2015 VOLKSWAGEN POLO steering wheel adjustment

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The dangers of assuming an incorrect sitting position
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction 
If the seat belts are not worn or are worn incorrectly, the risk of severe or fatal injuries increases. Seat belts can only provide optimal protection if
the seat belt routing is correct. Assuming an incorrect sitting position considerably impairs the level of protection provided by a seat belt. This
could lead to severe or even fatal injuries. The risk of severe or fatal injuries is especially increased when a deploying airbag strikes a vehicle
occupant who has assumed an incorrect sitting position. The driver is responsible for all occupants transported in the vehicle, especially children.
The following list contains examples of sitting positions that can be dangerous for all vehicle occupants.
Always adjust seats, seat belts and head restraints to their correct position before any journey and ensure that all passengers have fastened
their seat belt.
Push the front passenger seat as far back as possible.
Adjust the driver seat so that there is at least 25 cm between your breastbone and the hub of the steering wheel. If your physical build
makes it impossible to fulfil this requirement, you must contact a qualified workshop so they can make any necessary modifications.
Never travel with the backrest tilted far back. The further back the backrest is tilted, the greater the risk of injury caused by incorrect seat belt
routing or an incorrect sitting position.
Never travel with the backrest tilted far forwards. When a front airbag is triggered it could force the seat backrest backwards and injure
vehicle occupants on the back seats.
Adopt and maintain the greatest possible distance from the steering wheel and dash panel.
You should always sit upright with your back against the seat backrest with the front seats properly adjusted. Do not position any body part
too close where the airbags are fitted.
The risk of serious injury is increased for passengers on the rear seat if they are not sitting upright because the seat belts are incorrectly
positioned.
WARNING
Incorrect adjustment of the seats can cause accidents and serious injuries.
The seats may only be adjusted when the vehicle is stationary, or else the seat could change position unexpectedly while the vehicle is in
motion, leading to a loss of control of the vehicle. Furthermore, an incorrect seating position is adopted while adjusting the seat.
Only adjust the height and tilt of the seat or move it forwards and backwards when the area around the seat is clear.
There should be no objects in the adjustment area of the front seats.
WARNING
Cigarette lighters in the vehicle could be damaged or accidentally lit. This could lead to serious burns and other injuries.
Before adjusting the seats always make sure that there is no lighter on or near the moveable parts of the seat.
Before closing stowage areas or compartments always make sure that there is no lighter in the way.
Never stow lighters in stowage areas or compartments or on other surfaces in the vehicle. Cigarette lighters may self-ignite on high-
temperature surfaces, especially in summer.
WARNING

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Fig. 40 Correct seat belt routing and head restraint adjustment
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction 
The following details the correct sitting positions for the driver and passengers.
If any vehicle occupants cannot assume a correct sitting position due to their physical build, they should contact a qualified workshop to find out
about possible special modifications. The seat belts and airbags can only provide a maximum level of protection if a correct sitting position is
assumed. Volkswagen recommends using a Volkswagen dealership for this purpose.
Volkswagen recommends the following seating position for your own safety and to reduce the level of injury in the event of a sudden braking
manoeuvre or an accident:
The following applies to all vehicle occupants:
Adjust the head restraint so that its upper edge is at the same height as the top of the head, but not lower than eye level. Position the back of
your head as close to the head restraint as possible  → Fig. 39  and  → Fig. 40 .
When adjusting for short people, push the head restraint all the way down, even if the head is then underneath the top edge of the head
restraint.
For taller people, push the head restraint up as far as it will go.
Move the backrest into an upright position so that your back rests fully against it.
Keep both feet in the footwell while the vehicle is in motion.
Adjust and fasten seat belts properly  → Seat belts   .
Additional points for the driver:
Adjust the steering wheel so that the distance  → Fig. 39 Ⓐ   between the steering wheel and your breastbone is at least 25 cm and the
circumference of the steering wheel can be held at the sides with the arms slightly bent.
The steering wheel must always point towards the breastbone and not towards the face.
Adjust the driver seat so that you are able to press the pedals with your knees still slightly bent.
Adjust the height so that you can reach the highest point of the steering wheel.
Always leave both feet in the footwell, to help ensure you maintain control of the vehicle at all times.
Additional points for the front passenger:
Push the front passenger seat as far back as possible so that the airbag can provide maximum protection if it is triggered.
Mechanical controls on the front seats

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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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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