2009 Citroen C4 Owner's Manual

102
VIII
S A F E T Y
AIRBAGS
System designed to maximise the
safety of the occupants (with the
exception of the rear centre pas-
senger) in the event of violent col-
lisions. It supplements the action of
the force-limiting seat belts.
If a collision occurs, the electronic
detectors record and analyse the
front and side impacts sustained in
the impact detection zones:
- in the case of a serious impact, the airbags are triggered instant-
ly and protect the occupants of
the vehicle (with the exception
of the rear centre passenger);
immediately after the impact, the
airbags defl ate rapidly so that
they do not hinder visibility or the
exit of the occupants,
- in the case of a minor or rear impact or in certain roll-over
conditions, the airbags will not
be triggered; the seat belt alone
is suffi cient to provide optimum
protection in these situations.
The airbags do not operate when
the ignition is switched off.
This equipment will only operate
once. If a second impact occurs (dur-
ing the same or a subsequent acci-
dent), the air bag will not operate. Impact detection zones

A. Front impact zone.

B. Side impact zone.
Triggering of the air bag(s) is accom-
panied by a slight emission of harm-
less smoke and a noise, due to the
activation of the pyrotechnic cartridge
incorporated in the system.
This smoke is not harmful, but sen-
sitive individuals may experience
slight irritation.
The noise of the detonation may
result in a slight loss of hearing for
a short time. Front airbags
System which protects the head and
chest of the driver and front passen-
ger in the event of a front impact.
The driver’s airbag is incorporated
in the centre of the steering wheel;
the front passenger’s airbag is incor-
porated in the dashboard above the
glove box.
Operation
The airbags are triggered simultane-
ously, unless the passenger’s front
airbag is deactivated, in the event of
a serious front impact to all or part of
the front impact zone
A , in the lon-
gitudinal centreline of the vehicle on
a horizontal plane and directed from
the front to the rear of the vehicle.
The front airbag infl ates between
the front occupant of the vehicle and
the fascia to cushion their forward
movement.

103
VIII
S A F E T Y
Deactivation
This warning lamp comes on
in the instrument panel when
the ignition is on and until the
airbag is reactivated.
To guarantee the safety of your
child, it is imperative that the pas-
senger airbag is deactivated when
you install a "rearwards-facing" child
seat on the front passenger seat.
Otherwise, the child would risk be-
ing seriously injured or killed if the
airbag were triggered. Reactivation
When you remove the child seat,
turn switch
1 to the "ON" position to
reactivate the airbag and so guaran-
tee the safety of your front passen-
ger in the event of an impact.
Operating fault
Only the front passenger’s airbag
can be deactivated:

 with the ignition off
, insert the
key in the passenger airbag de-
activation switch 1 ,

 turn it to the "OFF" position,

 then, remove the key keeping
the switch in this position.
If this warning lamp comes on
in the instrument panel, accom-
panied by an audible warning
and a message on the multi-
function screen, contact a CITROËN
dealer to have the system checked. The
airbags may no longer be triggered in
the event of a serious impact.
If this warning lamp fl ashes,
contact a CITROËN dealer.
If both airbag warning lamps come
on continuously, do not install a
"rearwards-facing" child seat on
the front passenger seat.
Have it checked by a CITROËN
dealer.

105
VIII
S A F E T Y
For the airbags to be fully
effective, observe the following
safety rules:
Sit in a normal upright position.
Wear a correctly adjusted seat belt.
Do not leave anything between the
occupants and the airbags (a child,
pet, object...). This could hamper the
operation of the airbags or injure the
occupants.
After an accident or if the vehicle
has been stolen or broken into, have
the airbag systems checked.
All work on the airbag system is
strictly forbidden unless it is carried
out by qualifi ed personnel of the
CITROËN network.
Even if all of the precautions men-
tioned are observed, a risk of injury
or of minor burns to the head, chest
or arms when an airbag is triggered
cannot be ruled out. The bag infl ates
almost instantly (within a few millisec-
onds) then defl ates within the same
time discharging the hot gas via open-
ings provided for this purpose. Front airbags
Do not drive holding the steering
wheel by its spokes or resting your
hands on the centre part of the
wheel.
Passengers must not place their feet
on the dashboard.
If possible, do not smoke as deploy-
ment of the airbags can cause burns
or the risk of injury from a cigarette
or pipe.
Never remove or pierce the steering
wheel or hit it violently.
Side airbags
Use only approved covers on the
seats. These will not hinder infl a-
tion of the side airbags. Consult a
CITROËN dealer.
Do not fi x or apply anything to the
seat backs. This could cause injury
to the chest or arms if the side air
bag is triggered.
Do not sit with the upper part of the
body any nearer to the door than
necessary. Curtain airbags
Do not fi x or apply anything to the
roof. This could cause injury to the
head if the curtain airbag is trig-
gered.
Do not remove the grab handles in-
stalled on the roof, they play a part
in securing the curtain airbags.

104
VIII
S A F E T Y
* According to country.
Side airbags *
System which protects the driver
and front passenger in the event of
a serious side impact in order to limit
the risk of injury to the chest.
Each side airbag is incorporated in
the front seat back frame, on the
door side.
Operation
It is triggered unilaterally in the
event of a serious side impact
applied to all or part of the side
impact zone
B , perpendicular to the
longitudinal centreline of the vehicle
on a horizontal plane and directed
from the outside towards the inside
of the vehicle.
The side airbag infl ates between the
front occupant of the vehicle and the
corresponding door trim pad. Impact detection zones

A. Front impact zone.

B. Side impact zone.

Curtain airbags *
System which protects the driver
and passengers (with the excep-
tion of the rear centre passenger) in
the event of a serious side impact in
order to limit the risk of head injuries.
Each curtain airbag is incorporated
in the pillars and the upper part of
the passenger compartment. Operation
It is triggered at the same time as the
corresponding side airbag in the event
of a serious side impact applied to all
or part of the side impact zone
B , per-
pendicular to the longitudinal centreline
of the vehicle on a horizontal plane and
directed from the outside towards the
inside of the vehicle.
The curtain airbag infl ates between
the front or rear occupant of the
vehicle and the windows.
In the event of a minor impact or
bump on the side of the vehicle or
if the vehicle rolls over, the airbag
may not be triggered.
The airbag is not triggered in the
event of a rear or front collision.
Operating fault If this warning lamp comes
on in the instrument panel,
accompanied by an audible
signal and a message on
the multifunction screen, contact a
CITROËN dealer to have the sys-
tem checked. The airbags may no
longer be triggered in the event of a
serious impact.

105
VIII
S A F E T Y
For the airbags to be fully
effective, observe the following
safety rules:
Sit in a normal upright position.
Wear a correctly adjusted seat belt.
Do not leave anything between the
occupants and the airbags (a child,
pet, object...). This could hamper the
operation of the airbags or injure the
occupants.
After an accident or if the vehicle
has been stolen or broken into, have
the airbag systems checked.
All work on the airbag system is
strictly forbidden unless it is carried
out by qualifi ed personnel of the
CITROËN network.
Even if all of the precautions men-
tioned are observed, a risk of injury
or of minor burns to the head, chest
or arms when an airbag is triggered
cannot be ruled out. The bag infl ates
almost instantly (within a few millisec-
onds) then defl ates within the same
time discharging the hot gas via open-
ings provided for this purpose. Front airbags
Do not drive holding the steering
wheel by its spokes or resting your
hands on the centre part of the
wheel.
Passengers must not place their feet
on the dashboard.
If possible, do not smoke as deploy-
ment of the airbags can cause burns
or the risk of injury from a cigarette
or pipe.
Never remove or pierce the steering
wheel or hit it violently.
Side airbags
Use only approved covers on the
seats. These will not hinder infl a-
tion of the side airbags. Consult a
CITROËN dealer.
Do not fi x or apply anything to the
seat backs. This could cause injury
to the chest or arms if the side air
bag is triggered.
Do not sit with the upper part of the
body any nearer to the door than
necessary. Curtain airbags
Do not fi x or apply anything to the
roof. This could cause injury to the
head if the curtain airbag is trig-
gered.
Do not remove the grab handles in-
stalled on the roof, they play a part
in securing the curtain airbags.

106
IX
D R I V I N G
PARKING BRAKE
Mechanical brake to hold the vehicle
when stationary.
Applying

 Pull the parking brake to immobi-
lise your vehicle.
Releasing

 Pull on the handle and press the
button A to release the parking
brake.
When the vehicle is being driven,
if this warning lamp and the STOP
warning lamp come on, accompa-
nied by an audible signal and a mes-
sage on the multifunction screen,
this indicates that the parking brake
is still on or has not been properly
released.
When parking on a slope, direct your
wheels against the pavement, pull the
parking brake on and engage a gear.
5-SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX
Starting the vehicle

 Check that the gear lever is in
neutral.

 Do not touch the accelerator.

 For Diesel engines: turn the
key to position M and wait until
the pre-heating warning lamp
switches off if it has come on.

 Operate the starter, turning the
key until the engine starts (no
more than ten seconds).

 In temperatures lower than 0 °C,
declutch whilst turning the starter
to facilitate starting. Engaging reverse gear

 Push the gear lever to the
right then rearwards.
Only engage reverse gear when
the vehicle is stationary with the
engine at idle.

107
IX
D R I V I N G
6-SPEED ELECTRONIC GEARBOX SYSTEM
The 6-speed electronic gearbox of-
fers a choice between the comfort of
fully automatic operation or the driving
pleasure of manual gear changing.
Therefore, you have a choice of
two driving modes:
- the automatic mode for auto-
matic control of the gears by the
gearbox,
- the sequential mode for manual
changing of the gears by the driver.
6-SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX
Engaging reverse gear

 Raise the ring under the knob
(indicated by the arrow) and
push the gear lever to the left
then forwards.
Only engage reverse gear when the
vehicle is stationary with the engine
at idle. Mode selection

 automatic mode: selector 2 in
position A .

 manual mode: selector 2 in posi-
tion M .
In automatic mode, instant manual
operation is possible any time you
action one of the paddles 1 .
As a safety precaution and to facili-
tate starting of the engine:
- always select neutral,
- press the clutch pedal.

107
IX
D R I V I N G
6-SPEED ELECTRONIC GEARBOX SYSTEM
The 6-speed electronic gearbox of-
fers a choice between the comfort of
fully automatic operation or the driving
pleasure of manual gear changing.
Therefore, you have a choice of
two driving modes:
- the automatic mode for auto-
matic control of the gears by the
gearbox,
- the sequential mode for manual
changing of the gears by the driver.
6-SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX
Engaging reverse gear

 Raise the ring under the knob
(indicated by the arrow) and
push the gear lever to the left
then forwards.
Only engage reverse gear when the
vehicle is stationary with the engine
at idle. Mode selection

 automatic mode: selector 2 in
position A .

 manual mode: selector 2 in posi-
tion M .
In automatic mode, instant manual
operation is possible any time you
action one of the paddles 1 .
As a safety precaution and to facili-
tate starting of the engine:
- always select neutral,
- press the clutch pedal.