73
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
KNOWING
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
SEAT BELTS MAINTENANCE
For keeping the seat belts in efficient
conditions, observe the following:
❒
always use the belts with the strap
well stretched and never twisted;
make sure that it is free to run
without impediments;
❒
after a serious accident, replace the
belt even if it does not appear
damaged. Always replace the belt
if the pretensioners were deployed;
❒
to clean the belts, wash by hand with
water and mild soap, rinse and leave
to dry in the shade. Never use strong
detergents, bleach, paints or any
other substance which could damage
the belt fibres;
❒
prevent the reels from getting wet:
their correct operation is only
guaranteed if water does not get
inside;
❒
replace the seat belt when showing
significant wear or cut signs.
CARRYING CHILDREN
SAFELY
For optimal protection in the event of
a collision, all passengers must be seated
and wearing adequate restraint systems.
This is even more important for children.
This prescription is compulsory in all
EC countries according to the Directive
EEC- R44.
Compared with adults, a child’s head
is proportionally larger and heavier than
the rest of the body, while muscles and
bone structure are not fully developed.
Therefore, correct restraint systems
are necessary which are different from
adult seat belts.
The results of research on the best child
restraint systems are contained in the
European Standard ECE-R44, which
enforces the use of restraint systems
classified into five groups:
Group 0 – 0-10 kg in weight
Group 0+ – 0-13 kg in weight
Group 1 9-18 kg in weight
Group 2 15-25 kg in weight
Group 3 22-36 kg
SERIOUS DANGER: never
place cradle child seats
facing backwards on the
front passenger’s seat of
cars fitted with passenger’s
air bag. Deployment of
the air bag in an accident could
cause fatal injuries to the baby. It is
advisable always to carry children
on the rear seat which is the most
protected position in the event of
an accident. Never fit child seats
systems on the front seat if the car
is provided with passenger’s air bag:
as the air bag could even cause
fatal injury regardless of the
severity of the collision which
caused its deployment. If necessary,
children can stay on the front seat,
but only if the passenger’s airbag
can be disabled. In this case be sure
to verify that the air bag is actually
deactivated, observing the
“
warning light on the dashboard (see
“Front air bag – passenger side” in
paragraph “Front air bags”). Move
the passenger’s seat as far back as
possible to avoid contact between
the child seat and the dashboard.
WARNING