2004 Mercedes S-Class Owner's Manual - Page 68

Safety and Security Occupant safety Emergency tensioning device (ETD), seat belt force limiter The seat belts for the front and rear outer seats are equipped with emergency tensioning devices and belt force limiters. The ETD is designed to activate in the following cases: in frontal or rear-end impact exceeding a preset severity level in certain vehicle rollovers if the restraint systems are operational and functioning correctly, see 1 indicator lamp ( page 58) In an impact, emergency tensioning devices remove slack from the belts in such a way that the seat belts fit more snugly against the body. Belt force limiters reduce the force exerted by the seat belts on occupants during a crash. Warning! ! Do not place objects heavier than 20 lbs (9 kg) on the front passenger seat. This could cause the front or side impact airbag on the front passenger side to deploy in a crash which exceeds the system's deployment threshold. Automatic comfort-fit feature seat belt An automatic comfort-fit feature for front seats and for the rear outer seats (only for vehicles with electrically adjustable rear bench seat* or with individual seats* in the rear) reduces the retracting force of the seat belts when they are in normal use. G A pyrotechnic emergency tensioning device (ETD) that was activated must be replaced. When disposing of the pyrotechnic emergency tensioning device, our safety instructions must be followed. These are available at your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. PRE-SAFE has electrically operated reversible pre-tensioners that do not require replacement after activation. i The ETDs for the front seats will only activate if the respective front seat belt is fastened (latch plate properly inserted into buckle). The ETDs for the rear outer seats will activate with or without the respective seat belt fastened. 67