
Airbag system
34The front airbag system will not be triggered if:•
the ignition is switched off,
•
there is a minor frontal collision,
•
there is a side collision,
•
there is a rear-end collision,
•
the vehicle turns over.
WARNING
•
The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if the 
occupants are seated correctly ⇒ page 10, “Proper sitting position for 
occupants”.
•
If a fault has occured in the airbag system, have the system checked 
immediately by a qualified workshop. Otherwise, during a frontal collision 
the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.
Operation of frontal airbags
Inflated airbags reduce the risk of head or chest injury.The airbag system is designed so that the 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. 20 . 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. After the collision, the 
airbag deflates sufficiently for the front occupants to see forward.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the airbags 
have to deploy extremely rapidly (within thousandth of a second). A fine dust 
Fig. 20  Inflated front 
airbags
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Airbag system
38Function of side airbags
Inflated airbags can reduce the risk of head or chest injury in 
many side impact collisions.In some  side collisions  the side airbag is triggered on the impact side of the 
vehicle  ⇒fig. 23 .
In certain types of accident the front, curtain and side airbags may be trig-
gered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with propellant gas.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the airbags 
have to deploy extremely rapidly (within thousandth of a second). A fine dust 
may develop when the airbag deploys. This  is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of fire in the vehicle.
The fully deployed airbags cushion th e movement of the occupants of the 
front seats and the outer rear seats 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.
Fig. 23  Inflated side 
airbag on left side of 
vehicle
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ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12 

Airbag system41
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
•
there is a frontal collision,
•
there is a rear-end collision,
•
if the vehicle rolls,
•
during a minor side collision,
WARNING
If a fault has occured 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. 25.
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 (withi n thousandth of a second). A fine dust 
may develop when the airbag deploys. This  is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of 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. 25  Deployed curtain 
airbags
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Driving and the environment193
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
during this initial warm-up phase. It is therefore best to drive off immediately 
after starting the engine. Avoid running the engine at high speed.
Periodic maintenance
Periodic maintenance work guarantees 
that, before beginning a journey, you 
will not waste fuel. A well-serviced engine gives you the benefit of  improved 
fuel efficiency  as well as maximum reliability and an enhanced resale value.
A badly serviced engine can consume up to 10% more fuel than necessary.
Avoid short journeys
To reduce the consumption and emission of polluting gases, the engine and 
the exhaust filtration systems should reach the optimum  service tempera-
ture .
With the engine cold, fuel consumption is proportionally higher. The engine 
does not warm up and fuel consumption does not regularise until having 
driven some  four kilometres. This is the reason why we recommend avoiding 
short trips wherever possible.
Maintain the correct tyre pressures
Bear in mind that keeping  the tyres at an adequate pressure saves fuel. If the 
tyre pressures are just 1 bar too low, this can put the fuel consumption up by 
as much as 5%. Due to the greater roll ing resistance, under-inflation also 
increases  tyre wear and impairs handling.
The tyre pressures should always be checked when the tyres are  cold.
Do not use  winter tyres  all through the year: they will increase fuel consump-
tion by up to 10%.
Avoid unnecessary weight
Every kilo of  extra weight  will put up the fuel consumption, so it is worth 
checking the luggage compartment occasionally to make sure that no unnec-
essary loads are being transported.
A roof carrier is often left in place for the sake of convenience, even when it is 
no longer needed. At a speed of 100-120 km/h your car will use about 12%  more fuel as a result of the extra wind resistance caused by the roof carrier 
even when it is empty.
Save electrical energy
The engine activates the alternator, whic
h produces electricity. With the need 
for electricity, fuel consumption is also increased. Because of this, always 
turn off electrical equipme nt when you do not need them. Examples of equip-
ment that use a lot of electricity are: the fan at high speeds, the rear window 
heating or the seat heaters*.
 Environmental friendlinessEnvironmental protection is a top priori ty in the design, choice of materials 
and production of your new Seat.
Design measures for economical recycling•
Joints and connections designed for ease of dismantling
•
Modular construction to facilitate dismantling
•
Increased use of single-grade materials
•
Plastic parts and elastomers are labelled in accordance with ISO 1043, 
ISO 11469 and ISO 1629
Choice of materials
•
Nearly all materials used can be recycled
•
Similar types of plastics grouped together for easy recycling
•
Recycled materials used in manufacture
•
Reduction of the plastic volatile components
•
CFC-free refrigerant in air conditioning
Compliance with prohibited materials laws : cadmium, asbestos, lead, 
mercury, chrome VI.
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Index
290Engine oil pressure
monitor indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
Warning lamp  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  80
Environment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  192 Environmental friendliness  . . . . . . . . . . . .  193
Environmental tip Avoiding pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  211
ESP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81, 185
Example of menu use Program a speed limit warning  . . . . . . . . . .  65
To activate and deactivate the speed limit warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
Example of the use of the menus Open the Configuration menu with the MFD lever  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
Open the Configuration menu with the steering  wheel controls  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
Examples of menu use Open the main menu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
Open the winter tyres menu . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
To close the winter tyres menu . . . . . . . . . . .  65
Exhaust gasses purification system  . . . . . . . .  191
Exterior mirrors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  202FFabric trim cleaning  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  206
Fire extinguisher  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  147
Floor mats  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  109
folding table*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  136 Folding the seat backrests down . . . . . . . . . . .  134
Foot brake
Warning lamp  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  82
Four wheel drive  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  187
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33 Description  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
Front interior light type 1 Switching light off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  117
Switching light on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  117
Front interior light type 2 Switching light off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  118
Switching light on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  118
Front passenger airbag deactivation . . . . . . . . .  43
Front reading lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  119
Front seat adjustment Lumbar support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  131
Frontal airbags Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
Fuel Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  212
Petrol  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  211
Fuel level Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75 warning message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
Fuel Tank Opening the fuel tank flap  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  210
Fuel tank See Fuel reserve  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
Fuel: saving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  192 Fuses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  249
GG 12  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  220
Gear shift pattern  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  169
General overview of the engine compartment   273
Glove compartment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  135
Glow plug system  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  167
Warning lamp  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  76HHandbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  174Warning lamp  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79, 175
Hazard warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  114
head restraints Adjusting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129, 130
adjustment of the head  restraint angle . . .  130
Removing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  130
head restraints, correct adjustment  . . . . . . . . .  13 In-use and non-use positions  . . . . . . . . . . .  14
Headlight flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  116
Headlight range control  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  113
Headlights Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  194
Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  109
Washer system  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  125
Heated front seats  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  132
Heated window 2C-Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  158
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