2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320CDI child restraint

77 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag. Note the following im-
portant information when circumstances re-
quire you to place a child in the front
passenger seat:

Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to turn off the front
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when the system senses the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child or less along
with the weight of a standard appropri-
ate child restraint on the front passen-
ger seat.


A child in a rear-facing child restraint on
the front passenger seat will be serious-
ly injured or even killed if the front pas-
senger front air bag inflates in a collision
which could occur under some circum-
stances, even with the air bag technolo-
gy installed in your vehicle. The only
means to completely eliminate this risk
is to never place a child in a rear-facing
child restraint in the front seat. We
therefore strongly recommend that you
always place a child in a rear-facing
child restraint in the back seat.


If you must install a rear-facing child re-
straint on the front passenger seat be-
cause circumstances require you to do
so, make sure that the 75 in-
dicator lamp is illuminated, indicating
that the front passenger air bag is deac-
tivated. Should the light not illuminate
or go out while the restraint is installed,
please check installation. Periodically
check the indicator lamp while driving to
make sure the lamp is illuminated. If the
75 indicator lamp goes out or
remains out, do not transport a child on
the front passenger seat until the sys-
tem has been repaired. A child in a
rear-facing child restraint on the front
passenger seat will be seriously injured
or even killed if the front passenger front
air bag inflates.


If you have to place a child in a
forward-facing child restraint on the
front passenger seat, move the seat as
far back as possible, use the proper
child restraint recommended for the
age, size and weight of the child, and se-
cure child restraint with the vehicle's
seat belt according to the child seat
manufacturer's instructions. For
children larger than the typical
12-month-old child, the front passenger
air bag may or may not be activated
(page 76).

78 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
The 75 indicator lamp is located
in the center console.
1Indicator lampThe 75 indicator lamp1 will be
illuminated, except with the SmartKey re-
moved or in starter switch position0.
iDeployment of the driver front air bag
does not mean that the front passenger
front air bag also should have de-
ployed.
The Occupant Classification System
(page 74) may have determined:


that the seat was empty or occu-
p i e d b y t h e w e i g h t u p t o o r l e s s t h a n
that of a typical 12-month-old child
seated in a standard child restraint
- both instances where the system
suppresses deployment of the pas-
senger front air bag even though
the impact met the criteria and was
of sufficient severity to deploy the
driver front air bag.


that the seat was occupied by a
small individual (such as a young
teenager or a small adult) or a child
weighing more than the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child in a stan-
dard child restraint - instances
where the system may suppress de-
ployment of the passenger front
air bag even though the impact met
the criteria and was of sufficient se-
verity to deploy the driver front
air bag.
Warning!
G
If the 1indicator lamp and the
75 indicator lamp are lit at the
same time, there is a malfunction in the Oc-
cupant Classification System. The front pas-
senger front air bag will be deactivated in
this case.
In order to ensure proper operation of the
air bag system and OCS:

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by qualified technicians. Con-
tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.


Do not place more than 4.4 lbs (2 kg)
into the ruffled storage bag on the back
of the front passenger seat. Otherwise,
the OCS may not be able to properly ap-
proximate the occupant weight catego-
ry.

80 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyInstallation of infant and child restraint
systems
This vehicle is equipped with tether an-
chorages for a top tether strap at each of
the rear seating positions.
Not foldable rear seat backrest
1Cover
Remove cover1 from anchorage ring.

Guide tether strap between head re-
straint and top of the seat back.

Head restraint must be installed (if re-
movable) and positioned such that the
top tether strap can pass freely be-
tween the head restraint and the top of
the seat back.
Make sure the tether strap is not twist-
ed.
2Hook
3Anchorage ring

Securely fasten the hook2 to the an-
chorage ring3.Once the top tether anchorage hook is at-
tached, the child restraint itself can be se-
cured. Tighten the top tether strap
according to the child restraint manufac-
turer's instructions.
Foldable rear seat backrest*

Fold rear seat backrest slightly for-
ward.

Remove cover from anchorage ring.

Guide tether strap between head re-
straint and top of the seat back.

Head restraint must be positioned such
that the top tether strap can pass freely
between the head restraint and the top
of the seat back.
Make sure the tether strap is not twist-
ed.iFor safety, make sure the hook2 has
attached to the ring3 beyond the
safety catch, as illustrated.

81 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
2Hook
3Anchorage ring
Securely fasten the hook2 to the an-
chorage ring3.2Hook
3Anchorage ring

Swing rear seat backrest to the rear un-
til it engages.

Check the rear seat backrest to be
locked in its upright position
(page 379).
Once the top tether anchorage hook is
attached, the child restraint itself can be
secured. Tighten the top tether strap ac-
cording to the child restraint manufactur-
er's instructions. Child seat anchors - LATCH type
This vehicle is equipped with two LATCH
(L
ower A
nchors and T
ethers for CH
ildren)
type anchors (at each of the outer rear
seats) for the installation of a “LATCH”
child seat with the matching mounting fit-
tings.
The anchors are located behind an uphol-
stery blend.
iFor safety, make sure the hook2 has
attached to the ring3 beyond the
safety catch, as illustrated below.

82 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety1Indicates the position of the anchors
2Anchors
Install child seat according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
!Make sure the seat belt for the center
seat can operate freely with a child
seat installed.iNon-LATCH type child seats may also
be used and can be installed using the
vehicle’s seat belt system. Install child
seat according to the manufacturer’s
instructions.
Warning!
G
Children too big for a toddler restraint must
ride in seats using regular seat belts. Posi-
tion shoulder belt across chest and shoul-
der, not face or neck. A booster seat may be
necessary to achieve proper belt positioning
for children from 41 lbs until they reach a
height where a lap/shoulder belt fits proper-
ly without a booster.
Install child seat according to manufactur-
er’s instructions.
T h e c h i l d s e a t m u s t b e f i r m l y a t t a c h e d i n t h e
right and left side anchors2.
An incorrectly mounted child seat may come
loose during an accident which could result
in serious injury or death to the child.
Damaged or impact damaged child seats or
child seat mounting fittings must be re-
placed.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system.

130 Controls in detailMemory function
You can store up to three different settings
for each SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
The following settings are stored when us-
ing the buttons on the driver’s door:

Driver’s seat, backrest, head restraint
position and settings for multicontour
seat


Steering wheel position


Exterior rear view mirror positions
These SmartKey-dependent memory set-
tings can be deactivated if desired. For in-
formation on SmartKey-dependent
memory settings, see “Setting
SmartKey-dependency” (
page 168).
The following settings are not
SmartKey-dependent. They are stored
when using the buttons on the front pas-
senger door:


Front passenger seat, backrest, head
restraint position and settings for mul-
ticontour seat
!Prior to operating the vehicle, the driv-
er should check and adjust the seat
height, seat position fore and aft, and
seat backrest angle if necessary, to
ensure adequate control, reach and
comfort. The head restraint should also
be adjusted for proper height. See also
the section on air bags (
page 61) for
more information on proper seat posi-
tioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, opera-
tion and comfort. Both the interior and
exterior rear view mirrors should be ad-
justed for adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small
children should be seated in a properly
secured restraint system that complies
with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 210.2.
Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

366 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
75The indicator lamp does not illuminate
and/or does not remain illuminated with
the weight of a typical 12-month-old child in
a standard child restraint or less on the
front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Make sure that there is nothing between seat cush-
ion and child seat and check installation of the child
seat.

Make sure that no objects applying supplemental
weight onto the seat are present.

Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the
seat are present (e.g. objects such as books, brief-
cases etc. lodged behind or around the seat, head
restraints pushing against roof etc.). The system
may recognize such forces as supplemental weight.

If the light remains out, have the system checked as
soon as possible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Do not transport a child on the front passen-
ger seat until the system has been repaired.

Also note any messages in the multifunction display
and follow corrective steps (
page 374).
Warning!
G
If the
75
indicator lamp does not
illuminate or remains out with the
weight of a typical 12-month-old child in a
standard child restraint or less on the front
passenger seat, do not transport a child on
the front passenger seat until the system
has been repaired.

374 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag activated
See Operator’s Manual
Air bag is activated while
driving even though a child,
small individual, or object
below the system's weight
threshold is on the front
passenger seat, or the
front passenger seat is
empty. Objects on the seat
or forces acting on the seat
may make the system
sense supplemental
weight.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible
and check the following:
Make sure that there is nothing between seat cush-
ion and child seat and check installation of the child
seat.

Make sure that no objects applying supplemental
weight onto the seat are present.

Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the
seat are present (e.g. objects such as books, brief-
cases etc. lodged behind or around the seat, head
restraints pushing against roof etc.). The system
may recognize such forces as supplemental weight
and sense that an occupant on the front passenger
seat is of a heavier weight than actually present.
(Continued on next page)