Seat Leon 5D 2006 Service Manual
Manufacturer: SEAT, Model Year: 2006, Model line: Leon 5D, Model: Seat Leon 5D 2006Pages: 292, PDF Size: 8.86 MB
Page 41 of 292

Airbag system39
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Function of side airbags
Inflated airbags can reduce the risk of head or chest injury in 
many side impact collisions.In some side collisions  the side airbag is triggered on the impact side of the 
vehicle  ⇒fig. 22.
In ce rtain types  of accident, the front curta in 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 the outer rear 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.
Fig. 22  Illustration of 
principle: inflated side 
airbags on left side of 
vehicle
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Airbag system
40Safety notes on the operation of the side airbag system
If airbags are used correctly, they can considerably reduce the 
risk of injury in side impact collisions.
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  grea ter 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.
•
Occupants of the outer seats must never carry any objects or pets in the 
deployment space between them and th e airbags, or allow children or 
other passengers to travel in this position. It is also important not to attach 
any accessories (such as cup holders) to the doors. This would impair the 
protection offered by the side airbags.
•
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 non-approved seat covers would obstruct the 
side airbag seriously reducing the airbag's effectiveness  ⇒page 191, 
“Accessories, parts replacement and modifications”.
•
Any damage to the original seat upho lstery 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 si tting 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  ⇒page 46, “Child safety”.
•
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.
•
The side and head airbags are managed through sensors located in the 
interior of the front doors. To ensure the correct functioning of the side and 
head airbags neither the doors nor the  door panels should be modified in 
any way (e.g. fitting loudspeakers). If the front door is damaged in any way, 
this may affect the correct working of the system. All work carried out on 
the front door must be made in a qualified workshop.WARNING (continued)
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Page 43 of 292

Airbag system41
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Curtain airbagsDescription of curtain airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.The curtain airbags are located on both sides in the interior above the doors 
⇒fig. 23  and are identified with the text “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the seat belts, th e curtain airbag system gives the occu-
pants additional protection for the head and upper body in the event of a 
severe side collision ⇒ page 42, “Safety notes on the operation of the 
curtain airbag system”.
The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts, but 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 correctly and have adjusted the head restraints properly. For this 
reason, 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, “Introduction”.
The main parts of the curtain airbag system are:
•
an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit),
•
the curtain airbags (airbags with gas generator) for the driver, front 
passenger and passengers on the rear seats,
•
a warning lamp 
 in the dash panel insert  ⇒page 31.
The functionality of the airbag system is monitored electronically.
The curtain airbag system will not be triggered
•
if the ignition is switched off,
Fig. 23  Location of left curtain airbag
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Airbag system
42•
during a frontal collision,
•
during a rear-end collision,
•
if the vehicle rolls,
•
or during a minor frontal collision.
WARNING
If a fault should occur in the airbag system, have the system checked imme-
diately by a qualified workshop. Otherwise there is a danger that during a 
collision, the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.Function of curtain airbags
Fully inflated airbags reduce the ri sk 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 ⇒ fig. 24.
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 alwa ys 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.
Fig. 24  Deployed curtain 
airbags
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Airbag system43
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
•
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 ⇒ page 191, “Accessories, parts replacement and modifica-
tions”.
•
The built-in coat hooks should be used only for lightweight clothing. Do 
not leave any heavy or sharp-edged obje cts in the pockets. When using the 
coat hooks, do not hang th e 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.
•
Do not attempt to modify components of the airbag system in any way.
•
The side and head airbags are managed through sensors located in the 
interior of the front doors. To ensure the correct functioning of the side and 
head airbags neither the doors nor the  door panels should be modified in 
any way (e.g. fitting loudspeakers). If the front door is damaged in any way, 
this may affect the correct working of the system. All work carried out on 
the front door must be made in a qualified workshop.WARNING (continued)
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Airbag system
44Deactivating airbags*Disabling front passenger airbag
If you fit a rear-facing child seat to the front passenger seat, 
the front passenger airbag must be deactivated.
When the passenger airbag is  deactivated, this means that only the 
frontal airbag is deactivated. All the other airbags in the vehicle 
remain functional.
Disabling front passenger airbag
– Switch off ignition.
– Turn the ignition switch in the key operated switch in the glove  box to the position  OFF ⇒ fig. 25 .
– Check that the warning lamp “AIRBAG OFF” in the dash panel  ⇒fig. 26 remains lit  ⇒ when the ignition is switched on.
Enabling front passenger airbag
– Switch off ignition.
– Turn the ignition switch in the key-operated switch in the glove  box to the position  ON ⇒fig. 25 .
Fig. 25  In the glove box 
there is key switch for 
disabling and enabling 
the airbags on the front 
passenger side
Fig. 26  Warning lamp for 
deactivated passenger 
airbag in centre console
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Airbag system45
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
– Check that the warning lamp  in the dash panel does ⇒page 44, 
fig. 26  not  light up when the ignition is switched on  ⇒.
WARNING
•
The driver is responsible for the proper position of the key-operated 
switch. 
•
You should deactivate the front passenger airbag only if you have to use 
a rear-facing child seat in exceptional cases. ⇒ page 46, “Child safety”.
•
For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to turn the 
airbag off, an Authorised Service Centre must be consulted.
•
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 th e child! However, if it is necessary in 
exceptional circumstances to transport a child in a rear-facing child seat on 
the front passenger seat, you must always disable the front passenger 
airbag.
•
As soon as the child seat is no longer needed on the front passenger 
seat, enable the front passenger airbag again.
•
Only deactivate the passenger airbag when the ignition is off, other-
wise a fault may occur in the airbag system, this will create a danger that 
in case of an accident, the airbag do es not deploy properly or does not 
deploy at all.
•
When the passenger airbag is deactivated, if the warning lamp is not 
continuously lit up when the front passenger airbag is disabled, there may 
be a fault in the airbag system:
−Have the airbag system inspected immediately by a qualified work-
shop.
− Do not use a child seat on the front passenger seat! The front 
passenger airbag could be triggered despite the fact that there is a fault 
in the system and, as a result, a child could sustain serious or fatal inju-
ries. −
It is not certain whether the fron t passenger airbag will deploy 
during an accident! Inform your passengers of this.
•
When using the ignition key to activate / deactivate the passenger front 
airbag, only the passenger front airbag  will be activated / deactivated. The 
side airbag and head airbag on the passenger side will remain active.WARNING (continued)
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Page 48 of 292

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 
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 
⇒ page 47. 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: 9to18kg
Group 2: 15 to 25 kg
Group 3: 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. 27  .
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 ⇒ page 47.
Fig. 27  A group 0 rear-
facing child seat fitted on 
the rear seat.
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