
Contents3
ContentsThe structure of this manual
 . . . . . 
Content
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Safety First
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Safe driving
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Proper sitting position for occupants . . . . . . . . . 
Pedal area  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Stowing luggage  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Seat belts
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Why wear seat belts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Belt tension devices*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Airbag system
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Front airbags  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Curtain airbags  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Deactivating airbags*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Child safety
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Securing child seats  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Operating instructions
 . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Cockpit
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Overview  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Instruments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Digital display in the instrument panel  . . . . . . . 
Warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Steering wheel controls*
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Audio control from controls on the steering 
wheel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Unlocking and locking
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Radio frequency remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Anti-theft alarm system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Windows  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Sliding/tilting roof* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Lights and visibility
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Interior lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Windscreen washers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Mirrors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Seats and stowage
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
The importance of correct seat adjustment . . . . 
Head restraints  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Electric Front seats  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Rear seat bench . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Stowage compartments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Ashtrays, cigarette lighter and electrical sockets
First-aid kit, warning triangle, fire extinguisher  
Luggage compartment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Air conditioning
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Semiautomatic air conditio ning (Climatic)  . . . . 
Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
General notes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Driving
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Steering  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Ignition lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Starting and stopping the engine  . . . . . . . . . . . 
Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Automatic gearbox*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Cruise control system (CCS)*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Tips and Maintenance
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Intelligent technology
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brakes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Anti-lock brake system and traction control ABS
Electronic stabilisation program (ESP)* . . . . . . . 
Driving and the environment
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Running-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Catalytic converter* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Driving economically and with respect for the 
environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Cleaning and caring for your vehicle
 . . . . . . . 
General notes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Care of the vehicle exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Care of the vehicle interior  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
5
6
7
7
7
9
14
15
17
17
19
22
26
28
28
31
34
38
41
43
43
45
47 51
51
51
52
54
60
68
68
70
70
75
77
79
82
83
86
88
88
92
93
94
97
100
100
101
103
105
106
109
110
111 113
113
116
119
121
123
123
124
125
126
129
130
134
135
139
139
139
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141
143
143
144
145
149
151
153
153
154
159
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Cockpit53
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Rev counter
The rev. counter displays the engine speed in revolutions per 
minute.The start of the red zone on the dial ⇒ page 52, fig. 32   indicates the 
maximum engine speed which may be used briefly when the engine is warm 
and after it has been run in properly. However, it is advisable to change up a 
gear or move the selector lever to D (or li ft your foot off the accelerator) before 
the needle reaches the red zone.
Caution
The rev counter needle must never enter the red zone on the scale. Risk of 
engine damage.
For the sake of the environment
Changing up a gear early will help you to save fuel and minimise engine 
noise.
Engine coolant temperature display 
 
This gauge shows the engine coolant temperature.
Needle in cold zone 
Avoid high engine speeds and heavy engine loads  ⇒fig. 33.
Needle in normal zone 
In normal driving conditions, the needle  should be in the middle section of 
the scale. The temperature may also rise when the engine is working hard, 
especially at high outside temperatures. This is no cause for concern, as long 
as the warning lamp  does not li ght up on the instrument panel.
Needle in warning zone 
The warning lamp*  ⇒page 60, fig. 40    will light up and a buzzer will be 
heard if the needle is in the warning zone.  Stop the car and switch off the 
engine.  Check the coolant level ⇒ page 176 ⇒ .
Even if the coolant level is correct  do not continue driving. You should obtain 
technical assistance.
A4
Fig. 33  Engine coolant 
temperature
AAABACAC
A2
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Driving
126Starting 
The engine is started when the key is in this position. Electrical components 
with a high power consumption are switched off temporarily.
Each time that the vehicle must be star ted, the ignition key must be turned to 
the position  . The repetitive start prevention lock  of the ignition prevents 
possible damage to the starter moto r is the engine is already running.
WARNING
•
Wait for the vehicle to come to a standstill before removing the ignition 
key from the lock. The steering lock could be activated immediately - Risk 
of accident!
•
Always remove the key from the ignition lock when leaving the vehicle, 
even if you only intend to be gone for a short period. This is especially 
important if you must leave children or disabled people in the vehicle, they 
could accidentally start the engine or work electrical equipment such as 
the windows possibly resulting in an accident.
•
Unsupervised use of the keys could result in the engine being started 
or electrical systems, such as the el ectric windows, being used. This can 
result in serious injury.Caution
The starter motor will only work when  the engine is stopped (ignition key 
position  ).
Electronic immobiliser
The immobiliser prevents unauthorised persons from driving 
the vehicle.Inside the key there is a chip that deac tivates the electronic immobiliser auto-
matically when the key is inserted into the ignition.
The immobiliser will be activated again automatically as soon as you pull the 
key out of the ignition lock.
The engine can only be started using a genuine SEAT key with the correct 
code.
Note
The vehicle cannot be operated properly  if you do not have a genuine SEAT 
key.Starting and stopping the engineStarting petrol engines
The engine can only be started using a genuine SEAT key with 
the correct code.– Move the gear lever to the ne utral position and depress the 
clutch pedal fully and hold it in this position, the starter will then 
only have to turn the engine.
– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒ page 125 to start the engine.
A2A0
A2
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Driving
128Glow plug system for the diesel engine
To avoid unnecessary load on the battery, do not use any other major elec-
trical equipment while the glow plugs are pre-heating.
Start the engine as soon as  the glow plug warning lamp  ⇒page 63 goes out.
Starting the engine after the fuel tank has been completely run dry
If the fuel tank has been completely run dry, it may take longer than normal 
(up to one minute) to start the engine afte r refuelling with diesel fuel. This is 
because the system must eliminate air first.
WARNING
•
Never start or run the engine in un ventilated or closed rooms. The 
exhaust fumes contain carbon mono xide, an odourless and colourless 
poisonous gas. Risk of fatal accidents. Carbon monoxide can cause loss of 
consciousness. It can also cause death.
•
Never leave the vehicle unattended if the engine is running.
•
Never use “cold start sprays”, they could explode or cause the engine 
to run at high revs. Risk of injury.Caution
•
When the engine is cold, you should av oid high engine speeds, driving at 
full throttle and over-loading the  engine. Risk of engine damage.
•
The vehicle should not be pushed or towed for more than approximately 
50 metres to start the engine. Fuel could enter the catalytic converter and 
damage it.
•
Before attempting to push-start or tow  a vehicle to start it, you should first 
try to start it using the battery of another vehicle. Note and follow the instruc-
tions  ⇒page 214, “Jump-starting”.
For the sake of the environment
Do not warm-up the engine by running th e engine with the vehicle stationary. 
You should drive off as soon as you start the engine. This helps the engine 
reach operating temperature faster and reduces emissions.Switching off the engine– Stopping the engine.
– Turn the ignition key to position  ⇒page 125, fig. 94   .After the engine is switched off the radiator fan may run on for up to 10 
minutes, even if the ignition is switched of f. It is also possible that it will turn 
itself on once more if the temperature of the coolant increases due to the 
elimination of built up heat in the engine compartment or if this is heated due 
to prolonged exposure to the heat of the sun.
WARNING
•
Never switch off the engine until the vehicle is stationary.
•
The brake servo works only when the engine is running. You will need 
more strength to brake the vehicle when the engine is switched off. As you 
cannot brake in the normal manner, there is a greater risk of accidents and 
serious injury.
•
The steering lock can engage immediately when the key is removed 
from the ignition lock. The vehicle cannot be steered. Risk of accident.
A0
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Driving133
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
If, while driving, the selector lever accidentally moves to position 
N, first 
release the accelerator pedal and wait un til the engine slows to idling before 
selecting  a forwards  gear ⇒       .
Starting
Select a range ( R, D, 3, 2, 1). Wait until the change has taken place and the 
power transmission of the drive wheels has stabilised (slight pressure is 
noticeable). Then depress the accelerator.
Stopping
In the case of a temporary stop, for example at a traffic lights, it is not neces-
sary to move to position  N, it is sufficent to brake using the brake pedal. The 
engine should only run at idle speed.
Parking
On slopes, first pull handbrake on firmly and then connect block. This 
prevents overloading the blocking mechanism, making the subsequent 
disconnection  easier ⇒       .
Emergency start
in vehicles fitted with an automatic gearbox the engine can not be started by 
towing or pushing the vehicle  ⇒page 217
If the vehicle battery is flat, a battery from another car can be used to jump-
start the car using a set of jump leads ⇒  page 126
To w i n g
If the vehicle requires towing at any time, observe the instructions of 
⇒  page  217, “Towing and tow-starting”.
Back-up programme
In the event of a malfunction of  the gearbox electronics, emergency 
programmes are activated, according to the type of fault.
•
The gearbox continues to connect gears automatically, but the operations 
are jerky. Consult the Authorised Service Centre.
•
The gearbox does not automatically engage gears.
In this  case they can be  changed manually. 3rd  gear is only ava ilable in posi-
tions  D, 3 and  2 of the selector lever.
In positions 1 and R of  the selector lever   1st gear and reverse gear are availa ble 
respectively as normal
As the torque converter is required to work more, especially due to the lack of  
2nd gear, it is possible that the gearbox oil may  overheat. In this case, consult 
the Authorised Service Centre as soon as possible.
WARNING
•
In all the ranges the vehicle must always be held with the foot brake 
when the engine is running. This is because an automatic gearbox still 
transmits power even at idling speed, and the vehicle tends to “creep”.
•
If, when the car is at a standstill and the engine is idling, a range is 
connected, take care not to accelerate accidentally (for example, when 
working in the engine compartment), as the car will start to move immedi-
ately.
•
Before working on a running engine, place the selector lever in position 
P and apply the handbrake.
•
To prevent the vehicle from moving out of control, the handbrake 
should always be applied when the vehi cle is at a standstill. In addition 
move the selector lever to position P.
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Driving and the environment143
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Driving and the environmentRunning-inRunning in a new engine
The engine needs to be run-in over the first 1,500 km.Up to 1,000 kilometres
– Do not drive faster than three quarters of top speed.
– Do not accelerate hard.
– Avoid high engine revolutions.
– Do not tow a trailer.
From 1000 to 1500 km
–Speeds can be gradually increased to the maximum road speed 
or maximum permissible engine speed (rpm).During its first few hours of running, the internal fric tion in the engine is 
greater than later on when all the moving parts have bedded in.
For the sake of the environment
If the engine is run in gently, the life  of the engine will be increased and its oil 
consumption reduced.
Running in tyres and brake pads
New tyres should be run-in carefully in the first 500 km. New 
brake pads should be run-in carefully in the first 200 km.During the first 200 km, you can compensate for the reduced braking effect 
by applying more pressure to the brake pedal. If you need to make an emer-
gency stop, the braking distance will be longer with new brake pads than with 
brake pads which have been run-in.
WARNING
•
New tyres do not give maximum grip  to start with, and require running-
in. This may be an accident risk. Drive pa rticularly carefully in the first 
500 km.
•
New brake pads must be “run in” and do not have the correct friction 
properties during the first 200 km. However, the reduced braking capacity 
may be compensated by pressing on the brake pedal a little harder.
Braking effect and braking distance
The braking effect and braking distance are influenced by 
driving situations and road conditions.The efficiency of the brakes depends directly on the  brake pad wear. The rate 
of wear of the brake pads depends to a great extent on the conditions under 
which the vehicle is operated and the way the vehicle is driven. If you often 
drive in town traffic, drive short distances or have a sporty driving style, we 
recommend that you have the thickness of your brake pads checked by an 
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Driving and the environment151
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
WARNING
The towing bracket ball coupling must be stored securely in the luggage 
compartment to prevent them being flung through the vehicle and causing 
injury.
Note
•
By law, the ball coupling must be re moved if a trailer is not being towed 
and it obscures the number plate.
Driving tips
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care.Weight distribution
The weight distribution of a loaded trailer with an unladen vehicle is very 
unfavourable. However, if this cannot be avoided, drive extra slowly to allow 
for the unbalanced weight distribution.
Speed
The stability of the vehicle and trailer is reduced with increasing speed. For 
this reason it is advisable not to drive at the maximum permissible speed in 
unfavourable road, weather or wind conditions. This applies especially when 
driving downhill.
You should always reduce speed immediat ely if the trailer shows the slightest 
sign of  snaking . Never try to stop the “snaking” by increasing speed.
Always brake in good time. If the trailer has an  overrun brake, apply the 
brakes  gently at first  and then firmly. This will prevent the jerking that can be 
caused by the trailer wheels locking. Se lect a low gear in good time before 
going down a steep descent. This enables you to use the engine braking to 
slow down the vehicle. Heating
When climbing long hills in hot weather 
with the engine running fast in a low 
gear, you should keep an eye on the coolant temperature gauge  ⇒page 51.
Electronic Stabilisation Program*
Do not switch off the ESP* when towing a trailer. The ESP* makes it easier to 
stabilise if the trailer starts to snake.
Driving economically and with respect for the 
environmentGeneral notes
Fuel consumption depends largely on your personal driving 
style.Fuel economy, environmental impact and wear on the engine, brakes and 
tyres depend largely on three factors:•
Personal driving style
•
Conditions of use (weather, road surface)
•
Technical requirements
By adopting an economical driving style and anticipating the traffic situation 
ahead, you can easily reduce fuel consumption by 10-15%. This section 
suggests methods of lessening the impact on the environment and reducing 
your operating costs at the same time.
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Driving and the environment
152Think ahead when drivingA vehicle uses most fuel when accelerating. If you  think ahead when driving, 
you will need to brake less and thus accelerate less. Wherever possible, let 
the vehicle roll slowly to a stop, for instance when you can see that the next 
traffic lights are red.Regular servicingBy taking your car to an Authorised Service Centre for regular servicing you 
can establish a basis for good fuel economy  before you start driving. A well-
serviced engine give s you the benefit of improved fuel efficiency as well as 
maximum reliability and an enhanced resale value.
A badly serviced engine can consume up to 10% more fuel than necessary.
Check the  oil level every time you fill the tank  ⇒page 174. Oil consumption 
depends to a great extent on the engine load and engine speed. Depending 
on your personal driving style, oil consumption can be up to 1 litre per 1,000 
km.
Avoid short journeysThe engine and catalytic converter need to reach their proper  working 
temperature  in order to minimise fuel consumption and emissions.
Directly after a cold start, the engine uses about 50-70 litres of fuel per 
100 km. This figure then drops to 20-30 litres per 100 km after about one 
kilometre. The engine only reaches its working temperature after about  four 
kilometres, when fuel consumption will return to a normal level. You should 
therefore avoid short journeys.
The ambient temperature  has a decisive influence.
The illustration shows the different rates of fuel consumption for the same 
distance at both +20
°C and -10
°C. Your vehicle will use more fuel in winter 
than in summer.
Fig. 117  Fuel consump-
tion in litres per 100 km at 
two different ambient 
temperatures
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