Seat Alhambra 2010 Owner's Guide

Seat belts 20
Even at low speeds, the forces acting on the body in a collision are so great
that it is not possible to brace oneself with just one's arms and hands. In a
frontal collision, unbelted passengers are thrown forward and will make
violent contact with the steering wheel, dash panel, windscreen or whatever
else is in the way Ÿpage 19, fig. 7.
The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts. When triggered, airbags
provide only additional protection. Airbags do not deploy in all types of acci-
dent. All occupants (including the driver) must be wearing seat belts properly
during the trip, even if the vehicle is equipped with airbag systems. This will
reduce the risk of critical or fatal injuries in the event of an accident – regard-
less of whether an airbag is fitted for the seat.
The airbag is only deployed once. To achieve the best possible protection, the
seat belt must always be worn properly so that you will be protected in acci-
dents in which no airbag is deployed. Vehicle occupants not wearing belts
could be thrown from the vehicle and sustain even more severe or fatal inju-
ries.
It is also important for the rear passengers to wear seat belts properly, as they
could otherwise be thrown forward violently in an accident. Rear passengers
who do not use seat belts endanger not only themselves but also the driver
and other occupants Ÿpage 19, fig. 8.Seat belt protection
Wearing a correctly fastened seat belt can significantly change the situation.
Properly worn seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting posi-
tions and substantially reduce the kinetic energy in the event of an accident.
Seat belts also help to prevent uncontrolled movements that could lead to
severe injuries. In addition, properly worn seat belts reduce the danger of
being thrown from the car Ÿfig. 9.
Passengers wearing their seat belts correctly benefit greatly from the ability
of the belts to absorb kinetic energy. 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 collision. Taken together, all these
features reduce the energy released and decrease the risk of injury.
Our examples describe frontal collisions. Of course, properly worn seat belts
substantially reduce the risk of injury in all other types of accidents. This is
why it is so important to fasten seat belts before every trip, even when just
driving “around the corner”. Ensure that your passengers wear their seat
belts as well.
Fig. 9 Drivers with prop-
erly worn seat belts will
not be thrown forward in
the event of sudden
braking.

Seat belts21
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a Accident statistics have shown properly worn seat belts to be an effective
means of considerably reducing the risk of severe injury and improving the
chances of survival in a serious accident. Furthermore, properly worn seat
belts improve the protection provided by deployed airbags in the event of an
accident. For this reason, wearing a seat belt is required by law in most coun-
tries.
Although your vehicle is equipped with airbags, the seat belts must be
fastened and worn. The front airbags, for example, are only triggered in some
frontal accidents. The front airbags will not be triggered during minor frontal
collisions, minor side collisions, rear collisions, rolls or accidents in which the
airbag trigger threshold value in the control unit is not exceeded.
Therefore, you should always wear your seat belt and ensure that your
passengers have fastened their seat belts properly before you drive off!

Seat belts 22
Seat belts
Using seat belts
Checklist
Using seat belts Ÿ:
xCheck the condition of all the seat belts at regular intervals.
xKeep the seat belts clean.
xKeep the belt web, the latch plate and the buckle free of foreign bodies
and liquids.
xDo not jam or damage the seat belt or the latch plate when closing the
door, for example.
xNever remove, modify or repair the seat belt or belt fastening mecha-
nisms.
xFasten your seat belt properly before each trip and keep it fastened.
Twisted seat belt
If it is difficult to remove the seat belt from the guide, the seat belt may have
become twisted inside the side trim after being wound too quickly on unfas-
tening:
xPull out the seat belt completely, carefully pulling on the latch plate.
xUntwist the belt and guide it back, assisting it by hand.
The seat belt must be fastened even if it is impossible to untwist it. In this
case, the twisted area must not be in an area in direct contact with your body.
Have the seat belt untwisted urgently by a qualified workshop.
WARNING
An improperly handled seat belt increases the risk of sustaining severe or
fatal injuries.
xRegularly check that the seat belts and their components are in perfect
condition.
xAlways keep your seat belt clean.
xDo not jam or damage the seat belt or rub it with sharp edges.
xMake sure there are no liquids or foreign bodies on the latch plate and
in the buckle.
WARNING (continued)

Seat belts23
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Fastening or unfastening a seat belt with one buckle
Properly worn seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the position that most
protects them in the event of an accident or sudden braking Ÿ.Fastening the seat belt
Fasten your seat belt before each trip.
xAdjust the front seat and head restraint correctly Ÿpage 10.
xEngage the backrest of the rear seat in an upright position Ÿ.
xPull the latch plate and place the belt webbing evenly across your chest
and lap. Do not twist the seat belt when doing so Ÿ.
xEngage the latch plate in the buckle of the corresponding seat Ÿfig. 10.
xPull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in the
buckle.
Unfastening the seat belt
The seat belt must not be unfastened until the vehicle has come to a standstill
Ÿ.
xPress the red button on the buckle Ÿfig. 11. The latch plate is released
from the buckle.
xGuide the belt back by hand so that it rolls up easily and the trim will not
be damaged.
WARNING
An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe or fatal injuries in the
event of an accident.
xThe seat belt cannot offer its full protection unless the backrests are in
an upright position and the seat belt is worn correctly, according to your
size.
xUnbuckling your seat belt while the vehicle is in motion can cause
severe or fatal injuries in the event of an accident or sudden braking.
Fig. 10 Insert the latch
plate into the buckle.
Fig. 11 Release the latch
plate from the buckle.

Seat belts 24
Fastening or unfastening the seat belt with two buckles
Properly worn seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the position that most
protects them in the event of an accident or sudden braking Ÿ.
The seat belts for the centre seat in the second row of seats and for the seats
in the third row of seats are fastened using two buckles.
Fastening the seat belt
Fasten your seat belt before each trip.
xAdjust the rear seat and head restraint correctly Ÿpage 10.
xEngage the backrest of the rear seat in an upright position Ÿ.
xUse latch plate of the belt Ÿfig. 12 to pull the seat belt down. Do not
twist the seat belt when doing so Ÿ.
xEngage the latch plate in the buckle of the corresponding seat .
xUse the latch plate Ÿfig. 12 to pull the seat belt across your lap.
xEngage the latch plate in the buckle of the corresponding seat .
xPull the belt to ensure that both latch plates are securely engaged in the
buckles.
Unfastening the seat belt
The seat belt must not be unfastened until the vehicle has come to a standstill
Ÿ.
xPress the red button on the buckle Ÿfig. 12 . The latch plate is
released from the buckle.
xPress the red button on the buckle Ÿfig. 12 . The latch plate is
released from the buckle.
xGuide the belt back by hand so that it rolls up easily and the trim will not
be damaged.
WARNING
An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe or fatal injuries in the
event of an accident.
xThe seat belt cannot offer its full protection unless the backrests are in
an upright position and the seat belt is worn correctly, according to your
size.
xUnbuckling your seat belt while the vehicle is in motion can cause
severe or fatal injuries in the event of an accident or sudden braking.
Note
Seat belts with two buckles include a diagram to show how to fasten the seat
belt.
Fig. 12 Fasten the seat
belt on the centre seat in
the second row of seats.
A1
A1AA
A2
A2AB
AA
AB

Seat belts25
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Seat belt position
Seat belts offer their maximum protection in the event of an accident and
reduce the risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries only when they are prop-
erly positioned. Furthermore, if the webbing is correctly positioned, the seat belt will hold the occupants in the optimum position to ensure the airbag
provides the utmost protection. The seat belt must therefore always be worn
and the webbing correctly positioned.
Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause severe or even fatal injuries Ÿpage 10,
“Adjusting the seat position”.
Correct seat belt position
xThe shoulder part of the seat belt must lie on the centre of the shoulder,
never across the neck or the arm, under the arm or behind the shoulder.
xThe lap part of the seat belt must lie across the pelvis, never across the
stomach.
xThe seat belt must lie flat and fit comfortably. Pull the belt tight if neces-
sary to take up any slack.
In the case of pregnant women, the seat belt must lie evenly across the chest
and as low as possible over the pelvis, never across the stomach and must be
worn properly at all times during the pregnancy Ÿfig. 14.
Fig. 13 Correct belt web and head restraint positions.
Fig. 14 Correct posi-
tioning of seat belts
during pregnancy.

Seat belts 26
Adapting the position of the belt webbing to your size
The seat belt can be adapted using the following equipment:
xBelt height adjustment for the front seats.
xSeat height adjustment (front seats).
WARNING
An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event of
an accident or sudden braking or manoeuvre.
xThe seat belt cannot provide optimum protection if it is not correctly
worn and the backrest is not tilted slightly backwards.
xThe seat belt itself or a loose seat belt can cause severe injuries if the
belt moves from hard areas of the body to soft areas (e.g. the stomach).
xThe shoulder part of the seat belt must lie on the centre of the shoulder,
never across the neck or the arm.
xThe seat belt must lie flat and fit comfortably on the torso
xThe lap part of the seat belt must lie across the pelvis, never across the
stomach. The seat belt must lie flat and fit comfortably on the pelvis Pull
the belt tight if necessary to take up any slack.
xFor pregnant women, the lap part of the seat belt must lie as low as
possible over the pelvis and always lie flat, “surrounding” the stomach.
xDo not twist the seat belt while it is fastened.
xNever pull the seat belt away from your body using your hand.
xDo not lie the seat belt across rigid or fragile objects, e.g. glasses, pens
or keys.
xNever use seat belt clips, retaining rings or similar instruments to alter
the position of the belt webbing.
Note
If you physical constitution prevents you from maintaining the correct posi-
tion of the belt webbing, contact a qualified workshop for help with any special devices to ensure the optimum protection of the seat belt and airbag.
SEAT recommends visiting a qualified workshop.
Belt height adjustment
Using the height adjusters for the front seats and the outer seats of the
second row, the position of the seat belts can be adjusted in the shoulder
area according to the height of the occupant:
xKeep the guide device pressed down in the direction of the arrow
Ÿfig. 15.
xMove the guide device up or down until the seat belt lies over the centre
of your shoulder Ÿpage 25, “Seat belt position”.
xRelease the guide device.
xPull the belt sharply to check that the device is engaged securely.
Fig. 15 Next to the front
seats: belt height
adjuster.

Seat belts27
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
WARNING
Never adjust the belt height while the vehicle is in motion.
Seat belt tensioners
Automatic belt retainer, belt tension device, belt tension
limiter
Seat belts are part of the vehicle safety concept Ÿpage 33 and consist of the
following important functions:
Automatic belt retainer
Every seat belt is equipped with an automatic belt retainer on the shoulder
belt. If the belt is pulled slowly or during normal driving, the system allows for
total freedom of movement on the shoulder belt. However, during sudden
braking, during travel in mountains or bends and during acceleration, the
automatic belt retainer on the seat belt is locked is pulled quickly.
Belt tension devices
The seat belts on the front seats and the outer seats of the second row are
equipped with belt tension devices.
Sensors will trigger the belt tension devices during severe head-on, lateral
and rear collisions and retract and tighten the seat belts. If the seat belt is
loose, it is retracted to reduce the forwards movement of occupants or move-
ment in the direction of the collision. The belt tension device works in combi-
nation with the airbag system. The belt tension device will not be triggered in
the event of the vehicle overturning if the side airbags are not deployed.
If the belt tension device is triggered, a fine dust is produced. This is normal
and it is not an indication of fire in the vehicle.Belt tension limiter
The belt tension limiter reduces the force of the seat belt on the body in the
event of an accident.
Note
The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or
components of the system are scrapped. A qualified workshop is familiar with
these requirements Ÿpage 27.
Service and disposal of belt tension devices
If you work on the belt tension devices or remove and install other parts of the
vehicle when performing other repair work, the seat belt may be damaged.
The consequence may be that, in the event of an accident, the belt tension
devices function incorrectly or not at all.
So that the effectiveness of the belt tension device is not reduced and that
removed parts do not cause any injuries or environmental pollution, regula-
tions must be observed. These requirements are known to qualified dealer-
ships.
WARNING
Improper handling and homemade repairs of seat belts, automatic belt
retainers and tension devices increase the risk of sustaining severe or fatal
injuries. The belt tension device may fail to trigger or may trigger in the
wrong circumstances.
xNever attempt to repair, adjust or remove or install parts of the belt
tension devices or seat belts. Any work must be performed by a qualified
workshop only Ÿpage 285.
xBelt tension devices and automatic belt retainers cannot be repaired
and must be replaced.

Seat belts 28
For the sake of the environment
Airbag modules and belt tension devices may contain perchlorate. Observe
the legal requirements for their disposal.

Airbag system29
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Airbag system
Brief introduction
Introduction
Front airbags have been installed for both driver and passenger. The front
airbags can also protect the chest and head of driver and passenger if the
seats, seat belts head restraints and, for the driver, the steering wheel are
correctly adjusted and used. Airbags are considered as additional safety
equipment. An airbag cannot replace the safety belt, which must be worn at
all times, even in front seats where front airbags have been installed.
Additional information and warnings:
xDriving tips Ÿpage 7
xCorrect sitting positions Ÿpage 10
xSeat belts Ÿpage 22
xChild seats (accessories) Ÿpage 42
xCare and cleaning of the vehicle interior Ÿpage 278
xAccessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications Ÿpage 285
xNotes for the user Ÿpage 283
WARNING
Never exclusively trust the airbag system as a means of protection.
xEven when triggered, airbag protection is only auxiliary.
xThe airbags provide the best protection when the seat belts are prop-
erly fastened, thus reducing the risk of sustaining injuries Ÿpage 22,
“Seat belts”.
xBefore each trip, every occupant must sit properly, correctly fasten the
seat belt belonging to his or her seat and keeping it fastened throughout
the trip. This rule is valid for all occupants.
WARNING
Occupants sitting in the front of the vehicle must never carry any objects in
the deployment space between them and the airbags, as this increases the
risk of sustaining injuries if the airbag is triggered. This modifies the
airbag deployment space or the objects may fly uncontrollably and hit your
body.
xNever carry objects in your hand or on your lap while the vehicle is in
motion.
xNever transport objects on the front passenger seat. In the event of
sudden braking and manoeuvres, the objects may end up in the airbag
deployment space and fly uncontrollably around the vehicle interior if the
airbag is activated.
xOccupants of the front and outer rear seats must never carry any other
people, pets or objects in the deployment space between them and the
airbags. Make sure children and other passengers also respect this recom-
mendation.
WARNING
The airbag system provides protection for one accident only. If they have
been deployed, they must be replaced.
WARNING (continued)