2011 Seat Alhambra technical data

19
Seat belts
Why wear seat belts? Front a
l collisions and the laws of physics Fig. 5 Vehicle about to
hit a w
a

ll: the occupants
are not wearing seat
belts. Fig. 6 The vehicle hits
the wa
l

l: the occupants
are not wearing seat
belts. It is easy to explain how the laws of physics work in the case of a head-on
col

lision: when a vehicle starts moving ⇒ fig. 5, this is a certain amount of
energy known as “kinetic energy” both in the vehicle and in the occupants.
The higher the speed and the greater the weight of the vehicle, the more
energy there is to be absorbed in an accident.
The most significant factor, however, is the speed of the vehicle. If the
speed doubles from 25 km/h to 50 km/h, for example, the kinetic energy is
multiplied by four.
The amount of “kinetic energy” depends on the speed of the vehicle and
the weight of the vehicle and its passengers. The higher the speed and the
greater the weight of the vehicle and the occupants, the more energy there
is to be absorbed in an accident.
Passengers not wearing seat belts are not “attached” to the vehicle. As a
result, in a frontal collision they will continue to move forward at the speed
their vehicle was travelling just before the impact until something stops
them! Because the passengers in our example are not restrained by seat
belts, all of the passengers' kinetic energy has to be absorbed at the point
of impact ⇒ fig. 6.
At speeds of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces acting on bodies in a collision
can easily exceed one tonne (1000 kg). At greater speed these forces are
even higher.
This example applies not only to frontal accidents, but to all accidents and
collisions. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

21
Seat belts
Seat belt protection Fig. 9 Drivers with prop-
erly w
orn se
at belts will
not be thrown forward in
the event of sudden brak-
ing.
Wearing a correctly fastened seat belt can significantly change the situa-
tion. Properly w
orn seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the correct sit-
ting positions 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 car ⇒ fig. 9.
Passengers wearing their seat belts correctly benefit greatly from the ability
of the belts to absorb kinetic energy. The front crumple zones and other
passive safety features (such as the airbag system) are also designed to ab-
sorb the kinetic energy generated in a collision. Taken together, all these
features reduce the energy released and decrease 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 properly worn seat belts to be an effective
means

of considerably reducing the risk of severe injury and improving the
chances of survival in a serious accident. Furthermore, properly worn seat
belts improve the protection provided by deployed 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 fas-
tened 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, rolls 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 pas-
sengers have fastened their seat belts properly before you drive off! 
Seat belts Usin
g seat belts Checklist
Us
in

g seat belts ⇒  :
● Check the condition of all the seat belts at regular intervals.
● Keep the seat belts clean.
● Keep the belt web, the latch plate and the buckle free of foreign bodies
and liquid s.
● Do not

jam or damage the seat belt or the latch plate when closing the
door, for e
xample.
● Never remove, modify or repair the seat belt or belt fastening mecha-
nisms.
● Fa

sten your seat belt properly before each trip and keep it fastened. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

23
Seat belts
Fastening the seat belt
Fa s
ten your seat belt before each trip.
● Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly ⇒ page 10.
● En

gage the backrest of the rear seat in an upright position ⇒  .
● Pull the latch plate and place the belt webbing evenly across your chest
and lap . Do

not twist the seat belt when doing so ⇒  .
● Engage the latch plate in the buckle of the corresponding seat ⇒ fig. 10.
● Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in the
buc k

le.
Unfastening the seat belt
The seat belt must not be unfastened until the vehicle has come to a stand-
still ⇒  .
● Press the red button on the buckle ⇒ fig. 11. The lat
ch plate is released
from the buckle.
● Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls up easily and the trim will not
be damag
ed. WARNING
An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe or fatal injuries in the
event of

an accident.
● The seat belt cannot offer its full protection unless the backrests are
in an upright pos
ition and the seat belt is worn correctly, according to
your size.
● Unbuckling your seat belt while the vehicle is in motion can cause se-
vere or f
atal injuries in the event of an accident or sudden braking. Fastening or unfastening the seat belt with two buckles
Fig. 12 Fasten the seat
belt on the c
entr

e seat in
the second row of seats.
Properly worn seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the position that
most
protects them in the event of an accident or sudden braking ⇒  .
The seat belts
for the centre seat in the second row of seats and for the
seats in the third row of seats are fastened using two buckles.
Fastening the seat belt
Fasten your seat belt before each trip.
● Adjust the rear seat and head restraint correctly ⇒ page 10.
● En

gage the backrest of the rear seat in an upright position ⇒  .
● Use latch plate of the belt ⇒ fig. 12 1 to pull the seat belt down. Do
not
twi s

t the seat belt when doing so ⇒  .
● Engage the latch plate 1 in the buckle of the corresponding seat
A .
● Use the latch plate 2 to pull the seat belt across your lap.
● Engage the latch plate 2 in the buckle of the corresponding seat
B .
● Pull the belt to ensure that both latc
h plates are securely engaged in the
buckles. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

25
Seat belts Fig. 14 Correct position-
ing of
se
at belts during
pregnancy.
Seat belts offer their maximum protection in the event of an accident and
reduce the ri
sk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries only when they are
properly positioned. Furthermore, if the webbing is correctly positioned, the
seat belt will hold the occupants in the optimum position to ensure the air-
bag provides the utmost protection. The seat belt must therefore always be
worn and the webbing correctly positioned.
Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause severe or even fatal injuries
⇒ page 10, Adjusting the seat position.
Correct seat belt position
● The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie on the centre of the shoulder,
never acr
oss the neck or the arm, under the arm or behind the shoulder.
● The lap part of the seat belt must lie across the pelvis, never across the
stom
ach.
● The seat belt must lie flat and fit comfortably. Pull the belt tight if neces-
sary
to take up any slack.
In the case of pregnant women , the seat belt must lie evenly across the
chest and as low as possible over the pelvis, never across the stomach and
must be worn properly at all times during the pregnancy ⇒ fig. 14.Adapting the position of the belt webbing to your size
The seat belt

can be adapted using the following equipment:
● Belt height adjustment for the front seats.
● Seat height adjustment (front seats). WARNING
An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event
of an ac c

ident or sudden braking or manoeuvre.
● The seat belt cannot provide optimum protection if it is not correctly
worn and the bac
krest is not tilted slightly backwards.
● The seat belt itself or a loose seat belt can cause severe injuries if the
belt mov
es from hard areas of the body to soft areas (e.g. the stomach).
● The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie on the centre of the shoul-
der, never ac
ross the neck or the arm.
● The seat belt must lie flat and fit comfortably on the torso
● The lap part of the seat belt must lie across the pelvis, never across
the stom
ach. The seat belt must lie flat and fit comfortably on the pelvis
Pull the belt tight if necessary to take up any slack.
● For pregnant women, the lap part of the seat belt must lie as low as
poss
ible over the pelvis and always lie flat, “surrounding” the stomach.
● Do not twist the seat belt while it is fastened.
● Never pull the seat belt away from your body using your hand.
● Do not lie the seat belt across rigid or fragile objects, e.g. glasses,
pens or k
eys.
● Never use seat belt clips, retaining rings or similar instruments to al-
ter the pos
ition of the belt webbing. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

27
Seat belts
Belt tension limiter
The belt t en
sion limiter reduces the force of the seat belt on the body in the
event of an accident. Note
The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or
components of

the system are scrapped. These requirements are known to
specialised workshops ⇒ page 27. 
Service and disposal of belt tension devices If you work on the belt tension devices or remove and install other parts of
the v
ehic

le when performing other repair work, the seat belt may be dam-
aged. The consequence may be that, in the event of an accident, the belt
tension devices function incorrectly or not at all.
So that the effectiveness of the belt tension device is not reduced and that
removed parts do not cause any injuries or environmental pollution, regula-
tions must be observed. These requirements are known to qualified dealer-
ships. WARNING
Improper handling and homemade repairs of seat belts, automatic belt
ret ainer

s and tension devices increase the risk of sustaining severe or fa-
tal injuries. The belt tension device may fail to trigger or may trigger in
the wrong circumstances.
● Never attempt to repair, adjust or remove or install parts of the belt
tens
ion devices or seat belts. Any work must be performed by a Technical
Service only ⇒ page 257.
● Belt tension devices and automatic belt retainers cannot be repaired
and must
be replaced. For the sake of the environment
Airbag modules and belt tension devices may contain perchlorate. Observe
the le g

al requirements for their disposal. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

29
Airbag system WARNING
The airbag system provides protection for one accident only. If they have
been deplo y
ed, they must be replaced.
● Ensure deployed airbags and the system components involved are im-
mediately
replaced with new, SEAT-approved components for the vehicle.
● Have any repairs or modifications carried out at a Technical Service.
Qualified work
shops have the necessary tools, diagnostics equipment,
repair information and qualified personnel.
● Never fit recycled or reused airbag components in your vehicle.
● Never modify the airbag system components. WARNING
If the airbags are triggered, a fine dust is produced. This is normal and it
is not

an indication of fire in the vehicle.
● This fine dust may irritate the skin and eyes and cause breathing dif-
ficultie
s, particularly in people suffering from or who have suffered from
asthma or other illnesses of the respiratory tract. To reduce breathing dif-
ficulties, get out of the vehicle and open and doors and windows to
breath in fresh air.
● Should you touch the dust, wash your hands and face using a mild
soap and wat
er before you eat.
● Prevent the dust from affecting the eyes or open wounds.
● Rinse your eyes with water if you have dust in them. WARNING
Solvents cause the surfaces of the airbag modules to become porous. If
an airbag i s

accidentally triggered, the detachment of plastic parts could
cause serious injury.
● Never clean the instrument panel and the surfaces of the airbag mod-
ule

s with cleaners containing solvents. 
Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

31
Airbag system CAUTION
Always pay attention to any lit lamps and to the corresponding descriptions
and ins truction
s to avoid damage to the vehicle. 
Airbag system Des
cription and function of the airbag The airbag can protect vehicle occupants in the event of an accidents, cush-
ioning the mo
v

ement of the occupants in the direction of the collision in
frontal and side accidents.
Deployed airbags fill with a propellant gas. This causes the airbag covers to
break and the airbags to deploy extremely quickly in their entire deploy-
ment space within fractions of a second. When an occupant with the seat
belt properly fastened puts pressure on the inflated airbag, the propellant
gas escapes to absorb the force of the impact and slow the movement. This
reduces the risk of severe or fatal injuries. Airbag deployment does not
mean that other types of injury such as swelling, bruising, burns and skin
injuries can be ruled out.
Airbags do not protect the arms or the lower part of the body.
The most important factors for triggering the airbag are the type of accident,
the angle of impact, the vehicle speed and the characteristics of the object
the vehicle hits. Therefore, airbags are not triggered every time the vehicle
is visibly damaged.
The airbag system is designed to be triggered in collisions with a severe im-
pact. The front, curtain, side and knee airbags may be triggered under spe-
cial circumstances. The scope of any visible damage to the vehicle is not an
indication of airbag deployment. Airbags act in conjunction with three-point seat belts in the event of certain
accidents, when the

vehicle deceleration rate is severe enough to trigger
the airbags. Airbags only deploy once and only under certain circumstan-
ces. Seat belts remain present to offer protection in situations where air-
bags are not triggered or where they have already deployed. For example,
when a vehicle hits another after an initial collision or is hit by another vehi-
cle.
The airbag system is an integral part of the car's passive safety system. The
airbag system can only work effectively when the occupants are wearing
their seat belts correctly and have adjusted the head restraints properly 
⇒  page 10.
Vehicle safety components
The following safety equipment makes up the vehicle safety design to re-
duce the risk of severe and fatal injuries. Depending on the vehicle equip-
ment, some equipment may not be fitted in the vehicle or may not be avail-
able in some markets.
● Optimised seat belts for all seats.
● Belt tension devices for the driver and front passenger and, where appli-
cabl
e, on the outer seats of the second row of seats in combination with the
side airbags.
● Furthermore, belt tension limiters for the driver's and front passenger's
seat belt
.
● Belt height adjustment for the front seats and, where applicable, the
outer seats
of the second row of seats.
● Seat belt warning lamp
● Frontal airbags for driver and passenger.
● Side airbags for the driver, front passenger and, where applicable, the
outer seats
of the second row of seats.
● Left and right curtain airbags.
● One airbag for the driver's knees.
● Airbag control lamp .
● PASSENGER AIR BAG   contro
l lamp. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

33
Airbag system
Front airbags Fig. 17 Location and deployment area of the front air-
bag f
or the driv
er. Fig. 18 Location and deployment area of the front air-
bag f
or the fr

ont passenger.
In conjunction with the seat belts, the front airbag system gives the front
occup
ants additional protection for the head and chest in the event of a se-
vere frontal collision. Always remains as far away as possible from the front airbag. This way, the front airbags can completely deploy when triggered,
prov
iding their maximum protection. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data