2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS technical data

63 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index In cases of other frontal impacts, angled impacts,
roll-overs, other side impacts, rear collisions, or
other accidents in which the airbags are not
designed to deploy, the airbags will not be activated.
The driver and passenger will then be protected by
the fastened seat belts.
We caution you not to rely on the presence of the
airbags in order to avoid wearing your seat belt.
Your vehicle was originally equipped with airbags
which are designed to activate in certain impacts
exceeding a preset threshold to reduce the potential
and severity of injury. It is important to your safety
and that of your passenger that you replace deployed
airbags and repair any malfunctioning airbags to
ensure the vehicle will continue to provide crash
protections for occupants.
Wa r n i n g !
Airbags are designed to reduce the potential of
injury in certain frontal (front airbags) impacts,
and side (side impact airbags) impacts which may
cause significant injuries, however, no system
available today can totally eliminate injuries and
fatalities.
The activation of the “SRS” temporarily releases a
small amount of dust from the airbags. This dust,
however, is neither injurious to your health, nor
does i t indicate a fire in th e veh icle. Th e dust migh t
cause some temporary breathing difficulty for
people 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
airbag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or door.
The service life of the airbags extends to the date
indicated on the label located on the driverside
door latch post. To provide continued reliability
after that date, they should be inspected by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center at that time and
replaced when necessary.

64 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
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To reduce the risk of injury when the front airbags
inflate, it is very important for the driver and front
passenger to always be in a properly seated
position and to wear your seat belt.
For maximum protection in the event of a collision
always be in normal seated position w ith your back
against the backrest. Fasten your seat belt and
ensure that it is properly positioned on your body.For unobstructive inflation of door side impact
airbags, keep door pocket lids closed.Since the airbag 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 airbag.
Occupants who are unbelted, out of position or too
close to the airbag can be seriously injured by an
airbag as it inflates with great force in the blink of
an eye:• Sit properly belted in an upright position with
your back against the backrest.
• Adjust the driver seat as far as possible
rearward, still permitting proper operation of
vehicle controls. Adjust the driver seat as far
as possible rearward, still permitting proper
operation of vehicle controls. The distance
from the center of the driver’s breastbone to
the center of the airbag cover on the steering
wheel must be at least ten inches (25 cm) or
more. You should be able to accomplish this by
a combination of adjustments to the seat and
steering wheel. If you have any problems,
please see your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.• Do not lean wi th you r head or chest close to th e
steering wheel or dashboard.• Keep hands on the outside of steering wheel
rim. Placing hands and arms inside the rim
can increase the risk and potential severity of
hand/arm injury when the driver front airbag
inflates.• Do not lean against doors.

65 Restraint systems
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data Instruments
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BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.
• Occupants, especially children, should never
lean their heads in the area of the door where
the side airbag inflates. This could result in
serious injuries or death should the airbag be
triggered.• Adjust the passenger seat as far as possible
rearward from the dashboard when the seat is
occupied.• Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in this vehicle, except in a Mercedes-Benz
authorized BabySmart
TM c ompati ble ch ild seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the
passenger front airbag when it is properly
installed. Otherwise they will be struck by the
airbag when it inflates in a crash. If this
happens, serious or fatal injury can result.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in
severe or fatal injuries to you or other occupants.

66 Restraint systems
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data Instruments
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Safety guidelines for the seat belt, emergency
tensioning retractor and airbag
Wa r n i n g !
• Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced and
their anchoring points must also be checked.
Use only belts installed or supplied by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.• Do not pass belts over sharp edges.• Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the belts.• Airbags and ETR’s are designed to function on
a one-time-only basis. An airbag or emergency
tensioning retractor (ETR) 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 removing any component
or part of the “SRS”, the installation of
additional trim material, badges etc. over the
steering wheel hub, passenger airbag cover, or
door trim panels, and installation of additional
electrical/electronic equipment on or near
“SRS” components and wiring. Keep area
between airbags and occupants free of objects
(e.g. packages, purses, umbrellas, etc.).• An airbag system component within the
steering wheel gets hot after the airbag has
inflated. Do not touch.• Improper work on the system, including
incorrect installation and removal, can lead to
possible injury through an unintended
activation of the “SRS”.• In addition, through improper work there is
the risk of rendering the “SRS” inoperative or
causing unintended airbag deployment. Work
on the “SRS” must therefore only be performed
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

67 Restraint systems
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index When you sell the vehicle we strongly urge you to give
notice to the subsequent owner that it is equipped with
a n “SRS” by a lerting h im to the appl ic abl e sec tion in th e
Operator’s Manual.Infant and child restraint systems
Use only a BabySmart
TM compatible child restraint in
this vehicle.
We recommend that all infants and children be properly
restrained at all times while the vehicle is in motion.
The passenger lap-shoulder belt has a special seat belt
retractor for secure fastening of a child restraint.
To fasten a child restraint follow child restraint
instructions for routing. Then pull shoulder belt out
completely. Slide switch located on side of passenger
seat to position N. Let the belt retract. During the
seat belt retraction a ratcheting sound can be heard to
indicate that the special seat belt retractor is activated.
The belt is now locked. Push down on child restraint to
take up any slack.
To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and let seat belt
retract completely. The seat belt can again be used in
the usual manner.
• For your protection and the protection of
others, when scrapping the airbag unit or
emergency tensioning retractor, our safety
instructions must be followed. These
instructions are available at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.• Given the considerable deployment speed and
the textile structure of the airbags, there is the
possibility abrasions or other injuries
resulting from airbag deployment.
Wa r n i n g !
Never release the seat belt buckle while vehicle is
in motion, since the special seat belt retractor will
be deactivated.

68 Restraint systems
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Important!
Th e use of infant or child restraints is req uire d by law in
all 50 states and all Canadian provinces.
Infants and small children should be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system properly
secured by a lap-shoulder belt, and that complies with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 and
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
A statement by the child restraint manufacturer of
compliance with this standard can be found on the
instruction label on the restraint and in the instruction
manual provided with the restraint.Wh en using any infant or ch il d restraint system, be su re
to carefully read and follow all manufacturer’s
instructions for installation and use.
Please read and observe warning labels affixed to inside
of vehicle and to infant or child restraints.

69 Restraint systems
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data Instruments
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BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.
U.S.A. Mod els only
Since 1986 all U.S. child restraints comply with
U.S. regulations without the use of a tether strap.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
this vehicle, except in a Mercedes-Benz authorized
BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, which operates
with the BabySmart
TM system installed in the
vehicle to deactivate the passenger front airbag
when it is properly installed. Otherwise they will
be struck by the airbag when it inflates in a crash.
If this happens, serious or fatal injury can result.
Infants and small children must be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system, which
is properly secured with the vehicle’s seat belt,
fully in accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.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.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.

70 Adjusting steering column
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Adju st in g steerin g c olu mn
Turn key in steering lock to position 1 or 2 (with either
door open, the steering column can be operated with the
key removed or in steering lock position 0).
To extend or retract:
Move switch (1) in desired direction.
To raise or lower:
Move switch (1) in desired direction.Storing steering column position in memory
The steering column position is stored in memory
together with the seat/heat restraint/exterior rear view
mirror position and can be recalled when necessary,
see memory recalling on page 46.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
Adjusting the steering wheel while driving, or
driving without the telescoping adjustment locked
could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.