Seat belts23
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
– Adjust the seat and head restraint correctly.
– To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate and pull it slowly
across your chest and lap.
– Insert the latch into the buckle for the appropriate seat and push it down until it is securely locked with a click ⇒page 22, fig. 11 .
– Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in the buckle.The seat belts are equipped with an automatic retractor on the shoulder
strap. Full freedom of movement is permitted when the shoulder belt is pulled
slowly. However, during sudden braking, during travel in steep areas or
bends and during acceleration, the automatic retractor on the shoulder belt
is locked.
The automatic belt retractors on the front seats are fitted with seat belt
tensioners ⇒page 26.
WARNING
•An incorrectly worn seat belt can cause severe injuries in the event of
an accident.•The seat belts offer best protection only when the backrests are in an
upright position and the seat belts have been fastened properly.•Never put the latch plate in the buckle of another seat. If you do this, the
seat belt will not protect you properly and the risk of injury is increased.•I f a n o ccu p an t is i n co r re c t l y be l te d i n , t h e b e l t ca n n o t p ro te c t h i m o r h e r
properly. An incorrectly positioned seat belt can cause extremely severe
injuries.
Seat belt position
Seat belts offer their maximum protection only when they are
properly positioned.
Fig. 12 Correct seat belt
and head restraint posi-
tions, viewed from frontFig. 13 Correct seat belt
and head restraint posi-
tions, viewed from side
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Seat belts
24The following features are available to adjust the seat belt in the shoulder
region:•belt height adjustment for the front seats.•front seat height adjustment*.WARNING
•An incorrectly worn seat belt can cause severe injuries in the event of
an accident.•The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie on the centre of the shoulder,
never across the neck. The seat belt must lie flat and snugly on the torso
⇒ page 23, fig. 12 .•The lap par t of the seat belt must lie across the pelvis, never across the
stomach. The seat belt must lie flat and snugly on the pelvis ⇒page 23,
fig. 13. Pull the belt tight if necessary to take up any slack.•Read and observe the warnings ⇒page 21.
Pregnant women must also fasten their seat belts properly
The best protection for the unborn child is for the mother to
wear the seat belt properly at all times during the pregnancy.The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the seat belt
is properly positioned ⇒page 23.
– Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly ⇒page 10.
– Holding the latch plate, pull the belt evenly across your chest and as low as possible over the pelvis ⇒fig. 14 .
– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate seat and push it down until it is securely locked with a click ⇒.
– Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in the buckle.
Fig. 14 Positioning seat
belts during pregnancy
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Seat belts
26
– Take hold of the top guide fitting and slide it up or down so that the shoulder part of the seat belt is positioned roughly midway
over the shoulder, although it must never rest against the neck
⇒ page 25, fig. 16 ⇒ in “Seat belt position” on page 23.
– After adjusting, pull the belt sharply to check that the catch on the guide fitting is engaged securely.
NoteIt is also possible to adjust the height of the front seats to obtain the best
position for the front seat belts.Incorrectly fastened seat belts
Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause severe or even mortal
injuries.Seat belts can provide optimal protection only if the belt web is
properly worn. The seat belts must be fastened exactly in the order
described in this chapter. An in correct sitting position impairs
substantially the protection a seat belt offers and can lead to severe
or fatal injuries. The risk of severe or fatal injuries is especially
increased when a deploying airbag strikes an occupant who has
assumed an incorrect sitting position. As the driver, you are respon-
sible for all vehicle occupants, especially children. Therefore:
– Never allow anyone to wear the seat belt incorrectly while the vehicle is moving ⇒.
WARNING
•An incorrectly worn seat belt increases the risk of severe injuries.•Before every trip, instruct your passengers to adjust their seat belts
properly and to wear them for the whole journey.•Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of seat belts ⇒page 21.
Seat belt tensionersFunction of the seat belt tensioner
During a frontal collision, the seat belts on the front seats are
retracted automatically.The seat belts for the front occupants are equipped with belt tensioners.
Sensors will trigger the belt tensioners during severe head-on, lateral and
rear collisions only if the seat belt is being worn. This retracts and tightens the
seat belts, reducing the forward motion of the occupants.
The seat belt tensioner can be triggered only once.
The seat belt tensioners will not be triggered in the event of a light frontal,
side or rear collision, if the vehicle overturns or in situations where no large
forces act on the front, side or rear of the vehicle.
Note
•If the seat belt tensioners are triggered, a fine dust is produced. This is
normal and it is not an indication of fire in the vehicle.•The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or
components of the system are scrapped. Specialised workshops are familiar
A2
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Seat belts27
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
with these regulations and will be pleased to pass on the information to
you.
Service and disposal of belt tensionersThe belt tensioners are components of the seat belts that are installed in the
seats of your vehicle. If you work on the belt tensioners or remove and install
parts of the system when performing other repair work, the seat belt may be
damaged. The consequence may be that, in the event of an accident, the belt
tensioners function incorrectly or not at all.
So that the effectiveness of the seat belt tensioner is not reduced and that
removed parts do not cause any injuries or environmental pollution, regula-
tions, which are known to the specialised workshops, must be observed.
WARNING
•Improper use or repairs not carried out by qualified mechanics increase
the risk of severe or fatal injuries. The belt tensioners may fail to trigger or
may trigger in the wrong circumstances.•Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or install parts of the belt
tensioners or seat belts.•The seat belt tensioner, seat belt and automatic retractor cannot be
repaired.•Any work on the belt tensioners and seat belts, including the removal
and refitting of system parts in conjunction with other repair work, must be
performed by a qualified workshop only.•The belt tensioners will only provide protection for one accident and
must be changed if they have been activated.
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Airbag system29
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
•Always adjust the front seats properly.
The danger of fitting a child seat on the front passenger seat
Rear-facing child seats must never be used on the front
passenger seat when the front passenger airbag is enabled.The front passenger airbag is a serious risk for a child if it is activated. The
front passenger seat is life threatening to a child if he/she is transpor ted in a
rear-facing child seat. Children up to 12 years old should always travel 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 force that it can cause critical or fatal injuries.
Therefore we strongly recommend you to transport children on the rear seats.
That is the safest place for children in the vehicle. Alternatively, the front
passenger airbag can be disabled with a key-operated switch ⇒page 44.
When transporting children, use a child seat appropriate to the age and size
of each child ⇒ page 46.
For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to disconnect the
airbag, the vehicle must be taken to a Technical Service.
WARNING
•If a child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, the risk to the child
of sustaining critical or fatal injuries in the event of an accident increases.•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 if 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 is 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:
−Deactivate the front passenger airbag ⇒page 44, “Deactivating
airbags”.
− 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 given by the child seat manufac-
turer and observe the safety instructions ⇒page 46, “Child safety”.
− Before properly installing the child seat, push the front passenger
seat completely backwards 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 seat belt tensioner
T
This warning lamp monitors the airbag and seat belt
tensioner system.The warning lamp monitors all airbags and seat belt tensioners in the vehicle,
including control units and wiring connections.
WARNING (continued)
WARNING (continued)
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Airbag system35
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Safety notes on the front 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 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 airbag*Description 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 dash 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 seat belts.
If the front airbags deploy, the knee airbag also deploys in severe frontal
collisions. ⇒page 33
Besides their normal safety function, seat 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 knee
airbag
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Airbag system
38Side 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 seat and front passenger 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
T on the instrument panel ⇒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 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 system39
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
•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 specialised work-
shop.•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.
Operation 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.
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within thousandths of a second, to
provide additional protection in the event of an accident. A fine dust may
develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and it is not an indication 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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