Get Safety First -> Head restraints* Guide for Seat Ibiza SUV Third Generation (2003-2008)

Airbag system 33

Safety First Operating instructions Tips and Maintenance Technical Data

Safety notes on front airbag system

If you use airbags correctly, they can considerably reduce the

risk of injury in many kinds of accident.

WARNING

• It is important for the driver and front passenger to maintain 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 or if you lean forward or to the side or

assume an incorrect sitting position, the risk of injury is increased

substantially. 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 42, “Child

safety”.

• Occupants sitting in the front of the vehicle must never carry any

objects or pets in the deployment space between them and the airbags, or

allow children or other passengers to travel in this position.

• The airbags provide protection for one accident only, if they have been

deployed they must be replaced.

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

telephone mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag units.

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

way.

Side airbags

Description of side airbags

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

The side airbags are located in the driver seat and front passenger seat back-

rests ⇒ fig. 21. The locations are identified by the text “AIRBAG” in the upper

region of the backrests.

In conjunction with the seat belts, the side airbag system gives the front seat

occupants additional protection for the upper body in the event of a severe

side collision ⇒ page 36, “Safety notes on the operation of the side airbag

system”.

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

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

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

hold the passengers on the front seats in a position where the side airbags

can provide maximum protection.

Fig. 21 Side airbag in

driver seat

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Airbag system34

The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts, but 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. For this reason, 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.

The side airbag system will not be triggered

• if the ignition is switched off,

• during a minor side collision,

• during a minor frontal collision,

• during a rear-end collision,

• or if the vehicle rolls.

The main parts of the airbag system are

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

• the side airbags in the sides of the backrests of the front seats,

• a warning lamp  in the dash panel insert ⇒ page 28.

The functionality of the airbag system is monitored electronically. The airbag

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

switched on (self-diagnosis).

WARNING

• 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,

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

panel.

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

• Never drive if the interior door panels have been removed or if the

panels have not been correctly fitted.

• Never drive the vehicle if the loudspeakers in the door panels have

been removed, unless the holes left by the loudspeakers have been

correctly closed.

• Always check that the openings are closed or covered if loudspeakers

or other equipment are fitted in the interior door panels.

• Any work carried out to the doors should be made in a qualified author-

ised workshop.

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

occupants are seated correctly ⇒ page 9, “Proper sitting position for occu-

pants”.

• If a fault should occur in the airbag system, have the system checked

immediately by a qualified workshop. Otherwise there is a danger that

during a side collision, the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger

correctly.

WARNING (continued)

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Airbag system 35

Safety First Operating instructions Tips and Maintenance Technical Data

Function of side airbags

Inflated airbags can reduce the risk of head or chest injury in

many side impact collisions.

In some side collisions the side airbag is triggered on the impact side of the

vehicle ⇒ fig. 22.

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

gered together.

When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with propellant gas.

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

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

may develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and is no indication

that there was a fire in the vehicle.

The fully deployed airbags cushion the movement of the occupants of the

front seats and help to reduce the risk of injury to the upper body.

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

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

chest are surrounded and protected by the airbag.

Fig. 22 Inflated side

airbag on left side of

vehicle

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Airbag system36

Safety notes on the operation of the side airbag system

If airbags are used correctly, they can considerably reduce the

risk of injury in side impact collisions.

WARNING

• If you do not wear a seat belt, if you lean forward, or are not seated

correctly while the vehicle is in motion, you are at greater risk of injury

should the side airbag system be triggered in an accident.

• In order for the side airbags to provide their maximum protection, the

prescribed sitting position must always be maintained with seat belts

fastened while travelling.

• Occupants of the outer seats must never carry any objects or pets in the

deployment space between them and the airbags, or allow children or

other passengers to travel in this position. It is also important not to attach

any accessories (such as cup holders) to the doors. This would impair the

protection offered by the side airbags.

• The built-in coat hooks should be used only for lightweight clothing. Do

not leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets.

• Great forces, such as hard blows or kicks, must not be exerted upon the

backrest bolster because the system may be damaged. In this case the side

airbags would not be triggered.

• Under no circumstances should protective covers be fitted over the

driver seat or front passenger seat unless the covers have been expressly

approved for use in your vehicle. Because the airbag deploys from the side

of the backrest, the use of conventional seat covers would obstruct the side

airbag, seriously reducing the airbag's effectiveness.

• Any damage to the original seat upholstery or around the seams of the

side airbag units must be repaired immediately by a qualified workshop.

• The airbags provide protection for one accident only, if they have been

deployed they must be replaced.

• When children assume an incorrect sitting position, they expose them-

selves to an increased risk of injury in the event of an accident. This is

particularly the case if the child is travelling on the front passenger seat

and the airbag system is triggered in an accident; this could have critical

consequences including serious injury or death ⇒ page 42, “Child safety”.

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

airbag components for other repairs (such as removal of the front seat)

should only be performed by a qualified workshop. Otherwise, a fault may

be introduced into the operation of the airbag system.

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

• The side and head airbags are managed through sensors located in the

interior of the front doors. To ensure the correct functioning of the side and

head airbags neither the doors nor the door panels should be modified in

any way (e.g. fitting loudspeakers). If the front door is damaged in any way,

this may affect the correct working of the system. All work carried out on

the front door must be made in a qualified workshop.

WARNING (continued)

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Safety First -> Head restraints* for Your Seat Ibiza SUV Third Generation (2003-2008)

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