Seat Toledo. Service Manual - part 4

The essentials

Starting
7. Start the engine of the vehicle with the

boosting battery and let it run at idling
speed.

8. Start the engine of the vehicle with the flat

battery and wait for 2 or 3 minutes until
the engine is running.

Removing the jump leads
9. Before you remove the jump leads, switch

off the dipped beam headlights if they are
switched on.

10.Turn on the heater blower and heated rear

window in the vehicle with the flat battery.
This helps minimise voltage peaks which
are generated when the leads are discon-
nected.

11.When the engine is running, disconnect

the leads in reverse order to the details
given above.

Make sure the battery clamps have sufficient
metal-to-metal contact with the battery termi-
nals.

If the engine fails to start, switch off the start-
er after about 10 seconds and try again after
about 1 minute.

WARNING

●

Please note the safety warnings referring to

working in the engine compartment

››› 



page 202

.

●

The battery providing assistance must have

the same voltage as the flat battery (12V) and
approximately the same capacity (see imprint
on battery). Failure to comply could result in
an explosion.

●

Never use jump leads when one of the bat-

teries is frozen. Danger of explosion! Even af-
ter the battery has thawed, battery acid could
leak and cause chemical burns. If a battery
freezes, it should be replaced.

●

Keep sparks, flames and lighted cigarettes

away from batteries, danger of explosion.
Failure to comply could result in an explo-
sion.

●

Observe the instructions provided by the

manufacturer of the jump leads.

●

Do not connect the negative cable from the

other vehicle directly to the negative terminal
of the flat battery. The gas emitted from the
battery could be ignited by sparks. Danger of
explosion.

●

Do not attach the negative cable from the

other vehicle to parts of the fuel system or to
the brake line.

●

The non-insulated parts of the battery

clamps must not be allowed to touch. The
jump lead attached to the positive battery
terminal must not touch metal parts of the ve-
hicle, this can cause a short circuit.

●

Position the leads in such a way that they

cannot come into contact with any moving
parts in the engine compartment.

●

Do not lean on the batteries. This could re-

sult in chemical burns.

Note

The vehicles must not touch each other, oth-
erwise electricity could flow as soon as the
positive terminals are connected.

Changing the windscreen wiper
blades

Changing the wiper blades

Fig. 69 

Windscreen wiper blades.

Set the windscreen wiper arms to the service
position before changing the blades.

»

53

The essentials

Service position

●

Close the bonnet.

●

Switch the ignition on and off.

●

Press the lever to position 

4

››› 



Fig. 140

 

››› 



page 125

, the wind-

screen wiper arms are set to the service posi-
tion.

Taking off the wiper blade

●

Lift the windscreen wiper arm away from

the glass moving the blade slightly in the di-
rection of the arm – arrow 

A

 

››› 

Fig. 69

.

●

Hold the top of the windscreen wiper arm

with one hand.

●

Unlock the catch 

1

 with the other hand

and remove the blade in the direction of ar-
row 

B

.

Fitting the wiper blade

●

Slide the blade fully until it clicks into posi-

tion.

●

Check that the wiper is correctly secured.

●

Fold the windscreen wiper arm back down

onto the glass.

●

Switch the ignition on and press the lever

to position 

4

 

››› 



Fig. 140

››› 



page 125

, the windscreen wiper arms

are set to the basic position.

Changing the rear window wiper
blade*

Fig. 70 

Rear window wiper blade.

Taking off the wiper blade

●

Lift the rear window wiper arm away from

the glass moving the blade slightly in the di-
rection of the arm – arrow 

A

 

››› 

Fig. 70

.

●

Hold the top of the rear window wiper arm

with one hand.

●

Unlock the catch 

1

 with the other hand

and remove the blade in the direction of ar-
row 

B

.

Fitting the wiper blade

●

Slide the blade fully until it clicks into posi-

tion.

●

Check that the wiper is correctly secured.

●

Fold the rear window wiper arm back down

onto the glass.

54

Safe driving

Safety

Safe driving

Safety first!

This chapter contains important information,
tips, suggestions and warnings that you
should read and consider for both your own
safety and for your passengers' safety.

WARNING

●

This manual contains important informa-

tion about the operation of the vehicle, both
for the driver and the passengers. The other
sections of the on-board documentation also
contain further information that you should
be aware of for your own safety and for the
safety of your passengers.

●

Ensure that the on-board documentation is

kept in the vehicle at all times. This is espe-
cially important when lending or selling the
vehicle to another person.

Advice about driving

Before starting every trip

For your own safety and the safety of your
passengers, always note the following points
before every trip:

–

Make sure that the vehicle's lights and turn
signals are working properly.

–

Check tyre pressure.

–

Ensure that all windows provide a clear and
good view of the surroundings.

–

Make sure all luggage is secured

››› 

page 137

.

–

Make sure that no objects can interfere
with the pedals.

–

Adjust front seat, head restraint and mir-
rors properly according to your size.

–

Ensure that the passengers in the rear
seats always have the head restraints in
the in-use position 

››› 

page 59

.

–

Instruct passengers to adjust the head re-
straints according to their height.

–

Protect children with appropriate child
seats and properly applied seat belts

››› 

page 72

.

–

Assume the correct sitting position. Instruct
your passengers also to assume a proper
sitting position. 

››› 

page 56

.

–

Fasten your seat belt securely. Instruct your
passengers also to fasten their seat belts
properly. 

››› 

page 61

.

Factors influencing safety

As a driver, you are responsible for yourself
and your passengers. When your concentra-
tion or driving safety is affected by any cir-
cumstance, you endanger yourself as well as
others on the road 

››› 

, for this reason:

–

Always pay attention to traffic and do not
get distracted by passengers or telephone
calls.

–

Never drive when your driving ability is im-
paired (e.g. by medication, alcohol, drugs).

–

Observe traffic laws and speed limits.

–

Always reduce your speed as appropriate
for road, traffic and weather conditions.

–

When travelling long distances, take
breaks regularly - at least every two hours.

–

If possible, avoid driving when you are tired
or stressed.

WARNING

When driving safety is impaired during a trip,
the risk of injury and accidents increases.

Safety equipment

Never put your safety or the safety of your
passengers in danger. In the event of an acci-
dent, the safety equipment may reduce the

»

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risk of injury. The following list includes most
of the safety equipment in your SEAT:

●

three-point seat belts,

●

belt tension limiters for the front and rear

side seats,

●

belt tensioners for the front seats,

●

belt height adjustment for the front seats,

●

front airbags,

●

side airbags in the front seat backrests,

●

side airbags in the rear seat backrests*,

●

head-protection airbags,

●

active front head restraints*,

●

“ISOFIX” anchor points for child seats in

the rear side seats with the “ISOFIX” system,

●

height-adjustable front head restraints,

●

rear head restraints with in-use position

and non-use position,

●

adjustable steering column.

The safety equipment mentioned above
works together to provide you and your pas-
sengers with the best possible protection in
the event of an accident. However, these
safety systems can only be effective if you
and your passengers are sitting in a correct
position and use this equipment properly.

Safety is everyone's business!

Correct position for passengers

Correct sitting position for driver

Fig. 71 

The proper distance between driver

and steering wheel

Fig. 72 

Correct head restraint position for the

driver.

For your own safety and to reduce the risk of
injury in the event of an accident, we recom-

mend the following adjustments for the driv-
er:

–

Adjust the steering wheel so that there is a
distance of at least 25 cm between the
steering wheel and the centre of your chest

››› 

Fig. 71

.

–

Move the driver's seat forwards or back-
wards so that you are able to press the ac-
celerator, brake and clutch pedals to the
floor with your knees still slightly angled

››› 

.

–

Ensure that you can reach the highest point
of the steering wheel.

–

Adjust the head restraint so that its upper
edge is at the same level as the top of your
head, or as close as possible to the same
level as the top of your head 

››› 

Fig. 72

.

–

Move the seat backrest to an upright posi-
tion so that your back rests completely
against it.

–

Fasten your seat belt securely 

››› 

page 61

.

–

Keep both feet in the footwell so that you
have the vehicle under control at all times.

Adjustment of the driver's seat

››› 



page 11

.

WARNING

●

An incorrect sitting position of the driver

can lead to severe injuries.

56

Safe driving

●

Adjust the driver's seat so that there is at

least 25 cm distance between the centre of
the chest and the centre of the steering
wheel 

››› 

Fig. 71

. If you are sitting closer than

25 cm, the airbag system cannot protect you
properly.

●

If your physical constitution prevents you

from maintaining the minimum distance of 25
cm, contact a specialised workshop. The
workshop will help you decide if special spe-
cific modifications are necessary.

●

When driving, always hold the steering

wheel with both hands on the outside of the
ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions.
This reduces the risk of injury when the driver
airbag is triggered.

●

Never hold the steering wheel at the 12

o'clock position, or in any other manner (e.g.
in the centre of the steering wheel). In such
cases, if the airbag is triggered, you may sus-
tain injuries to the arms, hands and head.

●

To reduce the risk of injury to the driver

during sudden braking manoeuvres or an ac-
cident, never drive with the backrest tilted far
back! The airbag system and seat belts can
only provide optimal protection when the
backrest is in an upright position and the
driver is wearing his or her seat belt correct-
ly.

●

Adjust the head restraint properly to ach-

ieve optimal protection.

Adjusting the steering wheel position

Read the additional information carefully

››› 



page 13

.

WARNING

●

Never adjust the position of the steering

wheel when the vehicle is moving, as this
could cause an accident.

●

Move the lever up firmly so the steering

wheel position does not accidentally change
during driving. risk of accident!

●

Make sure you are capable of reaching and

firmly holding the upper part of the steering
wheel: risk of accident!

●

If you adjust the steering wheel so that it

points towards your face, the driver airbag
will not protect you properly in the event of
an accident. Make sure that the steering
wheel points towards your chest.

Correct sitting position for front pas-
senger

For your own safety and to reduce the risk of
injury in the event of an accident, we recom-
mend the following adjustments for the front
passenger:

–

Move the front passenger seat back as far
as possible 

››› 

.

–

Move the seat backrest to an upright posi-
tion so that your back rests completely
against it.

–

Adjust the head restraint so that its upper
edge is at the same level as the top of your
head, or as close as possible to the same
level as the top of your head 

››› 

page 59

.

–

Always keep both feet in the footwell in
front of the front passenger seat.

–

Fasten your seat belt securely 

››› 

page 61

.

It is possible to deactivate the front passen-
ger airbag in 

exceptional circumstances

››› 

page 71

.

Adjusting the front passenger seat

››› 



page 11

.

WARNING

●

An incorrect sitting position of the front

passenger can lead to severe injuries.

●

Adjust the front passenger seat so that

there is at least 25 cm between your chest
and the dash panel. If you are sitting closer
than 25 cm, the airbag system cannot protect
you properly.

●

If your physical constitution prevents you

from maintaining the minimum distance of 25
cm, contact a specialised workshop. The
workshop will help you decide if special spe-
cific modifications are necessary.

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●

Always keep your feet in the footwell when

the vehicle is moving; never rest them on the
dash panel, out the window or on the seat. An
incorrect sitting position exposes you to an
increased risk of injury in case of a sudden
braking or an accident. If the airbag is trig-
gered, you could sustain severe injuries due
to an incorrect sitting position.

●

To reduce the risk of injury to the front pas-

senger in events such as sudden braking ma-
noeuvres or an accident, never travel with the
backrest tilted far back! The airbag system
and seat belts can only provide optimal pro-
tection when the backrest is in an upright po-
sition and the front passenger is wearing his
or her seat belt properly. The further the seat
backrests are tilted to the rear, the greater
the risk of injury due to incorrect positioning
of the belt web or to the incorrect sitting po-
sition!

●

Adjust the head restraint correctly in order

to achieve maximum protection.

Correct sitting position for rear seat
passengers

To reduce the risk of injury in the event of a
sudden braking manoeuvre or an accident,
passengers on the rear seat bench must con-
sider the following:

–

Sit up straight.

–

Adjust the head restraint to the correct po-
sition 

››› 

page 59

.

–

Always keep both feet in the footwell in
front of the rear seat.

–

Fasten your seat belt securely 

››› 

page 61

.

–

Use an appropriate child restraint system
when you take children in the vehicle

››› 

page 72

.

WARNING

●

If the passengers in the rear seats are not

sitting properly, they could sustain severe in-
juries.

●

Adjust the head restraint correctly in order

to achieve maximum protection.

●

Seat belts can only provide optimal protec-

tion when seat backrests are in an upright
position and the vehicle occupants are wear-
ing their seat belts correctly. If passengers In
the rear seats are not sitting in an upright po-
sition, the risk of injury due to incorrect posi-
tioning of the seat belt increases.

Examples of incorrect sitting posi-
tions

Seat belts can provide optimal protection on-
ly when the belt webs are properly posi-
tioned. Incorrect sitting positions substan-
tially reduce the protective function of seat
belts and increase the risk of injury due to in-
correct seat belt position. As the driver, you
are responsible for all passengers, especially
children.

–

Never allow anyone to assume an incorrect
sitting position in the vehicle while travel-
ling 

››› 

.

The following list contains examples of sit-
ting positions that could be dangerous for all
vehicle occupants. The list is not complete,
but we would like to make you aware of this
issue.

Therefore, whenever the vehicle is in motion:

●

Never stand in the vehicle.

●

Never stand on the seats.

●

Never kneel on the seats.

●

Never tilt your seat backrest far to the rear.

●

Never lean against the dash panel.

●

Never lie on the rear bench.

●

Never sit on the front edge of a seat.

●

Never sit sideways.

●

Never lean out of a window.

●

Never put your feet out of a window.

●

Never put your feet on the dash panel.

●

Never put your feet on the surface of a seat.

●

Do not allow anyone to travel in the foot-

well.

●

Never travel without wearing the seat belt.

●

Do not allow anyone to travel in the lug-

gage compartment.

58

Safe driving

WARNING

●

Any incorrect sitting position increases the

risk of severe injuries.

●

Sitting in an incorrect position exposes the

vehicle occupants to severe injuries if airbags
are triggered, by striking a vehicle occupant
who has assumed an incorrect sitting posi-
tion.

●

Before the vehicle moves, assume the prop-

er sitting position and maintain it throughout
the trip. Before every trip, instruct your pas-
sengers to sit properly and to stay in this po-
sition during the trip 

››› 

page 56, Correct posi-

tion for passengers

.

Correct adjustment of front head re-
straints

Fig. 73 

Correctly adjusted head restraint as

viewed from the front and the side.

Properly adjusted head restraints are an im-
portant part of passenger protection and can
reduce the risk of injuries in most accident
situations.

–

Adjust the head restraint so that its upper
edge is, as far as possible, at the same lev-
el as the top of your head, or at the very
least, at eye level 

››› 

Fig. 73

.

Adjusting the head restraints 

››› 

page 128

Active head restraints*
Vehicle occupants are pressed into their
seats during a rear end collision. The result-
ing body pressure on the seat backrest acti-
vates the active head restraint* on the front
seat, which moves rapidly forwards and up-
wards at the same time. This movement re-
duces the distance between the occupant's
head and the head restraint, thus reducing
the risk of injuries such as whiplash.

WARNING

●

Travelling with the head restraints removed

or improperly adjusted increases the risk of
severe injuries. An improper adjustment of
the head restraints may cause death in an ac-
cident and increase the risk of suffering inju-
ries during abrupt braking actions or unex-
pected manoeuvres.

●

The head restraints must always be adjus-

ted according to the height of the passenger.

Note

The active head restraints* could also be trig-
gered if a vehicle occupant applies a high lev-
el of pressure to the seat backrest (e.g. by
“falling” back into the seat when entering the
vehicle) or if pressure is applied to a front
seat head restraint from the rear. This acci-
dental activation is, however, not dangerous,
as the active head restraints will return to the
original position immediately and are thus
once again ready.

Correct adjustment of rear head re-
straints

Fig. 74 

Head restraints in the correct posi-

tion.

Properly adjusted head restraints are an im-
portant part of passenger protection and can
reduce the risk of injuries in most accident
situations.

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Rear outer seat head restraints

–

The rear outer seat head restraints have 4
positions.

–

Three positions for 

use 

››› 

Fig. 74

. In these

positions, the head restraints are used nor-
mally, and along with the rear seat belts,
protect passengers in the rear seats.

–

And one position for 

non-use.

–

To fit the head restraints in position for use,
pull on the edges with both hands in the
direction of the arrow.

Centre rear head restraint*

–

The centre head restraint only has two posi-
tions, 

in-use (head restraint up) and non-

use (head restraint down).

WARNING

●

Under no circumstances should the rear

passengers travel while the head restraints
are in the non-use position.

●

Do not swap the centre rear head restraint

with either of the outer seat rear head re-
straints. Risk of injury in case of an accident!

CAUTION

Note the instructions on the adjustment of
the head restraints 

››› 

page 128

.

Pedal area

Pedals

–

Ensure that you can always press the accel-
erator, brake and clutch pedals unimpaired
to the floor.

–

Ensure that the pedals can return unim-
paired to their initial positions.

–

Ensure that the floor mats are securely fas-
tened during the trip and do not obstruct
the pedals 

››› 

.

Only use floor mats which leave the pedals
clear and which are secured to prevent them
from slipping. You can obtain suitable floor
mats from a specialised dealership. Fasten-
ers* for floor mats are fitted in the footwells.

If a brake circuit fails, the brake pedal must
be pressed down thoroughly in order to stop
the vehicle.

Wear suitable footwear
Always wear shoes which support your feet
properly and give you a good feeling for the
pedals.

WARNING

●

If the pedals are obstructed, an accident

may occur. Risk of serious injuries.

●

Never lay or fit floor mats or other floor cov-

erings over the original floor mats. This
would reduce the pedal area and could ob-
struct the pedals. Risk of accident.

●

Never place objects in the driver footwell.

An object could move into the pedal area and
impair pedal operation. In the event of a sud-
den driving or braking manoeuvre, you will
not be able to operate the brake, clutch or ac-
celerator pedal. Risk of accident!

60

Seat belts

Seat belts

The whys and wherefores of
seat belts

Number of seats

Your vehicle has 

five seats, two in the front

and three in the rear. Each seat is equipped
with a three-point seat belt.

In some versions, your vehicle is approved
only for four seats. Two front seats and two
rear seats.

WARNING

●

Never transport more than the permitted

amount of people in your vehicle.

●

Every vehicle occupant must properly fas-

ten and wear the seat belt belonging to his or
her seat. Children must be protected with an
appropriate child restraint system.

Seat belt lamp* 



The control lamp illuminates to remind the
driver to fasten his seat belt.

Before starting the vehicle:

–

Fasten your seat belt securely.

–

Instruct your passengers to fasten their
seat belts properly before driving off.

–

Protect children by using a child seat ac-
cording to the child's height and weight.

The control lamp on the instrument panel
lights up 



 

1)

 if the driver or passenger

1)

 has

not fastened their belt when the ignition is
switched on.

If, when starting to drive, speed surpasses
25 km/h (15 mph) approx. and no seat belts
are worn or they are unfastened during the
drive, a warning sound will be heard for a few
seconds. The warning light will also flash 



.

The 



 lamp goes out when the driver and

passenger seat belts are fastened with the ig-
nition switched on.

The protective function of seat belts

Fig. 75 

Drivers with properly worn seat belts

will not be thrown forward in the event of sud-
den braking

Properly worn seat belts hold the occupants
in the proper position. They also help prevent
uncontrolled movements that may result in
serious injury and reduce the risk of being
thrown out of the vehicle in case of an acci-
dent.

Vehicle occupants wearing their seat belts
correctly benefit greatly from the ability of the
belts to absorb kinetic energy. In addition,
the front part of your vehicle and other pas-
sive safety features (such as the airbag sys-
tem) are designed to absorb the kinetic ener-
gy released in a collision. Taken together, all
these features reduce the releasing kinetic
energy and consequently, the risk of injury.

»

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Depending on the model version

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This is why it is so important to fasten seat
belts before every trip, even when "just driv-
ing around the corner".

Ensure that your passengers wear their seat
belts as well. Accident statistics have shown
that wearing seat belts is an effective means
of substantially reducing the risk of injury
and improving the chances of survival when
involved in a serious accident. Furthermore,
properly worn seat belts improve the protec-
tion provided by airbags in the event of an
accident. For this reason, wearing a seat belt
is required by law in most countries.

Although your vehicle is equipped with air-
bags, the seat belts must be fastened and
worn. The front airbags, for example, are only
triggered in some cases of head-on collision.
The front airbags will not be triggered during
minor frontal or side collisions, rear-end colli-
sions, rollovers or accidents in which the air-
bag trigger threshold value in the control unit
is not exceeded.

Therefore, you should always wear your seat
belt and ensure that all vehicle occupants
have fastened their seat belts properly before
you drive off!

Safety instructions on using seat
belts

–

Always wear the seat belt as described in
this section.

–

Ensure that the seat belts can be fastened
at all times and are not damaged.

WARNING

●

If seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at

all, the risk of severe injuries increases. The
optimal protection from seat belts can be
achieved only if you use them properly.

●

Fasten your seat belt before every trip -

even when driving in town. Other vehicle oc-
cupants must also wear the seat belts at all
times, otherwise they run the risk of being in-
jured.

●

The seat belt cannot offer its full protection

if the seat belt is not positioned correctly.

●

Never allow two passengers (even children)

to share the same seat belt.

●

Always keep both feet in the footwell in

front of your seat as long as the vehicle is in
motion.

●

Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehi-

cle is in motion. Risk of fatal injury.

●

The seat belt must never be twisted while it

is being worn.

●

The seat belt should never lie on hard or

fragile objects (such as glasses or pens, etc.)
because this can cause injuries.

●

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 position.

●

Loose, bulky clothing (such as an overcoat

over a jacket) impairs the proper fit and func-
tion of the seat 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 se-
curely.

●

Never use seat belt clips, fastening rings or

similar items 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 accident. Therefore, you must
check the condition of all seat belts at regular
intervals.

●

Seat belts which have been worn in an acci-

dent and stretched must be replaced by a
specialised workshop. Renewal may be nec-
essary even if there is no apparent damage.
The belt anchorage should also be checked.

●

Do not attempt to repair a damaged seat

belt yourself. The seat belts must not be re-
moved or modified in any way.

●

The belts must be kept clean, otherwise the

retractors may not work properly

››› 

page 198

.

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Seat belts

Physical principles of a frontal colli-
sion

Fig. 76 

A driver not wearing a seat belt is

thrown forward violently

Fig. 77 

The unbelted passenger in the rear

seat is thrown forward violently, hitting the
driver wearing a seat belt

It is easy to explain how the laws of physics
work in the case of a head-on collision: when
a vehicle starts moving, a type of energy

called “kinetic energy” is created both in the
passengers and inside the vehicle.

The amount of “kinetic energy” depends on
the speed of the vehicle and the weight of
the vehicle and its passengers. The higher
the speed and the greater the weight, the
more energy there is to be “absorbed” in an
accident.

The most significant factor, however, is the
speed of the vehicle. If the speed doubles
from 25 km/h (15 mph) to 50 km/h
(30 mph), for example, the corresponding ki-
netic energy is multiplied by four.

Because the vehicle occupants in our exam-
ple are not restrained by seat belts, in the
event of crashing against a wall, all of the oc-
cupants' kinetic energy will be absorbed
solely by said impact.

Even at speeds of 30 km/h (19 mph) to
50 km/h (30 mph), the forces acting on bod-
ies in a collision can easily exceed one tonne
(1000 kg). At greater speed these forces are
even higher.

Vehicle occupants not wearing seat belts are
not “attached” to the vehicle. In a head-on
collision, they will move forward at the same
speed their vehicle was travelling just before
the impact. This example applies not only to
head-on collisions, but to all accidents and
collisions.

Even at low speeds the forces acting on the
body in a collision are so great that it is not
possible to brace oneself with one's hands.
In a frontal collision, unbelted passengers
are thrown forward and will make violent con-
tact with the steering wheel, dash panel,
windscreen or whatever else is in the way

››› 

Fig. 76

.

It is also important for rear passengers to
wear seat belts properly, as they could other-
wise be thrown forward violently through the
vehicle interior in an accident. Passengers in
the rear seats who do not use seat belts en-
danger not only themselves but also the front
occupants 

››› 

Fig. 77

.

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How to properly adjust your
seatbelt

Fastening and unfastening the seat
belt

Fig. 78 

Positioning and removing the seat

belt buckle.

Fig. 79 

Placing the seat belt in the shoulder

and pelvis area for pregnant women.

Fasten your seat belt
The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if
the seat belt is not positioned correctly.

●

Adjust the seat and head restraint correctly.

●

To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch

plate and pull it slowly across your chest and
lap.

●

Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the

appropriate seat and push it down until it is
securely locked with an audible click

››› 

Fig. 78

 

A.

●

Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is

securely engaged in the buckle.

The seat belts are equipped with an automat-
ic retractor on the shoulder strap. Full free-
dom of movement is permitted when the
shoulder belt is pulled slowly. However, dur-

ing sudden braking, during travel in steep
areas or bends and during acceleration, the
automatic retractor on the shoulder belt is
locked.

The automatic belt retractors on the front
seats are fitted with seat belt tensioners

››› 

page 65

.

Seat belt release

●

Press the red button on the belt buckle

››› 

Fig. 78

 

B. The latch plate is released and

springs out 

››› 

.

●

Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls

up easily and the trim is not damaged.

Positioning seat belts
Seat belts offer their maximum protection on-
ly when they are properly positioned.

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

●

belt height adjustment for the front seats.

●

front seat height adjustment*.

WARNING

●

The seat belts offer best protection only

when the backrests are in an upright position
and the seat belts have been fastened prop-
erly.

●

Never put the latch plate in the buckle of

another seat. If you do this, the seat belt will

64

Seat belts

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

●

Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehi-

cle is in motion. If you do, you increase the
risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.

●

An incorrectly worn seat belt can cause se-

vere 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 fit
comfortably on the torso

●

The lap part of the seat belt must lie across

the pelvis, never across the stomach. The
seat belt must lie flat and fit comfortably on
the pelvis Pull the belt tight if necessary to
take up any slack.

●

For pregnant women, the lap part of the

seat belt must lie as low as possible over the
pelvis, never across the stomach, and always
lie flat so that no pressure is exerted on the
abdomen 

››› 

Fig. 79

.

●

Always engage the retractor lock when you

are securing a child seat in group 0, 0+ or 1

››› 

page 72

.

●

Read and observe the warnings 

››› 

page 62

.

Belt height adjustment

Fig. 80 

Location of the belt height adjuster.

The seat belt adjuster for the front seats can
be used to adjust the proper belt position at
the shoulder.

–

Press the upper part of the shoulder belt
guide and hold it in this position 

››› 

Fig. 80

.

–

Move the shoulder belt guide up or down
until you have adjusted the seat belt

››› 

page 64

.

–

After adjusting, pull the shoulder belt
sharply to check that the catch on the
shoulder belt guide is engaged securely.

Seat belt tensioners

How the seat belt tensioner works

Read the additional information carefully

››› 



page 13

.

The seat belts for the occupants in the front
seats are equipped with belt tensioners. Sen-
sors will trigger the belt tensioners only dur-
ing severe head-on, lateral and rear-end colli-
sions and only if the seat belt is worn. This
retracts and tightens the seat belts, reducing
the forward motion of the occupants.

The belt tensioners will not be triggered in
the event of minor collisions, if the vehicle
overturns, or in accidents where no major
forces act on the vehicle.

Note

●

If the seat belt tensioners are triggered, a

fine dust is produced. This is normal and it is
not an indication of fire in the vehicle.

●

The relevant safety requirements must be

observed when the vehicle or components of
the system are scrapped. Specialised work-
shops are familiar with these regulations,
which are also available to you.

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Service and disposal of belt tension-
ers

The belt tensioners are components of the
seat belts that are installed in the seats of
your vehicle. If you work on the belt tension-
ers or remove and install parts of the system
when performing other repair work, the seat
belt may be damaged. The consequence may
be that, in the event of an accident, the belt
tensioners function incorrectly or may not
function at all.

So that the effectiveness of the seat belt ten-
sioner is not reduced and that removed parts
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 is it so important to wear a seat
belt and to sit correctly?

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 wear the seat
belts at all times, not only because this is re-
quired by law in most countries, but also for
your safety 

››› 

page 61, The whys and where-

fores of 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

66

Airbag system

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

travel on the rear seat. Never transport chil-
dren in the vehicle if they are not restrained
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 61

.

●

Always adjust the front seats properly.

Description of airbag system

The airbag system mainly comprises (as per
vehicle equipment):

●

an electronic control and monitoring sys-

tem (control unit)

●

frontal airbags for driver and passenger,

●

side airbags,

●

curtain airbags,

●

a control lamp  on the dash panel

››› 

page 68

.

●

key-operated switch for front passenger air-

bag,

●

a control lamp for disabling/enabling the

front passenger 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 

››› 

page 68

,

●

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 56, Correct position

for passengers

.

●

If a fault has occurred in the airbag system,

have the system checked immediately by a
specialised workshop. Otherwise, during a

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frontal collision the system might not trigger
correctly or may fail to trigger at all.

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,
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 following airbags are triggered in seri-
ous 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 and seat belt tensioner control
lamp 

The control lamp monitors all airbags and
seat belt tensioners in the vehicle, including
control units and wiring connections.

Monitoring of airbag and belt tensioner sys-
tem
Both the airbag and belt tensioner systems
operation is constantly monitored electroni-
cally. Each time the ignition is switched on,
the control lamp  illuminates for several
seconds (self-diagnosis) and the instrument
panel display* shows 

AIRBAG/TENSIONER.

The system must be checked when the con-
trol 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.

In the event of a malfunction, the warning
lamp stays on continuously. In addition, de-
pending on the malfunction, a fault message
appears on the instrument panel display for
approximately 10 seconds and a short audi-
ble warning is given. In this event, you

68