Checking and refilling levels
220However, if the level goes down noticeably in a short time, or drops below the
“MIN” mark, there may be a leak in the brake system. A display on the instru-
ment panel will warn you if the brake fluid level is too low ⇒page 72.
WARNING
Before opening the bonnet to check the brake fluid level, read and observe
the warnings ⇒page 206.Changing the brake fluid
The brake fluid must be renewed every two years.We recommend that you have the brake fluid changed by an Authorised
Service Centre.
Before opening the bonnet, please read and follow the warnings ⇒ in
“Safety instructions on working in the engine compartment” on page 206 in
“Working in the engine compartment”.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture. In the cour se of time, it will absorb water from
the ambient air. If the water content in the brake fluid is too high, the brake
system could corrode. This also considerably reduces the boiling point of the
brake fluid. Heavy use of the brakes may then cause a vapour lock which
could impair the braking effect.
For this reason the brake fluid must be renewed every two years.
It is important that you use only use brake fluid compliant with the US
standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4. We recommend the use of Genuine SEAT brake
fluid.
WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous. Old brake fluid impairs the braking effect.
•
Before opening the bonnet to check the brake fluid level, read and
observe the warnings ⇒page 206.
•
Brake fluid should be stored in the closed original container in a safe
place out of reach of children. There is a toxic risk.
•
Have the brake fluid changed every two years at the latest. Heavy use
of the brakes may cause a vapour lock if the brake fluid is left in the system
for too long. This would seriously affect the efficiency of the brakes and the
safety of the vehicle. This may cause an accident.Caution
Brake fluid could damage the paintwork. Wipe off any brake fluid from the
paintwork immediately.
For the sake of the environment
Brake fluid must be drained and disposed of in the proper manner observing
environmental regulations.
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels221
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
BatteryWarnings on handling the battery
WARNING
Always be aware of the danger of injury and chemical burns as well as the
risk of accident or fire when working on the battery and the electrical
system:•
Wear eye protection. Protect your eyes , skin and clothing from acid and
particles containing lead.
•
Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. Wear protective gloves and
eye protection. Do not tilt the batteries. This could spill acid through the
vents. Rinse battery acid from eyes immediately for several minutes with
clear water. Then seek medical care immediately. Neutralize any acid
splashes on the skin or clothing with a soapy solution, and rinse off with
plenty of water. If acid is swallowed by mistake, consult a doctor immedi-
ately.
•
Fires, sparks, naked lights and smoking are prohibited. When handling
cables and electrical equipment, avoid causing sparks and electrostatic charge. Never short the battery terminals. High-energy sparks can cause
injury.
•
A highly explosive mixture of gases is released when the battery is
under charge. The batteries should be charged in a well-ventilated room
only.
•
Keep children away from acid and batteries.
•
Before working on the electrical system, you must switch off the
engine, the ignition and all consumers. The negative cable on the battery
must be disconnected. When a light bulb is changed, you need only switch
off the light.
•
Deactivate the anti-theft alarm by unlocking the vehicle before you
disconnect the battery! The alar m will otherwise be triggered.
•
When disconnecting the battery from the vehicle electrical system,
disconnect first the negative ca ble and then the positive cable.
•
Switch off all electrical consumers before reconnecting the battery.
Reconnect first the positive cable and then the negative cable. Never
reverse the polarity of the connections. This could cause an electrical fire.
•
Never charge a frozen battery, or one which has thawed. This could
result in explosions and chemical burns. Always replace a battery that has
frozen. A flat battery can freeze at temperatures around 0
°C.
•
Ensure that the vent hose is always connected to the battery.
•
Never use a defective battery. This may be fatally explosive. Replace a
damaged battery immediately.Caution
•
Never disconnect the battery if the ignition is switched on or if the engine
is running. This could damage the electrical system or electronic compo-
nents.
•
Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight over a long period of time, as
the intense ultraviolet radiation can damage the battery housing.
Wear eye protection
Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. Wear protec-
tive gloves and eye protection!
Fires, sparks, naked lights and smoking are prohibited!
A highly explosive mixture of gases is released when the
battery is under charge.
Keep children away from acid and batteries!
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels225
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Wear indicators
The original tyres on your vehicle have 1.6 mm high “tread wear indicators”
⇒
page 224, fig. 167 , running across the tread. Depending on the make,
there will be six to eight of them evenly spaced around the tyre. Markings on
the tyre sidewall (for instance the letters “TWI” or other symbols) indicate the
positions of the tread wear indicators. The minimum tread depth required by
law is 1.6 mm (measured in the tread grooves next to the tread wear indica-
tors). Worn tyres must be replaced. Different figures may apply in export
countries ⇒.
Tyre pressure
Incorrect tyre pressure causes premature wear and could cause tyre blow-out.
For this reason, the tyre pressure should be checked at least once per month
⇒ page 224.
Driving style
Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard braking all increase tyre wear.
Changing wheels around
If the front tyres are worn considerably more than the rear ones it is advisable
to change them around as shown ⇒page 224, fig. 168 . All the tyres will then
last for about the same time.
Wheel balance
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced. However, various factors encoun-
tered in normal driving can cause them to become unbalanced, which results
in steering vibration.
Unbalanced wheels should be rebalanced, as they otherwise cause excessive
wear on steering, suspension and tyres. A wheel must also be rebalanced
when a new tyre is fitted.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment causes excessive tyre wear, impairing the safety of
the vehicle. If tyres show excessive wear, you should have the wheel align-
ment checked by an Authorised Service Centre.
WARNING
There is a serious danger of accidents if a tyre bursts during driving!•
The tyres must be replaced at the latest when the tread is worn down to
the tread wear indicators. Failure to do so could result in an accident. Worn
tyres do not grip well at high speeds on wet roads. There is also a greater
risk of “aquaplaning”.
•
At continuously high speeds, a tyre with insufficient pressure flexes
more. This causes it to overheat. This can cause tread separation and tyre
blow-out. Risk of accident. Always observe the recommended tyre pres-
sures.
•
If tyres show excessive wear, you should have the running gear checked
by an Authorised Service Centre.
•
Keep chemicals such as oil, fuel and brake fluid away from tyres.
•
Damaged wheels and tyres must be replaced immediately!For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption.Puncture-proof tyres
Puncture proof tyres will usually allow the vehicle to continue
even when one of the tyres has a puncture.Vehicles that are factory-fitted with puncture proof tyres
21)
indicate
on the instrument panel when there is a loss of tyre pressure.
21)According to version and country.
AlteaXL_ingles_02_06 Seite 225 Dienstag, 1. August 2006 11:11 11
If and when231
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Compact temporary spare wheel*
The compact temporary spare wheel (spare wheel for vehicles
not fitted with anti-puncture kit) must only be used when
absoultely essential and for as short a time as possible.The temporary spare wheel is stored under the floor panel in the luggage
compartment and is attached by a thumbnut.
How to use the compact temporary spare wheel
Should you ever have a punctured tyre, the compact temporary spare wheel
is only intended for temporary use until you can reach a workshop. The
standard-size road wheel should be replaced as soon as possible.
Please note the following restrictions when using the compact temporary
spare wheel. This spare wheel has been specially designed for your vehicle,
thus, it cannot be changed with th e spare wheel from another vehicle.
No other type of tyre (normal summer or winter tyre) may be fitted on the
compact temporary spare wheel rim. Snow chains
For technical reasons, snow chains must not
be used on the compact tempo-
rary spare wheel.
If you should have a puncture on one of the front wheels when using snow
chains, fit the compact temporary spare in place of one of the rear wheels.
You can then attach the snow chains to the wheel taken from the rear and use
this wheel to replace the punctured front wheel.
WARNING
•
The tyre pressures must be checked and corrected as soon as possible.
The tyre pressure for the spare wheel is 4.2 bar. Failure to do so could result
in an accident.
•
Do not drive faster than 80 km/h. High er speeds can cause an accident.
•
Avoid heavy acceleration, hard braking and fast cornering, risk of acci-
dent.
•
Never use two or more compact spare tyres at the same time, risk of
accident.
•
No other type of tyre (normal summer or winter tyre) may be fitted on
the compact temporary spare wheel rim.
Tyre repair kit
The tyre repair kit (for vehicles not including a spare wheel) is
stored under the floor panel in the luggage compartment.Your vehicle is equipped with the Tyre Mobility System “Tyre repair kit”.
The tyre repair kit consists of a contai ner with sealing compound to repair the
puncture and a compressor to generate the required tyre pressure. The kit will
reliably seal punctures up to a size of about 4 mm caused by the penetration
of a foreign body into the tyre.
Fig. 169 Luggage
compartment. Access to
the spare wheel
AlteaXL_ingles_02_06 Seite 231 Dienstag, 1. August 2006 11:11 11
If and when247
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Position in engine compartment: side boxFuses
Some of the electrical items listed in the table are only fitted on certain
models or are optional extras.
Please note that the above list, while correct at the time of printing, is subject
to alterations.Bulb changeGeneral notesBefore changing any bulb first turn off the equipment concerned.
Do not touch the bulb glass. Fingerprints vaporise in the heat, causing a
reduction in the bulb life and condensation on the mirror surface, thus
reducing efficiency. A bulb should only be replaced by one of the same type. The type is inscribed
on the bulb, either on the glass part or on the base.
It is highly recommended to keep a box of spare bulbs in the vehicle. At the
very least, the bulbs that most affect road safety should have spares in the
vehicle.
Main headlights
Dipped beam - H7
Main beam - H1
Position - W5W
Turn signals - PY21W
Number
Electrical equipment Amperes
B1 Alternator < 140 W
150
Alternator > 140 W 200
C1 Power steering 80
D1 Multi-terminal voltage supply “30”. Internal fuse box 100
E1 Ventilator > 500 W / Ventilator < 500 W 80/50
F1 PTCs (Supplementary electrical heating using air) 100
G1 Trailer fuse voltage supply in internal fuse box 50
H1 Central locking control unit (4F8 with autolock)
AlteaXL_ingles_02_06 Seite 247 Dienstag, 1. August 2006 11:11 11
If and when
248Xenon headlamps
22)/self-adjusting
Dipped and main - D1S23)
Flasher and additional main - H1
Position W5W
Turn signals PY21W
Fog lights
Fog lights - H3
Fixed rear light
Stop/Position - P21W
24)
Turn signals - P21W
Rear tailgate light unit
Fog lamp (driver’s side) - P21W
Reversing light (passenger side) - P21W
Position - W5W
Indicator
Indicator - W5W
Registration plate light
Registration plate light - C5W
Note
•
Due to the difficulty in accessing the lamps, any replacement work should
be done by a SEAT dealer. However, the following is a description of how to
change the bulbs except for the fog lights and interior bulbs.
Main headlight lamps
Turn signals
Dipped headlights
Main beam headlights
Side lights
22)On this type of headlight, the bulb changes must be made by the SEAT dealer, given
that complex elements must be removed from the vehicle and a reset must be made
on the automatic control system incorporated.23)The Xenon bulbs discharge 2.5 times the light flux and have an average lifespan of 5
times more than that of halo gen bulbs, this means that, except due to unusual circum-
stances, there is no need to change the bulbs for the whole life of the vehicle.24)Electronically controlled single filament bulb for Stop/side bulbs. If the bulb blows it
will not work in either position or Stop position
Fig. 178 Main headlight
lamps
AAABACAD
AlteaXL_ingles_02_06 Seite 248 Dienstag, 1. August 2006 11:11 11
If and when
260
Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
– Drive slowly at first until the to w-rope is taut. Then accelerate
gradually.
– Begin and change gears cautiously. If you are driving an auto- matic vehicle, accelerate gently.
– Remember that the brake servo and power steering are not working in the vehicle you are towing. Brake earlier than you
would normally, but with a more gentle pressure on the brake.
Notes for the driver of the towed vehicle
– Ensure that the tow-rope remains taut at all times when towing.
Fitting the towing eye
– Take the towing ring from the onboard tools.
– Pull the lower front cover down and leave the cover hanging on the vehicle.
– Remove the cover of the screw hole, insert a screwdriver into the lower slot and lever gently.
– Screw the towing eye as shown by arrow anti-clockwise to the
limit position in the front ⇒page 259, fig. 198 or rear
⇒ page 259, fig. 199 threaded hole.Tow-rope or tow-bar
It is easier and safer to tow a vehicle with a tow-bar. You should only use a
tow-rope if you do not have a tow-bar.
A tow-rope should be slightly elastic to reduce the loading on both vehicles.
It is advisable to use a tow-rope made of synthetic fibre or similarly elastic
material. Attach the tow-rope or the tow-bar only to the towing eyes provided or a
towing bracket.
Driving style
Towing requires some experience, espec
ially when using a tow-rope. Both
drivers should be familiar with the te chnique required for towing. Inexperi-
enced drivers should not attempt to tow-start or tow away another vehicle.
Do not pull too hard with the towing vehicle and take care to avoid jerking the
tow-rope. When towing on an unpaved road, there is always a risk of over-
loading and damaging the anchorage points.
The ignition of the vehicle being towed must be switched on to prevent the
steering wheel from locking and also to allow the use of the turn signals,
horn, windscreen wipers and washers.
As the brake servo does not work if the engine is not running, you must apply
considerably more pressure to the brake pedal than you normally would.
As the power assisted steering does not work if the engine is not running, you
will need more strength to steer than you normally would.
Towing vehicles with an automatic gearbox
•
Put the selector lever into position “N”.
•
Do not drive faster than 50 km/h when towing a vehicle.
•
Do not tow further than 50 km.
•
If a breakdown vehicle is used, the vehicle must be towed with the front
wheels raised.Note
•
Observe legal requirements when towing or tow-starting.
•
Switch on the hazard warning lights of both vehicles. However, observe
any regulations to the contrary.
•
For technical reasons, vehicles with an automatic gearbox must not be
tow-started.
AlteaXL_ingles_02_06 Seite 260 Dienstag, 1. August 2006 11:11 11
SEAT S.A. is permanently concerned about continuous development of its types and models. For this reason we ask you to understand,
that at any given time, changes regarding shape, equipment and technique may take place on the car delivered. For this reason no
right at all may derive based on the data, drawings and descriptions in this current handbook.
All texts, illustrations and standards in this handbook are based on the status of information at the time of printing. Except for error
or omission, the information included in the current handbook is valid as of the date of closing print.
Re-printing, copying or translating, whether total or partial is not allowed unless SEAT allows it in written form.
SEAT reserves all rights in accordance with the "Copyright" Act.
All rights on changes are reserved.
❀This paper has been manufactured using bleached non-chlorine cellulose.
© SEAT S.A. - Reprint: 15.08.06
Interior Manual ALTEA 02.06 20/4/06 18:05 Página 3