2009 Seat Exeo airbag

Airbag system33
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
may develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of fire in the vehicle.
Airbag covers when the frontal airbags are triggeredThe airbag covers fold out of the steering wheel or instrument panel when the
driver's and front passenger's airbags are triggered
⇒fig. 20 . The airbag
covers remain connected to the steering wheel or the dash panel.
Fig. 20 Airbag covers reacting when the front airbags
are triggered
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Airbag system
34Safety notes on the frontal airbag system
If you use airbags correctly, they can considerably reduce the
risk of injury in many kinds of accident.
WARNING
•It is important for the driver and front passenger to keep a distance of
at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel. If the minimum
distance is not observed then the airbags do not correctly protect the
vehicle occupants; risk of fatal injuries! In addition, the front seats and
head restraints must always be positioned correctly for the height of the
occupant.•I f yo u are n o t w ea r i ng a s ea t b e l t , i f yo u l e an fo r w a rd o r t o t h e s id e w h il e
travelling or assume an incorrect sitting position, there is a substantially
increased risk of injury. This increased risk of injury will be further
increased if you are struck by an inflating airbag.•Never let a child travel on the front seat without an appropriate restraint
system. If the airbag is triggered in an accident, children can sustain
serious or fatal injuries from the airbag as it inflates ⇒page 46, “Child
safety”.•The deployment space between the front passengers and the airbags
must not in any case be occupied by other passenger, pets and objects.•The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them once
they have deployed.•It is also important not to attach any objects such as cup holders or
telephone mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag units.•Do not attempt to modify components of the airbag system in any
way.
Knee airbagDescription of the knee airbag
The airbag system provides additional protection to front seat
passengers if they are properly secured.The knee airbag for the driver is located in the instrument panel underneath
the steering wheel ⇒fig. 21.
The knee airbag offers additional protection to the driver's knees and upper
and lower thigh areas as a supplement to the safety belts.
If the front airbags deploy, the knee airbag also deploys in severe frontal colli-
sions ⇒page 32.
Besides their normal safety function, safety belts help keep the driver in posi-
tion in case of a frontal collision so that the airbags can provide protection.
The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts. It is, on the other hand,
part of the overall occupant safety system of your vehicle. Always remember
Fig. 21 Driver's knee
airbag
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Airbag system35
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
that the airbag system can only help to protect you if you are wearing your
safety belt and wearing it properly.
Remember too that airbags will deploy only once and only in certain kinds of
accidents - your safety belts are always there to offer protection in those acci-
d e nts i n whi ch a ir ba gs a re not supp os ed t o de ploy or wh en the y hav e alr ead y
deployed, for example when your vehicle strikes or is struck by another after
the first collision.
This is just one of the reasons why an airbag is not a substitute for the safety
belt. The airbag system works most effectively when used with the safety
belts. Therefore, always wear your safety belts correctly.
It is important to remember that while the supplemental airbag system is
designed to reduce the likelihood of serious injuries, other injuries, for
example, swelling, bruising, and minor abrasions can also be associated with
airbags.
The knee airbag system basically consists of:
•The electronic control module•One inflatable airbag (airbag and gas generator) for the driver•An airbag indicator light in the instrument panel
The knee airbag system will not deploy:•when the ignition is turned off•in frontal collisions when the deceleration measured by the control unit is
too low•in side collisions•in rear-end collisions•in rollovers•in the event of a system malfunction (warning/indicator light illuminated)
⇒ page 65.
WARNING
•Safety belts and the airbag system can only provide protection when
occupants are in the proper seating position.•If the airbag indicator light comes on when the vehicle is being used,
have the system inspected immediately by your Authorised Service Centre.
The airbag may not work properly when the vehicle acceleration in a side
collision is high enough to deploy the airbag. See also ⇒page 65.
How knee airbags work
The risk of injury to the leg area is reduced by fully deployed
knee airbags.The knee airbag system has been designed so that the airbag for the driver is
deployed in certain but not all frontal collisions.
Fig. 22 Inflated airbags
protect in a frontal colli-
sion.
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Airbag system
36If the front airbag deploys, the knee airbag also deploys in severe frontal colli-
sions.
When the system is deployed, the airbag starts to fill with a propellant gas,
and inflates between the lower part of the instrument panel and the driver
⇒ page 35, fig. 22.
Although they are not a soft pillow, they can “cushion” the impact and in this
way they can help to reduce the risk of injury to the lower extremities.
All this takes place instantaneously, so fast that many people do not even
realize that the airbags have deployed. The airbags also inflate with a great
deal of force and it is important for occupant safety that nothing should be in
their way when they deploy.
Fully inflated airbags in combination with properly worn safety belts slow
down and limit the occupant's forward movement and help to reduce risk.Important safety notes on the knee airbag system
Airbags are only supplemental restraints.A l wa ys w ea r sa f e t y b e l t s co r r e c t l y a n d d r i v e i n a p r o p e r s e a t e d p o s i t i o n . T h e r e
is a lot that you and your passengers must know and do to help the safety
belts and airbags to provide supplementary protection.
WARNING
An inflating knee airbag can cause serious injury. Wearing safety belts
incorrectly and improper seating positions increase the risk of serious
personal injury and death whenever a vehicle is being used.•The airbag system cannot protect you properly if you are seated too
close to any of the airbag locations. When adjusting their seating posi-
tions, it is important for drivers to keep their upper bodies and knees to the
following minimum safe distances: −
25 cm between the chest and the steering wheel/instrument panel.
− 10 cm between the knees and the lower part of the instrument panel.
•The risk of personal injury increases if you lean forward or to the side,
or if the seat is improperly positioned and you are not wearing your safety
belt. The risk increases even more should the airbag deploy.•Always make sure that the knee airbag can inflate without interference.
Objects between yourself and the airbag can increase the risk of injury in
an accident by interfering with the way the airbag deploys or by being
thrust into you as the airbag deploys.
−No objects of any kind should be carried in the footwell area in front
of the driver's seat. Bulky objects (shopping bags, for example) can
hinder or prevent proper deployment of the airbag. Small objects can
be thrown through the vehicle if the airbag deploys and injure you or
your passengers.•Make sure there are no cracks, deep scratches or other damage in the
area of the instrument panel where the knee airbag is located.•If children are incorrectly seated, their risk of injury increases in the
case of an accident ⇒page 46.WARNING (continued)
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Airbag system37
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Side airbags*Description of side airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.The front side airbags are located in the driver's seat and front passenger's
seat backrests ⇒fig. 23. The rear side airbags are located in the rear wheel
housing lining. The locations are identified by the text “AIRBAG” in the upper
region of the backrests and in the rear wheel housing lining.
Together with the seat belts, the side airbag system gives the front seat occu-
pants additional protection for the upper body in the event of a severe side
collision ⇒page 40, “Safety notes on the operation of the side airbag
system”.
In a side collision, the side airbags reduce the risk of injury to passengers on
the front seats to the areas of the body facing the impact. In addition to their
normal function of protecting the occupants in a collision, the seat belts also hold the passengers in the front seats and the outer rear seats in a position
where the side airbags can provide maximum protection.
The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts, but it 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. Therefore, 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 18, “Brief introduction”.
The side airbag system will not be triggered if:
•the ignition is switched off,•there is a minor side collision,•there is a frontal collision,•there is a rear-end collision,•the vehicle turns over.
The main parts of the airbag system are:•an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit),•The front side airbags in the backrests of the front seats and the rear side
airbags in the lining of the rear wheel housing.•a warning lamp
 in the dash panel insert ⇒page 29.
The airbag system operation is monitored electronically. The airbag warning
lamp will light up for approx. 4 seconds every time the ignition is switched on
(self-diagnosis).
WARNING
•In a side-on collision, the side airbags will not work, if the sensors do
not correctly measure the pressure increase on the interior of the doors,
due to air escaping through the areas with holes or openings in the door
panel.•Never drive the vehicle if the interior panels have been removed.
Fig. 23 Side airbag in
driver seat
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Airbag system
38•Never drive if the interior door panels have been removed or if the
panels have not been correctly fitted.•Never drive the vehicle if the loudspeakers in the door panels have
been removed, unless the holes left by the loudspeakers have been
correctly closed.•Always check that the openings are closed or covered if loudspeakers
or other equipment are fitted in the interior door panels.•Any work carried out to the doors should be made in a qualified author-
ised workshop.•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 occurred in the airbag system, have the system checked
immediately by a qualified workshop. Otherwise, during a side collision,
the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.
Function 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. 24 .
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 the 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.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 24 Inflated side
airbag on left side of
vehicle
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Airbag system39
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
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.
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Airbag system
40Safety notes on the operation of the side airbag system
If airbags are used correctly, they can considerably reduce the
risk of injury in side impact collisions.
WARNING
•If you do not wear a seat belt, if you lean forward, or are not seated
correctly while the vehicle is in motion, you are at a greater risk of injury if
the side airbag system is triggered in an accident.•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.•Occupants of the outer seats must never carry any objects or pets in the
deployment space between them and the airbags, or allow children or
other passengers to travel in this position. It is also important not to attach
any accessories (such as cup holders) to the doors. This would impair the
protection offered by the side airbags.•The built-in coat hooks should be us ed only for lightweight clothing. Do
not leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets.•Great forces, such as hard blows or kicks, must not be exer ted upon the
backrest bolster because the system may be damaged. In this case, the
side airbags would not be triggered.•Under no circumstances should protective covers be fitted over the
driver seat or front passenger seat un less the covers have been expressly
approved for use in your vehicle. Because the airbag is triggered from the
side of the backrest, the use of non-approved seat covers would obstruct
the side airbag, seriously reducing the airbag's effectiveness ⇒page 214,
“Accessories, replacement of parts and modifications”.•Any damage to the original seat upholstery or around the seams of the
side airbag units must be repaired immediately by a qualified workshop.•The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them once
they have deployed.
•When children assume an incorrect sitting position, they expose them-
selves to an increased risk of injury in the event of an accident. This is
particularly the case if the child is travelling on the front passenger seat
and the airbag system is triggered in an accident; this could have critical
consequences including serious injury or death ⇒page 46, “Child safety”.•Any work on the side airbag system or removal and installation of the
airbag components for other repairs (such as removal of the front seat)
should only be performed by a qualif ied workshop. Otherwise, faults may
occur during the airbag system operation.•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, the airbag
system may not work correctly. All work carried out on the front door must
be made in a qualified workshop.WARNING (continued)
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