
Airbag system
38•
if the vehicle rolls,
•
during a minorside 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 tri ggered on the impact side
of the vehicle ⇒fig. 24 . 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 side airbags to provide their maximum protection, the
prescribed sitting position must alwa ys 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.
•
There must be no other persons, animals or objects between the occu-
pants of the outer seats and the depl oyment space of the curtain airbags
so that the curtain airbag can deploy without restriction and provide the
Fig. 24 Deployed curtain
airbags
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Child safety
42Child safetyBrief introductionIntroduction
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 ⇒page 17, “Why wear seat belts?”. But
unlike adults, children do not have fully developed muscle and bone struc-
tures. 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”
1).
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
⇒ page 43, “Safety notes on 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.
1)Not for all countries
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Child safety43
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 44.
– 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 child seat facing backwards (or rear-facing) on the front
passenger seat unless the front passenger airbag has been disabled. This
could lead to a risk of pote ntially fatal injuries to the child! However, if it is
necessary, in exceptional cases, to transport a child in the front passenger
seat, the front passenger airbag must always be disabled ⇒page 40,
“Deactivating airbags*”. If the passe nger 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 protection only when the belt web is
properly positioned ⇒page 20, “Seat belts”.
•
Only one child may occupy a child seat ⇒page 44, “Child seats”.WARNING (continued)
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Child safety
44Child seatsCategorisation of child seats into groups
Use only child seats that are officially approved and suitable
for the child.Child seats are subject to the regulation ECE-R 44. ECE-R means: Economic
Commission for Europe Regulation
The child seats are grouped into 5 categories:
Group 0: Children up to 10 kg
Group 0+ : Children 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 ol d and 10 kg in weight the most
suitable seats are those appearing in the illustration ⇒fig. 27 .
Group 0+: For babies from about 18 months old and 13 kg in weight the most
suitable seats are those appearing in the illustration ⇒fig. 27 .
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 43.
Fig. 27 A group 0 rear-
facing child seat fitted on
the rear seat.
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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
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” and “Top tether” system (or even the anti-rota-
tion system) or seats in which the chil d 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 43.
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. 29.
Fig. 28 A category 1
forward-facing child seat
fitted on the rear seat.
Fig. 29 Forward-facing
child seat installed on rear
seat.
IBI_ANG_0707 Seite 45 Montag, 6. August 2007 3:59 15

Child safety
46
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 20, “Seat belts”.
•
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of child seats ⇒ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 43.
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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
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 48.
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 40, “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 43.
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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Child safety
48Securing the child seat using the “ISOFIX” and “Toptether” system or the antirotation mechanism/system
Child seats with the “ISOFIX” and “Toptether” system can be
secured quickly, easily and safely on the rear outer seats.When removing or fitting the child seat, please be sure to follow the
manufacturer's instructions.
– Move the seat as far to rear as it will go.
– Press the child seat onto the “ISOFIX” retaining rings until the
child seat can be heard to engage securely. If the child seat is
equipped with “Toptether” anchor points, secure it to the corre-
spondent ring. If the child seat is fitted with any other antirota-
tion system, follow the manufacturer instructions carefully.
– Pull on both sides of the child se at to ensure that it is secure.
Two “ISOFIX” retaining rings are fitted on ea ch rear seat. In some vehicles, the
rings are secured to the seat frame and in others they are secured to the rear
floor. Access to “ISOFIX” rings is between the rear back rest and the seat.
“Toptether” rings are located in the space behind the rear seats. They are
often located on the rear of the seat backs.
Child seats with “ISOFIX” and “Topteth er” mountings are available from the
Authorised Service Centres.
WARNING
•
The retaining rings are designed only for use with “ISOFIX” and
“Toptether” child seats.
•
Never secure child seats that do not have the “ISOFIX” or Toptether
system, retaining belts or objects to the fastening rings – this can result in
potentially fatal injuries to the child!
•
Ensure that the child seat is secu red correctly using the “ISOFIX” and
Toptether anchors.
Fig. 30 ISOFIX securing
rings
IBI_ANG_0707 Seite 48 Montag, 6. August 2007 3:59 15