2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 pre safe

92 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
come on at all or if it fails to extinguish after
approximately 4 seconds or if it comes on thereafter, a
malfunction in the system has been detected.
The following system components are monitored or
undergo a self-check: crash-sensor(s), airbag ignition
circuits, front seat belt buckles, emergency tensioning
retractors, seat sensor.
Initially, when the electronic key is turned from starter
switch position 0 to position 1 or 2, malfunctions in the
crash sensor are detected and indicated (the “SRS”
indicator lamp stays on longer than 4 seconds or does
not come on).
Have the system checked at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
In the operational mode, after the indicator lamp has
gone out following the initial check, interruptions or
short circuits in the airbag ignition circuit and in the
driver and front passenger seat belt buckle harnesses,
and low voltage in the entire system are detected and
indicated.Note:
See page 305 for information on the Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) indicator lamp.
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
7 indicator lamp on 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.
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.

94 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
seat belts, otherwise it is not possible for the airbags
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.

95 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 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
protection for occupants.
Wa r n i n g !
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 with your back
against the backrest. Fasten your seat belt and
ensure that it is properly positioned on your body.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. 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 driver front airbag
inflates.• Adjust the front passenger seat as far as
possible rearward from the dashboard when
the seat is occupied.

100 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
the front seat, 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.
According to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating positions.
Infants and small children must ride in back seats
and 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.
Children too big for child restraint systems must
ride in back seats using regular seat belts. Position
shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not face or
neck. A booster seat may be necessary to achieve
proper belt positioning for children from 41 lbs. to
the point where a lap / shoulder belt fits properly
without one.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.Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle;
even if the children are secured in a child restraint
system. Unsupervised children in a child restraint
system may use vehicle equipment and may cause
serious personal injury.

139 Multifunction steering wheel, multifunction display
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Press the è or ÿ button repeatedly until the
individual setting preliminary display (1) appears.
Press the j or k button until the setting menu
“SETTINGS” (2) is displayed.
Pressing the æ or ç button controls the selection
marker (3) in setting menu (2).
“INST. CLUSTER”, see page 140.
“LIGHTING”, see page 142.
“VEHICLE”, see page 146.
Pressing the è or ÿ button displays the next or
previous system.
Note:
These settings may only be performed with the
electronic key in starter switch position 1 or 2.To return menu “SETTINGS” (2) to its factory
setting:
•Call up the individual setting preliminary
display (1).
•Press the Jbutton in the instrument cluster for
approximately 3 seconds. Display (4) will appear.
•Press the Jbutton once more. The menu
“SETTINGS” is reset to factory settings,
acknowledged by display (5).
The individual setting preliminary display (1) will
appear if you do not press the Jbutton within
about 5 seconds. The setting menus will not be
reset.
Note:
For safety reasons, the individual setting
“LAMP CIRCUIT HEADLAMP” in menu “LIGHTING”
cannot be reset while driving, see page 142. If an
attempt is made, the message “LIGHTING” – “CANNOT
BE COMPLETELY RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS
WHILE DRIVING” will be displayed.

143 Multifunction steering wheel, multifunction display
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Preliminary display of the individual settings
2“SETTINGS” – the menu “LIGHTING” can be called
up in this option menu.
3Selection marker
Pressing buttonæ orç on the multifunction
steering wheel controls the selection marker.
4“LAMP CIRCUIT HEADLAMP”
1, 2, see page 159.
5“LOCATOR LIGHTING”, see page 161.
6“HEADLAMPS DELAYED SHUT-OFF”, see “Night
security illumination” on page 160.
7“INTERIOR LAMP DELAYED SHUT-OFF”, see
“Interior lighting” on page 190.
8Returning the setting menu “LIGHTING” to the
factory setting.
9Acknowledgment
1Except Canada
2 For safety reasons, setting only possible while vehicle is standing
still.
Press the è or ÿ button repeatedly until the
individual setting preliminary display (1) appears.
Press the j or k button until the setting menu
“SETTINGS” (2) is displayed.
Press buttonæ orç until the menu “LIGHTING”
is selected by the selection marker (3).
Press the j or k button until the required
display (4 to 7) is displayed. Pressing the æ orç
button controls the selection marker. The settings made
are stored and applied immediately.
The individual setting preliminary display (1) will
appear again after you have run through all the setting
menus. Pressing the è or ÿ button displays the
next or previous system.

144 Multifunction steering wheel, multifunction display
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
To return menu “LIGHTING” (4 to 7) to its factory
setting:
•Call up menu (4 to 7).
•Press the Jbutton in the instrument cluster for
approximately 3 seconds. Display (8) will appear.
•Press the Jbutton once more. The menu
“LIGHTING” is reset to factory settings,
acknowledged by display (9).
The individual setting display “SETTINGS” (2) will
appear if you do not press the Jbutton within
about 5 seconds. The setting menus will not be
reset.Note:
For safety reasons, the individual setting
“LAMP CIRCUIT HEADLAMP” in menu “LIGHTING”
cannot be reset while driving. If an attempt is made, the
message “LIGHTING” – “CANNOT BE COMPLETELY
RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS WHILE DRIVING” will
be displayed.

164 Combination switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Blocked windshield wipers
If the windshield wipers become blocked (for example,
due to snow), switch off the wipers.
For safety reasons before removing ice or snow, remove
electronic key from starter switch. Remove blockage.
Activate combination switch again (electronic key in
starter switch position 1).
Emergency operation of windshield wipers
In case of windshield wiper malfunction in switch
positions I or III, turn combination switch to wiper
setting II. Have the system checked at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.Windshield wipers smear
If the windshield wipers smear the windshield, even
during rain, activate the washer system as often as
necessary. The fluid in the washer reservoir should be
mixed in the correct ratio.
See page 345 for instructions on filling up the
windshield washer reservoir.
Windshield and headlamp washer fluid mixing ratio
For temperatures above freezing:
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and water.
1 part “S” to 100 parts water
(40 ml “S” to 1 gallon water).
For temperature below freezing:
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and
commercially available premixed windshield washer
solvent / antifreeze.
1 part “S” to 100 parts solvent
(40 ml “S” to 1 gallon solvent).