Mercedes-Benz 2013 S-CLASS, Owner'S Manual

Page: 60 / 493

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 you have
the vehicle towed to a qualified specialist
workshop after an accident. This is particu-
larly important if a belt tensioner or an airbag
has been triggered.
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 the belt tensioners or 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, how-
ever it may cause short-term breathing diffi-
culties to persons suffering from asthma or
other pulmonary conditions. If it is safe to do
so, you should leave the vehicle immediately
or open a window in order to prevent breath-
ing difficulties.
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
restraint system control unit triggers the belt
tensioners in the event of a frontal or rear
collision.
A belt tensioner can only be triggered, if:
R
the ignition is switched on.
R
the components of the restraint system are
operational, see "Restraint system warning
lamp" (
Y
page 47)
R
the belt tongue has engaged in the belt
buckle of the respective front seat
The belt tensioners in the rear compartment
are triggered independently of the lock status
of the seat belts.
Vehicles with belt bags: depending on the
type and severity of the accident, the belt
bags are also triggered.
Vehicles with a rear reclining seat: the belt
tensioner is only triggered if the belt tongue
is engaged in the belt buckle of the rear reclin-
ing seat.
If the seat backrest is reclined, the cushion
airbag may also be triggered depending on
the type and severity of the accident.
If the restraint system control unit detects a
high accident severity, additional compo-
nents of the restraint system are activated
independently of one another in certain fron-
tal collision situations:
R
front airbags
R
windowbag if the system determines that it
can offer additional protection to that pro-
vided by the seat belt
Depending on the person in the front-
passenger seat, the front-passenger front air-
bag is either enabled or disabled. The front-
Deployment of belt tensioners and airbags
57
Sa
fet
y
Z