65 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Always sit nearly upright, properly use
the seat belts and appropriate size in-
fant or child restraint system.
Children 12 years old and under must
never ride in the front seat, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized
BabySmart
TM1
compatible child seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM
system installed in the vehicle to deacti-
vate 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 fa-
tal injury will result.
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injuries to you or other occu-
pants.
If you sell your vehicle, it is important that
you make the buyer aware of this safety in-
formation. Be sure to give the buyer this
Operator’s Manual.
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.
Warning!
G
Accident research shows that the safest
place for children in an automobile is in the
rear seat. 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 which will
turn off the passenger front airbag
(
page 74).
iAirbags are designed to activate only in
certain frontal (front airbags) impacts
and in side (head protection window
curtain airbags) impacts which exceed
preset thresholds.
Only during these types of impacts, if of
sufficient severity to meet the deploy-
ment thresholds, will they provide their
supplemental protection.
The driver and passenger should al-
ways wear their seat belts. Otherwise it
is not possible for the airbags to pro-
vide their supplemental protection.
In cases of other frontal impacts, an-
gled impacts, roll-overs, other side im-
pacts, rear collisions, or other
accidents, the airbags will not be acti-
vated. The driver and passengers will
then be protected by the fastened seat
belts.
We caution you not to rely on the pres-
ence of the airbags in order to avoid
wearing your seat belt.
68 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyThe airbags will not deploy in impacts
which do not exceed the system’s deploy-
ment thresholds. You will then be protect-
ed by the fastened seat belts.
The passenger front airbag will only be
deployed if:
the passenger seat is occupied
the 7 indicator lamp in the center
console is not lit (
page 74)
the impact exceeds a preset deploy-
ment thresholdWindow curtain airbags
The window curtain airbags1 deploy in
the area of the side windows between the
A and C pillars (see arrows).
1Window curtain airbag
The window curtain airbags are deployed:
on the impacted side of the vehicle
in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold
independently of the front airbags
The window curtain airbags are not de-
ployed in impacts which do not exceed the
system’s deployment threshold.
Seat belts
When the engine is started, the seat-belt
telltale< illuminates to remind you and
your passengers to fasten your seat belts.
If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened be-
fore the engine is started, the seat belt
telltale< illuminates and a warning
chime sounds for approximately
six seconds when the engine is started.
The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in all
50 states, the District of Columbia, the
U.S. territories 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.
For more information, see “Fastening the
seat belt” (
page 43).
!Do not place objects heavier than
20 lbs (9 kg) on the front passenger
seat. This could cause the passenger
front airbag to deploy in a crash which
exceeds the system’s deployment
threshold.
70 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyWarning!
G
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced
and their anchoring points must also be
checked.
Only use seat belts which have been ap-
proved by Mercedes-Benz.
Do not make any modifications to the seat
belts. This can lead to unintended activation
or to failure.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash, they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Have all work carried out only by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Warning!
G
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY
Seat belts can only work when used
properly. Never wear seat belts in any
other way than as described in this sec-
tion, as that could result in serious inju-
ries in case of an accident.
Each occupant should wear their seat
belt at all times, because seat belts help
reduce the likelihood of and potential
severity of injuries in accidents, includ-
ing rollovers. The integrated restraint
system includes SRS (driver airbag and
passenger front airbag, head protection
window curtain airbags for side win-
dows), ETD (seat belt emergency ten-
sioning device for driver’s seat, front
passenger seat and the outboard pas-
senger seats). The system is designed to
enhance the protection offered to prop-
erly belted occupants in certain frontal
(front airbags and EDT) and side (win-
dow curtain airbags and ETD) impacts
which exceed preset deployment
thresholds.
Never wear the shoulder belt under your
arm, against your neck or off your shoul-
der. In a crash, your body would move
too far forward. That would increase the
chance of head and neck injuries. The
belt would also apply too much force to
the ribs or abdomen, which could se-
verely injure internal organs such as
your liver or spleen.
Never wear belts over rigid or breakable
objects in or on your clothing, such as
eyeglasses, pens, keys, etc., as these
might cause injuries.
Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips and not across the abdo-
m e n . I f t h e b e l t i s p o s i t i o n e d a c r o s s y o u r
abdomen, it could cause serious injuries
in a crash.
Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time. Do not fasten a seat
belt around a person and another per-
son or other objects.
78 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyBlocking rear door window operation
The override switch is located in the
driver’s door.
1Override switchActivating override switch
Slide override switch1 to the right.
A dot becomes visible. The functions in
the rear are disabled.Deactivating override switch
Slide override switch1 to the left.
The functions in the rear are enabled
again.
For more information on power windows,
see “Power windows” (
page 171).
iOperation of the rear windows with the
switches located in the driver’s door is
still possible.Warning!
G
Activate the override switch when children
are riding in the back seats of the vehicle.
The children may otherwise injure them-
selves, e.g. by becoming trapped in the win-
dow opening.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment can cause an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
165 Controls in detail
Climate control
Climate control panel
1
Windshield defroster air vents
2
Center air vent, adjustable
3
Thumbwheel for center air vent
4
Side air vent, adjustable
5
Side defroster air vent, fixed
6
Thumbwheel for side air vent
7
Footwell air vents
8
Climate control paneliFor draft-free ventilation, move the
sliders for the center air vents to the
middle position.
1
Air volume
2
Temperature control, left
(driver side)
3
Temperature control, right
(passenger side)
4
Air distribution control
5
Rear window defroster (
page 163)
6
AC cooling on / off (AC
OFF
)
Residual engine heat utilization
(REST)
7
Air distribution and air volume
(automatic mode)
8
Air recirculation
9
Defrosting
171 Controls in detail
Power windows
Power windows
Opening and closing the windows
The side windows are opened and closed
electrically. Switches for operating all the
side windows are located on the driver’s
door. The switches for the respective win-
dows are located on the front passenger
and the rear doors.
1Switch for rear door window override
(
page 78)
2Left front window
3Right front window
4Right rear window
5Left rear window
Turn SmartKey in the starter switch to
position1 or2.Opening the windows
Press switch 2 to 5 to the resistance
point.
The corresponding window will move
downwards until you release the
switch.
Closing the windows
Pull on switch 2 to 5.
The corresponding window will move
upwards until you release the switch.
Fully opening windows (Express-open)
Press switch 2 to 5 past the
resistance point and release.
The corresponding window opens
completely.
Stopping windows
Press or pull respective switch again.
Warning!
G
When closing the windows, make sure there
is no danger of anyone being harmed by the
closing procedure.
The closing procedure can be immediately
halted by releasing the switch or by releas-
ing button‹ on the SmartKey.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from starter switch, take it with
you, and lock your vehicle. Do not leave chil-
dren unattended in the vehicle, or with ac-
cess to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment can cause an acci-
dent and/or serious personal injury.
172 Controls in detailPower windowsOpening and closing windows with the
SmartKey
The tilt/sliding sunroof (
page 173) will
also be opened or closed when the power
windows are operated with the SmartKey.
Aim transmitter eye at the outside
driver’s door handle.
The SmartKey must be in close proxim-
ity to the door handle.
Opening (Summer opening feature)
Press and hold buttonŒ after un-
locking the vehicle.
The windows and tilt/sliding sunroof
begin to open after approximately one
second.
Release transmit button to interrupt
procedure.Closing (Convenience feature)
Press and hold button‹ after lock-
ing the vehicle.
The windows and tilt/sliding sunroof
begin to close after approximately one
second.
Release transmit button to interrupt
procedure.
Make sure all side windows and the
tilt/sliding sunroof are properly closed
before leaving the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Never operate the windows or tilt/sliding
sunroof if there is the possibility of anyone
being harmed by the opening or closing pro-
cedure.
In case the procedure causes potential dan-
ger, the procedure can be immediately halt-
ed by releasing the button on the SmartKey.
To reverse direction of movement,
pressŒ for opening or ‹ for closing.
175 Controls in detail
Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Opening and closing the tilt/sliding
sunroof with the SmartKey
The power windows (
page 171) will also
be opened or closed when you operate the
tilt/sliding sunroof with the SmartKey.
Aim transmitter eye at the driver’s door
handle.
The SmartKey must be in close proxim-
ity to the door handle.
Opening (Summer opening feature)
Press and hold buttonŒ after un-
locking the vehicle.
The windows and tilt/sliding sunroof
begin to open after approximately one
second.
Release transmit button to interrupt
procedure.Closing (Convenience closing feature)
Press and hold button‹ after lock-
ing the vehicle.
The windows and tilt/sliding sunroof
begin to close after approximately one
second.
Release transmit button to interrupt
procedure.
Make sure all side windows and the
tilt/sliding sunroof are properly closed be-
fore leaving the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Never operate the windows or tilt/sliding
sunroof if there is the possibility of anyone
being harmed by the opening or closing pro-
cedure.
In case the procedure causes potential dan-
ger, the procedure can be immediately halt-
ed by releasing the button on the SmartKey.
To reverse direction of movement,
pressŒ for opening or ‹ for closing.