airbag VOLKSWAGEN UP! 2012 User Guide

When an airbag is triggered, it is inflated by a gas generator. This causes the airbag covers to
break, and the airbags inflate forcefully to cover their deployment zones within milliseconds. Once a
vehicle occupant wearing a seat belt starts to sink into the inflated airbag, the gas inside the airbag
starts to escape to cushion the occupant and slow down their movement. This can reduce the risk
of severe and fatal injuries. A triggered airbag will not always prevent other injuries such as
swelling, bruising and grazing. Deployment of a triggered airbag can also result in frictional heat.
Airbags provide no protection for the arms or lower body.
The most important factors for triggering the airbag are the type of accident, the angle of impact,
the vehicle speed and the type of object with which the vehicle collides. Therefore, visible damage
to the vehicle does not always mean that the airbag should have been triggered.
The triggering of the airbag system depends on the vehicle deceleration rate caused by the collision
and registered by the electronic control unit. If this rate is below the reference value programmed
into the control unit, the airbags will not be triggered, even though the vehicle may be badly
damaged as a result of the collision. Vehicle damage, repair costs or even the lack of vehicle
damage in an accident do not necessarily give an indication of whether an airbag should inflate or
not. It is not possible to define a range of vehicle speeds and reference values, since the
circumstances will vary considerably between one collision and another. It is therefore impossible to
cover every possible kind and angle of impact that would trigger the airbags. Important factors in
the triggering of the airbag include the nature (hard or softyfRIWKHREMHFWWKDWWKHYHKLFOHKLWVWKH
angle of impact, and the vehicle speed.
Airbags only serve as a supplement to the three-point seat belt in some accident situations when
the vehicle braking is sufficient to trigger the airbags. Airbags can only be triggered once and only
in certain situations. The seat belts are always there to provide protection in situations in which the
airbags are not triggered or have already been triggered. For example, if the vehicle collides with a
further vehicle following the initial collision, or is hit by another vehicle.
The airbag system is part of the vehicle's overall passive safety concept. The airbag system can
only work effectively when the occupants are wearing their seat belts correctly and have assumed a
proper sitting position ⇒ Adjusting the seat position.
Components of the vehicle safety concept
The following vehicle safety equipment makes up the vehicle's safety concept to reduce the risk of
severe and fatal injuries. Some of this equipment may not be fitted in your particular vehicle. It may
not be available at all in some countries.
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Fig. 54 Location and deployment zone of the driver front airbag
Fig. 55 Location and deployment zone of the front passenger front airbag
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
In conjunction with the seat belts, the front airbag system gives the front occupants additional
protection for the head and chest in the event of a severe frontal collision. Always keep as far away
from the front airbag as possible ⇒ Adjusting the seat position. This allows the front airbags to
inflate fully when triggered, thus providing maximum protection.
The front airbag for the driver is located in the steering wheel ⇒ Fig. 54 and the front airbag for the
front passenger is located in the dash panel ⇒ Fig. 55. The airbag locations are identified by the
text AIRBAG.
The areas inside the red lines ⇒ Fig. 54 and ⇒ Fig. 55 are covered by the front airbags when
triggered (deployment zoneyf)RUWKLVUHDVRQ\RXPXVWQHYHUOHDYHRUDWWDFKDQ\REMHFWVLQWKHVH
areas ⇒. Any factory-fitted accessories will not be struck if the driver and front passenger front
airbags are deployed.
The airbag covers fold out of the steering wheel ⇒ Fig. 54 or dash panel ⇒ Fig. 55 when the driver
and front passenger front airbags trigger. The airbag covers remain connected to the steering
wheel or the dash panel.
Switching the front passenger front airbag on and off manually using
the key-operated switch
Once triggered, the airbag inflates at high speed.
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Fig. 56 On the front passenger side: key switch for disabling and enabling the front airbag on the
front passenger side
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
The front passenger front airbag must be switched off when securing a rear-facing child seat to
the front passenger seat.
Disabling the front passenger front airbag
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The side airbags are located in the outer seat backrest cushions of the driver seat and front
passenger seat ⇒ Fig. 57B. The locations of the airbags are marked with stickers with the word
AIRBAG. The areas marked in red ⇒ Fig. 57 indicate the side airbag deployment zones.
During a side collision, the side airbag will be deployed on the vehicle's side of impact, reducing the
risk of injury to the areas of the occupants' heads and bodies facing the impact.
Child seats (accessoriesyf
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ General information on transporting children in the vehicle
⇒ Various securing systems
⇒ Using a child seat on the front passenger seat
⇒ Using a child seat on the rear seats
⇒ Securing child seats with a seat belt
⇒ Securing child seats using lower anchoring points (ISOFIX, LATCHyf
⇒ Securing child seats with the top tether
It is imperative that you read all of the information concerning the airbag system before transporting
babies or children in a child seat on the front passenger seat.
This information is very important for the safety of the driver and the safety of all passengers,
babies and small children in particular.
Volkswagen recommends using child seats from Volkswagen's range of accessories. These child
seats were developed and approved for use in Volkswagen vehicles. Child seats for the various
different securing systems are available from a Volkswagen dealership.
Additional information and warnings:
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LATCH/UCRA universal anchorage attachment points and top tether, including in North
America⇒ Securing child seats using lower anchoring points (ISOFIX, LATCHyf.
Three-point automatic seat belt and top tether⇒ Securing child seats with a seat belt.
The systems consist of attachments for child restraint systems with a top tether and lower
anchoring points in the seat.
Using a child seat on the front passenger seat
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Not all countries allow you to transport children on the front passenger seat. Not every child seat is
suitable for use on the front passenger seat. Volkswagen dealerships keep an up-to-date list of all
authorised child seats. Only use child seats that have been authorised for your vehicle.
The active front airbag on the front passenger side presents a major danger to a child. Transporting
a child in a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat can pose a danger to the child's life.
If a rear-facing child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, an inflating front passenger front
airbag can strike it with such force that critical or fatal injuries may occur ⇒. Therefore, never
use a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat when the front passenger front airbag is
activated.
Only use a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat when you have ascertained that the
front passenger front airbag has been switched off. This is confirmed when the yellow indicator
lamp in the dash panel PASSENGER AIR BAG  lights up ⇒ Airbag system. If the front
passenger front airbag cannot be switched off and stays active, do not transport any children on
the front passenger seat⇒.
What to be aware of when using a child seat on the front passenger seat:
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Ensure that the front passenger can still maintain a correct sitting position ⇒ Adjusting the seat
position.
Suitable child seats
The child seat must have been approved by the manufacturer for use on the rear bench seat with
side airbag.
Universal child seats in groups 0, 0+, 1, 2, or 3 as specified in ECE-R 44 can be fitted to the rear
seats.
The seats are suitable for child seats with the ISOFIX system that are specially approved for this
vehicle type by ECE-R 44.
ISOFIX child seats approved for use on rear seats
There are different categories of ISOFIX child seats: universal, semi-universal and vehicle-specific.
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Cleaning upholstery on seat cushions with seat heating, electrically
adjustable seats, or seats containing airbag components
Airbag-related components and electrical connectors may be installed in the driver seat, passenger
seat and sometimes also in the rear outer seats. Seat cushions or backrests that are damaged,
incorrectly cleaned or treated, or that become wet, may cause damage to the vehicle electrics or
trigger a fault in the airbag system ⇒.
Electrical components and connectors are installed in electrically adjustable seats and seat
cushions with seat heating. These can be damaged if cleaned or treated incorrectly ⇒. This can
also result in damage to other parts of the vehicle electrics.
For this reason, please follow these cleaning guidelines:
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However, slight colour variations will arise in normal use.
Mild soap solution: two tablespoons neutral soap diluted in one litre of water.
Cleaning leatherette upholstery
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Please observe the following notes prior to cleaning the leatherette upholstery ⇒ Cleaning
upholstery on seat cushions with seat heating, electrically adjustable seats, or seats containing
airbag components.
Only use water and neutral detergents to clean the leatherette upholstery.
Cleaning stowage compartments, drink holders and ash trays
Fig. 128 In the centre console: stowage compartment with drink holder
Fig. 129 Ashtray with snuffer, removed and opened
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Cleaning stowage compartments and drink holders
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Snow chains are available in a range of sizes for a vehicle type.
Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of
parts
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ Running-in
⇒ Accessories and parts
⇒ Service fluids and consumables
⇒ Repairs and technical modifications
⇒ Repairs and faults in the airbag system
⇒ Retrofitting two-way radios
⇒ Information stored in the control units
⇒ Using a mobile telephone in the vehicle without a connection to the external aerial
⇒ Portable navigation device
⇒ Vehicle lifting points
Additional information and warnings:
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Service fluids and consumables
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
All service fluids and consumables, e.g. toothed belts, tyres, coolant, engine oil, spark plugs and
vehicle batteries, are being constantly developed. For this reason, service fluids and consumables
should be replaced at a qualified workshop. A Volkswagen dealership is always kept up to date on
innovations.
Leaking service fluids can pollute the environment. Spilt service fluids must be collected in
suitable containers and disposed of properly and with respect for the environment.
Repairs and technical modifications
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Repairs and modifications must always be carried out according to Volkswagen specifications⇒
.
Unauthorised modifications to the electronic components or software in the vehicle may cause
faults. As the electronic components are linked together in networks, these faults may indirectly
affect the working of other systems. This can seriously impair safety, lead to excessive wear of
components, and also invalidate the type approval for the vehicle.
The Volkswagen dealership cannot be held liable for any damage caused by technical
modifications and/or work performed incorrectly.
The Volkswagen dealership cannot be held liable for any damage caused by technical
modifications and/or work performed incorrectly, nor are these covered by the Volkswagen
guarantee.
Volkswagen recommends that all repairs and technical modifications are performed by an
authorised Volkswagen dealership using Volkswagen Genuine Parts.
Vehicles with special auxiliary equipment or body parts
The manufacturer of these components must ensure that these parts (fittingsyfDGKHUHWRWKH
stipulated environmental laws and regulations, particularly the EU directive 2000/53/EC concerning
end-of-life vehicles and EU directive 2003/11/EC concerning the restriction on the marketing and
use of certain dangerous substances and preparations.
Incorrectly performed repairs or modifications to your vehicle can impair the effectiveness of
the airbags, cause faults, accidents and fatal injury.
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