2009 Mercedes SLK-Class Owner's Manual - Page 55

Safety and security Occupant safety Enhanced seat belt reminder system When the engine is started, the seat belt telltale < will always illuminate for 6 seconds to remind you and your passenger to fasten your seat belts. If the driver's seat belt is not fastened when the engine is started, an additional warning chime will also sound for a maximum of 6 seconds or until the driver's seat belt is fastened. If after these 6 seconds the driver's or the passenger's seat belt (with the passenger seat occupied) is not fastened with both doors closed, Rthe warning chime stops sounding, the seat belt telltale < stops flashing but continues to be illuminated. After a vehicle standstill, the warning chime is reactivated and the seat belt telltale < is flashing again if the vehicle speed once exceeds 15 mph (25 km/h). The seat belt telltale < will only go out if both the driver's and the passenger's seat belt (with the passenger seat occupied) are fastened, or the vehicle is standing still and a door is opened. For more information, see "Practical hints" (Y page 300). The ETD is designed to activate in the following cases: Rin frontal or rear-end impacts exceeding the system's preset deployment threshold functioning correctly, see 1 indicator lamp (Y page 41) Rif the restraint systems are operational and Rin certain vehicle rollovers if the system determines an additional degree of protection seat belt telltale < remains illuminated for as long as either the driver's or passenger's seat belt is not fastened. Rand if the vehicle speed once exceeds 15 mph (25 km/h), the seat belt telltale < starts flashing and a warning chime sounds with increasing intensity for a maximum of 60 seconds or until the driver's and passenger's seat belt are fastened. If you and/or your passenger release the seat belt during driving, the seat belt telltale < starts flashing and the warning chime sounds as described before. If the driver's or the passenger's seat belt remains unfastened after 60 seconds, the Emergency Tensioning Device (ETD), seat belt force limiter The seat belts are equipped with ETDs and seat belt force limiters. The ETDs will only activate if the seat belts are fastened (latch plate properly inserted into buckle). In an impact, ETDs remove slack from the seat belts in such a way that the seat belts fit more snugly against the body. Seat belt force limiters, when activated, are employed to help reduce the peak force exerted by the seat belts on occupants during a crash. i ETDs do not correct an incorrect seat position or incorrectly worn seat belts. ETDs do not pull occupants back toward the backrest. G Warning! An ETD that was activated must be replaced. Z 53