2006 Seat Alhambra airbag

Seat belts 20
was travelling just before the impact. This example applies not only to frontal
accidents, but to all accidents and collisions.
The danger of not using the seat belt
Many people believe that the occupants can protect them-
selves with their hands in a minor collision, this is false.
Even at low speeds the forces acting on the body in a collision are so great
that it is not possible to brace oneself with one's hands. In a frontal collision,
unbelted passengers are thrown forward and will make violent contact with
the steering wheel, dashboard, windscreen or whatever else is in the way
Ÿfig. 7.
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts. When deployed,
airbags provide only additional protection. All occupants (including the
driver) must be wearing seat belts properly during the trip. This will reduce
the risk of severe injuries in the event of an accident – regardless of whether
an airbag is fitted for the seat.
Note that airbags can be triggered only once. To achieve the best possible
protection, the seat belt must always be worn properly so that you will be
protected in accidents in which no airbag is deployed.
It is also important for the rear passengers to wear seat belts properly, as they
could otherwise be thrown forward violently in an accident. Rear passengers
who do not use seat belts endanger not only themselves but also the front
occupants Ÿfig. 8.
Fig. 7 A driver not
wearing a seat belt is
thrown forward violently.
Fig. 8 The unbelted rear
passenger is thrown
forward violently, hitting
the driver wearing a seat
belt.

Seat belts21
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Seat belts protect
Passengers not wearing seat belts risk severe injuries in the
event of an accident.
Properly worn seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting posi-
tions and substantially reduce the kinetic energy in the event of an accident.
Seat belts also help to prevent uncontrolled movements that could lead to
severe injuries. In addition, properly worn seat belts reduce the danger of
being thrown from the car.
Passengers wearing their seat belts correctly benefit greatly from the ability
of the belts to absorb kinetic energy. The front crumple zones and other
passive safety features (such as the airbag system) are also designed to
absorb the kinetic energy generated in a collision. Taken together, all these
features reduce the forces acting on the occupants and consequently the risk
of injury.
Our examples describe frontal collisions. Of course, properly worn seat belts
reduce substantially the risk of injury in all other types of accidents. This is why it is so important to fasten seat belts before every trip, even when "just
driving around the corner".
Ensure that your passengers wear their seat belts as well. Accident statistics
have shown properly worn seat belts to be an effective means of substantially
reducing the risk of injury and improving the chances of survival in a serious
accident. Furthermore, properly worn seat belts improve the protection
provided by airbags in the event of an accident. For this reason, wearing a
seat belt is required by law in most countries.
Although your vehicle is equipped with airbags, the seat belts must be
fastened and worn. The front airbags, for example, are only triggered in some
frontal accidents. The front airbags will not be triggered during minor frontal
collisions, minor side collisions, rear collisions, rolls or accidents in which the
airbag trigger threshold in the control unit is not exceeded.
Therefore, you should always wear your seat belt and ensure that your
passengers have fastened their seat belts properly before you drive off!Safety notes on using seat belts
If seat belts are used correctly, they can reduce the risk of
injury in an accident.
– Always wear the seat belt as described in this booklet.
– Ensure that the seat belts can be fastened at all times and are not
damaged.
WARNING
•If the seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at all, the risk of severe inju-
ries increases. The optimal protection from seat belts can be achieved only
if you use them properly.
Fig. 9 Driver protected by
the properly worn seat
belt during a sudden
braking manoeuvre.

Seat belts 30
Incorrectly fastened seat belts
Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause severe injuries.
Seat belts can provide optimal protection only if the belt web is
properly worn. This is particularly true of seat belts with two buckles.
The seat belts must be fastened exactly in the order described in this
chapter. An incorrect sitting position impairs substantially the
protection a seat belt offers and can lead to severe or fatal injuries.
The risk of severe or fatal injuries is especially increased when a
deploying airbag strikes an occupant who has assumed an incorrect
sitting position. As driver, you are responsible for the safety of all
vehicle occupants, especially children. Therefore:
– Never permit anyone to assume an incorrect sitting position in
the vehicle while travelling Ÿ.
WARNING
An incorrectly worn seat belt increases the risk of severe injuries.
•Before every trip, instruct your passengers to adjust their seat belts
properly and to wear them during the trip.
•Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of seat belts Ÿpage 22 and Ÿpage 27.
Belt tension devices
Function of the belt tension device
During a frontal collision, the seat belts on the front seats are
retracted automatically.
The seat belts for the front occupants are equipped with belt tension devices.
Sensors will trigger the belt tension devices during severe head-on, lateral
and rear collisions only if the seat belt is being worn. This retracts and
tightens the seat belts, reducing the forward motion of the occupants.
The belt tension device can be triggered only once.
The belt tension devices will not be triggered in the event of a light frontal,
side or rear collision, if the vehicle overturns, or in situations where no large
forces act on the front, side or rear of the vehicle.
Note
•If the belt tension devices are triggered, a fine dust is produced. This is
normal and is no indication that there was a fire in the vehicle.
•The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or
components of the system are scrapped. A qualified workshop is familiar with
these regulations and will be pleased to pass on the information to you.
Service and disposal of belt tension devices
The belt tension devices are components of the seat belts that are installed
in the seats of your vehicle. If you work on the belt tension devices or remove
and install parts of the system when performing other repair work, the seat
belt may be damaged. The consequence may be that, in the event of an acci-
dent, the belt tension devices function incorrectly or not at all.

Airbag system 32
Airbag system
Brief introduction
Why wear a seat belt and assume the correct sitting
position?
For the inflating airbags to achieve the best protection, the
seat belt must always be worn properly and the correct sitting
position must be assumed.
For your own safety and the safety of the passengers, please ensure
the following before you drive:
– Always wear the seat belt properly Ÿpage 17.
– Adjust the driver seat and the steering wheel correctly Ÿpage 9.
– Adjust the front passenger seat correctly Ÿpage 10.
– Adjust the head restraint seat correctly Ÿpage 12.
– Use the correct child restraint system to protect children in your
vehicle Ÿpage 45.
The airbag deploys in fractions of a second and with a high velocity. If you
have assumed an incorrect seating position at that moment, you could
sustain critical injuries. Therefore, it is essential that all occupants maintain
a correct sitting position while travelling.
Braking heavily the moment before an accident may cause an occupant not
wearing a seat belt to be thrown forward into the area of the deploying airbag. In this case, the inflating airbag may inflict critical or fatal injuries upon the
occupant. This applies particularly to children.
Always maintain the greatest possible distance between yourself and the
front airbag. This way, the front airbags can completely deploy when trig-
gered, providing their maximum protection.
The most important factors for triggering the airbag are the type of accident,
the angle of impact and the vehicle speed.
Whether the airbags are triggered depends primarily on the vehicle deceler-
ation rate resulting from the collision and detected by the control unit. If the
vehicle deceleration occurring during the collision and measured by the
control unit remains below the specified reference values, the front, side
and/or curtain airbag will not be triggered. Take into account that the visible
damage in a vehicle following an accident, for whatever reason, are not an
indication as to why the airbags were triggered.
WARNING
•Wearing the seat belt incorrectly or assuming an incorrect sitting posi-
tion can lead to critical or fatal injuries.
•All occupants, including children, who are not properly belted can
sustain critical or fatal injuries if the airbag is triggered. You should always
transport all children up to 12 years of age on the rear seat. Never transport
children in the vehicle if they are not restrained or the restraint system is
not appropriate for their age, size or weight.
•If you are not wearing a seat belt or if you lean forward or to the side or
assume an incorrect sitting position, the risk of injury is increased
substantially. This increased risk of injury will be further increased if you
are struck by an inflating airbag.
•To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating airbag, always wear the
seat belt properly Ÿpage 17.

Airbag system33
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
•Always properly adjust the front seats.
Conditions for fitting a rear facing child seat in the front
passenger seat
Rear-facing child seats must never be used on the front
passenger seat when the front passenger airbag is enabled.
An enabled front airbag on the front passenger side is potentially a major
danger to a child Ÿ . The front passenger seat is life threatening to a child
if you transport the child in a rear-facing child seat. You should always trans-
port all children up to 12 years of age on the rear seat.
If a rear-facing child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, an inflating
airbag can strike it with such great force that critical or fatal injuries may
result.
Therefore we urgently recommend that you transport children on the rear
seats. That is the safest place in the vehicle for children. Alternatively, the
front and side airbags for the front passenger Ÿpage 43can be disabled with
the ignition key. When transporting children, use a child seat appropriate to
the age and size of each child.
WARNING
If a child seat is mounted in the front passenger seat, the child is exposed
to a greater risk in the event of an accident.
•Never secure a rear-facing child seat to the front passenger seat if the
front passenger airbag is enabled. The child can suffer critical or fatal inju-
ries when the front passenger airbag is triggered.
•An inflating front passenger airbag can strike the rear-facing child seat
and hurl it with great force against the door, the roof or the backrest.
•If, under special circumstances, it should be necessary to transport a
child in a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, it is absolutely
essential that you observe the following safety measures:
−Disabling front and side airbags for front passenger Ÿpage 43
−The child seat must be approved by the child seat manufacturer for
use on a front passenger seat with front or side airbag.
−Follow the installation instructions of the child seat manufacturer
and absolutely observe the warnings Ÿpage 45.
−Before properly installing the child seat, push the front passenger
seat all the way to the rear so that the greatest possible distance to the
front passenger airbag is ensured.
−Ensure that no objects prevent the front passenger seat from being
pushed completely back.
−The backrest of the front passenger seat must be in an upright
position.
Warning lamp for airbag and belt tension device system T
This warning lamp monitors the airbag and belt tension
device system.
The warning lamp monitors all airbags and belt tension devices in the
vehicle, including control units and wiring connections.
WARNING (continued)WARNING (continued)

Airbag system 34
Monitoring of airbag and belt tension device system
The functionality of the airbag and belt tension device system is constantly
monitored electronically. The warning lamp
T will light up for four seconds
every time the ignition is switched on. (self diagnosis).
If at least one airbag has been deactivated in a specialised workshop, the
warning light
T flashes for 12 seconds before starting the engine. This does
not apply when the front and side airbags have been deactivated using the
key switchŸpage 43.
The system must be checked when the warning lamp
T :
•does not come on when the ignition is switched on,
•does not go off after four seconds, after switching on the ignition,
•goes out and then comes on again after the ignition is switched on,
•or if it comes on or flickers while the car is moving.
In the event of a malfunction, the warning lamp remains on continuously. In
addition, depending on the malfunction, an appropriate fault message
appears in the display
1) of the instrument panel. In this event, you should
have a qualified workshop check the system immediately.
WARNING
If there is a malfunction, the airbag and belt tension device system cannot
properly perform its protective function.
•If a malfunction should occur, have the system checked immediately by
a qualified workshop. Otherwise there is a risk that, in the event of an acci-
dent, the airbag system and belt tension devices may not be triggered, or
may not be triggered correctly.
Repair, care and disposal of the airbags
The parts of the airbag system are installed in various places in your vehicle.
If you work on the airbag system or remove and install parts of the system
when performing other repair work, parts of the airbag system may be
damaged. The consequence may be that, in the event of an accident, the
airbag inflates incorrectly or does not inflate at all.
The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or
components of the airbag are scrapped. The specialist workshops and the
Vehicle disposal centres are familiar with these requirements.
WARNING
•If repairs are not carried out by a professional, or if the airbags are used
incorrectly, the risk of severe or fatal injuries is increased. The airbags may
fail to inflate, or could inflate in the wrong circumstances.
•Do not cover or stick anything on the steering wheel hub or the soft
plastic surface of the airbag unit on the passenger side of the dashboard,
and do not obstruct or modify them in any way.
•It is important not to attach any objects such as cup holders or tele-
phone mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag units.
•To clean the steering wheel or dash panel, you may use only a dry cloth
or one moistened with water. Never clean the dash panel and surface of the
airbag module with cleansers containing solvents. Solvents cause the
surface to become porous. If the airbag inflates, disintegrating plastic
parts can cause substantial injuries.
•Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or install parts of the airbag
system.
•Any work on the airbag system or removal and installation of the airbag
components for other repairs (such as repairs to the steering wheel) should
be performed only by a qualified workshop. Qualified workshops have the
necessary tools, repair information and qualified personnel.
1)Depending on the model version

Airbag system35
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
•We urgently recommend that you go to a qualified workshop for all
work on the airbag system.
•Never attempt to alter the front bumper or the body.
•The airbags provide protection for one accident only, if they have been
deployed they must be replaced.
WARNING (continued)

Airbag system 36
Front airbags
Description of front airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.
The front airbag for the driver is located in the steering wheel Ÿfig. 22 and
the airbag for the front passenger is located in the dash panel Ÿfig. 23.
Airbags are identified by the text “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the seat belts, the front airbag system gives the front
occupants additional protection for the head and chest in the event of a
severe frontal collision Ÿpage 37.
In addition to their normal function of restraining the occupants, the seat
belts also hold the driver and front passenger in a position where the airbags
can provide maximum protection in a frontal collision.
The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts, but is an integral part of
the vehicle's overall passive safety system. Please bear in mind that the
airbag system can only work effectively when the occupants are wearing their
seat belts. For this reason, it is most important to wear the seat belts at all
times, not only because this is required by law in most countries, but also for
your safety
The main parts of the front airbag system are:
•an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit),
•the two front airbags (airbag with gas generator) for the driver and front
passenger,
•a warning lamp T in the dash panel insert .
The functionality of the airbag system is monitored electronically. The airbag
warning lamp will light up for a few seconds every time the ignition is
switched on (self-diagnosis).
There is a fault in the system if the warning lamp
T
• does not come on when the ignition is switched on Ÿ page 33,
•does not go off after four seconds, after switching on the ignition,
•goes out and then comes on again after the ignition is switched on,
•or if it comes on or flickers while the car is moving.
Fig. 22 Driver airbag
located in steering wheel
Fig. 23 Front passenger
airbag located in dash
panel