever to position D

or R.

i Wait for the gear selection process to com- plete before setting the vehicle in motion. 왘 Release the brake pedal. 왘 Carefully depress the accelerator

pedal.

Once the vehicle is in motion, the automat- ic central locking system engages and the locking knobs drop down.

! If you hear a warning signal and the message Release Parking Brake appears in the multifunction display when driving off, you have forgotten to release the parking brake. Release the parking brake (컄 page 53).

컄컄

53

! Do not run cold engine at high engine speeds. Running a cold engine at high engine speeds may shorten the service life of the en- gine. CLS 63 AMG: At engine temperatures below 68°F (20°C), the engine’s maximum speed is restricted in order to protect it from damage. Avoid driving your vehi- cle at full speed when the engine is cold to pre- vent premature engine wear and/or diminished comfort.

Getting started Driving

컄컄

i Once the vehicle is in motion, the automatic central locking system engages and the locking knobs drop down. The automatic door lock feature can be deacti- vated (컄 page 163). You can open a locked door from the inside. Open door only when conditions are safe to do so.

After a cold start, the automatic transmis- sion engages at a higher revolution. This allows the catalytic converter to reach its operating temperature earlier.

Warning!

It is dangerous to shift the gear selector lever out of P or N if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit someone or something. Only shift into gear when the engine is idling normally and when your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

Warning!

For more information on driving, see “Driv- ing instructions” (컄 page 271).

On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in order to obtain braking action. This could result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi- cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre- vent this type of loss of control.

! Simultaneously depressing the accelerator pedal and applying the brakes reduces engine performance and causes premature brake and drivetrain wear.

54

Switching on headlamps

Low beam headlamps

High beam The combination switch is located on the left of the steering column.

Turn signals

The combination switch is located on the left of the steering column.

Getting started Driving

Exterior lamp switch 1 Off 2 Low beam headlamps on 왘 Turn the exterior lamp switch to

position B. The low beam headlamps, the green in- dicator lamp C in the exterior lamp switch and the low beam headlamp in- dicator lamp B1 in the instrument cluster come on.

1 Depending on vehicle production date.

Combination switch 1 High beam 2 High beam flasher 왘 Push the combination switch in direc-

tion of arrow 1. The high beam headlamps and the high beam headlamp indicator lamp A in the instrument cluster come on (컄 page 26).

For more information on headlamps, see “Lighting” (컄 page 126).

Combination switch 1 Turn signals, right 2 Turn signals, left 왘 Press combination switch in direction

of arrow 1 or 2. The corresponding turn signal indicator lamp L or K in the instrument cluster flashes (컄 page 26).

The combination switch resets automati- cally after major steering wheel move- ments.

컄컄

55

Getting started Driving

컄컄

i To signal minor directional changes such as changing lanes, press combination switch only to point of resistance and release. The corre- sponding turn signals will flash three times.

Windshield wipers

The combination switch is located on the left of the steering column.

Combination switch 1 Single wipe

Wiping with washer fluid

2 Switching on windshield wipers 왘 Switch on the ignition (컄 page 38).

56

! Do not operate the wipers when the wind- shield is dry. Dust that accumulates on a wind- shield might scratch the glass and/or damage the wiper blades when wiping occurs on a dry windshield. If it is necessary to operate the wip- ers in dry weather conditions, always operate the wipers with washer fluid (컄 page 57).

! If windshield wipers fail to function at all in combination switch position U or V, 앫 set the combination switch to the next high-

est wiper speed

앫 have the windshield wipers checked at the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center

! If anything blocks the windshield wipers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off immediate- ly. 앫 For safety reasons, stop the vehicle in a safe

location 앫 turn off the engine by turning the

SmartKey to position 0 and withdraw SmartKey from starter switch

or 앫 turn off the engine by pressing the

KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button and open the driver’s door (with the driver’s door open, starter switch is in position 0, same as with SmartKey re- moved from starter switch)

before attempting to remove any blockage.

앫 Remove blockage. 앫 Turn the windshield wipers on again.

Switching on windshield wipers 왘 Turn the combination switch to the de- sired position depending on the inten- sity of the rain. M Windshield wipers off U Slow intermittent wiping

Rain sensor operation with low sensitivity.

V Fast intermittent wiping

Rain sensor operation with high sensitivity.

u Slow continuous wiping t Fast continuous wiping

Intermittent wiping Only switch on intermittent wiping under wet weather conditions or in the presence of precipitation.

Intermittent wiping interval is dependent on wetness of windshield. 왘 Turn the combination switch to

position U or V.

! Do not leave windshield wipers in intermittent setting when the vehicle is taken to an automatic car wash or during windshield cleaning. Windshield wipers will operate in the presence of water sprayed on the windshield, and windshield wipers may be damaged as a re- sult.

! If you have set intermittent wiping, dirt on the surface of the rain sensor or optical effects may cause the windshield wipers to wipe in an undesired fashion. This could then damage the windshield wiper blades or scratch the windows. You should therefore switch off the windshield wipers when weather conditions are dry.

After the initial wipe, pauses between wipes are automatically controlled by the rain sensor.

i Intermittent wiping is interrupted when the vehicle is at a standstill and a front door is opened. This protects persons getting into or out of the vehicle from being sprayed. Intermittent wiping will be continued when 앫 all doors are closed and 앫 the gear selector lever is in position D or R or 앫 the wiper setting is changed using the com-

bination switch

Getting started Driving

Single wipe 왘 Press the combination switch briefly in

direction of arrow 1 (컄 page 56) to the resistance point. The windshield wipers wipe one time without washer fluid.

Wiping with washer fluid 왘 Push the combination switch in direc- tion of arrow 1 (컄 page 56) past the resistance point. The windshield wipers operate with washer fluid.

i To prevent smears on the windshield or noisy/chattering wiper blades, wipe with washer fluid every now and then even when it is raining.

For information on filling up the washer reservoir, see “Washer system and headlamp cleaning system*” (컄 page 292).

57

Getting started Driving

Problems while driving

The engine runs erratically and misfires 앫 An ignition cable may be damaged. 앫 The engine electronics may not be

operating properly.

앫 Unburned gasoline may have entered the catalytic converter and damaged it.

왘 Give very little gas. 왘 Have the problem repaired by an

authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

The coolant temperature is above 248°F (120°C) The coolant is too hot and is no longer cooling the engine. 왘 Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and turn off the en- gine. Allow engine and coolant to cool off.

58

왘 Check the coolant level and add cool-

ant if necessary (컄 page 290).

In case of accident If the vehicle is leaking fuel: 왘 Do not start the engine under any

circumstances.

왘 Notify local fire and/or police authori-

ties.

If the extent of the damage cannot be determined: 왘 Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz

Center or call Roadside Assistance. If no damage can be determined on the 앫 major assemblies 앫 fuel system 앫 engine mount: 왘 Start the engine in the usual manner.

Getting started Parking and locking

왔 Parking and locking You have now completed your first drive. You have properly stopped and parked your vehicle. End your drive as follows.

Warning!

With the engine not running, there is no power assistance for the brake and steering systems. In this case, it is important to keep in mind that a considerably higher degree of effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve- hicle.

Warning!

If you have selected the Comfort suspension tuning (컄 page 230), the vehicle lowers slightly when it is locked. You should there- fore make sure that no one is standing near the wheel arches or lying underneath the ve- hicle when it is being locked. Otherwise, personal injury could result.

Warning!

Do not park this vehicle in areas where com- bustible materials such as grass, hay or leaves can come into contact with the hot exhaust system, as these materials could be ignited and cause a vehicle fire.

To reduce the risk of personal injury, or damage to the vehicle drivetrain, as a result of vehicle movement, before turning off the engine and leaving the vehicle always: 앫 Keep right foot on brake pedal. 앫 Firmly depress parking brake pedal. 앫 Move the gear selector lever to

position P.

앫 Slowly release brake pedal. 앫 When parked on an incline, turn front

wheel towards the road curb.

앫 Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to position 0 and remove the SmartKey from the starter switch, or press KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button.

앫 Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you and lock vehicle when leaving.

! If you have selected the Comfort suspen- sion tuning (컄 page 230), the vehicle lowers slightly when you lock it within approximately 60 seconds after switching off the engine. When parking, make sure that your vehicle cannot come into contact with other objects, such as a curb, while lowering. Your vehicle could otherwise be damaged.

Parking brake

Warning!

Engaging the parking brake while the vehicle is in motion can cause the rear wheels to lock up. You could lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident. In addition, the vehi- cle’s brake lights do not light up when the parking brake is engaged.

59

Getting started Parking and locking

1 Release handle 2 Parking brake pedal 왘 Step firmly on parking brake pedal 2. When the engine is running, the warn- ing lamp ; (USA only) or 3 (Canada only) in the instrument cluster will be illuminated.

60

Warning!

When parked on an incline, turn front wheels towards the road curb.

When leaving the vehicle, always remove the SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take it with you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat- tended in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Children could release the parking brake and/or move the gear selec- tor lever from position P, either of which could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury.

Warning!

Getting out of your vehicle with the gear selector lever not fully engaged in position P is dangerous. Also, when parked on an in- cline, position P alone may not prevent your vehicle from moving, possibly hitting people or objects.

Always set the parking brake in addition to shifting to position P.

Switching off headlamps

왘 Turn the exterior lamp switch to M

(컄 page 55).

For more information, see “Lighting” (컄 page 126).

Turning off engine

왘 Shift the automatic transmission to

position P (컄 page 171).

왘 Apply the parking brake (컄 page 59).

i Always set the parking brake in addition to shifting to position P (컄 page 171). On slopes, turn the front wheels towards the road curb.

Getting started Parking and locking

Turning off with the SmartKey 왘 Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch

(컄 page 38) to position 0.

왘 Remove the SmartKey from the starter

switch. The immobilizer is activated.

Turning off with KEYLESS-GO* 왘 Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop

button (컄 page 39) to turn off the en- gine. With the driver’s door closed, the start- er switch is now in position 1. With the driver’s door opened, the starter switch is set to position 0, same as SmartKey removed from starter switch (컄 page 38).

i If you hear a warning signal you have tried to turn off the engine while the gear selector lever was not in P. In addition, the message Gear Selector Le- ver In P Position appears in the multifunc- tion display. Place the gear selector lever in position P.

Releasing seat belts

왘 Press the seat belt release button

(컄 page 49). Allow the retractor to completely rewind the seat belt by guiding the latch plate.

! Make sure the seat belt retracts fully so that the seat belt and/or latch plate cannot get caught or pinched in the door or in the seat mechanism. This can damage the seat belt and impair the effectiveness of the seat belt, and/or cause damage to the door and/or door trim pan- el. Such damage is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. Damaged seat belts must be replaced. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Be especially careful when small children are around.

Before closing doors, make sure that there is no possibility of someone getting caught in a door during closing.

Warning!

When leaving the vehicle, always remove the SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat- tended in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised ac- cess to a vehicle could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury.

Locking

Warning!

왘 Exit the vehicle and close all doors and

the trunk.

To prevent possible personal injury, always keep hands and fingers away from the door openings when closing the doors.

61

Getting started Parking and locking

i If you hear a warning signal you have forgot- ten to switch off the low beam headlamps or the parking lamps before opening the driver’s door. In addition the message Switch Off Lights appears in the multifunction display. Switch off the low beam headlamps or the park- ing lamps. If the message Switch Off Lights or Remove Key appears in the multifunction dis- play remove the SmartKey from the starter switch or switch off the automatic headlamp mode.

! Failure to switch off the exterior lamps when leaving the vehicle may result in a discharged battery.

Locking with the SmartKey 왘 After exiting the vehicle, press lock

button ‹ on the SmartKey (컄 page 36). With the trunk and all doors closed: 앫 All turn signal lamps flash three

앫 An acoustic signal sounds three

왘 After exiting the vehicle, press lock

times. For more information, see “Factory setting” (컄 page 106).

앫 The locking knobs in the doors

move down.

앫 The anti-theft alarm system is

armed.

For more information, see “Locking and unlocking” (컄 page 100).

Locking with KEYLESS-GO*

button 1 at the outside door handle or on the trunk lid. With the trunk and all doors closed: 앫 All turn signal lamps flash three

times.

앫 An acoustic signal sounds three

times. For more information, see “Factory setting” (컄 page 106).

앫 The locking knobs in the doors

move down.

앫 The anti-theft alarm system is

armed.

For more information, see “Locking and unlocking” (컄 page 100).

times.

1 Lock button

62

Safety and Security

Occupant safety Panic alarm Driving safety systems Anti-theft systems

63

Safety and Security Occupant safety

In this section you will learn the most im- portant facts about the restraint systems of the vehicle. The restraint systems are 앫 Seat belts (컄 page 76) 앫 Child restraints (컄 page 82) 앫 Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) (컄 page 86)

Additional protection is provided by 앫 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)

with 앫 Air bags (컄 page 66) 앫 Air bag control unit (with crash

sensors)

앫 Emergency Tensioning Device (ETD) for seat belts (컄 page 79) 앫 Active head restraints (컄 page 81) 앫 Preventive occupant safety

(PRE-SAFE®) (컄 page 80)

64

Air bag system components with 앫 Front passenger front air bag off indica-

tor lamp (컄 page 75)

앫 Front passenger seat with Occupant

Classification System (OCS) (컄 page 71)

Although independent systems, their pro- tective functions work in conjunction with each other.

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” (컄 page 82).

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 1 indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights up when the ignition is switched on and goes out no later than a few seconds after the engine has been started. The SRS components are in operational readiness if the 1 indicator lamp is not lit when the engine is running. A malfunction in the system has been detected if the 1 indicator lamp: 앫 fails to go out after approximately

4 seconds after the engine was started

앫 does not come on at all 앫 comes on after the engine was started

or while driving

Warning!

Warning!

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.

Air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices, for example, could deploy inadvertently or fail to deploy in accidents although the de- celeration threshold for air bag deployment is exceeded. Therefore, never modify the re- straint systems. Do not tamper with elec- tronic components or their software.

In the event that the 1 indicator 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 contact 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 repair work on the SRS creates a risk of rendering the SRS inopera- tive or causing unintended air bag deploy- ment. Work on the SRS must therefore only be performed by qualified technicians. Con- tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Safety and Security Occupant safety

If it is necessary to modify an air bag system to accommodate a person with disabilities, contact your local authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call our Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372) for details.

65

Safety and Security Occupant safety

Air bags

Warning!

Air bags are designed to reduce the poten- tial of injury and fatality in certain frontal im- pacts (front air bags, driver-side knee bag), side impacts (side impact air bags and win- dow curtain air bags) or rollovers (window curtain air bags). However, no system avail- able today can completely 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.

66

Warning!

To reduce the risk of injury when the front air bags inflate, it is very important for the driver and front passenger to always be in a properly seated position and to wear their respective 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 make sure that it is prop- erly positioned 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: 앫 Sit properly belted in a position that is as upright as possible with your back against the seat backrest.

앫 Adjust the driver seat as far as possible rearward, still permitting proper opera- tion of vehicle controls. The distance from the center of the driver’s breast- bone to the center of the air bag cover on the steering wheel must be at least 10 in (25 cm) or more. You should be able to accomplish this by a combina- tion of adjustments to the seat and steering wheel. If you have any prob- lems, please contact your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

앫 Do not lean with your head or chest close to the steering wheel or dash- board.

앫 Keep hands on the outside of steering wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in- side the rim can increase the risk and potential severity of hand/arm injury when driver front air bag inflates.

앫 Adjust the front passenger seat as far as possible rearward from the dashboard when the seat is occupied.

앫 Occupants, especially children, should never place their bodies or lean their heads in the area of the door where the side impact air bag inflates. This could result in serious injuries or death should the air bag be triggered. Always sit as upright as possible, properly use the seat belts and use an appropriately sized infant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster seat recommended for the size and weight of the child.

Failure to follow these instructions can result in severe injuries to you or other occupants.

If you sell your vehicle, it is important that you make the buyer aware of this safety information. Be sure to give the buyer this Operator’s Manual.

Warning!

Accident research shows that the safest place for children in an automobile is in the rear seat.

It should be noted that with respect to both front and rear side impact air bags there is a possibility for a side impact air bag related injury if occupants, especially children, are not properly seated or restrained when next to a side impact air bag which needs to deploy rapidly in a side impact in order to do its job.

To help avoid the possibility of injury, please follow these guidelines:

(1) Occupants, especially children, should

never place their bodies or lean their heads in the area of the door where the side impact air bag inflates. This could result in serious injuries or death should the side impact air bag be deployed.

Safety and Security Occupant safety

(2) Always sit as upright as possible, prop- erly use the seat belts, and for children 12 years old and under, use an appropri- ately sized infant restraint, toddler re- straint, or booster seat recommended for the size and weight of the child.

(3) Always wear seat belts properly.

If you believe that, even with the use of these guidelines, it would be safer for your rear seat occupants to have the rear mount- ed side impact air bags deactivated, then deactivation can be accomplished upon your written request to do so at your autho- rized Mercedes-Benz Center at an additional cost.

Please contact your local authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call our Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372) for details.

67

Safety and Security Occupant safety

i Air bags are designed to activate only in cer- tain frontal impacts (front air bags, driver-side knee bag), side impacts (side impact and window curtain air bags) which exceed preset thresholds and in certain rollovers (window curtain air bags). Only during these events will they pro- vide their supplemental protection. The driver and passenger should always wear their seat belts. Otherwise it is not possible for the air bags to provide their supplemental pro- tection. In case of other types of impacts and impacts be- low air bag deployment thresholds, air bags will not be deployed. The driver and passenger will then be protected to the extent possible by a properly fastened seat belt. A properly fastened seat belt is also needed to provide the best pro- tection in a rollover. We caution you not to rely on the presence of the air bags in order to avoid wearing your seat belt. It is important to your safety and that of your pas- sengers that you replace deployed air bags and repair any malfunctioning air bags to make sure that the vehicle will continue to provide supple- mental crash protection for occupants.

Safety guidelines for the seat belt, Emergency Tensioning Device and air bag

Warning!

앫 Damaged seat belts or seat belts that

were highly stressed in an accident must be replaced and their anchoring points must also be checked. Use only seat belts installed or supplied by an au- thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

앫 Air bags and Emergency Tensioning

Devices (ETDs) contain Perchlorate ma- terial, which may require special han- dling and regard for the environment. Check with your local government’s dis- posal guidelines. California residents, see http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/Hazard- ousWaste/Perchlorate/index.cfm.

앫 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.

앫 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, front passenger front air bag cover, outboard sides of the front seat backrests, door trim panels, or door frame trims, and installation of addition- al electrical/electronic equipment on or near SRS components and wiring. Keep area between air bags and occupants free from objects (e.g. packages, purs- es, umbrellas, etc.).

앫 Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges.

They could tear.

앫 Do not make any modification that could

change the effectiveness of the seat belts.

앫 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.

68

앫 Do not hang items such as coat hangers from the coat hooks or handles over the door. These items may turn into projec- tiles and cause head and other injuries when the window curtain air bag is de- ployed.

앫 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.

앫 Air bag system components will be hot

after an air bag has inflated. Do not touch.

앫 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 authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

앫 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 any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

앫 Given the considerable deployment

speed, required inflation volume, and the textile structure of the air bags, there is the possibility of abrasions or other, potentially more serious injuries resulting from air bag deployment.

Warning!

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 side impact air bags. Contact your au- thorized Mercedes-Benz Center for availabil- ity.

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.

Safety and Security Occupant safety

Front air bags

1 Driver’s air bag 2 Passenger air bag 3 Knee bag Driver and passenger air bags are de- ployed: 앫 in the event of certain frontal impacts 앫 if impact exceeds a preset deployment

threshold

앫 independently of the side impact

air bags

69

Safety and Security Occupant safety

i The front air bags in this vehicle have been designed to inflate in two stages. This allows the air bag to have different rates of inflation that are based on the rate of vehicle deceleration as as- sessed by the air bag control unit. On the front passenger side, the front air bag de- ployment is additionally influenced by the pas- senger’s weight category as identified by the Occupant Classification System (OCS) (컄 page 71). The lighter the front passenger side occupant, the higher the vehicle deceleration rate required for the second stage inflation of the air bag.

The air bags will not deploy in impacts which do not exceed the system’s deploy- ment thresholds. You will then be protect- ed by the fastened seat belts.

The front passenger air bag will only be deployed if: 앫 the front passenger seat is occupied 앫 the 75 indicator lamp in

the center console is not lit (컄 page 75)

앫 the impact exceeds a preset deploy-

ment threshold

Knee bag The knee bag is located on the driver-side lower instrument panel. It is designed to operate together with the driver air bag in certain frontal impacts exceeding a preset threshold. The knee bag operates best in conjunction with a properly positioned and fastened seat belt.

Side impact air bags, window curtain air bags

1 Front side impact air bags 2 Window curtain air bag 3 Rear side impact air bags

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Safety and Security Occupant safety

The side impact air bags and window cur- tain air bags are deployed: 앫 on the impacted side of the vehicle 앫 in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-

ment threshold

앫 independently of the front air bags In addition, the window curtain air bags 2 are deployed: 앫 in certain vehicle rollovers The side impact air bags and window cur- tain air bags are not deployed in impacts which do not exceed the system’s deploy- ment threshold.

Occupant Classification System

The Occupant Classification System (OCS) automatically turns the front passenger front air bag on or off based on the classi- fied occupant weight category determined by weight sensor readings from the front passenger seat.

i The system does not deactivate the front passenger side impact air bag, the window cur- tain air bag and the Emergency Tensioning De- vice.

Occupants must sit properly belted in a po- sition that is as upright as possible with their back against the seat backrest and feet on the floor to be correctly classified. If the occupant’s weight is transferred to another object in the vehicle (e.g. by lean- ing on armrests), the OCS may not be able to properly approximate the occupant’s weight category.

Furthermore, the occupant weight may ap- pear to increase or decrease due to objects hanging on the seat, other passen- gers pushing on the seat, objects lodged underneath the seat or stuffed between seat and middle console or between seat and door or due to objects applying pres- sure on the back of the seat. Always make sure that the seat has clearance in all di- rections at all times.

i If your seat, including your trim cover and cushion needs to be serviced in any way, take the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Only seat accessories approved by Mercedes-Benz may be used.

Both driver and the front passenger should always use the 75 indicator lamp as an indication of whether or not the front passenger is properly positioned.

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Warning!

If the 75 indicator lamp illumi- nates when an adult or someone larger than a small individual is in the front passenger seat, have the front passenger re-position himself or herself in the seat until the 75 indicator lamp goes out, or check whether objects are caught under or around the seat.

More information about air bag display mes- sages (컄 page 364). In the event of a collision, the air bag control unit will not allow front passenger front air bag deployment when the OCS classified the front passenger seat occupant as being up to or less than the weight of a typical 12-month-old child in a standard child re- straint or if the front passenger seat is sensed as being empty.

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When the OCS senses that the front passen- ger seat occupant is classified as being up to or less than the weight of a typical 12-month-old child in a standard child re- straint, the 75 indicator lamp will illuminate when the engine is started and remain illuminated, indicating that the front passenger front air bag is deactivated.

When the OCS senses that the front passen- ger seat is classified as being empty, the 75 indicator lamp will illumi- nate when the engine is started and remain illuminated, indicating that the front passen- ger front air bag is deactivated.

When the OCS senses that the front passen- ger seat occupant is classified as being heavier than the weight of a typical 12-month-old child seated in a standard child restraint or as being a small individual (such as a young teenager or a small adult), the 75 indicator lamp will illu- minate for approximately 6 seconds when the engine is started and then, depending on occupant weight sensor readings from the seat, remain illuminated or go out. With the 75 indicator lamp illuminated, the front passenger front air bag is deacti- vated. With the 75 indicator lamp out, the front passenger front air bag is activated.

When the OCS senses that the front passen- ger seat occupant is classified as an adult or someone larger than a small individual, the 75 indicator lamp will illumi- nate for approximately 6 seconds when the engine is started and then go out, indicating that the front passenger front air bag is acti- vated.

If the 75 indicator lamp is illu- minated, the front passenger front air bag is deactivated and will not be deployed.

If the 75 indicator lamp is not illuminated, the front passenger front air bag is activated and will be deployed: 앫 in the event of certain frontal impacts 앫 if impact exceeds a preset deployment

threshold

앫 independently of the side impact

air bags

If the front passenger front air bag is deployed, the rate of inflation will be influenced by: 앫 the rate of relevant vehicle deceleration as assessed by the air bag control unit 앫 front passenger’s weight category as

identified by the Occupant Classification System (OCS)

Warning!

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 recom- mended 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 instruc- tions.

Always sit as upright as possible, properly use the seat belts and for children 12 years old and under, use an appropriately sized in- fant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster seat recommended for the size and weight of the child.

Safety and Security Occupant safety

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: 앫 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.

앫 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 in a collision which could occur under some circum- stances, even with the air bag technolo- gy 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.

컄컄

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Safety and Security Occupant safety

컄컄

앫 If you must install a rear-facing child re- straint on the front passenger seat be- cause circumstances require you to do so, make sure that the 75 indicator lamp is illumi- nated, indicating that the front passen- ger front air bag is deactivated. Should the indicator lamp not illuminate or go out while the restraint is installed, please check installation. Periodically check the indicator lamp while driving to make sure the lamp is illuminated. If the 75 indicator lamp goes out or remains out, do not transport 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 seriously injured or even killed if the front passenger front air bag inflates.

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앫 If you have to place a child in a

forward-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 se- cure 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 front passenger front air bag may or may not be activat- ed (컄 page 72).

i Deployment of the driver front air bag does not mean that the front passenger front air bag also should have deployed. The Occupant Classification System (컄 page 71) may have determined: 앫 that the seat was empty or occupied by the

weight up to or less than that of a typical 12-month-old child seated in a standard child restraint - both instances where the system suppresses deployment of the front passenger front air bag even though the im- pact met the criteria and was of sufficient severity to deploy the driver front air bag

앫 that the seat was occupied by a small individ-

ual (such as a young teenager or a small adult) or a child weighing more than the weight of a typical 12-month-old child in a standard child restraint - instances where the system may suppress deployment of the front passenger front air bag even though the impact met the criteria and was of suffi- cient severity to deploy the driver front air bag

The 75 indicator lamp is lo- cated in the center console.

Warning!

앫 Do not place objects under and/or

around the front passenger seat.

Safety and Security Occupant safety

1 Indicator lamp The 75 indicator lamp 1 will be illuminated, except with the SmartKey removed or in starter switch position 0 (컄 page 38).

If the 1 indicator lamp and the 75 indicator lamp are lit at the same time, there is a malfunction in the Occupant Classification System. The front passenger front air bag will be deactivated in this case.

Have the system checked as soon as possi- ble by qualified technicians. Contact an au- thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Only have the seat repaired or replaced by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

In order to ensure proper operation of the air bag system and OCS: 앫 Do not place more than 4.4 lbs (2 kg)

into the ruffled storage bag on the back of the front passenger seat. Otherwise, the OCS may not be able to properly ap- proximate the occupant weight category.

앫 Do not hang anything from or attach any

items to the seats.

앫 Do not stuff objects such as books be- tween the middle console and the front passenger seat.

앫 Do not move the front passenger seat

backwards against stiff objects.

앫 Sit properly belted in a position that is as upright as possible with your back against the seat backrest.

앫 While seated, an occupant should not

position him/herself in such a way as to cause the occupant’s weight to be lifted from the seat bottom as this may result in the OCS being unable to correctly ap- proximate the occupant’s weight cate- gory.

앫 Read and observe all warnings in this

chapter.

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Safety and Security Occupant safety

Self-test Occupant Classification System After turning the SmartKey in the starter switch to position 1 or 2 or pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button once or twice, the 75 indicator lamp located in the center console illuminates. If an adult occupant is properly sitting on the front passenger seat and the system sens- es the occupant as being an adult, the 75 indicator lamp will illumi- nate and go out after approximately 6 seconds. If the seat is not occupied and the system senses the front passenger seat as being empty, the 75 indicator lamp will illuminate and not go out.

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Warning!

Seat belts

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 fas- tened whenever the vehicle is in motion. For more information, see “Fastening the seat belts” (컄 page 48).

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” (컄 page 82).

If the 75 indicator lamp should not illuminate, the system is not functioning. You must see an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center before seating any child on the front passenger seat.

For more information, see the “Practical hints” section (컄 page 356).

Warning!

Never place anything between seat cushion and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces the effectiveness of the Occupant Classifi- cation System. The bottom of the child seat must make full contact with the passenger seat cushion. An incorrectly mounted child seat could cause injuries to the child in case of an accident, instead of increasing protec- tion for the child.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation of child seats.

Safety and Security Occupant safety

Warning!

Warning!

Warning!

Always fasten your seat belt before driving off. Always make sure all of your passengers are properly restrained, even those sitting in the rear.

Failure to wear and properly fasten and po- sition your seat belt greatly increases your risk of injuries and their likely severity in an accident. You and your passengers should always wear seat belts.

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. Air bags can only protect as they are designed if the occupants are prop- erly wearing their seat belts.

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 se- rious or even fatal injuries. The seat back- rest 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 prop- erly positioned on the body.

Warning!

Never let more people ride in the vehicle than there are seat belts available. Be 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.

Damaged seat belts or seat belts that were highly stressed in an accident must be re- placed 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 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.

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Safety and Security Occupant safety

Warning!

USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY 앫 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.

앫 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, includ- ing rollovers. The integrated restraint system includes SRS (driver’s front air bag, driver-side knee bag, front passenger front air bag, side impact air bags, window curtain air bags for side windows), ETD (seat belt Emergen- cy Tensioning Device), and front seat knee bolsters. The system is designed to enhance the protection offered to properly belted oc- cupants in certain frontal (front air bags, driver-side knee bag and ETD) and

side (side impact and window curtain air bags and ETD) impacts which exceed preset deployment thresholds and in certain rollovers (window curtain air bags and ETD).

앫 Never wear the shoulder belt under your arm, against your neck or off your shoul- der. In a frontal crash, your body would move too far forward. That would in- crease the chance of head and neck in- juries. The seat belt would also apply too much force to the ribs or abdomen, which could severely injure internal or- gans such as your liver or spleen.

앫 Never wear seat belts over rigid or

breakable objects in or on your clothing, such as eyeglasses, pens, SmartKeys etc., as these might cause injuries.

앫 Position the lap belt as low as possible on your hips and not across the abdo- men. If the seat belt is positioned across your abdomen, it could cause serious in- juries in a crash.

앫 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.

앫 Seat belts should not be worn twisted.

In a crash, you wouldn’t have the full width of the seat belt to distribute im- pact forces. The twisted seat belt against your body could cause injuries. 앫 Pregnant women should also always use

a lap-shoulder seat belt. The lap belt portion should be positioned as low as possible on the hips to avoid any possi- ble pressure on the abdomen.

앫 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.

앫 When using a seat belt to secure infant or toddler restraints or children in boost- er seats, always follow the child seat manufacturer’s instructions.

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Safety and Security Occupant safety

When the engine is started, the seat belt telltale < will always illuminate for 6 seconds to remind you and your pas- sengers to fasten your seat belts. If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened when the engine is started, an additional warning chime will also sound for a maxi- mum of 6 seconds or until the driver’ s seat belt is fastened. If after these 6 seconds the driver’s or the front passenger’s seat belt (with the front passenger seat occupied) is not fastened with front doors closed, 앫 the seat belt telltale < remains illu- minated for as long as either the driv- er’s or front passenger’s seat belt is not fastened.

앫 and if the vehicle speed once exceeds

15 mph (25 km/h), the seat belt telltale < starts flashing and a warning chime sounds with increasing intensity for a maximum of 60 seconds or until the driver’s and the front pas- senger’s seat belt are fastened.

If the driver’s or the front passenger’s seat belt remains unfastened after 60 seconds, the warning chime stops sounding, the seat belt telltale < stops flashing but continues to be illu- minated.

The seat belt telltale < will only go out if both the driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt (with the front passenger seat oc- cupied) are fastened, or the vehicle is standing still and a front door is opened. For more information, see “Practical hints” (컄 page 351).

Emergency Tensioning Device (ETD), seat belt force limiter The seat belts for the front and rear outer seats are equipped with Emergency Ten- sioning Devices and seat belt force limit- ers. The ETD is designed to activate in the fol- lowing cases: 앫 in frontal or rear-end impacts exceed- ing the system deployment threshold

앫 in certain vehicle rollovers 앫 if the restraint systems are operational

and functioning correctly, see 1 indicator lamp (컄 page 64)

i The ETDs for the front seats will only acti- vate if the front seat belts are fastened (latch plate properly inserted into buckle). The ETDs for the rear outer seats will activate with or without the respective seat belts fas- tened.

In an impact, Emergency Tensioning Devic- es remove slack from the seat belts. Seat belt force limiters reduce the peak force exerted by the seat belts on occupants during a crash.

Warning!

An Emergency Tensioning Device (ETD) that was activated must be replaced.

When disposing of the Emergency Tension- ing Device, our safety instructions must be followed. These are available at any autho- rized Mercedes-Benz Center.

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Safety and Security Occupant safety

Automatic comfort-fit feature seat belt An automatic comfort-fit feature for front seats reduces the retracting force of the seat belts when they are in normal use.

Preventive occupant safety (PRE-SAFE®)

Warning!

The PRE-SAFE® system is intended to re- duce the effects of a crash on properly seat-belted vehicle occupants. Despite hav- ing the PRE-SAFE® system in your vehicle, the possibility of injuries occurring as a re- sult of an accident cannot be eliminated. Therefore, you should always drive carefully and adjust your driving to the prevailing road, weather, and traffic conditions.

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Your vehicle automatically takes preven- tive measures to better protect the occu- pants in the following hazardous situations: 앫 You execute an emergency braking ma-

neuver and the Brake Assist System (컄 page 90) is activated.

앫 The PRE-SAFE® system detects a criti-

cal driving dynamics situation.

In such cases, the following systems are automatically activated: 앫 The front seat belts are pre-tensioned

electrically.

앫 If the vehicle is in a severe skid or is spinning, the door windows and the tilt/sliding sunroof close until a small gap remains.

i If the closing procedure of the tilt/sliding sunroof or door window is blocked, the tilt/slid- ing sunroof or door window will stop and open slightly.

Vehicles with front passenger seat memo- ry function*: 앫 If the seat is in an unfavorable position, it will be adjusted to a better position.

i The PRE-SAFE® system is activated in the previously described circumstances only at speeds exceeding 20 mph (30 km/h). When the critical driving dynamic situation has passed without an accident occurring, the pre-tensioning on the seat belts is deactivated. You can then adjust the seat, the door windows and the tilt/sliding sunroof to their previous po- sition.

If the seat belts do not release: 왘 Adjust the backrest or seat slightly to the rear until the seat belt tension is di- minished. The locking mechanism releases.

Active head restraints

The active head restraints offer the driver’s and front passenger increased protection from whiplash type injuries. In the event of a rear-end collision, the active head re- straints on the driver’s and front passen- ger’s seats are designed to move forward in the direction of travel, providing the head with increased support earlier on in the collision sequence. The active head re- straints move forward whether the seat is occupied or not.

Warning!

Do not attach any objects (e.g. hangers) to the head restraint posts. Otherwise, the ac- tive head restraints may not be able to func- tion properly or offer the intended degree of protection in the event of a collision.

For information on resetting the activated active head restraints, see “Resetting acti- vated head restraints” (컄 page 401). You cannot remove the active head restraint on the driver’s and front passen- ger’s seat. For removal of the active head restraints we recommend that you contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Warning!

Only use seat or head restraint covers which have been tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle model. Using other seat or head restraint covers may interfere with or prevent the activation of active head restraint. Contact an autho- rized Mercedes-Benz Center for availability.

Safety and Security Occupant safety

Warning!

For your protection, drive only with properly positioned head restraints.

Adjust head restraints so that it is as close to the head as possible and the center of the head restraint supports the back of the head at eye level. This will reduce the potential for injury to the head and neck in the event of an accident or similar situation.

Do not drive the vehicle without the seat head restraints. Head restraints are intend- ed to help reduce injuries during an acci- dent.

For information on head restraint adjust- ment, see “Seats” (컄 page 41).

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Safety and Security Occupant safety

Children in the vehicle

If an infant or child is traveling with you in the vehicle: 왘 Secure the child using an infant or child

restraint appropriate to the age and size of the child.

왘 Make sure that the infant or child is

properly secured at all times while the vehicle is in motion.

Infant and child restraint seats and information on choosing an appropriate restraint system can be obtained from any Mercedes-Benz Center.

Warning!

Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle, even if they are secured in a child restraint system. The children could 앫 injure themselves on parts of the vehicle 앫 be seriously or fatally injured through

exposure to extreme heat or cold

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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 on these parts.

If children open a door, they could 앫 injure other persons 앫 get out of the car and injure themselves

or be injured by following traffic

Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the passenger or cargo compartment unless they are firmly secured in place. For more in- formation, see “Loading” (컄 page 238) and “Useful features” (컄 page 243). Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo increases a child’s risk of injury in the event of 앫 strong braking maneuvers 앫 sudden changes of direction 앫 an accident

Infant 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 seat 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. The seat belt can again be used in the usual manner.

A statement by the child restraint manu- facturer of compliance with these stan- dards can be found on the instruction label on the restraint and in the instruction man- ual provided with the restraint. When using any infant or child restraint system, be sure to carefully read and fol- low all manufacturer’s instructions for in- stallation and use. Please read and observe warning labels af- fixed to the inside of the vehicle and to in- fant or child restraints.

Warning!

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 (컄 page 85). For information on LATCH-type child seat mounts (컄 page 86). The use of infant or child restraints is re- quired by law in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories and all Ca- nadian provinces. Infants and small children should be seat- ed in an appropriate infant or child re- straint system properly secured in accordance with the manufacturer’s in- structions for the child restraint, that com- plies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 225 and Canadi- an Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 210.2.

Safety and Security Occupant safety

Warning!

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 appropriately sized 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, 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 as upright as possible, properly use the seat belts and use an appropriately sized infant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster seat recommended for the size and weight of the child.

컄컄

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Safety and Security Occupant safety

컄컄

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: 앫 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.

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If the 59 indicator 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.

앫 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 (컄 page 72).

앫 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.

앫 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 59 indicator 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.

Warning!

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 seat belt posi- tioning 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.