warning Seat Altea 2007 User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: SEAT, Model Year: 2007, Model line: Altea, Model: Seat Altea 2007Pages: 302, PDF Size: 9.17 MB
Page 18 of 302

Safe driving
16•
never travel in a foot well ,
•
never travel on a seat without wearing the seat belt,
•
never carry any person in the luggage compartment.
WARNING
•
Every incorrect sitting position increases the risk of severe injuries.
•
Sitting in an incorrect position exposes the occupants to severe injuries 
if airbags deploy, striking an occupant who has assumed an incorrect 
sitting position.
•
Before the vehicle moves, assume the proper sitting position and main-
tain it throughout the trip. Before every trip, instruct your passengers to 
assume the proper sitting position and to maintain it during the trip 
⇒ page 10, “Proper sitting position for occupants”.
Pedal areaPedals
The operation and freedom of movement of all pedals must 
never be impaired by objects or floor mats.– Ensure that you can always press the accelerator, brake and 
clutch pedals unimpaired to the floor.
– Ensure that the pedals can return unimpaired to their initial posi- tions.Use only floor mats that leave the pedal area free and can be securely 
fastened in the foot well. If a brake circuit fails, the brake pedal must be free to move further than 
normal in order to bring the vehicle to a stop.
Wear suitable shoes
Always wear shoes which support your feet properly and give you a good feel 
for the pedals.
WARNING
•
Restricting pedal operation can lead 
to critical situations while driving.
•
Never place objects in the driver foot well. An object could move into the 
pedal area and impair pedal operation.  In the event of a sudden driving or 
braking manoeuvre, you will not be ab le to operate the brake, clutch or 
accelerator pedal. Risk of accident!
Floor mats on the driver side
Only floor mats may be used which can be securely fastened 
in the foot well and do not impair operation of the pedals.– Ensure that the floor mats are securely fastened during the trip  and do not obstruct the pedals  ⇒.Only use floor mats which leave the pedals clear and which are secured to 
prevent them from slipping. You can obta in suitable floor mats from a quali-
fied dealership.
WARNING
•
If the pedals are obstructed, you  could cause an accident. Risk of 
serious injuries.
•
Ensure that the floor mats are always securely attached.
altea_ingles_0706.book  Seite 16  Mittwoch, 30. August 2006  3:48 15 
Page 19 of 302

Safe driving17
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
•
Never lay or fit floor mats or other floor coverings over the original floor 
mats. This would reduce the pedal area and could obstruct the pedals. Risk 
of accident.
Stowing luggageLoading the luggage compartment
All luggage and other loose object s must be safely secured in 
the luggage compartment.Unsecured objects which shift back and forth could impair the 
driving safety or driving characteristics of the vehicle by shifting the 
centre of gravity.
– 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  ⇒page 18.
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. Th is 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 ther e are no adults or children in the 
vehicle.
•
Never transport passengers in the luggage compartment. Every 
passenger must be properly belted in ⇒ page 19.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 ventil ation slits are never covered.
WARNING (continued)
WARNING (continued)
altea_ingles_0706.book  Seite 17  Mittwoch, 30. August 2006  3:48 15 
Page 20 of 302

Safe driving
18•
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  ⇒ in “Loading the 
luggage compartment” on page 17.
– Pull up the fastening rings to attach the straps.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 sustaine d 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.WARNING (continued)
altea_ingles_0706.book  Seite 18  Mittwoch, 30. August 2006  3:48 15 
Page 21 of 302

Seat belts19
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Seat belts IntroductionAlways fasten seat belts before driving!
Properly worn seat belts can save lives!In this chapter you will learn why seat belts are so important, how 
they work, and how to  properly  fasten, adjust  and  wear  them.
– Read and observe all the information as well as the warnings in  this chapter.
WARNING
•
If the seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at all, the risk of severe inju-
ries increases.
•
Properly worn seat belts can reduce severe injuries in the event of 
sudden braking manoeuvres or accidents. Therefore, you and your passen-
gers should always wear the seat belts properly as long as the vehicle is in 
motion.
•
Pregnant women or persons with physical disabilities must also use 
seat belts. Like all other occupants, these persons can also sustain severe 
injuries if they are not wearing their seat belts properly.
Number of seatsYour vehicle has  five passenger places, two individual front seats and three 
places on the rear seat. Each seat is equipped with a three-point seat belt.
WARNING
•
Never transport more people than there are seats available in the 
vehicle.
•
Every occupant in the vehicle must  properly fasten and wear the seat 
belt belonging to his or her seat. Chil dren must be protected with an appro-
priate child restraint system.
Seat belt warning lamp* 
The warning lamp acts as a reminder to the driver to fasten 
the seat belt.Before you drive:
– Always fasten your seat belt correctly before driving off.
– Instruct your passengers to fasten their seat belts properly before  driving off.
– Protect your children with child restraint systems appropriate for  the size and age of the children.
altea_ingles_0706.book  Seite 19  Mittwoch, 30. August 2006  3:48 15 
Page 22 of 302

Seat belts
20The warning lamp  in the combi-instrument lights up
1) if the driver seat belt 
is not fastened when the ignition is switched on. In addition, an acoustic 
signal is given for a few seconds and a text is displayed on the combi-instru-
ment asking you to  fasten your seat belt
1).
The warning la mp* 
 does not go out until the driv er seat belt is fastened, 
while the ignition is switched on.
1)Depending on the model version
altea_ingles_0706.book  Seite 20  Mittwoch, 30. August 2006  3:48 15 
Page 25 of 302

Seat belts23
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Seat belts protect
Passengers not wearing seat belts risk severe injuries in the 
event of an accident.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.
Passengers wearing their s eat 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 forces acting on the occupants and consequently the risk 
of injury.
Our examples describe frontal collisions . Of course, properly worn seat belts 
reduce substantially 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. Accident statistics 
have shown properly worn seat belts to be an effective means of substantially 
reducing the risk of injury and improvi ng the chances of survival in a serious 
accident. Furthermore, properly worn seat belts improve the protection 
provided by airbags in the event of an accident. For this reason, wearing a 
seat belt is required by law in most countries.
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 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!
Safety notes on using seat belts
If seat belts are used correctly, they can reduce the risk of 
injury in an accident.– Always wear the seat belt as described in this booklet.
– Ensure that the seat belts can be fastened at all times and are not  damaged.
WARNING
•
If the seat belts are worn incorrectly or  not at all, the risk of severe inju-
ries increases. The optimal protection from seat belts can be achieved only 
if you use them properly.
Fig. 11  Driver protected 
by the properly worn seat 
belt during a sudden 
braking manoeuvre.
altea_ingles_0706.book  Seite 23  Mittwoch, 30. August 2006  3:48 15 
Page 26 of 302

Seat belts
24•
Fasten your seat belt before every trip - even when driving in town. That 
applies also to your front and rear passengers – danger of injury!
•
The seat belt cannot offer its full prot ection if the belt web is not posi-
tioned correctly.
•
Never allow two passengers (even children) to share the same seat belt.
•
Keep both feet in the foot well in fron t of your seat as long as the vehicle 
is in motion.
•
Never unbuckle a seat belt while the  vehicle is in motion. Risk of fatal 
injury.
•
The belt webbing must never be twisted while it is being worn.
•
The belt webbing should never lie on hard or fragile objects (such as 
glasses or pens, etc.) because this can cause injuries.
•
Do not allow the seat belt to be da maged or jammed, or to rub on any 
sharp edges.
•
Never wear the seat belt under the arm or in any other incorrect posi-
tion.
•
Loose, bulky clothing (such as an overcoat over a jacket) impairs the 
proper fit and function of the belts, reducing their capacity to protect.
•
The slot in the seat belt buckle must not be blocked with paper or other 
objects, as this can prevent the latch plate from engaging securely.
•
Never use seat belt clips, retaining rings or similar instruments to alter 
the position of the belt webbing.
•
Frayed or torn seat belts or damage  to the connections, belt retractors 
or parts of the buckle could cause severe injuries in the event of an acci-
dent. Therefore, you must check the co ndition of all seat belts at regular 
intervals.
•
Seat belts that have been worn in an accident and stretched must be 
replaced by a qualified workshop. Renewal may be necessary even if there 
is no apparent damage. The belt anchorage should also be checked.
•
Do not attempt to repair a damaged  seat belt yourself. The seat belts 
must not be removed or modified in any way.
•
The belts must be kept clean, ot herwise the retractors may not work 
properly ⇒ page 200.
Seat beltsSeat belt adjustment
The seat belts for the front and rear occupants are locked into 
position by a latch.The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if the belt web is not 
positioned correctly.
WARNING (continued)
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 12  Belt buckle and 
latch plate of seat belt
altea_ingles_0706.book  Seite 24  Mittwoch, 30. August 2006  3:48 15 
Page 27 of 302

Seat belts25
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
– Adjust the seat and head restraint correctly.
– To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate and pull it slowly 
across your chest and lap.
– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate seat and  push it down until it is securely locked with an audible click 
⇒page 24, fig. 12.
– Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in  the buckle.The seat belts are equipped with an automatic retractor on the shoulder 
strap. Full freedom of movement is permitted when the shoulder belt is pulled 
slowly. However, during sudden braking,  during travel in mountains or bends 
and during acceleration, the automati c retractor on the shoulder belt is 
locked.
The automatic belt retractors on the front seats are fitted with belt tension 
devices  ⇒page 28.
WARNING
•
An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event 
of an accident.
•
The seat belts offer best protection only when the backrests are in an 
upright position and the seat belt s have been fastened properly.
•
Never put the latch plate in the buckle of another seat. If you do this, the 
seat belt will not protect you properly and the risk of injury is increased.
•
If an occupant is incorrectly belted in, the belt cannot protect him or her 
properly. An incorrectly positioned belt web can cause extremely severe 
injuries.
•
Always engage the retractor lock when you are securing a child seat in 
group 0, 0+ or 1 ⇒ page 46.
Seat belt position
Seat belts offer their maximum pr otection only when they are 
properly positioned.
Fig. 13  Correct belt web 
and head restraint posi-
tions, viewed from frontFig. 14  Correct belt web 
and head restraint posi-
tions, viewed from side
altea_ingles_0706.book  Seite 25  Mittwoch, 30. August 2006  3:48 15 
Page 28 of 302

Seat belts
26The following features are available to adjust the seat belt in the shoulder 
region:•
belt height ad justment for the front seats.
•
front seat height adjustment*.
WARNING
•
An incorrectly worn seat belt web c an cause severe injuries in the event 
of an accident.
•
The shoulder part of the seat belt mu st lie on the centre of the shoulder, 
never across the neck. The seat belt  must lie flat and snugly on the torso 
⇒ page 25, fig. 13 .
•
The lap part of the seat belt must lie across the pelvis, never across the 
stomach. The seat belt must lie flat and snugly on the pelvis  ⇒page 25, 
fig. 14. Pull the belt tight, if necessary to take up any slack.
•
Read and observe the warnings ⇒ page 23.
Pregnant women must also fasten their seat belts properly
The best protection for the unborn child is for the mother to 
wear the seat belt properly at all times during the pregnancy.The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the belt web 
is properly positioned ⇒page 25.
– Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly  ⇒page 10.
– Holding the latch plate, pull the belt evenly across your chest and  as low as possible over the pelvis  ⇒fig. 15 .
– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the corresponding seat  and push it down until it is secu rely locked with an audible click 
⇒ .
– Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in  the buckle.
Fig. 15  Positioning seat 
belts during pregnancy
altea_ingles_0706.book  Seite 26  Mittwoch, 30. August 2006  3:48 15 
Page 29 of 302

Seat belts27
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
WARNING
•
An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event 
of an accident.
•
For pregnant women, the lap part of the seat belt must lie as low as 
possible over the pelvis, never across the stomach, and always lie flat so 
that no pressure is exerted on the abdomen.
•
Read and observe the warnings  ⇒page 23.
Seat belt release
The seat belt must not be unfastened until the vehicle has 
come to a standstill.– Press the red button on the belt buckle  ⇒fig. 16. The latch plate 
is released and springs out ⇒ . – Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls up easily and the trim 
is not damaged.
WARNING
Never unbuckle a seat belt while the  vehicle is in motion. If you do, you 
increase the risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.Adjusting the seat belt height
Seat belt height adjusters can be used to adjust the position 
of the seat belt at the shoulder.The seat belt adjuster for the front seats can be used to adjust the 
proper belt position at the shoulder.
Fig. 16  Removing latch 
plate from buckle
Fig. 17  Location of the 
belt height adjuster
altea_ingles_0706.book  Seite 27  Mittwoch, 30. August 2006  3:48 15