Airbag system35
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Safety 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 wh eel 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.•If you are not wearing a seat belt, if you lean forward or to the side while
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 44, “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.
Side airbags*Description of side airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.The side airbags are located in the backrest cushions of the driver seat
⇒ fig. 21 and the front passenger seat as well as in the rear seats. The loca-
tions are identified by the text “AIRBAG” in the upper region of the backrests.
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 38, “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 on the front seats and the outer rear seats in a position
where the side airbags can provide maximum protection.
Fig. 21 Side airbag in
driver seat
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Airbag system37
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
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 ⇒page 37, fig. 22 .
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 pr otection 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. 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. 22 Illustration of
principle: inflated side
airbags on left side of
vehicle
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Airbag system39
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Curtain airbagsDescription of curtain airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.The curtain airbags are located on both sides in the interior above the doors
⇒fig. 23 and are identified with the text “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the seat belts, the curtain airbag system gives the occu-
pants additional protection for the head and upper body in the event of a
severe side collision ⇒ page 40, “Safety notes on the operation of the
curtain airbag system”.
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 correctly and have adjusted the head restraints properly. 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 19,
“Brief Introduction”.
The main parts of the curtain airbag system are:
•an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit),•the curtain airbags (airbags with ga s generator) for the driver, front
passenger and passengers on the rear seats,•a warning lamp
in the dash panel insert ⇒page 30.
The airbag system operation is monitored electronically.
The curtain airbag system will not be triggered
•the ignition is switched off,
Fig. 23 Location of left curtain airbag
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Airbag system41
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
•There must be no other persons, animals or objects between the occu-
pants of the outer seats and the deployment space of the curtain airbags
so that the curtain airbag can deploy without restriction and provide the
greatest possible protection. Therefore, sun blinds which have not been
expressly approved for use in your vehicle may not be attached to the side
windows ⇒page 206, “Accessories, parts replacement and modifica-
tions”.•The built-in coat hooks should be used only for lightweight clothing. Do
not leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets. Please, do not
hang the clothes on coat hangers.•The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them once
they have deployed.•Any work on the curtain airbag system or removal and installation of
the airbag components for other repairs (such as removal of the roof lining)
should only be performed by a qualified 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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Airbag system43
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
– Check that the warning lamp on the instrument panel does
⇒page 42, fig. 26 not light up when the ignition is switched on
⇒ .
WARNING
•The driver is responsible for the proper position of the key-operated
switch. •Yo u s h o u l d d e a c t i v a te t h e f ro n t p a s s e n g e r a i r b a g o n l y i f yo u h a v e t o u s e
a rear-facing child seat in exceptional cases. ⇒ page 44, “Child safety”.•For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to turn the
airbag off, an Authorised Service Centre must be consulted.•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 it is necessary in
exceptional circumstances to transport a child in a rear-facing child seat on
the front passenger seat, you must always disable the front passenger
airbag.•As soon as the child seat is no longer needed on the front passenger
seat, enable the front passenger airbag again.•Only deactivate the passenger airbag when the ignition is off, other-
wise a fault may occur in the airbag system, this will create a danger that
in case of an accident, the airbag does not deploy properly or does not
deploy at all.•When the passenger airbag is deactivated, if the warning lamp AIRBAG
OFF is not continuously lit up when the front passenger airbag is disabled,
there may be a fault in the airbag system:
−Have the airbag system inspected immediately by a qualified work-
shop.
− Do not use a child seat on the front passenger seat! The front
passenger airbag could be triggered despite the fact that there is a fault in the system and, as a result, a child could sustain serious or fatal inju-
ries.
−
It is predictable whether the front passenger airbag will deploy
during an accident! Warn all your passengers of this.
•When using the ignition key to activate / deactivate the passenger front
airbag, only the passenger front airbag will be activated / deactivated. The
side airbag and head airbag on the passenger side will remain active.WARNING (continued)
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Child safety45
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
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 46.
– Always ensure that the belt webbing is properly positioned according to the instructions provided 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 potentially 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 42,
“Deactivating airbags*”. If the passenger 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 to the other passengers.•If children assume an improper sitting position when the car is moving,
they expose themselves to greater risk of injury in the event of sudden
braking manoeuvre or in an accident. This is particularly important if the
child is travelling on the front passenger seat and the airbag system is trig-
gered in an accident; as this could cause serious injury or even death.•A suitable child seat can protect your child!•Never leave an unsupervised child alone on a child seat or 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 in sudden braking manoeuvres.•The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the belt web is
properly positioned ⇒page 23, “Seat belts”.•Only one child may occupy a child seat ⇒page 46, “Child seats”.WARNING (continued)
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Child safety47
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Group 1 child seats
A suitable child seat and a correctly adjusted seat belt can
help you to protect your child.Child seats using the “ISOFIX” system or seats in which the child 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 you to include together with the on-board documentation,
the manufacturer's Child Seat instructions manual.
WARNING
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use of
child seats ⇒page 45.
Group 2 and 3 child seats
A suitable child seat and a correctly adjusted seat belt can
help you to protect your child.Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats.
We recommend you to include together with the on-board documentation,
the manufacturer's Child Seat instructions manual.
Group 2 child seats
Children under 7 years of age weighing between 15 and 25 kg are best
protected by group 2 child seats together 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 together
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.
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Child safety49
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Securing child seatsWays to secure a child seat
A child seat can be secured differently on the 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 for groups 0, 0+ and 1 with the “ISOFIX” system can be
secured, without fastening seat belts, with the “ISOFIX” securing rings
⇒ page 49.
U: Suitable for universal approved restraining systems for use in this age category (universal retention systems are those fitted using the adult
seat belt).
*: Move the passenger seat as far to rear as possible, as high as possible and always deactivate the airbag.
L: Suitable for retention systems using the “ISOFIX” anchors.
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
could lead to a risk of potentially 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 42,
“Deactivating airbags*” and move the seat to its highest position, in case
it has this adjustment.•Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of child seats ⇒ page 45.
Securing child seat with the “ISOFIX” system
The child seat with “ISOFIX” system can be secured quickly,
easily and safely on the rear outer seats using the system
Category
Weight
Seat locations
Front
passenger
Rear outer
Rear centre
Group 0
<10 kg
U*
U/L
U
Group 0+
<13 kg
U*
U/L
U
Group 1
9-18 kg
U*
U/L
U
Group 2 / 3
15-36 kg
U*
U
U
Fig. 30 ISOFIX securing
rings
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