Seat Alhambra 2010 Owner's Guide

Airbag system 30
xEnsure deployed airbags and the system components involved are
immediately replaced with new, SEAT-approved components for the
vehicle.
xHave any repairs or modifications carried out at a qualified workshop.
Qualified workshops have the necessary tools, diagnostics equipment,
repair information and qualified personnel.
xNever fit recycled or reused airbag components in your vehicle.
xNever modify the airbag system components.
WARNING
If the airbags are triggered, a fine dust is produced. This is normal and it is
not an indication of fire in the vehicle.
xThis fine dust may irritate the skin and eyes and cause breathing diffi-
culties, particularly in people suffering from or who have suffered from
asthma or other illnesses of the respiratory tract. To reduce breathing diffi-
culties, get out of the vehicle and open and doors and windows to breath in
fresh air.
xShould you touch the dust, wash your hands and face using a mild soap
and water before you eat.
xPrevent the dust from affecting the eyes or open wounds.
xRinse your eyes with water if you have dust in them.
WARNING
Solvents cause the surfaces of the airbag modules to become porous. If an
airbag is accidentally triggered, the detachment of plastic parts could
cause serious injury.
xNever clean the instrument panel and the surfaces of the airbag
modules with cleaners containing solvents.
WARNING (continued)

Airbag system31
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Warning lamp
Several warning and control lamps should light up for a few seconds when
the ignition is switched. This signals that the lamp is working properly. They
will switch off after a few seconds.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG
/&&  warning lamp does not remain lit or if it is
lit together with the control lamp T on the instrument panel and the front
passenger airbag is disabled, there may be a fault in the airbag system
Ÿ.
WARNING
In the event of a fault in the airbag system, the airbag may not trigger
correctly, may fail to trigger or may even trigger unexpectedly, leading to
severe or fatal injuries.
xHave the airbag system checked immediately by a specialist workshop.
Fig. 16 Warning lamp for
disabling the front
passenger airbag on the
instrument panel.
lights upDigitPossible causeSolution
TInstrument panelFault in airbag system and seat belt tensioners.Have the system checked immediately by a specialist
workshop.
/&& Dash panelFault in the airbag system.Have the system checked immediately by a specialist
workshop.
Front passenger airbag disabled.Check whether the airbag should remain disabled.

Airbag system 32
xNever mount a child seat in the front passenger seat or remove the
mounted child seat! The front passenger airbag may deploy during an acci-
dent in spite of the fault.
Caution
Always pay attention to any lit lamps and to the corresponding descriptions
and instructions to avoid damage to the vehicle.
WARNING (continued)

Airbag system33
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Airbag system
Description and function of the airbag
The airbag can protect vehicle occupants in the event of an accidents, cush-
ioning 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 fractions of a second. When an occupant with the seat belt prop-
erly fastened puts pressure on the inflated airbag, the propellant gas escapes
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, burns and skin injuries can be ruled
out.
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 characteristics of the object
the vehicle hits. Therefore, airbags are not triggered every time the vehicle is
visibly damaged.
The airbag system is designed to be triggered in collisions with a severe
impact. The front, curtain, side and knee airbags may be triggered under
special circumstances. The scope of any visible damage to the vehicle is not
an indication of airbag deployment.
Airbags act in conjunction with three-point seat belts in the event of certain
accidents, when the vehicle deceleration rate is severe enough to trigger the
airbags. Airbags only deploy once and only under certain circumstances. Seat
belts remain present to offer protection in situations where airbags are not
triggered or where they have already deployed. For example, when a vehicle
hits another after an initial collision or is hit by another vehicle.The airbag system is an integral part of the car's passive safety system. The
airbag system can only work effectively when the occupants are wearing their
seat belts correctly and have adjusted the head restraints properly
’
Ÿpage 10.
Vehicle safety components
The following safety equipment makes up the vehicle safety design to reduce
the risk of severe and fatal injuries. Depending on the vehicle equipment,
some equipment may not be fitted in the vehicle or may not be available in
some markets.
xOptimised seat belts for all seats.
xBelt tension devices for the driver and front passenger and, where appli-
cable, on the outer seats of the second row of seats in combination with the
side airbags.
xFurthermore, belt tension limiters for the driver's and front passenger's
seat belt.
xBelt height adjustment for the front seats and, where applicable, the
outer seats of the second row of seats.
xSeat belt warning lamp
xFrontal airbags for driver and passenger.
xSide airbags for the driver, front passenger and, where applicable, the
outer seats of the second row of seats.
xLeft and right curtain airbags.
xOne airbag for the driver's knees.
xAirbag control lamp T.
xPASSENGER AIR BAG /&&  control lamp.
xControl units and sensors.
xHeight-adjustable head restraint optimised for rear collisions.
xAdjustable steering column.
xWhere applicable, mountings for child seats on the rear seats and on the
front passenger's seat.

Airbag system 34
xWhere applicable, mountings for the child seat upper retaining strap.
Situations in which the frontal, knee, side and curtain airbag does not
deploy:
xIf the ignition is switched off during the collision.
xIn frontal collisions when the deceleration measured by the control unit is
too low.
xIn minor side collisions.
xIn rear collisions.
xIn the event of the vehicle overturning.
xWhen the impact speed is lower than the reference value set in the control
unit.
Front airbags
Fig. 17 Location and deployment area of the front airbag
for the driver.

Airbag system35
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a 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. Always remains as far away as possible from the front
airbag. This way, the front airbags can completely deploy when triggered,
providing their maximum protection.
The front airbag for the driver is located in the steering wheel Ÿpage 34,
fig. 17 and the airbag for the front passenger is located in the dash panel
Ÿfig. 18. Airbags are identified by the word “AIRBAG”.
When the front airbags are triggered they fill the zones marked in red (deploy-
ment area) Ÿpage 34, fig. 17. Therefore, objects should never be placed or
mounted in these areas Ÿ, Factory-fitted accessories are outside the
range of the front airbag for the driver and the front passenger, e.g. the base-
plate for the mobile phone support.
The airbag covers fold out of the steering wheel or dash panel when the driver
and front passenger airbags are triggered Ÿfig. 18. The airbag covers
remain connected to the steering wheel or the dash panel.
WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in fractions of a second.
xAlways keep the deployment areas of the front airbags free.
xNever secure objects to the covers or in the deployment area of the
airbag modules, e.g. cup holders or phone supports.
xThe deployment space between the front passengers and the airbags
must not in any case be occupied by other passenger, pets and objects.
xNever fix any object to the windscreen above the front airbag on the
front passenger side.
xDo not alter, cover or stick anything to the steering wheel hub or the
surface of the airbag module on the passenger side of the dash panel.
WARNING
Front airbags are deployed in front of the steering wheel Ÿpage 34, fig. 17
and the dash panel Ÿfig. 18.
Fig. 18 Location and deployment area of the front airbag
for the front passenger.

Airbag system 36
xWhen driving, always hold the steering wheel on the outer edge of the
ring with both hands: 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position.
xAdjust the driver seat so that there is at least 25 cm distance between
your chest and the hub of the steering wheel. If you physical constitution
prevents you from meeting these requirements, make sure you contact a
specialist workshop.
xAdjust the front passenger's seat so there is as much distance as
possible between the front passenger and the dash panel.
Types of front passenger airbag systems
There are two different SEAT front passenger airbag systems:
Deactivating and activating the front passenger airbag using
the key switch
The front passenger airbag must be disabled when a rear-facing child seat is
mounted.
Disabling the front passenger airbag
xSwitch the ignition off.
AB
Characteristics of the front passen-
ger airbag that can only be disabled
in a specialist workshop.Characteristics of the front passen-
ger airbag that can be disabled man-
ually Ÿpage 36.
b Name: airbag systemb Name: airbag system with front
passenger airbag disabling.
b Warning lamp T on the instru-
ment panel.b Warning lamp T on the instru-
ment panel.
WARNING (continued)
b Front passenger airbag located in
the dash panel.
b Front passenger airbag located in
the dash panel.
b PASSENGER AIR BAG /&&  warn-
ing lamp on the instrument panel.
b Key switch in the glove compart-
ment on the front passenger side of
the dash panel.
Fig. 19 In the glove
compartment on the front
passenger side: key
switch for disabling and
enabling the front
passenger airbag.

Airbag system37
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
xOpen glove compartment on the front passenger side.
xUnfold the key shaft Ÿpage 78.
xTurn the key switch to OFF Ÿfig. 19 using the vehicle key.
xClose the glove compartment on the front passenger side.
xThe PASSENGER AIR BAG /&&  control lamp on the instrument panel will
remain lit while the ignition is switched on Ÿpage 31.
Enabling the front passenger airbag
xSwitch the ignition off.
xOpen glove compartment on the front passenger side.
xTurn the key switch to ON Ÿpage 36, fig. 19 using the vehicle key.
xClose the glove compartment on the front passenger side.
xCheck that the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF  control lamp on the instru-
ment panel does not light up while the ignition is switched on Ÿpage 31.
How to know whether the front passenger airbag is disabled
Disabling of the front passenger airbag is only indicated by the PASSENGER
AIR BAG
/&&  control lamp that remains lit on the instrument panel (/&& 
remains yellow) Ÿpage 31, “Warning lamp”.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG
/&&  control lamp on the centre console does not
remain lit or is lit in combination with the control lamp T on the instrument
panel, a child restraint system cannot be mounted on the front passenger's
seat for safety reasons. The front passenger airbag may deploy during an
accident.
WARNING
The front passenger airbag must only be disconnected in special cases.
xDisconnect and connect the front passenger airbag when the ignition is
switched off to avoid damage to the airbag system.
xIt is the driver's responsibility to ensure that the key operated switch is
set to the correct position.
xOnly disconnect the front passenger airbag when a child seat is to be
mounted under exceptional circumstances.
xAs soon as the child seat is no longer needed on the front passenger's
seat, reconnect the front passenger airbag.
WARNING (continued)

Airbag system 38
Side airbags
The side airbags are located in the outer cushion of the driver and front
passenger seat backrests Ÿpage 38, fig. 20. Depending on the equipment
of the model, the outer seats of the second row of seats may also be fitted
with side airbags, located between the seat backrests and the access area. Their position is indicated by the word “AIRBAG”. The red area (dotted line)
Ÿfig. 21 shows the field of action of the side airbags.
Fig. 20 On the side of the
front seat: location of the
side airbag.
Fig. 21 Range of action of the front and rear side
airbags. : with 5 and 7 seats; : with 6 seats.AAAB

Airbag system39
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a In a side collision, the side airbags are triggered on the affected side of the
vehicle, thus reducing the risk of injury to passengers on that side.
WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in fractions of a second.
xAlways keep the deployment areas of the side airbags free.
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.
xThe built-in coat hooks should be used only for lightweight clothing. Do
not leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets.
xDo not mount accessories on the doors.
xOnly used protective covers for the seats that are approved for the
vehicle. Otherwise, the side airbag would be obstructed when deployed.
WARNING
Incorrect handling of the driver's and front passenger's seat could prevent
the side airbag from deploying properly and cause severe injuries.
xNever remove the front seats of the vehicle or modify any of their
components.
xGreat forces must not be exerted on the backrest bolsters because the
side airbags might not deploy correctly, might not deploy at all or might
deploy unexpectedly.
xAny damage to the original seat upholstery or around the seams of the
side airbag units must be repaired immediately by a qualified workshop.
WARNING (continued)