2006 Seat Alhambra Page 67

The structure of this manual5
The structure of this manual
Before reading this manual it must be understood
This manual describes the vehicle equipment at the time of publication.
Some of the equipment described here will not be available until a later date,
or is available only in certain markets.
Because this is a general manual for the ALHAMBRA, some of the equipment
and functions that are described in this manual are not included in all types
or variants of the model; they may vary or be modified depending on the
technical requirements and on the market; this is in no way deceptive adver-
tising.
Illustrations are intended as a general guide, and may vary from the equip-
ment fitted in your vehicle in some details.
The direction indications(left, right, front, rear) appearing in this manual
refer to the normal forward working direction of the vehicle except when
otherwise indicated.
The equipment marked with an asterisk* is fitted as standard only in deter-
mined model versions, are supplied as optional only for some versions or
model year, or are only offered in certain countries.
®All registered marks are indicated with ®. Even if the copyright symbol
does not appear this does not mean that the mark is not copyrighted.
bThe section is continued on the following page.
žIndicates the end of a section.
WARNING
Texts with this symbol contain safety information. They warn you of serious
dangers, possibly involving accident or injury.
Caution
Texts with this symbol draw your attention to a possible risk of damage to
your vehicle.
For the sake of the environment
Texts with this symbol refer to points relevant to the protection of the environ-
ment.
Note
Texts with this symbol contain additional information of a more general
nature. In certain countries there may be different units of measurement than
the ones used in this manual. For example, miles and gallons may be used
instead of kilometres and litres.

Safe driving 8
Therefore, you have been provided with information about why this equip-
ment is so important, how it protects you, what you have to observe when
using it and how you and your passengers can achieve the greatest possible
benefit from the safety equipment fitted. This manual includes important
warnings that you and your passengers should observe in order to reduce the
risk of injury.
Safety is everyone's business!
Before every trip
The driver bears the responsibility for his passengers and the
operational worthiness of the vehicle.
For your own safety and the safety of your passengers, always note
the following points before every trip:
– Ensure that the vehicle's lights and turn signals operate flaw-
lessly.
– Check tyre pressure.
– Ensure that all windows provide a clear and good view of the
surroundings.
– Securely restrain all parcels Ÿpage 14.
– Make sure that no objects can interfere with the pedals.
– Adjust front seat, head restraint and mirrors properly for your
size.
– Instruct passengers to adjust the head restraints according to
their height.– Protect children with appropriate child seats and properly
applied seat belts Ÿpage 45.
– Assume the correct sitting position. Instruct your passengers
also to assume a proper sitting position Ÿpage 9.
– Always fasten your seat belt correctly before driving off. Instruct
your passengers also to fasten their seat belts properly
Ÿpage 17.
What affects driving safety?
Driving safety is largely determined by your driving style and
the personal behaviour of all occupants.
As driver, you are responsible for yourself and your passengers.
When your concentration or driving safety is affected, you endanger
yourself as well as others on the road Ÿ, for this reason:
– Do not allow yourself to be distracted from the traffic around you,
e.g. by passengers or telephone conversations.
– Never drive when your driving ability is impaired (e.g. by medica-
tion, alcohol, drugs).
– Observe traffic laws and speed limits.
– Always reduce your speed as appropriate for road, traffic and
weather conditions.
– When travelling long distances, take breaks regularly - at least
every two hours.

Safe driving 10
– Fasten your seat belt correctly Ÿpage 17.
– Keep both feet in the foot well so that you have the vehicle under
control at all times.
Adjustment of the driver's seat Ÿpage 121.
WARNING
•An incorrect sitting position of the driver can lead to severe injuries.
•Adjust the driver's seat so that there is at least 25 cm distance between
the centre of the chest and the hub of the steering wheel Ÿpage 9, fig. 1.
If you are sitting nearer than 25 cm, the airbag system cannot protect you
properly.
•If your physical constitution prevents you from maintaining the
minimum distance of 25 cm, contact a qualified workshop. The workshop
will help you decide if special specific modifications are necessary.
•When driving, always hold the steering wheel with both hands on the
outside of the ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. This reduces the
risk of injury when the driver airbag is triggered.
•Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position, or in any other
manner (e.g. in the centre of the steering wheel). In such cases, you may
sustain injuries to the arms, hands and head.
•To reduce the risk of injury to the driver during sudden braking manoeu-
vres or an accident, never drive with the backrest tilted far back! The airbag
system and seat belts can only provide optimal protection when the back-
rest is in an upright position and the driver is wearing his or her seat belt
properly. The further the backrests are tilted to the rear, the greater the risk
of injury due to incorrect positioning of the belt web or the incorrect sitting
position!
•Adjust the head restraint properly to achieve optimal protection.
Proper sitting position for front passenger
The front passenger must sit at least 25 cm away from the
dash panel so that the airbag can provide the greatest
possible protection in the event that it is triggered.
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an
accident, we recommend the following adjustments for the front
passenger:
– Move the front passenger seat back as far as possible Ÿ.
– Move the backrest to an upright position so that your back rests
completely against it.
– Adjust the head restraint so that its upper edge is at the same
level as the top of your head, or as close as possible to the same
level as the top of your head Ÿpage 12.
– Keep both feet in the foot well in front of the front passenger
seat.
– Fasten your seat belt correctly Ÿpage 17.
It is possible to deactivate the passenger airbag in exceptional circum-
stances Ÿpage 24.
Adjusting the front passenger's seat.
WARNING
•An incorrect sitting position of the front passenger can lead to severe
injuries.

Safe driving 12
– Adjust the headrest to the correct position.
– Keep both feet in the foot well in front of the rear seat.
– Fasten your seat belt correctly Ÿpage 17.
– Use an appropriate child restraint system when you take children
in the vehicle Ÿpage 45.
WARNING
•If the passengers on the rear seat are not sitting properly, they could
sustain severe injuries.
•Adjust the head restraint properly to achieve maximum protection.
•Seat belts can only provide optimal protection when backrests are in an
upright position and the passengers are wearing their seat belts properly.
If passengers on the rear seat are not sitting in an upright position, the risk
of injury due to incorrect positioning of the belt web increases.
Correct adjustment of head restraints
Properly adjusted head restraints are an important part of
occupant protection and can reduce the risk of injuries in
most accident situations.
Fig. 3 Properly adjusted
head restraint viewed
from the front
Fig. 4 Properly adjusted
head restraint viewed
from the side

Safe driving13
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Adjust the head restraint properly to achieve maximum protection.
– Adjust the head restraint so that its upper edge is at the same
level as the top of your head, or as close as possible to the same
level as the top of your head and, at the very least, at eye level
Ÿpage 12, fig. 3 and Ÿpage 12, fig. 4
WARNING
•Travelling with the head restraints removed or improperly adjusted
increases the risk of severe injuries.
•Incorrectly adjusted head restraints could result in death in the event of
a collision or accident.
•Incorrectly adjusted head restraints also increase the risk of injury
during sudden or unexpected driving or braking manoeuvres.
•The head restraints must always be adjusted according to the occu-
pant's size.
Examples of incorrect sitting positions
An incorrect sitting position can lead to severe injuries to
occupants.
Seat belts can provide optimal protection only when the belt webs
are properly positioned. Incorrect sitting positions substantially
reduce the protective function of seat belts and increase the risk of
injury due to incorrect belt web position. As the driver, you are
responsible for all vehicle occupants, especially children.
– Never permit anyone to assume an incorrect sitting position in
the vehicle while travelling Ÿ.
The following list contains examples of sitting positions that could be
dangerous for all occupants. The list is not complete, but we would like to
make you aware of this issue.
Therefore, whenever the vehicle is in motion:
•Never stand in the vehicle,
•never stand on the seats,
•never kneel on the seats,
•never tilt your backrest far to the rear,
•never lean against the dash panel,
•never lie on the rear bench,
•never sit on the front edge of a seat,
•never sit sideways,
•never lean out of a window,
•never put your feet out of a window,
•never put your feet on the dash panel,
•never put your feet on the surface of a seat,
•never travel in a foot well ,
•never travel on a seat without wearing the seat belt,
•never carry any person in the luggage compartment.
WARNING
•Every incorrect sitting position increases the risk of severe injuries.
•Sitting in an incorrect position exposes the occupants to severe injuries
if airbags deploy, striking an occupant who has assumed an incorrect
sitting position.
•Before the vehicle moves, assume the proper sitting position and main-
tain it throughout the trip. Before every trip, instruct your passengers to
assume the proper sitting position and to maintain it during the trip
Ÿpage 9, “Proper sitting position for occupants”.

Safe driving15
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
– Distribute the load evenly in the luggage compartment.
– Lay and stow heavy luggage as far forward as possible in the
luggage compartment.
– Stow heavy luggage as low as possible in the luggage compart-
ment.
– Secure heavy objects to the fitted fastening rings Ÿ page 15.
WARNING
•Loose luggage and other objects in the luggage compartment can
cause serious injuries.
•Always stow objects in the luggage compartment and secure them on
the fastening rings.
•Use suitable specialist straps to secure heavy objects.
•During sudden manoeuvres or accidents, loose objects can be thrown
forward, injuring vehicle occupants. This increased risk of injury will be
further increased if a loose object is struck by an inflating airbag. If this
happens, objects can be transformed into “missiles”. Risk of fatal injury.
•Please note that the centre of gravity may shift when transporting
heavy objects; this may affect the vehicle's handling and lead to an acci-
dent. Therefore, it is essential to adjust your speed and driving style
accordingly, to avoid accidents.
•Never exceed the allowed axle loads or allowed maximum weight. If the
allowed axle load or the allowed total weight is exceeded, the driving char-
acteristics of the vehicle may change, leading to accidents, injuries and
damage to the vehicle.
•Never leave your vehicle unattended, especially when the tailgate is
open. Children could climb into the luggage compartment closing the door
behind them; they will remain trapped without help and there is a mortal
risk.
•Never allow children to play in or around the vehicle. Close and lock
both the tailgate and all the doors when you leave the vehicle. Before you
lock the vehicle, make sure that there are no adults or children in the
vehicle.
•Never transport passengers in the luggage compartment. Every
passenger must be properly belted in Ÿpage 17.
Note
•Air circulation in the vehicle helps reduce fogging of the windows. Used
air escapes through ventilation slits in the side trim of the luggage compart-
ment. Ensure that the ventilation slits are never covered.
•Straps for securing the load to the fastening rings are commercially
available.
Fastening rings
There are four fastening rings in the luggage compartment
which can be used to secure luggage and other objects.
– Always use suitable and undamaged straps to secure luggage
and other objects to the fastening rings Ÿ in “Loading the
luggage compartment” on page 14.
– Pull up the fastening rings to attach the straps.
The retainers for the detachable seat belts for the third row of seats and the
floor anchors for the seats can be used as fastening rings for items of
luggage.
WARNING (continued)

Seat belts23
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
– Adjust the seat and head restraint correctly.
– To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate and pull it slowly
across your chest and lap Ÿ.
– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate seat and
push it down until it is securely locked with an audible click
Ÿpage 22, fig. 10.
– Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in
the buckle.
Every seat belt is equipped with an automatic belt retractor on the shoulder
belt. Full freedom of movement is permitted when the shoulder belt is pulled
slowly. However, during sudden braking, during travel in mountains or bends
and during acceleration, the automatic retractor on the shoulder belt is
locked.
The automatic belt retractors on the front seats are fitted with belt tension
devices .
WARNING
An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event of
an accident.
•The seat belts offer best protection only when the backrests are in an
upright position and the seat belts have been fastened properly.
•Never put the latch plate in the buckle of another seat. If you do this, the
seat belt will not protect you properly and the risk of injury is increased.
•If an occupant is incorrectly belted in, the belt cannot protect him or her
properly. An incorrectly positioned belt web can cause extremely severe
injuries.
Fastening seat belts (with two buckles)
The seat belt for the centre seat in the second row of seats is
fastened using two buckles.
– Adjust the seat and head restraint correctly.
– Use latch plate of the belt Ÿfig. 11 to pull the belt down.
– Insert latch plate into the buckle belonging to the seat and
push it down until it is securely locked with an audible click.
– Use latch plate of the belt to pull the belt across your lap.
– Insert latch plate into the buckle belonging to seat and
push it down until it is securely locked with an audible click.
– Pull the belt to ensure that both latch plates are securely
engaged in the buckles.
Fig. 11 Fastening the
seat belt on the centre
seat in the second row of
seats
A1
A1AA
A2
A2AB

Seat belts25
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a The following features are available to adjust the seat belt in the shoulder
region:
•Belt height adjustment for the front seats and the outer seats in the
second row,
•front seat height adjustment*.
WARNING
An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event of
an accident.
•The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie on the centre of the shoulder,
never across the neck. The seat belt must lie flat and fit comfortably on the
torso
•The lap part of the seat belt must lie across the pelvis, never across the
stomach. The seat belt must lie flat and fit comfortably on the pelvis Pull
the belt tight if necessary to take up any slack.
•Read and observe the warnings Ÿpage 22.
Pregnant women must also fasten their seat belts properly
The best protection for the unborn child is for the mother to
wear the seat belt properly at all times during the pregnancy.
The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the belt web
is properly positioned Ÿpage 24.
– Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly Ÿpage 9.
– Holding the latch plate, pull the belt evenly across your chest and
as low as possible over the pelvis Ÿfig. 14.
– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the corresponding seat
and push it down until it is securely locked with an audible click
Ÿ.
– Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in
the buckle.
Fig. 14 Positioning seat
belts during pregnancy