2008 Seat Alhambra ABS

Seat belts19
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Why wear seat belts?Frontal collisions and the laws of physics
In the event of a frontal collision, a large amount of kinetic
energy is generated.
It is easy to explain how the laws of physics work in the case of a head-on
collision: When a vehicle starts moving ⇒fig. 5 there is a certain amount of
energy known as “kinetic energy”, both in the vehicle and in the occupants.
The amount of “kinetic energy” depends on the speed of the vehicle and the
weight of the vehicle and passengers. The higher the speed and the greater
the weight, the more energy there is to be “released” in an accident.
The most significant factor, however, is the speed of the vehicle. If the speed
doubles from 25 km/h to 50 km/h, for example, the kinetic energy increases
by a factor of four.
Because the passengers in our example are not restrained by seat belts, the
entire amount of kinetic energy has to be absorbed at the point of impact
⇒ fig. 6 .
Even at speeds of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces acting on bodies in a colli-
sion can easily exceed one tonne (1,000 kg). At greater speed these forces
are even higher.
Passengers not wearing seat belts are not “attached” to the vehicle. In a
frontal collision they will continue to move forward at the speed their vehicle
Fig. 5 Vehicle about to hit
a wall: the occupants are
not wearing seatbelts
Fig. 6 The vehicle hits
the wall: the occupants
are not wearing seatbelts
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Seat belts21
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te 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 wearing the
seat belt properly: is
secured by the belt in
sharp braking
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Airbag system33
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
•
Always properly adjust the front seats.
Conditions for fitting a rear facing childseat 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 ⇒. 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 ⇒page 43 can be disabled
with the ignition key. When transporting children, use a child seat appro-
priate 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 theevent 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 ⇒ page 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 ⇒page 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 tensioner system

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)
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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
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 ⇒fig. 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
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Cockpit
68Information symbols (priority 2) STOP OIL PRESSURE ENGINE OFF SERVICE MANUAL


Stop the car, turn the engine off and check the brake fluid level ⇒page 214
ALTERNATOR WORKSHOP!

Take the vehicle to a qualified workshop as soon as possible and have the
alternator checked.
FASTEN SEATBELT

Fasten your seat belt correctly; and make sure your passengers are also
properly belted in ⇒page 17
Fault message Symbol Action
CHECK OIL LEVEL

Check the oil level and top up with the right engine oil. ⇒page 214
OIL SENSOR WORKSHOP

Take the vehicle to an Authorised Service Centre as soon as possible and
have the engine checked.
STOP BRAKE FAULT SERVICE MANUAL

Take the vehicle to a qualified workshop as soon as possible and have the
ABS checked.
PLEASE REFUEL

Refuel as soon as possible.
TOP UP WASHER FLUID

Fill up with water and washer fluid.
CHECK BRAKE PADS

Take the vehicle to a qualified workshop immediately and have the brake
pads checked.
EXHAUST WORKSHOP

Take the vehicle to an Authorised Service Centre as soon as possible and
have the engine checked.
ENGINE FAULT CONSULT WORKSHOP
 or
Take the vehicle to an Authorised Service Centre as soon as possible and
have the engine checked.
AIRBAG FAULT

Take the vehicle to a qualified workshop immediately and have the airbag
system checked.
Fault message
Symbol Action
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Cockpit71
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a

If lit: preheating system active.
If flashing: there is a fault in the engine management (die-
sel engines). Contact a specialist workshop. ⇒
page 73

Tu rn si g na ls ⇒page 73

Engine fault (petrol engine) ⇒page 73

Main beam headlights ⇒page 73


Fault in the emission control system ⇒page 74

Tra ct io n co n tro l s yste m TC S ⇒page 74

Electronic Stabilising Program* (ESP) ⇒page 74

Anti-lock brake system ABS
⇒page 74


Diesel particulate filter ⇒page 75

Brakes/Handbrake ⇒page 76

Alternator ⇒page 76

Seat belt warning lamp* ⇒page 17

Fuel reserve ⇒page 76

Fault in lights* ⇒page 76
Item
Symbol Meaning of warning and control lamps Further information
A6A7A8A9A10A11A11A12A13A14A15A16A17A18
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Cockpit
74Fault in the exhaust system*

Exhaust gas indicator

If the indicator
 flashes it signals possible damage to the catalytic
converter caused by defective combustion. Reduce speed immediately and
go to the nearest specialised workshop to check the engine. At the same
time, a text message or the necessary operations may appear on the instru-
ment panel.
If the indicator  lights up , a fault has developed during driving which has
affects the quality of the exhaust gas (e.g. lambda probe fault). Reduce speed
immediately and go to the nearest specialised workshop to check the engine.
At the same time, a text message or the necessary operations may appear on
the instrument panel.
Traction control system (TCS)*

The traction control system prevents the driven wheels from
spinning when the vehicle is acceleratingThe warning lamp lights up when the ignition is switched on and should turn
out after about 2 seconds.
When the TCS is operating while driving, the warning lamp flashes. If the
system is deactivated or if there is any fault in the same, the warning lamp will
remain lit.
It will also come on if a fault should occur in the ABS because the TCS oper-
ates in conjunction with the ABS. For further information see ⇒ page 181.
Electronic stabilisation programme (ESP)*


This warning lamp monitors the electronic stabilisation
programme.
This programme includes the ABS, EDL and TCS.
The warning lamp
 has the following functions:
•
It will light for about 2 seconds when the ignition is switched on while a
test of the function is carried out.
•
It flashes when the ESP is activated when driving.
•
It will light up continuously if there is a malfunction in the ESP.
•
It will light up continuously if the ESP is switched off.
•
It will also come on if a fault should occur in the ABS because the ESP
operates in conjunction with the ABS.
If the ESP warning lamp
 lights up and stays on after the engine is started,
this may mean that the control system has temporarily switched off the ESP.
In this case the ESP can be reactivated by switching the ignition off and then
on again. If the warning lamp goes out, this means the system is fully
functional.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)


A warning lamp system monitors the ABS.
The warning lamp
 should light up for a few seconds when the ignition is
switched on. It goes out again after the system has run through an automatic
test sequence.
There is a fault in the ABS if:
•
The warning lamp
 does not light up when the ignition is switched on.
•
The warning lamp does not go out again after a few seconds.
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Cockpit75
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
•
The warning lamp lights up when the vehicle is moving.
The vehicle can still be braked in the normal way (except that the ABS control
function will not function). Please take the vehicle to a qualified workshop as
soon as possible. For further information on the ABS see the ⇒page 180.
If a fault occurs in the ABS, the ESP* warning lamp will also light up.
Brake system fault
If the ABS warning lamp
 lights up together with the brake warning lamp
, this indicates not only a fault in the ABS function, but also a possible fault
in the brake system ⇒ .
WARNING
•
Before opening the bonnet, read and observe the warnings on
⇒ page 209, “Working in the engine compartment”.
•
If the brake warning lamp
 should light up together with the ABS
warning lamp
, stop the vehicle immediately and check the brake fluid
level in the reservoir ⇒page 221, “Brake fluid”. If the fluid level has
dropped below the “MIN” mark you must not drive on. Risk of accident.
Obtain technical assistance.
•
If the brake fluid level is correct, the fault in the brake system may have
been caused by a failure of the ABS system. This could cause the rear
wheels to lock quickly when you brake. This could cause the rear to break
away. Risk of skidding. Drive carefully to the nearest qualified workshop
and have the fault corrected.
Differential lock fault (EDL)*
EDL operates along with the ABS in vehicles equipped with an
Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP)*A malfunction in the EDL is indicated by the ABS warning lamp
. Please
take the vehicle to a qualified workshop as soon as possible. For further infor-
mation on the EDL ⇒page 182.
Diesel particulate filter indicator lamp*

When the indicator
 lights on the instrument panel it signals that the filter
is blocked by soot because of frequent short journeys. To clean the filter of
these particulates, drive at a constant speed of 60 km/h for 15 minutes.
Always respect the speed limit. The most efficient way to clean the diesel
particulate filter is to drive in 4th or 5th gear, at approximately 2,000 rpm
⇒ . This causes a temperature increase sufficient to burn the soot in the
filter.
If the lamp
 remains lit afterwards, go to a specialised workshop to
examine the problem.
While the lamp  is lit (filter blockage signal) fuel consumption increases
and the engine may lose power in some cases.
At the same time, a text message or the necessary operations may appear on
the instrument panel.
WARNING
•
Try to always adapt the speed of the vehicle to weather, road and traffic
conditions. The indications suggested by the warning lights should not
lead you to disobey the highway code.
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