Airbag system
36Curtain airbagsDescription 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
⇒ fig. 22 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 ⇒ page 37, “Safety notes on the operation of the
curtain airbag system”.
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 safety
⇒ page 16, “Introduction”.
The main parts of the curtain airbag system are:
•
an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit),
•
the curtain airbags (airbags with ga s generator) for the driver, front
passenger and passengers on the rear seats,
•
a warning lamp
in the dash panel insert ⇒ page 27.
The functionality of the airbag system is monitored electronically.
The curtain airbag system will not be triggered
•
if the ignition is switched off,
Fig. 22 Location of left curtain airbag
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Airbag system37
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
•
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. Otherw ise there is a danger that during a
collision, the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.Function of curtain airbags
Fu ll y i n fl a ted a i rb ag s redu ce t h e r i s k o f h ea d o r ch est i n ju r y i n
a side collision.
During some side collisions the curtain airbag is triggered on the impact side
of the vehicle ⇒fig. 23.
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. Th is 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 side airbags to provide their maximum protection, the
prescribed sitting position must always be maintained with seat belts
fastened 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. 23 Deployed curtain
airbags
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Airbag system
38•
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 165, “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 objects in the pockets. When using the
coat hooks, do not hang the 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 a 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 done in a qualified workshop.WARNING (continued)
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Airbag system39
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Deactivating airbags*Disabling front passenger airbag
If you fit a rear-facing child seat to the front passenger seat,
the front passenger airbag must be deactivated.
When the passenger airbag is deactivated, this means that only the
frontal and side airbags are 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. 24 .
– Check that the warning lamp “AIRBAG OFF” in the dash panel ⇒fig. 25 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. 24 .
Fig. 24 In the glove box
there is key switch for
disabling and enabling
the airbags on the front
passenger side
Fig. 25 Warning lamp for
deactivated passenger
airbag in centre console
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Child safety
42airbags*”. If the passenger seat has a height adjustment option, move it to
the highest position.•
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 prot ection only when the belt web is
properly positioned ⇒ page 21, “Seat belts”.
•
Only one child may occupy a child seat
Child seatsCategorisation of child seats into groups
Use only child seats that are of ficially 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 : 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).
WARNING (continued)
WARNING (continued)
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Child safety45
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
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.
•
Child seats from the groups 0, 0+ and 1 using the “ISOFIX” and
“Toptether” systems or the antirotation system may be secured without using
the adult seatbelt and using the “ISOFIX” and “Toptether” anchors or the anti-
rotation mechanism/brackets ⇒page 46.
U: Suitable for universal approved rest raining systems for use in this age
category (universal retention systems are those fitted using the adult
seat belt.
UF Suitable for universal forward-facing retention systems approved for use with this age group.
*: Move the passenger seat as far to rear as possible, as high as possible and always deactivate the airbag.
L: Suitable for retention systems us ing the “ISOFIX” and “Toptether”
anchors or antirotation mechanism/bracket
X Seat position not suitable for children in this age group.
WARNING
•
When travelling, children must be secured in the vehicle with a
restraint system suitable for age, weight and size.
•
Never install a child seat facing backwards (or rear-facing) on the front
passenger seat unless the front passenger airbag has been disabled. This
represents a risk of fatal injuries to the child! However, if a child must,
under exceptional circumstances, travel in the front passenger seat, the
passenger airbag must be deactivated ⇒page 39, “Deactivating airbags*”
and the seat put into the highest position where possible.
•
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of child seats ⇒ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 41.
Weight class
Weight Seat locations
Front passenger Rear outerRear centre
Group 0 <10 kgU*UU
Group 0+ <13 kgU*UU
Group 1 9-18 kgU*U/L U
Group 2 / 3 15-36 kgXUF UF
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Unlocking and locking71
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Each door may be unlocked and opened
from the interior (for example when
a passenger gets out). For this, simply operate the lever on the inside of the
door twice.
WARNING
When the vehicle is in motion, the internal door release levers should not
be operated, this could cause a door to open.Emergency unlocking systemThe entire vehicle is unlocked if the airbags are triggered during an accident,
except for the boot. It is possible to lock the vehicle from inside using the
central locking, after turning the ignition off and back on again.
Central locking button
The vehicle can be locked and unlocked from the inside using
the central locking button.Locking the vehicle
– Press the button ⇒.
Unlocking the doors
– Press the button .The central locking button is still operative when the ignition is switched off.
Except, if the "safe" security system is activated.
Please note the following when you use the central locking button to lock your
vehicle:•
It will not be possible to open th e doors or the tailgate from the outside
(this may offer extra safety, for instance when stopped at traffic lights).
Fig. 42 Central locking
button
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Seats and stowage
100Seats and stowageThe importance of correct seat adjustmentProper seat adjustment optimi ses the level of protection
offered by seat belts and airbags.Your vehicle has five passenger places, two individual front seats and three
places on the rear seat. Each seat is equipped with a three-point seat belt.
The driver seat and front passenger seat can be adjusted in many ways to suit
the physical requirements of the vehicl e occupants. The correct seat position
is very important for:•
fast and easy operation of all controls on the instrument panel,
•
relaxed posture that does not cause drowsiness,
•
safe driving ⇒page 7,
•
and to ensure that the seat belts and airbag system provide maximum
protection ⇒page 16.
WARNING
•
If the driver and passengers assume improper sitting positions, they
may sustain critical injuries.
•
Never transport more people than there are seats available in the
vehicle.
•
Every occupant in the vehicle must properly fasten and wear the seat
belt belonging to his or her seat. Children must be protected with an appro-
priate child restraint system ⇒page 41, “Child safety”.
•
The front seats and all head restraints must always be adjusted to body
size and the seat belt must always be properly adjusted to provide you and
your passengers with optimum protection.
•
Always keep your feet in the foot well when the vehicle is moving; never
rest them on the dash panel, out of the window or on the seat. This also
applies to passengers. An incorrect sitting position exposes you to an
increased risk of injury in the event of a braking manoeuvre or an accident.
If the airbag is triggered, you could sustain severe injuries due to an incor-
rect sitting position.
•
It is important for the driver and front passenger to maintain a distance
of at least 25 cm from the steering wh eel or dash panel. Failure to respect
the minimum distance means that the airbag will not protect you. Risk of
fatal injury. The distance between the driver and the steering wheel or
between the front passenger and the dash panel should always be as great
as possible.
•
Adjust the driver or front passenger seat only when the vehicle is
stationary. Otherwise your seat could move unexpectedly while the vehicle
is moving. This could increase the risk of an accident and therefore injury.
In addition, while adjusting your seat, you will assume an incorrect sitting
position. Risk of fatal accidents.
•
Special guidelines apply to installing a child seat on the front
passenger seat. When installing a chil d seat, observe the warning note in
the ⇒page 41, “Child safety”.WARNING (continued)
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