2012 Seat Altea warning

137
Seats and storage compartments
Removing or adjusting head restraints
The head restraints can be adjusted by moving them up and
down.
Fig. 93 Adjusting and re-
moving the head re-
straints
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 re-
straint 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 re-
straint 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 posi-
tion.
Removing the head restraint
– Push the head restraint up as far as it will go.
– Press the button ⇒ fig. 93 (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.

Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

138Seats and storage compartments
Front seats
Adjustment of the front seats
Fig. 94 Front left seat
controls
The control elements in ⇒ fig. 94 are mirrored for the front right-
hand seat.
1
Adjusting the seat forwards and backwards
– Pull up the grip and move the seat forwards or backwards.
– Then release the grip 1
and move the seat further until the
catch engages.
2
Adjusting the seat height*
– Pull the lever up or push down (several times if necessary) from
its home position. This adjusts the seat height in stages. 3
Adjusting the backrest angle
– Take your weight off the backrest and turn the hand wheel.
4
Adjusting the lumbar support*
– Take your weight off the backrest and turn the hand wheel to
adjust the lumbar support.
As you make the adjustments, the curvature of the cushioned area of the
lumbar region becomes more or less acute. In this way, it adapts to the nat-
ural curvature of the spine.
WARNING
● Never adjust the driver or front passenger seat while the vehicle is in
motion. While adjusting your seat, you will assume an incorrect sitting
position. Risk of fatal accidents. Adjust the driver or front passenger seat
only when the vehicle is stationary.
● To reduce the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger in case of
a sudden braking or an accident, never drive with the backrest tilted to-
wards the rear. The maximum protection of the seat belt can be achieved
only when the backrests are in an upright position and the driver and
front passenger have properly adjusted their seat belts. The further the
backrests are tilted to the rear, the greater the risk of injury due to im-
proper positioning of the belt web!
● Exercise caution when securing the seat height into forwards/back-
wards position. Injuries can be caused if the seat height is adjusted with-
out due care and attention.


140Seats and storage compartments
Rear seats
Seat adjustment
Fig. 97 For unlocking
the rear seat
Fig. 98 Rear seat back-
rest angle adjustment The seats may be moved forwards or backwards independently.
The movement can be 1/3 or 2/3 of the seat. There are various
possible positions.
Adjusting reach
–
In the seated position, unlock the lever in the direction of the
arrow ⇒ fig. 97.
– Move the seat cushion forwards or backwards to the desired po-
sition.
Backrest angle adjustment
– Hold the backrest at the top. Pull the loop on the side of the
seat ⇒ fig. 98 1
in the direction of the arrow and hold the loop
in this position. Push the backrest to the required position and
release the loop.
WARNING
● Adjust the seat only when the vehicle is stationary. Otherwise, your
seat could move unexpectedly while the vehicle is moving. This could in-
crease the risk of an accident and therefore, injury.
● Do not push the backrests down when the seat is moved, this is to
avoid damage to the centre console.
● Ensure that the seat, once moved, is fixed in position.
Note
● In order to maintain the maximum luggage compartment space, put the
backrests in position normal, without moving.
● In order to maintain the maximum space without putting the backrests
down, move the seats forward to the desired position. 

141
Seats and storage compartments
Folding the seat backrests down
Fig. 99 Folding or open-
ing the rear seat backr-
ests
– Pull the loop on the side of the seat ⇒ fig. 99 1
In this position the backrest is locked. This is the reason why the loop loca-
ted on the side of the seat must be pulled in the direction of the arrow to
open the backrest.
WARNING
● You should check that the backrest has engaged properly in position
after the loop is released.
● For safety reasons the locking system loops on the seats may not be
used to secure any items.
 Folding the rear seat backrests down
Fig. 100 Folding or
opening the front seat
backrests
– Pull the loop on the side of the seat ⇒ fig. 100 1
in the direc-
tion of the arrow and lift the seat backrest into position.
WARNING
● You should check that the backrest has engaged properly in position
after the loop is released.
● For safety reasons the locking system loops on the seats may not be
used to secure any items.
● After locking the seat backrest into position ensure that the seat
belts protrude from the seat.

Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

142Seats and storage compartments
Storage compartment
Storage compartment on the front passenger side
Fig. 101 Passenger side:
storage compartment
The compartment can be opened by pulling the lever ⇒ fig. 101.
WARNING
Always keep the storage compartment cover closed while the vehicle is
in motion in order to reduce the risk of injury caused by a sudden braking
or by an accident.
 Front centre armrest with storage compartment
There is a storage compartment in the armrest.
Fig. 102 Front armrest
with storage compart-
ment
– To open the storage compartment, lift the armrest up in the di-
rection of the arrow ⇒ fig. 102 and then lift the cover.
– To access the CD loader* or the lower storage compartment,
pull on the armrest cover without pressing on the button.
– To close the storage compartment, push the armrest down.
WARNING
Always keep the storage compartment closed while the vehicle is in mo-
tion to reduce the risk of injury from the armrest during a sudden braking
manoeuvre or in the event of an accident.
Note
The CD changer is located in this compartment. 

143
Seats and storage compartments
Storage compartment under the front seats*
There is a storage compartment with a cover under each
front seat.
Fig. 103 Storage com-
partment under the front
seats
The drawer* ⇒ fig. 103 A
is opened by pushing the button and putting the
cover back.
There are two open positions of 15 and 60 degrees depending on the pres-
sure applied to the cover. In the 60 degree position, the cover will collapse
if too much pressure is applied.
To close the drawer, press the cover until it locks into position.
WARNING
● The drawers will hold a maximum weight of 1.5 kg.
● Do not drive with the drawer cover open. There is an injury risk for
passengers if the cargo is released in case of sudden braking or an acci-
dent.
 Folding table*
Folding trays are fitted to the rear of the front seat backrests.
Fig. 104 Folding tray on
the front left seat
– To open the tray, open it up in the direction of the arrow
⇒ fig. 104.
WARNING
● The folding trays may not be folded down whilst the vehicle is in mo-
tion and anyone is seated on the second row of seats. There is a risk on
injury during a sudden braking manoeuvre! The tray must therefore be
closed and properly secured whilst the vehicle is in motion.
● Never place hot drinks in the drink holders. During normal or sudden
driving manoeuvres, sudden braking or an accident, the hot drink could
be spilled. Danger of scalding.
CAUTION
When driving, do not leave open cans in the cup holders. The drink might
be spilt on braking, for example, and could damage the vehicle. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

144Seats and storage compartments
Roof storage compartment*
There are four storage compartments in the roof
Fig. 105 Roof storage
compartments
– Press the button on the cover to open these compartments
⇒ fig. 105. The cover will then open.
– To close the cover, press it up until it engages.
WARNING
Always keep the storage compartment cover closed while the vehicle is
in motion to reduce the risk of injury during a sudden braking manoeuvre
or in the event of an accident and to prevent any items from being thrown
through the vehicle interior.
 Storage in the luggage compartment*
There is a variable storage compartment* in the luggage
compartment floor.
Fig. 106 Foldable lug-
gage compartment cover
Fig. 107 Luggage com-
partment divider


146Seats and storage compartments
WARNING
● Do not store loose objects on the dash panel. These objects could be
flung through the passenger compartment when the vehicle is moving
(e.g. while accelerating, braking or cornering) and distract the driver.
Risk of accident.
● Ensure that no objects can fall from the centre console or other stor-
age compartments into the driver footwell while the vehicle is moving. In
the event of a sudden braking manoeuvre, you will not be able to use the
brake, clutch or accelerator. Risk of accident.
● Clothing hung on the coat hooks must not restrict the driver's view.
Risk of accident. The coat hooks are intended only for use with light arti-
cles of clothing. Do not leave any hard, sharp or heavy objects in hanging
articles of clothing. During sudden braking manoeuvres or accidents, es-
pecially those involving airbag deployment, these objects could injure
the vehicle occupants.

Front drinks holders
Fig. 109 Front drink
holders In the centre console, in front of the gear lever, there are two drink holders
⇒ fig. 109.
WARNING
● Never place hot drinks in the drink holders. During normal or sudden
driving manoeuvres, sudden braking or an accident, the hot drink could
be spilled. Danger of scalding.
● Never use rigid materials (for example, glass or ceramic), these could
cause injury in the case of an accident.
