2015 VOLKSWAGEN POLO steering

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Fig. 45 Adjusting the steering wheel position mechanically
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction 
Adjust the steering wheel position before setting off and only when the vehicle is stationary.
Push down the lever  → Fig. 45 ①  .
Adjust the steering wheel so that you can hold it on the outside of the ring (at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions) with both hands and
slightly bent arms.
Push the lever up firmly until it lines up with the steering column  → .
Centre armrest
Incorrect use of the steering column position adjustment and incorrect adjustment of the steering wheel can cause serious or fatal injuries.
After adjusting the steering column, always move lever  → Fig. 45 ①   up so that it engages securely. This prevents the steering column from
moving spontaneously while the vehicle is in motion.
Never adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is in motion. If you determine that a readjustment is necessary, stop the vehicle safely and
adjust the steering wheel to the correct position.
The steering wheel must always point towards the chest and not towards the face. This ensures that the driver front airbag provides
maximum protection in the event of an accident.
While driving, always keep both hands on the outside of the steering wheel, at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. This reduces the risk of
injury if the driver front airbag is triggered.
Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position, or in any other manner, e.g. on the hub of the steering wheel. If the driver airbag is
triggered, you could receive severe injuries to the arms, hands and head.
WARNING

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Fig. 52 The unbelted rear passenger is thrown forwards, hitting the belted driver
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction 
Many people believe that they can brace their weight with their hands in a minor collision. This is not true.
Even at low speeds, the forces acting on the body in a collision are so great that occupants cannot brace themselves with their arms and hands.
In a frontal collision, unbelted vehicle occupants are thrown forward and will make unchecked contact with parts of the vehicle interior, e.g. the
steering wheel, dash panel, or windscreen  → Fig. 51 .
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts. When triggered, the airbags only provide additional protection. Airbags are not triggered
in all kinds of accidents. Even if the vehicle is equipped with an airbag system, all vehicle occupants, including the driver, must fasten their seat
belt and wear it correctly while the vehicle is in motion. This reduces the risk of severe or fatal injuries in the event of an accident – regardless of
whether an airbag is fitted for the seat.
Each airbag can only be triggered once. To achieve best possible protection, seat belts must always be worn properly. This also ensures that
protection is provided in accidents in which the airbag is not triggered. Any vehicle occupants not wearing a seat belt can be thrown out of the
vehicle and sustain more severe or even fatal injuries as a result.
It is also important for the rear seat occupants to wear seat belts properly, as they could otherwise be thrown forwards violently in an accident.
Rear passengers who are not wearing seat belts endanger not only themselves and the driver, but also other people in the vehicle  → Fig. 52 .
Seat belt protection
Fig. 53 Driver restrained by a properly positioned seat belt during a sudden braking manoeuvre
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction 

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Belt tension limiter
The belt tension limiter reduces the pressure exerted by the seat belt on the body during an accident.
All safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or components of the system are scrapped. Qualified workshops are familiar
with these requirements  → Service and disposal of belt tensioners   .
Service and disposal of belt tensioners
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction 
Seat belts may become damaged during any work on the belt tensioners or while removing or refitting any vehicle parts in conjunction with any
other repair work. This damage will not always be noticeable. The consequence may be that the belt tensioners could function incorrectly, or not
function at all, in the event of an accident.
Regulations must be observed to ensure that the effectiveness of the belt tensioner is not reduced and that removed parts do not cause any
injuries or environmental pollution. Qualified workshops are familiar with these requirements.
 The airbag modules and belt tensioners may contain perchlorate. Please comply with legislation regarding disposal.
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
 → Types of front passenger front airbag system  
 → Indicator lamps  
 → Description and function of the airbags  
 → Front airbags  
 → Switching the front passenger front airbag on and off manually using the key-operated switch  
 → Side airbags  
 → Combined curtain and side airbags  
 → Curtain airbags  
The vehicle is equipped with a front airbag for the driver and front passenger. The front airbags can provide front seat occupants with additional
chest and head protection if the seat, seat belts, head restraints and, in the case of the driver, steering wheel are adjusted and used correctly.
Airbags are meant only for additional protection. The airbags are not a substitute for seat belts. Seat belts must always be worn, even when the
front seats are equipped with front airbags.
Additional information and warnings:
Driving tips  → Driving tips  
The risk of severe or fatal injuries may be increased if the seat belts, automatic belt retractors and belt tensioners are not used correctly, or if
they are repaired by a non-professional. As a result, the belt tensioners may not be triggered when they should, or they may be triggered
unexpectedly.
Any repairs, adjustments or removal and refitting of parts in the belt tensioners or seat belts should always be carried out by a qualified
workshop and never by yourself  → Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of parts   .
Belt tensioners and automatic belt retractors cannot be repaired. They must be replaced.
WARNING
Airbag system

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their deployment zones within milliseconds. Once a vehicle occupant wearing a seat belt starts to sink into the inflated airbag, the gas inside the
airbag starts to escape to cushion the occupant and slow down their movement. This can reduce the risk of severe and fatal injuries. A triggered
airbag will not always prevent other injuries from occurring, such as swelling, bruising, burning and grazing.
Airbags provide no protection for the arms or lower body.
The most important factors for triggering the airbag are the type of accident, the angle of impact, the vehicle speed and the type of object with
which the vehicle collides. Therefore, visible damage to the vehicle does not always mean that the airbag should have been triggered.
Whether or not the airbag triggers is determined by the vehicle deceleration rate caused by the collision and registered by the electronic control
unit. If this rate is below the reference value programmed into the control unit, the airbags will not be triggered, even though the vehicle may be
badly damaged as a result of the collision. Vehicle damage, repair costs or even the lack of vehicle damage in an accident do not necessarily
give an indication of whether an airbag should inflate or not. It is not possible to define a range of vehicle speeds and reference values, since the
circumstances will vary considerably between one collision and another. It is therefore impossible to cover every possible kind and angle of
impact that would trigger the airbags. Important factors in the triggering of the airbag include the nature (hard or soft) of the object that the vehicle
hits, the angle of impact, and the vehicle speed.
Airbags only serve as a supplement to the three-point seat belt in some accident situations when the vehicle braking is sufficient to trigger the
airbags. Airbags can only be triggered once and only in certain situations. The seat belts are always there to provide protection in situations in
which the airbags are not triggered or have already been triggered. For example, if the vehicle collides with a further vehicle following the initial
collision, or is hit by another vehicle.
The airbag system is part of the vehicle's overall passive safety concept. The airbag system can only work effectively when the occupants are
wearing their seat belts correctly and have assumed a proper sitting position  → Adjusting the seat position   .
Components of the vehicle safety concept
The following vehicle safety equipment makes up the vehicle's safety concept to reduce the risk of severe and fatal injuries. Some of this
equipment may not be fitted in your particular vehicle. It may not be available at all in some countries.
Optimised seat belts for all seats.
Belt tensioners for driver and front passenger.
Belt tension limiter for the driver, front passenger and, if applicable, for the rear outer seats.
Belt height adjuster for the front seats.
Warning lamp .
Front airbags for driver and front passenger.
Combined curtain and side airbags for the driver and front passenger.
Curtain airbags on the right and left.
Airbag indicator lamp .
PASSENGER AIR BAG    Indicator lamp in top area of the centre console.
Control units and sensors.
Height-adjustable head restraints optimised for rear impact.
Adjustable steering column.
If fitted, ISOFIX anchor points for child seats on the rear outer seats.
If applicable, securing points for the top tether for child seats.
Situations when the front, side, head or combined curtain and side airbags will not be triggered:
If the ignition is switched off during a collision.

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If the level of deceleration measured by the control unit is too low during a collision at the front of the vehicle.
During a minor side collision.
During rear collisions.
If the vehicle rolls over.
If the impact speed in a collision is lower than the reference value specified in the control unit.
Front airbags
Fig. 60 Location and deployment zone of the driver front airbag
Fig. 61 Location and deployment zone of the front passenger front airbag
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction 
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
severe frontal collision. Always keep as far away from the front airbag as possible  → Adjusting the seat position   . This allows the front airbags to
inflate fully when triggered, thus providing maximum protection.
The front airbag for the driver is located in the steering wheel  → Fig. 60  A and the front airbag for the front passenger is located in the dash panel
 → Fig. 61  A. The airbag locations are identified by the text AIRBAG.
The areas inside the red lines  → Fig. 60  B and  → Fig. 61  B are covered by the front airbags when triggered (deployment zone). You must never
leave or attach any objects in these areas  → . The factory-fitted accessories, such as the base plate for the mobile telephone holder, will not
be struck when the driver and front passenger front airbags are triggered.
The airbag covers fold out of the steering wheel  → Fig. 60  B or dash panel  → Fig. 61  B when the driver and front passenger airbags deploy.

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Switching the front passenger front airbag on and off manually using the key-operated switch
Fig. 62 In the stowage compartment on the front passenger side: key switch for disabling and enabling the front airbag on the front passenger
side
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction 
The front passenger front airbag must be switched off when securing a rear-facing child seat to the front passenger seat.
Disabling the front passenger front airbag
Switch off the ignition.
Open the stowage compartment on the front passenger side.
Once triggered, the airbag inflates at high speed.
Always leave the deployment zones of the front airbags clear.
Never attach any objects, such as drink or telephone holders, to the covers of the airbags or anywhere in the airbag deployment zone.
No other people, animals or objects may be carried between the occupants of the front seats and the airbag deployment zone. Make sure
that children and passengers also keep to this rule.
Do not attach any objects, e.g. mobile navigation devices, to the windscreen above the front airbag on the front passenger side.
Do not cover or stick anything on the steering wheel hub or the soft plastic surface of the airbag unit in the dash panel on the front
passenger side, and do not modify them in any way.
DANGER
The front airbags are deployed in front of the steering wheel  → Fig. 60  and dash panel  → Fig. 61 .
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.
Adjust the driver seat so that there is at least 25 cm between your breastbone and the hub of the steering wheel. Contact a qualified
workshop if your physical build makes this impracticable.
Adjust the front passenger seat so that the distance between the passenger and the dash panel is as large as possible.
WARNING