airbag Seat Leon 5D 2014 User Guide

Safety
do not cause any injuries or environmental
pollution, regulations, which are known to
the specialised workshops, must be ob-
served. WARNING
● Improper use or repairs not carried out by
qualified mechanics increase the risk of se-
vere or fatal injuries. The belt tensioners may
fail to trigger or may trigger in the wrong cir-
cumstances.
● Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or
install parts of the belt tensioners or seat
belts.
● The seat belt tensioner, seat belt and auto-
matic 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 pro-
tection for one accident and must be changed
if they have been activated. Airbag system
Brief introduction Why wear a seat belt and assume the
correct sitting position? For the inflating airbags to achieve the best
protection, the seat belt must always be worn
properly and the correct sitting position must
be assumed.
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 ef-
fectively when the vehicle occupants are
wearing their seat belts correctly and have
adjusted the head restraints properly. There-
fore, it is most important to properly wear the
seat belts at all times, not only because this
is required by law in most countries, but also
for your safety
›››
page 43, The reasons why
we should wear seat belts .
The airbag inflates in a matter of seconds, so
if you are not properly seated when the air-
bag is triggered, you may sustain fatal inju-
ries. Therefore, it is essential that all vehicle
occupants assume a correct sitting position
while travelling.
Sharp braking before an accident may cause
a passenger not wearing a seat belt to be
thrown forward into the area of the deploying airbag. In this case, the inflating airbag may
inflict critical or fatal injuries on the occu-
pant. This also applies to children.
Always maintain the greatest possible dis-
tance between yourself and the front airbag.
This way, the front airbags can completely
deploy when triggered, providing their maxi-
mum protection.
The most important factors that will trigger
an airbag are: the type of accident, the angle
of collision and the speed of the vehicle.
Whether or not the airbags are triggered de-
pends primarily on the vehicle deceleration
rate resulting from the collision and detected
by the control unit. If the vehicle deceleration
occurring during the collision and measured
by the control unit remains below the speci-
fied reference values, the front, side and/or
curtain airbags will not be triggered. Take in-
to account that the visible damage in a vehi-
cle involved in an accident, no matter how
serious, is not a determining factor for the
airbags to have been triggered.
WARNING
● Wearing the seat belt incorrectly or assum-
ing an incorrect sitting position can lead to
critical or fatal injuries.
● All vehicle occupants, including children,
who are not properly belted can sustain criti-
cal or fatal injuries if the airbag is triggered.
Children up to 12 years old should always 48

Airbag system
travel on the rear seat. Never transport
children in the vehicle if they are not restrain-
ed or the restraint system is not appropriate
for their age, size or weight.
●
If you are not wearing a seat belt, or if you
lean forward or to the side while travelling or
assume an incorrect sitting position, there is
a substantially increased risk of injury. This
increased risk of injury will be further in-
creased if you are struck by an inflating air-
bag.
● To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating
airbag, always wear the seat belt properly
››› page 43.
● Alw
ays adjust the front seats properly. Description of airbag system
The airbag system is not a substitute for the
seat belts. The airbag system offers addition-
al protection for the driver and passenger in
combination with the seat belts.
The airbag system comprises the following
modules (as per vehicle equipment):
●
Electronic control unit
● Front airbags for driver and passenger
● Knee airbag for the driver
● Side airbags
● Head airbag ●
Airbag control lamp  on the instrument
panel
● Key-operated switch for front passenger air-
bag
● Control lamp to disconnect/connect the
front airbag.
The airbag system operation is monitored
electronically. The airbag control lamp will il-
luminate for a few seconds every time the ig-
nition is switched on (self-diagnosis).
There is a fault in the system if the control
lamp :
● does not light up when the ignition is
switched on,
● turns off after 4 seconds after the ignition
is switched on
● turns off and then lights up again after the
ignition is switched on
● illuminates or flashes while the vehicle is
moving.
The airbag system is not triggered if:
● the ignition is switched off
● there is a minor frontal collision
● there is a minor side collision
● there is a rear-end collision
● the vehicle turns over. WARNING
● The seat belts and airbags can only provide
maximum protection if the occupants are
seated correctly ››› page 38, Sitting position
for vehicle occupants .
● If a fault has occurred in the airbag system,
have the system checked immediately by a
specialised workshop. Otherwise there is a
danger that during a collision, the system
may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly. Airbag activation
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within
thousandths of a second, to provide addi-
tional protection in the event of an accident.
A fine dust may develop when the airbag de-
ploys. This is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of fire in the vehicle.
The airbag system is only ready to function
when the ignition is on.
In special accidents instances, several air-
bags may activate at the same time.
In the event of minor head-on and side colli-
sions, rear-end collisions, overturning or roll-
over of the vehicle, airbags
do not activate.
Activation factors
The conditions that lead to the airbag system
activating in each situation cannot be gener-
alised. Some factors play an important role, »
49
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials

Safety
such as the properties of the object the vehi-
cle hits (hard/soft), angle of impact, vehicle
speed, etc.
Deceleration trajectory is key for airbag acti-
vation.
The control unit analyses the collision trajec-
tory and activates the respective restraint
system.
If the deceleration rate is below the prede-
fined reference value in the control unit the
airbags will not be triggered, even though
the accident may cause extensive damage to
the car.
The following airbags are triggered in
serious head-on collisions
● Driver airbag.
● Front passenger front airbag
● Knee airbag for the driver.
The following airbags are triggered in
serious side-on collisions
● Front side airbag on the side of the acci-
dent.
● Rear side airbag on the side of the acci-
dent.
● Curtain (head) airbag on the side of the ac-
cident. In an accident with airbag activation:
●
the interior lights switch on (if the interior
light switch is in the courtesy light position);
● the hazard warning lights switch on;
● all doors are unlocked;
● the fuel supply to the engine is cut. Airbag overview
Front airbags Fig. 66
Driver airbag located in steering
wheel. 50

Airbag system
Fig. 67
Front passenger airbag located in
dash panel. The front airbag for the driver is located in
the steering wheel
››› Fig. 66 and the airbag
f or the fr
ont passenger is located in the dash
panel ››› Fig. 67. Airbags are identified by the
wor

d “AIRBAG”.
The airbag covers fold out of the steering
wheel and dashboard respectively when the
driver and front passenger airbags are de-
ployed ››› Fig. 66 ››› Fig. 67
. The airbag covers
rem
ain connected to the steering wheel or
the dash panel. In conjunction with the seat belts, the front
airbag system gives the front occupants ad-
ditional protection for the head and chest in
the event of a severe frontal collision
››› .
The special design of the airbag allows the
controlled escape of the propellant gas when
an occupant puts pressure on the bag. Thus,
the head and chest are surrounded and pro-
tected by the airbag. After the collision, the
airbag deflates sufficiently to allow visibility. WARNING
● The deployment space between the front
passengers and the airbags must not in any
case be occupied by other passenger, pets
and objects.
● The airbags provide protection for just one
accident; replace them once they have de-
ployed.
● It is also important not to attach any ob-
jects such as cup holders or telephone
mountings to the surfaces covering the air-
bag units.
● Do not attempt to modify components of
the airbag system in any way. Types of front passenger front airbag
systems
There are two different SEAT front passenger
front airbag systems:
A
Characteristics of the front passenger front airbag that
can only be disabled in a specialised workshop
.
– Control lamp  on the instrument panel.
– Front passenger front airbag on the dash panel.
Name: airbag system.
B
Characteristics of the front passenger front airbag that
can be disabled manually ››› page 55.
– Control lamp  on the instrument panel.
– Control lamp on the instrument panel  
  .
– Control lamp on the instrument panel  
  .
– Key-operated switch in the glove compartment on the
front passenger side of the dashboard.
– Front passenger front airbag in the dashboard.
Name: airbag system with front passenger front airbag
disabling. 51
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials

Safety
Knee airbag* Fig. 68
On the driver side: location of the
knee airbag Fig. 69
On the driver side: radius of action of
the knee airbag. The knee airbag is located on the driver side
below the dash panel
››› Fig. 68 . Airbags are
identified b y
the word “AIRBAG”.
The area framed in red ››› Fig. 69
is covered
by the knee airbag when it is deployed (de- ployment area). Therefore, objects should
never be placed or mounted in these areas. WARNING
● The knee airbag is deployed in front of the
driver's knees. Always keep the deployment
areas of the knee airbags free.
● Never not fix objects to the cover or in the
deployment area of the knee airbag.
● Adjust the driver seat so that there is a dis-
tance of at least 10 cm (4 inches) between
your knees and the location of the this air-
bag. If your physical constitution prevents
you from meeting these requirements, make
sure you contact a specialised workshop. Side airbags*
Fig. 70
Side airbag in driver seat. Fig. 71
Illustration of completely inflated side
airbags on the left side of the vehicle. The side airbags are located in the backrest
cushions of the driver seat
››› Fig. 70 and the
fr ont

passenger seat as well as in the back-
rest of the side rear seats*. The locations are
identified by the text “AIRBAG” in the upper
region of the backrests.
Together with the seat belts, the side airbag
system gives the front seat occupants addi-
tional protection for the upper body in the
event of a severe side collision ››› .
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 im-
pact. In addition to their normal function of
protecting the occupants in a collision, the
seat belts also hold the passengers in the
front seats and the outer rear seats in a posi-
tion where these airbags can provide maxi-
mum protection.
52

Airbag system
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 a greater risk
of injury if the side airbag system is 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.
● In a side-on collision the side airbags will
not work if the sensors do not correctly meas-
ure the pressure increase on the interior of
the doors, due to air escaping through the
areas with holes or openings in the door pan-
el.
● Never drive if the interior door panels have
been removed or if the panels have not been
correctly fitted.
● Never drive the vehicle if the loudspeakers
in the door panels have been removed, un-
less the holes left by the loudspeakers have
been closed properly.
● Always check that the openings are closed
or covered if loudspeakers or other equip-
ment are fitted inside the door panels.
● Occupants of the outer seats must never
carry any objects or pets in the deployment
space between them and the airbags, or al-
low children or other passengers to travel in
this position. It is also important not to at-
tach 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 bol-
ster because the system may be damaged. In
this case, the side airbags would not be trig-
gered.
● Under no circumstances should protective
covers be fitted over seats with side airbags
unless the covers have been approved for use
in your vehicle. Because the airbag deploys
from the side of the backrest, the use of con-
ventional seat covers would obstruct the side
airbag, seriously reducing the airbag's effec-
tiveness.
● Any damage to the original seat upholstery
or around the seams of the side airbag units
must be repaired immediately by a special-
ised workshop.
● The airbags provide protection for just one
accident; replace them once they have de-
ployed.
● Any work on the side airbag system or re-
moval and installation of the airbag compo-
nents for other repairs (such as removal of
the front seat) should only be performed by a
specialised workshop. Otherwise, faults may
occur during the airbag system operation.
● Do not attempt to modify components of
the airbag system in any way. Head-protection airbags*
Fig. 72
Location of head-protection airbags. The head-protection airbags are located on
both sides in the interior above the doors
››› Fig. 72 and are identified with the text
“AIRB AG”.
In c
onjunction with the seat belts, the head-
protection airbag system gives the vehicle
occupants additional protection for the head
and upper body in the event of a severe side
collision ››› .
WARNING
● In order for the head-protection airbags to
provide their maximum protection, the pre-
scribed sitting position must always be main-
tained with seat belts fastened while travel-
ling.
● For safety reasons, the curtain airbag must
be disabled in those vehicles fitted with a
screen dividing the interior of the vehicle. » 53
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials

Safety
See your technical service to make this ad-
justment.
●
There must be no other persons, animals or
objects between the occupants of the outer
seats and the deployment space of the head-
protection airbags so that the head-protec-
tion airbag can deploy completely without re-
striction 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 win-
dows
● The built-in coat hooks should be used only
for lightweight clothing. Do not leave any
heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets.
Please, do not hang the clothes on coat hang-
ers.
● The airbags provide protection for just one
accident; replace them once they have de-
ployed.
● Any work on the head-protection airbag
system or removal and installation of the air-
bag components for other repairs (such as re-
moval of the roof lining) should only be per-
formed by a specialised workshop. Other-
wise, faults may occur during the airbag sys-
tem operation.
● 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 operation of
the side and curtain airbags neither the
doors nor the door panels should be modified
in any way (e.g. fitting loudspeakers). If the front door is damaged, the airbag system
may not work correctly. All work carried out
on the front door must be done in a special-
ised workshop.
Deactivating airbags
Disabling the front airbag Fig. 73
Control lamp for disabling the front
passenger front airbag on the dash panel It lights up on the combi-in-
strument
Fault in airbag
system and seat belt tensioners.Have the system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop. 

It lights up on the dash panel
Fault in the air-
bag system.Have the system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop.
Front passenger
front airbag dis-
abled.Check whether the airbag should re-
main disabled. 

It lights up on the dash panel
Front passenger
front airbag ena-
bled.The control lamp switches off about
60 seconds after the ignition is
turned on or after enabling of the
front passenger front airbag with the
key lock switch. Several warning and control lamps light up
for a few seconds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds.
If the front passenger airbag is deactivated,
the lamp     
does not re-
m ain lit
, or if it is lit together with the control
lamp  on the dash panel, there may be a
fault in the airbag system ››› .
The disabling of airbags is only carried out in
certain cases, i.e. if:
● a child seat is required in the front passen-
ger seat with the child facing in the opposite
direction to the direction of travel (in some
54

Airbag system
countries, due to divergent legal require-
ments, facing in the direction of travel)
››› page 58 ;
● de s
pite the driver seat being in the correct
position, a minimum distance of 25 cm can-
not be maintained between the centre of the
steering wheel and the driver's torso,
● installation of special devices is required in
the steering wheel area due to a physical dis-
ability,
● if you have special seats installed (e.g. an
orthopaedic seat without side airbags).
The front passenger front airbag can be disa-
bled using the switch ››› page 55.
We recommend that you contact an author-
ised SEAT dealer for the disabling of other air-
bags.
Airbag system control
The airbag system availability is controlled
electronically, regardless of whether an air-
bag is disabled.
If an airbag was disabled using a diagnostics
system:
● the airbag system warning lamp  illumi-
nates after switching on the ignition for
about 4 seconds, and then flashes for about
12 seconds. If the airbag has been disabled with the air-
bag switch on the side of the dash panel:
●
the airbag control lamp  will illuminate
for about
4 seconds after the ignition is
switched on,
● The airbag is disabled, signalled with the
warning lamp
  which lights up with the
word      placed in the cen-
tre part of the dash panel ››› Fig. 74. WARNING
In the event of a fault in the airbag system,
the airbag may not trigger correctly, may fail
to trigger or may even trigger unexpectedly,
leading to severe or fatal injuries.
● Have the airbag system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop.
● Never mount a child seat in the front pas-
senger seat or remove the mounted child
seat! The front passenger front airbag may
deploy during an accident in spite of the
fault. CAUTION
Always pay attention to any lit control lamps
and to the corresponding descriptions and in-
structions to avoid damage to the vehicle. Note
● Follow the current legislation in your coun-
try regarding the disabling of airbags. ●
At your authorised SEAT dealer you can find
information on which vehicle airbags can be
disabled. Front passenger front airbag switch
Fig. 74
Front passenger front airbag switch. Fig. 75
Warning lamp for disabling the front
passenger airbag. » 55
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials

Safety
Read the additional information carefully
›››  page 11
.
The sw it
ch disables only the front passenger
front airbag.
Switching on the airbag
– Switch the ignition off.
– Open the glove compartment on the front
passenger side.
– Insert the key into the slot of the switch for
deactivating the front passenger airbag
››› Fig. 74. About 3/4 of the key should en-
ter

, as far as it will go.
– Then turn the key gently to the ON position.
Do not f

orce it if you feel resistance, and
make sure you have inserted the key fully.
– Close the passenger side storage compart-
ment.
– Check, with the ignition switched on, that
the control lamp   ››› Fig. 75 does not
light up

, with the word    
 in the centre part of the dash panel.
– The warning lamp   is illuminated for
60 seconds in the centre part of the dash
panel.
Control lamp with the word   
  (front passenger airbag disabled)
If the front passenger front airbag is disa-
bled
, after switching on the ignition, the con- trol lamp will light up for several seconds,
then it will switch off for about 1 s and then
switch on again.
If the control lamp is flashing, there is a fault
in the disabling of the airbag system
››› .
Please go immediately to an Official Service. WARNING
● The driver of the vehicle is responsible for
disabling or switching on the airbag.
● Always switch off the ignition before disa-
bling the front passenger airbag! Failure to do
so could result in a fault in the airbag deacti-
vation system.
● Never leave the key in the airbag disabling
switch as it could get damaged or enable or
disable the airbag during driving.
● If the   (airbag disabled) control lamp
fl a

shes, the front passenger front airbag will
not trigger in the event of an accident! Have
the system immediately checked by an Offi-
cial Service. Transporting children safety
Safety for children Introduction For safety reasons, as we have learned from
accident statistics, we recommend that chil-
dren under 12 years of age travel in the rear
seats. Depending on their age, height and
weight, children travelling in rear seats must
use a child seat or a seat belt. For safety rea-
sons, the child seat should be installed in the
rear seat, behind the front passenger seat or
in the centre back seat.
The physical laws involved and the forces
acting in a collision apply also to children
››› page 45 . But unlike adults, children do not
h av
e fully developed muscle and bone struc-
tures. This means that children are subject to
a greater risk of injury.
To reduce the risk of injuries, children must
always use special child restraint systems
when travelling in the vehicle.
We recommend the use of child safety prod-
ucts from the SEAT Original Accessories Pro-
gramme, which includes systems for all ages
made by “Peke” (not for all countries).
These systems have been especially de-
signed and approved, complying with the
ECE-R44. regulation.
56

Transporting children safety
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and
observe any statutory requirements when in-
stalling and using child seats. Always read
and note ››› page 57 .
W e r
ecommend you always carry the manu-
facturer's Child Seat Instruction Manual to-
gether with the on-board documentation.
Important information regarding the
front passenger's airbag Fig. 76
Passenger's side sun visor: airbag
sticker. Fig. 77
On the rear frame of the passenger
side door: airbag sticker. A sticker with important information about
the passenger airbag is located on the pas-
senger's sun visor and/or on the passenger
side door frame. Read and always observe
the safety information included in the follow-
ing chapters:
● Safety distance with respect to the passen-
ger airbag ››› page 48 .
● Ob

jects between the passenger and the
passenger side airbag ››› in Front airbags
on page 51 .
The p a

ssenger side front airbag, when ena-
bled, is a serious risk for a child that is facing
backward since the airbag can strike the seat
with such force that it can cause serious or
fatal injuries. Children up to 12 years old
should always travel on the rear seat.
Therefore we strongly recommend you to
transport children on the rear seats. This is the safest location in the vehicle. Alternative-
ly, the front passenger airbag can be disa-
bled with a key-operated switch
››› page 55.
When transporting children, use a child seat
suitable for the age and size of each child
››› page 58. WARNING
● If a child seat is secured to the front pas-
senger seat, the risk to the child of sustain-
ing critical or fatal injuries in the event of an
accident increases.
● An inflating front passenger airbag can
strike the rear-facing child seat and project it
with great force against the door, the roof or
the backrest.
● Never install a child seat facing backwards
on the front passenger seat unless the front
passenger front airbag has been disabled.
Risk of potentially fatal injuries to the child!
However, if it is necessary, in exceptional ca-
ses, to transport a child in the front passen-
ger seat, the front passenger front airbag
must always be disabled ››› page 54. If the
passenger seat has a height adjustment op-
tion, move it to the highest, most upright po-
sition. If you have a fixed seat, do not install
any child restraint system in this location.
● For those vehicles that do not include a key
lock switch to deactivate the airbag, the vehi-
cle must be taken to a technical service.
● All vehicle occupants, especially children,
must assume the proper sitting position and
be properly belted in while travelling. » 57
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials