deactivate airbag Alfa Romeo MiTo 2012 Owner handbook (in English)

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR13
1
Airbag failure (red)
This warning light comes on when the ignition key is
turned to MAR, but it should go off after a few seconds.
The warning light stays on, glowing steadily, if there is a
failure in the air bag system. The display will show the dedicated mes-
sage.¬
If, when the key is turned to MAR, the ¬warning
light does not come on or if it stays on with the ve-
hicle in motion (together with the message on the
display) there could be a failure in the safety systems; un-
der these circumstances the air bags or pretensioners may
not be activated in the event of an impact or, more rarely,
they could be activated accidentally. Contact an Alfa
Romeo Authorised Service immediately to have the sys-
tem checked.
Failure of the ¬warning light is indicated by the
“warning light flashing for longer than the nor-
mal 4 seconds, thus signalling that the front pas-
senger airbag is deactivated. In addition, the airbag sys-
tem automatically disables the airbag on the passenger’s
side (both front and side airbags, for versions/markets,
where provided). In this case, warning light
¬may not
indicate a fault in the system. Contact an Alfa Romeo Au-
thorised Service immediately to have the system checked.

14GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
Passenger-side air bag/side bags
deactivated (amber)
The“warning light comes on when the front pas-
senger’s airbag and the side bags are disabled. With front
passenger airbag on, when the ignition key is turned to MAR, the
“warning light comes on steadily for several seconds, it flashes
for another few seconds and then it should go out.
“
Failure of the “warning light is indicated by the
¬warning light coming on. In addition, the airbag
system automatically disables the airbag on the
passenger’s side (both front and side airbags, where pro-
vided). Contact an Alfa Romeo Authorised Service imme-
diately to have the system checked.
Seat belts unfastened (red)
This warning light remains on steadily with the vehi-
cle at a standstill when the driver’s seat belt is not
correctly fastened. The warning light will flash and a
buzzer will sound if the vehicle is in motion and the front seat belts
are not correctly fastened.
If you wish to permanently deactivate the S.B.R. (Seat Belt Re-
minder) system buzzer, please contact your nearest Alfa Romeo
Authorised Service.
The system can be reactivated using the Set-up Menu.<
Low batter y charge (red)
(for versions/markets, where provided)
The warning light comes on when the ignition key is
turned to MAR, but it should go out as soon as the en-
gine has started (with the engine running at idle speed a brief de-
lay before going out is acceptable).
If the warning light (or symbol in the display) remains on constantly
or flashes, contact your nearest Alfa Romeo Authorised Service.w

138SAFETY
CARRYING CHILDREN SAFELY
For optimal protection in the event of a crash, all passengers must
be seated and wear adequate restraint systems. This is even more
important for children. This prescription is compulsory in all EC coun-
tries according to EC Directive 2003/20/EC. Compared with adults,
their head is proportionally larger and heavier than the rest of the
body, while the muscles and bone structure are not completely
developed. For this reason, they require restraint systems which
are different from those used by adults to protect them in the event
of an accident.
The results of research on the best child restraint systems are con-
tained in the European Standard EEC-R44. This Standard enforces
the use of restraint systems classified in five groups:
Group 0 up to 10 kg in weight
Group 0+ up to 13 kg in weight
Group 1 9-18 kg in weight
Group 2 15-25 kg in weight
Group 3 22-36 kg in weight
All restraint devices must bear the certification data, together with
the control brand, on a solidly fixed label which must absolutely
never be removed.
When over 1.50 m in height, from the point of view of restraint
systems, children are considered as adults and have to wear the
standard seat belts.
Lineaccessori Alfa Romeo includes child seats for each weight group.
These devices are recommended, having been specifically designed
for Alfa Romeo cars.
Do not arrange child seats facing backwards if the
front airbag on the passenger’s side is enabled. De-
ployment of the airbag in an accident could cause
fatal injuries to the baby regardless of the severity of the
collision. It is advisable to carry children in dedicated child
seats on the rear seat, which is the most protected posi-
tion in the event of an accident.
Should it be absolutely necessary to carry a child
on the front seat in a cradle seat facing away from
the direction of travel, the passenger’s front air bag
and Side Bag should be deactivated by using the
Set-Up Menu. Deactivation can be verified by
checking the
“warning light in the instrument panel.
Move the passenger’s seat as far back as possible to avoid
contact between the child seat and the dashboard.

SAFETY147
2
FRONT AIRBAG ON PASSENGER’S SIDE
fig. 16
This is located in a dedicated compartment in the dashboard.
Always drive with your hands on the steering wheel
rim so that the airbag can inflate freely if need-
ed. Do not drive with your body bent forward.
Keep your back straight against the back rest.
fig. 16A0J0050m
Do not arrange child seats facing backwards if the
front airbag on the passenger’s side is enabled. De-
ployment of the airbag in an accident could cause
fatal injuries to the baby regardless of the sever-
ity of the collision. Always deactivate the passen-
ger’s airbag when placing a child seat on the front seat.
Move the passenger’s seat as far back as possible to avoid
contact between the child seat and the dashboard.
Although this is not mandatory by law, the airbag should
be immediately reactivated when children are no longer
carried to ensure better protection for adults.

148SAFETY
KNEE AIRBAG ON DRIVER’S SIDE fig. 17
This is located in a dedicated compartment under the steering wheel.
It provides additional protection in the event of a frontal impact.
fig. 17A0J0056m
To deactivate the air bags see chapter “1” para-
graph “Menu Items”.
Deactivating the passenger-side front
Air Bag and Side Bag
When carrying a chid on the front seat, deactivate the passenger-
side front Air Bag and Side Bag. With the air bags deactivated, the
“warning light is lit in the instrument panel.

150SAFETY
A small amount of dust will be released when the airbags are de-
ployed: this is in no way toxic and does not indicate an outbreak
of fire. It may however irritate the eyes and skin: wash with mild
soap and water in the event of exposure.
Airbag checking, repair and replacement must only be carried out
by an Alfa Romeo Authorised Services.
If the vehicle is to be scrapped, contact an Alfa Romeo Authorised
Services to have the air bags deactivated.
Pretensioners and airbags are deployed according to different log-
ics on the basis of the type of collision. Non-deployment of one of
the devices does not necessarily indicate a system malfunction.Do not hook rigid objects to the clothes hangers or
support handles.
Do not rest your head, arms or elbows on the door,
windows or on the window bag area to avoid in-
juries during inflation.
Never lean your head, arms or elbows out of the
window.
IMPORTANT NOTES
Do not wash the seats with water or pressurised steam (wash by
hand or at automatic seat washing stations).
The front and /or side air bags may activate in the event of sharp
knocks to the underbody of the vehicle (e.g. impact with steps,
pavements, potholes or road bumps etc.).
If the ¬warning light does not turn on or if it
stays on when travelling (together with the mes-
sage on the multifunctional display, where pro-
vided) when turning the key to MAR, there could be a fail-
ure in the restraint systems. If this is the case, the airbags
or pretensioners do not trigger in the event of an impact
or, in a small number of cases, they may trigger acciden-
tally. Do not drive the vehicle and contact a Alfa Romeo
Authorised Services to have the system checked immedi-
ately.