belt Seat Altea XL 2007 Owner's Guide

Child safety
46Child safetyBrief introductionIntroduction
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 ⇒page 21, “Why wear seat belts?”. But
unlike adults, children do not have fully developed muscle and bone struc-
tures. 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
⇒ page 47, “Safety notes on using child seats”. We recommend that you include the manu
facturer’s directions for child seat
use in the vehicle wallet and always keep them in the vehicle.
2)Not for all countries
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Child safety47
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
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
⇒page 48.
– Always ensure that the belt webbing is properly positioned according to the instructions prov ided 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.
WARNING
•
Never install a child seat facing backwards (or rear-facing) on the front
passenger seat unless the front passenger airbag has been disabled. This
represents a risk of fatal injuries to the child! However, if it is necessary, in
exceptional cases, to transport a child in the front passenger seat, the front
passenger airbag must always be disabled ⇒page 44, “Deactivating
airbags*”. If the passenger seat has a height adjustment option, move it to
the highest position.
•
For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to turn the
airbag off, an Authorised Service Centre must be consulted.
•
All passengers, especially children, must assume the proper sitting
position and be properly belted in while travelling.
•
Never hold children or babies on your lap, this can result in potentially
fatal injuries to the child!
•
Never allow a child to be transported in a vehicle without being properly
secured, or to stand up or kneel on a seat while travelling. In an accident,
the child could be flung through the vehicle, causing possibly fatal injuries
to themselves and other occupants.
•
If children assume an improper sitting position when the car is moving,
they expose themselves to greater risk of injury during a sudden braking
manoeuvre or in an accident. This is particularly the case if the child is trav-
elling on the front passenger seat and the airbag system is triggered in an
accident; this could have consequences including serious injury or death.
•
A suitable child seat can protect your child!
•
Never leave a child unsupervised in a child seat or alone in the vehicle.
•
Depending on weather conditions, it may become extremely hot or cold
inside the vehicle. This can be fatal.
•
Children who are less than 1.5 metres tall must not wear a normal seat
belt without a child restraint system, as this could cause injuries to the
abdominal and neck areas during a sudden braking manoeuvre or in an
accident.
•
Do not allow the belt webbing to become twisted or jammed, or to rub
on any sharp edges.
•
Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause injuries even in a minor collision
or sudden braking manoeuvres.
•
The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the belt web is
properly positioned ⇒page 24, “Seat belts”.
•
Only one child may occupy a child seat ⇒page 48, “Child seats”.WARNING (continued)
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Child safety
48Child seatsCategorisation 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: from 9 to 18 kg
Group 2: from 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 corr ectly adjusted seat belt can
help to protect your child.Group 0: For babies from about 9 months ol d and 10 kg in weight the most
suitable seats are those appearing in the illustration ⇒fig. 28 .
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 manu facturer’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 ⇒ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 47.
Fig. 28 A group 0 rear-
facing child seat fitted on
the rear seat.
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Child safety49
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Group 1 child seats
A suitable child seat and a correctly adjusted seat belt can
help to protect your child.Child seats using the “ISOFIX” and “Top tether” system (or even the antirota-
tion system) or seats in which the chil d faces the rear of the car are most
appropriate for babies and small children weighing between 9 and 18 kg.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats.
We recommend that you include the manufa cturer’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 ⇒ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 47.
Group 2 and 3 child seats
A suitable child seat and a corr ectly adjusted seat belt can
help to protect your child.Follow the manufacturer’s instructio ns 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.
Group 2 child seats
Children under 7 years of age weighing between 15 and 25 kg are best
protected by group 2 child seats in conjunction with properly adjusted seat
belts.
Group 3 child seats
Children over 7 years of age weighing between 22 and 36 kg but less than 1.5
metres tall are best protected by seat cushions with head restraints in
conjunction with properly worn seat belts ⇒fig. 30.
Fig. 29 A category 1
forward-facing child seat
fitted on the rear seat.
Fig. 30 Forward-facing
child seat installed on rear
seat.
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Child safety
50
WARNING
•
The shoulder part of th e 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
⇒page 24, “Seat belts”.
•
Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use
of child seats ⇒ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 47.
Securing child seatsWays to secure a child seat
A child seat can be secured differently on th e rear seat and on the front passenger seat.You can secure a child seat to the rear seat or front passenger seat in the
following ways:•
Child seats in groups 0 to 3 can be secured with a seat belt.
•
Child seats from the groups 0, 0+ and 1 using the “ISOFIX” and
“Toptether” systems or the antirotation system may be secured without using
the adult seatbelt and using the “ISOFIX” and “Toptether” anchors or the anti-
rotation mechanism/brackets.
U: Suitable for universal approved restraining systems for use in this age category (universal retention systems are those fitted using the adult
seat belt.
*: Move the passenger seat as far to rear as possible, as high as possible and always deactivate the airbag. L: Suitable for retention systems using the “ISOFIX” and “Toptether”
anchors or antirotation mechanism/bracketWARNING (continued)
Weight class Weight Seat locations
Front passenger Rear outerRear centre
Group 0 <10 kgU*U/L U
Group 0+ <13 kgU*U/L U
Group 1 9-18 kgU*U/L U
Group 2 / 3 15-36 kgU*UU
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Child safety
52Two “ISOFIX” retaining rings are fitted on each outer rear seat. In some vehi-
cles, the rings are secured to the seat frame and in others they are secured to
the rear floor. The “ISOFIX” rings can be accessed between the seat back and
the seat cushion. The “Toptether” rings are located in the rear space in the
back. They are often located on the rear of the seat backs.
Child seats with “ISOFIX” and “Toptether” mountings are available from the
Authorised Service Centres.
WARNING
•
The retaining rings are designed only for use with “ISOFIX” and
“Toptether” systems.
•
Never secure child seats that do not have the “ISOFIX” or Toptether
system, retaining belts or objects to the fastening rings – this can result in
potentially fatal injuries to the child!
•
Ensure that the child seat is secured correctly using the “ISOFIX” and
Toptether anchors.
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Cockpit
74
WARNING
•
Failure to observe warning lamps and warning messages can result in
serious personal injury or damage to your vehicle.
•
The risk of an accident increases if your vehicle breaks down. Use a
warning triangle to draw the attention of other road users to your
stationary vehicle so that it does not represent a danger.

Fasten seat belts! ⇒page 19

Tyre pressure ⇒page 80

Engine fault (petrol engine) ⇒page 81

Glow plug system (diesel engine)
Lit up: Glow plug system switched on
Flashing: engine fault. ⇒
page 81

Airbag or belt tension device system fault or airbag disabled ⇒page 28 ⇒page 31

Fault in the emission control system ⇒page 81

Flashing: electronic stabilisation programme (ESP) in opera-
tion,
Lit up: ESP fault or switched off ⇒
page 81

Operate foot brake ⇒page 82

Electromechanical steering ⇒page 82

Brake pad wear indicator ⇒page 82

Door open indicator ⇒page 82
SAFE Electronic immobiliser ⇒page 83
Item
Symbol Meaning of warning and control lamps Further information
A15A16A17A17A18A19A20A21A22A23A24
WARNING (continued)
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Seats and stowage127
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Seats and stowageThe importance of correct seat adjustmentProper seat adjustment optimi ses the level of protection
offered by seat belts and airbags.Your 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.
The driver seat and front passenger seat can be adjusted in many ways to suit
the physical requirements of the vehicle occupants. The correct seat position
is very important for:•
fast and easy operation of all controls on the instrument panel,
•
relaxed posture that does not cause drowsiness,
•
safe driving ⇒ page 7,
•
and to ensure that the seat belts and airbag system provide maximum
protection ⇒page 19.
WARNING
•
If the driver and passengers assume improper sitting positions, they
may sustain critical injuries.
•
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. Children must be protected with an appro-
priate child restraint system ⇒page 46, “Child safety”.
•
The front seats and all headrests must always be adjusted to body size
and the seat belt must always be properly adjusted to provide you and your
passengers with optimum protection.
•
Always keep your feet in the foot well when the vehicle is moving; never
rest them on the dash panel, out of the window or on the seat. This also
applies to passengers. An incorrect sitting position exposes you to an
increased risk of injury in the event of a braking manoeuvre or an accident.
If the airbag is triggered, you could sustain severe injuries due to an incor-
rect sitting position.
•
It is important for the driver and front passenger to maintain a distance
of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel. Failure to respect
the minimum distance means that the airbag will not protect you. Risk of
fatal injury. The distance between the driver and the steering wheel or
between the front passenger and the dash panel should always be as great
as possible.
•
Adjust the driver or front passenger seat only when the vehicle is
stationary. This also applies to the forwards/backwards adjustment of the
rear seats. Otherwise your seat coul d move unexpectedly while the vehicle
is moving. This could increase the risk of an accident and therefore injury.
In addition, while adjusting your seat, you will assume an incorrect sitting
position. Risk of fatal accidents.
•
Special guidelines apply to installing a child seat on the front
passenger seat. When installing a child seat, observe the warning note in
the ⇒page 46, “Child safety”.WARNING (continued)
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Seats and stowage
128HeadrestsCorrect adjustment of headrests
Properly adjusted headrests ar e an important part of occu-
pant protection and can reduce the risk of injuries in most
accident situations.
– Adjust the headrest so that its upper edge is at the same level as
the top of your head, or as close as possible to the same level as
the top of your head and, at a very minimum at eye level
⇒fig. 90 and ⇒fig. 91 .Adjusting the headrests ⇒page 129.
WARNING
•
Travelling with the headrests removed or improperly adjusted
increases the risk of severe injuries.
•
Improperly adjusted headrests could lead to death in the event of a
collision or accident.
•
Incorrectly adjusted headrests also increase the risk of injury during
sudden or unexpected driving or braking manoeuvres.
•
The headrests must always be adjusted according to the occupant’s
size.
Fig. 90 Viewed from in
front: Properly adjusted
headrests and proper belt
adjustment
Fig. 91 Viewed from side:
Properly adjusted head-
rests and proper belt
adjustment
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Seats and stowage
130Front seatsAdjustment of the front seatsThe control elements in ⇒fig. 93 are mirrored for the front right-
hand seat.
Adjusting the seat forwards and backwards
– Pull up the lever and move the seat forwards or backwards.
– Then release the lever and move the seat further until the catch engages.
Adjusting the seat height*
– Pull the lever up or push down (s everal times if necessary) from
its home position. This adjusts the seat height in stages. Adjusting the backrest angle
– Take your weight off the backrest and turn the hand wheel.
Adjusting the lumbar support*
– Take your weight off the backrest and turn the hand wheel to adjust the lumbar support.
The backrest curvature of the cushioned area is determined by the settings
made in the lumbar region. This supports the natural curvature of the spine
very effectively.
WARNING
•
Never adjust the driver or front passenger seat while the vehicle is in
motion. While adjusting your seat, you will assume an incorrect sitting
position. Risk of fatal accidents. Adju st the driver or front passenger seat
only when the vehicle is stationary.
•
To reduce the risk of injury to th e driver and front passenger during
sudden braking manoeuvres or an acci dent, never drive with the backrest
tilted far to the rear. The maximum protection of the seat belt can be
achieved only when the backrests are in an upright position and the driver
and front passenger have properly adjusted their seat belts. The further
the backrests are tilted to the rear, the greater the risk of injury due to
improper positioning of the belt web!
•
Exercise caution when adjusting the seat height or forwards/back-
wards position. Injuries can be caused if the backrest is tilted without due
care and attention.
Fig. 93 Front left seat
controls
A1
A1
A2
A3A4
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