
Safe driving
•
Distribute the load evenly in the luggage com
partment.
•
Place heavy items as far forward as possible in
the luggage compartment and secure them
properly
<^>Fig.
214.
•
Secure the load with the stretch net* or with
non-elastic straps secured to the fastening
rings
^>page
62.
© CAUTION
A WARNING
- Loose items in the luggage compartment
are a safety hazard: they can move suddenly
and impair the handling of the vehicLe as a
result of the change in weight distribution.
- In an accident or a sudden manoeuvre, loose
objects in the passenger compartment can
be flung forward - risk of injury! Always
stow objects safely in the luggage compart
ment and secure them on the fastening
rings.
Use suitable securing straps, particu
larly when transporting heavy objects.
- Transporting heavy objects may affect the
vehicle's handling by shifting the centre of
gravity - this could cause an accident. Take
extra care when driving and adjust your
speed accordingly.
- Never exceed the maximum axle loads or
the maximum gross weight for the vehicLe
^>page
342. Exceeding the permitted axle
loads or gross weight Limit can affect the ve
hicle's handling characteristics, and increase
the risk of accidents, personal injuries or
damage to the vehicle.
- Never leave your vehicLe unattended when
the boot lid is open. Children could climb in
to the boot and close the boot lid from the
inside.
In this case the child would be un
able to get out of the vehicle without help.
This could have fatal consequences.
- Never allow children to play in or around the
vehicle. Always close and lock the boot lid
and all the doors when you leave the
vehi
cle.
- Never let passengers ride in the luggage
compartment. All occupants must be prop
erly restrained by the seat belts at all times
•=>
page
27'5.
Make sure that no hard objects chafe against
the wires of the heating element in the rear
window and damage them.
©
Note
- The tyre pressure must be adjusted accord
ing to the load the vehicle is carrying
<^>page
307.
- Air circulation in the vehicle helps reduce
fogging of the windows. Used air escapes
through ventilation slots in the rear of the
vehicle. Make sure that these ventilation
slots are not obstructed.
- Suitable belts for securing loads to the fas
tening rings* are commercially available.
Fastening rings
Unsecured loads are a hazard to all vehicle occu
pants.
There are fastening rings in the luggage com
partment which can be used to secure luggage
and other objects
^>page
62.
•
Use the fastening rings to secure items safely
in the luggage compartment
<=> A.
During a collision or an accident, even small and
light objects can possess so much energy that
they can cause very severe injuries. The amount
of this "kinetic energy" depends on the speed of
the vehicLe and the weight of the object. The
most significant factor, however, is the speed of
the vehicLe.
For example: an object weighing 4.5 kg is lying
unsecured in the vehicle. During a frontal
colli
sion at a speed of 50 km/h, this object generates
a force corresponding to 20 times its weight.
That means that the effective weight of the ob
ject increases to about 90 kg. You can imagine
the severity of the injuries which might be sus
tained if this "projectile" strikes an occupant as it
flies through the passenger compartment. •
00
273

Safe driving
/K WARNING
If items of luggage or other objects are se
cured to the fastening rings with inappropri
ate or damaged tensioning straps, injuries
could result in the event of sudden braking or
a collision.
- To prevent pieces of Luggage or other ob
jects from flying forward, always use appro
priate tensioning straps which are properly
secured to the fastening rings.
- Never secure a child seat on the fastening
rings.
274

Seat belts
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Seat belts
Why is it so important to
use seat belts?
Seat belts provide effective protection
The common belief that passengers can brace
their weight with their hands in a minor collision
is false.
Fig.
215 Driver with correctly positioned seat belt - good
protection if the brakes are applied suddenly
It is an established fact that seat belts provide
good protection in accidents. Therefore wearing
a seat belt is required by law in most countries.
When worn correctly, seat belts hold the occu
pants in the best position for maximum protec
tion
^>Fig.
215. The seat belts are capable of ab
sorbing much of the kinetic energy which is
gen
erated in a collision. They also help to prevent
uncontrolled movements which could Lead to se
vere injuries
^>page
275, Important safety
notes when using seat belts.
If they wear the seat belts correctly, the passen
gers benefit greatly from the ability of the belts
to reduce the kinetic energy gradually. The front
crumple zones and other passive safety features
(such as the airbag system) are also designed to
absorb the kinetic energy generated in a
colli
sion.
Taken together, all these features reduce
the forces acting on the occupants and conse
quently the risk of injury.
Although these examples are based on a frontal
collision,
the physical principles involved are the
same in other types of accidents. This is why it is
so important to put on the seat belts before ev
ery trip - even when "just driving around the cor
ner". Ensure that your passengers wear their seat
belts as well
^A-
Seat belts worn correctly have been shown to be
an effective means of reducing the potential for
injury and improving the chances of survival in a
serious accident
^>page
276, Forces acting in a
collision.
For information on how children can travel safely
in the car refer to
^>page
267, Child seats.
A WARNING
- Seat belts must be put on before every trip -
even when driving in town. This also applies
to the rear passengers - risk of injury!
- During pregnancy, women should always
ensure they wear a seat belt. The best way
to protect the unborn child is to protect the
mother
^>page
278, Wearing and adjust
ing the seat belts during pregnancy.
Important safety notes when using seat
belts
There are a number of safety points concerning
the seat belts which you should remember. This
will help to reduce the risk of injury in an
acci
dent.
A WARNING
- The seat belts can only provide maximum
protection if the seats are adjusted properly
^>page
58, Front seats.
- To ensure proper protection, it is important
to wear the seat belts in the correct position
^>page
277, How to wear seat belts prop
erly.
Ensure that the seat belts are worn ex
actly as recommended in this chapter. Belts
which are
not
worn properly can increase
the risk of injury in accidents considerably.
- Do not allow the seat belt to become twis
ted or jammed, or to rub on any sharp
edges.
- Never allow two passengers (even children)
to share the same seat belt. It is especially
dangerous to place a seat belt over a child
sitting on your lap.
275

Seat belts
•
Pull the belt to check that it is now securely fas
tened.
The three-point inertia reel belts are tensioned
automatically. The retractor system gives com
plete freedom of movement, as long as the pull
on the belt is slow. Hard braking locks the belt.
The belt will also lock when you accelerate, drive
up or down a steep hill or corner sharply.
A WARNING
- Always make certain that the belt is
posi
tioned properly
^>Fig.
220 - risk of injury
<=$page
278, Adjusting the seat belts.
- The latch plate of the belt must always be
engaged in the correct buckle for that seat.
Otherwise the belt will not be fully effective
and the danger of injury increases.
Adjusting the seat belts
Always position seat belts properly for maximum
safety.
Fig.
222 Adjusting shoulder/lap belt
The following features allow you to match the
position of the seat belt to your height:
- Belt height adjustment*
- Seat height adjustment (front seats)
/K WARNING
- The shoulder section of the belt should be
fitted across the centre of the collar bone
close to the body. To fasten the belt, take
hold of the belt above the latch plate and
pull it slowly down across your chest. Wear
the lap portion of the seat belt as low as
possibLe over the hips so that there is no
pressure on the lower abdomen. The belt
should always be worn tightly
^>Fig.
222.
Pull the belt tight if necessary to take up
any slack.
-Always make sure that belt is positioned
properly. Incorrectly worn seat belts can
give rise to injuries even in a minor coLlision.
- Seat belts worn too loose can result in
inju
ries because they allow excessive forward
movement in a crash; the occupant will be
brought to a sudden stop by the belt web
bing.
Wearing and adjusting the seat belts
during pregnancy
To
afford the best protection for the unborn
child it is important for the mother to wear the
seat belt properly at all times.
Fig.
223 Positioning seat belts during pregnancy
Women should always ensure they adjust the
seat belt correctly during pregnancy.
•
Adjust the front seat and head restraint cor
rectly before putting on the seat belt
tapage
58, Front seats.
•
To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate
and pull it slowly down across your chest. Wear
the lap portion of the seat belt as low as possi
ble over the hips so that there is no pressure on
the stomach
OF/'g.
223,
<=> A-
•
Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the ap
propriate seat and push it down until it is se
curely locked with an audible click
^>page
277,
Fig.
221.
•
Pull the belt to check that it is now securely fas
tened.
•
278

Airbag system
deactivated, it is important that the new
owner is also given the relevant documents.
- The relevant safety requirements must be
observed when the vehicLe or components
of the airbag or belt tensioner systems are
scrapped.
When are the airbags triggered?
One or more airbag systems are triggered in se
vere collisions, depending on the circumstances.
Factors determining the triggering response
It is not possible to define the exact triggering
response of the airbag system in all possible sit
uations, since the circumstances in different
types of accident will vary considerably. Impor
tant factors include, for example, the nature
(hard or soft) of the object which the car hits, the
angle of impact, vehicle speed and so on.
Whether the airbags are triggered depends
pri
marily on the vehicle deceleration rate resulting
from the collision. By processing the signals from
the sensors Located in the vehicLe, the electronic
control unit is immediately able to evaluate the
severity of the collision and activate the restraint
systems accordingly. If the deceleration rate is
below the predefined reference value in the
con
trol unit the airbags will not be triggered, even
though the accident may cause extensive damage
to the car. In these situations, the occupants are
protected by wearing the seat belts.
©
Note
The airbag may release a fine dust when it in
flates.
This is quite normal and does not
mean there is a fire in the vehicle.
Front airbags
Important notes on front passenger's
airbag
AIRBAG
B
1<&
W
\fiS
cm
Fig.
226 Version 1, passenger's sun visor: Airbag sticker
AIRBAG
m
S
Fig.
227 Version 2, passenger's sun visor: Airbag sticker
A
sticker1)
with important information about the
front passenger's airbag is provided on the front
passenger's sun visor. Please refer to the safety
notes in the following chapters:
- Child seats and front passenger's airbag
^page
267, Safety notes for using child seats
- Safe distance from front passenger's airbag
tapage
284, Important safety notes on the
front airbag system
- Objects between front passenger and front pas
senger's airbag
•=>page
284, Important safety
notes on the front airbag system
x)
Not available in all export vehicles.
282

Airbag system
Important safety notes on the front airbag
system
There are a number of safety points concerning
the airbag system which you should remember.
This will help to reduce the risk of injury in an ac
cident.
25cm
Fig.
231 Minimum distance from steering wheel
A WARNING
- It is important for the driver and front pas
senger to maintain a distance of at least
25 cm from the steering wheel or dash
board
oFig.
231. The airbag system will not
be able to give the required protection if you
sit too close to the steering wheel or dash
board.
There is also a risk of injury if the air-
bags are inflated. The front seats and head
restraints must always be positioned cor
rectly for the height of the occupant.
- If you do not wear a seat belt, if you lean
forward or to the side, or are not seated cor
rectly while the vehicle is in motion, you are
at greater risk of injury. Should the airbag
system be triggered in an accident there is
an even greater risk of injury.
- Never let a child travel on the front seat
without an appropriate restraint system. If
the airbag is triggered in an accident, the
child could sustain serious or fatal injuries
^>page
267, Child seats.
- Child seats in which the child faces the rear
of the car are located directly in the path of
the front passenger's airbag if it inflates. In
this case, the child could sustain serious or
fatal injuries if the airbag were to be de
ployed.
- Applies to vehicles on which the front pas
senger's airbag cannot be deactivated: Do
NOT use a rearward-facing child seat on
the front passenger's seat.
- Applies to vehicles with key-operated
switch for deactivating the front passeng
er's airbag: Do NOT use a rearward-facing
child seat on the front passenger's seat
while the front passenger's airbag is ac
tive.
If you have no alternative but to use a
rearward-facing child seat on the front
passenger's seat, the front passenger's
airbag must be deactivated beforehand via
the key-operated switch*
^>page
288.
Make sure that the front passenger's air-
bag is reactivated by means of the key-op
erated switch* as soon as the child seat is
no longer needed on the front passenger's
seat.
- Occupants sitting in the front of the car
must never carry any objects or pets in the
space between them and the airbags, or al
low children or other passengers to travel in
this position.
- Do not cover or stick anything on the steer
ing wheel hub or the soft plastic surface of
the airbag unit on the passenger's side of
the dashboard, and do not obstruct or modi
fy them in any way. These parts should only
be cleaned with a dry cloth (or with a cloth
moistened with plain water). It is also im
portant not to attach any objects such as
cup holders or telephone mountings to the
surfaces covering the airbag units.
- Any work on the airbag system or removal
and installation of the airbag components
for other repairs (such as repairs to the
steering wheel or removal of seats) must be
performed by a qualified workshop.
284

Airbag system
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Side airbags
Description of side airbags
The
airbag system is not a substitute for the seat
belts.
Fig.
232 Side airbags: Location in driver's seat (example)
The side airbags are located in the backrest
pad
ding of the front seats.
In conjunction with the three-point seat belts,
the side airbags give the occupants additional
protection for the whole upper part of the body
(i.e.
the chest, stomach and pelvis) in the event
of
a
severe side collision
•=> A
in Important safety
notes on the side airbag system on page 285.
In a side collision the side airbags reduce the risk
of injury to the areas of the body facing the im
pact.
How the side airbags work
When fully inflated, the side airbags reduce the
risk of injuries to the upper part of the
body.
Fig.
233 Side airbags in inflated condition
In certain types of side collision, the side airbag
(front) is triggered on the impact side of the
vehi
cle
^Fig.
233. Further airbag systems may also
be triggered, depending on the circumstances.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled
with propellant gas.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in
an accident, the airbags have to inflate extremely
rapidly (within fractions of
a
second).
The fully deployed airbags cushion the impact for
the occupants and help to reduce the risk of in
jury to the upper part of the body on the side fac
ing the door.
Important safety notes on the side airbag
system
There
are a number of safety points concerning
the airbag system which you should remember.
This will help to reduce the risk of injury in an ac
cident.
WARNING
-If
you
do
not
wear
a
seat belt, if
you
Lean
forward,
or are not seated correctly while
the vehicle is in motion, you are at greater
risk of injury should the side airbags be
trig
gered in an accident. This applies particular
ly to children if they are not properly protec
ted by
a
child restraint system.
- If children are not seated correctly, they are
at greater risk of injury should the airbag
system be triggered in an accident. This is
particularly the case if the child is travelling
on the front passenger's seat and the airbag
system is triggered in an accident. This
could result in serious or potentially fatal in
jury
^>page
267, Child seats.
- It is important not to attach any accessories
(such as cup holders) to the doors. This
would impair the protection offered by the
front side airbags.
- The sensors for the airbags are located in
the front doors. You must therefore not
make any modifications to the doors or door
trim (e.g. retrofitting loudspeakers),
as
this
could impair the function of the side air-
bags.
Any damage to the front doors could
285

Airbag system
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The head-protection airbag system is triggered in
certain types of side collision
^>Fig.
235. Further
airbag systems may also be triggered, depending
on the circumstances.
When the system is triggered, the airbag fills
with a propellant gas and covers the entire area
in front of the side windows, including the door
pillars. The head-protection airbag inflates to
soften the impact if an occupant strikes parts of
the interior or objects outside the vehicLe with
their head. By reducing the head impact and re
straining uncontrolled movement of the head,
the airbag also reduces the forces acting on the
neck.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in
an accident, the airbags have to inflate extremely
rapidly (within fractions of
a
second).
Important safety notes on the head-
protection airbags
There
are a number of safety points concerning
the airbag system which you should remember.
This will help to reduce the risk of injury in an ac
cident.
A WARNING
- It is important to ensure that the area
around the openings for the head-protec
tion airbags remains unobstructed at all
times,
so that the airbags can infLate prop
erly if needed.
- The built-in coat hooks should only be used
for lightweight clothing. Do not leave any
heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets.
When using the coat hooks, do not hang the
clothes on coat hangers.
- The space between the passengers and the
head-protection airbags must never be oc
cupied by children, other passengers or
pets.
Passengers should never lean out or
put
a
hand
or
arm out of the window while
the vehicle is in motion.
- Do not move the sun visors out to cover the
side windows if there is anything attached
to them (such as pens or
a
garage door
opener). These objects could cause injury if
the head-protection airbag is triggered.
The sensors for the airbags are Located in
the front doors. You must therefore not
make any modifications to the doors or door
trim (e.g. retrofitting loudspeakers),
as
this
could impair the function of the side air-
bags.
Any damage to the front doors could
Lead to faults in the system. Repairs or any
other work on the front doors must there
fore always be carried out by
a
qualified
workshop.
Sun blinds fitted on the rear doors must not
obstruct or impair the airbags in any way.
If unsuitable accessories are installed near
the head-protection airbag, the protection
afforded by the airbag can be seriously im
paired if the system is triggered. When the
head-protection airbag opens, parts of
these accessories could be thrown into the
vehicle and injure passengers
^>page
340.
Any work involving the head-protection air-
bags,
or removal and installation of the air-
bag components for other repairs (such as
repairs to the roof liner), must always be
performed by
a
qualified workshop. Other
wise the airbag system may fail to work
properly.
287