2012 Seat Mii Owner's manual

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. 
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56Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
WARNING
People whose pain and temperature threshold has been affected by some
kind of medicine, paraplegia or chronic illness (e.g. diabetes) may sus-
tain burns to the back, buttocks and legs from use of the seat heating
that may lead to a long healing process or that may never completely
heal. Seek medical advice if you have doubts regarding your health.
● People with a limit pain and temperature threshold must never use
seat heating.
CAUTION
● To avoid damaging the heating elements of the seat heating, please do
not kneel on the seat or apply sharp pressure at a single point to the seat
cushion and backrest.
● Liquids, sharp objects and insulating materials on the seat could dam-
age the seat heating.
● In the event of smells, switch off the seat heating immediately and have
the unit inspected by a Specialised workshop.
For the sake of the environment
The seat heating should remain on only when needed. Otherwise, it is an
unnecessary fuel consumption. 

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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58Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Warning lamp
Fig. 35 Warning lamp on
the instrument panel
Fig. 36 Indication of
seat belt status in the
rear seats on the instru-
ment panel display
Lights
up or
flashesPossible causeSolution

On the instrument panel: Driver's
seat belt not fastened or front pas-
senger seat belt not fastened if the
front passenger's seat is occupied.
Fasten seat belts!
On the instrument panel: Objects
on the front passenger seat.Remove any objects from
the front passenger seat
and store them safely.

Instrument panel display: A pas-
senger in the rear seats has not
fastened their seat belt, if the seat
is occupied. *
Fasten seat belts!

On the instrument panel display: A
passenger in the rear seats has
fastened their seat belt, if the seat
is occupied.*

Several warning and control lamps light up for a few seconds when the igni-
tion is switched on while a test of the function is being carried out. They will
switch off after a few seconds.
An audible warning will be heard if the seat belts are not fastened as the
vehicle drives off and reaches a speed of more then 25 km/h (15 mph) or if
the seat belts are unfastened while the vehicle is in motion. The seat belt
warning lamp  will also flash.
The warning lamp  does not switch off until the driver and front passenger
fasten their seat belts while the ignition is switched on.
Seat belt status display for rear seats
The seat belt status display on the instrument panel display informs the
driver, when the ignition is switched on, whether any passengers in the rear
seats have fastened their seat belts. The symbol  indicates that the pas-
senger in this seat has fastened “his or her” seat belt ⇒ Fig. 36.

59
Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
The seat belt status is displayed for around 30 seconds when a seat belt in
the rear seats is fastened or unfastened. You can switch off this display by
pressing the 0.0 / SET
button.
The seat belt status flashes for a maximum of 30 seconds when a seat belt
in the rear seats is unfastened while the vehicle is in motion. An audible
warning will also be heard if the vehicle is travelling at over 25 km/h
(15 mph).
WARNING
Unbuckled or badly buckled seat belts increase the risk of severe or even
fatal injuries. The optimal protection from seat belts can be achieved only
if you use them properly.

Frontal collisions and the laws of physics
Fig. 37 Vehicle about to
hit a wall: the occupants
are not wearing seat
belts
Fig. 38 The vehicle hits
the wall: 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
collision: when a vehicle starts moving ⇒ Fig. 37, 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 (15 mph) to 50 km/h (30 mph), 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.
Vehicle occupants 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 vehicle occupants' kinetic energy has to be absorbed at
the point of impact ⇒ Fig. 38.

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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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62Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Checklist (Continued) ¥ Never remove, modify or repair the seat belt or belt fastening mecha-
nisms.
¥ Fasten your seat belt properly before each trip and keep it fastened.
Twisted seat belt
If it is difficult to remove the seat belt from the guide, the seat belt may
have become twisted inside the side trim after being wound too quickly on
unfastening:
●
Pull out the seat belt completely, carefully pulling on the latch plate.
● Untwist the belt and guide it back, assisting it by hand.
Fasten the seat belt even if it is impossible to untwist it. In this case, the
twisted area must not be in an area in direct contact with your body. Have
the seat belt untwisted urgently by a Specialised workshop.
WARNING
An improperly handled seat belt increases the risk of sustaining severe
or fatal injuries.
● Regularly check that the seat belts and their components are in per-
fect condition.
● Always keep your seat belt clean.
● Do not jam or damage the seat belt or rub it with sharp edges.
● Make sure there are no liquids or foreign bodies on the latch plate
and in the buckle.
 Fastening or unfastening a seat belt
Fig. 42 Insert the latch
plate into the buckle
Fig. 43 Release the latch
plate from the buckle
Properly worn seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the position that
most protects them in the event of an accident or sudden braking ⇒ 
.