2014 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER belt

Useful information
This Operator's Manual describes all models
as well as standard and optional equipment
of your vehicle that were available at the time
of going to print. Country-specific variations
are possible. Note that your vehicle may not
be equipped with all of the described func-
tions. This also applies to systems and func-
tions relevant to safety.
Read the information on qualified specialist
workshops (Y page 26). Occupant safety
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Modifications to the restraint systems could
result in them not functioning properly any
more. The restraint systems could then no
longer protect vehicle occupants as they are
designed to do and could fail in the event of
an accident or activate unexpectedly, for
example. There is an increased risk of injury.
Never modify parts of the restraint systems.
Do not attempt to modify the wiring as well as
electronic components or their software.
If it is necessary to modify an air bag system
to accommodate a person 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 impor-
tant facts about the restraint system compo-
nents of the vehicle.
The restraint system consists of:
R Seat belts
R Child restraint systems
R LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat securing
system
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) and
the air bag system offer additional protection
potential. Although the systems are independent, their
protective functions work in conjunction with
one another.
i
For information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle as well as
restraint systems for infants and children,
see the "Children in the vehicle" section
(Y page 50). SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
Introduction SRS consists of:
R
007E warning lamp
R Air bags
R Air bag control unit with crash sensors
R ETDs for the driver's and co-driver's seat
R Seat belt force limiters
R Seat belt force limiters for the driver's and
co-driver seats
SRS reduces the risk of occupants hitting
parts of the vehicle interior in the event of an
accident. In addition, it can reduce the forces
the occupants are subjected to during an
accident.
SRS warning lamp G
WARNING
If SRS is malfunctioning, child restraint sys-
tem components may be triggered uninten-
tionally or might not be triggered at all in the
event of an accident with a high rate of vehicle
deceleration. There is an increased risk of
injury, possibly even fatal.
Have SRS checked and repaired immediately
at a qualified specialist workshop.
SRS functions are checked regularly when
you switch on the ignition and when the
engine is running. This allows malfunctions to
be detected in good time. 42
Occupant safetySafety

When you switch on the ignition, the
007E
warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights
up for approximately 4 seconds.
A malfunction has occurred if the 007Ewarn-
ing lamp:
R does not light up when you switch on the
ignition, or
R does not go out within a few seconds of
switching on the ignition, or
R lights up again
Safety guidelines for seat belts, Emer-
gency 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 and their anchoring
points must also be checked. Only use seat
belts which have been installed or supplied
by a qualified specialist workshop.
R Air bags and pyrotechnic Emergency Ten-
sioning Devices (ETDs) contain perchlorate
material, which may require special han-
dling and regard for the environment.
Check with your local government's dis-
posal 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.
R Do not bleach or dye seat belts 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 paneling, seat cov-
ers, badges etc. over the steering wheel
hub, co-driver's front air bag cover, out-
board sides of the seat backrests, door trim
panels, or door frame trims.
R Do not install additional electrical/elec-
tronic equipment on or near SRS compo-
nents and wiring.
R Keep the area between air bags and occu-
pants free of objects (e.g. packages,
purses, umbrellas etc.).
R Do not hang items such as coat hangers
from the coat hooks or handles over the
door. These items may be thrown around in
the vehicle and cause head and other inju-
ries when the window curtain air bag is
deployed.
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 or on the seat. Always keep both feet
on the floor in front of the seat.
R Improper repair work creates a risk of ren-
dering the SRS inoperative or causing unin-
tended air bag deployment. Work on the
SRS must therefore only be performed by
qualified technicians. Please contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
R For your protection and the protection of
others, when scrapping the air bag unit or
ETD, our safety instructions must be fol-
lowed. These instructions are available
from any authorized Sprinter Dealer.
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, we strongly recom-
mend 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. Occupant safety
43Safety Z

Air bags
Important safety notes G
WARNING
To reduce the risk of injury when the front air
bags inflate, it is very important for the driver
and co-driver to always be in a properly seated
position and to wear their respective seat
belt.
For maximum protection in the event of a col-
lision always be in normal seated position with
your back against the seat backrest. Fasten
your seat belt and make sure it is properly
positioned on your body.
Since the air bag 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
not wearing 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 properly fastened in a
position that is as upright as possible with
your back against the seat backrest.
R Move the driver's seat as far back as pos-
sible, still permitting proper operation of
vehicle controls. The distance from the
center of the driver's chest to the center of
the air bag cover on the steering wheel
must be at least 10 inches (25 cm) or more.
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 instrument panel.
R Keep hands on the outside of the steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms inside
the rim can increase the risk and potential
severity of hand/arm injury when the driver
front air bag inflates. R
Move the co-driver's seat as far as possible
away from the instrument panel 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 inflates. This could result in
serious injuries or death should the side
impact air bag be deployed. Always sit as
upright as possible, wear the seat belt prop-
erly and use an appropriately sized infant
restraint, toddler restraint, or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child.
R Children twelve years old and under must
never travel on the co-driver's seat. They
will otherwise be struck by the co-driver's
front air bag when it inflates in a crash. This
could result in serious or fatal injury.
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 informa-
tion. Be sure to give the buyer this Operator's
Manual. G
WARNING
The air bag parts are hot after the airbag has
been deployed. There is a risk of injury.
Do not touch the air bag parts. Have the
deployed air bags replaced at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop as soon as possible.
i If the vehicle is still in running condition,
have it towed to a qualified specialist work-
shop. G
WARNING
If you modify the air bag covers or affix objects
such as stickers to them, the air bags may not
function correctly. There is an increased risk
of injury.
Never modify the air bag covers or affix
objects to them. 44
Occupant safetySafety

The air bag installation locations are identi-
fied by the label SRS/AIRBAG or AIRBAG.
R Front air bags (Y page 45)
R Thoraxbags (Y page 45)
R Window curtain air bags (Y page 46)
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 they provide
their supplemental protection.
If the driver and co-driver 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 thresh-
olds, the air bags will not deploy. The driver
and passengers will then be protected to the
extent possible by a properly fastened seat
belt. A properly fastened seat belt is also
needed to provide the best possible protec-
tion in a rollover.
Air bags provide additional protection, but are
not a substitute for the seat belts. All vehicle
occupants must fasten their seat belts
regardless of whether your vehicle is equip-
ped with air bags or not.
If an air bag is deployed, you will hear a bang
and a small amount of powder is released
briefly. Only in rare cases will the bang affect
your hearing. The powder emitted is not gen-
erally hazardous to health. The 007Ewarning
lamp lights up. If it is safe to do so:
X Exit the vehicle immediately.
If you are unable to leave the vehicle:
X Open a window.
You will be able to breathe in fresh air and
avoid respiratory problems.
It is important for your safety and that of any
passengers 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 of a crash. Front air bags
Driver's air bag
0043inflates in front of the
steering wheel; co-driver's front air bag 0044
inflates in front of and above the glove box
and center console.
The front air bags increase the degree of pro-
tection afforded to the driver and co-driver
against head and chest injuries.
They are deployed:
R in certain frontal collision situations
R if the system determines that air bag
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
R if the respective seat belt is fastened
R independently of other air bags in the vehi-
cle
If the vehicle rolls over, the front air bags are
generally not deployed. The front air bags are
deployed if it is detected that the vehicle is
decelerating rapidly in the longitudinal direc-
tion.
In collision situations with low predicted
impact severity the front air bags are not
deployed. You will then be protected by the
seat belt, provided that it is fastened.
Thoraxbags G
WARNING
Only use seat covers which have been tested
and approved for your vehicle type by the dis-
tributor named on the inside of the front
cover. The use of seat covers or other seat
coverings may cause a malfunction when the Occupant safety
45Safety
Z

thoraxbag is deployed. Please contact a quali-
fied specialist workshop for availability. G
WARNING
The pressure sensors for controlling the thor-
axbags are located in the doors. Do not mod-
ify any components of the doors or door trim
panels including, for example, the addition of
door speakers.
Improperly performed repairs on the doors,
modifications to the doors or attached parts
can result in the failure or unintentional
deployment of the thoraxbag. Work on the
doors must therefore only be performed by
qualified technicians. Please contact a quali-
fied specialist workshop. Thoraxbags
0043are only installed for individual
seats in the outer seat cushions of the driver's
and co-driver's seats.
When activated, thoraxbags 0043increase pro-
tection for the chest area of the occupants
facing the impact. However, they do not pro-
tect the:
R head
R neck
R arms
Thoraxbags 0043are deployed:
R on the side on which the impact occurs
R at the start of an accident with a high rate
of lateral vehicle deceleration or accelera-
tion, e.g. in a side impact
R whether or not the seat belt is fastened R
independently of the front air bags
R independently of the Emergency Tension-
ing Devices
In a side collision with deceleration below the
vehicle's pre-set deceleration values or accel-
eration values, thoraxbags 0043are not
deployed. You will then be protected by the
seat belt, provided that it is fastened.
Window curtain air bags Window curtain air bags
0043enhance protec-
tion for the head (but not the chest or arms)
of the vehicle occupants on the side of the
vehicle on which the impact occurs.
The window curtain air bags are installed in
the side of the roof frame above the front
doors.
Window curtain air bags 0043are deployed:
R on the side on which the impact occurs
R at the start of an accident with a high rate
of lateral vehicle deceleration or accelera-
tion, e.g. in a side impact
R whether or not the seat belt is fastened
R regardless of whether the co-driver's seat
is occupied
R independently of the front air bags
R independently of the Emergency Tension-
ing Devices
Window curtain air bags will not deploy in
impacts which do not exceed the system's
preset deployment thresholds for lateral
acceleration/deceleration. You will then be
protected by the seat belt, provided that it is
fastened. 46
Occupant safetySafety

Seat belts
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The seat belt does not offer the intended level
of protection if the backrest is not in the
upright position. When braking or in the event
of an accident, you could slide underneath the
seat belt and sustain abdomen or neck inju-
ries, for example. This poses an increased risk
of injury or even fatal injury.
Adjust the seat properly before beginning
your journey. Always make sure that the seat
is in the upright position.
Use only seat belts approved for your vehicle
by the dealer mentioned on the inside cover
page. G
WARNING
Always fasten your seat belt before driving off.
Always make sure all of your passengers are
properly restrained. You and your passengers
should always wear seat belts.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and posi-
tion your seat belt greatly increases your risk
of injuries and their likely severity in an acci-
dent.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries can
be considerably more severe without your
seat belt properly buckled. Without your seat
belt buckled, you are much more likely to hit
the interior of the vehicle or be ejected from
it. You can be seriously injured or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are properly wearing
your seat belt. The air bags can only protect
as intended if the occupants are properly
wearing their seat belts. G
WARNING
Never let more people ride in the vehicle than
there are seat belts available. Make sure
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly
restrained with a separate seat belt. Never use a seat belt for more than one person at a
time.
G
WARNING
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 which have been approved
by the distributor named on the inside of the
front cover.
Do not make any modifications to the seat
belts. This can lead to unintended activation
of the ETDs or to their failure to activate when
necessary.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Have all work carried out only by qualified
technicians. Please contact a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in:
R all 50 states
R the U.S. territories
R the District of Columbia
R all Canadian provinces
Even where this is not required by law, all
vehicle occupants should correctly fasten
their seat belts before starting the journey.
i For information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle as well as
restraint systems for infants and children,
see the "Children in the vehicle" section
(Y page 50).
Proper use of the seat belts G
WARNING
CORRECT USE OF SEAT BELTS
R Seat belts only work properly if they are
fastened correctly. Never wear seat belts in
any other way than as described in this sec- Occupant safety
47Safety
Z

tion, as that could result in serious injuries
in the event of an accident.
R All occupants should wear their seat belt at
all times, because seat belts help reduce
the likelihood of and potential severity of
injuries in accidents, even if the vehicle
rolls over. The integrated restraint system
is equipped with SRS (driver's air bag, front-
passenger air bag, thorax side impact air
bags, window curtain air bags for side win-
dows), Emergency Tensioning Devices and
seat belt force limiters.
The system is designed to enhance the pro-
tection offered to occupants who are prop-
erly secured during certain frontal impacts
(front air bags and Emergency Tensioning
Devices) and side impacts (thorax side
impact air bags, window curtain air bags
and Emergency Tensioning Device) that
exceed preset deployment thresholds, as
well as in certain situations where the vehi-
cle rolls over (window curtain air bags and
Emergency Tensioning Device).
R Never route the shoulder section of the
seat belt under your arm, across your neck
or anywhere other than across your
shoulder. In the event of a frontal impact,
your body would be moved too far forward.
This would increase the risk of head and
neck injuries. The seat belt would then
apply excessive force to the ribs or abdo-
men, which could cause severe internal
injuries to organs such as the liver or
spleen.
Adjust the seat belt so that the upper part
of the belt is as close as possible to the
center of the shoulder. It should not touch
the neck. Never route the belt under the
shoulder. The height of the belt outlet can
be altered to ensure correct usage.
R The lap belt should be routed as low as pos-
sible across the hips, not across the abdo-
men. If the lap belt is routed across the
abdomen, it could cause serious injuries in
the event of an impact. R
Never route the seat belt over rigid or frag-
ile objects in or on your clothing, such as
eyeglasses, pens, keys etc., as this could
cause injuries.
R Always ensure that the seat belt is routed
correctly. This is particularly important if
you are wearing loose clothing.
R Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time. Never route a seat belt
around more than one person or additional
objects.
R Never wear seat belts if they are twisted.
Otherwise, in the event of an impact, the
full width of the seat belt is unavailable to
distribute the force of the impact. The
twisted seat belt routed across your body
could cause injuries.
R Pregnant women should also always use a
three-point seat belt. The lap belt must
always pass across your lap as low down as
possible, i.e. across your hips; not across
your abdomen.
R The backrest should be set as close to ver-
tical as possible.
R Check the seat belt during the journey in
order to make sure that it is correctly posi-
tioned.
R Never place your feet on the instrument
panel or on the seat. Always keep both feet
on the floor in front of the seat.
R When using a seat belt to secure an infant
restraint system, child restraint system or
a child on a booster seat, always follow the
child restraint system manufacturer's
instructions.
Fastening/unfastening the seat belts G
WARNING
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained on the rear
seats than on the front-passenger seat. Thus,
we strongly recommend that children be
placed in the rear seat whenever possible.
Regardless of seating position, children 12
years old and under must be seated and prop- 48
Occupant safetySafety

erly secured in an appropriately sized child
restraint system or booster seat recom-
mended for the size and weight of the child.
For additional information, see the "Children
in the vehicle" section.
A child's risk of serious or fatal injuries is sig-
nificantly increased if the child restraints are
not properly secured in the vehicle and/or the
child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
! Make sure that the seat belt retracts fully.
The seat belt or belt buckle may otherwise
become trapped in the door or the seat
adjustment mechanism. This could dam-
age the door, door trim panels and the seat
belt. Damaged seat belts can no longer ful-
fill their protective function and must be
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop. X
To fasten the seat belt: adjust the seat
and move the backrest to an almost vertical
position (Y page 82).
X Pull the seat belt smoothly through belt
sash guide 0044.
X Without twisting it, guide the shoulder sec-
tion of the seat belt across the middle of
your shoulder and the lap section across
your hips.
X Engage belt tongue 0087in seat belt buckle
0083. X
The upper part of the seat belt must be
routed across the middle of your shoulder.
Adjust the seat belt to the appropriate
height as necessary.
X If necessary, pull upwards on the shoulder
section of the seat belt to tighten the belt
across your body.
X To raise the seat belt: slide belt sash
guide 0044upwards.
Belt sash guide 0044engages in various posi-
tions.
X To lower the seat belt: press and hold
release button 0043.
X Adjust belt sash guide 0044to the appropri-
ate height.
X Let go of release button 0043and make sure
that belt sash guide 0044has engaged.
X To release the seat belt: press release
button 0085on seat belt buckle 0083.
X Guide seat belt to belt sash guide 0044.
All seat belts in the vehicle, except the driv-
er's seat belt, are equipped with a special seat
belt retractor. This helps to secure the child
restraint system properly in the vehicle. For
further information on "Special seat belt
retractors", see (Y page 54).
Belt warning for drivers and co-drivers Regardless of whether the driver's and co-
driver's seat belts have already been fas-
tened, the
0076seat belt warning lamp lights
up for six seconds each time the engine is
started. It then goes out if the driver and the
co-driver have fastened their seat belts. If the
driver's seat belt is not fastened when the
engine is started, an additional warning tone
will sound. This warning tone switches off
after approximately six seconds or once the
driver's seat belt is fastened. Occupant safety
49Safety Z