McLaren Elva Seat Belts Instruction Guide

The McLaren Elva, a masterpiece of automotive engineering and design, incorporates cutting-edge technology not only in its performance but also in its safety features, especially its seatbelts. The McLaren Elva seat belts are essential for assuring the safety of the driver and passenger during high-speed driving and thrilling experiences. In this introduction, we will examine the advanced seat belt system of the McLaren Elva, highlighting its innovative design and crucial role in providing safety without compromising Elva’s open-air, exhilarating driving experience.

Seat Belts

Seat belts and child restraint systems are the most effective means of restraining vehicle occupants from impact forces, which minimizes the danger of injury from interior impacts and the effects of whiplash.

WARNING: A seat belt that is not worn, worn incorrectly, or has not been engaged fully in the seat belt buckle, cannot perform its intended function. To avoid injuries, ensure that all vehicle occupants wear their seat belt correctly at all times. Ensure that the belt:

• Is routed as low as possible across your pelvic area, i.e. across your hip joints and not across your abdomen.
  Fits closely.
  Is not twisted.
  Is routed across the middle of your shoulder.
  Lies flat across the midpoint of the collarbone between the neck and shoulder.
  Fits closely across your pelvis by pulling the shoulder belt upwards.

Do not secure any objects with a seat belt if the seat belt is being used by a vehicle occupant.
Avoid wearing bulky clothing.
Do not route the belt across sharp-edged or fragile objects especially if these are on or in your clothing. The seat belt could be damaged and you could be injured.
Only one person should use each seat belt at any one time.
Never allow children to travel on the lap of another occupant.
Children under 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) tall or younger than 12 years of age must be secured in a suitable child restraint. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing child restraint systems. Please refer to current national and local laws for specific requirements.

WARNING: Pregnant women should wear a seat belt to ensure maximum safety of mother and unborn child. Position the lap belt across the hips, beneath the abdomen and position the shoulder belt between the breasts and to the side of the abdomen. Ensure the belt is not slack or twisted.
WARNING: The seat belt only provides its intended degree of protection if the seat backrest is positioned close to vertical, and the occupant is sitting upright.
WARNING: The seat belt cannot perform its function correctly if the seat belt or buckle becomes excessively dirty or damaged. Ensure the belt latch engages the buckle fully.
Check the seat belts regularly to ensure that they are not damaged, or routed over sharp edges and are not trapped. The belt could tear in an accident, causing injury to occupants.

Have seat belts checked if the belts have been damaged or subjected to a heavy load. Work on the seat belts should only be carried out by your McLaren retailer.

Wearing a Seat Belt

1. Ensure that you are seated comfortably and the controls are within easy reach.
2. Grasp the seat belt latch and pull across the body, ensuring that the belt lies flat across the midpoint of the collarbone between the neck and shoulder, then across the chest and pelvis.
3. With the belt correctly positioned insert the latch into the buckle and press until a click is heard to confirm engagement.
   Check engagement by attempting to pull the latch from the buckle.

Seat belt tensioners
The seat belts incorporate belt tensioners. Belt tensioners apply tension to the seat belts in an accident, pulling them tight against the occupant.

WARNING: Do not insert the belt latch into the passenger’s seat belt buckle if the passenger’s seat is unoccupied. The belt tensioners could be triggered in an accident.
WARNING: Belt tensioners do not correct an incorrect seating position or incorrectly worn seat belts. Belt tensioners do not pull occupants back towards the backrests.

The belt tensioner will be triggered for each seat belt, provided the belt latch is engaged in the seat belt buckle if a head-on or rear-end collision occurs and the vehicle decelerates or accelerates rapidly.
If the belt tensioners are triggered, a bang will be heard, a small amount of dust may be released and the supplementary restraint system warning light will illuminate.

WARNING: Once triggered (or if you are unsure if they have triggered) you MUST not drive the vehicle. Contact your nearest McLaren retailer immediately.

Belt force limiters
The seat belts incorporate belt force limiters. Belt force limiters are tuned to the front airbags and gradually release the tension being applied to the belts during an impact, reducing the force exerted on occupants.

Seat belt warning light
The seat belt warning light on the Folding Driver Display and a warning tone remind vehicle occupants to fasten their seat belts. The seat belt warning light extinguishes and the warning tone ceases when the driver and passenger have fastened their seat belt.

Supplementary Restraint System (SRS)

Airbag system
Your McLaren is equipped with the following airbags:

• Driver’s front airbag in the steering wheel
• Passenger’s front airbag in the upper area of the dashboard
• Side head airbags in the doors
•  

WARNING: Correct operation of the airbags can only occur if the steering wheel, the passenger’s airbag cover, the knee air bag cover, and the door trim are not covered.
WARNING: Correct operation of the airbags can only occur if the steering wheel, the passenger’s airbag cover and the door trim are not covered.
WARNING: Airbags are not a substitute for correctly worn seat belts, they enhance the level of occupant protection offered by seat belts.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of injuries in the event of an accident, observe the following points:

• Ensure that the driver’s chest is at least 10 in (25 cm) from the airbag cover.
• Do not lean forward over the dashboard while the vehicle is in motion.
• Do not rest your feet on the dashboard.
• Only hold the steering wheel by the outside of the rim. You could be injured if the airbag deploys and you are holding the inside of the steering wheel.
• Occupants, particularly children, must not lean on the doors from inside the vehicle.
• Ensure that there are no other objects between the vehicle occupants and the deployment area of the airbags.
  Because of the high speed at which airbags deploy, there is a risk of injuries caused by an inflating airbag.

Air bag replacement
WARNING: McLaren recommends that airbags are replaced every 15 years to prevent airbags from not firing due to component operating life.

Airbag system modification
If it is necessary to modify the airbag system to accommodate a person with disabilities, please contact McLaren Automotive Inc. at:
McLaren Automotive Inc
1405 South Beltine Road, Suite 100
Coppell
TX 75019

Front Airbags

• 

The driver’s front airbag (1) deploys in front of the steering wheel and the passenger’s front airbag (2) deploys in front of and above the dashboard.
The front airbags are deployed if the system determines they can offer additional protection for occupants against head and chest injuries.
NOTE: The passenger’s front airbag is only deployed if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF warning light on the overhead console is NOT illuminated, see Occupant classification system

Side head airbags

WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury to occupants if a side head airbag is deployed, ensure that:

• 
• there are no other objects between the vehicle occupants and the deployment area of the airbags.
  No accessories are attached to the doors.
  No heavy or sharp objects are left in the pockets of clothing.
  Occupants, particularly children, must not lean on the doors from inside the vehicle.

The side head airbags are located in the upper area of each door panel and are deployed if the system determines they can offer additional protection for the head of the occupant on the side of the vehicle on which the impact occurs.

NOTE: The passenger’s side head airbag is only deployed if the passenger’s seat is occupied.

Occupant classification system – passenger’s seat
The system can determine if the passenger’s seat is occupied using a capacitance mat fitted in the seat base, and by checking the seat belt buckle engagement on the passenger’s seat belt. The system will deactivate the passenger’s front airbag for children in child seats and unoccupied passenger seat ensuring airbag deployment for adults.

The status of the airbags is indicated by the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF warning light on the overhead console.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF warning light illuminates when the ignition is switched on and extinguishes after 5 seconds.
The warning light will remain illuminated if the passenger’s seat is unoccupied or if a child seat is fitted.

NOTE: The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF warning light is always illuminated unless the passenger’s seat is occupied by an adult.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF warning light is illuminated, the passenger’s front airbag is not active. The side head airbag and the belt tensioner on the passenger’s side remain active even if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF warning light is illuminated.

WARNING: If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF warning light is not illuminated when the child seat is fitted, the passenger’s airbag is not deactivated. The child could be seriously injured if the passenger’s airbag inflates.
WARNING: To ensure that the occupant classification system functions correctly, McLaren recommends that objects are not placed under a seat. McLaren also recommends that additional materials are not applied such as a blanket, cushion, or aftermarket equipment such as a seat cover, heater, or massager. These items can seriously affect how well the occupant classification system operates. McLaren recommends that aftermarket equipment such as covers, heaters, and massagers are NOT used.
WARNING: Any electronic devices that are either active or connected to the 12 V accessory socket should not be placed on the passenger’s seat. They can affect how the occupant classification system operates.
WARNING: The occupant classification system may become affected if any form of liquid (inclusive of rain) is spilled onto the passenger’s seat. If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF warning light is not illuminated when the seat is unoccupied, do not install a child restraint or allow anyone to occupy the seat. Please contact your nearest McLaren retailer at your earliest convenience.
WARNING: Do not place sharp objects on the passenger’s seat. These may damage the occupant classification system if they puncture the seat cushion.
WARNING: To ensure that the occupant classification system functions correctly, never place objects (e.g. a cushion) under the child restraint system. The entire base of the child restraint system must be in contact with the seat at all times. If a child restraint system is not fitted correctly it may not provide the intended degree of protection in the event of an accident and may cause injuries.

Airbag deployment
In the event of a collision, the airbags are deployed by the supplementary restraints system to protect the vehicle occupants. The system can control the number of air bags deployed and partially or fully inflate the airbags depending on the severity of the collision to provide the best possible protection to the vehicle occupants.
The system uses sensors to rapidly evaluate the collision severity and the number of vehicle occupants. Once all these factors are known, the system will then deploy the necessary air bags and regulate the inflation pressure in the impact zone to ensure the occupant’s safety.

After an accident, the airbags begin to depressurize almost immediately after the inflation process has taken place. The gas used to inflate the airbags escapes through vents in the air bag and this helps reduce the occurrence of major impact injuries to the occupants.
An air bag slows down and restricts the movement of the vehicle occupant reducing the load on the body, but is not a substitute for a correctly worn seat belt.

WARNING: If the airbags are deployed, a bang will be heard and a small amount of fine powder may be released. The noise will not damage your hearing and the powder does not constitute a health hazard nor does it imply that a fire has broken out. This powder could cause short-term breathing difficulties for persons suffering from asthma or other respiratory conditions. To prevent breathing difficulties, leave the vehicle as soon as possible or open a window.
WARNING: After an airbag has been deployed, airbag parts are hot, do not touch them. Have the airbags replaced at your McLaren retailer.

Out of position (OOP)
The airbag system in your McLaren has been tested for the correct small child out-of-position (OOP) operation. OOP can occur if a small child is incorrectly positioned in the passenger’s seat in the event of a collision in which the airbags are deployed.

Supplementary restraint system (SRS) warning light
The supplementary restraint system performs a self-test at regular intervals when the ignition is switched on and the engine is running.
The warning light on the Folding Driver Display illuminates when the ignition is switched on and extinguishes 5 seconds after the engine is started.

WARNING: Contact your McLaren retailer immediately should any of the following occur:

• The warning light does not illuminate when you switch on the ignition
  The light does not extinguish 5 seconds after the engine is running
  The light illuminates again, after the engine has started

Safety features
If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident, the following events will occur to assist you and any recovery personnel:

• The doors will unlock
• The hazard warning lights will switch on
• The interior lighting will switch on
  In some instances, the fuel system will also be switched off.

Child passengers

WARNING: Do not leave children unsupervised in the vehicle even if they are secured in a child restraint. Children could injure themselves on parts of the vehicle, open a door and be seriously or even fatally harmed by prolonged exposure to heat or cold.
If children open a door, they could cause injury to others in doing so or get out of the vehicle and possibly injure themselves or they could be injured by a passing vehicle.
Do not expose the child restraint system to direct sunlight. The metal parts of the child restraint system could burn the child.
Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside the vehicle unless they are secured.
An unsecured or incorrectly positioned load increases the risk of injury to the child during sharp braking, a sudden change of direction or an accident.

Child restraint system
McLaren does not recommend the use of child seats in this vehicle, but if you choose to do so, please follow the guidelines below:
Secure any child under 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) tall or younger than 12 years of age traveling in the vehicle in an appropriate category restraint according to their weight. Contact your McLaren retailer for advice.
Please refer to current national and local laws for specific requirements.

WARNING: Never secure a rearward-facing child restraint system on the passenger’s seat if the passenger’s front air bag is active. The status is indicated by the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator.

WARNING: If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator does not illuminate, do not use a rearward-facing child restraint system on the passenger seat. You may use a forward-facing child restraint system on the passenger’s seat. The warning label on the passenger’s side is there to remind you of this.
WARNING: If a forward-facing child seat is fitted to the passenger’s seat, make sure that the passenger’s seat is fully rearwards and is positioned at the lowest height. A manual passenger’s seat does not have height adjustment.
WARNING: If the child restraint system has not been fitted correctly, the child cannot be restrained in an accident or sudden braking and could be injured. When fitting a child restraint system, observe the manufacturer’s instructions on the correct use of the child restraint.

KISI child restraint function
Your McLaren is fitted with a KISI system which is an automatic locking seat belt on the passenger’s side designed to temporarily lock the seat belt to securely hold the child restraint in the passenger’s seat.

1. Extend the passenger’s seat belt fully. The KISI system only engages when the seat belt is fully extended.
   NOTE: If the vehicle is parked on a hill, the inertia lock may prevent the seat belt from extending. If this occurs, release the seat belt slightly and continue to extend the seat belt carefully to avoid the engagement of the inertia lock.
2. Pass the seat belt through the child restraint as described by the child restraint manufacturer and engage the belt latch in the buckle.
3. Adjust the belt so that the lower section is tight against the restraint and allow the upper section to retract. The KISI system will click as the belt retracts.
4. When the seat belt has retracted as far as possible, pull on the upper section to check that the seat belt has locked.

NOTE: The KISI system will disengage when the seat belt has fully retracted and can then be worn as a normal seat belt. Once the KISI system has unlocked, it will be necessary to fully extend the seat belt to engage the KISI system the next time a child restraint is used.

Deployable Rollover Protection
WARNING: Do not put anything on the rollover protection system deployment points. The rollover protection system must be free to deploy when required.

In addition to airbags (see Air Bag System your McLaren is equipped with a Rollover Protection System (ROPS) which will deploy automatically to protect the cockpit area if the vehicle rolls over.

FAQs

Useful Link

View Full PDF: McLaren Elva User Manual | Auto User Guide
McLaren Elva Seats Setup Instructions