weight Seat Alhambra 2010 Owner's Manual

Safe driving 8
xCheck that the lights and turn signals operate correctly.
xCheck the tyre pressures (Ÿpage 323) and level of fuel (Ÿpage 293).
xEnsure there is good visibility through all the windows.
xMake sure that all objects and bags in the storage compartments, in the
luggage compartment and, where applicable, on the roof, are securely
fastened Ÿpage 13.
xEnsure there is nothing obstructing the free passage of the foot pedals.
xUse child retention systems appropriate for the child's body weight and
height Ÿpage 42.
xCorrectly adjust front seat, head rests and rear-view mirrors to suit your
height Ÿpage 10.
xWear close-fitting shoes which do not prevent you from using the pedals
correctly.
xThe driver's floor mat should be fixed to the floor, leaving the pedal area
unobstructed.
xBefore starting out, ensure you are correctly seated and remain in this
position throughout the journey. This applies to all passengers in the vehicle
Ÿpage 10.
xCorrectly fasten your seat belt before starting to drive and keep it securely
fastened throughout the journey. This applies to all passengers in the vehicle
Ÿpage 22.
xNever carry more passengers than the number of available seats and seat
belts in your vehicle.
xNever drive with impaired faculties (for example, due to medication,
alcohol or drugs).
xDo not allow yourself to be distracted from the traffic, for example, to reset
or switch on a menu, by other passengers or to answer a phone call.
xAlways try to adapt the speed of the vehicle and your style of driving to the
condition of the ground or the road and to weather and traffic conditions.
xObserve the highway code and speed limits.
xOn long journeys, rest at regular intervals (at least every two hours).
xIf carrying animals, make sure they are correctly restrained in accordance
with their weight and size.
WARNING
Always observe traffic regulations and speed limits and try to anticipate
traffic movements. Correctly anticipating traffic situations may mean the
difference between arriving safe and sound at your destination or having a
serious accident.
Note
Regular servicing of your vehicle not only helps to keep it in good working
order but also helps to ensure road safety. Therefore, please ensure the
vehicle is taken for service as indicated in the Maintenance Programme. If the
vehicle is subjected to hard use, it may require certain maintenance work
before the next service date. Hard use may involve frequent driving in traffic
jams, driving in dusty areas or frequent use of the tow-bar. For further infor-
mation, please refer to a SEAT dealer or specialised workshop.
Driving abroad
Check list
In some countries, certain safety regulations and requirements are in force
relating to exhaust gas emissions, which differ from the technical character-
istics of the vehicle. Before travelling abroad, SEAT recommends you consult
a SEAT dealer about the legal requirements and the following points:
xDoes the vehicle need technical modifications for driving abroad, for
example, adjustment of the headlamps?
xDoes the vehicle have all the tools, diagnostics equipment and spare
parts required for inspections and repairs?
xAre there any SEAT dealers in the destination country?

Safe driving 10
Adjusting the seat position
Introduction
Number of seats
Depending on the equipment, your vehicle has a total of five or seven seats.
Each seat is equipped with a seat belt.
Additional information and warnings:
xSeat functions Ÿpage 137
xSeat belts Ÿpage 22
xAirbag system Ÿpage 33
xChild seats (accessories) Ÿpage 42
WARNING
An incorrect sitting position in the vehicle can lead to severe injuries or
death in the event of sudden braking or manoeuvres, collision or accidents
or if the airbag deploys.
xBefore the vehicle moves, assume the proper sitting position and main-
tain it throughout the trip. This also includes fastening the seat belt.
xNever transport more people than there are seats with a seat belt avail-
able in the vehicle.
xChildren must always be protected with an approved child restraint
system suited to their height and weight Ÿpage 42, Ÿpage 33.
xAlways keep your feet in the footwell while the vehicle is in motion.
Never, for example, put your feet on the surface of a seat or on the dash
panel and never put them out of a window. Otherwise the airbag and seat
belt offer insufficient protection and the risk of injury in the event of an
accident is increased.
WARNING
Before every trip, adjust the seat, the seat belt and the head restraints and
instruct your passengers to fasten their seat belts properly.
xMove the front passenger seat back as far as possible.
xAdjust the driver's seat so that there is a distance of at least 25 cm (10
inches) between the centre of your chest and the hub of the steering wheel.
Adjust the driver's seat so that you are able to press the accelerator, brake
and clutch pedals to the floor with your knees slightly angled and that the
distance between your knees and the dash panel is at least 10 cm (4
inches). If you physical constitution prevents you from meeting these
requirements, contact a qualified workshop to make any modifications
required.
xNever drive with the backrest tilted far back. The further the backrests
are tilted to the rear, the greater the risk of injury due to incorrect posi-
tioning of the belt web or to the incorrect sitting position.
xNever drive with the backrest tilted forwards. Should a front airbag
deploy, it could throw the backrest backwards and injure the passengers of
the rear seats.
xSit as far away as possible from the steering wheel and the dash panel.
xKeep your back straight and resting completely against the backrest
and the front seats correctly adjusted. Never place any part of your body in
the area of the airbag or very close to it.
EquipmentSeats in the
frontSeats in the
second rowSeats in the
third row
5 seats23–
6 seats222
7 seats232
WARNING (continued)

Safe driving13
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
xKeep both feet in the footwell so that you have the vehicle under control
at all times.
Also valid for the front passenger:
xMove the front passenger seat back as far as possible for optimum protec-
tion should the airbag deploy.
Transporting objects
Introduction
Always transport heavy loads in the trunk and place the seat backs in a
vertical position. Always use the anchors provided with suitable rope to
secure heavy objects. Never overload the vehicle. Both the carrying capacity
as well as the distribution of the load in the vehicle have effects on the driving
behaviour and braking ability Ÿ.
Additional information and warnings:
xTa ilga te Ÿpage 97
xTo lower the passenger seat back Ÿpage 137
xLight Ÿpage 113
xLuggage compartment Ÿpage 146
xRoof carrier Ÿpage 159
xTo wi ng m o d e Ÿpage 260
xWheels and tyres Ÿpage 323
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly secured objects can cause serious injury in case
of a sudden manoeuvring or breaking or in case of an accident. This is espe-cially true when objects are struck by a detonating airbag and fired through
the vehicle interior. To reduce the risks, please note the following:
xSecure all objects in the vehicle. Always keep equipment and heavy
objects in the luggage compartment.
xAlways secure objects with suitable rope or slings so that they cannot
enter the areas around the frontal or side airbags in case of sudden braking
or an accident.
xAlways ensure that objects inside the vehicle cannot move into the area
of the bags while driving.
xWhile driving, always keep object compartments closed.
xRemove all objects from the passenger seat when this is followed down.
When the seat back is folded down, it presses on small and light objects
and these are detected by the weight sensor on the seat; this sends false
information to the airbag control unit.
xWhile the backrest of the front passenger's seat is folded, the frontal
airbag must remain disconnected and the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF  light
on.
xObjects secured in the vehicle should never be placed in such a way as
to make passengers sit in an incorrect position.
xIf secured objects occupy a seat then this should not be occupied or
used by anybody.
WARNING
The driving behaviour and braking ability change when transporting heavy
and large objects.
xAdjust your speed and driving style to visibility, road, traffic and
weather conditions.
xAccelerate gently and carefully.
xAvoid sudden braking and manoeuvres.
WARNING (continued)

Safe driving15
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a Turn off the air recirculation for the heating and air conditioning.
Open all of the air outlets in the dashboard.
Turn the heating fan and heater to the highest level.
Caution
An open tailgate changes the length and height of the vehicle.
Driving a loaded vehicle
For the best handling when driving a loaded vehicle, note the following:
xSecure all objects Ÿpage 14.
xAccelerate gently and carefully.
xAvoid sudden braking and manoeuvres.
xBrake early.
xIf necessary, read the instructions for driving with a trailer Ÿpage 260.
xIf necessary, read the instructions for driving with a roof carrier system
Ÿpage 159.
WARNING
A sliding load could considerably affect the stability and safety of the
vehicle resulting in an accident with serious consequences.
xSecure loads correctly so they do not move.
xWhen transporting heavy objects, use suitable ropes or straps.
xLock the seat backs in vertical position.
Specific vehicle weight information
The instructions in the official vehicle documents take precedence. All the
technical data provided in this documentation is applicable to the basic
model. The vehicle data label in the Maintenance Programme or the vehicle
documents show which engine is installed in your vehicle.
The figures may be different depending on if additional equipment is fitted,
for different models and for special vehicles.
WARNING
Exceeding the maximum authorised weight and the load on the axles could
cause damage to the vehicle, accidents and serious injuries.
xThe real load on the axles should never exceed the maximum
permitted.
xThe load and its distribution in the vehicle have effects on the vehicle
handling and the braking ability. Always drive at a suitable speed.
Caution
Distribute the load as uniformly and as low down on the vehicle as possible.
When transporting heavy objects in the trunk/boot, these should be placed
as far forward as possible or over the rear axle to have as little influence on
handling as possible.
WARNING (continued)

Seat belts 16
Seat belts
Brief introduction
Introduction
Check the condition of all the seat belts at regular intervals. If you notice that
the belt webbing, fittings, retractor mechanism or buckle of any of the belts
is damaged, the belt must be replaced immediately by a specialist workshop
Ÿ. The specialist workshop must use the appropriate spare parts corre-
sponding to the vehicle, the equipment and the model year. SEAT recom-
mends visiting a qualified workshop.
Additional information and warnings:
xAdjust the seat position Ÿpage 10
xAirbag system Ÿpage 33
xChild seats (accessories) Ÿpage 42
xIntegrated child seats Ÿpage 52
xAccessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications Ÿpage 285
WARNING
Unbuckled or badly buckled seat belts increase the risk of severe or even
fatal injuries. The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if it is not
fastened and used correctly.
xSeats belts are the most effective ways of reducing the risk of
sustaining severe or fatal injuries In the event of an accident. Seat belts
must be correctly fastened when the vehicle is in motion to protect the
driver and all vehicle occupants.
xBefore each trip, every occupant in the vehicle occupants must sit prop-
erly, correctly fasten the seat belt belonging to his or her seat and keep it fastened throughout the trip. This also applies to other occupants when
driving in town.
xWhen travelling, children must be secured in the vehicle with a child
restraint system suitable for their weight and height and with the seat
belts correctly fastened Ÿpage 42.
xInstruct your passengers to fasten their seat belts properly before
driving off.
xInsert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate seat and
ensure it is engaged. Using the latch plate in the buckle of another seat will
not protect you properly and may cause severe injuries.
xDo not allow liquids or foreign bodies to enter the buckle fastenings.
This could damage the buckles and seat belts.
xNever unbuckle your seat belt when the vehicle is moving.
xNever allow more than one passenger to share the same seat belt.
xNever hold children or babies on your lap sharing the same seat belt.
xLoose, bulky clothing (such as a jacket) impairs the proper fit and func-
tion of the seat belt.
WARNING
It is extremely dangerous to drive using damaged seat belts and could
result in serious injury or loss of life.
xAvoid damaging the seat belt by jamming it in the door or the seat
mechanism.
xIf the fabric or other parts of the seat belt are damaged, the seat belts
could break in the event of an accident or sudden braking.
WARNING (continued)

Seat belts19
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a It is easy to explain how the laws of physics work in the case of a head-on
collision: when a vehicle starts moving Ÿpage 18, fig. 5, this is a certain
amount of energy known as “kinetic energy” both in the vehicle and in the
occupants.
The higher the speed and the greater the weight of the vehicle, the more
energy there is to be absorbed 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 is multi-
plied by four.
The amount of “kinetic energy” depends on the speed of the vehicle and the
weight of the vehicle and its passengers. The higher the speed and the
greater the weight of the vehicle and the occupants, the more energy there is
to be absorbed in an accident.
Passengers not wearing seat belts are not “attached” to the vehicle. As a
result, in a frontal collision they will continue to move forward at the speed
their vehicle was travelling just before the impact until something stops
them! Because the passengers in our example are not restrained by seat
belts, all of the passengers' kinetic energy has to be absorbed at the point of
impact Ÿpage 18, fig. 6.
At speeds of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces acting on bodies in a collision
can easily exceed one tonne (1000 kg). At greater speed these forces are even
higher.
This example applies not only to frontal accidents, but to all accidents and
collisions.
Dangers of not using the seat belt
Many people believe that the occupants can protect themselves with their
hands in a minor collision. This is false!
Fig. 7 A driver not
wearing a seat belt is
thrown forward violently.
Fig. 8 The unbelted rear
passenger is thrown
forward violently, hitting
the driver wearing a seat
belt.

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)

Airbag system41
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
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.
xDo not fit curtains to the windows other than those expressly approved
for use in the vehicle.
xOnly turn the sun blinds towards the windows if there is no object, e.g.
pens or garage remote controls, secured to the sun blind.
Kneed airbagsThe knee airbag is located on the driver side below the instrument panel
Ÿfig. 24. Airbags are identified by the word “AIRBAG”.
The area framed red Ÿfig. 25 is covered by the knee airbag when it is
deployed (deployment area). Therefore, objects should never be placed or
mounted in these areas.
WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in fractions of a second.
xThe knee airbag is deployed in front of the driver's knees. Always keep
the deployment areas of the knee airbags free.
xNever not fix objects to the cover or in the deployment area of the knee
airbag.
xAdjust the driver's seat so that there is a distance of at least 10 cm (4
inches) between your knees and the location of the knee airbag. If you
physical constitution prevents you from meeting these requirements, make
sure you contact a specialist workshop.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 24 On the driver
side: location of the knee
airbag.
Fig. 25 On the driver
side: Radius of action of
the knee airbag.
AA

Child safety 42
Child safety
Child seats (accessories)
Introduction
Please read the information regarding the airbag system fully before trans-
porting babies and children in a child seat or other child restraint system
installed on the front passenger seat.
This information is extremely important for driver and passenger safety,
particularly that of babies and children.
SEAT recommends the use of child seats from the SEAT accessory
programme. These child seats have been designed and tested for use in SEAT
vehicles. You can purchase child seats with different mountings from a qual-
ified workshop.
Using child restraint systems with a base or foot
Some child retention systems are secured to the seat using a base or foot. For
certain equipment the use of an additional accessory will be necessary (for
example, the accessory for the floor compartment) to fit the child retention
system correctly and securely.
Additional information and warnings:
xAirbag system Ÿpage 33
xIntegrated child seats Ÿpage 52
WARNING
Make sure children are properly belted in and correctly secured to avoid
severe or fatal injuries while the vehicle is in motion.
xNever use a rear-facing child seat in the front passenger seat if the front
passenger airbag is enabled.
xYou should always transport all children up to 12 years of age on the
rear seat.
xChildren must always be protected with an approved child restraint
system suited to their height and weight.
xChildren must assume the proper sitting position and be properly
belted in while travelling.
xEnsure the backrest of a seat is upright when a child seat is being used
on it.
xDo not allow the child's head or other part of his or her body to fall into
the deployment area of the side airbags.
xMake sure the belt webbing is correctly positioned.
xNever hold children or babies on your lap or in your arms.
xOnly one child may occupy a child seat.
xIf you are using a child seat with a base or foot, always install this base
or foot correctly and safely.
xIf the vehicle has a storage compartment in the foot well in front of the
last row of seats, this compartment cannot be used as designed; on the
contrary: It must be filled using the specially designed accessory so that
the base or foot is correctly supported by the closed compartment and the
child seat is secured properly. If this compartment is not suitably secured
when using a child seat with a base or foot then the compartment cover
could rupture in an accident and the child will be ejected and suffer serious
injury.
xPlease read and observe the child seat manufacturer's handling
instructions.
WARNING (continued)

Child safety 44
General information on transporting children in the vehicle
Legal regulations and provisions will always take priority over the descrip-
tions of this instruction manual. There are different regulations and provi-
sions for the use of child seats and their mountings (Ÿtable on page 45). In
some countries, for example, the use of child seats on certain seats in the
vehicle may be forbidden.
The physical principles and the forces acting on the vehicle in the event of a
collision or other type of accidents also apply to children Ÿpage 22.
However, unlike adults and youngsters, children do not have fully developed
muscle and bone structures. In the event of an accident, children are subject
to a greater risk than adults of sustaining severe injuries.
Given that children's bodies are not yet fully developed, child restraint
systems must be used that are especially adapted to their height, weight and
constitution. There are laws in force in many countries that determine the use
of approved seat systems for transporting babies and children.
Only used authorised, approved child seats that are suitable for the vehicle.
Always consult with a SEAT qualified workshop or a specialist workshop
should you have any doubts.
Checklist
To transport children in the vehicle Ÿ:
xObserve the legal requirements specific to each country.
xFor safety reasons, SEAT recommends that children under 12 years of age
are transported on the rear seats.
xOnly if you have no alternative should a child travel on the front passenger
seat Ÿpage 46. The safest place in the vehicle is on the rear seat behind the
front passenger seat.
xChild must always use a child restraint system when travelling in the
vehicle. The child restraint system must be suitable for the height, weight and
constitution of the child.
xOnly one child may occupy a child seat.
xFollow the user instructions from the child seat manufacturer and always
keep them in the vehicle.
xIf the child seat is secured using the seat belt, guide the seat belt through
or around the child seat according to the instructions of the child seat manu-
facturer.
xMake sure the belt webbing is correctly positioned and that the child is
sitting properly.
xThe child seat should be installed on the rear seat behind the front
passenger seat so that the child can exit the car on the kerb side.
xDo not leave toys or other loose objects on the child seat or on the seat
while the vehicle is in motion.
Specific child seat regulations for each country (selection)
RegulationFurther information
ECE-R 44a)
a)ECE-R: Economic Commission for Europe Regulation.
Technical Service or qualified work-
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