
75 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index The driver and passenger front airbags are designed to
activate only in certain frontal impacts exceeding a
preset threshold. The front passenger airbag deploys
only if the front passenger seat is occupied and the
ü indicator lamp in the center console is not
illuminated.Note:
Heavy objects on the front 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.
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77 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Important!
Airbags are designed to activate only in certain
frontal (front airbags) impacts, or side (side impact
and head protection window curtain 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 should always wear their
s eat bel ts , ot herw i se it i s n ot poss i bl e for t he a i rb ags
to provide their supplemental protection.
In cases of other frontal impacts, angled impacts,
roll-overs, other side impacts, rear collisions, or
other accidents, the airbags will not be activated.
The driver and passengers 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.
Wa r n i n g !
Airbags are designed to reduce the potential of
injury in certain frontal (front airbags) impacts, or
side (side impact and head protection window
curtain 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 driver side
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.
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81 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a 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.• 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, front passenger airbag
cover, door trim panels, or door frame trims,
and installation of additional electrical /
electronic equipment on or near “SRS”
components and wiring. Keep area between
airbags and occupants free from objects (e.g.
packages, purses, umbrellas, etc).• Do not pass belts over sharp edges.• Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the belts.
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82 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
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.
• Do not use handles above doors for placing
such items as coat hangers 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 a
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.
• 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 from your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.• Given the considerable deployment speed and
the textile structure of the airbags, there is the
possibility of abrasions or other injuries
resulting from airbag deployment.
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285 Contents - Instrument cluster display
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator lamps
in the instrument cluster .........286
On-board diagnostic system .........286
Check engine malfunction
indicator lamp .............................286
Brake warning lamp ..................288
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS) indicator lamp ....289
Fuel reserve warning .................290
ABS malfunction
indicator lamp ............................. 291
Electronic stability program
(ESP) — warning lamp ...............292
Seat belt nonusage
warning lamp .............................292Malfunction and
indicator lamp in
the center console .................... 292
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp .... 292
Malfunction and
warning messages in the
multifunction display .............. 293
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE ................ 295
BATTERY / ALTERNATOR ....... 296
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM .... 297
BRAKE ASSIST ........................... 297
BRAKE PAD WEAR .................... 298
BRAKE FLUID ............................ 298
PARKING BRAKE ....................... 299
SEAT BELT SYSTEM .................. 299
ELEC. STABIL. PROG.
(Electronic stability program) . 300COOLANT
(coolant level) ............................. 301
COOLANT
(coolant temperature) ................302
ENGINE OIL LEVEL ...................303
LIGHTING SYSTEM ....................304
LAMP SENSOR ...........................306
DOOR ...........................................306
TRUNK OPEN .............................307
HOOD ...........................................307
TELEPHONE – FUNCTION .......308
TELE AID .....................................308
WASHER FLUID .........................309
RESTRAINT SYSTEM ................. 310
KEY ............................................... 310
FUEL RESERVE ...........................311
UNDERVOLTAGE .........................311
STEER. WHEEL ADJUST. ........... 312
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289 Malfunction and indicator lamps
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Supplemental restraint system (SRS) indicator lamp
When turning the electronic key in starter
switch to position 1 the indicator lamp “SRS”
in the instrument cluster comes on. If no
fault is detected, the lamp will go out after
approximately 4 seconds.
When turning the electronic key in starter switch to
position 2 the indicator lamp “SRS” in the instrument
cluster comes on. If no fault is detected, the lamp will go
out when the engine is running.
The operational readiness of the airbag system is
verified by the indicator lamp “SRS” in the instrument
cluster when turning the electronic key in starter switch
to position 1 or 2.After the lamp goes out, the system continues to
monitor the components and circuitry of the airbag
system and will indicate a malfunction by coming on
again.
See page 73 for notes on airbags, see page 71 for belt
tensioners and page 63 for infant and child seat
restraint.
Wa r n i n g !
In the event 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 immediately 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 injury.
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