2006 Seat Altea Owner's Manual

Lights and visibility111
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Lights and visibilityLightsSwitch ing ligh ts on and off


Switching on the side lights
– Turn the light switch ⇒ fig. 74 to position

.
Switching on dipped headlights
– Turn the light switch to position

.
Switching off the lights
– Turn the light switch to position 0. Switching on the fog lights*
– Pull the switch out of position

or

to the first stop. The
symbol
 in the light switch lights up.
Switching on the rear fog lights (vehicles with front fog lights)
– Pull the switch out of position

or

to the second stop
⇒ . A warning lamp lights up in the control panel.
Switching on the rear fog lights (vehicles with no front fog lights)
– Pull the switch out of position

to the last stop. A warning lamp
lights up in the instrument panel.
WARNING
Never drive with just the side lights on . Risk of accident. The side lights are
not bright enough to illuminate the road ahead and to ensure that other
road users are able to see you. Always use your dipped headlights if it is
dark or if visibility is poor.
Note
•
The dipped beam headlights will only work with the ignition on. The side
lights come on automatically when the ignition is turned off.
•
If the lights are left on after the key has been taken out of the ignition lock,
a buzzer sounds when the driver door is opened. This is a reminder to switch
off the lights.
Fig. 74 Detail of the dash
panel: Switch for lights,
fog lights and rear fog
light
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Lights and visibility
112•
If the coming home* feature is activated, the acoustic signal for the
dipped beam headlights will not sound, it will sound if the position lights are
activated.
•
The rear fog light is so bright that it can dazzle drivers behind you. You
should use the rear fog light only when visibility is very poor.
•
If you are towing a trailer equipped with a rear fog light on a vehicle with
a factory-fitted towing bracket, the rear fog light on the car will automatically
be switched off.
•
The use of the lighting described here is subject to the relevant statutory
requirements.
Automatic lightingActivation
– Rotate the switch to the position “Auto”, this indication will light up.
When the switch is in this position, as soon as visibility conditions are
reduced, the lights are automaticall y activated. The indication “Auto”,
changes to red.
Automatic lighting
If the automatic headlight control is switched on, dipped headlights are auto-
matically switched on by a light-sensitive sensor if you drive into a tunnel, for
example.
The rain function switches on the headlights if the continuous wipe function
is switched on for longer than 5 seconds. The dipped beam headlights are
switched off if the continuous wipe or the intermittent wipe functions are
swit ched off for longer than 255 seconds.
WARNING
•
If automatic headlight control is switched on, the headlights will not be
switched on in fog or heavy rain. Therefore, the dipped beam must be
switched on.Note
•
For those vehicles with the automatic headlight system, when the key is
removed from the ignition, the acoustic signal will only sound if the light
control is in the position
 or  if the vehicle is not fitted with the coming
home function.
•
If the daylight driving automatic light function is switched on, the fog
lights or rear fog light cannot be switched on in addition.
•
The use of the lighting described here is subject to the relevant statutory
requirements.
•
Do not put stickers on the windscreen in front of the sensor. This may
cause disruptions or faults in the automatic lighting system.
Fig. 75 Automatic
lighting
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Lights and visibility113
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Coming home / leaving home function*
After dark the area around the car is lit up with the aid of the
coming home / leaving home function.Coming home function*
To activate the function
– Put the light switch into the position

or in the “Auto” position
for those vehicles fitted with the automatic lighting function.
– Remove key from ignition switch.
To deactivate the function
– Turn light switch to position 0
When the system is activated and it is dark, the coming home function will
illuminate the vehicle and its surroundings by switching on the dipped head-
lights, rear lights and nu mber plate lights when the driver's door is opened.
While one of the doors or the tailgate are open, the dipped headlights, the
rear lights and the registration plate lighting remain on for about 90 seconds.
If, before this time is up, all of the doors and the tailgate are closed, another
40 seconds of lighting is given. However, if all of the doors and the tailgate
are closed after the 90 seconds have passed, the system will be deactivated
and the lights will not come on.
If you wish to reactivate the system, you must start from the beginning.
The lighting time is defined at the time of manufacture.
Leaving home function*
The function is activated when the vehicle is unlocked using the remote
control. In the dark, the leaving home function will light the dipped beam
lights, the rear lights and the registration plate lighting for about 40 seconds.
Note
•
If the vehicle is used often during the night for short trips using the
coming home function, this will place a heavy demand on the battery. To
avoid this, make longer journeys whenever possible.
•
Observe all relevant statutory requirements when using the lighting
systems described here.
•
For those vehicles fitted with the “Dot Matrix” display, the delay in turning
off the headlights (about 40 seconds) can be adjusted using the “Configura-
tion, lights and visibility” menu.
Instrument and switch lighting / Headlight range controlInstrument and switch lighting
When the headlights are switched on, the brightness of the instruments and
switch lighting can be regulated to su it your requirements by turning the
thumb wheel ⇒fig. 76 .
Fig. 76 Detail of the dash
panel: Regulation for
instrument and switch
illumination and head-
light range control
A1
A1
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Lights and visibility
114Those vehicles fitted with xenon gas discharge headlights are fitted with an
automatic headlight range system.
Headlight range control
Using the electrical headlight range control, you can adjust the headlight
range to the load level that is being carried in the vehicle. In this way it is
possible to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic more than necessary. At the same
time, the driver has the best possible lighting for the road ahead using the
correct headlight settings.
The headlights can only be adjusted when the dipped beam is switched on.
To lower the beam, turn the thumb wh eel down from the basic setting 0.Hazard warning lights


The hazard warning lights are used to draw the attention of
other road users to your vehicle in emergencies.
If your vehicle breaks down: 1. Park your vehicle at a safe distance from moving traffic.
2. Press the button to switch on the hazard warning lights ⇒
.
3. Switch the engine off.
4. Apply the handbrake.
5. On a manual gearbox engage 1st gear, and for an automatic move the selector lever to P.
6. Use the warning triangle to draw the attention of other road users
to your vehicle.
7. Always take the vehicle key with you when you leave the vehicle.
You should switch on the hazard warning lights to warn other road users, for
instance:•
When reaching the tail end of a traffic jam
•
There is an emergency
•
Your vehicle breaks down due to a technical defect
•
You are towing another vehicle or your vehicle is being towed.
All turn signals flash simultaneously when the hazard warning lights are
switched on. That is that the two turn signal indicator lamps
  and the
indicator lamp in the switch
 will flash at the same time. The hazard
warning lights also work when the ignition is switched off.
WARNING
•
The risk of an accident increases if your vehicle breaks down. Always
using the hazard warning lights and a warning triangle to draw the atten-
tion of other road users to your stationary vehicle.
A2
A2A2
Fig. 77 Detail of the dash
panel: Hazard warning
light switch
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Lights and visibility115
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
•
Never park where the catalytic converter could come into contact with
inflammable materials under the vehicle, for example dry grass or spilt
petrol. This could start a fire!Note
•
The battery will run down if the hazard warning lights are left on for a long
time, even if the ignition is switched off.
•
The use of the hazard warning lights d escribed here is subject to the rele-
vant statutory requirements.
Turn signal and main beam headlight lever
The turn signal and main beam lever also operates the
parking lights and the headlight flasher.
The turn signal and main beam headlight lever has the following
functions:
Switching on the turn signals
– Move the lever all the way up ⇒fig. 78 to indicate right, and
all the way down to indicate left.
Signalling a lane change
– Push the lever up or down to the point where you incur resistance and then release the lever. The turn signal will flash
three times. The corresponding warning lamp will also flash.
Switching main beam on and off
– Turn the light switch to position

.
– Press the lever forward ⇒fig. 78 to switch on the main
beams.
– Pull the lever back towards you to switch the main beam head- lights off again.
Headlight flasher
– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel to operate the flasher.
Switching on parking lights
– Switch off the ignition and remove the key from the lock.
– Move the lever up or down to turn on the right or left-hand parking lights respectively.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 78 Turn signal and
main beam headlight
lever
A1
A2A1
A2A3
A4
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Lights and visibility
116
WARNING
The main beam can dazzle other drivers. Risk of accident! Never use the
main beam headlights or the headlight flasher if they could dazzle other
drivers.
Note
•
The turn signals only work when the ignition is switched on. The corre-
sponding warning lamp
 or  flashes in the combi-instrument. The
warning lamp
 flashes when the turn signals are operated, provided a
trailer is correctly attached and connected to the vehicle. If a turn signal bulb
is defective, the warning lamp flashes at double speed. If the trailer turn
signal bulbs are damaged, warning lamp
 does not light up. You should
have the bulb replaced.
•
The main beam headlights can only be switched on if the dipped beam
headlights are already on. The warning lamp
 then comes on in the combi-
instrument.
•
The headlight flasher comes on for as long as you pull the lever – even if
no other lights are switched on. The warning lamp
 then comes on in the
combi-instrument.
•
When the parking lights are switched on, the headlight and the rear light
on the corresponding side of the vehicle light up. The parking lights will only
work if the key is removed from the ignition. If the lights are switched on, a
buzzer gives an audible warning while the driver door is open.
•
If the turn signal lever is left on after the key has been taken out of the
ignition lock, an acoustic signal sounds when the driver door is opened. This
is a reminder to switch off the turn signal, unless of course you wish to leave
the parking light on.
Interior lightsInterior front light, type 1 The switch ⇒ fig. 79 is used to select the following positions:
Courtesy light position

Rocker switch in flat position (not activated). The interior lights are automat-
ically switched on when the vehicle is unlocked or the key removed from the
ignition lock. and turn off about 20 seconds after the closure of the doors. The
interior lights are switched off when the vehicle is locked or when the ignition
is switched on.
Interior light switched on

Turn the knob to the po sition
.
Interior light switched off O
Turn the knob to the position O ⇒fig. 79 .
Fig. 79 Detail of the roof:
Front reading light
AA
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Lights and visibility117
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Note
If not all the vehicle doors are closed, the interior lights will be switched off
after approx. 10 minutes, providing the key has been removed and the cour-
tesy light position selected. This prevents the battery discharging.Interior front light, type 2 The switch ⇒fig. 80 is used to select the following positions:
Courtesy light position

Rocker switch in flat position (not ac tivated). The interior lights are automat-
ically switched on when the vehicle is unlocked or the key removed from the
ignition lock. and turn off about 20 secon ds after the closure of the doors. The
interior lights are switched off when the vehicle is locked or when the ignition
is switched on. Interior light switched on

Turn the knob to the position
.
Interior light sw
itched off O
Turn the knob to the position O ⇒ fig. 80.
Note
If not all the vehicle doors are closed, th e interior lights will be switched off
after approx. 10 minutes, providing the key has been removed and the cour-
tesy light position selected. This prevents the battery discharging.
Fig. 80 Detail of the roof:
Front reading light
AA
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Lights and visibility
118Front reading lights Switching on the reading light

Press the corresponding button ⇒ fig. 81 and ⇒ fig. 82 to switch on
the reading light. Switching off the reading lights

Press the corresponding button to switch off the reading light.Rear interior and reading lights* The switch ⇒
fig. 83 is used to select the following positions:
Interior light switched off 0
In switch position ⇒fig. 83 , the interior and reading lights are switched
off.
Switching on the reading light

Turn the switch to position (left re ading light) or to position (right
reading light).
Courtesy light position

Turn the control to position . The interior lights are automatically switched
on when the vehicle is unlocked or the key removed from the ignition lock.
Fig. 81 Detail of the roof:
Front reading light type 1Fig. 82 Detail of the roof:
Front reading light type 2
AB
AB
Fig. 83 Detail of the roof:
Rear interior light and
reading lights
AC
A1A2
A4
A3
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