2006 Seat Alhambra maintenance

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 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 system37
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a The front airbag system will not be triggered if:
•if the ignition is switched off,
•during a minor frontal collision,
•during a minor side collision,
•during a rear-end collision,
•or if the vehicle rolls.
WARNING
•The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if the
occupants are seated correctly.
•If a fault should occur in the airbag system, have the system checked
immediately by a qualified workshop. Otherwise there is a danger that
during a frontal collision, the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger
correctly.
Function of front airbags
Inflated airbags reduce the risk of head or chest injury.
The airbag system is designed so that the front airbags for the driver and front
passenger are triggered in a severe frontal collision.
In certain types of accident the front, curtain and side airbags may be trig-
gered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbags fill with a propellant gas and
deploy in front of the driver and front passenger Ÿfig. 24. The fully deployed
airbags cushion the forward movement of the front occupants and help to
reduce the risk of injury to the head and the upper part of the 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. Once the impact has been
absorbed, the airbag deflates sufficiently for the front occupants to see
forward.
Fig. 24 Inflated front
airbags

Airbag system39
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Side airbags
Description of side airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.
The side airbags are located in the driver seat and front passenger seat back-
rests Ÿfig. 25.
In conjunction with the seat belts, the side airbag system gives the front seat
occupants additional protection for the upper body in the event of a severe
side collision Ÿpage 40, “Safety notes on the operation of the side airbag
system”.
In a side collision the side airbags reduce the risk of injury to passengers on
the front seats to the areas of the body facing the impact. In addition to their
normal function of protecting the occupants in a collision, the seat belts also
hold the passengers on the front seats in a position where the side airbags
can provide maximum protection.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 side airbag system will not be triggered
•if the ignition is switched off,
•during a minor side collision,
•during a minor frontal collision,
•during a rear-end collision,
•or if the vehicle rolls.
The main parts of the airbag system are
•an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit),
•the side airbags in the sides of the backrests of the front seats,
•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).
WARNING
•The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if the
occupants are seated correctly.
•If a fault should occur in the airbag system, have the system checked
immediately by a qualified workshop. Otherwise there is a danger that
during a side collision, the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger
correctly.
Fig. 25 Side airbag in left
rear seat

Airbag system41
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Curtain airbags
Description of curtain airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.
The curtain airbags are located on both sides in the interior above the doors
Ÿfig. 26 and are identified with the text “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the seat belts, the curtain airbag system gives the occu-
pants additional protection for the head and upper body in the event of a
severe side collision Ÿpage 39.
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 correctly and have adjusted the head restraints properly. 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 safetyThe main parts of the curtain airbag system are:
•an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit),
•the curtain airbags (airbags with gas generator) for the driver, front
passenger and passengers on the rear seats,
• a warning lamp T in the dash panel insert.
The functionality of the airbag system is monitored electronically.
The curtain airbag system will not be triggered
•if the ignition is switched off,
•during a frontal collision,
•during a rear-end collision,
•if the vehicle rolls,
•during a minor side 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.Fig. 26 Location of left
curtain airbag

Airbag system43
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
•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.
Deactivating airbags*
Disabling front passenger front and side airbags
The passenger airbags must be disconnected when a rear
facing child seat is fitted in the front passenger seat.The key switch can be used to disconnect the front and side airbag
for the passenger seat. All the other airbags in the vehicle remain
functional.
Disabling front and side airbags for front passenger
– Switch off ignition.
– Open centre compartment on instrument panel:
– Using the ignition key, turn the switch to OFF Ÿfig. 28.
– Check if, when the ignition is switched on, that the warning lamp
“PASS AIRBAG OFF” on the instrument panel Ÿfig. 29 remains lit
Ÿ.
– Close centre compartment on instrument panel:
Enabling front and side airbags for front passenger
– Switch off ignition.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 28 Interior of centre
compartment on instru-
ment panel: Key switch for
switching off the front
passenger airbags
Fig. 29 Warning lamp for
disabling airbag in dash
panel

Child safety45
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Child safety
Brief introduction
Introduction
Statistics show that children are generally safer on the rear
seat than on the front passenger seat.
We recommend that children under 12 years of age be transported on the rear
seats. Children travelling on the rear seat must use a child restraint system or
the seat belts provided, depending on their age, height and weight. For
safety reasons, the child restraint system should be installed in the centre of
the rear seat or behind the front passenger's seat.
The physical principles involved and the forces acting in a collision apply to
children just as much as adults Ÿpage 19. But unlike adults, children do not
have fully developed muscle and bone structures. This means that children
are subject to a greater risk of injury.
To reduce this risk, children must always use special child restraint systems
when travelling in the vehicle.
We recommend the use of child safety products from the SEAT Genuine Acces-
sories Program including systems for all ages made by “Peke”
2).
These systems have been especially designed and approved, complying with
the ECE-R44. regulation.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats. Always read and observe
Ÿpage 45.We recommend that you include the manufacturer's directions for child seat
use in the vehicle wallet and always keep them in the vehicle.
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.
– Always ensure that the belt webbing is properly positioned
according to the instructions provided 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.
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
•Never fit a child seat in the passenger seat, where the child faces back-
wards to the direction of travel and the frontal airbag has not been deacti-
vated. This is highly dangerous for the child. If it is necessary, in excep-
2)Not for all countries

Child safety47
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Child seats
Categorisation 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: to 10 kg
Group 0+: to 13 kg
Group 1: 9to18kg
Group 2: 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 correctly 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 Ÿ fig. 30.
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 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 Ÿpage 45.
Fig. 30 A group 0 rear-
facing child seat fitted on
the rear seat.