2005 MERCEDES-BENZ G55AMG Owner's Manual

73 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
!
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 or, if so equipped,
a child restraint lower anchorage sys-
tem that complies with U.S. Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 225 and Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards 213 and 210.2.
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 the front seat, 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 front air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates 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 seat-
ing 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 and top tether strap, or secured via
lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in
accordance with the child seat manufactur-
er’s instructions.


74 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
BabySmart
TM
airbag deactivation
system
7
indicator lamp
Special BabySmart
TM1
compatible child
seats, designed for use with the
Mercedes-Benz system and available at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center are required for use with the
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system.
With the special child seat properly in-
stalled, the passenger front airbag will not
deploy.
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.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
Warning!
G
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 until
they reach a height where a lap / shoulder
belt fits properly without a booster.
When the child restraint is not in use, re-
move 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 ac-
cident.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system. Unsupervised chil-
dren in a child restraint system may use ve-
hicle equipment and may cause serious
personal injury.
1BabySmart
TM
is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.


75 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
The 7indicator lamp located in the
center console will be illuminated, except
with the SmartKey removed or in the start-
er switch position0.
Self-test BabySmart
TM
without special
child seat installed
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position1 or2, the
7indicator lamp located in the center
console comes on for approximately
six 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 Light Truck Center before
seating any child on the front passenger
seat.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
section (
page 295).
iThe system does not deactivate 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.
When using a BabySmart
TM compatible
child seat on the front passenger seat, the
passenger front airbag will not deploy only
if the 7 indicator lamp remains
illuminated.
Warning!
G
Make sure to check the indicator every time
you use the special system child seat.
Should the light go out while the restraint is
installed, please check installation. If the
light remains out, do not use the
BabySmart
TM restraint to transport children
on the front passenger seat until the system
has been repaired.
Warning!
G
Do not place powered-on laptops, cell
phones and like electronic devices on the
front passenger seat. Signals from such de-
vices may interfere with the BabySmart
TM
system. Such signal interference may cause
the 7 indicator lamp not to come on dur-
ing self-test or be continuously lit, indicating
that the system is not functioning.

76 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyInstallation of infant and child restraint
system
1Anchorage ring for rear left side seat
2Anchorage ring for rear center seat
3Anchorage ring for rear right side seat
Remove the cargo compartment cover
blind (
page 183).

Remove the partition net*
(page 185).

Guide top tether strap between head
restraint and top of seat back. Head
restraint must be installed and posi-
tioned such that the top tether strap
can pass freely between the head re-
straint and top of seat back.4Hook

Securely fasten hook4 to anchorage
ring.
Once the top tether anchorage hook is at-
tached, the child restraint itself can be se-
cured. Secure child restraint and tighten
the top tether strap according to the child
restraint manufacturer’s instructions.iFor safety, make sure the hook is at-
tached to the ring beyond the safety
catch, as illustrated.
Warning!
G
Use only the described anchorage rings for
the respective child seat. Other lashing eye-
lets could tear in the case of an accident.
Make sure

the fastening straps are not crossed or
twisted.


the hook is properly attached and is
closed.

77 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Child seat anchors – LATCH type
This vehicle is provided with two LATCH
(LOWER Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren) type anchors (at each of the
outer rear seats) for installation of a
LATCH child seat with matching mounting
fittings.AnchorsInstall a LATCH type child seat according
to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Install child seat according to manufac-
turer’s instructions.
iWith a child seat installed in the left
rear seat, the seat belt for the center
seat occupied by a passenger must op-
erate freely.
Non-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
Install child seat according to manufactur-
er’s instructions.
The child seat must be firmly attached in the
right and left side anchors.
Warning!
G
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.
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 until
they reach a height where a lap / shoulder
belt fits properly without a booster.

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.

79 Safety and Security
Panic alarm
Panic alarm
1Âbutton
An audible alarm and blinking turn signal
lamps will operate for approximately
2½ minutes.
To activate: Press and hold button1
for at least one second.

To deactivate: Press button1 again or
insert SmartKey in starter switch.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
(2) this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interfer-
ence, and
(2) this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.

80 Safety and SecurityDriving and safety systemsIn this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:

ABS (Antilock Brake System)


BAS (Brake Assist System)


4-ETS (Electronic Traction System)


EBB (Electronic Brake Booster)


ESP (Electronic Stability Program)
ABS
The ABS regulates the brake pressure so
that the wheels do not lock during braking.
This allows you to maintain the ability to
steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of ap-
proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions (as long as the
differential locks are not engaged).
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in
the regulating mode. Keep firm and steady
pressure on the brake pedal while experi-
encing the pulsation.
iIn winter operation, the maximum ef-
fectiveness of the ABS, ESP, EBB, and
4-ETS is only achieved with winter tires
(M + S tires), or snow chains as re-
quired.
Warning!
G
The following factors increase the risk of ac-
cidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turns


Wet and slippery road surfaces


Following another vehicle too closely
The ABS, BAS, ESP and 4-ETS cannot reduce
this risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
Warning!
G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
ABS and significantly reduces braking effec-
tiveness.