Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe Operator's Manual page 50

Occupant safety
48
remain illuminated. This indicates that the
front passenger front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front
passenger seat is classified as being empty,
the 45 indicator lamp will illuminate
when the engine is started and remain illumi-
nated. This indicates that the front passenger
front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front
passenger seat occupant is classified as
being heavier than the weight of a typical 12-
month-old child seated in a standard child
restraint or as being a small individual (such
as a young teenager or a small adult), the
45 indicator lamp will illuminate for
approximately 6 seconds when the engine is
started. Depending on occupant weight sen-
sor readings from the seat, it will then remain
illuminated or go out. With the 45
indicator lamp illuminated, the front
passenger front air bag is deactivated. With
the 45 indicator lamp out, the front
passenger front air bag is activated.
When the OCS senses that the front
passenger seat occupant is classified as an
adult or someone larger than a small individ-
ual, the 45 indicator lamp will illumi-
nate for approximately six seconds when the
engine is started and then go out. This indi-
cates that the front passenger front air bag is
activated.
If the 45 indicator lamp is illuminated,
the front passenger front air bag is deactiva-
ted and will not be deployed.
If the 45 indicator lamp is not illumi-
nated, the front passenger front air bag is
activated and will be deployed
in the event of certain frontal impacts
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if the impact exceeds a predetermined trig-
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gering threshold
independent of the side impact air bag or
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pelvis air bag
If the front passenger front air bag is
deployed, the rate of inflation will be influ-
enced by
the rate of vehicle deceleration as assessed
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by the air bag control unit
the front passenger's weight category as
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identified by the OCS
WARNING
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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 seats whenever possible.
Regardless of seating position, children 12
years old and under must be seated and prop-
erly secured in an appropriate infant restraint,
toddler restraint, or booster seat recommen-
ded for the size and weight of the child.
The infant or child restraint must be properly
secured with the vehicle's seat belt, the seat
belt and Top Tether strap, or lower anchors
and Top Tether strap, fully in accordance with
the child seat manufacturer's instructions.
Occupants, especially children, should 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.
Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag. Note the following impor-
tant information when circumstances require
you to place a child in the front-passenger
seat:
Your vehicle is equipped with air bag tech-
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nology designed to deactivate the front-
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when the system senses the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child or less along
with the weight of a standard appropriate
child restraint on the front-passenger seat.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
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front-passenger seat will be seriously
injured or even killed if the front-passenger