Get Seat belts Guide for Volkswagen California Van Fourth Generation (2024-2025)

deployed.

Introduction

If worn properly, seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting position during an accident or braking

manoeuvre, providing maximum protection.

WARNING

Incorrectly fastened or unfastened seat belts can increase the risk of severe or fatal injuries.

● Before every trip, each vehicle occupant must adopt the correct sitting position, correctly fasten the seat belt

belonging to their seat and keep it fastened properly throughout the trip.

● Before every journey and while the vehicle is in motion, secure all children travelling in the vehicle in a restraint

system suitable for their weight and height. They must also wear correctly fastened seat belts .

● Insert the latch plate only into the belt buckle of the corresponding seat and make sure that the latch plate

engages securely. Using a buckle that does not belong to the seat that you are occupying reduces the level of

protection and can lead to severe injuries.

● Never unfasten the seat belt while the vehicle is in motion.

● Never allow more than one person to share the same seat belt.

● Never transport children or babies on your lap and never secure them with a seat belt together with a person.

● Never travel wearing loose, bulky clothing(such as an overcoat over a jacket). This could prevent the seat belts

from fitting and functioning properly.

WARNING

Damaged seat belts increase the risk of serious or fatal injuries. If the belt webbing or any other part of the seat belt

becomes damaged, the seat belt may tear during an accident or sudden braking manoeuvre.

● Never damage the belt by trapping it in the door or in the seat mechanism.

● If the belt webbing, belt connections, belt retractor or seat belt buckle become damaged, the seat belt or belt

attachment element in question must be replaced immediately by a correspondingly qualified workshop. The

correspondingly qualified workshop must use correct spare parts that are compatible with the vehicle, equipment

level and model year.

● Never try to repair, modify or remove the seat belts or belt attachment elements yourself. Have all repairs to seat

belts, belt retractors and buckles carried out by a correspondingly qualified workshop. The correspondingly

qualified workshop must only replace the seat belt with a seat belt approved for the seat.

● Have seat belts that have been subjected to stress and stretched during an accident replaced by a

correspondingly qualified workshop. Renewal may be necessary even if there is no apparent damage. Also check

the anchorages of the seat belts.

WARNING

Using seat belts incorrectly increases the risk of severe or fatal injuries.

● Regularly check to ensure that the seat belt and its related parts are in perfect condition.

● Always keep the seat belts clean.

● Avoid allowing foreign bodies or liquids to enter the seat belt buckle slots and belt buckles. This could prevent

the seat belt buckle slots, belt buckles and seat belts from working properly.

● Never trap the seat belt. Never damage the belt or allow it to rub against sharp edges.

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Buckle-up request

Fig. 1 On the display of the instrument cluster: Warning

lamp (depending on the equipment).

An acoustic signal will sound for a few seconds if the seat belt for the driver seat and, depending on the equipment,

the front passenger seat are not fastened as the vehicle pulls off and reaches a speed of more than approximately

25 km/h (15 mph), or if the seat belts are unfastened while the vehicle is in motion. The red warning lamp will also

flash → Fig. 1.

The red warning lamp only goes out when the seat belt is fastened.

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Fastening and unfastening seat belts

Fastening the seat belts

Fig. 1 Inserting the seat belt latch plate into the buckle.

Fasten seat belts before every trip.

1. Adopt correct sitting position (→ Sitting position).

2. Take hold of the belt and pull it evenly across your chest and pelvis. Donot twist the belt when doing this.

3. Insert the latch plate securely into the buckle belonging to the occupied seat→ Fig. 1.

4. Pull on the seat belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely locked in the buckle.

Unfastening the seat belts

Fig. 2 Removing the latch plate from the buckle

Unfasten seat belts only when the vehicle is stationary.

1. Press the red button on the belt buckle→ Fig. 2. The latch plate is released and springs out.

2. Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls up easily, without twisting the seat belt and without damaging the

trim.

Twisted seat belt

If it is difficult to remove the seat belt from the belt guide, the seat belt may have become twisted if it was returned

too quickly into the side trim:

1. Take hold of the latch plate then slowly and carefully pull out the seat belt.

2. Untwist the seat belt and guide it back slowly by hand.

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3. Fasten the seat belt even if you are unable to undo the twist.

However, the twist should not be in part of the seat belt that comes into direct contact with the body.

4. Contact a correspondingly qualified workshop as soon as possible to have the twist removed.

Seat belt routing

Seat belts only provide an optimum level of protection during an accident when they are routed correctly. Correct

seat belt routing reduces the risk of severe or fatal injuries. Correct seat belt routing also holds the vehicle occupants

in position so that an inflating airbag can offer the maximum level of protection. Therefore you must always fasten

your seat belt and ensure that the seat belt routing is correct → Fig. 1.

Correct seat belt routing

Fig. 1 Correct seat belt routing and head restraint

adjustment

—The shoulder part of the seat belt must always lie on the centre of the shoulder, never across the neck, over or

under the arm or behind the back.

—The lap part of the seat belt must always lie across the pelvis, never across the stomach.

—The seat belt must always lie flat and snugly on the body. Tighten the belt if necessary.

Correct seat belt routing during pregnancy

Fig. 2 Correct seat belt routing during pregnancy

Pregnant women must position the seat belt evenly over the chest and as low as possible over the pelvis. It must lie

flat so that no pressure is exerted on the lower body – this applies in every stage of pregnancy → Fig. 2.

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Correct seat belt routing according to height

The following equipment can be used to adjust the seat belt routing:

—Seat belt height adjuster for the front seats (→ Seat belt height adjuster).

—Height-adjustable front seats .

WARNING

Incorrect seat belt routing can cause severe injuries in the event of an accident or a sudden braking or driving

manoeuvre.

● The seat belts only offer best protection when the backrests are in an upright position and the seat belts have

been fastened properly.

● The seat belt itself or a loose seat belt can cause serious injuries if the seat belt shifts from harder body parts in

the direction of softer body parts (e.g. stomach).

● Route the seat belt so that it lies flat and snugly on your upper body.

● The lap part of the seat belt must lie across the pelvis and never across the stomach. Route the seat belt so that it

lies flat and snugly on your pelvis. Pull the belt a little again to tighten it if necessary.

● For pregnant women, the seat belt must be positioned evenly over the chest and as low as possible over the

pelvis during the entire course of the pregnancy. It must lie flat so that no pressure is exerted on the lower body.

● Do not twist the seat belt when it is fastened.

● Never hold the seat belt away from your body with your hand.

● Do not route the belt over hard or fragile objects, such as glasses, pens or keys.

● Never change the belt routing by means of belt clips, retaining eyes or similar.

If a person’s physical build prevents them from routing the seat belt properly, contact a correspondingly

qualified workshop to find out about any special modifications so that the seat belts and airbags can provide

the optimum level of protection.

Seat belt height adjuster

Fig. 1 Next to the front seats: seat belt height adjuster.

The seat belt height adjusters for the front seats can be used to adjust the position of the seat belt on the shoulder so

that it can be fastened properly:

1. Push and hold the shoulder belt guide in the direction of the arrow→ Fig. 1.

2. Push the shoulder belt guide up or down so that the seat belt is routed over the middle of the shoulder .

3. Let go of the shoulder belt guide.

4. Pull sharply on the seat belt to check whether the shoulder belt guide is engaged securely.

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WARNING

If the belt height is not adjusted correctly, this can increase the risk of serious or fatal injuries.

● Always adjust the belt height according to the correct sitting position before starting your trip.

● Never change the belt height while the vehicle is in motion.

Belt retractor, belt tensioner, belt tension limiter

The seat belts in the vehicle are part of the vehicle safety concept and include the following important functions:

Automatic belt retractor

The seat belts on the front seats and, depending on equipment, on the rear seats are equipped with a belt retractor.

Full freedom of movement is made possible when the shoulder belt is pulled slowly or when the vehicle is travelling

at normal speeds. However, if the belt is pulled out quickly or during sudden braking, during travel in mountains or

bends and during acceleration, the automatic belt retractor is locked.

Belt tensioners

The seat belts of the driver seat and the outer front passenger seat are equipped with belt tensioners depending on

the equipment level.

The belt tensioners are activated by sensors during severe frontal, side and rear collisions. They tighten the seat belts

against the direction in which they are pulled. A loose seat belt is retracted and kept taught, which can reduce the

forward motion of the vehicle occupants and their motion in the direction of impact. Depending on the equipment,

the belt tensioner works together with the airbag system.

A fine dust may be produced when the airbags are triggered. This is quite normal and does not mean that there is a

fire in the vehicle.

WARNING

The protective function of the belt tensioners permits only one activation of the belt tensioners. The system must

be replaced if the belt tensioners have been triggered.

● Belt tensioners that have been triggered, and any affected system parts, must be replaced immediately with new

parts that are approved for the vehicle.

● Have repairs and modifications to your vehicle carried out only by a suitably qualified workshop. Qualified

workshops have the necessary tools, diagnostic equipment, repair information and trained personnel.

● Never install recycled belt tensioner components or components that have been taken from end-of-life vehicles

in your vehicle.

● Never modify any components of the belt tensioners.

Belt tension limiter

Depending on the equipment, the seat belts are equipped with belt tension limiters. The belt tension limiter reduces

the pressure exerted by the seat belt on the body during an accident.

All safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or components of the system are scrapped.

Suitably qualified workshops are familiar with these requirements.

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Service and disposal of belt tensioners

Seat belts may become damaged during any work on the belt tensioners or while removing or refitting any vehicle

parts in conjunction with any other repair work. This damage will not always be noticeable. The consequence may be

that the belt tensioners could function incorrectly, or not function at all, in the event of an accident.

Regulations must be observed to ensure that the effectiveness of the belt tensioner is not reduced and that removed

parts do not cause any injuries or environmental pollution. Qualified workshops are familiar with these requirements.

WARNING

The risk of severe or fatal injuries may be increased if the seat belts, automatic belt retractors and belt tensioners

are not used correctly, or if they are repaired by a non-professional. As a result, the belt tensioners may not be

triggered when they should, or they may be triggered unexpectedly.

● Never carry out any repairs, adjustments or removal and refitting of parts in the belt tensioners or seat belts by

yourself, and have such work carried out only by a correspondingly qualified workshop .

● Seat belts, belt tensioners and automatic belt retractors cannot be repaired. They must be replaced.

The airbag modules and belt tensioners may contain perchlorate. Observe the applicable legislation

regarding disposal.

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Seat belts for Your Volkswagen California Van Fourth Generation (2024-2025)

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