weight Seat Alhambra 2006 Owner's Manual

Safe driving15
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
– Distribute the load evenly in the luggage compartment.
– Lay and stow heavy luggage as far forward as possible in the
luggage compartment.
– Stow heavy luggage as low as possible in the luggage compart-
ment.
– Secure heavy objects to the fitted fastening rings Ÿ page 15.
WARNING
•Loose luggage and other objects in the luggage compartment can
cause serious injuries.
•Always stow objects in the luggage compartment and secure them on
the fastening rings.
•Use suitable specialist straps to secure heavy objects.
•During sudden manoeuvres or accidents, loose objects can be thrown
forward, injuring vehicle occupants. This increased risk of injury will be
further increased if a loose object is struck by an inflating airbag. If this
happens, objects can be transformed into “missiles”. Risk of fatal injury.
•Please note that the centre of gravity may shift when transporting
heavy objects; this may affect the vehicle's handling and lead to an acci-
dent. Therefore, it is essential to adjust your speed and driving style
accordingly, to avoid accidents.
•Never exceed the allowed axle loads or allowed maximum weight. If the
allowed axle load or the allowed total weight is exceeded, the driving char-
acteristics of the vehicle may change, leading to accidents, injuries and
damage to the vehicle.
•Never leave your vehicle unattended, especially when the tailgate is
open. Children could climb into the luggage compartment closing the door
behind them; they will remain trapped without help and there is a mortal
risk.
•Never allow children to play in or around the vehicle. Close and lock
both the tailgate and all the doors when you leave the vehicle. Before you
lock the vehicle, make sure that there are no adults or children in the
vehicle.
•Never transport passengers in the luggage compartment. Every
passenger must be properly belted in Ÿpage 17.
Note
•Air circulation in the vehicle helps reduce fogging of the windows. Used
air escapes through ventilation slits in the side trim of the luggage compart-
ment. Ensure that the ventilation slits are never covered.
•Straps for securing the load to the fastening rings are commercially
available.
Fastening rings
There are four fastening rings in the luggage compartment
which can be used to secure luggage and other objects.
– Always use suitable and undamaged straps to secure luggage
and other objects to the fastening rings Ÿ in “Loading the
luggage compartment” on page 14.
– Pull up the fastening rings to attach the straps.
The retainers for the detachable seat belts for the third row of seats and the
floor anchors for the seats can be used as fastening rings for items of
luggage.
WARNING (continued)

Safe driving 16
During a collision or an accident, even small and light objects can build up so
much energy that they can cause very severe injuries. The amount of “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 collision 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 object increases to about 90 kg. You can imagine the severity of the inju-
ries which might be sustained if this “projectile” strikes an occupant as it flies
through the passenger compartment. This increased risk of injury will be
further increased if a loose object is struck by an inflating airbag.
WARNING
If pieces of baggage or other objects are secured to the fastening rings with
inappropriate or damaged retaining cords, injuries could result in the event
of braking manoeuvres or accidents.
•To prevent pieces of luggage or other objects from flying forward,
always use appropriate retaining cords which are secured to the fastening
rings.
•Never secure a child seat on the fastening rings.

Seat belts19
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Why wear seat belts?
Frontal collisions and the laws of physics
In the event of a frontal collision, a large amount of kinetic
energy is generated .
The action of the laws of physics in the case of a frontal collision may be
explained in the following way: As the vehicle moves Ÿfig. 5 the vehicle and
the passengers alike accumulate a stored energy called “kinetic energy”.
The amount of “kinetic energy” depends on the speed of the vehicle and the
weight of the vehicle and passengers. The higher the speed and the greater
the weight, the more energy there is to be “released” in an accident.
The most significant factor, however, is the speed of the vehicle. If the speed
doubles from 25 km/h to 50 km/h, for example, the kinetic energy increases
by a factor of four.
Because the passengers in our example are not restrained by seat belts, the
entire amount of kinetic energy has to be absorbed at the point of impact
Ÿfig. 6.
Even at speeds of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces acting on bodies in a colli-
sion can easily exceed one tonne (1,000 kg). At greater speed these forces
are even higher.
Passengers not wearing seat belts are not “attached” to the vehicle. In a
frontal collision they will continue to move forward at the speed their vehicle
Fig. 5 Passengers of a
vehicle heading for a brick
wall. They are not wearing
seat belts.
Fig. 6 The vehicle with
unbelted occupants
strikes the wall.

Airbag system 32
Airbag system
Brief introduction
Why wear a seat belt and assume the correct sitting
position?
For the inflating airbags to achieve the best protection, the
seat belt must always be worn properly and the correct sitting
position must be assumed.
For your own safety and the safety of the passengers, please ensure
the following before you drive:
– Always wear the seat belt properly Ÿpage 17.
– Adjust the driver seat and the steering wheel correctly Ÿpage 9.
– Adjust the front passenger seat correctly Ÿpage 10.
– Adjust the head restraint seat correctly Ÿpage 12.
– Use the correct child restraint system to protect children in your
vehicle Ÿpage 45.
The airbag deploys in fractions of a second and with a high velocity. If you
have assumed an incorrect seating position at that moment, you could
sustain critical injuries. Therefore, it is essential that all occupants maintain
a correct sitting position while travelling.
Braking heavily the moment before an accident may cause an occupant not
wearing a seat belt to be thrown forward into the area of the deploying airbag. In this case, the inflating airbag may inflict critical or fatal injuries upon the
occupant. This applies particularly to children.
Always maintain the greatest possible distance between yourself and the
front airbag. This way, the front airbags can completely deploy when trig-
gered, providing their maximum protection.
The most important factors for triggering the airbag are the type of accident,
the angle of impact and the vehicle speed.
Whether the airbags are triggered depends primarily on the vehicle deceler-
ation rate resulting from the collision and detected by the control unit. If the
vehicle deceleration occurring during the collision and measured by the
control unit remains below the specified reference values, the front, side
and/or curtain airbag will not be triggered. Take into account that the visible
damage in a vehicle following an accident, for whatever reason, are not an
indication as to why the airbags were triggered.
WARNING
•Wearing the seat belt incorrectly or assuming an incorrect sitting posi-
tion can lead to critical or fatal injuries.
•All occupants, including children, who are not properly belted can
sustain critical or fatal injuries if the airbag is triggered. You should always
transport all children up to 12 years of age on the rear seat. Never transport
children in the vehicle if they are not restrained or the restraint system is
not appropriate for their age, size or weight.
•If you are not wearing a seat belt or if you lean forward or to the side or
assume an incorrect sitting position, the risk of injury is increased
substantially. This increased risk of injury will be further increased if you
are struck by an inflating airbag.
•To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating airbag, always wear the
seat belt properly Ÿpage 17.

Airbag system 40
Function of side airbags
Inflated airbags reduce the risk of head or chest injury.
In some side collisions the side airbag is triggered on the impact side of the
vehicle.
In certain types of accident the front, curtain and side airbags may be trig-
gered together.
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 deploy extremely rapidly (within fractions of a second). A fine dust
may develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and is no indication
that there was a fire in the vehicle.
The fully deployed airbags cushion the movement of the occupants of the
front seats and help to reduce the risk of injury to the upper body.
The special design of the airbag allows the controlled escape of the propel-
lant gas when an occupant puts pressure on the bag. Thus, the head and
chest are surrounded and protected by the airbag.
Safety notes on the operation of the side airbag system
Correct behaviour considerably reduces the risk of injury.
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 airbag system be triggered in an accident.
•In order for the side airbags to provide their maximum protection, the
prescribed sitting position must always be maintained with seat belts
fastened while travelling.
•The built-in coat hooks should be used only for lightweight clothing. Do
not leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets.
•Great forces, such as hard blows or kicks, must not be exerted upon the
backrest bolster because the system may be damaged. In this case the side
airbags would not be triggered.
•Under no circumstances should protective covers be fitted over the
driver seat or front passenger seat unless the covers have been expressly
approved for use in your vehicle. Because the airbag deploys from the side
of the backrest, the use of conventional seat covers would obstruct the side
airbag, seriously reducing the airbag's effectiveness .
•Any damage to the original seat upholstery or around the seams of the
side airbag units must be repaired immediately by a qualified workshop.
•The airbags provide protection for one accident only, if they have been
deployed they must be replaced.
•When children assume an incorrect sitting position, they expose them-
selves to an increased risk of injury in the event of an accident. This is
particularly the case if the child is travelling on the front passenger seat
and the airbag system is triggered in an accident; this could have critical
consequences including serious injury or death Ÿpage 45.
•Any work on the side airbag system or removal and installation of the
airbag components for other repairs (such as removal of the front seat)
should only be performed by a qualified workshop. Otherwise, a fault may
be introduced into the operation of the airbag system.
•Do not attempt to modify components of the airbag system in any
way.
WARNING (continued)

Airbag system 42
Function of curtain airbags
Fully inflated airbags reduce the risk of head or chest injury in
a side collision.
During some side collisions the curtain airbag is triggered on the impact side
of the vehicle Ÿfig. 27.
In certain types of accident the front, side and curtain airbags may be trig-
gered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with propellant gas. In the
process, the curtain bag covers the side windows and door pillars.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the airbags
have to deploy extremely rapidly (within fractions of a second). A fine dust
may develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and is no indication
that there was a fire in the vehicle.
The fully deployed airbags cushion the movement of the front occupants and
help to reduce the risk of injury to the upper body.The special design of the airbag allows the controlled escape of the propel-
lant gas when an occupant puts pressure on the bag. Thus, the head and
chest are surrounded and protected by the airbag.
Safety notes on the operation of the curtain airbag system
If you use airbags correctly, they can considerably reduce the
risk of injury in many kinds of accident.
WARNING
•In order for the side airbags to provide their maximum protection, the
prescribed sitting position must always be maintained with seat belts
fastened while travelling.
•For safety reasons, the head air bag must be disconnected in those
vehicles fitted with a passenger compartment separation screen. See an
Authorised Service Centre to make this adjustment.
•There must be no other persons, animals or objects between the occu-
pants of the outer seats and the deployment space of the curtain airbags
so that the curtain airbag can deploy without restriction and provide the
greatest possible protection. Therefore, sun blinds which have not been
expressly approved for use in your vehicle may not be attached to the side
windows .
•The built-in coat hooks should be used only 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 airbags provide protection for one accident only, if they have been
deployed they must be replaced.
•Any work on the curtain airbag system or removal and installation of
the airbag components for other repairs (such as removal of the roof lining)
should only be performed by a qualified workshop. Otherwise, a fault may
be introduced into the operation of the airbag system.
Fig. 27 Deployed curtain
airbags

Child safety45
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Child safety
Brief introduction
Introduction
Statistics show that children are generally safer on the rear
seat than on the front passenger seat.
We recommend that children under 12 years of age be transported on the rear
seats. Children travelling on the rear seat must use a child restraint system or
the seat belts provided, depending on their age, height and weight. For
safety reasons, the child restraint system should be installed in the centre of
the rear seat or behind the front passenger's seat.
The physical principles involved and the forces acting in a collision apply to
children just as much as adults Ÿpage 19. But unlike adults, children do not
have fully developed muscle and bone structures. This means that children
are subject to a greater risk of injury.
To reduce this risk, children must always use special child restraint systems
when travelling in the vehicle.
We recommend the use of child safety products from the SEAT Genuine Acces-
sories Program including systems for all ages made by “Peke”
2).
These systems have been especially designed and approved, complying with
the ECE-R44. regulation.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats. Always read and observe
Ÿpage 45.We recommend that you include the manufacturer's directions for child seat
use in the vehicle wallet and always keep them in the vehicle.
Safety notes on using child seats
Proper use of child seats substantially reduces the risk of
injury in an accident!
As the driver, you are responsible for any children you transport in
your vehicle.
– Protect your children by properly using appropriate child seats.
– Always ensure that the belt webbing is properly positioned
according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the
child seat.
– When travelling, do not allow children to distract you from traffic.
– Take breaks regularly during long trips. Take a break at least
every two hours.
We recommend that you include the manufacturer's directions for child seat
use in the vehicle wallet and always keep them in the vehicle.
WARNING
•Never fit a child seat in the passenger seat, where the child faces back-
wards to the direction of travel and the frontal airbag has not been deacti-
vated. This is highly dangerous for the child. If it is necessary, in excep-
2)Not for all countries

Child safety47
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Child seats
Categorisation of child seats into groups
Use only child seats that are officially approved and suitable
for the child.
Child seats are covered by the European standard ECE R 44 (issued by the
Economic Commission of Europe).
The child seats are grouped into 5 categories:
Group 0: to 10 kg
Group 0+: to 13 kg
Group 1: 9to18kg
Group 2: 15 to 25 kg
Group 3: from 22 to 36 kg
Child seats that have been tested and approved under the ECE R 44 standard
bear the test mark on the seat (the letter E in a circle with the test number
below it).
Group 0 and 0+ child seats
A suitable child seat and a correctly adjusted seat belt can
help to protect your child.
Group 0: For babies from about 9 months old and 10 kg in weight the most
suitable seats are those appearing in the illustration Ÿ fig. 30.
Group 0+: For babies from about 18 months old and 13 kg in weight the most
suitable seats are those appearing in the illustration.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats.
We recommend that you include the manufacturer's directions for child seat
use in the vehicle wallet and always keep them in the vehicle.
WARNING
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use of
child seats Ÿpage 45.
Fig. 30 A group 0 rear-
facing child seat fitted on
the rear seat.

Child safety49
Safety FirstOperating instructionsTips and MaintenanceTe c h n i c a l D a t a
WARNING
•The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie approximately on the centre
of the shoulder, never across the neck or the arm. The seat belt must lie
close to the torso. The lap belt part must lie across the pelvis, not across
the stomach, and always fit closely. Pull the belt tight if necessary to take
up any slack Ÿpage 22, “Seat belts”.
•Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of child seats Ÿpage 45.
Installation of child seats in vehicle seats
General notes
The correct fitting of child seats in the different seats is described below.
Child restraint systems that have been checked according to ECE-R 44 are
suitable for installation on the front passenger seat or on the rear seats.
Note
The passenger seat and the rear seats comply with directive 77/541 EEC for
the installation of child restraint systems .
Front passenger seat
Only the use of an officially approved child seat corre-
sponding to the weight and height of the child is permitted.
Universal seats for children in groups 0, 0+, 1, 2, or 3 (Ÿpage 52) Ÿ can
be fitted in the passenger seat.
To fit a child seat, position the seat in the upright position and move the
passenger seat as far back as possible. The seat must be in the highest posi-
tion
3) on vehicles with a height-adjustableŸ front passenger seat.
WARNING
•Never fit a child seat in the passenger seat, where the child faces back-
wards to the direction of travel and the frontal airbag has not been deacti-
vated. This is highly dangerous for the child. If it is necessary in excep-
tional cases to transport a child on the front passenger seat, you must
always disable the front and side passenger airbags Ÿpage 43
•Children must travel in a child seat appropriate to their weight and
height.
•The vehicle seat must always be fitted in the direction of travel when
securing child restraint systems in weight class 0 or 0+.
•Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of child seats Ÿ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 45.
•Please always read and follow the information and warnings provided
by the child seat manufacturer.
3)Optional equipment

Child safety 50
Outer seats in the second row of seats and seats in the third
row of seats
Only the use of an officially approved child seat corre-
sponding to the weight and height of the child is permitted.
In the outer seats of seats in the second and third row universal child seats
for groups 0, 0+, 1, 2, or 3 (Ÿpage 52) Ÿ may be fitted.
Seat with ISOFIX retainers
These seats are suitable for ISOFIX child seats specially designed for this type
of vehicle in accordance with regulation ECE-R 44 Ÿ.
Vehicle seat with integrated child seat
Universal child restraint systems for any group can be fitted to this seat if the
integrated child seat Ÿpage 52, “Integrated child seat” is not used.Ÿ
WARNING
•Children must travel in a child seat appropriate to their weight and
height.
•The vehicle seat must always be fitted in the direction of travel when
securing child restraint systems in weight class 0 or 0+.
•Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of child seats Ÿ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 45.
•Please always read and follow the information and warnings provided
by the child seat manufacturer.
Note
•Due to space limitation, only the two outer seats can be used if two ISOFIX
system seats are to be fitted in the second row of seats.
Centre seat in the second row of seats (with three-point roof-
anchored belt)
Only the use of an officially approved child seat corre-
sponding to the weight and height of the child is permitted.
The centre seat with the three-point roof-anchored belt is suitable for weight
classes 0 to 2 Ÿ.
Seat with ISOFIX retainers
Child seats fitted with the ISOFIX system can be used on the centre seat if it
is equipped with ISOFIX retainers Ÿ.
WARNING
The central seat with three-point roof anchored belt is not suited to
universal child seats in group 3.
•The vehicle seat must always be fitted in the direction of travel when
securing child restraint systems in weight class 0 or 0+.
•Children must travel in a child seat appropriate to their weight and
height.
•Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of child seats Ÿ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 45.
•Please always read and follow the information and warnings provided
by the child seat manufacturer.
Note
•Due to space limitations, no further ISOFIX restraint systems can be fitted
in the second row of seats once an ISOFIX system has been fitted to the centre
seat.