2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS COUPE warning lights

When deployed, the windowbag enhances the
level of protection for the head. However, it
does not protect the chest or arms.
In the event of a side impact, the windowbag
is deployed on the side on which the impact
occurs.
If the system determines that they can offer
additional protection to that provided by the
seat belt, a windowbag may be deployed in
other accident situations (Y page 51).Deployment of belt tensioners and air-
bags
Important safety notes G
WARNING
After the airbag deploys, the airbag parts are
hot. There is a risk of injury.
Do not touch the airbag parts. Have a
deployed airbag replaced at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop as soon as possible. G
WARNING
Pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners that have
been deployed are no longer operational and
are unable to perform their intended protec-
tive function. This poses an increased risk of
injury or even fatal injury.
Therefore, have pyrotechnic belt tensioners
which have been triggered immediately
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that after an
accident, you have your vehicle towed to a
qualified specialist workshop. This is particu- larly important after the seat belt tensioners
have been triggered or after airbags have
been deployed.
An electric motor is used by PRE-SAFE ®
to
trigger the tightening of the seat belt in haz-
ardous situations. This procedure is reversi-
ble.
If belt tensioners are triggered or the airbags
are deployed, you will hear a bang, and a small amount of powder may also be released. The
6 restraint system warning lamp lights up.
Only in rare cases will the bang affect your
hearing. The powder that is released gener-
ally does not constitute a health hazard but
can cause short-term breathing difficulties for people with asthma or breathing problems. If
it is safe to do so, leave the vehicle immedi-
ately or open a window to avoid experiencing potential breathing difficulties.
Mode of operation During the first stage of a collision, the
restraint system control unit evaluates impor-
tant physical data relating to vehicle deceler- ation or acceleration, such as:
R duration
R direction
R intensity
Based on the evaluation of this data, the seat belt tensioner is triggered by the restraint
system control unit in the event of a frontal or
rear collision.
The belt tensioner can only be triggered if:
R the ignition is switched on
R the components of the restraint system are
operational; see the "Restraint system
warning lamp" section (Y page 43)
R the seat belt buckle tongue is engaged in
the belt buckle on your front seat
The belt tensioners in the rear compartment
are triggered independently of the lock status of the seat belts.
In certain frontal collision situations, further
components of the restraint system are acti-
vated independently of each other if the
restraint system control unit determines that the accident is severe:
R front airbags and driver's kneebag
R windowbag, if it is determined that it can
offer additional protection to the seat belt
for vehicle occupants
Depending on the classification of the person in the front-passenger seat, the front- Occupant safety
51Safety Z

X
Move head restraint :upwards.
X Remove luggage compartment cover ;
(Y page 306).
X Fit the ISOFIX child restraint system with
Top Tether. Always comply with the child
restraint system manufacturer's installa-
tion instructions when doing so.
X Route Top Tether belt Bunder head
restraint :between the two head restraint
bars.
X Hook Top Tether hook Ainto Top Tether
anchorage ?on the back of rear seat
backrest =.
X Make sure that Top Tether belt Bis not
twisted.
X Tension Top Tether belt B. Always comply
with the child restraint system manufactur- er's installation instructions when doing so.
X If necessary, move head restraint :back
down again slightly (Y page 108). Make
sure that you do not interfere with the cor-
rect routing of Top Tether belt B.
X Fit luggage compartment
cover ;(Ypage 306). Automatic child seat recognition on
the front-passenger seat
The sensor system for child restraint systems
in the front-passenger seat detects whether a special Mercedes-Benz child restraint system
with a transponder for automatic child seat
recognition has been fitted. In this case, the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp lights up and 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 pelvisbag
R the windowbag
R the belt tensioner G
WARNING
If you secure a child in a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat and the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is
off, the front-passenger front airbag can
deploy in the event of an accident. The child
could be struck by the airbag. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Make sure that the front-passenger front air-
bag has been disabled. The PASSENGER AIR- BAG OFF indicator lamp must be lit. G
WARNING
If the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp is lit, the front-passenger front airbag is disa-
bled. It will not be deployed in the event of an
accident and cannot perform its intended pro-
tective function. A person in the front-
passenger seat could then, for example, come
into contact with the vehicle's interior, espe-
cially if the person is sitting too close to the
dashboard. This poses an increased risk of
injury or even fatal injury.
In this case the front-passenger seat may not be used. Only suitable rearward-facing or
forward-facing child restraint systems may be installed on the front-passenger seat. Always
observe the information about suitable posi-
tioning of the child restraint system in this
Owner's Manual as well as the child restraint
system manufacturer's installation instruc-
tions. Children in the vehicle
59Safety Z

Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat
General notes Accident statistics show that children
secured in the rear seats are safer than chil-
dren secured in the front-passenger seat. For
this reason, Mercedes-Benz strongly advises
that you install a child restraint system on a
rear seat.
Vehicles with automatic child seat recogni-
tion on the front-passenger seat: if it is abso- lutely necessary to fit a child restraint systemto the front-passenger seat, always observe
the information on the "Automatic child seat
recognition on the front-passenger seat"
(Y page 59).
You can thus avoid the risks that could arise
as a result of:
R a child restraint system that is not detected
by the automatic child seat recognition
sensor system
R the unintentional disabling of the front-
passenger front airbag
R the unsuitable positioning of the child
restraint system, e.g. too close to the dash-
board Please observe the warning notice on the
front-passenger sun visor, see the illustra-
tion. G
WARNING
If you secure a child in a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat and the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is off, the front-passenger front airbag can
deploy in the event of an accident. The child
could be struck by the airbag. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Make sure that the front-passenger front air-
bag has been disabled. The PASSENGER AIR-
BAG OFF indicator lamp must be lit.
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.
Vehicles without automatic child seat
recognition on the front-passenger seat If the front-passenger seat of your vehicle is
not equipped with automatic child seat rec-
ognition, this is indicated by a special sticker. The sticker is affixed to the side of the dash-
board on the front-passenger side. The
sticker is visible when you open the front-
passenger door.
If you turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp lights up briefly. It has no function, how-ever, and does not indicate that the front-
passenger seat is equipped with automatic
child seat recognition.
In this case, always fit the rearward-facing
child restraint system to a suitable rear seat
(Y page 63).
Observe the following information under
"Rearward-facing child restraint system" and
"Forward-facing child restraint system" as
well as information on the suitable position- Children in the vehicle
61Safety Z

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 restraint system with a trans-
ponder for automatic child seat recognition has been fitted to the
front-passenger seat. The front-passenger front airbag has there- fore been disabled as desired. There is no child restraint system fitted to the front-passenger
seat. Automatic child seat recognition is malfunctioning, for exam-
ple due to electronic devices on the front-passenger seat.
X Remove electronic equipment from the front-passenger seat,
e.g.:
R laptop
R mobile phone
R a card with a transponder, such as a ski pass or access pass
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp remains lit, the
front-passenger seat may not be used. X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. The
6 restraint sys-
tem warning lamp
lights up and/or the
PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF indicator lamp
does not light up briefly
when you switch the
ignition on. G
WARNING
Automatic child seat recognition is malfunctioning.
Do not install a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat.
It is recommended that you fit the restraint system to a suitable
rear seat.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
X Please also refer to the notes about the restraint system warning
lamp (Y page 266). Suitable positioning of the child
restraint system
Introduction Only child restraint systems which are
approved in accordance with the ECE stand-
ard ECE R44 are permitted for use in the vehi-
cle. Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat –
if it is absolutely necessary
to secure a child in a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat:
X Always pay attention to the instructions
under "Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat" (Y page 61).
There you will find instructions on how to
correctly route the shoulder belt strap from the vehicle belt outlet to the shoulder belt
guide on the child restraint system
(Y page 62).
X Move the front-passenger seat as far back
as possible. Children in the vehicle
63Safety Z

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,
weather and traffic conditions and maintain a
safe distance from the vehicle in front. Drive
carefully.
i The driving safety systems described only
work as effectively as possible when there
is adequate contact between the tyres and the road surface. Please pay special atten-
tion to the notes on tyres, recommended
minimum tyre tread depths etc.
(Y page 364).
In wintry driving conditions, always use
winter tyres (M+S tyres) and, if necessary,
snow chains. Only in this way will the driv-
ing safety systems described in this section work as effectively as possible. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General notes ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi- cle when braking.
The yellow !ABS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up when the ignition
is switched on. It goes out when the engine is running.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 70). G
WARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking charac-
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition-
ally, further driving safety systems are deac-
tivated. There is an increased danger of skid- ding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
If ABS is malfunctioning, other systems,
including driving safety systems, will also
become inoperative. Observe the information on the ABS warning lamp (Y page 289) and
display messages which may be shown in the
instrument cluster (Y page 262).
ABS works from a speed of about
8 km/hupwards, regardless of road-surface
conditions. ABS works on slippery surfaces,
even when you only brake gently.
Brakes X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit- uation is over.
X To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force.
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a
pulsing in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions; this serves as a reminder to take extra care while driving. BAS (Brake Assist)
General notes BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,
BAS automatically boosts the braking force,
thus shortening the stopping distance. 70
Driving safety systemsSafety

Function
To avoid a collision, BAS PLUS calculates the
brake force necessary if:
R you approach an obstacle and
R BAS PLUS has detected a risk of collision
When driving at a speed under 30 km/h : if
you depress the brake pedal, BAS PLUS is
activated. Braking assistance from BAS PLUS is carried out at the last possible moment.
When driving at a speed above 30 km/h : if
you depress the brake pedal sharply, BAS
PLUS automatically increases the brake pres- sure to a degree suited to the traffic situation.
BAS PLUS provides braking assistance in haz- ardous situations at speeds above 7 km/h.
At speeds of up to approximately 70 km/h,
BAS PLUS can also detect stationary objects.
Examples of stationary objects are stopped or parked vehicles.
i If BAS PLUS demands particularly high
braking force, preventative passenger pro-
tection measures (PRE-SAFE ®
) are activa-
ted simultaneously.
X Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
BAS PLUS is deactivated and the brakes func-
tion as usual, if:
R you release the brake pedal
R there is no longer a risk of collision
R no obstacle is detected in front of your
vehicle Adaptive brake lamps
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 70).
The adaptive brake lights warn following traf- fic in an emergency braking situation:
R by flashing brake lamps
R the hazard warning lamps are activated If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 50 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS
or BAS PLUS, the brake lamps flash rapidly. In
this way, traffic travelling behind you is
warned in an even more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warn- ing lamps are activated automatically. If the
brakes are applied again, the brake lamps
light up continuously. The hazard warning
lamps switch off automatically if you travel
faster than 10 km/h. You can also switch off
the hazard warning lamps using the hazard
warning button (Y page 126). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 70).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between the tyres
and the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilise the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified to keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP ®
assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise the vehicle during braking.
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System) ETS/4ETS traction control is part of ESP
®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is trans-
ferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active if you deacti-
vate ESP ®
. 72
Driving safety systemsSafety

Important safety notes
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 70). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilise the vehicle. In addition, other driving
safety systems are switched off. This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC: switch off the igni-
tion when the parking brake is being tested
using a dynamometer.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may oth-
erwise destroy the brake system.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC: function or per-
formance tests may only be carried out on
a 2-axle dynamometer. Before operating
the vehicle on such a dynamometer, please
consult a qualified specialist workshop.
You could otherwise damage the drive train
or the brake system.
Vehicles without 4MATIC: when towing your
vehicle with the rear axle raised, it is impor-
tant that you observe the notes on ESP ®
(Y page 359).
ESP ®
is deactivated if the åwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up continu-
ously when the engine is running.
If the ÷ warning lamp and the åwarn-
ing lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not
available due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 291) and display messages which
may be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 262).
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly. Characteristics of ESP
® General notes
If the
÷ ESP warning lamp goes out before
beginning the journey, ESP ®
is automatically
active.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ESP®
warning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X When pulling away, only depress the accel-
erator pedal as far as is necessary.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
ECO start/stop function
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle stops
moving. When pulling away again, the engine
starts automatically. ESP ®
remains in its pre-
viously selected status. Example:if ESP®
was deactivated before the engine was
switched off, ESP ®
remains deactivated when
the engine is switched on again.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
(except
AMG vehicles) Important safety notes
You can select between the following sta-
tuses of ESP:
R ESP ®
is activated
R ESP ®
is deactivated G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following. Driving safety systems
73Safety Z

It may be best to deactivate ESP
®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehi-
cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
X To deactivate: (Ypage 250).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To activate: (Ypage 250).
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes. In such situa-
tions, ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut-
ting action for better traction on loose sur-faces.
R traction control is still activated
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
(AMG
vehicles) Important safety notes
You can select between the following sta-
tuses of ESP:
R ESP ®
is activated
R SPORT handling mode is activated
R ESP ®
is deactivated G
WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated,
there is a greater risk of skidding and acci-
dents.
Only activate SPORT handling mode in the sit- uations described in the following. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
It may be best to activate SPORT handling
mode in the following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
R on specially designated roads when the
vehicle's own oversteering and understeer- ing characteristics are desired
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP ®
requires an extremely qualified and
experienced driver.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehi-
cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®74
Driving safety systemsSafety