remove seats Seat Altea XL 2012 Owner's Manual

13
Safe driving
Correct adjustment of front seat head restraints
Properly adjusted head restraints are an important part of
passenger protection and can reduce the risk of injuries in
most accident situations.
Fig. 3 Properly adjusted
head restraint viewed
from the front
Fig. 4 Properly adjusted
head restraint viewed
from the side Adjust the head restraint properly in order to achieve maximum
protection.
–
Adjust the head restraint 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 the very least, at eye level
⇒ fig. 3 and ⇒  fig. 4.
Adjusting the head restraints ⇒ page 134.
WARNING
● Travelling with the head restraints removed or improperly adjusted
increases the risk of severe injuries.
● Incorrectly adjusted head restraints could result in death in the event
of a collision or accident.
● Incorrectly adjusted head restraints also increase the risk of injury
during sudden or unexpected driving or braking manoeuvres.
● The head restraints must always be adjusted according to the pas-
senger's height.

Active head restraints*
Vehicle occupants are pressed into their seats during a rear end collision.
The resulting body pressure on the backrest activates the active head re-
straint* on the front seat, which moves rapidly forwards and upwards at the
same time. This movement reduces the distance between the occupant's
head and the head restraint, thus reducing the risk of head injuries such as
brain trauma. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

29
Seat belts
Seat belt tensioners
Function of the seat belt tensioner
During a frontal collision, the seat belts on the front seats
are retracted automatically. The seat belts for the front occupants are equipped with belt tensioners.
Sensors will only trigger the belt tensioners during severe head-on, lateral
and rear collisions, and only if the seat belt is actually being worn. This re-
tracts and tightens the seat belts, reducing the forward motion of the occu-
pants.
The seat belt tensioner can be triggered only once.
The seat belt tensioners will not be triggered in the event of a light frontal,
side or rear collision, if the vehicle overturns or in situations where no large
forces act on the front, side or rear of the vehicle.
Note
● If the seat belt tensioners are triggered, a fine dust is produced. This is
normal and it is not an indication of fire in the vehicle.
● The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or
components of the system are scrapped. Specialised workshops are famili-
ar with these regulations, which are also available to you. 
Service and disposal of belt tensioners
The belt tensioners are components of the seat belts that are installed in
the seats of your vehicle. If you work on the belt tensioners or remove and
install parts of the system when performing other repair work, the seat belt
may be damaged. The consequence may be that, in the event of an acci-
dent, the belt tensioners function incorrectly or not at all. So that the effectiveness of the seat belt tensioner is not reduced and that
removed parts do not cause any injuries or environmental pollution, regula-
tions, which are known to the specialised workshops, must be observed.
WARNING
● Improper use or repairs not carried out by qualified mechanics in-
crease the risk of severe or fatal injuries. The belt tensioners may fail to
trigger or may trigger in the wrong circumstances.
● Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or install parts of the belt ten-
sioners or seat belts.
● The seat belt tensioner, seat belt and automatic retractor cannot be
repaired.
● Any work on the belt tensioners and seat belts, including the removal
and refitting of system parts in conjunction with other repair work, must
be performed by a specialised workshop only.
● The belt tensioners will only provide protection for one accident and
must be changed if they have been activated.

Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

38Airbag system
Side airbags*
Description of side airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.
Fig. 22 Side airbag in
driver seat
The front side airbags are located in the driver seat and front passenger
seat backrests ⇒ fig. 22. The rear side airbags are located in the rear wheel
housing lining. The locations are identified by the text “AIRBAG” in the up-
per region of the backrests and in the rear wheel housing lining.
Together with the seat belts, the side airbag system gives the front seat oc-
cupants additional protection for the upper body in the event of a severe
side collision ⇒ page 40, Safety notes on the operation of the side airbag system.
In a side collision, the side airbags reduce the risk of injury to passengers
on the front seats to the areas of the body facing the impact. In addition to
their normal function of protecting the occupants in a collision, the seat
belts also hold the passengers on the front seats and the outer rear seats in
a position where the side airbags can provide maximum protection. The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts, but it is an integral part
of the vehicle's overall passive safety system. Please bear in mind that the
airbag system can only work effectively when the occupants are wearing
their seat belts. Therefore, it is most important to wear the seat belts at all
times, not only because this is required by law in most countries, but also
for your safety
⇒ page 19, Brief introduction.
The side airbag system will not be triggered if:
● the ignition is switched off
● there is a minor side collision
● there is a frontal collision
● there is a rear-end collision
● the vehicle turns over
The main parts of the airbag system are:
● an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit)
● The front side airbags in the backrests of the front seats and the rear
side airbags in the lining of the rear wheel housing
● a warning lamp  on the instrument panel ⇒ page 32
The airbag system operation is monitored electronically. The airbag warning
lamp will light up for approx. 4 seconds every time the ignition is switched
on (self-diagnosis).
WARNING
● In a side-on collision the side airbags will not work if the sensors do
not correctly measure the pressure increase on the interior of the doors,
due to air escaping through the areas with holes or openings in the door
panel.
● Never drive the vehicle if the interior panels have been removed.
● Never drive if the interior door panels have been removed or if the
panels have not been correctly fitted. 

39
Airbag system
WARNING (Continued)
● Never drive the vehicle if the loudspeakers in the door panels have
been removed, unless the holes left by the loudspeakers have been cor-
rectly closed.
● Always check that the openings are closed or covered if loudspeakers
or other equipment are fitted in the interior door panels.
● Any work carried out to the doors should be made in a specialised
workshop.
● The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if
the occupants are seated correctly ⇒ page 10, Proper sitting position for
occupants.
● If a fault has occurred in the airbag system, have the system checked
immediately by a specialised workshop. Otherwise, during a side colli-
sion, the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.
 Operation of side airbags
Inflated airbags can reduce the risk of head or chest injury
in many side impact collisions.
Fig. 23 Inflated side air-
bag on left side of vehicle
In some side collisions, the side airbag is triggered on the impact side of
the vehicle ⇒ fig. 23.
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.
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within thousandths of a second, to
provide additional protection in the event of an accident. A fine dust may
develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and it is not an indication
of fire in the vehicle.
The fully deployed airbags cushion the movement of the occupants of the
front seats and the outer rear seats and help to reduce the risk of injury to
the upper body. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

135
Seats and storage compartments
Head restraints Correct adjustment of head restraints
Properly adjusted head restraints are an important part of
passenger protection and can reduce the risk of injuries in
most accident situations.
Fig. 92 Front view: head
restraints and seat belts
correctly adjusted
Fig. 93 Side view: head
restraints and seat belts
correctly adjusted
– Adjust the head restraint so that the top 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, at least at eye level ⇒ fig. 92 and
⇒ fig. 93.
Adjusting the head restraints ⇒ page 136
WARNING
● Travelling with the head restraints removed or improperly adjusted
increases the risk of severe injuries.
● Improperly adjusted head restraints could lead to death in the event
of a collision or accident.
● Incorrectly adjusted head restraints also increase the risk of injury
during sudden or unexpected driving or braking manoeuvres.
● The head restraints must always be adjusted according to the pas-
senger's height.

Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

136Seats and storage compartments
Removing or adjusting head restraints
The head restraints can be adjusted by moving them up and
down.
Fig. 94 Adjusting and re-
moving the head re-
straints
Adjusting height (front seats)
– Press the button on the side and pull upwards to the desired
position.
– To lower the head restraint, press the button and push head re-
straint downwards.
– Make sure that it engages securely into position.
Adjusting height (rear seats)
– Press the button on the side and pull upwards to the desired
position.
– To lower the head restraint, press the button and push head re-
straint downwards. –
Make sure that the head restraint engages securely in one of its
positions ⇒ page 14.
Angle adjustment (front seats)
– Press the head restraint forward or back to the required posi-
tion.
Removing the head restraint
– Push the head restraint up as far as it will go.
– Press the button ⇒ fig. 94 (arrow).
– Pull head restraint out of fitting without releasing the button.
Fitting the head restraint
– Insert the head restraint into the guides on the backrest.
– Push head restraint down.
– Adjust the head restraint to suit body size ⇒ page 14 and
⇒ page 13.
WARNING
● Never drive if the head restraints have been removed. Risk of injury.
● Never drive if the head restraints are in an unsuitable position, there
is a risk of serious injury.
● After refitting the head restraint, you must always adjust it properly
for height to achieve optimal protection.
● Please observe the safety warnings in ⇒ page 135, Correct adjust-
ment of head restraints.


147
Seats and storage compartments
Multi-purpose mobile storage compartment* - Fitting and
removal
This storage compartment may only be placed in the central
area of the rear seat
Fig. 113 Mobile storage
compartment. Installa-
tion
Fig. 114 Mobile storage
compartment mounting
plate Fitting mobile storage compartment
–
Fold down the small section of the rear seat backrest, in order
to access the large section of the backrest.
– Fit the mobile storage compartment mounting plate H
⇒ fig. 114 from the inside of the vehicle, through the rear part
of the seat. It should be fitted between the backrest and the
seat, in the central seat area.
– Push the plate until it clips the cushion frame. The rings of the
mobile storage compartment mounting plate appear at the front
of the seat.
– If it is difficult to make the plate clip, tilt the rear backrest of the
large section forwards slightly and then lean the backrest back-
wards to make the fitting of the mobile storage compartment
onto the mounting plate easier.
– Place the mobile storage compartment onto the foam of the
central seat.
– Set both mounting pieces together E
⇒ fig. 113, with both
mounting rings G ⇒ fig. 114 and press hard until both the
clips completely connect with the rings.
Removing mobile storage compartment
– Pull each of the buttons ⇒ fig. 113 F
on the clips (red buttons)
forwards, until they snap out of place.
– Fold the larger seat down and remove the mobile storage com-
partment mounting plate. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

148Seats and storage compartments
Multi-purpose mobile storage compartment* - General
information
This storage compartment may only be placed in the central
area of the rear seat
Fig. 115 Mobile storage
compartment. Opening
Fig. 116 Mobile storage
compartment. Functions Opening
–
Lift the cover B
, in area A ⇒ fig. 115.
Closing
– Push the cover down, until it clips into place.
Uses of the mobile storage compartment
● The front open glove compartment may be used to store small objects
that will not damage passengers in the event that the objects are flung
around the interior of the vehicle.
● The cup holders are used for holding drink cans or cups.
● The elastic belt on the side may be used for keeping papers and maga-
zines.
● The tables may be used as a support for writing.
To use the table C
⇒ fig. 116, it must be removed from its compartment in
the side of the mobile storage compartment and fitted into slot D
⇒ fig. 116 on the front section of the mobile storage compartment.
The table in the right-hand compartment is fitted in the left-hand slot of the
front of the mobile storage compartment and the table in the left-hand com-
partment is fitted in the right-hand slot.
The tables have two positions for use and cannot be interchanged.
WARNING
● The mobile storage compartment supports a maximum load of 5 kg.
Do not overload.
● Do not drive when the cover of the mobile storage compartment is
open.
● Do not drive when the tables are set up for use. 

154Seats and storage compartments
CAUTION
Hard objects on the shelf could chafe against the wires of the heating ele-
ment in the rear window and cause damage.
Note
The ventilation slots in front of the rear side windows must not be covered
as this would prevent stale air being extracted from the vehicle. 
Retractable rear shelf
Fig. 124 Using the rear
shelf
Fig. 125 Removing the
rear shelf
Using the rear shelf
– Use the handle A
to pull the shelf back until you hear a “click”
⇒ fig. 124.
– Press the area marked “PRESS”, and the cover is retrieved auto-
matically.
To remove the rear shelf
– Press the side pin in the direction of the arrow, lift the cover and
remove it ⇒ fig. 125.
– Installation is done in the reverse order.
WARNING
Do not place heavy or hard objects on the rear shelf, because they will
endanger the vehicle occupants in case of sudden braking. 

155
Seats and storage compartments
CAUTION
● Before closing the tailgate, ensure that the rear shelf is correctly fitted.
● An overloaded luggage compartment could mean that the rear shelf is
not correctly seated and it may be bent or damaged.
● If the luggage compartment is overloaded, remove the tray.
Note
● Ensure that, when placing items of clothing on the luggage compart-
ment cover, rear visibility is not reduced. 
Partition net*
The net partition prevents loose objects in the luggage com-
partment from being thrown forward into the passenger
compartment (e.g. under sudden braking).
Fig. 126 Partition net
Fig. 127 Anchor rings
for the separation net
– Pull the net from underneath between the backrest and the fold-
ing tray and fit it to the slots in the roof, first the right then the
left ⇒ fig. 126.
– Hook the belts into the front anchor rings to tense the net
⇒ fig. 127. 
Roof rack*
Please observe the following points if you intend to carry loads on the roof:
● For safety reasons, only luggage racks and accessories approved by
SEAT should be used. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications