2012 Seat Mii airbag

50Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Correct sitting position
Fig. 28 The proper dis-
tance between driver and
steering wheel
Fig. 29 Correct seat belt
web and head restraint
positions
The correct sitting positions for the driver and passengers are shown below.
If your physical constitution prevents you from maintaining the correct sit-
ting position, contact a Specialised workshop for help with any special devi-
ces. The seat belt and airbag can only provide optimum protection if a cor- rect sitting position is adopted. SEAT recommends visiting a Technical Serv-
ice.
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an acci-
dent or sudden braking or manoeuvre, SEAT recommend the following posi-
tions:
Valid for the driver:
●
Adjust the backrest to an upright position so that your back rests com-
pletely against it.
● Adjust the seat so that there is a distance of at least 25 cm between the
steering wheel and your chest ⇒ Fig. 28 and so that you can hold the steer-
ing wheel with both hands on the outside of the ring at the 9 o'clock and 3
o'clock positions with your arms slightly bent.
● The adjusted steering wheel must face your chest and not your face.
● Adjust the driver seat forwards or backwards so that you are able to
press the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals to the floor with your knees
slightly angled and the distance between your knees and the dash panel is
at least 10 cm ⇒ Fig. 28.
● Adjust the height of the driver seat so that you can easily reach the top
of the steering wheel.
● Keep both feet in the footwell so that you have the vehicle under control
at all times.
● Adjust and fasten your seat belt correctly ⇒ page 57.
Valid for the passenger:
● Adjust the backrest to an upright position so that your back rests com-
pletely against it.
● Move the front passenger seat back as far as possible for optimum pro-
tection should the airbag deploy.
● Always keep your feet in the footwell while the vehicle is in motion.
● Adjust and fasten your seat belt correctly ⇒ page 57.

54Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Adjust the steering wheel before your trip and only when the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
● Push the lever ⇒ Fig. 33 1
downwards.
● Adjust the steering wheel so that you can hold onto the steering wheel
with both hands on the outside of the ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock
positions and your arms slightly bent.
● Push the lever firmly upwards until it is flush to the steering column
⇒ 
.
Adjust the correct distance between the driver and the steering wheel
⇒ Fig. 28 using the controls on the driver seat ⇒ page 51.
WARNING
Incorrect use of the steering wheel adjustment function and an incorrect
adjustment of the steering wheel can result in severe or fatal injury.
● After adjusting the steering column, push the lever ⇒ Fig. 33 1
firm-
ly upwards to ensure the steering wheel does not accidentally change po-
sition while driving.
● Never adjust the steering wheel while the vehicle is in motion. If you
need to adjust the steering wheel while the vehicle is in motion, stop
safely and make the proper adjustment.
● The adjusted steering wheel should be facing your chest and not your
face so as not to hinder the driver's frontal airbag protection in the event
of an accident.
● When driving, always hold the steering wheel with both hands on the
outside of the ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions to reduce inju-
ries when the driver's frontal airbag deploys.
● Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position or in any oth-
er manner (e.g. in the centre of the steering wheel). In such cases, if the
driver's airbag deploys, you may sustain injuries to your arms, hands and
head.


55
Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Seat functions Introduction
Additional information and warnings:
● Adjust the seat position ⇒ page 48
● Seat belts ⇒ page 57
● Airbag system ⇒ page 67
● Child seats (accessories) ⇒ page 76
● Exterior mirrors ⇒ page 95
WARNING
Inappropriate use of the seat functions can cause severe injuries.
● Assume the proper sitting position before your trip and remain in it
throughout. This also applies to the other occupants.
● Keep hands, fingers, feet and other limbs away from the seat operat-
ing and adjustment radius.
 Seat heating*
Fig. 34 In the centre
console: Front seats
heating switch
The front seat cushions can be heated electrically when the ignition is
switched on.
Switch off seat heating if there is nobody in the seat.
FunctionAction ⇒ Fig. 34To switch on:Press button . Seat heating is switched on fully.
All warning signals light up.
Adjusting the heating
output:Press the button  again to adjust the desired
heat.
To switch off:Keep pressing button  until all of the lights are
switched off. 
Vehicle diagramPrior to a journey...While drivingCare, cleaning and mainte-
nanceIf and whenTechnical Data

57
Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Seat belts
Introduction
Check the condition of all the seat belts at regular intervals. If you notice
that the belt webbing, fittings, retractor mechanism or buckle of any of the
belts is damaged, the belt must be replaced immediately by a Specialised
workshop ⇒ 
. The Specialised workshop must use the appropriate spare
parts corresponding to the vehicle, the equipment and the model year. SEAT
recommends visiting a Technical Service.
Additional information and warnings:
● Adjust the seat position ⇒ page 48
● Airbag system ⇒ page 67
● Child seats (accessories) ⇒ page 76
● Accessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 222
WARNING
Unbuckled or badly buckled seat belts increase the risk of severe or even
fatal injuries. The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if it is not fas-
tened and used correctly.
● Seats belts are the most effective ways of reducing the risk of sus-
taining severe or fatal injuries In the event of an accident. Correctly fas-
ten seat belts when the vehicle is in motion to protect the driver and all
vehicle occupants.
● Before each trip, every occupant in the vehicle occupants must sit
properly, correctly fasten the seat belt belonging to his or her seat and
keep it fastened throughout the trip. This also applies to other occupants
when driving in town.
WARNING (Continued)
● When travelling, children must be secured in the vehicle with a child
restraint system suitable for their weight and height and with the seat
belts correctly fastened ⇒ page 76.
● Instruct your passengers to fasten their seat belts properly before
driving off.
● Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate seat and en-
sure it is engaged. Using the latch plate in the buckle of another seat will
not protect you properly and may cause severe injuries.
● Do not allow liquids or foreign bodies to enter the buckle fastenings.
This could damage the buckles and seat belts.
● Never unbuckle your seat belt when the vehicle is moving.
● Never allow more than one passenger to share the same seat belt.
● Never hold children or babies on your lap sharing the same seat belt.
● Loose, bulky clothing (such as a jacket) impairs the proper fit and
function of the seat belt.
WARNING
It is extremely dangerous to drive using damaged seat belts and could re-
sult in serious injury or loss of life.
● Avoid damaging the seat belt by jamming it in the door or the seat
mechanism.
● If the fabric or other parts of the seat belt are damaged, the seat belts
could break in the event of an accident or sudden braking.
● Always have damaged seatbelts replaced immediately by seat belts
approved for the vehicle in question by SEAT. Seat belts which have been
worn in an accident and stretched must be replaced by a Specialised
workshop. Renewal may be necessary even if there is no apparent dam-
age. The belt anchor points should also be checked.
● Never attempt to repair, modify or remove a seat belt yourself. All re-
pairs to seat belts, retractors and buckles must be carried out by a Speci-
alised workshop.

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nanceIf and whenTechnical Data

60Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
At speeds of 30 km/h (18 mph) to 50 km/h (30 mph), the forces acting on
bodies in a collision can easily exceed one tonne (1000 kg or
2.205 pounds). At greater speed these forces are even higher.
This example applies not only to frontal accidents, but to all accidents and
collisions. 
Dangers of not using the seat belt
Fig. 39 A driver not
wearing a seat belt is
thrown forward violently
Fig. 40 The unbelted
rear seat passenger is
thrown forward violently,
hitting the driver wearing
a seat belt
Many people believe that the occupants can protect themselves with their
hands in a minor collision. This 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 just one's arms and hands. In a
frontal collision, unbelted vehicle occupants are thrown forward and will
make violent contact with the steering wheel, dash panel, windscreen or
whatever else is in the way ⇒ Fig. 39.
The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts. When triggered, airbags
provide only additional protection. Airbags do not deploy in all types of ac-
cident. All occupants (including the driver) must be wearing seat belts prop-
erly during the trip, even if the vehicle is equipped with airbag systems.
This will reduce the risk of critical or fatal injuries in the event of an accident
– regardless of whether an airbag is fitted for the seat.
The airbag is only deployed 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. Vehicle occupants not wearing
belts could be thrown from the vehicle and sustain even more severe or fa-
tal injuries. 

61
Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
It is also important for the rear passengers to wear seat belts properly, as
they could otherwise be thrown forward violently in an accident. Rear seat
passengers who do not use seat belts endanger not only themselves but al-
so the driver and other occupants ⇒ Fig. 40. 
Seat belt protection
Fig. 41 Drivers with
properly worn seat belts
will not be thrown for-
ward in the event of sud-
den braking
Wearing a correctly fastened seat belt can significantly change the situa-
tion. Properly worn 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 vehicle ⇒ Fig. 41.
Vehicle occupants 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 absorb 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, fasten and wear the seat
belts. The front airbags, for example, are only triggered in some frontal acci-
dents. 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 vehicle
occupants have fastened their seat belts properly before you drive off!

Using seat belts
Checklist
Use of the seat belt ⇒ 
:
¥ Check the condition of all the seat belts at regular intervals.
¥ Keep the seat belts clean.
¥ Keep the seat belt web, the latch plate and the buckle free of foreign
bodies and liquids.
¥ Do not jam or damage the seat belt or the latch plate when closing
the door, for example.

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65
Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Note
If your physical constitution prevents you from maintaining the correct posi-
tion of the belt webbing, contact a Specialised workshop for help with any
special devices to ensure the optimum protection of the seat belt and air-
bag. SEAT recommends visiting a Technical Service. 
Automatic belt retainer, belt tension device, belt tension
limiter
Seat belts are part of the vehicle safety concept ⇒ page 67 and consist of
the following important functions:
Automatic belt retainer
Every seat belt is equipped with an automatic belt retainer on the shoulder
belt. If the belt is pulled slowly or during normal driving, the system allows
for total freedom of movement on the shoulder belt. However, during sud-
den braking, during travel in mountains or bends and during acceleration,
the automatic belt retainer on the seat belt is locked is pulled quickly.
Belt tension devices
The seat belts for the front occupants are equipped with belt tensioners.
Sensors will trigger the belt tension devices during severe head-on, lateral
and rear collisions and retract and tighten the seat belts. If the seat belt is
loose, it is retracted to reduce the forwards movement of occupants or
movement in the direction of the collision. The belt tension device works in
combination with the airbag system. The belt tension device will not be trig-
gered in the event of the vehicle overturning if the side airbags are not de-
ployed.
If the belt tension device is triggered, a fine dust is produced. This is normal
and it is not an indication of fire in the vehicle. Belt tension limiter
The belt tension 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 65. 
Service and disposal of belt tension devices
If you work on the belt tension devices or remove and install other parts of
the vehicle 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.
Observe regulations so that the effectiveness of the belt tension device is
not reduced and that removed parts do not cause any injuries or environ-
mental pollution. These requirements are known to qualified dealerships.
WARNING
Improper handling and home-made repairs of seat belts, automatic belt
retainers 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
tension devices or seat belts. Any work must be performed by a special-
ised workshop only ⇒ page 222.
● Do not repair belt tension devices and automatic belt retainers. Re-
place them. 
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66Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
For the sake of the environment
Airbag modules and belt tensioner may contain perchlorate. Observe the le-
gal requirements for their disposal. 