2013 Seat Alhambra Owner's Manual

31
Airbag system
Control lamp
Fig. 16 Control lamp for
disabling the front pas-
senger front airbag on
the dash panel
lights upDigitPossible causeSolution
Instrument panelFault in airbag system and seat belt tensioners.Have the system checked immediately by a specialised
workshop.
 Dash panelFault in the airbag system.Have the system checked immediately by a specialised
workshop.
Front passenger front airbag disabled.Check whether the airbag should remain disabled.
Several warning and control lamps should light up for a few seconds when
the ignition is switched on, signalling that the function is being verified.
They will switch off after a few seconds.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG   control lamp does not remain lit or if it is lit
together with the control lamp  on the instrument panel and the front pas-
senger front airbag is disabled, there may be a fault in the airbag system
⇒ 
.
WARNING
In the event of a fault in the airbag system, the airbag may not trigger
correctly, may fail to trigger or may even trigger unexpectedly, leading to
severe or fatal injuries.
● Have the airbag system checked immediately by a specialised work-
shop.
● Never mount a child seat in the front passenger seat or remove the
mounted child seat! The front passenger front airbag may deploy during
an accident in spite of the fault. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

32Airbag system
CAUTION
Always pay attention to any lit control lamps and to the corresponding de-
scriptions and instructions to avoid damage to the vehicle. 
Airbag system Description and function of the airbag
The airbag can protect vehicle occupants in the event of an accidents, cush-
ioning the movement 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 vehicle 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 tensioners for the driver and front passenger and, where applicable,
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
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
● Front 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   control lamp. 

33
Airbag system
● Control units and sensors.
● Height-adjustable head restraint optimised for rear collisions.
● Adjustable steering column.
● Where applicable, mountings for child seats on the rear seats and on
the front passenger seat.
● Where applicable, mountings for the child seat upper retaining strap.
Situations in which the front, knee, side and curtain airbag does not
deploy:
● If the ignition is switched off during the collision.
● In frontal collisions when the deceleration measured by the control unit
is too low. ●
In minor side collisions.
● In rear collisions.
● In the event of the vehicle overturning.
● When the impact speed is lower than the reference value set in the con-
trol unit. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

34Airbag system
Front airbags
Fig. 17 Location and deployment area of the front air-
bag for the driver
Fig. 18 Location and deployment area of the front air-
bag for the front passenger
In conjunction with the seat belts, the front airbag system gives the driver
and the front passenger additional protection for the head and chest in the
event of a severe frontal collision. Always remains as far away as possible
from the front airbag. This way, the front airbags can completely deploy
when triggered, providing their maximum protection. The front airbag for the driver is located in the steering wheel
⇒ Fig. 17 and
the airbag for the front passenger is located in the dash panel ⇒ Fig. 18. Air-
bags are identified by the word “AIRBAG”. 

35
Airbag system
When the front airbags are triggered they fill the zones marked in red (de-
ployment area) ⇒ Fig. 17. Therefore, objects should never be placed or
mounted in these areas ⇒ 
, Factory-fitted accessories are outside the
range of the front airbag for the driver and the front passenger, e.g. the
baseplate for the mobile phone support.
The airbag covers fold out of the steering wheel or dash panel when the
driver and front passenger front airbags are triggered ⇒ Fig. 18. The airbag
covers remain connected to the steering wheel or the dash panel.
WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in fractions of a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the front airbags free.
● Never secure objects to the covers or in the deployment area of the
airbag modules, e.g. drink holders or phone supports.
● The deployment space between the front passengers and the airbags
must not in any case be occupied by other passenger, pets and objects.
● Never fix any object to the windscreen above the front airbag on the
front passenger side.
● Do not alter, cover or stick anything to the steering wheel hub or the
surface of the airbag module on the passenger side of the dash panel.
WARNING
Front airbags are deployed in front of the steering wheel ⇒ Fig. 17 and
the dash panel ⇒ Fig. 18.
● When driving, always hold the steering wheel on the outer edge of
the ring with both hands: 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position.
WARNING (Continued)
● Adjust the driver seat so that there is at least 25 cm distance between
your chest and the hub of the steering wheel. If your physical constitu-
tion prevents you from meeting these requirements, make sure you con-
tact a specialised workshop.
● Adjust the front passenger seat so there is as much distance as possi-
ble between the front passenger and the dash panel.

Types of front passenger front airbag systems
There are two different SEAT front passenger front airbag systems:
ABCharacteristics of the front passen-
ger front airbag that can only be dis-
abled in a specialised workshop.Characteristics of the front passen-
ger front airbag that can be disabled
manually ⇒ page 36.
 Name: airbag system Name: airbag system with front
passenger front airbag disabling.
 Control lamp  on the instrument
panel. Control lamp  on the instrument
panel.
 Front passenger front airbag loca-
ted in the dash panel.
 Front passenger front airbag loca-
ted in the dash panel.
 PASSENGER AIR BAG   control
lamp on the dash panel.
 Key switch in the glove compart-
ment on the front passenger side of
the dash panel.

Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

36Airbag system
Deactivating and activating the front passenger front
airbag using the key switch
Fig. 19 In the glove com-
partment on the front
passenger side: key
switch for disabling and
enabling the front pas-
senger front airbag
The front passenger front airbag must be disabled when a rear-facing child
seat is mounted.
Disabling the front passenger front airbag
● Switch the ignition off.
● Open the glove compartment on the front passenger side.
● Unfold the key shaft ⇒ page 71.
● Using the vehicle key, turn the key switch to OFF ⇒ Fig. 19.
● Close the glove compartment on the front passenger side.
● The PASSENGER AIR BAG   control lamp on the dash panel will re-
main lit while the ignition is switched on ⇒ page 31.
Activating the front passenger front airbag
● Switch the ignition off.
● Open the glove compartment on the front passenger side.
● Using the vehicle key, turn the key switch to ON ⇒ Fig. 19. ●
Close the glove compartment on the front passenger side.
● Check that the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF  control lamp on the dash pan-
el does not light up while the ignition is switched on ⇒ page 31.
How to know whether the front passenger front airbag is disabled
Disabling of the front passenger front airbag is only indicated by the PAS-
SENGER AIR BAG   control lamp that remains lit on the dash panel (  
remains yellow) ⇒ page 31, Control lamp.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG   control lamp on the centre console does not
remain lit or is lit in combination with the control lamp  on the instrument
panel, a child restraint system cannot be mounted on the front passenger
seat for safety reasons. The front passenger front airbag may deploy during
an accident.
WARNING
The front passenger front airbag must only be disabled in special cases.
● Disable and activate the front passenger front airbag when the igni-
tion is switched off to avoid damage to the airbag system.
● It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that the key operated switch
is set to the correct position.
● Only disable the front passenger front airbag when a child seat is to
be mounted under exceptional circumstances.
● As soon as the child seat is no longer needed on the front passenger
seat, reconnect the front passenger front airbag.


37
Airbag system
Side airbags
Fig. 20 On the side of
the front seat: location of
the side airbag
Fig. 21 Range of action
of the front and rear side
airbags. With 5 and 7
seats.
The side airbags are located in the outer cushion of the driver and front pas-
senger seat backrests ⇒ Fig. 20. Depending on the equipment of the model,
the outer seats of the second row of seats may also be fitted with side air- bags, located between the seat backrests and the access area. Their posi-
tion is indicated by the word “AIRBAG”. The red area (dotted line)
⇒ Fig. 21
shows the field of action of the side airbags.
In a side collision, the side airbags are triggered on the affected side of the
vehicle, thus reducing the risk of injury to passengers on that side.
WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in fractions of a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the side airbags free.
● Vehicle occupants of the front and outer rear seats must never carry
any other people, pets or objects in the deployment space between them
and the airbags.
● The built-in coat hooks should be used only for lightweight clothing.
Do not leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets.
● Do not mount accessories on the doors.
● Only used protective covers for the seats that are approved for the ve-
hicle. Otherwise, the side airbag would be obstructed when deployed.
WARNING
Incorrect handling of the driver's and front passenger seat could prevent
the side airbag from deploying properly and cause severe injuries.
● Never remove the front seats of the vehicle or modify any of their
components.
● Great forces must not be exerted on the seat backrest bolsters be-
cause the side airbags might not deploy correctly, might not deploy at all
or might deploy unexpectedly.
● Any damage to the original seat upholstery or around the seams of
the side airbag units must be repaired immediately by a specialised
workshop.

Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

38Airbag system
Curtain airbags
Fig. 22 On the left side of the vehicle: location and de-
ployment area of the curtain airbag
Fig. 23 Deployed curtain
airbags
The curtain airbags are located on the driver and front passenger side
above the doors ⇒ Fig. 22. Airbags are identified by the word “AIRBAG”. The area framed red ⇒ Fig. 22 is covered by the curtain airbag when it is de-
ployed (deployment area). Therefore, objects should never be placed or
mounted in these areas.
In a side collision, the curtain airbag on the side affected will be deployed.
The airbag covers the windows and pillars.
In a side collision, the curtain airbags for the front and outer rear seats re-
duce the risk of injury to the areas of the body facing the impact.
WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in fractions of a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the curtain airbags free.
● Do not fix objects to the cover or in the deployment area of the cur-
tain airbag. 