
Airbag system
42•
during a frontal collision,
•
during a rear-end collision,
•
if the vehicle rolls,
•
or during a minor frontal collision.
WARNING
If a fault should occur in the airbag system, have the system checked imme-
diately by a qualified workshop. Otherwise there is a danger that during a
collision, the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.Function of curtain airbags
Fully inflated airbags reduce the ri sk of head or chest injury in
a side collision.
During some side collisions the curtain airbag is triggered on the impact side
of the vehicle ⇒ fig. 25.
In certain types of accident the front, side and curtain airbags may be trig-
gered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with propellant gas. In the
process, the curtain bag covers the side windows and door pillars.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the airbags
have to deploy extremely rapidly (within fractions of a second). A fine dust
may develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and is no indication
that there was a fire in the vehicle.
The fully deployed airbags cushion the movement of the front occupants and
help to reduce the risk of injury to the upper body.
The special design of the airbag allows the controlled escape of the propel-
lant gas when an occupant puts pressure on the bag. Thus, the head and
chest are surrounded and protected by the airbag.Safety notes on the operation of the curtain airbag system
If you use airbags correctly, they can considerably reduce the
risk of injury in many kinds of accident.
WARNING
•
In order for the curtain airbags to provide their maximum protection,
the prescribed sitting position must al ways be maintained with seat belts
while travelling.
•
For safety reasons, the head air bag must be disconnected in those
vehicles fitted with a passenger compartment separation screen. See an
Authorised Service Centre to make this adjustment.
Fig. 25 Deployed curtain
airbags
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Airbag system43
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
•
There must be no other persons, animals or objects between the occu-
pants of the outer seats and the deployment space of the curtain airbags
so that the curtain airbag can deploy without restriction and provide the
greatest possible protection. Therefore, sun blinds which have not been
expressly approved for use in your vehicle may not be attached to the side
windows ⇒ page 194, “Accessories, parts replacement and modifica-
tions”.
•
The built-in coat hooks should be used only for lightweight clothing. Do
not leave any heavy or sharp-edged obje cts in the pockets. When using the
coat hooks, do not hang th e clothes on coat hangers.
•
The airbags provide protection for one accident only, if they have been
deployed they must be replaced.
•
Any work on the curtain airbag system or removal and installation of
the airbag components for other repairs (such as removal of the roof lining)
should only be performed by qualified workshop. Otherwise, a fault may be
introduced into the operation of the airbag system.
•
Do not attempt to modify components of the airbag system in any way.
•
The side and head airbags are managed through sensors located in the
interior of the front doors. To ensure the correct functioning of the side and
head airbags neither the doors nor the door panels should be modified in
any way (e.g. fitting loudspeakers). If the front door is damaged in any way,
this may affect the correct working of the system. All work carried out on
the front door must be made in a qualified workshop.WARNING (continued)
altea_ingles Seite 43 Donnerstag, 19. Mai 2005 3:02 15

Airbag system
44Deactivating airbags*Disabling front passenger airbag
If you fit a rear-facing child seat to the front passenger seat,
the front passenger front and side airbags must be disabled.
When the passenger airbag is deactivated, this means that only the
frontal airbag is deactivated. All the other airbags in the vehicle
remain functional.
Disabling front passenger airbag
– Switch off ignition.
– Turn the ignition switch in the key operated switch in the glove box to the position OFF ⇒ fig. 26 .
– Check that the warning lamp “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF” in the dash panel ⇒fig. 27 remains lit ⇒ when the ignition is
switched on.
Enabling front passenger airbag
– Switch off ignition.
– Turn the ignition switch in the key-operated switch in the glove box to the position ON ⇒fig. 26 .
Fig. 26 In the glove box
there is key switch for
disabling and enabling
the airbags on the front
passenger side
Fig. 27 Warning lamp for
deactivated passenger
airbag in centre console
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Airbag system45
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
– Check that the warning lamp “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF” in the
dash panel does ⇒page 44, fig. 27 not light up when the igni-
tion is switched on ⇒.
WARNING
•
The driver is responsible for the proper position of the key-operated
switch.
•
You should deactivate the front passenger airbag only if you have to use
a rear-facing child seat in exceptional cases. ⇒ page 46, “Child safety”.
•
Never install a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat unless
the front passenger airbag has been disabled. Risk of potentially fatal inju-
ries to the child! However, if it is necessary in exceptional circumstances to
transport a child in a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, you
must always disable the front passenger airbag.
•
As soon as the child seat is no longer needed on the front passenger
seat, enable the front passenger airbag again.
•
Only deactivate the passenger airbag when the ignition is off, other-
wise a fault may occur in the airbag system, this will create a danger that
in case of an accident, the airbag do es not deploy properly or does not
deploy at all.
•
If, while the passenger airbag is tu rned off, the indicator PASSENGER
AIRBAG OFF on the instrument panel does not remain lit, this could indicate
a fault in the airbag system:
−Have the airbag system inspected immediately by a qualified work-
shop.
− Do not use a child seat in the front passenger seat! The front
passenger airbag could be triggered in an accident despite the fact that
there is a fault in the system. A child could sustain serious or fatal inju-
ries.
− It is not certain whether the front passenger airbag will deploy
during an accident! Inform your passengers of this.
•
When using the ignition key to activate / deactivate the passenger
frontal airbag, only the passenger frontal airbag will be activated / deacti-
vated. The side airbag and head airbag on the passenger side will remain
active.WARNING (continued)
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Child safety47
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Safety notes on using child seats
Proper use of child seats substantially reduces the risk of
injury in an accident!As the driver, you are responsible for any children you transport in
your vehicle.
– Protect your children by properly using appropriate child seats
⇒page 48.
– Always ensure that the belt webbing is properly positioned according to the instructions prov ided by the manufacturer of the
child seat.
– When travelling, do not allow children to distract you from traffic.
– Take breaks regularly during long trips. Take a break at least every two hours.
WARNING
•
Never install a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat unless
the front passenger airbag has been disabled. Risk of potentially fatal inju-
ries to the child! If it is necessary, in exceptional circumstances, to trans-
port a child on the front passenger seat, always disable the front passenger
airbag ⇒ page 44, “Deactivating airbags*”.
•
For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to turn the
airbag off, an Authorised Service Centre must be consulted.
•
All passengers, especially children, must assume the proper sitting
position and be properly belted in while travelling.
•
Never hold children or babies on your lap, this can result in potentially
fatal injuries to the child!
•
Never allow a child to be transported in a vehicle without being properly
secured, or to stand up or kneel on a seat while travelling. In an accident,
the child could be flung through the vehicle, causing possibly fatal injuries
to themselves and other occupants.
•
If children assume an improper sitting position when the car is moving,
they expose themselves to greater risk of injury during a sudden braking
manoeuvre or in an accident. This is particularly the case if the child is trav-
elling on the front passenger seat and the airbag system is triggered in an
accident; this could have consequences including serious injury or death.
•
A suitable child seat can protect your child!
•
Never leave a child unsupervised in a child seat or alone in the vehicle.
•
Depending on weather conditions, it may become extremely hot or cold
inside the vehicle. This can be fatal.
•
Children who are less than 1.5 metres tall must not wear a normal seat
belt without a child restraint system, as this could cause injuries to the
abdominal and neck areas during a sudden braking manoeuvre or in an
accident.
•
Do not allow the belt webbing to become twisted or jammed, or to rub
on any sharp edges.
•
Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause injuries even in a minor collision
or sudden braking manoeuvres.
•
The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the belt web is
properly positioned ⇒page 24, “Seat belts”.
•
Only one child may occupy a child seat ⇒page 48, “Child seats”.WARNING (continued)
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Child safety
48Child seatsCategorisation of child seats into groups
Use only child seats that are officially approved and suitable
for the child.Child seats are covered by the European standard ECE R 44 (issued by the
Economic Commission of Europe).
The child seats are grouped into 5 categories:
Group 0: up to 10 kg
Group 0+ : up to 13 kg
Group 1: from 9 to 18 kg
Group 2: from 15 to 25 kg
Group 3: from 22 to 36 kg
Child seats that have been tested and approved under the ECE R 44 standard
bear the test mark on the seat (the letter E in a circle with the test number
below it).
Group 0 and 0+ child seats
A suitable child seat and a corr ectly adjusted seat belt can
help to protect your child.Group 0: For babies from about 9 months old and 10 kg in weight the most
suitable seats are those appearing in the illustration ⇒fig. 28 .
Group 0+: For babies from about 18 months old and 13 kg in weight the most
suitable seats are those appearing in the illustration.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats.
We recommend that you include the manu facturer's directions for child seat
use in the vehicle wallet and always keep them in the vehicle.
WARNING
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use of
child seats ⇒ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 47.
Fig. 28 A group 0 rear-
facing child seat fitted on
the rear seat.
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Child safety49
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Group 1 child seats
A suitable child seat and a correctly adjusted seat belt can
help to protect your child.Child seats using the “ISOFIX” system or seats in which the child faces the
rear of the car are most appropriate for babies and small children weighing
between 9 and 18 kg.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats.
We recommend that you include the manufacturer's directions for child seat
use in the vehicle wallet and always keep them in the vehicle.
WARNING
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use of
child seats ⇒ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 47.
Group 2 and 3 child seats
A suitable child seat and a corr ectly adjusted seat belt can
help to protect your child.Follow the manufacturer's instructio ns and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats.
We recommend that you include the manufacturer's directions for child seat
use in the vehicle wallet and always keep them in the vehicle.
Group 2 child seats
Children under 7 years of age weighing between 15 and 25 kg are best
protected by group 2 child seats in conjunction with properly adjusted seat
belts.
Group 3 child seats
Children over 7 years of age weighing between 22 and 36 kg but less than 1.5
metres tall are best protected by seat cushions with head restraints in
conjunction with properly worn seat belts ⇒fig. 30.
Fig. 29 A category 1
forward-facing child seat
fitted on the rear seat.
Fig. 30 Forward-facing
child seat installed on rear
seat.
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Child safety
50
WARNING
•
The shoulder part of th e seat belt must lie approximately on the centre
of the shoulder, never across the neck or the arm. The seat belt must lie
close to the torso. The lap belt part must lie across the pelvis, not across the stomach, and always fit closely. Pull the belt tight if necessary to take
up any slack
⇒page 24, “Seat belts”.
•
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of child seats ⇒ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 47.
Securing child seatsWays to secure a child seat
A child seat can be secured differently on th e rear seat and on the front passenger seat.You can secure a child seat to the rear seat or front passenger seat in the
following ways:
•
Child seats in groups 0 to 3 can be secured with a seat belt.
•
Group 0, 0+ and 1 child seats with the “ISOFIX” system can be secured to
the “ISOFIX” retaining rings without seat belts ⇒ page 51.
U: Suitable for universal retention systems approved for use with this age group (universal retention systems, are those systems secured using the
adult safety belt)
*: Move the passenger seat back as far as possible, as high as possible and always turn the airbag off. L: Suitable for retention systems using the “ISOFIX” anchorsWARNING (continued)
Weight class
Weight Seat locations
Front passenger Rear outerRear centre
Group 0 <10 kgU*U/L U
Group 0+ <13 kgU*U/L U
Group 1 9-18 kgU*U/L U
Group 2 / 3 15-36 kgU*UU
altea_ingles Seite 50 Donnerstag, 19. Mai 2005 3:02 15