2012 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS COUPE warning light

To ensure that the restraint systems can
deliver their full potential protection, make
sure that:
R
the seat and head restraint are adjusted
properly (Y page 96).
R the seat belt has been fastened properly
(Y page 48).
R the airbags can inflate unrestricted if
deployed (Y page 42).
R the steerin gwheel is adjusted properly
(Y page 102).
R the restraint systems have not been modi-
fied.
An airbag increases the protection of vehicle
occupant swearing aseat belt. However, air-
bags are only an additional restraint system
which complements, but does not replace,
the seat belt. All vehicle occupant smust wear
their seat belt correctly at all times, even if
the vehicle is equipped with airbags. The air-
bags are not deployed in all types of acci-
dents .For example, if the protective capacity
of correctly fastened seat belts is not
increased by deploying the airbags, the air-
bags will not deploy.
Airbag deployment only provides increased
protection if the seat belt is worn correctly.
First,t he seat belt helps to keep the vehicle
occupant in the best position in relation to the
airbag. Second, in ahead-on collision, for
example, the seat belt prevent sthe vehicle
occupant from being propelled towards the
point of impact. SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
Introduction SRS consist
sof:
R the 6 SRS warning lamp
R airbags
R the airbag control unit with crash sensors
R belt tensioners
R belt force limiters SRS reduces the risk of occupant
scoming
into contact with the vehicle's interior in the
event of an accident .Itcan also reduce the
forces to which occupant sare subjected dur-
ing an accident.
SRS warnin glamp G
WARNING
If SRS is malfunctioning, individuals ystems
may be triggere dunintentionally or might not
be triggere dinthe event of an accident with
ah igh rate of vehicl edeceleration.
Am alfunction has occurred if:
R the 6 SRS warning lamp does not light
up when the ignitio nisswitched on.
R the engine is running and the 6SRS
warning lamp does not go out after afew
seconds.
R the engine is running and the 6SRS
warning lamp lights up again.
In this case, have SRS checked immediately
at aq ualified specialist workshop.
SRS functionsa re checked regularly when
you switch on the ignition and when the
engine is running. Therefore, malfunctions
can be detected in good time.
The 6 SRS warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out no later than afew seconds
after the engine is started.
Triggering of belt tensioners, belt force
limiters and airbags During the first stage of
acollision, the airbag
control unit evaluates important physical
data relating to vehicle deceleration or accel-
eration, such as:
R duration
R direction
R magnitude
Based on the evaluation of this data, the air-
bag control unit pre-emptively triggers the
belt tensioners in the first stage. Occupant safety
41Safety Z

Have the airbags replaced at
aqualifie dspe-
cialist workshop .Otherwise, occupants are
not protecte dbythe airbags in the event of
anothe raccident.
Airba gdeployme nt slowsdowna nd restricts
the movement of the vehicl eoccupant.
If the airbags ar edeployed, you will hear a
bang ,and asmall amount of powder may also
be released. Only in rare cases will the bang
affect your hearing. The powder that is
released generally does not constitute a
health hazard. The 6SRS warning lamp
lights up.
The airbag installation locations are identified
by the AIRBAGs ymbol.
Front airbags !
Do not place heavy object sonthe front-
passenger seat. The system may then
detect that the seat is occupied and if there
is an accident ,the restraint systems on the
front-passenger side could be deployed.
Have restraint systems that have been trig-
gered replaced. Driver'
sairbag :deploys in front of the
steerin gwheel; front-passenger front air-
bag ;deploys in front of and above the glove
compartment.
The front airbags increase protection for the
driver's and front-passenger's head and
chest. They are deployed:
R
at the start of an accident with ahigh rate
of vehicle acceleration or deceleration in a
longitudinal direction
R if the system determines that airbag
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
R depending on whether the seat belt is being
used
R independently of other airbags in the vehi-
cle
If the vehicle overturns, the front airbags are
generally not deployed. The front airbags are
deployed if the system detect shigh vehicle
deceleration in alongitudinal direction.
Vehicles with automatic child seat recog-
nition in the front-passenger seat: front-
passenger airbag is only activated if the sys-
tem determines that the front-passenger seat
is occupied. The 4PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF indicator lamp on the centre console
does not light up (Y page 54).
If ac hild restraint system is fitted to the front-
passenger seat and the 4PASSENGER
AIRBAGO FF indicator lamp does not light up
on the centre console:
R ac hild restraint system without transpond-
ers for automatic child seat recognition is
fitted or
R ac hild restraint system with transponders
is not properly fitted.
Driver's kneebag 44
Occupant safetySafety

PRE-SAFE
®
(preventative occupant
protection) G
WARNING
When adjusting the seat, make sure that
nobody can become trapped.
! Make sure that there are no objectsint he
footwell or behind the seats when moving
the seat back. There is arisk that the seats
and/or the objectsc ould be damaged.
PRE-SAFE ®
takes pre-emptive measures to
protect occupants in certain hazardous sit-
uations.
PRE-SAFE ®
intervenes:
R when BAS activates, e.g. in emergency
braking situations
R when BAS PLUS intervenes powerfully on
vehicles with DISTRONIC PLUS
R if, on vehicles with DISTRONIC PLUS, the
radar sensor system detectsani mminent
dange rofcollision in certain situations
R in critical driving situations, e.g. when phys-
ical limits are exceeded and the vehicle
understeers or oversteers severely
PRE-SAFE ®
takes the following measures
depending on the hazardous situation detec-
ted:
R the front seat belts are pre-tensioned.
R vehicles with the memory function: the
front-passenger seat is adjusted if it is in an
unfavourable position.
R vehicles with amulticontour seat or active
multicontour seat: the air pressure in the
side bolsters of the seat cushion and back-
rest is increased.
R if the vehicle skids, the sliding sunroof/
panorama sliding sunroof and the side win-
dows are closed so that only asmall gap
remains.
If the hazardous situation passes without
resulting in an accident ,PRE-SAFE ®
slackens
the belt pretensioning. The air pressure in the
side bolsters on the multicontour seat/active
multicontour seat is reduced again. All set- tings made by PRE-SAFE
®
can then be
reversed.
If the seat belts are not released:
X Move the backrest or seat back slightly, but
only when the vehicle is stationary.
The belt pretensioning is reduced and the
lockin gmechanism is released.
More information about seat belt adjustment,
ac onvenienc efunction integrated into PRE-
SAFE ®
,c an be found under "Seat belt adjust-
ment"( Ypage 50). Seat belts
Important safety notes G
WARNING
As eat belt which is not worn correctly, or
which has not been engaged in the seat belt
buckle correctly, cannot provide the intended
level of protection. Under certain circumstan-
ces, this could cause severe or even fatal inju-
ries in the event of an accident.
Therefore, make sure that all occupant s—in
particular, pregnan twomen —wear their seat
belts correctly at all times.
R The seat belt must fit snugly on your body
and must not be twisted.Therefore, avoid
wearing bulky clothing, e.g. awinter coat.
The shoulder section of the belt must be
routed across the centre of your shoulder
—onnoa ccount across your neck or under
your arm —and pulled tight against your
uppe rbody. The lap belt must alwaysp ass
across your lap as low down as possible, i.e.
over your hip joints—n ot across your abdo-
men. If necessary, push the seat belt
slightly downwards and adjust it by pulling
it in the direction the seat belt retracts.
R Do not route the seat belt strap over sharp
or fragile objects. Please make sure that
such object sare not on or in your clothing,
e.g. spectacles, pens or keys etc. The seat
belt strap could become damaged and tear 48
Occupant safetySafety

X
Press release button ?on belt buckle =.
X Slide belt tongue ;back to belt sash
guide :.
Belt warning for the driver and front
passenger The
7 seat belt warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster is areminder for all occupants
to fasten their seat belts. It may light up con-
tinuously or flash. In addition, there may be a
warning tone.
The 7 seat belt warning lamp goes out and
the warning tonec eases when the driver and
the frontp assenger have fastened their seat
belt.
For certain countries only: regardless of
whether th edriver and th efront passenger
have fastened their seat belts, the 7seat
beltw arning lamp light supfor six seconds
after th eengineiss tarted. It then goes out if
th ed river and th efront pa ssenger have fas-
tene dtheir seat belts.
i For mor einformatio nonthe7 seat
belt warning lamp, see "Indicato rand warn-
ing lamps in the instrument cluster ,seat
belt" (Y page 259). Rea
rseatb elts tatus indicator Display for securel
yfastene doccupants on left
side of rea rcompartmen t(example)
The rear-compartment seat belt status indi-
cator tells you if the rear passengers have
their seat belts fastened. The rear-compart-
ment seat belt status indicato rindicate sthe
rea rseat on which the belt is fastened. The
ü symbol in the display indicates afas-
tened seat belt. If aseat belt is not fastened
or if aseat is not occupied, the ýsymbol
is displayed.
The rear-compartment seat belt status indi-
cator appears in the multifunction display for
around 30 seconds if:
R you drive off and reach aspeed of approx-
imately 10 km/h.
R the rear passengers fasten or unfasten
their seat belts while the vehicle is in
motion.
R someon egets in or out of the vehicle and
the vehicle drives off again.
You can also cancel the rear seat belt status
indicator immediately (Y page 231).
i The status indicator for the rear-compart-
ment seat belts is only available for certain
countries.
Belt tensioners, belt force limiters G
WARNING
If the seat belt tensioners have been trig-
gered, they provide no additional protection
in the event of another accident. Therefore,
have belt tensioners which have been trig-
gered replaced at aqualified specialist work-
shop. Occupant safety
51Safety
Z

Comply wit
hsafety regulation swhen dispos-
ing of belt tensioners. Any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre can provide details of these
regulations.
! If the front-passenger seat is not occu-
pied, do not engage the seat belt tongue in
the buckle on the front-passenger seat.
Otherwise, the belt tensioner could be trig-
gered in the event of an accident.
The seat belts are fitted with belt tensioners.
The belt tensioners tighten the seat belts in
an accident, pulling them close against the
body.
Belt tensioners do not correct incorrects eat
positions or incorrectly fastened seat belts.
Belt tensioners do not pull vehicle occupants
back towards the backrest.
If the seat belt is also fitted with abelt force
limiter and this is triggered, the force exerted
by the seat belt on the vehicle occupant is
reduced.
The belt force limiters for the front seats are
synchronised with the front airbags, which
take on apart of the deceleration force. This
results in the force exerted on the occupant
being distributed over agreater area.
The belt tensioners can only be activated
when:
R the ignition is switched on.
R the restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp" (Y page 41).
R the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
each of the three-point seat belts in front.
R
The belt tensioners on the seats in the rear
compartmenta re triggeredindependently of
the lock status of the seat belts.
The beltt ensioners are triggered depending
on the type and severit yofanaccident:
R if, in the event of ahead-on or rear-en dcol-
lision the vehicle decelerates or acceler- ates rapidly in
alongitudinal direction dur-
ing the initial stages of the impact
R if, in the event of aside impact, on the side
opposite the impact the vehicle deceler-
ates or accelerates rapidly in alateral direc-
tion
R in certain situation swhere the vehicle over-
turn sand the system determines that it can
provide additional protection
If the airbags are deployed, you will hear a
bang, and asmall amount of powder may also
be released. Only in rare cases will the bang
affect your hearing. The powder that is
released generally does not constitute a
health hazard. The 6SRS warning lamp
lights up. Children in the vehicle
Child restraint systems
Important safet ynotes G
WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious or even fatal
injur ytot he child in the event of asudden
change in direction, brakin goranaccident:
R children less than 1.5 0mtall and under
twelve years of age must alway sbesecured
in special child restraint systems on asuit-
able vehicle seat. This is necessary
because the seat belts are not designed for
children.
R Do not drive with achild secured in arear-
ward-facin gchild restraint system on the
front-passenger seat. Exception: if the vehi-
cle is equipped with automatic child seat
recognition on the front-passenger seat
and the child is secured in achild restraint
system with transponder sfor automatic
child seat recognition
R if you secure aforward-facing child
restraint system to the front-passenger 52
Children in thev
ehicleSafety

seat, you must move the front-passenger
seat as far back as possible.
R children must never travel sitting on the lap
of another occupant. Due to the forces
which occur in the event of asudden
change of direction, heavy braking or an
accident, it wouldn ot be possible to
restrain the child. The child could be thrown
against parts of the vehicle interior and be
seriously or even fatally injured. G
WARNING
The child restraint system cannot perform its
protective function if it is not correctly fitted
to as uitable vehicle seat. The child cannot be
restrained in the event of an accident, heavy
braking or sudden changes of direction. The
child could be seriously or even fatally injured.
For this reason, when fitting achild restraint
system, observe the manufacturer's installa-
tion instructions and the correct use of the
child restraint system.
Child restraint systems should be fitted to the
rear seats. Children are generally better pro-
tected there.
The entire base of the child restraint system
must always rest on the seat cushion. There-
fore, never place objects, e.g. acushion,
under the child restraint system.
Only use child restraint systems with the orig-
inal cover designed for them. Only replace
damaged covers with genuine Mercedes-Benz
covers.
We recommend the use of child restraint sys-
tems which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles. G
WARNING
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in achild
restraint system. They could injure them-
selves on parts of the vehicle. They could also
be seriously or even fatally injured by pro-
longed exposure to extreme heat or cold.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. Parts of the child restraint sys- tem could heat up and the child could burn
herself/himself on them.
If
ac hild opens adoor, the child or other per-
sons could be injured as aresult. They could
get out and injure themselves or be injured by
ap assing vehicle.
Observe the general notes on the HOLD func-
tion, which can be found under the same key-
word. G
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly positioned loads
increase the risk of injury for children and all
other occupants in the event of:
R an accident
R sudden braking
R as udden change of direction
Do not transport heavy or hard objects in the
vehicle interior unless they are secured. You
will find further information under "Loading
guidelines" in the index.
If ac hild is travelling in your vehicle, secure
the child using achild restraint system which
is recommended for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The child restraint system must be appropri-
ate to the age, weight and size of the child.
Ideallyt he child restraint system should be
installed on asuitabler ear seat. Make sure
that the child is secured for the trip.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
the listed child restraint systems
(Y page 60). You can obtain further infor-
mation aboutt he correct child restraint sys-
tem from any Mercedes-Ben zService Centre.
i It is advisabletou se Mercedes-Benzcare
product stoclean child restraint systems.
You can obtain informatio nabout this at
any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Children in thev
ehicle
53Safety Z

Child restraint system on th
efront-
passenge rseat G
WARNING
If th efront- passenger airbag is not disabled:
R ac hild secured in achild restraint system
on th efront- passenger seat could be seri-
ously and even fatally injured by th efront-
passenge rairbag deploying .This is espe-
cially arisk if the child is in the immediate
vicinity of the front-passenger airbag when
it deploys.
R never secure achild on the front-passenger
seat in arearward-facing child restraint sys-
tem. Only secure arearward-facing child
restraint system on asuitable rear seat.
R always move the front-passenger seat to
the rearmost position if you secure achild
in af orward-facing child restraint system
on the front-passenger seat.
The front-passenger airbag is not disabled:
R on vehicles without automatic child seat
recognition on the front-passenger seat
R in vehicles with automatic child seat rec-
ognition in the front-passenger seat, if no
special child restraint system with trans-
ponders for automatic child seat recogni-
tion in the front-passenger seat has been
fitted
R on vehicles with automatic child seat rec-
ognition on the front-passenger seat, if the
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
4 is not lit.
To make you aware of this danger, acorre-
sponding warning sticker has been affixed on
the dashboard and on both sides of the sun
visor on the front-passenger side.
Information about recommended child
restraint systems is available at any
Mercedes-Ben zService Centre. Warning notice on the front-passenger sun visor
Warning symbol for
arearward-facing child
restraint system
Do not use arearward-facing child restraint
system on aseat that is protected by an air-
bag installed in front of it.
Automatic child seat recognitionont he
front-passenger seat G
WARNING
If the 4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indica-
tor lamp does not light up when the child
restraint system is fitted, the front-passenger
airbag has not been disabled. If the front-
passenger airbag deploys, the child could be
seriously or even fatally injured.
Proceed as follows:
R do not use arearward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat.
R fit arearward-facing child restraint system
on asuitable rear seat.
or 54
Children in the vehicleSafety

R
only use aforward-facin gchild restraint
system on the front-passenger seat and
move the front-passenger seat to the rear-
most position.
R have the automatic child seat recognition
checked at aqualified specialist workshop.
To ensure that the automatic child seat rec-
ognition on the front-passenger seat func-
tions/communicates correctly, never place
objects, e.g. acushion, under the child
restraint system. The entire base of the child
restraint system must always rest on the seat
cushion. An incorrectly fitted child restraint
system cannot perform its intended protec-
tive function in the event of an accident, and
could lead to injuries. G
WARNING
Do not place electronic devices on the front-
passenger seat, e.g.:
R laptops, when switched on
R mobile phones
R cards with transponders, e.g. ski passes or
access cards
Signals from electronic equipment can cause
interference in the automatic child seat rec-
ognition sensor system. This can lead to a
system malfunction. This may cause the
4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp to light up without there being achild
seat with transponders for automatic child
seat recognition fitted. The front-passenger
airbag will not then deploy during an accident.
It is also possible that the 6SRS warning
lamp lights up and/or the 4PASSENGER
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp does not light up
briefly when you turn the key in the ignition
lock to position 2. If your vehicle does not have automatic child
seat recognition on the front-passenger seat,
this is indicated by
aspecial sticker. The
sticker is affixed to the side of the dashboard
on the front-passenger side. The sticker is
visible when you open the front-passenger
door.
Vehicles without automatic child seat recog-
nition on the front-passenger seat: when you
turn the key to position 2inthe ignition lock,
the 4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp lights up briefly, but does not have any
function. It does not indicate that there is
automatic child seat recognition on the front-
passenger seat. The front-passenger seat sensor system for
child restraint systems detectsw
hether a
special Mercedes-Ben zchild seat with a
transponder for automatic child seat recog-
nition has been fitted. In this case, 4
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp :
lights up. The front-passenger front airbag is
disabled. Children in the vehicle
55Safety Z