2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER airbag disable

rate of deceleration or acceleration of the
vehicle. This process is pre-emptive in nature. The triggering process must take place in
good time at the start of the collision.
The rate of vehicle deceleration or accelera-
tion and the direction of the force are essen- tially determined by:
R the distribution of forces during the colli-
sion
R the collision angle
R the deformation characteristics of the vehi-
cle
R the characteristics of the object with which
the vehicle has collided.
Factors which can only be seen and measured after a collision has occurred do not play a
decisive role in the deployment of an airbag,
nor do they provide an indication of airbag
deployment.
The vehicle may be deformed significantly,
e.g. the bonnet or the wing, without an airbag being deployed. This is the case if only parts
which are relatively easily deformed are affec-ted and the rate of deceleration is not high.
Conversely, airbags may be deployed even
though the vehicle suffers only minor defor-
mation. This is the case if, for example, very
rigid vehicle parts such as longitudinal body
members are hit, and sufficient deceleration
occurs as a result.
i The belt tensioners can only be triggered
if the seat belt tongues are correctly
engaged in the seat belt buckles.
i Not all airbags are deployed in an acci-
dent. The different airbag systems work
independently of each other.
How the airbag system works is deter-
mined by the severity of the collision detec- ted, especially the vehicle deceleration or
acceleration, and the apparent type of acci- dent:
R frontal collision
R side impact R
rear impact
R overturn Airbags
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Airbags provide additional protection; they
are not, however, a substitute for seat belts.
Observe the following notes to reduce the risk of serious or even fatal injury caused by airbag
deployment:
R all vehicle occupants – in particular, preg-
nant women – must wear their seat belt
correctly at all times and lean back against
the backrest, which should be positioned
as close to the vertical as possible. The
head restraint must support the back of the
head at about eye level.
R always secure children less than 1.50 m tall
or under 12 years of age in suitable child
restraint systems.
R all vehicle occupants must select a seat
position that is as far away from the airbag
as possible. The driver's seat position must allow the vehicle to be driven safely. The
driver's chest should be as far away from
the centre of the driver's airbag cover as
possible.
R move the front-passenger seat as far back
as possible. This is especially important if
you have secured a child in a child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat.
R vehicle occupants – in particular, children –
must not lean their heads into the area of
the window in which the sidebag/headbag
is deployed.
R rearward-facing child restraint systems
must not be fitted to the front-passenger
seat unless the front-passenger front air-
bag has been disabled. The front-passenger
front airbag is disabled if a child restraint
system with transponders for automatic
child seat recognition is fitted to the front- 52
Occupant safetySafety

unless a child restraint system with trans-
ponders for automatic child seat recogni-
tion is fitted to the front-passenger seat. In order to make use of the automatic child
seat recognition, a Mercedes-Benz
approved child seat with a transponder is
necessary.
R on vehicles with automatic child seat rec-
ognition on the front-passenger seat, if the
_ PASSENGER AIRBAG ON indicator
lamp lights up for 60 seconds after the igni-
tion is switched on and the 4
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
does not light up.
To make you aware of this danger, a corre-
sponding warning sticker has been affixed to
the side of 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-Benz Service Centre. Warning notice on the front-passenger sun visor
Warning symbol for a rearward-facing child
restraint system NEVER use a rearward-facing child restraint
on a seat protected by an ACTIVE AIRBAG in
front of it; DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the
CHILD can occur. Automatic child seat recognition on
the 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 front airbag has not been disabled. If the front-
passenger front airbag deploys, the child
could be seriously or even fatally injured.
Proceed as follows:
R do not use a rearward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat.
or
R only use a forward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat. Move
the front-passenger seat as far back as pos-
sible. When doing so, ensure that the shoul-
der belt strap from the belt outlet on the
vehicle is routed towards the front to the
shoulder belt guide on the child restraint
system.
R have the automatic child seat recognition
checked at a qualified 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. a cushion, 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. Child restraint systems
63Safety Z

G
WARNING
Electronic devices on the front-passenger
seat can affect the function of the automatic
child seat recognition, for example:
R laptop
R mobile phone
R transponder cards such as ski passes or
access passes
The front-passenger front airbag could deploy unintentionally or not function as intended
during an accident. This poses an increased
risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Do not place any of the devices mentioned
above or similar devices on the front-
passenger seat. :
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
; PASSENGER AIRBAG ON indicator lamp
The automatic child seat recognition sensor
system on the front-passenger seat detects
whether a special Mercedes-Benz child seat
has been fitted there. The Mercedes-Benz
child seat is equipped with transponders for
automatic child seat recognition so that it can
be detected by the sensor system. In this
case, PASSENGER AIRBAG ON indicator
lamp ;lights up briefly when the ignition is
switched on. PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indi-
cator lamp :remains lit. The front-
passenger front airbag is disabled. i
If the front-passenger front airbag is dis-
abled by the automatic child seat recogni-
tion, the following remain enabled on the
front-passenger side:
R the sidebag
R the headbag
R the belt tensioner ISOFIX child seat securing system
G
WARNING
ISOFIX child restraint systems do not offer
sufficient protective effect for children whose weight is greater than 22 kg who are securedusing the safety belt integrated in the child
restraint system. The child could, for example,not be restrained correctly in the event of an
accident. This poses an increased risk of
injury or even fatal injury.
If the child weighs more than 22 kg, only use
ISOFIX child restraint systems with which the child is also secured with the vehicle seat belt. Also secure the child restraint system with the
Top Tether belt, if available.
When installing a child restraint system, be
sure to observe the manufacturer's installa-
tion instructions and the instructions for cor- rect use of the child restraint system. G
WARNING
If the child restraint system has not been fit-
ted correctly, it cannot perform its intended
protective function. 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 securing a child
restraint system, always observe the manu-
facturer's fitting instructions and the correct
application range of the child restraint sys-
tem.
For safety reasons, only use child restraint
systems with an ISOFIX child seat securing
system which have been tested and approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. 64
Child restraint systemsSafety

Weight cat-
egories Front-
passenger
front air-
bag is not
disabled Front-
passenger
front air-
bag is disa-
bled
Category 0:
up to 10 kg X U, L
Category
0+: up to
13 kg
X U, L
Category I:
9 to 18 kg
UF, L U, L
Category II:
15 to 25 kg UF, L U, L
Category
III: 22 to
36 kg
UF, L U, L
Vehicles with automatic child seat recog-
nition in the front-passenger seat: a "Uni-
versal" category child restraint system with a
transponder for automatic child seat recog-
nition must be fitted when the front-
passenger front airbag is disabled. The
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
must be lit. Example: approval label on the child restraint sys-
tem
"Universal" category child restraint systems
can be recognised by their orange approval
label and the text "Universal".
"Universal" category child restraint systems
can be used on the seats indicated with U, UF or IUF in accordance with the "Suitability of
the front passenger seat for attaching belted
child restraint systems" or "Suitability of the
front-passenger seat for attaching an ISOFIX
child restraint system".
Semi-universal child restraint systems are
indicated by the text "semi-universal" on the
approval label. These can be used if the vehi-
cle and the seat are listed in the child restraint system manufacturer's vehicle model list. For
more information, contact the child restraint
system manufacturer or visit their website.
Suitability of the front-passenger seat for fitting an ISOFIX child restraint system:
Key to the letters used in the following table:
XI SOFIX position that is not suitable for
ISOFIX child restraint systems in this
weight category and/or size category.
IUF Suitable for forward-facing ISOFIX child restraint systems that belong to the
"Universal" category which are approvedfor use in this weight category.
IL Suitable for ISOFIX child restraint sys- tems as recommended; see the follow-
ing table of "Recommended child
restraint systems" (Y page 67).
Carry-cot weight category Size cate-
gory Equipment Front-
passenger
seat
F ISO/L1 X
G ISO/L2 X
Weight category 0: up to 10 kg up to
approximately 6 months
Size cate-
gory Equipment Front-
passenger
seat
E ISO/R1 X66
Child restraint systemsSafety

Problems with automatic child seat recognition
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The PASSENGER AIR-
BAG OFF indicator
lamp on the centre con-
sole is lit. A special Mercedes-Benz child seat with a transponder for auto-
matic child seat recognition has been fitted to the front-passenger
seat. The front-passenger front airbag has therefore been disabled
as desired. G
WARNING
There is no child seat fitted to the front-passenger seat. Automatic child seat recognition is malfunctioning.
When you switch on the ignition, it is also possible that:
R the 6 SRS warning lamp lights up.
R the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp does not light up
briefly.
R the PASSENGER AIRBAG ON indicator lamp does not light up, or
lights up and does not go out after 60 seconds.
There is a risk of injury.
X Remove electronic equipment from the front-passenger seat,
e.g.:
R laptop
R mobile phone
R cards with transponders, such as ski passes or access cards
If the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp is still lit: X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems overview
In this section, you will find information about the following driving safety systems:
R ABS ( Anti-lock BrakingSystem)
(Y page 71)
R BAS ( Brake Assist System) (Y page 71)
R BAS PLUS ( BrakeAssist System PLUS)
(Y page 72)
R Adaptive brake lamps (Y page 73)
R ESP ®
(Electronic StabilityProgram)
(Y page 73)
R EBD ( electronic brake force distribution)
(Y page 76) R
ADAPTIVE BRAKE (Y page 77)
R PRE-SAFE ®
Brake (Y page 77)
R STEER CONTROL (Y page 78) Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you
are inattentive, the driving safety systems can
neither reduce the risk of an accident nor
override the laws of physics. Driving safety
systems are merely aids designed to assist
driving. You are responsible for the distance
to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed and
for braking in good time. Always adapt your
driving style to suit the prevailing road and
weather conditions and maintain a safe dis- 70
Driving safety systemsSafety