2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS child lock

57 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Side impact airbags
The side impact airbags are deployed:

on the impacted side of the vehicle


in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold


independently of the front airbags
The side impact airbags will not deploy in
impacts which do not exceed the system’s
deployment threshold.
The passenger side impact airbag will only
be deployed if the system senses that the
passenger seat is occupied.
Seat belts
The seat belt nonusage warning lamp
<

in the instrument cluster lights up and a
warning sounds for a short time when you
turn the key in the steering lock to
position2 and the driver’s seat belt is not
fastened.
After starting the engine, the seat belt non-
usage warning lamp blinks for a brief peri-
od to remind the driver and passengers to
fasten the seat belts.
The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in
most states 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.
Information on fastening seat belts is
found in the “Getting started” section
(
page 37).
!Do not place objects heavier than
20 lbs (9 kg) on the passenger seat.
This could cause the front or side im-
pact airbag on the passenger side to
deploy in a crash which exceeds the
system's deployment threshold.
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and re-
straint systems for infants and chil-
dren, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 60).

61 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
The passenger lap-shoulder belt has a spe-
cial seat belt retractor for secure fastening
of child restraints.
To fasten a child restraint, follow child re-
straint instructions for mounting. Then pull
the shoulder belt out completely and let it
retract. During seat belt retraction, a ratch-
eting 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 man-
ner.BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.
Warning!
G
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat
belt retractor will be deactivated.
!The use of infant or child restraints is
required by law in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, the U.S. territo-
ries 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 that complies with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Ve-
hicle Safety Standard 213.
A statement by the child restraint man-
ufacturer of compliance with this stan-
dard can be found on the instruction
label on the restraint and in the instruc-
tion 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. Warning!
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 ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger side front
airbag when it is properly installed. Other-
wise 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 BabySmart
TM compatible in-
fant or child restraint system, which is prop-
erly secured with the vehicle’s seat belt,
fully in accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.

63 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
The
7
indicator lamp located in the
center console will be illuminated, except
with the key removed or in the steering
lock position0.Self-test BabySmart
TM
without special
child seat installed
After turning the key in the steering lock to
position1 or2, the
7
indicator lamp
located in the center console lights up for
approx. 6 seconds and then goes out.
If the indicator lamp should not come on or
is continuously lit, the system is not func-
tioning. You must see an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center before seating any
child on the passenger seat.
More information can be found in the
“Practical hints” section (page 205).
iThe system does not deactivate the
side impact airbag and the emergency
tensioning device.
Warning!
G
The BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation sys-
tem will ONLY work with a special child seat
designed to operate with it. It will not work
with child seats which are not BabySmart
TM
compatible.
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the deactivation sys-
tem. 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 protecting the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of special child seats.

76 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking
Checking the batteries
Press button
‹
or
Œ
longer than
1second.
The battery check lamp4 lights up
briefly to indicate that the key batteries
are in order.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the steering lock and lock the vehi-
cle. Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. It is possible for children to open a
locked door from the inside, which could re-
sult in an accident and/or serious injury.
!If you can no longer lock or unlock the
vehicle with the remote control, then
either the batteries in the remote con-
trol are discharged, the remote control
is malfunctioning, or the vehicle battery
is drained.

Check the batteries in the remote
control and replace them if neces-
sary (
page 212)
or


Synchronize the remote control
(page 213)
or


Use the folding key to unlock the
doors (
page 210) and the trunk
(
page 210) as required. Lock the
vehicle using the folding key
(page 211).
If the remote control is malfunctioning,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
!If battery check lamp4 does not light
up briefly during the check, then the re-
mote control batteries are discharged.
Replace the batteries (
page 212).
You can obtain the required batteries
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

77 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Loss of remote control with folding key
If you lose a remote control or the folding
key, you should do the following:
Have the remote control deactivated
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

Report the loss of the remote control or
the folding key immediately to your car
insurance company.

If necessary have the mechanical lock
replaced.
Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
will be glad to supply you with a replace-
ment.
Opening the trunk
The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.
1Trunk lid lock
2Handle
Pull handle2 and lift the trunk lid.
The trunk can also be opened from the in-
side in an emergency, see trunk lid emer-
gency release (
page 78).
Closing the trunk
The recess is located on the inner side of
the trunk lid.
1Recess
Lower trunk lid by pulling firmly on
recess1.
iThe vehicle must be unlocked.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the trunk
opening when closing the trunk lid.
Be especially careful when small children
are around.

80 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingLocking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the vehicle from in-
side using the central locking switch. This
can be useful, for example, if you want to
unlock the passenger door from the inside
or want to lock the vehicle before starting
to drive.Locking

Press upper part1 of central locking
switch (
page 79).
If all the doors are closed, the vehicle
locks.
Unlocking

Press lower part2 of central locking
switch (
page 79).
The vehicle unlocks if not previously
centrally locked with the remote con-
trol.
iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.
If you have locked the vehicle with the
remote control, the central locking
switch does not work.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the steering lock and lock the vehi-
cle. Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment
may cause an accident and/or serious per-
sonal injury.

91 Controls in detail
Manual transmission
Manual transmission
Information for driving with a manual
transmission is found in the “Getting start-
ed” section (
page 40).
Gearshift leverDo not exceed the maximum speed in the
individual gears. Refer to tachometer
(page 89) for engine speeds.
Warning!
G
For vehicles equipped with a manual trans-
mission, getting out of your vehicle with the
gearshift lever not engaged in first or re-
verse gear and parking brake engaged is
dangerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
an engaged first or reverse gear alone may
not prevent your vehicle from moving, possi-
bly hitting people or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
engaging first or reverse gear (
page 47).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the steering lock, and lock the ve-
hicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Children could move the gearshift
lever, which could result in an accident
and/or serious injury.iNever hold the vehicle stopped on a hill
by using the clutch pedal. The clutch
may be damaged which is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

97 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission*
Program mode selector switch
1Program mode selector switch
S Standard For regular driving
W Winter For winter driving

Press the program mode selector
switch.
Select
Wfor comfortable driving:


The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range1 is selected.


Traction and driving stability are im-
proved on icy roads.


Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.


The power transmission ratio for se-
lector lever positionR changes de-
pending on the program mode
selected (
W or
S).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the steering lock, and lock the ve-
hicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Children could move the selector le-
ver from positionP, which could result in an
accident and/or serious injury.
!Never change the program mode when
the selector lever is out of positionP. It
could result in a change of driving char-
acteristics for which you may not be
prepared.