2016 Seat Alhambra warning

Airbag system
WARNING
Vehicle occupants sitting in the front of the
vehic l
e must never carry any objects in the
deployment space between them and the air-
bags, as this increases the risk of sustaining
injuries if the airbag is triggered. This modi-
fies the airbag deployment space or the ob-
jects may fly uncontrollably and hit your
body.
● Never carry objects in your hand or on your
lap whil
e the vehicle is in motion.
● Never transport objects on the front pas-
senger se
at. In the event of sudden braking
and manoeuvres, the objects may end up in
the airbag deployment space and fly uncon-
trollably around the vehicle interior if the air-
bag is activated.
● Vehicle occupants of the front and outer
rear se
ats must never carry any other people,
pets or objects in the deployment space be-
tween them and the airbags. Make sure chil-
dren and other passengers also respect this
recommendation. WARNING
The airbag system provides protection for
one acc ident

only. If they have been de-
ployed, they must be replaced.
● Ensure deployed airbags and the system
components
involved are immediately re-
placed with new, SEAT-approved components
for the vehicle. ●
Have an y

repairs or modifications carried
out at a specialised workshop. Specialised
workshops have the necessary tools, diag-
nostics equipment, repair information and
qualified personnel.
● Never fit recycled or reused airbag compo-
nents in
your vehicle.
● Never modify the airbag system compo-
nents. WARNING
If the airbags are triggered, a fine dust is pro-
duc ed. Thi

s is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of fire in the vehicle.
● This fine dust may irritate the skin and eyes
and cause br
eathing difficulties, particularly
in people suffering from or who have suffered
from asthma or other illnesses of the respira-
tory tract. To reduce breathing difficulties,
get out of the vehicle and open and doors and
windows to breath in fresh air.
● Should you touch the dust, wash your
hands
and face using a mild soap and water
before you eat.
● Prevent the dust from affecting the eyes or
open wound
s.
● Rinse your eyes with water if you have dust
in them. WARNING
Solvents cause the surfaces of the airbag
modul e

s to become porous. If an airbag is ac- cidentally triggered, the detachment of plas-
tic p
ar

ts could cause serious injury.
● Never clean the dash panel and the surfa-
ces
of the airbag modules with cleaners con-
taining solvents. Description of the airbag system
The airbag system is not a substitute for the
seat
belts.

The airbag system offers addition-
al protection for the driver and passenger in
combination with the seat belts.
The airbag system comprises the following
modules (as per vehicle equipment):
● Electronic control unit.
● Front airbags for driver and passenger
● Knee airbag for the driver
● Side airbags
● Head airbag
● Airbag control lamp  on the instrument
p

anel
● Key-operated switch for front passenger air-
bag
● Contr

ol lamp to disconnect/connect the
front airb
ag. »
69
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Safety
The airbag system operation is monitored
el ectr
onic
ally. The airbag control lamp will il-
luminate for a few seconds every time the ig-
nition is switched on (self-diagnosis).
There is a fault in the system if the control
lamp :
● does not light up when the ignition is
switc
hed on,
● turns off after 4 seconds after the ignition
is sw
itched on
● turns off and then lights up again after the
ignition is sw
itched on
● illuminates or flashes while the vehicle is
movin
g.
The airbag system is not triggered if:
● the ignition is switched off
● there is a minor frontal collision
● there is a minor side collision
● there is a rear-end collision
● the vehicle turns over. WARNING
● The seat belt

s and airbags can only provide
maximum protection if the occupants are
seated correctly ››› page 57.
● If a fault has occurred in the airbag system,
have the sy
stem checked immediately by a
specialised workshop. Otherwise there is a danger that during a collision, the system
ma
y

fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly. Airbag activation
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within
thous
andths

of a second, to provide addi-
tional protection in the event of an accident.
The airbag system is only ready to function
when the ignition is on.
In special accidents instances, several air-
bags may activate at the same time.
In the event of minor head-on and side colli-
sions, rear-end collisions, overturning or roll-
over of the vehicle, airbags do not activate.
Activation factors
The conditions that lead to the airbag system
activating in each situation cannot be gener-
alised. Some factors play an important role,
such as the properties of the object the vehi-
cle hits (hard/soft), angle of impact, vehicle
speed, etc.
Deceleration trajectory is key for airbag acti-
vation.
The control unit analyses the collision trajec-
tory and activates the respective restraint
system.
If the deceleration rate is below the prede-
fined reference value in the control unit the airbags will not be triggered, even though
the acc
ident

may cause extensive damage to
the car.
The following airbags are triggered in seri-
ous head-on collisions
● Driver airbag.
● Front passenger front airbag
● Knee airbag for the driver.
The fol
lowing airbags are triggered in seri-
ous side-on collisions
● Front side airbag on the side of the acci-
dent.
● Re

ar side airbag on the side of the acci-
dent.
● Cur

tain (head) airbag on the side of the ac-
cident.
In an ac

cident with airbag activation:
● the interior lights switch on (if the interior
light swit
ch is in the courtesy light position);
● the hazard warning lights switch on;
● all doors are unlocked;
● the fuel supply to the engine is cut.
70

Airbag system
Airbag safety instructions Fr ont
airb
agsRead the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 17. WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in frac-
tions of

a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the
front airb
ags 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
pas
sengers 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 fr
ont airbag on the front passenger
side.
● Do not alter, cover or stick anything to the
steerin
g wheel hub or the surface of the air-
bag module on the passenger side of the
dash panel. WARNING
Front airbags are deployed in front of the
st eerin

g wheel ›››
 Fig. 26 and the dash
panel ›››
 Fig. 27. ●
When drivin g, a

lways hold the steering
wheel on the outer edge of the ring with both
hands: 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position.
● Adjust the driver seat so that there is at
lea
st 25 cm distance between your chest and
the hub of the steering wheel. If your physi-
cal constitution prevents you from meeting
these requirements, make sure you contact a
specialised workshop.
● Adjust the front passenger seat so there is
as muc
h distance as possible between the
front passenger and the dash panel. Knee airbag*
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 18. WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in frac-
tions of

a second.
● The knee airbag is deployed in front of the
driver's knee
s. Always keep the deployment
areas of the knee airbags free.
● Never not fix objects to the cover or in the
deployment
area of the knee airbag.
● Adjust the driver seat so that there is a dis-
tance of
at least 10 cm (4 inches) between
your knees and the location of the knee air-
bag. If your physical constitution prevents
you from meeting these requirements, make
sure you contact a specialised workshop. Side airbags*
Read the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 19. WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in frac-
tions of

a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the
side airbag
s free.
● Vehicle occupants of the front and outer
rear se
ats must never carry any other people,
pets or objects in the deployment space be-
tween 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 ar
e approved for the vehicle. Otherwise,
the side airbag would be obstructed when de-
ployed. WARNING
Incorrect handling of the driver's and front
pa s

senger seat could prevent the side airbag
from deploying properly and cause severe in-
juries.
● Never remove the front seats of the vehicle
or modify an
y of their components. » 71
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Safety
●
Gre at
forces must not be exerted on the
seat backrest bolsters because the side air-
bags might not deploy correctly, might not
deploy at all or might deploy unexpectedly.
● Any damage to the original seat upholstery
or around the se
ams of the side airbag units
must be repaired immediately by a special-
ised workshop. Curtain airbags*
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 20. WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in frac-
tions of

a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the
head-pr
otection airbags free.
● Do not fix objects to the cover or in the de-
ployment
area of the curtain airbag.
● Vehicle occupants of the front and outer
rear se
ats must never carry any other people,
pets or objects in the deployment space be-
tween 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. ●
Do not fit c

urtains to the windows other
than those expressly approved for use in the
vehicle.
● Only turn the sun blinds towards the win-
dows
if there is no object, e.g. pens or garage
remote controls, secured to the sun blind. Deactivating airbags
Contr o

l lamp Fig. 92
Control lamp for disabling the front
p a
s

senger front airbag on the dash panel 
It lights up on the combi-in-
strument
Fault in airbag
system and seat
belt tensioners.Have the system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop.  
It lights up on the dash panel
Fault in the air-
bag system.Have the system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop.
Front passenger
front airbag disa-
bled.Check whether the airbag should
remain disabled
Several warning and indication lamps light
up for a f
ew sec

onds when the ignition is
switched on, signalling that the function is
being verified. They will switch off after a few
seconds.
If the front passenger airbag is deactivated,
the lamp      does not re-
main lit, or if it is lit together with the control
lamp  on the dash panel, there may be a
fault in the airbag system ››› .
WARNING
In the event of a fault in the airbag system,
the airbag m a

y not trigger correctly, may fail
to trigger or may even trigger unexpectedly,
leading to severe or fatal injuries.
● Have the airbag system checked immedi-
ately b
y a specialised workshop.
● Never mount a child seat in the front pas-
senger se
at ››› page 78 or remove the
mounted child seat! The front passenger front
airbag may deploy during an accident in spite
of the fault. 72

Airbag system
CAUTION
Always pay attention to any lit control lamps
and to the c orr
esponding descriptions and in-
structions to avoid damage to the vehicle. Manual disabling and enabling of the
front
p

assenger front airbag with the
key switch Fig. 93
In the glove compartment on the front
p a
s

senger side: Key switch for enabling and
disabling the front passenger front airbag. Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 18.
The front passenger front airbag must be dis-
abled when a rear-facing child seat is moun-
ted.
Activating the front passenger front airbag
● Switch the ignition off. ●
Open the glove c
ompartment on the front
passenger side.
● Insert the key into the slot of the switch for
deactivatin
g the front passenger airbag
››› Fig. 93. About 3/4 of the key should enter,
as far as it will go.
● Then turn the key gently to the ON position.
Do not
force it if you feel resistance, and
make sure you have inserted the key fully.
● Close the glove compartment on the front
pas
senger side.
● Check that, with the ignition switched on,
the contro
l lamp      on the
dash panel is not lit ››› page 72.
How to know whether the front passenger
front airbag is disabled
The only indication of the front passenger air-
bag being disabled is that the   
  control lamp on the dash panel re-
mains lit (   stays yellow) ››› page 72,
Control lamp .
If the      control lamp on
the centre console does not remain lit or is lit
in combination with the control lamp  on
the dash panel, a child restraint system can-
not 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
dis ab

led in special cases.
● Disable and activate the front passenger
front airb
ag when the ignition is switched off
to avoid damage to the airbag system.
● It is the driver's responsibility to ensure
that the k
ey operated switch is set to the cor-
rect position.
● Only disable the front passenger front air-
bag when a chi
ld seat is to be mounted under
exceptional circumstances.
● As soon as the child seat is no longer nee-
ded on the front p
assenger seat, reconnect
the front passenger front airbag.
● Never leave the key in the airbag deactiva-
tion switc
h as it could get damaged or acti-
vate or deactivate the airbag during driving. 73
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Safety
Transporting children safely Saf ety
f
or children
Introduction Read the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 20.
Please read the information regarding the air-
bag system fully before transporting babies
and children in a child seat or other child re-
straint system installed on the front passen-
ger seat.
This information is extremely important for
driver and passenger safety, particularly that
of babies and children.
SEAT recommends the use of child seats from
the SEAT accessory programme. These child
seats have been designed and tested for use
in SEAT vehicles. You can purchase child
seats with different mountings from a techni-
cal service centre.
Using child restraint systems with a base or
foot
Some child retention systems are secured to
the seat using a base or support leg. For cer-
tain kinds of equipment the use of an addi-
tional accessory will be necessary (e.g. an ac-
cessory for the footwell) to fit the child reten-
tion system correctly and securely. WARNING
Make sure children are properly belted in and
corr ectly

secured to avoid severe or fatal inju-
ries while the vehicle is in motion.
● If a child seat is secured to the front pas-
senger se
at, the risk to the child of sustain-
ing critical or fatal injuries in the event of an
accident increases.
● An inflating front passenger airbag can
strike the r
ear-facing child seat and project it
with great force against the door, the roof or
the backrest.
● Never install a child seat facing backwards
on the front p
assenger seat unless the front
passenger front airbag has been disabled.
Risk of potentially fatal injuries to the child!
However, if it is necessary, in exceptional ca-
ses, to transport a child in the front passen-
ger seat, the front passenger front airbag
must always be disabled ››› page 72. If the
passenger seat has a height adjustment op-
tion, move it to the highest, most upright po-
sition. If you have a fixed seat, do not install
any child restraint system in this location.
● For those vehicles that do not include a key
lock sw
itch to deactivate the airbag, the vehi-
cle must be taken to a technical service.
● Children up to 12 years old should always
travel
on the rear seat.
● Children must always be protected with an
appro
ved child restraint system suited to
their height and weight. ●
Chil dr

en must assume the proper sitting
position and be properly belted in while trav-
elling.
● Ensure the seat backrest is upright when a
chil
d seat is being used on it.
● Do not allow the child's head or other part
of his
or her body to fall into the deployment
area of the side airbags.
● Make sure the belt webbing is correctly
positioned.
● Nev

er hold children or babies on your lap or
in your arms.
● On

ly one child may occupy a child seat.
● If you are using a child seat with a base or
foot, alw
ays install this base or foot correctly
and safely.
● If the vehicle has a storage compartment in
the footwel
l in front of the last row of seats,
this compartment cannot be used as de-
signed; on the contrary: It must be filled us-
ing the specially designed accessory so that
the base or foot is correctly supported by the
closed compartment and the child seat is se-
cured properly. If this compartment is not
suitably secured when using a child seat with
a base or foot then the compartment cover
could rupture in an accident and the child will
be ejected and suffer serious injury.
● Please read and observe the child seat
manufact
urer's handling instructions.74

Transporting children safely
WARNING
An empty or loose child seat could fly uncon-
tro l
lably around the vehicle interior and
cause injuries in the event of an accident or
sudden braking.
● When not in use while the vehicle is in mo-
tion, alwa
ys safely secure the child seat or
store it in the luggage compartment. Note
Replace the child seat after an accident, as it
ma y

have invisible damage. Important information regarding the
fr
ont
p

assenger's airbag Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 20.
Read and always observe the safety informa-
tion included in the following chapters:
● Child seats and passenger side airbag
›››
page 76, Use of the child seat on the
front passenger seat .
● Safety distance with respect to the passen-
ger airbag ›

›› in Introduction on page 68.
● Objects between the passenger and the
p a
s

senger side airbag ››› in Front airbags
on p age 71
. Child seats
Safety in
structions Read the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 20. WARNING
The lower anchor points for child seats are
not anc hor

s meant to support cargo. Only se-
cure booster seats to lower anchor points. WARNING
Child seats with lower anchor points and with
an upper r et

aining strap must be installed in
line with the manufacturer's instructions.
Failure to comply could result in severe inju-
ries.
● Always secure just one r
etaining strap from
a child seat to a retaining ring (for Top Tether)
on the seat backrest on the rear seat in the
boot.
● Never fix child seats to the cargo anchors in
the luggag
e compartment.
● Never secure a child seat to the movable at-
tachment
elements for vehicles with an at-
tachment element and rail system . WARNING
In general, the rear seat is always the safest
pl ac

e for correctly belted in children in the
event of an accident. ●
A suit ab

le child seat that is correctly instal-
led and used on one of the rear seats offer
the most protection possible for babies and
small children in most accidents. WARNING
Unbuckling the seat belt while the vehicle is
in motion c an cau

se severe or fatal injuries in
the event of an accident or sudden braking.
● The seat belt must not be unfastened until
the vehic
le has come to a standstill. Note
Other accessories may be required to fit the
chi l

d retention system with a base or foot se-
curity and safely. Contact a technical service
centre or specialised workshop. General information on transporting
c
hi
l

dren in the vehicle Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 21.
Legal regulations and provisions will always
take priority over the descriptions of this in-
struction manual. There are different regula-
tions and provisions for the use of child seats
and their mountings ( ›››
table on page 76).
In some countries, for example, the use of
child seats on certain seats in the vehicle
may be forbidden. »
75
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Transporting children safely
forbidden to transport children on the front
p a
s
senger seat ››› .
Thin g
s
to note if using a child seat on the
front passenger seat:
● The front passenger front airbag must
be
disabled  when using a rear-facing child
seat ››› page 73.
● The seat backrest of the front passenger
seat mu
st be upright.
● The front passenger seat must be moved as
far bac
k as possible.
● The seat backrest of the front passenger
seat mu
st be upright.
● The seat belt height adjustment must be as
high as po
ssible.
Suitable child seats
The child seat must be authorised by the
manufacturer especially for use on a front
passenger seat with a front or side airbag.
If the front passenger seat is equipped with
retaining rings, the child seat can be secured
using an approved retaining system provided
it is approved for this type of vehicle in ac-
cordance with current regulations of the
country in question.
Universal seats for children of groups 0, 0+,
1, 2 or 3 according to the standard ECE-R 44
can be mounted on the front passenger seat
and the rear seats. WARNING
If a child seat is mounted on the front passen-
ger se at, the ri

sk of the child sustaining se-
vere or fatal injuries in the event of an acci-
dent increases. Rear-facing child seats must
never be mounted on the front passenger
seat when the front passenger front airbag is
enabled. This is life-threatening to the child
should the front airbag deploy, as the child
seat would be struck by the inflated airbag
and thrown against the seat backrest. WARNING
If, in exceptional circumstances, a child must
be tran s

ported in a rear-facing child seat on
the front passenger seat, strictly observe the
following:
● Always disable the front passenger front
airbag and le
ave it disabled.
● The child seat must be approved by the
manufact
urer for use on a front passenger
seat with front and side airbag.
● Follow the installation instructions of the
chil
d seat manufacturer and observe the
warnings.
● Move the front passenger seat as far back
as po
ssible and adjust it to its highest posi-
tion to keep as far away as possible from the
front airbag.
● Move the seat backrest to the upright posi-
tion.
● The seat belt height adjustment must be as
high as po
ssible. ●
Chil dr

en must always be protected with an
approved child restraint system suited to
their height and weight. Use of the child seat on the rear seat
If a child seat is mounted on the rear seat,
ad
apt

the position of the front passenger
seat so that the child has enough space.
Therefore, adapt the front passenger seat to
the size of the child seat and the height of
the child. Ensure the passenger is in the cor-
rect position  ››› page 57.
Move the second and third rows of seats fully
back and lock them. Place the seat backs in a
vertical position and fold the head restraints
down.
ISOFIX child seats approved for rear seats
The rear seats are suitable for child seats
with the ISOFIX system specially designed
for this type of vehicle in accordance with
regulation ECE-R 44.
ISOFIX child seats are divided into “specific
categories for the vehicle”, “limited” or
“semi-universal”.
Child seat manufacturers supply a list of ve-
hicles with each ISOFIX seat, which includes
the models for which the ISOFIX child seat in
question is approved. If the vehicle is inclu-
ded in the manufacturer's list and the ISOFIX »
77
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety