2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550 child restraint

95 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Child seat anchors – LATCH type
This vehicle is equipped with two LATCH
(L
ower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
type anchors (at each of the outer rear
seats) for the installation of a LATCH child
seat with matching mounting fittings.
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 lb until they reach a
height where a lap/shoulder belt fits
properly without a booster.
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.
A child’s unsupervised access to a vehicle
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
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 over
41 lb until they reach a height where a
lap/shoulder belt fits properly without a
booster.
Install child seat according to manufactu-
rer’s instructions.
The child seat must be firmly attached to the
right and left side anchors2 (
page 96).
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.
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96 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
The LATCH anchors are blended with
covers.
Example, second-row seats
1Anchorage ring covers
Remove anchorage ring cover1 from
the seat on which a child seat is to be
installed.
Example, second-row seats
2Anchors
Install a LATCH type child seat accord-
ing to the manufacturer’s instructions.Installation of infant and child restraint
system
This vehicle is equipped with tether
anchorages for a top tether strap at the
second-row seat backrest. For installing an
infant and child restraint system at the
third-row seats, use the cargo tie-down
rings in the cargo compartment
(
page 303).
1Anchorage ring cover
Remove anchorage ring cover1 from
seat backrest of the seat on which a
child seat is to be installed.
!Make sure the seat belt for the center seat
can operate freely with a child seat installed.
iOnly the rear outer seats can be used for in-
stalling a LATCH type child seat.
For installing a Non-LATCH type child seat use
the vehicle’s seat belt system. Install child seat
according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
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98 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Lower the head restraint if necessary
(
page 135).
Make sure the top tether strap can
pass freely between the head restraint
and top of seat backrest.
Install the child restraint system and
tighten the top tether strap according
to the child restraint manufacturer’s in-
structions.
Blocking of rear door window operation
With the override switch you can disable
the rear side window switches in the rear
door panels.The override switch is located on the
driver’s door control panel.
1Override switch
For more information on power windows,
see “Power windows” (
page 246).
Warning!G
After installing top tether straps, make sure
that the seat backrests are in an upright po-
sition and are properly locked. Check for
secure locking by pushing and pulling on the
seat backrests. If a seat backrest is not
properly locked, the seat backrest could
fold. The child seat would no longer be prop-
erly supported or positioned to provide its
intended benefit.
Warning!G
Activate the override switch when children
are riding in the back seats of the vehicle.
The children could otherwise injure them-
selves, e.g. by becoming trapped in the win-
dow opening.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.

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133 Controls in detail
Seats
Pull emergency release1 in the
direction of arrow.
Push seat backrest2 forwards.
Open the left door.
Exit the vehicle.
Front seat active head restraints
You cannot remove the active head
restraints on the driver’s and front
passenger’s seat.
For removal of the active head restraints
we recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
For information on head restraint adjust-
ment, see “Seats” (
page 45).
For information on active head restraints,
see “Active head restraint” (
page 90).
Rear seats
Warning!G
To help avoid personal injury when folding
the seat backrest forward, make sure that
you move both feet and legs all the way back
and out of the way to avoid them contacting
the seat as it pivots forward.
In order to prevent an accident or any other
potentially dangerous situations when open-
ing the rear door and exiting the vehicle,
make sure that you are aware of the traffic
situation at all times.
Warning!G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that it is close
to the head as possible and the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of
an accident or similar situation.
Warning!G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats.
Regardless of seating position, children
12 years old and under must be seated and
properly secured in an appropriately sized
infant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster
seat recommended for the size and weight
of the child. For additional information, see
“Children in the vehicle” (
page 91).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle
and/or the child is not properly secured in
the child restraint.
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134 Controls in detail
Seats
Rear seat adjustment
Seat backrest tilt (second-row seats)The seat backrest tilt can be set to five
different positions.
The handles for adjusting the seats are
located on the rear of each seat base.
1Adjustment handle
While seated, pull handle1 in direc-
tion of arrow to resistance point and
hold it there.
To move seat backrest back, lean light-
ly against backrest.
Warning!G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries. The seat backrest and seat
belts provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a nearly upright position and
belts are properly positioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt (
page 53).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being
adjusted.
After adjusting rear seats, make sure

the seats are properly locked

the seat backrests are in an upright po-
sition and are properly locked
Check for secure locking by pushing and
pulling on the seat backrests. If a seat and
seat backrest are not properly locked, the
seat could move forward and the seat back-
rest could fold. The child seat would no long-
er be properly supported or positioned to
provide its intended benefit.
Warning!G
The seat belt only offers its intended protec-
tion when the seat backrest is in a nearly
vertical position and the occupant is sitting
upright. Avoid sitting in positions that pre-
vent the seat belt from being properly posi-
tioned against the body (
page 53). You
should therefore adjust the backrest to a po-
sition as upright as possible.
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448 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible
cause/consequenceSuggested solution
59The front passenger
front air bag off indica-
tor lamp does not illu-
minate 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 malfunction-
ing.Make sure there is nothing between seat cushion and
child seat and check installation of the child seat.
Make sure no objects applying supplemental weight
onto the seat are present.
Make sure no objects which apply forces to the seat
are present (e.g. objects such as books, briefcases
etc. lodged behind or around the seat, head restraints
pushing against roof etc.). The system may recognize
such forces as supplemental weight.
If the front passenger front air bag off indicator lamp
remains out, have the system checked as soon as pos-
sible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
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 460).
Warning!G
If the59indicator 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 onthe front passenger seat until the system
has been repaired.
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460 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible
cause/consequencePossible solution
Front Passenger Airbag
Enabled
See Operator’s ManualFront passenger front 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 sup-
plemental weight.Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and check the front
passenger seat for the following:
Apply the parking brake (page 67).
Switch off the ignition (page 42).
Remove child and child restraint from front passenger seat and properly
secure the child in rear seat employing the child restraint if necessary.
Remove any other items from on and around the front passenger seat
and make sure the storage bag on the back of the front passenger seat
is empty.
Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the seat are present
(e.g. objects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged behind or around the
seat, head restraints pushing against roof etc.). The system may recog-
nize such forces as supplemental weight and sense that an occupant on
the front passenger seat is of a greater weight than actually present.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door and switch
on the ignition (
page 42).
(Continued on next page)
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571 Index
A
ABS 101
Indicator lamp 436
Off-road - ABS 102
ABS, ESP
®
Messages in the multifunction
display 451
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 195
Accessory weight 415
Accident 66
Active head restraint 90, 133, 499
Adaptive Damping System (ADS)* 278
Air bags 76
Children 77, 91
Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp 31, 32, 85
Front, Driver 79
Front, Passenger 79
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) 81
Safety guidelines 78
Side impact (front and rear*) 80
Window curtain 80Air conditioning refrigerant 564
Air conditioning system see
Climate control or
Automatic climate control (3-zone)*
Air conditioning, Cooling 224, 239
Air distribution, Front 219, 234
Air distribution, Rear 227, 243
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air recirculation mode 222, 237
Air suspension program 278
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS)* 278
Messages in the multifunction
display 486
Vehicle level control 279
Air vents 227
Air vents*, Rear 245
Air vents, Front 220, 234
Air volume 220, 235
Alarm system see Anti-theft systems
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 492, 524
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 563, 568
Antiglare, Interior rear view mirror 208Antiglare, Rear view mirrors* 208
Antilock Brake System see ABS
Anti-theft systems 110
Anti-theft alarm system 109, 110
Immobilizer 109
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest storage/telephone*
compartment
Front 317
Ashtrays (Depending on
vehicle configuration) 321
Aspect ratio 415
ATF 381
Attaching a trailer 366
AUDIO menu 164
Audio menu
CD operation 165
Radio operation 164
Satellite radio* operation 164
Auto-dimming*, Rear view mirrors 208
Automatic central locking,
Control system 180
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