Pretensioners - Fiat Punto Owner's Handbook Manual

PRETENSIONERS

To increase the efficiency of the seat belts,
the car is fitted with front pretensioners.
These devices, in the event of a violent
crash, rewind the seat belts by a few cen-
timetres. In this way, they ensure that the
seat belt adheres perfectly to the wearer
before the restraining action begins.
The seat belt reel locks to indicate that the
pretensioners have intervened; the seat
belt cannot be drawn back up even when
guiding it manually.
IMPORTANT To obtain the highest de-
gree of protection from the action of the
pretensioning device, wear the seat belt
tight to the chest and pelvis.
A slight amount of smoke may be detect-
ed during operation of the pretensioners.
This smoke is not harmful and does not
indicate a fire.
The pretensioner does not require any
maintenance or lubrication.
Anything that modifies its original condi-
tions invalidates its efficiency.
If, due to unusual natural events (floods,
sea storms, etc.), the device has been
affected by water and mud, it must be
replaced.
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WARNING
The pretensioner can be
used only once. Go to a Fiat
Dealership to have it replaced after
it has been deployed. Consult the
card in the glove box to check the sta-
tus of the pretensioners. Go to a Fiat
Dealership to have the device re-
placed when the expiration date
approaches.
Operations which lead to
knocks, vibrations or lo-
calised heating (over 100 °C
for a maximum of 6 hours) in
the area around the pretensioners may
cause damage or trigger them. These
devices are not affected by vibrations
caused by irregularities of the road sur-
face or low obstacles such as kerbs,
etc. Contact a Fiat Dealership for any
assistance.
LOAD LIMITERS
To increase passenger safety, the front
seat belt reels contain a load limiter which
controls the force acting on the chest and
shoulders during the belt restraining ac-
tion in the event of a head-on collision.