Get Sitting correctly and safely -> Seat belts Guide for Volkswagen Polo SUV Fourth Generation (2001-2009)

12/29/2015

Bedienungsanleitung < Service & Zubehör < Volkswagen Deutschland

WARNING

Wet upholstery can cause a fault in the seat heating and increase the risk of burns.

Make sure that the seat cushion is dry before using the seat heating.

Do not sit on the seat when wearing damp or wet clothing.

Do not set any damp or wet objects or items of clothing on the seat.

Do not spill any liquids on the seat.

NOTICE

To avoid damaging the heating elements, do not kneel on the seat or apply sharp pressure at a single point on the seat cushion and

backrest.

Liquids, sharp objects and insulating materials such as a protective cover or child seat on the seat could damage the seat heating.

If the system starts to emit a smell, switch the seat heating off immediately and have it checked by a qualified workshop.

The seat heating should be switched off as soon as it is no longer needed. Fuel is otherwise wasted.

Seat belts

Introduction

This chapter contains information on the following subjects:

→ Warning lamp ꢀ

→ Frontal collisions and the laws of physics ꢀ

→ What happens to vehicle occupants who have not fastened their seat belts ꢀ

→ Seat belt protection ꢀ

→ Using seat belts ꢀ

→ Fastening and unfastening seat belts ꢀ

→ Seat belt routing ꢀ

→ Belt height adjuster ꢀ

→ Automatic belt retractor, belt tensioner, belt tension limiter ꢀ

→ Service and disposal of belt tensioners ꢀ

Check the condition of all seat belts regularly. If the belt webbing, belt connections, belt retractor or seat belt buckle become damaged, the seat

belt in question should be replaced immediately by a qualified workshop → ꢀ. The qualified workshop must use correct spare parts that are

compatible with the vehicle, equipment level and model year. Volkswagen recommends using a Volkswagen dealership for this purpose.

Additional information and warnings:

Adjusting the seat position → Adjusting the seat position ꢀ

Airbag system → Airbag system ꢀ

Child seats → Child seats ꢀ

Stowage → Stowage areas ꢀ

Cleaning and caring for the interior → Cleaning and caring for the interior ꢀ

Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of parts → Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of parts ꢀ

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WARNING

Incorrectly fastened or unfastened seat belts increase the risk of severe or fatal injuries. Seat belts will only offer the optimum level of protection

when they are fastened and used properly.

Seat belts are the most effective means of reducing the risk of serious and fatal injuries in the event of an accident. Seat belts must always

be fastened properly when the vehicle is in motion to protect the driver and all vehicle occupants.

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. This applies to all vehicle occupants and also in urban traffic.

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 → Child seats ꢀ .

Only start driving when all passengers have correctly fastened their seat belts.

Only ever insert the latch plate into the buckle of the associated seat, and always ensure that it engages properly. 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.

Avoid allowing foreign bodies or liquids to enter the slot for the seat belt buckle. This could prevent the belt buckle and seat belt from

working properly.

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

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

Never travel when children or babies are being carried on somebody's lap and fastened with the same belt.

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 are very dangerous and can cause severe or fatal injuries.

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

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.

Have damaged seat belts immediately replaced by new seat belts that have been approved by Volkswagen for the vehicle. Seat belts

subjected to stress and stretched during an accident must be replaced by a qualified workshop. Renewal may be necessary even if there is

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

Never try to repair, modify or remove the seat belts yourself. All repairs to the seat belts, belt retractors and buckles must be carried out by a

qualified workshop.

Warning lamp

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Fig. 48 Warning lamp in the instrument cluster

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →

ꢀ

Introduction

Lights up Possible cause

or flashes

Action

The driver seat belt and, if the front passenger seat is

occupied, the front passenger seat belt are not fastened.

Fasten seat belts.

Remove objects from the front passenger seat and stow them

safely.

OR: there are objects on the front passenger seat.

Several warning and indicator lamps will light up briefly as a functional check when the ignition is switched on. They will go out after a few

seconds.

A signal tone will be given for a few seconds if the seat belts are not fastened as the car 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 warning lamp

→ Fig. 48ꢀ will also flash.

When the ignition is switched on, the

warning lamp will not go out until the driver and front passenger fasten their seat belts.

WARNING

Incorrectly fastened or unfastened seat belts increase the risk of severe or fatal injuries. Seat belts will only offer the optimum level of protection

when they are fastened and used properly.

Frontal collisions and the laws of physics

Fig. 49 Unbelted occupants in a vehicle heading for a brick wall

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Fig. 50 Unbelted occupants in a vehicle striking a brick wall

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →

ꢀ

Introduction

The physical principles involved in a frontal collision are relatively simple. As soon as the vehicle is in motion → Fig. 49ꢀ, both the moving vehicle

and its passengers gain kinetic energy.

The higher the vehicle speed and the heavier the weight of the vehicle, the greater the amount of energy that will have to be released in the event

of an accident.

However, the most significant factor is the speed of the vehicle. If the speed doubles from approximately 25 km/h (15 mph) to approximately

50 km/h (31 mph), for example, the kinetic energy increases by a factor of four.

The amount of kinetic energy depends on the speed of the vehicle and the weight of the vehicle and passengers. The higher the speed and the

heavier the weight, the greater the amount of energy that will be released in the event of an accident.

Passengers not wearing seat belts are not connected to the vehicle. In the event of a frontal collision they will continue to move forwards at the

same speed at which the vehicle was travelling before impact, until something stops them. Because the passengers in our example are not

restrained by seat belts, the entire amount of kinetic energy will only be released at the point of impact against the wall → Fig. 50ꢀ.

Even at speeds of approximately 30 km/h (19 mph) to approximately 50 km/h (31 mph), the forces acting on bodies in a collision can easily

exceed one tonne (1,000 kg). These forces are even greater at higher speeds.

This example applies not only to frontal collisions, but to all accidents and collisions.

What happens to vehicle occupants who have not fastened their seat belts

Fig. 51 An unbelted driver is thrown forwards

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Fig. 52 The unbelted rear passenger is thrown forwards, hitting the belted driver

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →

Many people believe that they can brace their weight with their hands in a minor collision. This is not true.

ꢀ

Introduction

Even at low speeds, the forces acting on the body in a collision are so great that occupants cannot brace themselves with their arms and hands.

In a frontal collision, unbelted vehicle occupants are thrown forward and will make unchecked contact with parts of the vehicle interior, e.g. the

steering wheel, dash panel, or windscreen → Fig. 51ꢀ.

The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts. When triggered, the airbags only provide additional protection. Airbags are not triggered

in all kinds of accidents. Even if the vehicle is equipped with an airbag system, all vehicle occupants, including the driver, must fasten their seat

belt and wear it correctly while the vehicle is in motion. This reduces the risk of severe or fatal injuries in the event of an accident – regardless of

whether an airbag is fitted for the seat.

Each airbag can only be triggered once. To achieve best possible protection, seat belts must always be worn properly. This also ensures that

protection is provided in accidents in which the airbag is not triggered. Any vehicle occupants not wearing a seat belt can be thrown out of the

vehicle and sustain more severe or even fatal injuries as a result.

It is also important for the rear seat occupants to wear seat belts properly, as they could otherwise be thrown forwards violently in an accident.

Rear passengers who are not wearing seat belts endanger not only themselves and the driver, but also other people in the vehicle → Fig. 52ꢀ.

Seat belt protection

Fig. 53 Driver restrained by a properly positioned seat belt during a sudden braking manoeuvre

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →

ꢀ

Introduction

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Correctly fastened seat belts can make a major difference. When fastened properly, seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting

positions and considerably reduce the kinetic energy in the event of an accident. Seat belts also help to prevent uncontrolled movements which

could lead to severe injuries. In addition, wearing seat belts properly reduces the risk of being thrown from the vehicle → Fig. 53ꢀ.

Passengers wearing seat belts correctly benefit greatly from the ability of the belts to reduce the kinetic energy. The front crumple zones and

other passive safety features (such as the airbag system) are also designed to reduce kinetic energy. The amount of energy generated will thus

decrease, thereby reducing the risk of injury.

The examples describe frontal collisions. Of course, properly worn seat belts substantially reduce the risk of injury in all other types of accidents.

This is why seat belts must be fastened before every trip – even if you are only planning to drive a very short distance. Make sure that all

passengers are also wearing their seat belts properly.

Accident statistics have shown properly worn seat belts to be an effective means of substantially reducing the risk of injury and improving the

chances of survival in a serious accident. Furthermore, properly worn seat belts improve the protection provided by airbags in the event of an

accident. This is why wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement in most countries.

Although the vehicle is equipped with airbags, the seat belts must be fastened and worn. For example, the front airbags will only be triggered in

certain types of frontal collision. The front airbags will not be triggered during minor frontal collisions, minor side collisions, rear collisions, rolls or

accidents in which the airbag trigger threshold in the control unit is not exceeded.

Therefore, always wear your seat belt and make sure that your passengers have fastened their seat belts properly before you drive off.

Using seat belts

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →

ꢀ

Introduction

Checklist

Using seat belts → ꢀ:

Check the condition of all seat belts regularly.

Keep the seat belts clean.

Never let any foreign bodies and liquids get on to the seat belt, the latch plate or into the slot for the seat belt buckle.

Do not trap or damage the seat belt and latch plate, for example when closing the door.

Never remove, modify or repair the seat belt or any part of the belt fixture system.

Always fasten the seat belt correctly before every journey and keep it fastened while the vehicle is in motion.

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:

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

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

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. The twist should be corrected immediately by a qualified workshop.

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WARNING

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

Regularly check to see if the seat belt and its related parts are in perfect condition.

Always keep the seat belt clean.

Do not allow the belt webbing to become jammed, damaged or to rub on any sharp edges.

Always keep the latch plate and slot in the buckle free from foreign bodies and liquids.

Fastening and unfastening seat belts

Fig. 54 Inserting the seat belt latch plate into the buckle

Fig. 55 Removing the latch plate from the buckle

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →

ꢀ

Introduction

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

protection → ꢀ.

Fastening the seat belts

Fasten seat belts before every trip.

Always adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly → Adjusting the seat position ꢀ .

Engage the rear seat backrests in an upright position → ꢀ.

Take hold of the latch plate and pull it evenly across your chest and pelvis. Do not twist the belt in the process → ꢀ.

Insert the latch plate securely into the buckle belonging to the occupied seat → Fig. 54ꢀ.

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

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Unfastening the seat belts

Unfasten seat belts only when the vehicle is stationary → ꢀ.

Press the red button in the buckle → Fig. 55ꢀ. The latch plate is released and springs out.

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

WARNING

Incorrect seat belt routing can cause severe or fatal injuries in the event of an accident.

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

according to the occupant's height.

Unfastening seat belts while the vehicle is in motion can lead to severe or fatal injuries in the event of an accident or sudden braking

manoeuvre.

Seat belt routing

Fig. 56 Correct seat belt routing and head restraint adjustment

Fig. 57 Correct seat belt routing during pregnancy

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →

ꢀ

Introduction

Seat belts only provide an optimum level of protection during an accident when they are routed correctly. Correct seat belt routing reduces the

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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.

Assuming an incorrect sitting position can cause severe or fatal injuries → Adjusting the seat position ꢀ .

Correct seat belt routing

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.

For pregnant women the seat belt must be positioned 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. 57ꢀ.

Correct seat belt routing according to height

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

Belt height adjuster for the front seats → Belt height adjuster ꢀ .

Height-adjustable front seats → Adjusting the seat position ꢀ .

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).

The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie on the centre of the shoulder and never under the arm or across the neck.

The seat belt must lie flat and snugly on the chest.

The lap part of the seat belt must lie across the pelvis and never across the stomach. The seat belt must lie flat and snugly on the pelvis.

Tighten the belt if necessary.

For pregnant women, the lap part of the seat belt must be as low as possible over the pelvis and lie flat around the bulge of the belly.

Do not twist the belt webbing while the seat belt is being worn.

Never hold the seat belt away from the body by hand.

The belt webbing should not lie over hard or fragile objects, such as glasses, pens or keys.

Never use seat belt clips, retaining rings or similar items to alter the seat belt routing.

If a person's physical build prevents them from routing the seat belt properly, contact a qualified workshop to find out about any special

modifications so that the seat belts and airbags can provide the optimum level of protection. Volkswagen recommends using a Volkswagen

dealership for this purpose.

Belt height adjuster

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Fig. 58 Next to the front seats: belt height adjuster

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →

ꢀ

Introduction

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:

Push the shoulder belt guide together in the direction of the arrows and hold → Fig. 58ꢀ.

Push the shoulder belt guide up or down so that the seat belt lies over the middle of the shoulder → Seat belt routing ꢀ .

Let go of the shoulder belt guide.

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

WARNING

Never adjust the seat belt height when the vehicle is in motion.

Automatic belt retractor, belt tensioner, belt tension limiter

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →

ꢀ

Introduction

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

Automatic belt retractor

The seat belts on the driver seat and front passenger seat, as well as those on the outer rear seats (and on the middle rear seat, depending on

the level of vehicle equipment), are fitted with an automatic belt retractor at the shoulder part of the seat belt. 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 for the front seat occupants are equipped with belt tensioners.

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. Any slack in the seat belt is retracted, which can reduce the passenger's movement forwards or in the direction of the

impact. The belt tensioner works together with the airbag system. If the side airbags or the combined curtain airbags are not activated, the belt

tensioner will not be activated in the event that the vehicle rolls over.

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.

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Sitting correctly and safely -> Seat belts for Your Volkswagen Polo SUV Fourth Generation (2001-2009)

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