2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS light

Useful information
iThis Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please notethat your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systemsand functions.
iRead the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Ypage 26).
Panic alarm
XTo activate:press\rbuttonfor at
least one second.
An alarm sounds and the exterior lighting
flashes.
XTo deactivate:press\rbutton
again.
or
XInsert the SmartKey intothe ignition lock.
or
XPress the KEYLESS-GO Start/Stop button.
The KEYLESS-GO key must be in the
vehicle.
Occupant safety
Important safetynotes
GWARNING
Modifications to the restraint systemscould
result in them not functioning properly any
more. The restraint systemscould then no
longer protect vehicle occupants as they are
designed to do and could fail in the eventof
an accidentoractivateunexpectedly, for
example. Thereisanincreased risk of injury.
Never modify partsoftherestraint systems.
Do notattempttomodify the wiring as well as
electronic components or their software.
If it is necessary to modify an air bag system
to accommodateaperson with disabilities,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz center.
USA only: for further information contact our
Customer Assistance Center at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1800-367-6372).
In this section,you will learn the most
important facts about the restraint system
components of the vehicle.
The restraint system consistsof:
RSeat belts
RChild restraint systems
RLATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat securing
system
Additional protection is provided by:
RSRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
RNECK-PRO head restraints/NECK-PRO
luxury head restraints
RPRE-SAFE®
RAir bag system components with:
-PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
-Front-passenger seat with Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
The different air bag systems work
independently of each other. The protective
functions of the system work in conjunction
with each other. Not all air bags are deployed
in an accident.
40Occupant safety
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iFor information on infants and children
traveling with youinthe vehicle as well as
restraint systems for infants and children,
see "Childreninthe vehicle"
(Ypage 60).
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
Introduction
RS consistsof:
RTheRS warning lamp
RAir bags
RThe air bag control unit with crash sensors
REmergency Tensioning Device for the front
seat belts and the outer seat belts in the
rear
RSeat belt force limiters for the front seat
belts and the outer seat belts in the rear
RS 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
GWARNING
If SRS is malfunctioning, child restraint
system components may be triggered
unintentionally or might not be triggered at all
in the event of an accident withahigh rate of
vehicle deceleration. There is an increased
risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Have SRS checked and repaired immediately
ataqualified specialist workshop.
SRS functions are checked regularly when
you switch on the ignition and when the
engine is running. Therefore, malfunctions
can be detected in good time.
TheSRS warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out no later thanafew seconds
after the engine is started.
The SRS components are in operational
readiness when theSRS indicator lamp
goes out while the engine is running.
There isamalfunction if:
RtheSRS warning lamp does not light
up when the ignition is switched on
Rthe engine is running and theSRS
warning lamp does not go out afterafew
seconds
Rthe engine is running and theSRS
warning lamp lights up again.
Safety guidelines for seat belts,
Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs)
and air bags
GWARNING
RDamaged 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-BenzCenter.
RAir bags and pyrotechnic Emergency
Tensioning Devices (ETDs) contain
perchlorate material, which may require
special handling and regard for the
environment. Check your national disposal
guidelines. California residents, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/
Perchlorate/index.cfm.
RAir bags and ETDs are designed to function
onaone-time-only basis. An air bag or ETD
that has deployed must be replaced. PRE-
SAFE®has electrically operated reversible
belt tensionersinaddition to the
pyrotechnic ETDs.
RDo not pass seat belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.
RDo not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the seat belts.
RDo not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. Inacrash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Occupant safety41
Safety
Z

If you sell yourvehicle, it is important that you
make the buyer aware of this safety
information.Besure to give the buyer this
Operator's Manual.
If the air bags are deployed, you will hear a
bang, andasmall 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 and does not indicatethat there
isafire in the vehicle. The dust might cause
some temporary breathingdifficulty for
people with asthma or other breathing
trouble. To avoid this, you may wish to get out
of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
You can also open the window to allow fresh
air to enter the vehicle interior. TheSRS
warning lamp lights up.
The air bag installation locationsare
identified by the AIR BAG symbol.
The air bags are deployed if the air bag control
unit detects the need for deployment. Only in
the event of suchasituation will the air bags
provide their supplemental protection.
If the driver and frontpassenger do notwear
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. The
driver and passenger will then be protected
to the extent possible byaproperly fastened
seat belt.Aproperlyfastened seat beltisalso
needed to provide the best possible
protection inarollover.
Air bags provide additional protection; they
are not, however,asubstitute for seat belts.
All vehicle occupants must fasten their seat
belts regardless of whether your vehicle is
equipped with air bags or not.
It is important for your safety and that of your
passenger to have deployed air bags replaced
and to have any malfunctioning air bags
repaired. This will help to make sure the air
bags continue to perform their protective
function for the vehicle occupants in the
event ofacrash.
iAfter an air bag has been deployed, have
the vehicle towed to the nearest qualified
specialist workshop, even if your vehicle is
ready to drive.
Front air bags
Driver's air bagdeploysinfront of the
steering wheel; front-passenger front air
bagdeploysinfront of and above the glove
box.
The front air bags increase protection for the
driver's and front passenger's head and
chest.
They are deployed:
Rat the start of an accident withahigh rate
of vehicle acceleration or deceleration in a
longitudinal direction
Rin the event of certain frontal impacts
Rif the system determines that air bag
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
Rdepending on whether the seat belt is being
used
Rindependently of other air bags in the
vehicle
If the vehicle rolls over, the front air bags are
generally not deployed.
Your vehicle has adaptive, two-stage front air
bags. The air bag control unit evaluates
vehicle deceleration or acceleration in the
event ofacollision. In the first deployment
stage, the front air bag is filled with part of the
44Occupant safety
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totalavailablepropellant gas, thereby
reducing the risk of injury.Ifthe airbag
control unitrecognizeswithinafew
milliseconds thatthe vehicle is being braked
or accelerated faster than originally
predicted, the front air bag is filled with the
maximum amount of propellant gas available.
The deployment of the front-passenger front
air bag is also influenced by the weight
category of the front passenger, which is
determined by the Occupant Classification
System (OCS) (Ypage 47).
The lighter the passenger-side occupant, the
higher the vehicle deceleration rate required
(predicted at the start of the impact) for
second-stage inflation of the front-passenger
front air bag. In the second stage, the front
air bags are inflated with the maximum
amount of propellant gas available.
The front air bags are not deployed in
situations wherealow impact severity is
predicted. You will then be protected by the
fastened seat belt.
The front-passenger front air bag will only
deploy if:
Rthe system, based on the OCS weight
sensor readings, detectsthat the front-
passenger seat is occupied
Rthe PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp on the center console is not lit
(Ypage 47)
Rthe air bag control unit predictsahigh
impact severity
Knee bags
Driver's knee bagdeploysunderneath the
steering column and front-passenger knee
bagunderneath 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:
Rknee injuries
Rthigh injuries
Rlower leg injuries
Side impact air bags
GWARNING
Using unsuitable seat covers could restrict or
even prevent deployment of the air bags
integrated into the seats. Consequently, the
air bags cannot protect vehicle occupants as
they are designed to do. In addition, the
function of the air bag deactivation system
could be restricted. This poses an increased
risk of injury or even fatal injury.
You should only use seat covers that have
been approved for the respective seat by
Mercedes-Benz.
GWARNING
Sensors to control the air bags are located in
the doors. Modifications or work not
performed correctly to the doors or door
paneling, as well as damaged doors, can lead
to the function of the sensors being impaired.
The air bags might therefore not function
properly any more. Consequently, the air bags
cannot protect vehicle occupants as they are
designed to do. There is an increased risk of
injury.
Never modify the doors or parts of the doors.
Always have work on the doors or door
paneling carried out ataqualified specialist
workshop.
Occupant safety45
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Note the following important information if it
is necessary to carryachild on the front-
passenger seat:
RYour vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to deactivate the
front-passenger front air bag and the front-
passenger knee bag in yourvehicle when
the system senses the weight ofatypical
12-month-old child or less along with the
weight ofastandardappropriate child
restraint on the front-passenger seat.
RAchild inarear-facing child restraint on the
front-passenger seat will be seriously
injured or even killed if the front-passenger
front air bag inflates inacollision which
could occur under some circumstances,
even with the air bag technology installed
in your vehicle. The only means to eliminate
this risk completely is never to placeachild
inarear-facing child restraint in the front-
passenger seat. We therefore strongly
recommendthat you always placeachild
inarear-facing child restraint on the rear
seat.
RIf you installarear-facing child restraint on
the front-passenger seat, make sure the
indicator lamp is illuminated,
indicating that the front-passenger front air
bag and front-passenger knee bag are
deactivated. Should the
indicator lamp not illuminate or go out while
the restraint is installed, please check
installation. Periodicallycheck the
indicator lamp while driving to
make sure that theindicator
lamp is illuminated. If the
indicator lamp goes out or remains out, do
not transportachild on the front-passenger
seat until the system has been repaired.
Achild inarear-facing child restraint on the
front-passenger seat could be seriously
injured or even killed if the front-passenger
front air bag is deployed.
RIf you placeachild inaforward-facing child
restraint on the front-passenger seat:
-move the seat as far back as possible
-use the proper child restraint
recommended for the age, size and
weight of the child
-secure child restraint with the vehicle's
seat belt according to the child seat
manufacturer's instructions
RFor children larger than the typical 12-
month-old child, the front-passenger front
air bag and the front-passenger knee bag
may or may not be activated.
GWARNING
If the redSRS warning lamp in the
instrumentcluster and the
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 by qualified technicians as
soon as possible. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-BenzCenter.
Only have the seat repaired or replaced at an
authorized Mercedes-BenzCenter.
In order to ensure proper operation of the air
bag system and OCS:
RSit with the seat belt properly fastened in a
position that is as upright as possible with
your back against the seat backrest.
RWhen seated,apassenger should not
position him/herself in suchaway as to
cause the passenger'sweight to be lifted
from the seat cushion as this may result in
the OCS being unable to correctly
approximatethe passenger'sweight
category.
RRead and observe all warnings in this
chapter.
Occupant safety49
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If the SmartKey is removed from the ignition
lock or is in position0,PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF indicator lampdoes not light up.
The Occupant Classification System (OCS)
categorizesthe occupant on the front-
passengerseat usingaweight sensor.The
front-passenger front air bag is deactivated
automatically for certain weight categories.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
shows you the current status.
Occupant Classification System (OCS)
categories the occupant on the front-
passenger seat usingaweight sensor.
The front-passenger front air bag and the
front-passenger knee bag are deactivated
automatically for certain weight categories.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
shows you the current status.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp lights up, the front-passenger front air
bag and the front-passenger knee bag are
disabled.
The system does not deactivate:
Rthe side impact air bag
Rthe pelvis air bag
Rthe window curtain air bag
Rthe Emergency Tensioning Devices
To be classified correctly, the front passenger
must sit:
Rwith the seat belt fastened correctly
Rinaposition that is as upright as possible
with their back against the seat backrest
Rwith their feet on the floor
The OCS weight sensor reading is affected if
the occupant's weight is transferred, e.g. by
leaning on the armrest.
If the front-passenger seat, the seat cover or
the seat cushion are damaged, have the
necessary repair work carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you only use seat
accessories that have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Both the driver and the front passenger
should always observe the PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator lamp as an indication of
whether or not the front passenger is
positioned correctly. Observe also the air bag
displaymessages that can be displayed in the
instrumentcluster (Ypage 244).
If the driver's air bag deploys, this does not
mean that the front-passenger front air bag
will also deploy.
The OCS may have detected that the seat:
Ris empty or occupied by the weight of a
typical child up to twelve months old,
seated inachild restraint system
Ris occupied byasmall individual, such as a
young teenager orasmall adult
Ris occupied byachild inachild restraint
system whose weight is greater than that
ofatypical twelve monthold child.
These are examples of when the OCS
deactivates the front-passenger front air bag
and front-passenger knee bag. Deactivation
takes place although the collision fulfills the
criteria for deploying the driver's air bag.
For further information,see "Air bag display
messages" (Ypage 244).
System self-test
GWARNING
If theindicator lamp does not
illuminate, the system is not functioning. You
must contactanauthorized Mercedes-Benz
50Occupant safety
Safety

Centerbefore seating any child on the front
passenger seat.
GWARNING
Objects between the seat surface and the
child restraint system could affect the
function of the OCS. This could result in the
front-passenger frontair bag not functioning
as intended during an accident. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Do not place any objects between the seat
surface and the child restraint system. Make
sure that the bottom and back of the child
restraint system make full contact with the
front-passenger seat cushion and backrest.
Always comply with the child restraint system
manufacturer's installation instructions.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
lights up:
Rif you turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock
to position1or2
Rif you press the KEYLESS-GO Start/Stop
button onceortwice on vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO
Rif an adult is seated properly on the front-
passenger seat and the OCS classifies the
occupant as an adult
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp goes out again after approximately six
seconds.
If the seat is not occupied and the OCS
system detects that the front-passenger
seat is empty, the PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF indicator lamp will continue to light up.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp will not go out.
For more information about the OCS, see
"Problems with the Occupant Classification
System"(Ypage 52).
Occupant safety51
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Problems with the Occupant Classification System
GWARNING
If theindicator lamp illuminates and remains illuminated when the weight ofatypical
adult or someone larger thanasmall individual has been detected on the passenger seat, do not
allow any occupant to use the passenger seat until the system has been repaired.
GWARNING
If theindicator lamp does not illuminate or remains out with the weight ofatypical
12-month-old child inastandard child restraint or less, or is unoccupied, on the front-passenger
seat, do not transportachild on the front-passenger seat until the system has been repaired.
ProblemPossiblecauses/consequencesandSolutions
The PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator
lights up and remains
on.
The person on the
front-passenger seat:
Rhas the weight of a
typical adult
Rhas been determined
by the system not to
beachild
The COS is malfunctioning.
XMake sure that the front passenger is sitting inacorrect,upright
position.
XHave the COS checked as soon as possible ataqualified
specialist workshop.
XObserve the additional displaymessages in the multifunction
display(Ypage 244).
52Occupant safety
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