Seat belts
Using seat belts
Introduction
Fig. 114
Driver wearing seat belt
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
The physical principle of a frontal collision
131
Fastening and unfastening seat belts
132
Belt height adjustment on the front seats
133
Seat belts that are fastened correctly offer good protection in the event of an ac-
cident. They reduce the risk of an injury and increase the chance of survival in the
event of a major accident.
Correctly fastened seat belts hold occupants of the car in the correct seated posi-
tion » Fig. 114 .
The seat belts reduce the kinetic energy (energy of motion) to a considerable ex-
tent. They also prevent uncontrolled movements which, in turn, may well result in
severe injuries.
Occupants of a vehicle who have correctly fastened their seat belts have the ma-
jor benefit of the fact that the kinetic energy is absorbed as effectively as possi-
ble by the belts.
The structure of the front end of the vehicle and other passive safety measures,
such as the airbag system, also contribute to the kinetic energy being reduced as
effectively as possible. The energy produced is thus absorbed and there is less
risk of injury.
Particular safety aspects must be observed when transporting children in the ve-
hicle » page 142 , Transporting children safely .WARNING■
Fasten your seat belt before each journey – even when driving in town! This
also applies to the passengers seated at the rear – risk of injury!■
Expectant women must also always wear a seat belt. This is the only way of
ensuring optimal protection for the unborn child » page 132, Fastening and
unfastening seat belts .
■
Maximum seat belt protection is only achieved if you are correctly seat-
ed » page 127 , Correct seated position .
■
The seat backrests of the front seats must not be tilted too far to the rear
otherwise the seatbelts can lose their effectiveness.
WARNINGObserve the following instructions for the correct routing of the seat belt.■Always ensure that the webbing of the seat belts is properly routed. Seat
belts which are not correctly adjusted can themselves cause injuries even in
minor accidents.■
Adjust the height of the belt in such a way that the shoulder part of the belt
is roughly positioned across the middle of your shoulder – on no account
across your neck.
■
A seat belt which is hanging too loose can result in injuries as your body is
moved forward by the kinetic energy produced in an accident and is then sud-
denly held firm by the belt.
■
The belt webbing must not run across solid or fragile objects (e.g. specta-
cles, ball-point pens, bunches of keys etc.). Such objects can cause injury.
WARNINGObserve the following instructions for handling the seat belts.■The belt webbing must not be jammed in-between at any point or twisted,
or chafe against any sharp edges.■
Make sure you do not catch the seat belt in the door when closing it.
130Safety
Belt height adjustment on the front seatsFig. 118
Front seat: Seat belt height ad-
juster
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 130.
The seat belt height adjuster makes it possible to adjust the routing of the front
seat belts in the area of the shoulder to the body size.
›
Press the seat belt height adjuster and move up or down in the desired direc- tion » Fig. 118 .
›
Then pull firmly on the belt to ensure that the seat belt height adjuster has cor-
rectly locked in place.
Inertia reels and belt tensioners
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects: Inertia reels
133
Belt tensioners
133
Inertia reels
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 133.
Each seat belt is equipped with an inertia reel.
When pulling slowly on the seat belt, the belt can move freely. When pulling
sharply on the seat belt, the movement is locked by the inertia reel.
The belts also lock when full braking, when the car accelerates, when driving
downhill and when cornering.WARNINGIf the seat belt does not lock when pulling sharply on it, have it inspected im- mediately by a specialist garage.
Belt tensioners
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 133.
Safety for the driver and front passenger wearing their seat belts is enhanced by
the belt tensioners fitted to the inertia reels of the front three-point seat belts.
The three-point seat belts are automatically tensioned in the event of a frontal
collision of a certain severity. The belt tensioners can also be deployed if the seat
belts are not fastened.
The fastened three-point seat belts are automatically tensioned in the event of a frontal or side collision of a certain severity.
Belt tensioners are not activated in the event of minor frontal collisions, side andrear-end collisions, in the case of a rollover and also not in accidents in which no
major forces are produced from the front.
WARNING■ Any work on the belt tensioner system including removal and installation of
system components because of other repair work, must only be carried out by
a specialist garage.■
The protective function of the system is only adequate for a single accident.
If the belt tensioners have been deployed, it is then necessary to replace the
entire system.
133Seat belts
Index
A
Abroad Driving abroad
110
Unleaded petrol110
ABS Function
112
Warning light18
Accessories149
Adjusting Belt height
133
Exterior mirror50
Head restraints53
Interior mirror50
Manual air conditioning81
Seat53
Seats52
Steering wheel96
Adjusting the seats52, 127
Adjustment Beam range
41
Aerial153
Airbag135
Deactivating140
Deactivating the front passenger airbag140
Deployment135
Front airbag137
Head airbag139
Indicator light20
Modifications and damage to the airbag system151
Side airbag138
Airbag system135
Air conditioning system Air outlets
76
Climatronic82
Manual air conditioning system79
Air outlets76
Alarm Switching off36
Triggering36
Anti-theft alarm system Activating/deactivating
36
Trailer125
Antilock Braking System112
Armrest Front
55
Rear55
Artificial leather158
Ashtray59
ASR warning light
17
Assist system ABS
112
Assist systems111
ABS18
ASR17
Cruise Control System114
EDL112
ESC17, 111
HBA112
HHC112
Parking aid113
START-STOP116
TCS112
Auto Check Control13
Automatic gearbox Selector lever-emergency unlocking
195
Starting-off and driving103
Tiptronic103
Automatic load deactivation174
Automatic transmission101
Kickdown104
Malfunction104
Selector lever lock103
Using the selector lever102
AUX95
Avoiding damage to the vehicle Driving through water
109
Avoiding damage to your vehicle109
B
Ball head Check fitting
121
Fitting121
Ready position120
Removing122
Battery In the remote control key
193
Belts130
Belt tensioners133
Bonnet Closing
164
Opening164
Boot Class N1 vehicles
65
Double-sided floor covering70
Flexible storage compartment69
Hooks66
Meshed pocket for storage70
See Boot lid38
Storage compartments in the boot69
Boot cover Parking position
68
Boot lid Automatic locking
38
Closing38
Opening38
Brake booster100
Brake fluid170
Changing171
Checking170
Information messages15
Brakes Brake assist systems
111
Brake booster100
Brake fluid170
Handbrake100
212Index
Power outlet12 V60
Power steering97
Indicator light17
Practical features56
Meshed pockets on the front seat backrests64
Storage compartment in centre console58
Storage compartment on the passenger side63
Storage pockets on the front seats64
Waste container60
R
Radiator fan
165
Raise vehicle186
Rear fog light44
Indicator light18
Rear interior light46
Rear mirror49
Exterior mirror50
Interior mirror50
recirculated air mode Climatronic
83
Recirculated air mode Manual air conditioning
81
Refuelling160
Fuel160
Remote control Locking
33
Replacing the battery193
Synchronisation process194
Unlocking33
Remote control key Replacing the battery
193
Repairs and technical alterations149
Replacing Bulb for main beam, daytime running lights andparking light
202
Bulb for the fog light203
Bulb for the licence plate light203
Bulb in rear light (Rapid Spaceback)206
Bulb in rear light (Rapid)204
Bulbs200
Fuses197
Fuses in the dash panel197
Fuses in the engine compartment199
Low beam bulb201
Vehicle battery174
Windscreen wiper blades195
Wiper blades196
Replenishing Coolant
170
Engine oil168
Windscreen washer fluid165
Revolution counter11
Roof luggage rack Attachment points
74
Roof rack system74
Roof load75
Running-in The first 1500 km
104
Running in Brake pads
105
Engine104
Tyres105
S
SAFE See Safe securing system
33
SAFELOCK See Safe securing system
33
Safe securing system33
Safety126
Child safety142
Child safety seats142
Correct seated position127
Head restraints53
ISOFIX145
TOP TETHER146
Saving electrical energy105
Seals Taking care of your vehicle155
Seat Adjusting
53
Seat belt warning light
15
Seat belts130
Belt tensioners133
Cleaning159
fastening and unfastening132
Height adjustment133
Inertia reels133
The physical principle of a frontal collision131
Seat features54
Seats folding forward
55
Front armrest55
Head restraints53
Heating54
Rear armrest55
Seats and useful equipment52
Adjusting the seats52
see automatic gearbox Manual shifting of gears on the multifunction
steering wheel
103
Selector lever see Using the selector lever
102
Selector lever lock Indicator light
21
Service150
Service interval display28
Service intervals147
Setting Lower position of the variable loading floor
72
Upper position of the variable loading floor71
Setting the clock Clock
13
Shelves56
Shifting gears Driving and saving energy
106
217Index