Safe driving13
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Correct adjustment of front seat head restraints
Properly adjusted head restraints are an important part of
passenger protection and can reduce the risk of injuries in
most accident situations.
Adjust the head restraint properly in order to achieve maximum
protection.
– Adjust the head restraint so that its upper edge is at the same
level as the top of your head, or as close as possible to the same
level as the top of your head and, at the very least, at eye level
⇒fig. 3 and ⇒fig. 4 .Adjusting the head restraints ⇒page 135.
WARNING
•Travelling with the head restraints removed or improperly adjusted
increases the risk of severe injuries.•Incorrectly adjusted head restraints could result in death in the event of
a collision or accident.•Incorrectly adjusted head restraints also increase the risk of injury
during sudden or unexpected driving or braking manoeuvres.•The head restraints must always be adjusted according to the
passenger’s height.
Active head restraints*Vehicle occupants are pressed into their seats during a rear end collision. The
resulting body pressure on the backrest activates the active head restraint*
on the front seat, which moves rapidly forwards and upwards at the same
time. This movement reduces the distan ce between the occupant’s head and
the head restraint, thus reducing the risk of head injuries such as brain
trauma.
Fig. 3 Properly adjusted
head restraint viewed
from the frontFig. 4 Properly adjusted
head restraint viewed
from the side
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Seat belts29
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
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 specialised 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 system
38The 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 19, “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 side airbags in the sides of the backrests of the front and rear seats•a warning lamp
T on the instrument panel ⇒page 31
The airbag system operation is monitored electronically. The airbag warning
lamp will light up for approx. 4seconds ever y 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.•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 specialised workshop. Otherwise, during a side collision,
the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.WARNING (continued)
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Seats and storage compartments
136Head restraintsCorrect adjustment of head restraints
Properly adjusted head restraints are an important part of
passenger protection and can reduce the risk of injuries in
most accident situations.
– Adjust the head restraint so that the top is at the same level as
the top of your head or as close as possible to the same level as
the top of your head, at least at eye level ⇒ fig. 87 and ⇒fig. 88 .Adjusting the head restraints ⇒page 137
WARNING
•Travelling with the head restraints removed or improperly adjusted
increases the risk of severe injuries.•Improperly adjusted head restraints could lead to death in the event of
a collision or accident.•Incorrectly adjusted head restraints also increase the risk of injury
during sudden or unexpected driving or braking manoeuvres.•The head restraints must always be adjusted according to the
passenger’s height.
Fig. 87 Front view: head
restraints and seat belts
correctly adjusted
Fig. 88 Side view: head
restraints and seat belts
correctly adjusted
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Seats and storage compartments137
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Removing or adjusting head restraints
The head restraints can be adjusted by moving them up and
down.Adjusting height (front seats)
– Press the button on the side and pull upwards to the desired
position.
– To lower the head restraint, press the button and push head
restraint downwards.
– Make sure that it engages securely into position.
Adjusting height (rear seats)
– Press the button on the side and pull upwards to the desired position. – To lower the head restraint,
press the button and push head
restraint downwards.
– Make sure that the head restraint engages securely in one of its positions ⇒page 14.
Angle adjustment (front seats)
– Press the head restraint forward or back to the required position.
Removing the head restraint
– Push the head restraint up as far as it will go.
– Press the button ⇒fig. 89 (arrow).
– Pull head restraint out of fitting without releasing the button.
Fitting the head restraint
– Insert the head restraint into the guides on the backrest.
– Push head restraint down.
– Adjust the head restraint to suit body size ⇒page 14 and
⇒ page 13.
WARNING
•Never drive if the head restraints have been removed. Risk of injury.•Never drive if the head restraints are in an unsuitable position, there is
a risk of serious injury.•After refitting the head restraint, you must always adjust it properly for
height to achieve optimal protection.•Please observe the safety warnings in ⇒page 136, “Correct adjust-
ment of head restraints”.
Fig. 89 Adjusting and
removing the head
restraints
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Seats and storage compartments
140Rear seatsFold down the backrest – Pull the release button on the backrest (sectioned backrest)
forwards in the direction of the arrow
– Fold down the backrest. You might have to remove the rear head restraints before folding the seat forwards if the front seats have
been moved too far back ⇒page 137.
Folding up the backrest– Fold the backrest back and push the backrest firmly into the lock.
The red marking should no longer be visible ⇒fig. 94 .
WARNING
•Please be careful when raising the backrest! Injuries can be caused if
the seat height is adjusted without due care and attention.
Fig. 93 Folding the seat
backrests down
Fig. 94 Folding up the
rear backrest
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Seats and storage compartments147
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Rear shelfRemoving the shelf
– Unhook the loops ⇒fig. 105 from housings
– Extract the cover from its slot, in its rest position and pull outwards.
WARNING
Do not place heavy or hard objects on the rear shelf, because they will
endanger the vehicle occupants in case of sudden braking.
Caution
•Before closing the tailgate, ensure that the rear shelf is correctly fitted.•An overloaded boot could mean that the rear shelf is not correctly seated
and it may be bent or damaged.
•If the luggage compartment is overloaded, remove the tray.Note
•Ensure that, when placing items of clothing on the luggage compartment
cover, rear visibility is not reduced.Roof rack*Please observe the following points if you intend to carry loads on the roof:•For safety reasons, only luggage racks and accessories approved by SEAT
should be used.•It is imperative to precisely follow the fitting instructions included for the
rack, taking special care when fitting the front bar in the holes designed for
this and the rear bar between the marks on the upper part of the rear door
frame while respecting the correct direction of travel indicated in the installa-
tion manual. Not following these instructions may damage the bodywork.•Pay special attention to the tightening torque of the attachment bolts and
check them following a short journey. If necessary, retighten the bolts and
check them at regular intervals.•Distribute the load evenly. A maximum load of 40 kg only is permitted for
each roof rack system support bar, the load must be distributed evenly along
the entire length. However, the maximum load permitted for the entire roof
(including the support system) of 75 kg must not be exceeded nor should the
total weight of the vehicle be exceeded. See the Technical Data section.•When transporting heavy or large objects on the roof, any change in the
normal vehicle behaviour due to a change in the centre of gravity or an
increased wind resistance must be taken into account. For this reason, a suit-
able speed and driving style must be used.•For those vehicles fitted with a sunroof*, ensure that it does not interfere
with the load on the roof rack system when opened.
Fig. 105 Rear shelf
AB
AA
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