Seat Ibiza: Front airbags

Seat Ibiza Owners Manual

Description of front airbags

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

Fig. 17 Driver airbag located in steering wheel

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 dash panel ⇒ fig. 18. Airbags are identified by the text “AIRBAG”. 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, “Safety notes on front 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 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. 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 main parts of the front airbag system are:

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

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

• a warning lamp   in the dash
panel insert.

The functionality of the airbag system 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 come on when the ignition is switched on,

• does not go out about 4 seconds after the ignition is switched on,

• goes out and then comes on again after the ignition is switched on,

• or if it comes on or flickers while the car is moving.

The front airbag system will not be triggered if:

• if the ignition is switched off,

• during a minor frontal collision,

• during a side collision,

• during a rear-end collision,

• or if the vehicle rolls.

WARNING

• The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if the occupants are seated correctly, “Proper sitting position for occupants”.

• 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 frontal collision, the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.

Function of front airbags

Inflated airbags reduce the risk of head or chest injury.

Fig. 19 Inflated front airbags

The airbag system is designed so that the airbags for the driver and front passenger are triggered in a severe frontal collision. In certain types of accident the front, curtain and side airbags may be triggered together. 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 airbags cushion the forward movement of the front occupants and help to reduce the risk of injury to the head and the upper part of the body. The special design of the airbag allows the controlled escape of the propellant gas when an occupant puts pressure on the bag. Thus, the head and chest are surrounded and protected by the airbag. Once the impact has been absorbed, the airbag deflates sufficiently for the front occupants to see forward.

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 function of the airbag covers if the airbags are triggered

Fig. 20 Airbag covers reacting when the airbags are triggered

The airbag covers fold out of the steering wheel or dash panel when the driver and front passenger airbags deploy ⇒ fig. 20. The airbag covers remain connected to the steering wheel or the dash panel.

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, “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.