Deployment factors
It is not possible to generally determine which deployment conditions apply to
the airbag system in every situation. An important role is played by factors
such as the type of object that the vehicle hits (hard/soft), the impact angle,
vehicle speed etc.
A decisive factor for the deployment of the airbags is the deceleration which
occurs. The control unit analyses the nature of the collision and activates the
relevant restraint system.
If the vehicle deceleration which occurs and is measured during the collision
remains below the prescribed reference values specified in the control unit,
the airbags are not deployed although the vehicle may well suffer severe dam-
age to the bodywork as a consequence of the accident.
The following airbags will be deployed in the event of a severe frontal
collision.
› Driver’s front airbag.
› Front passenger airbag.
The following airbags will be deployed in the event of a severe side collision.
› Front side airbag on the side of the accident.
› Head airbags on the side of the accident.
In the event of an accident in which the airbags are deployed:
› the interior lighting comes on (if the switch for the interior light is in the door
contact position);
› the hazard warning light is switched on;
› all the doors are unlocked;
› the fuel supply to the engine is interrupted.
Airbag overview
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Front airbags
15
Side airbags
16
Head airbags
17Front airbagsFig. 8
Driver airbag in the steering wheel/front passenger airbag in the
dashboard
Fig. 9
Safe distance to steering wheel/gas-filled airbags
In the event of a severe frontal collision, the front airbag system offers addi-
tional protection for the head and chest area of the driver and front passenger.
The front airbag for the driver is located in the steering wheel » Fig. 8 -
.
The front airbag for the front seat passenger is located in the dash panel
above the storage compartment » Fig. 8 -
.
When the airbags are deployed, they inflate in front of the driver and front
passenger » Fig. 9 -
. The forward movement of the driver and of the front
passenger is cushioned when they make contact with the fully inflated airbag
and the risk of injury to head and chest is thus reduced.
15Airbag system
WARNINGInformation on correct seated position■It is important that the driver and front passenger maintain a distance of
at least 25 cm to the steering wheel or dashboard A
» Fig. 9 . Not maintain-
ing this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able
to properly protect you – hazard! The front seats and the head restraints
must always also be correctly adjusted to match the body size of the occu-
pant.
■
The airbag develops enormous forces when triggered, which can lead to
injuries if the sitting position or seated position is not correct.
■
There must not by any further persons, animals or objects positioned be-
tween the front seated occupants and the deployment area of the airbag.
WARNINGFront airbag and transporting children■Never transport children on the front seat of a vehicle without using a
proper restraint system. If airbags are deployed in the event of an accident,
the child might suffer severe or even fatal injuries!■
The front passenger airbag must be deactivated if using a rear-facing
child seat on the front passenger seat » page 18, Deactivating airbags . If
this is not done, there is a risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal
injuries if the front passenger airbag is deployed. When transporting a child
on the front passenger seat, pay attention to any relevant national regula-
tions regarding the use of child safety seats.
WARNINGGeneral information■The steering wheel and the surface of the airbag module in the dash pan-
el on the passenger side must not have stickers attached, be covered or
modified in any other way. These parts should only be cleaned with a cloth
that is dry or has been moistened with water. No objects such as cup hold-
ers, mobile phone mounts, etc. must be attached to the covers of the air-
bag modules or be located within their immediate vicinity.■
Never place objects on the surface of the front passenger airbag module
in the dash panel.
Note■ In vehicles with head airbags, the lettering can be seen on the steering
wheel.■
In vehicles with front passenger airbags, the lettering
is located on the
dash panel on the passenger side.
Side airbags
Fig. 10
Location of the side airbag in the driver's seat/gas-filled side air-
bag
In the event of severe side collisions, the side airbag system provides addition-
al protection for the upper body (chest, stomach and pelvis) of passengers in
the vehicle.
The side airbags are housed in the upholstery of the front seat backr-
ests » Fig. 10 -
.
When the side airbags » Fig. 10 -
are deployed, the head airbag and belt ten-
sioner are also automatically deployed on the relevant side.
The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunging into the fully inflated
airbag and the risk of injury to the entire upper body (chest, stomach and pel-
vis) is reduced on the side facing the door.
WARNINGInformation on correct seated position■Your head should never be positioned in the deployment area of the side
airbag. You might suffer severe injuries in the event of an accident. This ap-
plies in particular to children who are transported without using a suitable
child safety seat » page 21, Child safety and side airbag .16Safety
Using the system
Cockpit
OverviewElectric window levers
52
Door opening lever
49
Electric exterior mirror adjustment
63
Air outlet vents
85
Parking ticket holder
69
Operating lever:
› Turn signal light, headlight and parking light, headlight
flasher
55
› Speed regulating system
108
Steering wheel:
› With horn
› With driver’s front airbag
15
›with push-buttons for radio, navigation system and mobile
phone
89
› with buttons for the operation of the information system
37
Instrument cluster
26
Operating lever:
› Windscreen wiper and wash system
61
›Information System
37
Air outlets in the central part of the dash panel
85
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Radio
› Navigation system
Button for hazard warning light system
57
Warning light for the deactivated front seat passenger airbag
18
Interior rear-view mirror
62
Key switch for switching off the passenger airbag (in front pas-
senger storage compartment)
18
Front passenger airbag
15
Storage compartment on the front passenger side
73
Air outlet vents
85
Power window in the front passenger door
5112345678910111213141516171819Door opening lever49
Light switch and headlight beam control (on the dash panel)
53, 54
Bonnet release lever
132
Fuse box in the dashboard
164
Lever for adjusting the steering wheel
8
Ignition lock
98
Pedals
101
Bar with keys depending on the equipment fitted:
›
Seat heater on the front left seat
66
›
TCS
106
›
Central locking system
48
›
Rear window heater
59
›
START - STOP
109
›
Seat heater on the front right seat
66
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Gearshift lever (manual gearbox)
101
›Selector lever (automatic gearbox)
102
Handbrake lever
100
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Cup holder
70
›Multimedia holder
72
›Ashtray
71
Storage compartment
69
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Operating controls for the heating
86
›Operating controls for the air conditioning system
86
›Operating controls for Climatronic
87
Note
The arrangement of the controls right-hand drive models may differ from the
layout shown in » Fig. 18 . The symbols on the controls and switches are the
same as for left-hand drive models.2021222324252627282930313225Cockpit
Inflation hose with plug
Air compressor
Button for releasing the tyre pressure
12 volt cable connector
Tyre inflation hose
Tyre inflation pressure indicator
ON and OFF switch
Tyre inflater bottle with sealing agent
Replacement valve core
The valve remover 2
has a slot at its lower end which fits into the valve core.
Preparations for using the breakdown kit
Read and observe
on page 155 first.
Always change a wheel on a level surface as far as possible.
The following preparatory work must be carried out before using the break-
down kit.
›
Have all of the occupants get out of the vehicle. While changing a tyre, the
occupants of the vehicle should not stand on the road (they should instead
remain behind a crash barrier).
›
Switch off the engine.
›
Move the gear shift lever into Neutral or move the selector lever for the au-
tomatic gearbox into position P.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Check that you can carry out the repairs with the breakdown kit » page 155.
›
Uncouple any trailers.
›
Remove the breakdown kit from the boot.
›
Stick the sticker
1
» Fig. 143 on page 155 on the dashboard in the driver's
field of view.
›
Do not remove the foreign body, e.g. screw or nail, from the tyre.
›
Unscrew the valve cap.
›
Use the valve remover
2
to unscrew the valve core and place it on a clean
surface (rag, paper, etc.).
34567891011Sealing and inflating the tyre
Read and observe
on page 155 first.
Sealing
›
Forcefully shake the tyre inflater bottle
10
» Fig. 143 on page 155 back and
forth several times.
›
Firmly screw the inflation hose
3
onto the tyre inflater bottle
10
in a clock-
wise direction. The film on the cap is pierced automatically.
›
Remove the plug from the inflation hose
3
and plug the open end fully onto
the tyre valve.
›
Hold the bottle
10
with the bottom facing upwards and fill all of the sealing
agent from the tyre inflater bottle into the tyre.
›
Remove the empty tyre inflater bottle from the valve.
›
Screw the valve core back into the tyre valve using the valve remover
2
.
Inflating
›
Screw the tyre inflation hose
7
» Fig. 143 on page 155 of the air compressor
firmly onto the tyre valve.
›
Start the engine and run it in idle.
›
Plug the connector
6
into 12 Volt socket » page 71, 12-Volt power outlet .
›
Switch on the air compressor with the ON and OFF switch
9
.
›
Allow the air compressor to run until a pressure of 2.0-2.5 bar is achieved.
Maximum run time of 8 minutes »
›
Switch off the air compressor.
›
If you cannot reach an air pressure of 2.0–2.5 bar, unscrew the tyre inflation
hose
7
from the tyre valve.
›
Drive the vehicle 10 metres forwards or backwards to allow the sealing agent
to “distribute” in the tyre.
›
Firmly screw the tyre inflation hose
7
back onto the tyre valve and repeat
the inflation process.
›
If you cannot reach the required tyre inflation pressure here either, this
means the tyre has sustained too much damage. You cannot seal with tyre with the breakdown kit »
.
›
Switch off the air compressor.
›
Remove the tyre inflation hose
7
from the tyre valve.
Once a tyre inflation pressure of 2.0–2.5 bar is achieved, continue the journey
at a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph).
Check the tyre inflation pressure after driving for 10 minutes » page 157.
156Do-it-yourself