2001 MERCEDES-BENZ SL-Class display

62 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Front airbags
The driver and passenger front airbags are designed to
activate only in certain frontal impacts exceeding a
preset threshold.
The passenger front airbag deploys only if the front
passenger seat is occupied, and the 7 indicator lamp
in the dashboard is not illuminated.
Note:
Heavy objects on the passenger seat can appear to the
“SRS” to indicate the presence of an occupant in that
seat which causes the passenger front airbag to deploy
in a crash exceeding the appropriate threshold.Side impact airbags
The side impact airbags are designed to activate only in
certain side impacts exceeding a preset threshold. Only
the side impact airbag on the impacted side of the
vehicle deploy.
The passenger side impact airbag deploys only if the
passenger seat is occupied.
Side impact airbags operate best in conjunction with a
properly positioned and fastened seat belt.
Note:
Heavy objects on passenger seat can cause the
passenger door side impact airbag to deploy in a crash.
Important!
Airbags are designed to activate only in certain
frontal (front airbags) impacts, or side (side impact
airbags) impacts which exceed preset thresholds.
Only during these types of impacts, if of sufficient
severity to meet the deployment thresholds, will
they provide their supplemental protection.
The driver and passenger must always wear their
seat belts, otherwise it is not possible for the airbags
to provide their intended supplemental protection.

63 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
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 it indicate a fire in the vehicle. The dust might
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
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
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 their seat belts.
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’s seat as far as possible
rearward, still permitting proper operation of
vehicle controls. Adjust the driver’s 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 with your head or chest close to the
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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• 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. Always sit upright, use the seatbelts,
and appropriate size infant or child restraint
system.• 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 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.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in
severe or fatal injuries to you or other occupants.

66 Restraint systems
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Wa r n i n g !Should you choose to place a child 12 years old or
under in the front passenger seat of your vehicle,
you must properly use a BabySmart
TM child
restraint. A BabySmartTM child restraint will turn
off the passenger side front airbag. BabySmart
TM
will not, however, turn off the side impact airbag.It should be noted that there is a possibility for a
side airbag related injury if occupants, especially
children, are not properly seated or restrained
when next to a side airbag 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
airbag inflates. This could result in serious
injuries or death should the side airbag be
activated; (2) always sit upright, properly use the
seat belts and use an appropriately sized infant or
child restraint system for all children 12 years old
or under; and (3) always wear seat belts properly.If you believe that, even with the use of these
guidelines, it would be safer for your front
passenger seat occupant to have the passenger side
door mounted side airbag deactivated, then
deactivation can be accomplished upon your
written election to do so at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center at an additional cost. Please
contact your local authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call our Client Assistance Center at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372) for details.

67 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 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.

68 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
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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
an “SRS” by alerting him to the applicable section in the
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.

69 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Important!
The use of infant or child restraints is required 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.
When using any infant or child restraint system, be sure
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.
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.