Airbag system
Airbag system
Brief intr
oduction
Intr
oduction Front airbags have been installed for both
driver and p
a
ssenger. The front airbags can
also protect the chest and head of driver and
passenger if the seats, seat belts head re-
straints and, for the driver, the steering
wheel are correctly adjusted and used. Air-
bags are considered as additional safety
equipment. An airbag cannot replace the
seat belt, which must be worn at all times,
even in front seats where front airbags have
been installed.
The airbag can protect vehicle occupants in
the event of an accidents, cushioning 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 deployment space within frac-
tions of a second. When an occupant with the
seat belt properly fastened puts pressure on
the inflated airbag, the propellant gas es-
capes 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 and skin injuries can be
rul
ed out
. Upon deployment of the airbag,
friction can cause the generation of heat.
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 character-
istics of the object the vehicle hits. Therefore,
airbags are not triggered every time the vehi-
cle is visibly damaged.
The activation of the airbag system depends
on the magnitude of the deceleration of the
vehicle caused by a collision, which registers
through an electronic control unit. If the de-
celeration magnitude value is below the ref-
erence value programmed in the control unit,
the airbags will not deploy even though seri-
ous damage might be caused to the vehicle
as the result of an accident. Damage suffered
by the vehicle, reparation costs or absence of
damage suffered from the accident are not
indications of whether an airbag should have
been deployed. Due to the varying nature of
collision situations, it is impossible to define
a speed range of the vehicle and reference
values. For this reason, it is not possible to
cover all types of collisions and collision an-
gles resulting in the deployment of the air-
bag. Factors necessary for the airbag to be
deployed can be, the characteristics of the
object (hard or soft) against which the vehi- cle collides, the collision angle and the vehi-
cle s
peed.
Airbags act in conjunction with the three-
point seat belts in certain accident situa-
tions, when the vehicle deceleration rate is
severe enough to trigger the airbags. Airbags
only deploy once and only under certain cir-
cumstances. Seat belts remain present to of-
fer protection in situations where airbags are
not triggered or where they have already de-
ployed. For example, when a vehicle hits an-
other after an initial collision or is hit by an-
other vehicle. The airbag system is an integral part of the
car's passive safety system. The airbag sys-
tem can only work effectively when the vehi-
cle occupants are wearing their seat belts
correctly and have adjusted the head re-
straints properly ››› page 48. WARNING
Never exclusively trust the airbag system as a
mean s
of protection.
● Even when triggered, airbag protection is
only aux
iliary.
● The airbags provide the best protection
when the seat belt
s are properly fastened,
thus reducing the risk of sustaining injuries
››› page 52, Why wear a seat belt? .» 59
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
The vehicle uses more fuel in winter than in
s ummer
, ev
en when other conditions are the
same.
The engine takes a long time to warm up
when it is idling. In addition, mechanical
wear and pollutant emissions are also espe-
cially high during this initial warm-up phase.
It is therefore best to drive off immediately af-
ter starting the engine. Doing this avoids run-
ning the engine at a high speed.
Adjusting type pressures.
Having the correct pressure in your tyres
helps to reduce rolling resistance and, as a
result reduces fuel consumption. Increasing
the tyre pressure slightly (+0.2
bar/+3 psi/+200 kPa) can help to save fuel.
When you buy new tyres, make sure they are
optimised for minimum rolling resistance.
Use low friction engine oil
The use of low viscosity totally synthetic oils,
known as low friction engine oil, helps to re-
duce fuel consumption. These oils reduce the
resistance caused by friction in the engine,
they flow around the engine more quickly
and efficiently, particularly in cold starts. The
effect is particularly noticeable in vehicles
frequently used for short journeys.
Always check the engine oil level and ob-
serve service intervals (engine oil change in-
tervals). When purchasing engine oil, always observe
leg
al requirements and ensure that the oil is
approved by SEAT.
Avoid carrying unnecessary loads
The lighter the vehicle, the more economical
and ecological the driving style. For example,
an additional weight of 100 kg will increase
fuel consumption up to 0.3 l/100 km.
Remove any unnecessary objects or loads
from the vehicle.
Remove optional equipment and unnecessa-
ry accessories
The more aerodynamic the vehicle, the lower
the fuel consumption. Optional equipment
and accessories (such as roof racks or bike
carriers) reduce the aerodynamic benefits of
the vehicle.
Therefore, we recommend you remove all op-
tional and unnecessary equipment and racks,
especially if you intend to drive at high
speeds.
Other factors which increase fuel consump-
tion (examples):
● Fault in engine management.
● Driving on hills. WARNING
Always adapt your speed and the distance to
the v ehic
les ahead in line with visibility,
weather conditions, the condition of the road
and the traffic situation. Engine management and ex-
hau
s
t gas purification system
Introduction WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
ver y
high temperatures. This could cause a
fire.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhau
st system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as dried grass).
● Never apply additional underseal or anti-
corro
sion coatings to the exhaust pipes, cata-
lytic converter or the heat shields on the ex-
haust system. Control and warning lamps
It lights up
fault in the pet-
rol engine man-
agement.Take the vehicle to a specialised
workshop as soon as possible and
have the engine checked.
»
151
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
●
In those c ou
ntries where unleaded petrol is
not available, you may refuel with a fuel with
a low lead content. Natural gas
Natural gas
Natur
al
gas can be compressed or in liquid
form, addition to others.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the result of
heavy cooling of natural gas. Therefore its
volume is considerably reduced compared
with compressed natural gas (CNG). In vehi-
cles with a natural gas engine, liquefied nat-
ural gas cannot be directly refilled, as the gas
would expand excessively in the vehicle gas
tank.
Therefore, vehicles with a natural gas engine
must only be refuelled using compressed
natural gas ››› .
Nat ur
a
l gas quality and consumption
Natural gas is divided into the groups H and
L depending on its quality.
Gas type H has a superior heating power and
inferior nitrogen and carbon dioxide content
than type L. The higher the heating power of
the natural gas, the lower the consumption
will be. However, the heating power and the propor-
tion of nitrog
en and carbon dioxide can fluc-
tuate within the quality groups. Therefore, ve-
hicle consumption can also vary when using
a single type of gas only.
The engine management automatically
adapts to the natural gas used according to
its quality. Therefore, different quality gases
can be mixed in the tank, without the need
for comprehensive draining before applying a
different quality gas.
Natural gas and safety
If you can smell gas or suspect that there is a
leak ››› :
● Stop the vehicle immediately.
● Switch the ignition off.
● Open the doors to appropriately ventilate
the v
ehic
le.
● Extinguish cigarettes immediately.
● Move away from the vehicle or switch off
obj
ects that may cause sparks or a fire.
● If you continue to smell gas, do not contin-
ue driving!
● Seek
specialist assistance. Have the fault
repair
ed. WARNING
Failure to act when you can smell gas in the
vehic l
e or when refuelling can cause serious
injuries.
● Carry out the necessary operations.
● Leave the danger zone.
● If necessary, warn the emergency services. WARNING
The vehicle is not prepared to use liquefied
nat ur
al gas (LNG) and this fuel must not be
added under any circumstances. Liquefied
natural gas can cause the natural gas tank to
explode, resulting in serious injury. Note
Have the natural gas system checked regular-
ly b y
a specialised workshop, according to
the Maintenance Programme. Filling the tank
Intr oduction The fuel tank flap is on the rear right of the
v
ehic
l
e.
182
Checking and refilling levels
CAUTION
● Alw a
ys pay attention to any lit control
lamps and to the corresponding descriptions
and instructions to avoid damage to the vehi-
cle.
● Never run the fuel tank completely dry. An
irregu
lar fuel supply may lead to ignition
faults and unburnt fuel could enter the ex-
haust system. This could damage the catalyt-
ic converter. Note
The arrow next to the fuel pump symbol on
the ins trument
panel ››› Fig. 164 indicates the
side of the vehicle on which the fuel tank flap
is located. Refuelling with petrol
Fig. 166
Open fuel tank flap with tank cap in
the ho l
der Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 31
Before refuelling, always turn off the engine,
the ignition, mobile telephones, auxiliary
heating and keep them off during refuelling.
Refuelling
The correct petrol type for the vehicle is loca-
ted on a sticker inside the fuel tank flap
››› page 181.
● If the automatic filler nozzle is operated
correctly
, it will switch itself off as soon as
the fuel tank is full ››› .
● Do not continue to refuel if it is turned off!
Other w
i
se, this will fill the expansion cham-
ber and fuel may leak out if the ambient con-
ditions are warm.
Vehicles with a natural gas engine
Every 6 months it is necessary to run on pet-
rol until the control lamp switches off and
then the tank must be refilled. This is neces-
sary to ensure the efficient operation of the
system and the fuel quality required for run-
ning on gas. WARNING
Do not continue refilling once the fuel nozzle
ha s
switched itself off. The fuel tank may be
filled too much. As a result, fuel may spurt
out and spill. This could lead to a fire, explo-
sion and severe injuries. CAUTION
● Alw a
ys remove any fuel spilled anywhere
on the vehicle to avoid damage to the wheel
housing, the tyre and vehicle paintwork. For the sake of the environment
Fuels can contaminate the environment. Col-
lect an
y spilt service fluids and allow a pro-
fessional to dispose of them. Refuelling with natural gas
Fig. 167
Tank flap open: gas filler mouth 1 ,
fi l
l
er mouth retainer 2 Before r
efuelling, the engine and the igni-
tion, mo b
ile telephone and heating must be
switched off separately ››› .
It i
s
also essential to carefully read the in-
structions for the natural gas pump. »
185
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
The vehicle is equipped for refuelling only
w ith C
ompr
essed Natural Gas (CNG) ››› . Re-
f uel
lin
g with another type of natural gas is
not allowed, e.g. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
or hydromethane.
Opening the fuel tank cap
The natural gas filler mouth is behind the fuel
tank cap, next to the petrol filler mouth.
● Unlock the vehicle with the key or with the
central
locking button situated on the driv-
er door ››› page 97.
● Press on the rear area of the flap and open
it.
Ref
uelling
Problem: If the ambient temperature is very
high, the natural gas pump protection
against overheating disconnects this auto-
matically.
● Remove the plug from the gas filler mouth
›››
Fig. 167 1 .
● Connect the pump filling nozzle to the gas
fi l
l
er mouth.
● The fuel tank will be full when the p
ump
compressor automatically cuts the supply.
● If you wish to finish refuelling in advance,
pres
s the button on the pump to stop the
flow. Closing the fuel tank cap
●
Check that the gas filler mouth retainer 2 is not trapped with the filler nozzle. If neces-
s
ar
y
, place it in the filler mouth again.
● Insert the plug in the filler mouth.
● Close the tank flap. Make sure you hear it
click
into place. WARNING
Natural gas is a highly explosive, easily flam-
mab l
e substance. Incorrect handling of the
natural gas can cause accidents serious
burns and other injuries.
● Before refuelling with natural gas, the fill-
ing mouth mus
t be correctly engaged. If you
can smell gas, stop refuelling immediately. WARNING
The vehicle is not prepared to use liquefied
nat ur
al gas (LNG) and this fuel must not be
added under any circumstances. Liquefied
natural gas can cause the natural gas tank to
explode, resulting in serious injury. Note
● The fil lin
g nozzles of natural gas pumps
can differ in the way they are operated. If you
are unacquainted with the pump, it is advisa-
ble that a member of staff of the service sta-
tion performs the refuelling operation. ●
Noise s
heard when refuelling are normal
and do not indicate the presence of a fault in
the system.
● The vehicle natural gas system is prepared
both for ref
uelling with a small compressor
(slow refuel) and a large compressor (fast re-
fuel) in natural gas service stations. Bonnet
Work in
g in the engine compartment Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 10
Before working in the engine compartment,
make sure that the vehicle is parked on hori-
zontal and firm ground.
The engine compartment of the vehicle is a
hazardous area. Never work on the engine or
in the engine compartment if you are not fa-
miliar with the operations to be carried out,
the applicable safety standards and especial-
ly if you do not have the necessary instru-
ments, liquids and tools ››› ! If required,
h av
e an
y work carried out by a specialised
workshop. Negligent work can cause serious
injury. WARNING
If the vehicle moves unexpectedly, this could
cau se seriou
s injury.186
Checking and refilling levels
●
Engine oi l
should only be kept in its origi-
nal packaging; the same goes for used oil un-
til it is disposed of.
● Never store engine oil in empty food con-
tainers
or bottles as other people may acci-
dentally drink it.
● Regular contact with engine oil can be bad
for the skin. If
you come into contact with en-
gine oil, wash your skin with soap and water.
● With the engine running, the engine oil
gets
extremely hot and can cause severe skin
burns. Always wait until the engine has fully
cooled. For the sake of the environment
Similar to the other service liquids, spilled
engine oi l
can be bad for the environment.
Collect these liquids in suitable containers
and dispose of them while respecting the en-
vironment. Warning and control lamps
Flashes
Engine oil pres-
sure too low.
Stop the vehicle!
Switch off the engine. Check the
engine oil level, and if necessary,
refill with ››› page 190.
engine oil - If the warning indicator
flashes although the oil level is cor-
rect, do not continue driving or
leave the engine running. Other-
wise, the engine could be dam-
aged. Seek specialist assistance. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in On the
ins trument
panel on page 26. Engine oil specifications
Replacement engine oil must strictly comply
w
ith the s
pec
ifications.
The correct oil must be used to ensure the
correct operation and long service life of the
engine. The engine comes with a high-quality
multigrade oil that can generally be used all
year round.
Only use an engine oil that complies to SEAT
standards whenever possible ››› . Only refill
en gine oi l
using approved engine oil in ac-
cordance with the corresponding VW stand- ard (
››› table on page 189). All oils indicated
ar
e synthetic multigrade oils .
Engine oils are being continuously further
developed. Technical services are constantly
updated with any modifications. SEAT there-
fore recommends that you have the engine
oil changed by a technical service.
Specifications of engine oil with a service de-
pendent on time/distance travelled
44 kW - 55 kW Petrol en-
ginesVW 504 00, VW 502 00
Natural gas engineVW 502 00 CAUTION
● Only u
se engine oils whose specifications
are expressly approved by SEAT. The use of
any other type of oil could cause engine dam-
age!
● No additives should be used with engine
oil. An
y damage caused by the use of such
additives would not be covered by the factory
warranty. 189
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety