2001 Mercedes ML-Class Owner's Manual - Page 58

Emergency tensioning retractor (ETR) The seat belts for the outboard passenger seats (except in the optional 3rd row seats) are equipped with emergency tensioning retractors. These tensioning retractors are located in each belt's inertia reel and become operationally ready with the key in steering lock position 1 or 2. The emergency tensioning retractors are designed to activate only when the seat belts are fastened during frontal impacts exceeding the first threshold of the SRS and in rear impacts exceeding a preset severity level. They remove slack from the belts in such a way that the seat belts fit more snugly against the body restricting its forward movement as much as possible. In cases of other frontal impacts, angled impacts, rollovers, certain side impacts, or other accidents without sufficient frontal or rear impact forces, the emergency tensioning retractors will not be activated. The driver and passengers will then be protected by the fastened seat belts and inertia reel in the usual manner. For seat belt and emergency tensioning retractor see page 63. Restraint systems Instruments and controls Operation Driving Instrument cluster display 55 Practical hints Car care Technical data Index