35
Airbag system
Front airbags
Description of front airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.
Fig. 17 Driver airbag in the steering wheel and front passenger airbag in the dash
panel The front airbag for the driver is located in the steering wheel ⇒ Fig. 17
and the front passenger airbag is located in the dash panel ⇒ Fig. 17 . Air-
bags are identified by the word “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the seat belts, the front airbag system gives the front
occupants additional protection for the head and chest in the event of a se-
vere frontal collision ⇒ page 37, Safety notes on the front airbag system.
In addition to their normal function of restraining the occupants, the seat
belts also hold the driver and front passenger in a position where the air-
bags can provide maximum protection in a frontal collision.
The 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 vehicle occupants are
wearing their seat belts correctly and have adjusted the head restraints properly. 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 20, Brief introduction.
The main parts of the front airbag system are:
● an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit)
● the two front airbags (airbag with gas generator) for the driver and front
passenger
● a control lamp on the dash panel ⇒ page 33
The airbag system operation is monitored electronically. The airbag control
lamp will light up for a few seconds every time the ignition is switched on
(self-diagnosis).
There is a fault in the system if the control lamp :
● does not light up when the ignition is switched on ⇒ page 33
● after the ignition is switched on, does not turn off after 4 seconds
● turns off and then lights up again after the ignition is switched on
● lights up or flashes while the vehicle is moving
The front airbag system will not be triggered if:
● the ignition is switched off
● there is a minor frontal collision
● there is a side collision
● there is a rear-end collision
● the vehicle turns over
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
37
Airbag system
Airbag covers when the frontal airbags are triggered
Fig. 19 Airbag covers re-
acting when the front air-
bags are triggered
The airbag covers fold out of the steering wheel or dash panel when the
driver and front passenger airbags are triggered ⇒ Fig. 19. The airbag cov-
ers remain connected to the steering wheel or the dash panel. Safety notes on the front airbag system
If you use airbags correctly, they can considerably reduce
the risk of injury in many kinds of accident.
WARNING
● It is important for the driver and front passenger to keep a distance of
at least 25 cm from the steering wheel and dash panel. If the minimum
distance is not observed then the airbags do not correctly protect the ve-
hicle occupants; risk of fatal injuries! In addition, the front seats and
head restraints must always be positioned correctly for the height of the
occupant.
● If you are not wearing a seat belt, if you lean forward or to the side
while travelling or assume an incorrect sitting position, there is a sub-
stantially increased risk of injury. This increased risk of injury will be fur-
ther increased if you are struck by an inflating airbag.
● Never let a child travel on the front seat without an appropriate re-
straint system. If the airbag is triggered in an accident, children can sus-
tain serious or fatal injuries from the airbag as it inflates ⇒ page 45.
● The deployment space between the front passengers and the airbags
must not in any case be occupied by other passenger, pets and objects.
● The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them
once they have deployed.
● It is also important not to attach any objects such as cup holders or
telephone mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag units.
● Do not attempt to modify components of the airbag system in any
way.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
39
Airbag system
WARNING (Continued)
● Never drive the vehicle if the loudspeakers in the door panels have
been removed, unless the holes left by the loudspeakers have been cor-
rectly 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 an authorised
workshop.
● The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if
the occupants are seated correctly ⇒ page 10, Sitting position for vehicle
occupants.
● If a fault has occurred in the airbag system, have the system checked
immediately by a specialised workshop. Otherwise, during a side colli-
sion, the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.
Operation of side airbags
Inflated airbags can reduce the risk of head or chest injury
in many side impact collisions.
Fig. 21 Illustration of
principle: completely in-
flated side airbags on left
side of vehicle
In some side collisions, the side airbag is triggered on the impact side of
the vehicle ⇒ Fig. 21.
In certain types of accident the front, curtain and side airbags may be trig-
gered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with propellant gas.
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within thousandths of a second, to
provide additional protection in the event of an accident. A fine dust may
develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and it is not an indication
of fire in the vehicle.
The fully deployed airbags cushion the movement of the occupants of the
front seats and the outer rear seats and help to reduce the risk of injury to
the upper body.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
41
Airbag system
Curtain airbags
Description of curtain airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.
Fig. 22 Location of cur-
tain airbags
The curtain airbags are located on both sides in the interior above the doors
⇒ Fig. 22 and are identified with the text “AIRBAG”. In conjunction with the seat belts, the curtain airbag system gives the vehi-
cle occupants additional protection for the head and upper body in the
event of a severe side collision ⇒ page 42, Safety notes on the operation
of the curtain airbag system.
The 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 vehicle occupants are
wearing their seat belts correctly and have adjusted the head restraints
properly. 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 20, Brief introduction. The main parts of the curtain airbag system are:
●
an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit)
● the curtain airbags (airbags with gas generator) for the driver, front pas-
senger and passengers on the rear seats
● a control lamp on the dash panel ⇒ page 33
The airbag system operation is monitored electronically.
The curtain airbag system will not be triggered if:
● the ignition is switched off
● there is a frontal collision
● there is a rear-end collision
● the vehicle turns over
● there is a minor side collisionWARNING
If a fault has occurred in the airbag system, have the system checked im-
mediately by a specialised workshop. Otherwise there is a danger that
during a collision, the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
43
Airbag system
WARNING (Continued)
● Do not attempt to modify components of the airbag system in any
way.
● The side and head airbags are managed through sensors located in
the interior of the front doors. To ensure the correct functioning of the
side and head airbags neither the doors nor the door panels should be
modified in any way (e.g. fitting loudspeakers). If the front door is
damaged, the airbag system may not work correctly. All work carried out
on the front door must be made in a specialised workshop.
Deactivating airbags Deactivating airbags
The deactivation of airbags corresponds only to certain cases, i.e. if:
● a child seat is required in the front passenger seat with the child facing
in the opposite direction to the direction of travel (in some countries, due to
divergent legal requirements, facing in the direction of travel) ⇒ page 47;
● despite the driver seat being in the correct position, a minimum dis-
tance of 25 cm cannot be maintained between the centre of the steering
wheel and the driver's torso.
● installation of special devices is required in the steering wheel area due
to a physical disability.
● if you have special seats installed (e.g. an orthopaedic seat without side
airbag).
The front passenger front airbag can be disabled using the switch
⇒ page 44.
We recommend that you contact an authorised SEAT dealer for the disabling
of other airbags. Airbag system control
The airbag system availability is controlled electronically, regardless of
whether an airbag is disabled.
If an airbag was disabled using a diagnostics system:
●
the airbag system warning lamp lights up after switching on the igni-
tion for about 4 seconds, and then flashes for about 12 seconds
If the airbag has been disabled with the airbag switch on the side of the
dash panel:
● the airbag control lamp will light up for about 4 seconds after the ig-
nition is switched on.
● the airbag is disabled, signalled with the warning lamp which
lights up with the word placed in the centre part of the
dash panel ⇒ Fig. 24 3
.
Note
● Respect the current legislation in your country regarding the deactiva-
tion of airbags
● At your authorised SEAT dealer you can find information on which vehi-
cle airbags can be deactivated.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
45
Child safety
Child safety
Brief introduction Introduction
Statistics relating to accidents show that children are gener-
ally safer on the rear seat than on the front passenger seat.
For safety reasons we recommend that children under 12 years of age travel
on the rear seats. Depending on their age, height and weight, children trav-
elling on the rear seat must use a child seat or a seat belt. For safety rea-
sons, the child seat should be installed in the centre of the rear seat or be-
hind the front passenger seat.
The physical laws involved and the forces acting in a collision apply also to
children ⇒ page 22.
But unlike adults, children do not have fully developed muscle and bone
structures. This means that children are subject to a greater risk of injury.
To reduce this risk, children must always use special child restraint systems
when travelling in the vehicle.
We recommend the use of child safety products from the SEAT Original Ac-
cessories Programme, which includes systems for all ages made by
“Peke” 1)
.
These systems have been especially designed and approved, complying
with the ECE-R44 regulation. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats. Always read and note
⇒
page 45.
We recommend you to always include the manufacturer's Child Seat Instruc-
tion Manual together with the on-board documentation.
Safety notes on using child seats
Proper use of child seats substantially reduces the risk of in-
jury in an accident! As the driver, you are responsible for any children you transport in
your vehicle.
– Protect your children by properly using the appropriate child
seats ⇒ page 47.
– Always ensure that the seat belt is properly positioned accord-
ing to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child
seat.
– When travelling, never allow children to distract you from traffic.
– Take breaks regularly during long trips. Take a break at least ev-
ery two hours.
1)
Not for all countries
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
47
Child safety
Child seats
Categorisation of child seats into groups
Use only child seats that are officially approved and suitable
for the child. Child seats are subject to the regulation ECE-R 44. ECE-R stands for: Regula-
tions of the European Economic Commission
The child seats are grouped into 5 categories: Group 0: children up to 10 kg
Group 0+: children up to 13 kg
Group 1: from 9 to 18 kg
Group 2: from 15 to 25 kg
Group 3: from 22 to 36 kg
Child seats that have been tested and approved under the ECE R44 stand-
ard bear the test mark on the seat (the letter E in a circle with the test num-
ber below it). Group 0 and 0+ child seats
A suitable child seat and a correctly adjusted seat belt can
help you to protect your child.
Fig. 25 A group 0 rear-
facing child seat fitted on
the rear seat
Group 0: For babies up to about 9 months old and 10 kg in weight, the most
suitable seats are those appearing in the figure ⇒ Fig. 25.
Group 0+: For babies up to about 18 months old and 13 kg in weight the
most suitable seats are those appearing in the illustration.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats.
We recommend you to always include the manufacturer's Child Seat Instruc-
tion Manual together with the on-board documentation.
WARNING
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of child seats ⇒ page 45.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
49
Child safety
WARNING
● The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie approximately on the cen-
tre of the shoulder, never across the neck or the arm. The seat belt must
lie close to the upper part of the body. The lap belt part must lie across
the pelvis, not across the stomach, and always fit closely. Pull the belt
tight if necessary to take up any slack ⇒ page 26, Seat belts.
● Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the
use of child seats ⇒ page 45.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications