Seat Mii 2016 Repair Manual

Airbag system
Airbag system
Brief intr
oduction
Intr
oduction Front airbags have been installed for both
driver and p
a

ssenger. The front airbags can
also protect the chest and head of driver and
passenger if the seats, seat belts head re-
straints and, for the driver, the steering
wheel are correctly adjusted and used. Air-
bags are considered as additional safety
equipment. An airbag cannot replace the
seat belt, which must be worn at all times,
even in front seats where front airbags have
been installed.
The airbag can protect vehicle occupants in
the event of an accidents, cushioning the
movement of the occupants in the direction
of the collision in frontal and side accidents.
Deployed airbags fill with a propellant gas.
This causes the airbag covers to break and
the airbags to deploy extremely quickly in
their entire deployment space within frac-
tions of a second. When an occupant with the
seat belt properly fastened puts pressure on
the inflated airbag, the propellant gas es-
capes to absorb the force of the impact and
slow the movement. This reduces the risk of
severe or fatal injuries. Airbag deployment
does not mean that other types of injury such as swelling, bruising and skin injuries can be
rul
ed out

. Upon deployment of the airbag,
friction can cause the generation of heat.
Airbags do not protect the arms or the lower
part of the body.
The most important factors for triggering the
airbag are the type of accident, the angle of
impact, the vehicle speed and the character-
istics of the object the vehicle hits. Therefore,
airbags are not triggered every time the vehi-
cle is visibly damaged.
The activation of the airbag system depends
on the magnitude of the deceleration of the
vehicle caused by a collision, which registers
through an electronic control unit. If the de-
celeration magnitude value is below the ref-
erence value programmed in the control unit,
the airbags will not deploy even though seri-
ous damage might be caused to the vehicle
as the result of an accident. Damage suffered
by the vehicle, reparation costs or absence of
damage suffered from the accident are not
indications of whether an airbag should have
been deployed. Due to the varying nature of
collision situations, it is impossible to define
a speed range of the vehicle and reference
values. For this reason, it is not possible to
cover all types of collisions and collision an-
gles resulting in the deployment of the air-
bag. Factors necessary for the airbag to be
deployed can be, the characteristics of the
object (hard or soft) against which the vehi- cle collides, the collision angle and the vehi-
cle s
peed.
Airbags act in conjunction with the three-
point seat belts in certain accident situa-
tions, when the vehicle deceleration rate is
severe enough to trigger the airbags. Airbags
only deploy once and only under certain cir-
cumstances. Seat belts remain present to of-
fer protection in situations where airbags are
not triggered or where they have already de-
ployed. For example, when a vehicle hits an-
other after an initial collision or is hit by an-
other vehicle. The airbag system is an integral part of the
car's passive safety system. The airbag sys-
tem can only work effectively when the vehi-
cle occupants are wearing their seat belts
correctly and have adjusted the head re-
straints properly  ››› page 48. WARNING
Never exclusively trust the airbag system as a
mean s

of protection.
● Even when triggered, airbag protection is
only aux
iliary.
● The airbags provide the best protection
when the seat belt
s are properly fastened,
thus reducing the risk of sustaining injuries
››› page 52, Why wear a seat belt? .» 59
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Safety
●
Bef or
e each trip, every occupant must sit
properly, correctly fasten the seat belt be-
longing to his or her seat and keeping it fas-
tened throughout the trip. This rule is valid
for all vehicle occupants. WARNING
Occupants sitting in the front of the vehicle
mu st

never carry any objects in the deploy-
ment space between them and the airbags,
as this increases the risk of sustaining inju-
ries if the airbag is triggered. This modifies
the airbag deployment space or the objects
may fly uncontrollably and hit your body.
● Never carry objects in your hand or on your
lap whil
e the vehicle is in motion.
● Never transport objects on the front pas-
senger se
at. In the event of sudden braking
and manoeuvres, the objects may end up in
the airbag deployment space and fly uncon-
trollably around the interior if the airbag is
activated.
● Occupants of the front and rear seats must
never carr
y any other people, pets or objects
in the deployment space between them and
the airbags. Make sure children and other
passengers also respect this recommenda-
tion. WARNING
The airbag system provides protection for
one acc ident

only. If they have been de-
ployed, they must be replaced. ●
Ens ur

e deployed airbags and the system
components involved are immediately re-
placed with new, SEAT-approved components
for the vehicle.
● Have any repairs or modifications carried
out at a s
pecialised workshop. Specialised
workshops have the necessary tools, diag-
nostics equipment, repair information and
qualified personnel.
● Never fit recycled or reused airbag compo-
nents in
your vehicle.
● Never modify the airbag system compo-
nents. WARNING
If the airbags are triggered, a fine dust is pro-
duced. Thi

s is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of fire in the vehicle.
● This fine dust may irritate the skin and eyes
and cause br
eathing difficulties, particularly
in people suffering from or who have suffered
from asthma or other illnesses of the respira-
tory tract. To reduce breathing difficulties,
get out of the vehicle and open and doors and
windows to breath in fresh air.
● Should you touch the dust, wash your
hands
and face using a mild soap and water
before you eat.
● Prevent the dust from affecting the eyes or
open wound
s.
● Rinse your eyes with water if you have dust
in them. WARNING
Solvents cause the surfaces of the airbag
modul e

s to become porous. If an airbag is ac-
cidentally triggered, the detachment of plas-
tic parts could cause serious injury.
● Never clean the dash panel and the surfa-
ces
of the airbag modules with cleaners con-
taining solvents. Description of airbag system
Vehicle safety components
The f
o
l

lowing safety equipment makes up the
vehicle safety design to reduce the risk of se-
vere and fatal injuries. Depending on the ve-
hicle equipment, some equipment may not
be fitted in the vehicle or may not be availa-
ble in some markets.
● Optimised seat belts for all seats.
● Seat belt tension devices for driver and
pas
senger.
● Seat belt force limiters for driver and pas-
senger
.
● Seat belt warning lamp
● Front airbags for driver and passenger.
● Side airbags for driver and passenger.
● Airbag control lamp .
● Control units and sensors.
60

Airbag system
● He a
d r
estraints optimised for rear-end colli-
sion.
● Adjustable steering column.
● If necessary, anchor points for child seats
for the re
ar seats.
● Where applicable, mountings for the child
seat up
per retaining strap.
Situations in which the front and side air-
bags do not deploy:
● If the ignition is switched off during the col-
lision.
● In fr

ontal collisions, when the deceleration
meas
ured by the control unit is too low.
● In minor side collisions.
● In rear collisions.
● In the event of the vehicle overturning.
● When the impact speed is lower than the
refer
ence value set in the control unit.
There is a fault in the system if the control
lamp :
● does not light up when the ignition is
switc
hed on,
● turns off after 4 seconds after the ignition
is sw
itched on
● turns off and then lights up again after the
ignition is sw
itched on
● illuminates or flashes while the vehicle is
movin
g. WARNING
● The seat belt

s and airbags can only provide
maximum protection if the occupants are
seated correctly ››› page 48.
● If a fault has occurred in the airbag system,
have the sy
stem checked immediately by a
specialised workshop. Otherwise, during a
frontal collision the system might not trigger
correctly or may fail to trigger at all. Airbag activation
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within
thou
s
andths

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,
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 seri-
ous head-on collisions ● Driver airbag.
● Front passenger front airbag
The fol
lowing airbags are triggered in seri-
ous side-on collisions
● Front side airbag on the side of the acci-
dent.
● Re

ar side airbag on the side of the acci-
dent.
In an acc

ident with airbag activation:
● the interior lights switch on (if the interior
light swit
ch is in the courtesy light position);
● the hazard warning lights switch on;
● all doors are unlocked; »
61
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Safety
● the f uel
s
upply to the engine is cut.
Airbag safety instructions Front airb
agsRead the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 14. WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in frac-
tions of

a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the
front airb
ags vacant.
● Never secure objects to the covers or in the
deployment
area of the airbag modules, e.g.
drink holders or phone supports.
● The deployment space between the front
pas
sengers and the airbags must not in any
case be occupied by other passenger, pets
and objects.
● Never fix any object to the windscreen
above the fr
ont airbag on the front passenger
side.
● Do not alter, cover or stick anything to the
steerin
g wheel hub or the surface of the air-
bag module on the passenger side of the
dash panel. WARNING
Front airbags are deployed in front of the
st eerin

g wheel and the instrument panel.
● When driving, always hold the steering
wheel on the outer edg
e of the ring with both
hands: 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position.
● Adjust the driver seat so that there is a dis-
tance of
at least 25 cm (10 inches) between
the centre of your chest and the hub of the
steering wheel. If your physical constitution
prevents you from meeting these require-
ments, make sure you contact a specialised
workshop.
● Adjust the front passenger seat so there is
as muc
h distance as possible between the
front passenger and the dash panel. Side airbags*
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 16. WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in frac-
tions of

a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the
side airbag
s vacant.
● The deployment space between the front
pas
sengers and the airbags must not in any
case be occupied by other passenger, pets
and objects. ●
Do not mou nt

accessories on the doors.
● Only used protective covers for the seats
that ar
e approved for the vehicle. Otherwise,
the side airbag would be obstructed when de-
ployed. WARNING
Incorrect handling of the driver's and front
p as

senger seat could prevent the side airbag
from deploying properly and cause severe in-
juries.
● Never remove the front seats of the vehicle
or modify an
y of their components.
● Great forces must not be exerted on the
seat b
ackrest bolsters because the side air-
bags might not deploy correctly, might not
deploy at all or might deploy unexpectedly.
● Any damage to the original seat upholstery
or around the se
ams of the side airbag units
must be repaired immediately by a special-
ised workshop. 62

Airbag system
Deactivating airbags C ontr
o
l lamps Fig. 74
Control lamp for disabling the front
p a
s

senger front airbag on the dash panel 
It lights up on the combi-in-
strument
Fault in airbag sys-
tem and seat belt
tensioners.Have the system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop.  
It lights up on the dash panel
Fault in the airbag
system.Have the system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop.
Front passenger
front airbag disa-
bled.Check whether the airbag should
remain disabled.
Several warning and control lamps light up
f
or a f
ew sec

onds 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-
main lit, or if it is lit together with the control
lamp  on the dash panel, there may be a
fault in the airbag system ››› .
WARNING
In the event of a fault in the airbag system,
the airbag m a

y 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 b
y a specialised workshop.
● Never mount a child seat in the front pas-
senger se
at 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 c orr

esponding descriptions and in-
structions to avoid damage to the vehicle. Manual disabling and enabling of the
fr
ont
p

assenger front airbag with the
key switch Fig. 75
On front passenger side: Key switch
f or en
ab

ling and disabling the front passen-
ger front airbag. Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 15
Activating the front passenger front airbag
● Switch the ignition off.
● Open the door on the front passenger side.
● Unfold the vehicle key blade ›››
page 92.
● Using the vehicle key, turn the key switch to
ON ›››

Fig. 75.
● Close the door on the front passenger side.
● Check that, with the ignition switched on,
the contro
l lamp      on the
dash panel is not lit ››› page 63. »
63
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Safety
How to know whether the front passenger
fr ont
airb
ag is disabled
The only indication of the front passenger air-
bag being disabled is that the   
  control lamp on the dash panel re-
mains lit (   stays yellow) ››› page 63.
If the control lamp   on the dash panel
does not remain lit or is lit in combination
with the control lamp  on the instrument
panel, a child restraint system cannot be
mounted on the front passenger seat for
safety reasons. The front passenger front air-
bag may deploy during an accident. WARNING
The front passenger front airbag must only be
dis ab

led in special cases.
● Disable and activate the front passenger
front airb
ag when the ignition is switched off
to avoid damage to the airbag system.
● It is the driver's responsibility to ensure
that the k
ey operated switch is set to the cor-
rect position.
● Only disable the front passenger front air-
bag when a chi
ld seat is to be mounted under
exceptional circumstances.
● As soon as the child seat is no longer nee-
ded on the front p
assenger seat, reconnect
the front passenger front airbag. Transporting children safely
Saf ety
f

or children
Introduction Before transporting babies and children in a
chi
l

d seat placed in the front passenger seat,
first completely read the information regard-
ing the airbag system.
This information is extremely important for
driver and passenger safety, particularly that
of babies and children.
SEAT recommends the use of child seats from
the SEAT accessory programme. These child
seats have been designed and tested for use
in SEAT vehicles. You can purchase child
seats with different mountings from a SEAT
dealership. WARNING
Make sure children are properly belted in and
corr ectly

secured to avoid severe or fatal inju-
ries while the vehicle is in motion.
● Never use a rear-facing child seat in the
front p
assenger seat if the front passenger
front airbag is enabled.
● Children up to 12 years old should always
travel
on the rear seat. ●
Chil dr

en must always be protected with an
approved child restraint system suited to
their height and weight.
● Children must assume the proper sitting
position and be pr
operly belted in while trav-
elling.
● Ensure the seat backrest is upright when a
chil
d seat is being used on it.
● Do not allow the child's head or other part
of his
or her body to enter the deployment
area of the side airbags.
● Make sure the belt webbing is correctly
positioned.
● Nev

er hold children or babies on your lap or
in your arms.
● On

ly one child may occupy a child seat.
● Please read and observe the child seat
manufact
urer's handling instructions. WARNING
An empty or loose child seat could fly uncon-
tro l

lably around the vehicle interior and
cause injuries in the event of an accident or
sudden braking.
● When not in use while the vehicle is in mo-
tion, alwa
ys safely secure the child seat or
store it in the luggage compartment. Note
Replace the child seat after an accident, as it
ma y

have invisible damage.64

Transporting children safely
Important information regarding the
fr ont
p
assenger's airbag Read the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 16.
Read and always observe the safety informa-
tion included in the following chapters: ● Safety distance with respect to the passen-
ger airbag ›

›› in Introduction on page 59.
● Objects between the passenger and the
pa s

senger side airbag ››› in Front airbags
on p ag
e 62
.
The passenger 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 63.
When transporting children, use a child seat
suitable for the age and size of each child
››› page 67. WARNING
● If a c hi

ld 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
acc
ident

increases.
● An inflating front passenger airbag can
strike the r
ear-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 p
assenger 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 63. 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 sw
itch 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.
● Never hold children or babies on your lap,
this c
an result in potentially fatal injuries to
the child!
● Never allow a child to be transported in a
vehicl
e 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 in-
juries to themselves and to the other vehicle
occupants. ●
If c hi

ldren assume an improper sitting posi-
tion when the vehicle is moving, they expose
themselves to greater risk of injury in the
event of a sudden braking manoeuvre or in an
accident. This is particularly important if the
child is travelling on the front passenger seat
and the airbag system is triggered in an acci-
dent; as this could cause serious injury or
even death.
● A suitable child seat can protect your child!
● Never leave a child alone in the child seat
or inside the
vehicle because depending on
the season, very high temperatures may be
reached inside a parked vehicle, which could
be fatal.
● Children who are less than 1.5 metres tall
must
not wear a normal seat belt without a
child seat, as this could cause injuries to the
abdominal and neck areas during a sudden
braking manoeuvre or in an accident.
● Do not allow the seat belt to become twis-
ted and the seat
belt should be properly in
place ››› page 52.
● Only one child may occupy a child seat
›››

page 67.
● When a child seat is mounted in the rear
seats, the door c
hild-proof lock should be ac-
tivated ››› page 98. 65
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Safety
Child seats Saf ety
in
structionsRead the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 16. WARNING
The lower anchor points for child seats do not
include rin g

s. Only secure booster seats to
lower anchor points. WARNING
Child seats with lower anchor points and with
an upper r et

aining strap must be installed in
line with the manufacturer's instructions.
Failure to comply could result in severe inju-
ries.
● Always secure just one r
etaining strap to a
child seat with the luggage compartment re-
taining ring.
● Always use the correct retaining rings for
the retainin
g strap.
● Never secure the retaining strap to a retain-
er. WARNING
In general, the rear seat is always the safest
pl ac

e for children, who are belted correctly, in
the event of an accident.
● A suitable child seat that is correctly instal-
led and used on one of
the rear seats offer the most protection possible for babies and
chi
l

dren up to 12 years in most accidents. WARNING
Unbuckling the seat belt while the vehicle is
in motion c an cau

se severe or fatal injuries in
the event of an accident or sudden braking.
● The seat belt must not be unfastened until
the vehic
le has come to a standstill. CAUTION
● To av oid m

aking permanent marks in the
padding, remove the auxiliary introduction
elements from the anchor points when the
child seat is not installed in the vehicle an-
chor points.
● To prevent damage being done to the up-
hols
tery, the padding or the auxiliary intro-
duction elements, always remove the auxili-
ary introduction elements from the anchor
points before folding the rear seat bench. 66

Transporting children safely
General information on transporting
c hi
l
dren in the vehicle Read the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 17.
Legal regulations and provisions will always
take priority over the descriptions of this in-
struction manual. There are different regula-
tions and provisions for the use of child seats
and their mountings ( ››› table on page 67).
In some countries, for example, the use of
child seats on certain seats in the vehicle
may be forbidden.
The physical principles and the forces acting
on the vehicle in the event of a collision or
other type of accidents also apply to children
››› page 52. However, unlike adults and
youngsters, children do not have fully devel-
oped muscle and bone structures. In the
event of an accident, children are subject to a
greater risk than adults of sustaining severe
injuries.
Given that children's bodies are not yet fully
developed, child restraint systems must be
used that are especially adapted to their
height, weight and constitution. There are
laws in force in many countries that indicate the use of approved seat systems for trans-
portin
g b

abies and children.
Only used authorised, approved child seats
that are suitable for the vehicle. Always con-
sult with a SEAT dealership or a Specialised
workshop should you have any doubts.
Specific child seat regulations for each coun-
try (selection)
Child seats must comply with the ECE-R 44 1)
regulation. You can get additional informa-
tion by consulting your SEAT dealership or at
the internet address www.seat.es. Categorisation of child seats according to
ECE
-R 44
Weight cat-egoryWeight ofthe childAge
Group 0up to 10 kgup to approximately. 9 months
Group 0+up to 13 kgup to approximately.18 months
Group 19 to 18 kgapprox. 8 months to 3 1/ 2 years
Group 215 to 25 kgapprox. 3 to 7 years
Group 322 to 36 kgapprox. 6 to 12 years Not all children fit in the seat of their weight
gr
oup
. Nor do al

l seats adapt to the vehicle.
Therefore, always check whether the child fits
properly in the child seat and whether the
seat can be installed safely in the vehicle.
Child seats approved under the ECE-R 44 reg-
ulation are fitted with the corresponding ap-
proval symbol. The sign is an upper-case E in
a circle with the identification number below
it. 1)
ECE-R: Economic Comi
ssion for Europe Regulation.
67
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Safety
Use of the child seat on the front pas-
sen g
er se
at1) Transporting children on the front passenger
seat
i

s not permitted in all countries. Further-
more, not all child seats are approved for use
on the front passenger seat. Your SEAT deal-
ership has an updated list of all approved
child seats. Only used child seats that are ap-
proved for each vehicle.
The front airbag on the front passenger side
is highly dangerous for a child. The front pas-
senger seat is life-threatening to a child if he
or she is transported in a rear-facing child
seat.
If a rear-facing child seat is secured to the
front passenger seat, an inflating front airbag
can strike it with such great force that severe
or fatal injuries may result ››› . Therefore,
r e
ar

-facing child seats must never be placed
on the front passenger seat when the front
passenger front airbag is enabled.
Only use a rear-facing child seat on the front
passenger seat if the front passenger front
airbag is disabled. When it is disabled, the
yellow      ›››
page 59 con-
trol lamp on the dash panel will be lit. If you
cannot disable the front passenger front air- bag and it remains activated, it is forbidden
to tran

sport children on the front passenger
seat ››› .
Thin g
s

to note if using a child seat on the
front passenger seat:
● The front passenger front airbag must
be
disabled  when using a rear-facing child
seat ››› page 59.
● The seat backrest of the front passenger
seat mu
st be upright.
● The front passenger seat must be moved as
far bac
k as possible.
● The seat backrest of the front passenger
seat mu
st be upright.
Suitable child seats
The child seat must be authorised by the
manufacturer especially for use on a front
passenger seat with a front or side airbag.
Universal seats for children can be fitted in
the front passenger seat, in groups 0, 0+, 1,
2 or 3 according to the ECE-R 44 regulation. WARNING
If a child seat is mounted on the front passen-
ger se at, the ri

sk of the child sustaining se- vere or fatal injuries in the event of an acci-
dent inc
r

eases. Rear-facing child seats must
never be mounted on the front passenger
seat when the front passenger front airbag is
enabled. This is life-threatening to the child
should the front airbag deploy, as the child
seat would be struck by the inflated airbag
and thrown against the seat backrest. WARNING
If, in exceptional circumstances, a child must
be tr ans

ported in a rear-facing child seat on
the front passenger seat, strictly observe the
following:
● Always disable the front passenger front
airbag and le
ave it disabled.
● The child seat must be approved by the
manufact
urer for use on a front passenger
seat with front and side airbag.
● Follow the installation instructions of the
chil
d seat manufacturer and observe the
warnings.
● Move the front passenger seat as far back
as po
ssible and adjust it to its highest posi-
tion to keep as far away as possible from the
front airbag.
● Move the seat backrest to the upright posi-
tion. 1)
Compliance with current national legislation and
the manuf act

urer's instructions is required when us-
ing or installing child seats.
68