2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SL-Class warning

restraint systems for infants and children
(Y page 70). SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
Introduction SRS consists of:
R
the 001B SRS warning lamp
R air bags
R the air bag control unit with crash sensors
R Emergency Tensioning Devices
R beltf orce limiters
SRS reduces the risk of occupants coming
into contact with the vehicle's interior in the
event of an accident. It can also reduce the
effect of the forces to which occupants are
subjected during an accident.
SRS warning lamp G
WARNING
The SRS self-chec khas detected a
malfunction if the 001BSRS indicator lamp:
R does no tlight up at all
R does not go out after approximately four
seconds after the engine is started
R lights up after the engin eis started or while
the vehicle is in motion
For your safety, Mercedes-Benz strongly
recommends that you have the system
checked as soon as possible at a qualified
specialist workshop. SRS may otherwise fail
to activate when it is needed in the event of
an accident, which could lead to serious or
fatal injuries. SRS might also be activated
unexpectedly and unnecessarily, which could
also result in injury.
In addition, work carried out improperly on
SRS may render SRS inoperative or cause
unintended air bag deployment. Work on the
SRS system should only be carried out by
qualified specialist personnel. Consult a
qualified specialist workshop. If it is necessary to modify an air bag system
to accommodate a person with disabilities,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for details. USA only: for further information,
contact our Customer Assistance Center at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372).
The 001B SRS warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out no later than a few seconds
after the engine is started.
SRS functions are checked regularly when the
engine is running. Therefore, malfunctions
can be detected in good time.
The SRS components are in operational
readiness when the SRS 001Bindicator lamp
goes out while the engine is running.
Safety guidelines for seat belts,
Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs)
and air bags G
WARNING
R Damaged seat belts or seat belts that have
been subjected to stress in an accident
must be replaced. Their anchoring points
must also be checked. Only use seat belts
installed or supplied by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
R Air bags and pyrotechnic Emergency
Tensioning Devices (ETDs) contain
perchlorate material, which may require
special handling and regard for the
environment.C heck your national disposal
guidelines. California residents, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/
Perchlorate/index.cfm.
R Air bags and ETDs are designed to function
on a one-time-only basis. An air bag or ETD
that has deployed must be replaced.
R Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.
R Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the seat belts. Occupant safety
53Safety
Z

R
Do not bleach or dye sea tbelts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
R No modifications of any kind may be made
to any components or wiring of the SRS.
R Do not change or remove any component
or part of the SRS.
R Do not install additional trim material, seat
covers, badges, etc.o ver the steering
wheel hub, front-passenge rfront air bag
cover, outer sides of the seat backrests,
door trim panels, or door frame trims.
R Do not install additional electrical/
electronic equipment on or near SRS
components and wiring.
R Keep area between air bags and occupants
free of objects (e.g. packages, purses,
umbrellas, etc.).
R Air bag system components will be hot after
an air bag has inflated. Do not touch them.
R Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
R Imprope rrepair work on the SRS creates a
risk of rendering the SRS inoperative or
causing unintended air bag deployment.
Work on the SRS must therefore only be
performed by qualified technicians.
Contac tanauthorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
R For your protection and the protection of
others, when scrapping the air bag unit or
ETD, our safety instructions must be
followed .These instructions are available
from any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
R Given the considerable deployment speed,
required inflation volume, and the material
of the air bags, there is the possibility of
abrasions or other, potentially more serious
injuries resulting from air bag deployment.
If you sell your vehicle, Mercedes-Benz
strongly recommends that you inform the
subsequent owner that the vehicle is equipped with SRS. Also, refer them to the
applicable section in the Operator's Manual. Air bags
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Air bags are designed to reduce the incidence
of injuries and fatalities in certain situations:
R frontal impacts (driver's and front-
passenger front air bags and knee bags)
R side impacts (side impact air bags and head
bags)
R rollover (head bags)
However, no system available today can
completely eliminate injuries and fatalities.
When the air bags are deployed, a small
amount of powder is released. The powder
generally does not constitute a health hazard
and does not indicate that there is a fire in the
vehicle. In order to prevent potential
breathing difficulties, you should leave the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you
have any breathing difficulty but cannot get
out of the vehicle after the air bag inflates,
then get fresh air by opening a window or
door. G
WARNING
In order to reduce the potential danger of
injuries caused during the deployment of the
front air bags, the driver and front passenger
must always be correctly seated and wear
their seat belts.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision, you must always be in the normal
seat position with your back against the
backrest. Fasten your seat belt and make sure
that it is correctly positioned on your body. 54
Occupant safetySafety

As the ai
rbag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating position
and correct positioning of the hands on the
steering wheel will help to keep you at a safe
distance from the air bag. Occupants who are
no tw earing their seat belt, are not seated
properly or are too close to the air bag can be
seriously injured or killed by an air bag, as it
inflates with great force instantaneously:
R sit with the seat belt fastened correctly and
in a position that is as upright as possible
with your back against the backrest.
R move the driver's seat as far back as
possible, still permitting proper operation
of vehicle controls. The distance from the
center of the driver's chest to the middle of
the air bag cover on the steering wheel
must be at least 10 inches (25 cm). You
should be able to accomplish this by
adjusting the seat and steering wheel. If
you have any difficulties, please contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
R do not lean your head or chest close to the
steering wheel or dashboard.
R only hold the steering wheel on the outside.
Placing hands and arms inside the rim of
the steering wheel can increase the risk
and potential severity of hand/arm injuries
if the air bag inflates.
R adjust the front-passenger seat as far back
as possible from the dashboard when the
seat is occupied.
R occupants, especially children, should
never place their bodies or lean their heads
in the area of the door where the side
impact air bag and/or head bag inflates.
This could result in serious injuries or death
should the side impact air bag/head bag be
deployed. Always sit as upright as possible,
wear the seat belt properly and use an
appropriately sized infant restraint, toddler
restraint or booster seat recommended for
the size and weight of the child.
Failure to follow these instructions can result
in severe injuries to you or other occupants. If you sell your vehicle, it is important that you
make the buyer aware of this safety
information. Be sure to give the buyer this
Operator's Manual.
G
WARNING
If the side impact air bag and/or head bag is
deployed in the event of a side impact and the
fron tpassenger, especially achild, is not
properly seated or restrained when next to a
side impact air bag/head bag, injuries are
possible due to the rapid inflation of the side
impact air bag/head bag.
To help avoid the possibility of injury, please
follow these guidelines:
(1) Always sit as upright as possible, and use the seat belts properly.
Make sure that children 12 years
old and under use an appropriately
sized child restraint, infant
restraint or booster seat
recommended for the size and
weight of the child.
(2) Always wear seat belts properly.
If the air bags are deployed, you will hear a
bang, and a small 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 001BSRS warning lamp
lights up.
The air bags are deployed if the air bag control
unit detects the need for deployment. Only in
the event of such a situation will the air bags
provide their supplemental protection.
If the driver and front passenger do not wear
their seat belts, it is not possible for the air
bags to provide their supplemental
protection.
In the event of other types of impacts and
impacts below air bag deployment
thresholds, the air bags will not deploy.T he
driver and passengers will then be protected
to the extentp ossible by a properly fastened
seat belt. Aproperly fastened seat belti s also Occupant safety
55Safety Z

Knee bags
Driver's knee bag
0002deploys underneath the
steering column and front-passenger knee
bag 0003underneath the glove box .They
deploy together with the front air bags. They
are designed to operate together with the
front air bags in frontal impacts if certain
thresholds are exceeded. The knee bags
operate at best in conjunction with correctly
positioned and fastened seat belts.
Knee bags provide increased protection for
the driver and front passenger against the risk
of:
R knee injuries
R thigh injuries
R lower leg injuries
Side impact air bags G
WARNING
The pressure sensors for side impact air bag
control are located in the doors. Do not
modify any components of the doors or door
trim panels including, for example, the
addition of door speakers.
Improper repair work on the doors or the
modification or addition of components to the
doors create a risk of rendering the side
impact air bags inoperative or causing
unintended air bag deployment. Work on the
doors must therefore only be performed by
qualified technicians. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. G
WARNING
Only use seat covers which have been tested
and approved by Mercedes-Ben zfor your
vehicle model. Using other seat covers may
interfere with or prevent the deployment of
the side impact air bags. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
availability. Example: side impact air bag on the driver's side
Side impact air bags
0002deploy next to the
outer side bolsters of the seat backrest.
When deployed, the side impact air bags offer
additional protection for the thorax of the
vehicle occupants on the side of the vehicle
on which the impact occurs. However, they
do not protect the:
R head
R neck
R arms
The side impact air bags are deployed:
R on the side on which an impact occurs
R at the start of an accident with a high rate
of lateral vehicle deceleration or
acceleration, e.g. in aside impact
R depending on whether the seat belt is being
used
R independently of the front air bags
R independently of the ETDs
If the vehicle overturns, the side impac tair
bags are generally not deployed. Side impact
air bags are deployed if the system detects
high vehicle deceleration or acceleration in a
lateral direction and determines that side Occupant safety
57Safety Z

impac
tair bag deploymen tcan offer
additional protection to that provided by the
seat belt.
Side impac tair bags will not deploy in side
impacts which do not exceed the system's
prese tdeployment thresholds for lateral
acceleration/deceleration .You will then be
protected by the fastened seat belt.
The side impact air bag on the front-
passenger side does not deploy under the
following conditions:
R the OCS system detects that the front-
passenger seat is not occupied, and
R the front-passenger seat belt is not
fastened.
The side impact air bag on the front-
passenger side will deploy if the front-
passenger seat belt is fastened, regardless of
whether the front-passenger seat is occupied
or not.
Head bags Example: head bag on the front-passenger side
Head bags 0002deploy in the area of the side
windows at the front.H ead bags enhance the
level of protection for the head, but not chest
or arms, of the vehicle occupants on the side
of the vehicle on which the impact occurs.
The head bags are deployed:
R at the start of an accident with a high rate
of lateral vehicle deceleration or
acceleration, e.g. in aside impact
R on the side on which an impac toccurs R
on the driver's side and passenger side, in
the event of a vehicle rollover and if the
system determines that ai rbag deployment
can offer the vehicle occupants additional
protection to that provided by the seat belt
R independently of the use of the seat belt
R independently of the fron tair bags
Head bags will not deploy in side impacts
which do not exceed the system's preset
deploymen tthresholds for lateral
acceleration/deceleration. You will then be
protected by the fastened seat belt.
The head bag on the front-passenger side is
not deployed in the following situations:
R the OCS system detects that the front-
passenger seat is not occupied, and
R the front-passenger seat belt is not
fastened.
The head bag on the front-passenger side will
deploy if the front-passenger seat belt is
fastened, regardless of whether the front-
passenger seat is occupied or not. Roll bar
G
DANGER
If the roll bar is malfunctioning, the 0011
Malfunction Service Required message
appears in the multifunction display.T he roll
bars will then possibly not be extended in the
event of an accident. This could result in
severe or even fatal injuries to you and other
occupants. In this case, visit a qualified
specialist workshop immediately and have
the roll bar checked. G
WARNING
If you place objects or clothing on the roll bar
covers, these could impair roll bar extension.
You and others could be injured by objects
being thrown around when the roll bars are
triggered.
Ensure that the area above the roll bar covers
is kept clear. Stow objects or clothing in a
secure place. 58
Occupant safetySafety

The roll bars are located in the rear area of
the vehicle under the two outer rear
compartment trim covers.
The roll bars are extended automatically if
systems detect that the vehicle is in danger
of rolling over. The two rear compartment
trim covers are opened and the roll bars are
extended within fractions of a second.
Once the roll bars are extended, you can no
longer lower them. An open roof can no
longer be closed. In this case, visit the nearest
qualified specialist workshop. Occupant Classification System
(OCS)
Method of operation G
WARNING
If the 0016 PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp illuminates when an adult or
someone larger than a small individual is in
the front-passenger seat, have the front
passenger reposition himself or herself in the
seat until the 0016PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp goes out.
In the event of a collision, the air bag control
unit will not allow front-passenger fronta ir
bag and front-passenge rknee bag
deployment when the OC Shas classified the
front-passenger occupant as weighing as
much as or less than a typical 12 month old
child in a standard child restraint or if the
front-passenger seat is classified as being
unoccupied. When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat occupant is classified as
being up to or less than the weigh
tofatypical
12-month-old child in a standard child
restraint, the 0016PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp will illuminate when the engine
is started and remai nilluminated. This
indicates that the front-passenger front air
bag and the front-passenge rknee bag are
deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger sea tis classified as being empty,
the 0016 PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp will illuminate when the engine is started
and remain illuminated. This indicates that
the front-passenger front air bag and the
front-passenger knee bag are deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat occupant is classified as
being heavier than the weight of a typical 12-
month-old child seated in astandard child
restraint or as being a small individual (such
as a young teenager or asmall adult), the
0016 PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp will illuminate for approximately 6
seconds when the engine is started.
Depending on occupant weight sensor
readings from the seat, it will then remain
illuminated or go out. If the 0016PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is illuminated, the
front-passenger front air bag and the front-
passenger knee bag are deactivated. If the
0016 PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is not illuminated, the front-passenger
front air bag and the front-passenger knee
bag are activated.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat occupant is classified as an
adult or someone larger than a small
individual, the 0016PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF indicator lamp will illuminate for
approximately six seconds when the engine is
started and then go out. This indicates that
the front-passenger front air bag and the
front-passenger knee bag are activated. Occupant safety
59Safety
Z

If the
0016 PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp is illuminated ,the front-
passenger front air bag and the front-
passenger knee bag are deactivated and are
not deployed.
If the 0016 PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp is not illuminated, the front-
passenger front air bag and the front-
passenger knee bag are activated and are
deployed:
R in certain front impacts
R independently of the side impact air bag
and head bag
R if the impact has exceeded a
predetermined threshold value for
deployment
If the front-passenger front air bag is
deployed, the rate of inflation will be
influenced by:
R the rate of vehicle deceleration as assessed
by the air bag control unit
R the front passenger's weight category as
determined by the OCS G
WARNING
Children under 12 years must be secured
correctly in a suitable infant or child restraint
system or booster seat suitable for the size
and weight of the child.
The infant or child restraint must be properly
secured with the vehicle's seat belt fully in
accordance with the child seat
manufacturer's instructions.
Occupants, in particular children, must sit as
upright as possible, fasten the seat belt
correctly and use a suitable infant restraint
system, child restraint system or booster seat
suitable for the size and weight of the child.
Children can be seriously or even fatally
injured by an air bag deploying.
Observe the following information:
R Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to deactivate the
front-passenger front air bag and the front- passenger knee bag in your vehicle when
the system senses the weight of a typical
12-month-old child or less along with the
weight of a standard appropriate child
restraint on the front-passenger seat.
R A child in a rear-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat will be
seriously injured or even killed if the front-
passenger front air bag inflates in a collision
despite the air bag technology installed in
your vehicle, which could occur under some
circumstances.
R If you must install a rearward-facing child
restraint on the front-passenger seat, make
sure the 0016PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp is illuminated, indicating
that the front-passenger front air bag and
front-passenger knee bag are deactivated.
If the 0016 PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp does not light up or goes out
when a rearward-facing child restraint
system is installed, please check
installation. Periodically check the 0016
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
while driving to make sure the 0016
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is
illuminated. If the 0016PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator lamp goes out or
remains out do not carry a child on the
front-passenger seat.
R Ac hild in a rearward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat will be
seriously injured or even killed if the front-
passenger air bag is deployed. 60
Occupant safetySafety

R
When securing a child in achild restraint
system on the front-passenger seat, you
must:
- move the front-passenger seat as far
back as possible
- use a child restraint system that is
suitable for the age, size and weight of
the child
- observe the manufacturer's installation
instructions in order to install and secure
the child restraint system correctly.
R For children larger than the typical 12-
month-old child, the front-passenger front
air bag may or may not be activated. G
WARNING
If the red 001BSRS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and the 0016PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp light up
simultaneously, the OCS is malfunctioning.
The front-passenger front air bag and the
front-passenger knee bag will be deactivated
in this case. Have the system checked as soon
as possible by qualified technicians. Consult
an authorized Mercedes-Ben zCenter.
Only have the seat repaired at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
In order to ensure correct operation of the air
bag system and OCS:
R sit with the seat belt fastened correctly and
in a position that is as upright as possible
with your back against the backrest.
R while seated, an occupant should not
position themselves in such away as to
cause their weigh tto be lifted from the seat
cushion as this may result in OCS being
unable to correctly assess the occupant's
weight category.
R read and observe all warnings in this
section. If the key has been removed from the ignition
lock or is in position
0, the00040006
indicator lamp 0002does not light up.
The 00040005 indicator lamp 0003is
inoperative. It lights up briefly when the
ignition is switched on and then goes out
again.
Occupant Classification System (OCS)
categories the occupant on the front-
passenger seat using a weight sensor. The
front-passenger front air bag and the front-
passenger knee bag are deactivated
automatically for certain weight categories.
The 00040006 indicator lamp 0002shows you
the current status. If the 00040006indicator
lamp 0002lights up, the front-passenger air bag
and the front-passenger knee bag are
disabled.
The OCS weight sensor reading is affected if
the occupant's weight is transferred, e.g. by
leaning on the armrest.
Both the driver and the front passenger
should always observe the 00040006
indicator lamp 0002to determine whether or
not the front passenger is positioned
correctly. Also observe the air bag display
messages, which appear in the instrument
cluster (Y page 250).
The system does not deactivate:
R the side impact air bag
R the front-passenger head bag
R the Emergency Tensioning Devices Occupant safety
61Safety Z