Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe Operator's Manual page 45

generally does not constitute a health hazard
and does not indicate that there is a fire in the
vehicle. In order to prevent potential breath-
ing difficulties, you should leave the vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so. If you have any
breathing difficulty but cannot get out of the
vehicle after the air bag inflates, then get fresh
air by opening a window or door.
G WARNING
In order to reduce the potential danger of
injuries caused during the deployment of the
front air bags, the driver and front passenger
must always be correctly seated and wear
their seat belts.
For maximum protection in the event of a col-
lision, you must always be in the normal seat
position with your back against the backrest.
Fasten your seat belt and make sure that it is
correctly positioned on your body.
As 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:
sit with the seat belt fastened correctly and
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in a position that is as upright as possible
with your back against the backrest.
move the driver's seat as far back as pos-
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sible, still permitting proper operation of
vehicle controls. The distance from the cen-
ter 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). You should be
able to accomplish this by adjusting the
seat and steering wheel. If you have any
difficulties, please contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
do not lean your head or chest close to the
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steering wheel or dashboard.
only hold the steering wheel on the outside.
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Placing hands and arms inside the rim can
Occupant safety
increase the risk and potential severity of
hand/arm injury if the driver front air bag
inflates.
adjust the front-passenger seat as far back
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as possible from the dashboard when the
seat is occupied.
occupants, especially children, should
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never place their bodies or lean their heads
in the area of the door or the rear side trim
panel where the side impact air bag
inflates. This could result in serious or fatal
injuries should the side impact air bag be
deployed. Always sit as upright as possible,
wear the seat belt properly and use an
appropriately sized infant restraint, toddler
restraint or booster seat recommended for
the size and weight of the child.
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.
If the air bags are deployed, you will hear a
bang, and a small 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 indicate that there
is a fire in the vehicle. The dust might cause
some temporary breathing difficulty for peo-
ple with asthma or other breathing trouble. To
avoid this, you may wish to get out of the
vehicle or open the windows as soon as it is
safe to do so. The 6 SRS warning lamp
lights up.
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 the air bags
provide their supplemental protection.
If the driver and front passenger do not wear
their seat belts, it is not possible for the air
bags to provide their supplemental protec-
tion.
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