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Seat Exeo. Instruction - part 2

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22

Seat belts

WARNING (continued)

WARNING (continued)

• Fasten your seat belt before every trip - even when driving in town. The

• Do not attempt to repair a damaged seat belt yourself. The seat belts

other passengers must also wear the seat belt, otherwise they may be

must not be removed or modified in any way.

danger of injury!

• The belts must be kept clean, otherwise the retractors may not work

• The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if the belt web is not posi-

properly ⇒ page 205.

tioned correctly.

• Never allow two passengers (even children) to share the same seat belt.

• Keep both feet in the foot-well in front of your seat as long as the

vehicle is in motion.

Seat belts

• Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion. Risk of fatal

injury.

Seat belt adjustment

• The belt webbing must never be twisted while it is being worn.

The seat belts for the front and rear occupants are locked into

• The belt webbing should never lie on hard or fragile objects (such as

glasses or pens, etc.) because this can cause injuries.

position by a latch.

• Do not allow the seat belt to be damaged or jammed, or to rub on any

sharp edges.

• Never wear the seat belt under the arm or in any other incorrect posi-

tion.

• Loose, bulky clothing (such as an overcoat over a jacket) impairs the

proper fit and function of the belts, reducing their capacity to protect.

• The slot in the seat belt buckle must not be blocked with paper or other

objects, as this can prevent the latch plate from engaging securely.

• Never use seat belt clips, retaining rings or similar instruments to alter

the position of the belt webbing.

• Frayed or torn seat belts or damage to the connections, belt retractors

or parts of the buckle could cause severe injuries in the event of an acci-

Fig. 11 Belt buckle and

dent. Therefore, you must check the condition of all seat belts at regular

latch plate of seat belt

intervals.

• Seat belts which have been worn in an accident and stretched must be

The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if the belt web is not

replaced by a qualified workshop. Renewal may be necessary even if there

positioned correctly.

is no apparent damage. The belt anchorage should also be checked.

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Seat belts

23

– Adjust the seat and head restraint correctly.

Seat belt position

- To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate and pull it slowly

Seat belts offer their maximum protection only when they are

across your chest and lap.

properly positioned.

- Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate seat and

push it down until it is securely locked with a click ⇒ page 22,

fig. 11.

- Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in

the buckle.

The seat belts are equipped with an automatic retractor on the shoulder

strap. Full freedom of movement is permitted when the shoulder belt is pulled

slowly. However, during sudden braking, during travel in mountains or bends

and during acceleration, the automatic retractor on the shoulder belt is

locked.

Fig. 12 Correct belt web

and head restraint posi-

The automatic belt retractors on the front seats are fitted with belt tension

tions, viewed from front

devices ⇒ page 26.

WARNING

• An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event

of an accident.

• The seat belts offer best protection only when the backrests are in an

upright position and the seat belts have been fastened properly.

• Never put the latch plate in the buckle of another seat. If you do this, the

seat belt will not protect you properly and the risk of injury is increased.

• If an occupant is incorrectly belted in, the belt cannot protect him or her

properly. An incorrectly positioned belt web can cause extremely severe

Fig. 13 Correct belt web

injuries.

and head restraint posi-

tions, viewed from side

Safety First

Operating instructions

Practical tips

Technical Data

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24

Seat belts

The following features are available to adjust the seat belt in the shoulder

Pregnant women must also fasten their seat belts properly

region:

The best protection for the unborn child is for the mother to

• belt height adjustment for the front seats.

wear the seat belt properly at all times during the pregnancy.

• front seat height adjustment*.

WARNING

• An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event

of an accident.

• The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie on the centre of the shoulder,

never across the neck. The seat belt must lie flat and snugly on the torso

⇒ page 23, fig. 12.

• The lap part of the seat belt must lie across the pelvis, never across the

stomach. The seat belt must lie flat and snugly on the pelvis ⇒ page 23,

fig. 13. Pull the belt tight if necessary to take up any slack.

• Read and observe the warnings ⇒ page 21.

Fig. 14 Positioning seat

belts during pregnancy

The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the belt web

is properly positioned ⇒ page 23.

- Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly ⇒ page 10.

- Holding the latch plate, pull the belt evenly across your chest and

as low as possible over the pelvis ⇒ fig. 14.

- Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate seat and

push it down until it is securely locked with a click ⇒

– Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in

the buckle.

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Seat belts

25

– Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls up easily and the trim

WARNING

is not damaged

• An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event

of an accident.

WARNING

• For pregnant women, the lap part of the seat belt must lie as low as

possible over the pelvis, never across the stomach, and always lie flat so

Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion. If you do, you

that no pressure is exerted on the abdomen.

increase the risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.

• Read and observe the warnings ⇒ page 21.

Seat belt height adjustment

Seat belt release

Seat belt height adjusters can be used to adjust the height of

The seat belt must not be unfastened until the vehicle has

the shoulder area of the seat belt.

come to a standstill.

Fig. 16 Belt height

adjustment - top guide

Fig. 15 Removing latch

fitting

plate from buckle

The belt height adjuster can be lowered by keeping the button

- Press the red button on the belt buckle ⇒ fig. 15. The latch plate

pressed down at the same time.

is released and springs out ⇒

- Press button ⇒ fig. 16

1

to adjust the belt height.

Safety First

Operating instructions

Practical tips

Technical Data

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26

Seat belts

– Take hold of the top guide fitting and slide it up or down so that

WARNING (continued)

the shoulder part of the seat belt is positioned roughly midway

over the shoulder, although it must never rest against the neck

• Before every trip, instruct your passengers to adjust their seat belts

⇒ page 25, fig. 16

2

⇒ in “Seat belt position” on page 23.

properly and to wear them during the trip.

• Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use

- After adjusting, pull the belt sharply to check that the catch on

of seat belts ⇒ page 21.

the guide fitting is engaged securely.

Note

Belt tension devices

It is also possible to adjust the height of the front seats to obtain the best

position for the front seat belts.

Function of the belt tension device

During a frontal collision, the seat belts on the front seats are

Incorrectly fastened seat belts

retracted automatically.

Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause severe injuries.

The seat belts for the front occupants are equipped with belt tension devices.

Sensors will trigger the belt tension devices during severe head-on, lateral

Seat belts can provide optimal protection only if the belt web is

and rear collisions only if the seat belt is being worn. This retracts and

properly worn. The seat belts must be fastened exactly in the order

tightens the seat belts, reducing the forward motion of the occupants.

described in this chapter. An incorrect sitting position impairs

The belt tension device can be triggered only once.

substantially the protection a seat belt offers and can lead to severe

or fatal injuries. The risk of severe or fatal injuries is especially

The belt tension devices will not be triggered in the event of a light frontal,

side or rear collision, if the vehicle overturns or in situations where no large

increased when a deploying airbag strikes an occupant who has

forces act on the front, side or rear of the vehicle.

assumed an incorrect sitting position. As driver, you are responsible

for all vehicle occupants, especially children. Therefore:

Note

- Never allow anyone to wear the seat belt incorrectly while the

• If the belt tension devices are triggered, a fine dust is produced. This is

vehicle is moving ⇒

normal and it is not an indication of fire in the vehicle.

• The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or

components of the system are scrapped. A qualified workshop is familiar with

WARNING

these regulations and will be pleased to pass on the information to you.

• An incorrectly worn seat belt increases the risk of severe injuries.

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Airbag system

29

WARNING (continued)

WARNING (continued)

• Always properly adjust the front seats.

• An inflating front passenger airbag can strike the rear-facing child seat

and hurl it with great force against the door, the roof or the backrest.

• If, under special circumstances, it is necessary to transport a child in a

rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, it is absolutely essential

The danger of fitting a child seat on the front passenger seat

that you observe the following safety measures:

Rear-facing child seats must never be used on the front

− Disable the front passenger airbag ⇒ page 44, “Deactivating

airbags*”.

passenger seat when the front passenger airbag is enabled.

− The child seat must be approved by the child seat manufacturer for

An enabled front airbag on the front passenger side is potentially a major

use on a front passenger seat with front or side airbag.

danger to a child. The front passenger seat is life threatening to a child if

− Follow the installation instructions given by the child seat manufac-

he/she is transported in a rear-facing child seat. You should always transport

turer and observe the safety instructions ⇒ page 46, “Child safety”.

all children up to 12 years of age on the rear seat.

− Before properly installing the child seat, push the front passenger

If a rear-facing child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, an inflating

seat completely backwards so that the greatest possible distance to

airbag can strike it with such great force that critical or fatal injuries may

the front passenger airbag is ensured.

result.

− Ensure that no objects prevent the front passenger seat from being

pushed completely back.

Therefore we strongly recommend you to transport children on the rear seats.

That is the safest place for children in the vehicle. Alternatively, the front

− The backrest of the front passenger seat must be in an upright

passenger airbag can be disabled with a key-operated switch ⇒ page 44.

position.

When transporting children, use a child seat appropriate to the age and size

of each child ⇒ page 46.

For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to turn the airbag off,

Warning lamp for airbag and belt tension device system 

an Authorised Service Centre must be consulted.

This warning lamp monitors the airbag and belt tension

device system.

WARNING

• If a child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, the risk to the child

The warning lamp monitors all airbags and belt tension devices in the

of sustaining critical or fatal injuries in the event of an accident increases.

vehicle, including control units and wiring connections.

• Never secure a rear-facing child seat to the front passenger seat if the

front passenger airbag is enabled. The child can suffer critical or fatal inju-

ries when the front passenger airbag is triggered.

Safety First

Operating instructions

Practical tips

Technical Data

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32

Airbag system

Front airbags

Description of front airbags

The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.

Fig. 18 Front passenger

airbag located in dash

panel

The front airbag for the driver is located in the steering wheel ⇒ fig. 17 and

the airbag for the front passenger is located in the instrument panel

⇒ fig. 18. Airbags are identified by the word “AIRBAG”. In the driver's side,

Fig. 17 Driver's Airbag in

the steering wheel and

the knee airbag* is found in the front passenger's footwell, under the instru-

kee airbag in the instru-

ment panel.

ment panel

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 ⇒ page 35, “Safety notes on the frontal airbag

system”.

In addition to their normal function of restraining the occupants, the seat

belts also hold the driver and front passenger in a position where the airbags

can provide maximum protection in a frontal collision.

The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts, but it is an integral part

of the vehicle's overall passive safety system. Please bear in mind that the

airbag system can only work effectively when the occupants are wearing their

seat belts correctly and have adjusted the head restraints properly. Therefore,

it is most important to wear the seat belts at all times, not only because this

is required by law in most countries, but also for your safety ⇒ page 18,

“Brief introduction”.

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Airbag system

33

The main parts of the front airbag system are:

Operation of frontal airbags

• an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit),

Inflated airbags reduce the risk of head or chest injury.

• the two front airbags (airbag with gas generator) for the driver and front

passenger,

• a knee airbag* for the driver,

• a warning lamp  in the dash panel insert ⇒ page 29.

The airbag system operation is monitored electronically. The airbag warning

lamp will light up for a few seconds every time the ignition is switched on

(self-diagnosis).

There is a fault in the system if the warning lamp 

• does not light up when the ignition is switched on ⇒ page 29

• after the ignition is switched on, it turns off after 4 seconds,

• it turns off and then lights up again after the ignition is switched on,

Fig. 19 Inflated front

• lights up or flashes while the car is moving.

airbags

The front airbag system will not be triggered if:

• the ignition is switched off,

The airbag system is designed so that the airbags for the driver and front

passenger are triggered in a severe frontal collision.

• there is a minor frontal collision,

• there is a side collision,

In certain types of accident the front, curtain and side airbags may be trig-

gered together.

• there is a rear-end collision,

• the vehicle turns over.

When the system is triggered, the airbags fill with a propellant gas and

deploy in front of the driver and front passenger ⇒ fig. 19. The fully deployed

airbags cushion the forward movement of the front occupants and help to

WARNING

reduce the risk of injury to the head and the upper part of the body.

• The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if the

The special design of the airbag allows the controlled escape of the propel-

occupants are seated correctly ⇒ page 10, “Proper sitting position for

lant gas when an occupant puts pressure on the bag. Thus, the head and

occupants”.

chest are surrounded and protected by the airbag. After the collision, the

• If a fault has occured in the airbag system, have the system checked

airbag deflates sufficiently for the front occupants to see forward.

immediately by a qualified workshop. Otherwise, during a frontal collision

In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the airbags

the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.

have to deploy extremely rapidly (within thousandth of a second). A fine dust

Safety First

Operating instructions

Practical tips

Technical Data

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34

Airbag system

may develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and it is not an indica-

tion of fire in the vehicle.

Airbag covers when the frontal airbags are triggered

Fig. 20 Airbag covers reacting when the front airbags

are triggered

The airbag covers fold out of the steering wheel or instrument panel when the

driver's and front passenger's airbags are triggered ⇒ fig. 20. The airbag

covers remain connected to the steering wheel or the dash panel.

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Airbag system

35

Safety notes on the frontal airbag system

Knee airbag

If you use airbags correctly, they can considerably reduce the

risk of injury in many kinds of accident.

Description of the knee airbag

The airbag system provides additional protection to the front

WARNING

seat passengers if they are properly secured.

• It is important for the driver and front passenger to keep a distance of

at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel. If the minimum

distance is not observed then the airbags do not correctly protect the

vehicle occupants; risk of fatal injuries! In addition, the front seats and

head restraints must always be positioned correctly for the height of the

occupant.

• If you are not wearing a seat belt, if you lean forward or to the side while

travelling or assume an incorrect sitting position, there is a substantially

increased risk of injury. This increased risk of injury will be further

increased if you are struck by an inflating airbag.

• Never let a child travel on the front seat without an appropriate restraint

system. If the airbag is triggered in an accident, children can sustain

serious or fatal injuries from the airbag as it inflates ⇒ page 46, “Child

Fig. 21 Driver knee

airbag

safety”.

• The deployment space between the front passengers and the airbags

must not in any case be occupied by other passenger, pets and objects.

The airbag for the driver is located in the instrument panel underneath the

• The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them once

steering wheel ⇒ fig. 21.

they have deployed.

The knee airbag offers additional protection to the driver’s knees and upper

• It is also important not to attach any objects such as cup holders or

and lower thigh areas as a supplement to the safety belts.

telephone mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag units.

If the front airbags deploy, the knee airbag also deploys in frontal collisions

• Do not attempt to modify components of the airbag system in any

above a certain severity ⇒ page 33.

way.

Besides their normal safety function, safety belts work to help keep the driver

in position in case of a frontal collision so that the airbags can provide protec-

tion.

Safety First

Operating instructions

Practical tips

Technical Data

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36

Airbag system

The airbag system is not a substitute for your seat belts. Rather, it is part of

the overall occupant restraint system in your vehicle. Always remember that

WARNING

the airbag system can only help to protect you if you are wearing your safety

• Safety belts and the airbag system can only provide protection when

belt and wearing it properly.

occupants are in the proper seating position.

Remember too, airbags will deploy only once and only in certain kinds of acci-

• If the airbag indicator light comes when the vehicle is being used, have

dents - your safety belts are always there to offer protection in those acci-

the system inspected immediately by your authorized SEAT dealer. The

dents in which airbags are not supposed to deploy or when they have already

airbag may not work properly when the vehicle acceleration in a side colli-

deployed, for example when your vehicle strikes or is struck by another after

sion is high enough to deploy the airbag. See also ⇒ page 65.

the first collision.

This is just one of the reasons why an airbag is not a substitute for the safety

belt. The airbag system works most effectively when used with the safety

How knee airbags work

belts. Therefore, always wear your safety belts correctly.

It is important to remember that while the supplemental airbag system is

The risk of injury to the leg area is reduced by fully deployed

designed to reduce the likelihood of serious injuries, other injuries, for

knee airbags.

example, swelling, bruising, and minor abrasions can also be associated with

airbags.

The knee airbag system basically consists of:

• The electronic control module

• One inflatable airbag (airbag and gas generator) for the driver

• airbag indicator light in the instrument panel

The knee airbag system will not deploy:

• when the ignition is turned off

• in front-end collisions when the deceleration measured by the control unit

is too low

Fig. 22 Inflated airbags

• in side collisions

protect in a frontal colli-

sion.

• in rear-end collisions

• in rollovers

The knee airbag system has been designed so that the airbag for the driver is

• in the event of a system malfunction (warning/indicator light illuminated)

deployed in certain but not all frontal collisions.

⇒ page 65.

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Airbag system

37

If the front airbag deploys, the knee airbag also deploys in frontal collisions

WARNING (continued)

above a certain severity.

is important that the driver keep their upper bodies and knees at the

When the system is deployed, the airbag starts to fill with a propellant gas,

following minimum safe distances:

and inflates between the lower part of the instrument panel and the driver

− 25 cm between the chest and the steering wheel/instrument panel.

⇒ page 36, fig. 22.

− 10 cm between the knees and the lower part of the instrument panel.

Although they are not a soft pillow, they can “cushion” the impact and in this

• The risk of personal injury increases if you lean forward or to the side,

way they can help to reduce the risk of injury to the lower extremities.

or if the seat is improperly positioned and you are not wearing your safety

All this takes place instantaneously, so fast that many people don't even

belt. The risk increases even more should the airbag deploy.

realize that the airbags have deployed. The airbags also inflate with a great

• Always make sure that the knee airbag can inflate without interference.

deal of force and it is important for occupant safety that nothing should be in

Objects between yourself and the airbag can increase the risk of injury in

their way when they deploy.

an accident by interfering with the way the airbag deploys or by being

Fully inflated airbags in combination with properly worn safety belts slow

pushed into you as the airbag deploys.

down and limit the occupant's forward movement and help to reduce the

− No objects of any kind should be carried in the footwell area in front

risk.

of the driver’s seat. Bulky objects (shopping bags, for example) can

hamper or prevent proper deployment of the airbag. Small objects can

be thrown through the vehicle if the airbag deploys and injure you or

your passengers.

Important safety notes on the knee airbag system

•

Make sure there are no cracks, deep scratches or other damage in the

area of the instrument panel where the knee airbag is located.

Airbags are only supplemental restraints.

• If children are incorrectly seated, their risk of injury increases in the

Always wear safety belts correctly and ride in a proper seating position. There

case of an accident ⇒ page 46.

is a lot that you and your passengers must know and do to help the safety

belts and airbags to provide supplemental protection.

WARNING

An inflating knee airbag can cause serious injury. Wearing safety belts

incorrectly and improper seating positions increase the risk of serious

personal injury and death whenever a vehicle is being used.

• The airbag system cannot protect you properly if you are seated too

close to any of the airbag locations. When adjusting their seat positions, it

Safety First

Operating instructions

Practical tips

Technical Data

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