2010 Seat Ibiza ST airbag

Seat belts
20travelling just before the impact. This example applies not only to head-on
collisions, but to all accidents and collisions.The danger of not using the seat belt
The general belief that the passengers can protect them-
selves with their hands in a minor collision is false.
Even at low speeds the forces acting on the body in a collision are so great
that it is not possible to brace oneself with one’s hands. In a frontal collision,
unbelted passengers are thrown forward and will make violent contact with
the steering wheel, dash panel, windscreen or whatever else is in the way
⇒ fig. 8.
The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts. When triggered, airbags
provide only additional protection. All occupants (including the driver) must
wear seat belts properly during the trip. This will reduce the risk of severe
injuries in the event of an accident – re gardless of whether an airbag is fitted
for the seat or not.
Note that airbags can be triggered only once. To achieve the best possible
protection, the seat belt must always be worn properly so that you will be
protected in accidents in which no airbag is deployed.
I t is a ls o i m p o r ta n t f o r t h e r e a r p a ss e ng e r s t o w ea r s ea t b e l t s p r o p e r l y, as t h e y
could otherwise be thrown forward violently in an accident. Rear passengers
who do not use seat belts endanger not only themselves but also the front
occupants ⇒fig. 9 .
Fig. 8 A driver not
wearing a seat belt is
thrown forward violently.
Fig. 9 The unbelted rear
passenger is thrown
forward violently, hitting
the driver wearing a seat
belt.
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Seat belts21
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Seat belt protection
Passengers not wearing seat belts risk severe injuries in the
event of an accident.Properly worn seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting posi-
tions and substantially reduce the kinetic energy in the event of an accident.
Seat belts also help to prevent uncontrolled movements that could lead to
severe injuries. In addition, properly worn seat belts reduce the danger of
being thrown from the vehicle.
Passengers wearing their seat belts correctly benefit greatly from the ability
of the belts to absorb kinetic energy. The front part of your vehicle and other
passive safety features (such as the airbag system) are also designed to
absorb the kinetic energy released in a collision. Taken together, all these
features reduce the releasing kinetic energy and consequently, the risk of
injury.
Our examples describe frontal collisions. Of course, properly worn seat belts
substantially reduce the risk of injury in all other types of accidents. This is why it is so important to fasten seat belts before every trip, even when "just
driving around the corner".
Ensure that your passengers wear their seat belts as well. Accident statistics
have shown that wearing seat belts is an effective means of substantially
reducing the risk of injury and improving the chances of survival in a serious
accident. Furthermore, properly worn seat belts improve the protection
provided by airbags in the event of an accident. For this reason, wearing a
seat belt is required by law in most countries.
Although your vehicle is equipped with airbags, the seat belts must be
fastened and worn. The front airbags, for example, are only triggered in some
frontal accidents. The front airbags will
not be triggered during minor frontal
collisions, minor side collisions, rear collisions, overturns or accidents in
which the airbag trigger threshold value in the control unit is not exceeded.
Therefore, you should always wear your seat belt and ensure that your
passengers have fastened their seat belts properly before you drive off!
Safety instructions on using seat belts
If seat belts are used correctly, they can reduce the risk of
injury in an accident.– Always wear the seat belt as described in this section.
– Ensure that the seat belts can be fastened at all times and are not damaged.
WARNING
•If the seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at all, the risk of severe inju-
ries increases. The optimal protection from seat belts can be achieved only
if you use them properly.
Fig. 10 A driver wearing
the seat belt properly is
secured by the belt in
sharp braking
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Seat belts25
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Seat belt release
The seat belt must not be unfastened until the vehicle has
come to a standstill.– Press the red button on the belt buckle ⇒fig. 15 . The latch plate
is released and springs out ⇒ .
– Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls up easily and the trim is not damaged
WARNING
Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion. If you do, you
increase the risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.
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 incorrect 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.
Fig. 15 Removing latch
plate from buckle
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Airbag system27
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Airbag systemBrief introductionWhy wear a seat belt and assume the correct sitting position?
For the inflating airbags to achieve the best protection, the
seat belt must always be worn properly and the correct sitting
position must be assumed.For your own safety and the safety of the passengers, please ensure
the following before driving:
– Always wear the seat belt properly
– Adjust the driver seat and the steering wheel correctly.
– Adjust the front passenger seat correctly.
– Adjust the head restraint correctly ⇒page 12.
– Use an appropriate child restrain t system to protect children in
your vehicle.The airbag is deployed at high speed in fractions of a second. If you have an
incorrect seating position at the time the airbag is deployed, it could cause
you critical injuries. Therefore, it is essential that all passengers in the vehicle
assume a correct sitting position while travelling.
A sharp braking before an accident may cause a passenger not wearing a seat
belt to be thrown forward into the area of the deploying airbag. In this case, the inflating airbag may inflict critical or fatal injuries on the occupant. This
also applies to children.
Always maintain the greatest possible distance between yourself and the
front airbag. This way, the front airbags can completely deploy when trig-
gered, providing their maximum protection.
The most important factors that will trigger an airbag are: the type of acci-
dent, the angle of collision and the speed of the vehicle.
Whether the airbags are triggered depends primarily on the vehicle deceler-
ation rate resulting from the collision and detected by the control unit. If the
vehicle deceleration occurring during the collision and measured by the
control unit remains below the specified reference values, the front, side
and/or curtain airbag will not be triggered. Take into account that the visible
damage in a vehicle involved in an accident, no matter how serious, is not a
determining factor for the airbags to have been triggered.
WARNING
•Wearing the seat belt incorrectly or assuming an incorrect sitting posi-
tion can lead to critical or fatal injuries.•All occupants, including children, who are not properly belted can
sustain critical or fatal injuries if the airbag is triggered. Children up to 12
years old should always travel on the rear seat. Never transport children in
the vehicle if they are not restrained or the restraint system is not appro-
priate for their age, size or weight.•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.•To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating airbag, always wear the
seat belt properly.
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Airbag system
28•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 transported 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 37.
When transporting children, use a child seat appropriate to the age and size
of each child.
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 37, “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 of the child seat manufacturer
and absolutely observe all warnings
− 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 system29
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Monitoring of airbag and belt tensioner system
Both the airbag and belt tensioner systems operation is constantly monitored
electronically. The warning lamp
T will light up for a few seconds every time
the ignition is switched on (self-diagnosis).
The system must be checked when the warning lamp
T :
•does not light up when the ignition is switched on,•after the ignition is switched on, it turns off after 4 seconds,•turns off and then lights up again after the ignition is switched on,•lights up or flashes while the vehicle is moving.
In the event of a malfunction, the warning lamp remains on continuously.
Have the airbag system inspected immediately by a qualified workshop.
If any of the airbags are de-activated by the Authorised Service Centre, the
indicator lights for several seconds more after the verification and will turn off
if there is no fault.WARNING
•If there is a malfunction, the airbag and belt tensioner system cannot
properly perform its protective function.•If a malfunction occurred, have the system checked immediately by a
specialised workshop. Otherwise, in the event of an accident, the airbag
system and belt tensioners may not be triggered, or may not be triggered
correctly.
Repairs, maintenance and disposal of airbagsThe parts of the airbag system are instal led in various places in your vehicle.
If work is carried out on the airbag system or parts have to be removed and
fitted on the system when performing other repair work, parts of the airbag system may be damaged. In the event of an accident this could cause the
airbag to inflate incorrectly or not inflate at all.
The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or
components of the airbag are
scrapped. Specialised workshops and vehicle
disposal centres are familiar with these requirements.
WARNING
•If repairs are not carried out by a professional, or if the airbags are used
incorrect ly, th e ris k of se vere or fatal inj uries is increas ed. T he airbags may
fail to inflate, or could inflate in the wrong circumstances.•Do not cover or stick anything on the steering wheel hub or the surface
of the airbag unit on the passenger side of the dash panel, and do not
obstruct or modify them in any way.•It is important not to attach any objects such as cup holders or tele-
phone mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag units.•To clean the steering wheel or dash panel, you may use only a dry or a
water-moistened cloth. Never clean the dash panel and the airbag module
surface with cleaners containing solvents. Solvents cause the surface to
become porous. If the airbag triggered, plastic parts could become
detached and cause injuries.•Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or install parts of the airbag
system.•Any work on the airbag system or removal and installation of the airbag
components for other repairs (such as repairs to the steering wheel) should
be performed only by a specialised workshop. Specialised workshops have
the necessary tools, repair information and qualified personnel.•We strongly recommend you to go to a specialised workshop for all
work on the airbag system.•Never attempt to alter the front bumper or the body.•The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them once
they have deployed.
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Airbag system
30
For the sake of the environmentThe airbags, which are a special type of waste, must be disposed of through
an authorised service, because they contain pyrotechnic elements.Front airbagsDescription of front airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.
The front airbag for the driver is located in the steering wheel ⇒fig. 16 and
the airbag for the front passenger is located in the dash panel ⇒fig. 17.
Airbags are identified by the word “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the seat belts, the front airbag system gives the front
occupants additional protection for the head and chest in the event of a
severe frontal collision ⇒ page 32, “Safety notes on the front airbag system”.
In addition to their normal function of restraining the occupants, the seat
belts also hold the driver and front passenger in a position where the airbags
can provide maximum protection in a frontal collision.
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. For this
reason, 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 as a contribution
to your own safety
The main parts of the front airbag system are:•an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit)
Fig. 16 Driver airbag
located in steering wheel
Fig. 17 Front passenger
airbag located in dash
panel
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Airbag system31
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
•the two front airbags (airbag with gas generator) for the driver and front
passenger,•a warning lamp
T on the instrument panel ⇒page 28
The airbag system operation is monitored electronically. The airbag warning
lamp will light up for a few seconds every time the ignition is switched on
(self-diagnosis).
There is a fault in the system if the warning lamp
T:
•does not light up when the ignition is switched on ⇒ page 28•after the ignition is switched on, it turns off after 4 seconds,•turns off and then lights up again after the ignition is switched on,•lights up or flashes while the vehicle is moving.
The 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 overWARNING
•The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if the
occupants are seated correctly ⇒ page 9, “Proper sitting position for occu-
pants”.•If a fault has occurred in the airbag system, have the system checked
immediately by a specialised workshop. Otherwise, during a frontal colli-
sion the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.
Operation of front 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 and side airbags may be triggered
together.
When the system is triggered, the airbags fill with a propellant gas and
deploy in front of the driver and front passenger ⇒ fig. 18. 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 to allow visibility.
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within thousandths of a second, to
provide additional protection in the event of an accident. A fine dust may
Fig. 18 Inflated front
airbags
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