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Seat Exeo ST. Service Manual - part 2

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22

Seat belts

WARNING (continued)

WARNING (continued)

• Fasten your seat belt before every trip - even when driving in town. The

• Do not attempt to repair a damaged seat belt yourself. The seat belts

other passengers must also wear seat belts, otherwise they may be in

must not be removed or modified in any way.

danger of injury!

• The belts must be kept clean, otherwise the retractors may not work

• The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if the belt web is not posi-

properly ⇒ page 219.

tioned correctly.

• Never allow two passengers (even children) to share the same seat belt.

• Keep both feet in the foot-well in front of your seat as long as the

vehicle is in motion.

Seat belts

• Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion. Risk of fatal

injury.

Seat belt adjustment

• The belt webbing must never be twisted while it is being worn.

The seat belts for the front and rear occupants are locked into

• The belt webbing should never lie on hard or fragile objects (such as

glasses or pens, etc.) because this can cause injuries.

position by a latch.

• Do not allow the seat belt to be damaged or jammed, or to rub on any

sharp edges.

• Never wear the seat belt under the arm or in any other incorrect posi-

tion.

• Loose, bulky clothing (such as an overcoat over a jacket) impairs the

proper fit and function of the belts, reducing their capacity to protect.

• The slot in the seat belt buckle must not be blocked with paper or other

objects, as this can prevent the latch plate from engaging securely.

• Never use seat belt clips, retaining rings or similar instruments to alter

the position of the belt webbing.

• Frayed or torn seat belts or damage to the connections, belt retractors

or parts of the buckle could cause severe injuries in the event of an acci-

Fig. 11 Belt buckle and

dent. Therefore, you must check the condition of all seat belts at regular

latch plate of seat belt

intervals.

• Seat belts which have been worn in an accident and stretched must be

The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if the belt web is not

replaced by a qualified workshop. Renewal may be necessary even if there

positioned correctly.

is no apparent damage. The belt anchorage should also be checked.

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Seat belts

23

– Adjust the seat and head restraint correctly.

Seat belt position

- To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch plate and pull it slowly

Seat belts offer their maximum protection only when they are

across your chest and lap.

properly positioned.

- Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate seat and

push it down until it is securely locked with a click ⇒ page 22,

fig. 11.

- Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in

the buckle.

The seat belts are equipped with an automatic retractor on the shoulder

strap. Full freedom of movement is permitted when the shoulder belt is pulled

slowly. However, during sudden braking, during travel in mountains or bends

and during acceleration, the automatic retractor on the shoulder belt is

locked.

Fig. 12 Correct belt web

and head restraint posi-

The automatic belt retractors on the front seats are fitted with belt tension

tions, viewed from front

devices ⇒ page 26.

WARNING

• An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event

of an accident.

• The seat belts offer best protection only when the backrests are in an

upright position and the seat belts have been fastened properly.

• Never put the latch plate in the buckle of another seat. If you do this, the

seat belt will not protect you properly and the risk of injury is increased.

• If an occupant is incorrectly belted in, the belt cannot protect him or her

properly. An incorrectly positioned belt web can cause extremely severe

Fig. 13 Correct belt web

injuries.

and head restraint posi-

tions, viewed from side

Safety First

Controls and equipment

Practical tips

Technical Data

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24

Seat belts

The following features are available to adjust the seat belt in the shoulder

Pregnant women must also fasten their seat belts properly

region:

The best protection for the unborn child is for the mother to

• belt height adjustment for the front seats.

wear the seat belt properly at all times during the pregnancy.

• front seat height adjustment*.

WARNING

• An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event

of an accident.

• The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie on the centre of the shoulder,

never across the neck. The seat belt must lie flat and snugly on the torso

⇒ page 23, fig. 12.

• The lap part of the seat belt must lie across the pelvis, never across the

stomach. The seat belt must lie flat and snugly on the pelvis ⇒ page 23,

fig. 13. Pull the belt tight if necessary to take up any slack.

• Read and observe the warnings ⇒ page 21.

Fig. 14 Positioning seat

belts during pregnancy

The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the belt web

is properly positioned ⇒ page 23.

- Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly ⇒ page 10.

- Holding the latch plate, pull the belt evenly across your chest and

as low as possible over the pelvis ⇒ fig. 14.

- Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the appropriate seat and

push it down until it is securely locked with a click ⇒

– Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in

the buckle.

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Seat belts

25

– Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls up easily and the trim

WARNING

is not damaged.

• An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause severe injuries in the event

of an accident.

• For pregnant women, the lap part of the seat belt must lie as low as

WARNING

possible over the pelvis, never across the stomach, and always lie flat so

Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion. If you do, you

that no pressure is exerted on the abdomen.

increase the risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.

• Read and observe the warnings ⇒ page 21.

Seat belt height adjustment

Seat belt release

Seat belt height adjusters can be used to adjust the height of

The seat belt must not be unfastened until the vehicle has

the shoulder area of the seat belt.

come to a standstill.

Fig. 16 Belt height

adjustment - top guide

Fig. 15 Removing latch

fitting

plate from buckle

The belt height adjuster can be lowered by keeping the button

- Press the red button on the belt buckle ⇒ fig. 15. The latch plate

pressed down at the same time.

is released and springs out ⇒

- Press button ⇒ fig. 16

1

to adjust the belt height.

Safety First

Controls and equipment

Practical tips

Technical Data

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Airbag system

29

WARNING (continued)

WARNING (continued)

• Always properly adjust the front seats.

• An inflating front passenger airbag can strike the rear-facing child seat

and hurl it with great force against the door, the roof or the backrest.

• If, under special circumstances, it is necessary to transport a child in a

rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, it is absolutely essential

The danger of fitting a child seat on the front passenger seat

that you observe the following safety measures:

Rear-facing child seats must never be used on the front

− Disable the front passenger airbag ⇒ page 44, “Deactivating

airbags*”.

passenger seat when the front passenger airbag is enabled.

− The child seat must be approved by the child seat manufacturer for

An enabled front airbag on the front passenger side is potentially a major

use on a front passenger seat with front or side airbag.

danger to a child. The front passenger seat is life threatening to a child if

− Follow the installation instructions given by the child seat manufac-

he/she is transported in a rear-facing child seat. You should always transport

turer and observe the safety instructions ⇒ page 46, “Child safety”.

all children up to 12 years of age on the rear seat.

− Before properly installing the child seat, push the front passenger

If a rear-facing child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, an inflating

seat completely backwards so that the greatest possible distance to

airbag can strike it with such great force that critical or fatal injuries may

the front passenger airbag is ensured.

result.

− Ensure that no objects prevent the front passenger seat from being

Therefore we strongly recommend you to transport children on the rear seats.

pushed completely back.

That is the safest place for children in the vehicle. Alternatively, the front

− The backrest of the front passenger seat must be in an upright

passenger airbag can be disabled with a key-operated switch ⇒ page 44.

position.

When transporting children, use a child seat appropriate to the age and size

of each child ⇒ page 46.

For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to turn the airbag off,

Warning lamp for airbag and belt tension device system 

an Authorised Service Centre must be consulted.

This warning lamp monitors the airbag and belt tension

device system.

WARNING

• If a child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, the risk to the child

The warning lamp monitors all airbags and belt tension devices in the

of sustaining critical or fatal injuries in the event of an accident increases.

vehicle, including control units and wiring connections.

• Never secure a rear-facing child seat to the front passenger seat if the

front passenger airbag is enabled. The child can suffer critical or fatal inju-

ries when the front passenger airbag is triggered.

Safety First

Controls and equipment

Practical tips

Technical Data

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30

Airbag system

Monitoring of airbag and belt tension device system

The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or

Both the airbag and belt tension device systems operation is constantly

components of the airbag are scrapped. The specialist workshops and the

monitored electronically. The warning lamp  will light every time the igni-

Vehicle disposal centres are familiar with these requirements.

tion is switched on until you attach your seatbelt.

The system must be checked when the warning lamp  :

WARNING

• does not light up when the ignition is switched on,

• If repairs are not carried out by a professional, or if the airbags are used

• it turns off and then lights up again after the ignition is switched on,

incorrectly, the risk of severe or fatal injuries is increased. The airbags may

fail to inflate, or could inflate in the wrong circumstances.

• lights up or flashes while the car is moving.

•

Do not cover or stick anything on the steering wheel hub or the soft

In the event of a malfunction, the warning lamp remains on continuously.

plastic surface of the airbag unit on the passenger side of the dashboard,

Have the system inspected immediately by a qualified workshop.

and do not obstruct or modify them in any way.

If any of the airbags are de-activated by the Authorised Service Centre, the

• It is important not to attach any objects such as cup holders or tele-

indicator lights for several seconds more after the verification and will turn off

phone mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag units.

if there is no fault.

• To clean the steering wheel or dash panel, you may use only a dry or a

water-moistened cloth. Never clean the dash panel and the airbag module

surface with cleansers containing solvents. Solvents cause the surface to

WARNING

become porous. If the airbag triggered, disintegrating plastic parts could

• If there is a malfunction, the airbag and belt tension device system

cause substantial injuries.

cannot properly perform its protective function.

• Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or install parts of the airbag

• If a malfunction occurred, have the system checked immediately by a

system.

qualified workshop. Otherwise, in the event of an accident, the airbag

• Any work on the airbag system or removal and installation of the airbag

system and belt tension devices may not be triggered, or may not be trig-

components for other repairs (such as repairs to the steering wheel) should

gered correctly.

be performed only by a qualified workshop. Qualified workshops have the

necessary tools, repair information and qualified personnel.

• We strongly recommend you to go to a qualified workshop for all work

Repairs, maintenance and disposal of the airbags

on the airbag system.

• Never attempt to alter the front bumper or the body.

The parts of the airbag system are installed in various places in your vehicle.

• The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them once

If you work on the airbag system or remove and fit parts of the system when

they have deployed.

performing other repair work, parts of the airbag system may be damaged.

The consequence may be that, in the event of an accident, the airbag inflates

incorrectly or does not inflate at all.

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Airbag system

31

Front airbags

Description of front airbags

The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.

Fig. 18 Front passenger

airbag located in dash

panel

The front airbag for the driver is located in the steering wheel ⇒ fig. 17 and

the airbag for the front passenger is located in the instrument panel

⇒ fig. 18. Airbags are identified by the word “AIRBAG”. On the driver's side,

Fig. 17 Driver's Airbag in

the steering wheel and

the knee airbag* is found in the front footwell, under the instrument panel.

knee airbag in the instru-

ment panel

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 ⇒ page 34, “Safety notes on the frontal airbag

system”.

In addition to their normal function of restraining the occupants, the seat

belts also hold the driver and front passenger in a position where the airbags

can provide maximum protection in a frontal collision.

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 correctly and have adjusted the head restraints properly. 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 18,

“Brief introduction”.

Safety First

Controls and equipment

Practical tips

Technical Data

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32

Airbag system

The main parts of the front airbag system are:

Operation of frontal airbags

• an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit),

Inflated airbags reduce the risk of head or chest injury.

• the two front airbags (airbag with gas generator) for the driver and front

passenger,

• a knee airbag* for the driver,

• a warning lamp  in the dash panel insert ⇒ page 29.

The airbag system operation is monitored electronically. The airbag warning

lamp will light up for a few seconds every time the ignition is switched on

(self-diagnosis).

There is a fault in the system if the warning lamp 

• does not light up when the ignition is switched on ⇒ page 29

• it turns off and then lights up again after the ignition is switched on,

• lights up or flashes while the car is moving.

Fig. 19 Inflated front

The front airbag system will not be triggered if:

airbags

• the ignition is switched off,

• there is a minor frontal collision,

The airbag system is designed so that the airbags for the driver and front

• there is a side collision,

passenger are triggered in a severe frontal collision.

• there is a rear-end collision,

In certain types of accident the front, curtain and side airbags may be trig-

gered together.

• the vehicle turns over.

When the system is triggered, the airbags fill with a propellant gas and

deploy in front of the driver and front passenger ⇒ fig. 19. The fully deployed

WARNING

airbags cushion the forward movement of the front occupants and help to

• The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if the

reduce the risk of injury to the head and the upper part of the body.

occupants are seated correctly ⇒ page 10, “Proper sitting position for

The special design of the airbag allows the controlled escape of the propel-

occupants”.

lant gas when an occupant puts pressure on the bag. Thus, the head and

• If a fault has occurred in the airbag system, have the system checked

chest are surrounded and protected by the airbag. After the collision, the

immediately by a qualified workshop. Otherwise, during a frontal collision

airbag deflates sufficiently for the front occupants to see forward.

the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.

In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the airbags

have to deploy extremely rapidly (within thousandth of a second). A fine dust

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Airbag system

33

may develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and it is not an indica-

tion of fire in the vehicle.

Airbag covers when the frontal airbags are triggered

Fig. 20 Airbag covers reacting when the front airbags

are triggered

The airbag covers fold out of the steering wheel or instrument panel when the

driver's and front passenger's airbags are triggered ⇒ fig. 20. The airbag

covers remain connected to the steering wheel or the dash panel.

Safety First

Controls and equipment

Practical tips

Technical Data

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34

Airbag system

Safety notes on the frontal airbag system

Knee airbag*

If you use airbags correctly, they can considerably reduce the

risk of injury in many kinds of accident.

Description of the knee airbag

The airbag system provides additional protection to front seat

WARNING

passengers if they are properly secured.

• It is important for the driver and front passenger to keep a distance of

at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel. If the minimum

distance is not observed then the airbags do not correctly protect the

vehicle occupants; risk of fatal injuries! In addition, the front seats and

head restraints must always be positioned correctly for the height of the

occupant.

• If you are not wearing a seat belt, 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

increased if you are struck by an inflating airbag.

• Never let a child travel on the front seat without an appropriate restraint

system. If the airbag is triggered in an accident, children can sustain

serious or fatal injuries from the airbag as it inflates ⇒ page 46, “Child

Fig. 21 Driver's knee

safety”.

airbag

• The deployment space between the front passengers and the airbags

must not in any case be occupied by other passenger, pets and objects.

The knee airbag for the driver is located in the instrument panel underneath

• The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them once

the steering wheel ⇒ fig. 21.

they have deployed.

The knee airbag offers additional protection to the driver's knees and upper

• It is also important not to attach any objects such as cup holders or

and lower thigh areas as a supplement to the safety belts.

telephone mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag units.

If the front airbags deploy, the knee airbag also deploys in severe frontal colli-

• Do not attempt to modify components of the airbag system in any

sions ⇒ page 32.

way.

Besides their normal safety function, safety belts help keep the driver in posi-

tion in case of a frontal collision so that the airbags can provide protection.

The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts. It is, on the other hand,

part of the overall occupant safety system of your vehicle. Always remember

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Airbag system

35

that the airbag system can only help to protect you if you are wearing your

safety belt and wearing it properly.

WARNING

Remember too that airbags will deploy only once and only in certain kinds of

• Safety belts and the airbag system can only provide protection when

accidents - your safety belts are always there to offer protection in those acci-

occupants are in the proper seating position.

dents in which airbags are not supposed to deploy or when they have already

• If the airbag indicator light comes on when the vehicle is being used,

deployed, for example when your vehicle strikes or is struck by another after

have the system inspected immediately by your Authorised Service Centre.

the first collision.

The airbag may not work properly when the vehicle acceleration in a side

collision is high enough to deploy the airbag. See also ⇒ page 65.

This is just one of the reasons why an airbag is not a substitute for the safety

belt. The airbag system works most effectively when used with the safety

belts. Therefore, always wear your safety belts correctly.

It is important to remember that while the supplemental airbag system is

How knee airbags work

designed to reduce the likelihood of serious injuries, other injuries, for

example, swelling, bruising, and minor abrasions can also be associated with

The risk of injury to the leg area is reduced by fully deployed

airbags.

knee airbags.

The knee airbag system basically consists of:

• The electronic control module

• One inflatable airbag (airbag and gas generator) for the driver

• An airbag indicator light in the instrument panel

The knee airbag system will not deploy:

• when the ignition is turned off

• in frontal collisions when the deceleration measured by the control unit is

too low

• in side collisions

• in rear-end collisions

Fig. 22 Inflated airbags

protect in a frontal colli-

• in rollovers

sion.

• in the event of a system malfunction (warning/indicator light illuminated)

⇒ page 65.

The knee airbag system has been designed so that the airbag for the driver is

deployed in certain but not all frontal collisions.

Safety First

Controls and equipment

Practical tips

Technical Data

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Airbag system

37

hold the passengers in the front seats and the outer rear seats in a position

Side airbags*

where the side airbags can provide maximum protection.

The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts, but it is an integral part

Description of side airbags

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

The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.

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 18, “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),

Fig. 23 Side airbag in

driver seat

• The front side airbags in the backrests of the front seats and the rear side

airbags in the lining of the rear wheel housing.

The front side airbags are located in the driver's seat and front passenger's

• a warning lamp  in the dash panel insert ⇒ page 29.

seat backrests ⇒ fig. 23. The rear side airbags are located in the rear wheel

The airbag system operation is monitored electronically. The airbag warning

housing lining. The locations are identified by the text “AIRBAG” in the upper

lamp will light up for approx. 4 seconds every time the ignition is switched on

region of the backrests and in the rear wheel housing lining.

(self-diagnosis).

Together with the seat belts, the side airbag system gives the front seat occu-

pants additional protection for the upper body in the event of a severe side

WARNING

collision ⇒ page 40, “Safety notes on the operation of the side airbag

system”.

• 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,

In a side collision, the side airbags reduce the risk of injury to passengers on

due to air escaping through the areas with holes or openings in the door

the front seats to the areas of the body facing the impact. In addition to their

panel.

normal function of protecting the occupants in a collision, the seat belts also

• Never drive the vehicle if the interior panels have been removed.

Safety First

Controls and equipment

Practical tips

Technical Data

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