Checking and refilling levels171
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
For the sake of the environment
Service fluids leaks are harmful to the environment. For this reason you
should make regular checks on the ground underneath your vehicle. If you
find spots of oil or other fluids, have your vehicle inspected in a qualified
workshop.Opening the bonnet
The bonnet is released from inside the vehicle.Before opening the bonnet ensure that the windscreen wipers are in
rest position.
– To release the bonnet, pull the lever under the dashboard ⇒fig. 118 in the direction indicated (arrow). The bonnet will be
released by a spring action ⇒. – Lift the bonnet using the rele
ase lever (arrow) and open the
bonnet.
– Release the bonnet stay and secure it in fixture designed for this in the bonnet.
WARNING
Hot coolant can scald!•
Never open the bonnet if you see steam, smoke or coolant escaping
from the engine compartment.
•
Wait until no more steam, smoke or coolant is emitted from the bonnet,
then carefully open the bonnet.
•
When working in the engine compartm ent, always observe the safety
warnings ⇒page 169
Closing the bonnet– Raise the bonnet slightly
– Release the bonnet stay and replace it in its support.
– At a height of about 30 cm let it fall so it is locked.If the bonnet does not close, do not pr ess downwards. Open it once more and
let it fall as before.
WARNING
If the bonnet is not closed properly, it could open while you are driving and
completely obscure your view of the road. Risk of accident.
Fig. 118 Detail of the
footwell: The release lever
for the bonnet is located
in the driver side footwell.
Arrester hook for bonnet
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Checking and refilling levels179
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Washer fluid and windscreen wiper bladesTopping up washer fluid
The water for cleaning the windscreen should always be
mixed with washer fluid.The windscreen washer and the headlight washing system are supplied with
fluid from the windscreen washer fluid container in the engine compartment.
The container holds approx. 2 litres; in vehicles with headlamp washers* it
holds approx. 4.5 litres.
The reservoir is located on the right-hand side of the engine compartment.
Plain water is not enough to clean the windscreen and headlights. We recom-
mend that you always add a product to the windscreen washer fluid.
Approved windscreen cleaning products exist on the market with high deter-
gent and anti-freeze properties, these may be added all-year-round. Please
follow the dilution instructions on the packaging.
WARNING
Any work carried out in the engine compartment or on the engine must be
carried out cautiously.•
When working in the engine compartm ent, always observe the safety
warnings ⇒page 169Caution
•
Never put radiator anti-freeze or other additives into the windscreen
washer fluid.
•
Always use approved windscreen cleansing products diluted as per
instructions. If you use other washer fl uids or soap solutions, the tiny aper-
tures in the fan-shaped nozzles could become blocked.
Fig. 123 In the engine
compartment: Cap of
windscreen washer fluid
reservoir.
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Checking and refilling levels
182Brake fluidChecking the brake fluid level
The brake fluid is checked at the intervals given in the service
schedule.– Read off the fluid level at the transparent brake fluid reservoir. It
should always be between the “MIN” and “MAX” marks.The position of the coolant expansion tank is shown in the corresponding
engine compartment diagram ⇒page 224. The brake fluid reservoir has a
black and yellow cap.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the vehicle is being used as the
brake pads are automatically adjusted as they wear. However, if the level goes down noticeab
ly 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 60.
WARNING
Before opening the bonnet to check the brake fluid level, read and observe
the warnings ⇒page 169.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 169 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 consider ably 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 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.
Fig. 126 In the engine
compartment: Brake fluid
reservoir cover
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Checking and refilling levels
184charge. Never short the battery terminals. High-energy sparks can cause
injury.•
A highly explosive mixture of gases is given off 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 minus 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 alarm will otherwise be triggered.
•
When disconnecting the battery from the vehicle electrical system,
disconnect first the negative cable 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 which
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.
•
If the vehicle is left standing in cold conditions for a long period, protect
the battery from frost. If it “freezes” it will be damaged.
Checking the electrolyte level
The electrolyte level should be checked regularly in high-
mileage vehicles, in hot countries and in older batteries.– Open the bonnet and open the battery cover at the front ⇒ in
“Safety instructions on working in the engine compartment” on
page 169 ⇒ in “Warnings on handling the battery” on
page 183.
– Check the colour display in the magic eye on the top of the battery.
– If there are air bubbles in the window, tap the window gently until they disperse.The position of the battery is show n in the corresponding engine compart-
ment diagram ⇒page 224.
The round window (“magic eye”) on the top of the battery changes colour,
depending on the charge level and electrolyte level of the battery.
If the colour in the window is colourless or bright yellow, the electrolyte level
of the battery is too low. Have the battery checked by a qualified workshop.
The colours green and black are used by the workshops for diagnostic
purposes.
WARNING (continued)
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Index
246CCar care
Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Car care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Car phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Car washes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Automatic speed dependent locking and un-locking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Emergency unlocking system . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Locking system for invo luntary unlocking . . 72
Selective unlocking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Unlocking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Central locking button Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Cetane number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Change lamps dipped headlight lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Changing gear See Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Changing lamps interior light and reading light . . . . . . . . . . 213
changing lamps rearlights on frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
rearlights on tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Changing the lamps glovebox light* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 main beam lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Main headlight lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
number plate light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
side beam lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Side indicator lights . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Changing windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . . . . 180
Chassis number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Checking battery electrolyte level . . . . . . . . . . 184
Checking engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Categorisation in groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Group 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Group 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Group 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Groups 0 and 0+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
ISOFIX system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Child seats on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Cigarette lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Cleaning alloy wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Cleaning and caring for your vehicle . . . . . . . . 153
Cleaning chrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Cleaning cloth seat covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Cleaning dash panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Cleaning engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Cleaning fabric trim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 Cleaning leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Cleaning plastic parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Cleaning seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Cleaning steel wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Cleaning windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Cleaning wooden trim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Climatronic
automatic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
manual mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Control Light switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Control lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Control lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Controls Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Convenience closing Sliding/tilting roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Convenience opening Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Coolant Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Coolant level warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Coolant Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
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Index247
Coolant temperature
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Correct adjustment of front head restraints . . . . 12
Cruise control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Curtain airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39DDanger of fitting a child seat on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Diesel engine Winter driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Differential lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Differential lock fault (EDL) warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Digital clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Dipped headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Disabling front passenger airbag Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Disabling the airbag Disabling front passenger airbag . . . . . . . . . 41
Displays in the Multi-function display Memory displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Door lock cylinders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Door release lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Doors
Childproof locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Drive wheels traction control system . . . . . . . . 140
Driving Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
With a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
with a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Driving economically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Driving safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Driving with respect for the environment . . . . . 151
Duplicate keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Dust filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Dynamic headlight range control . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
EEDL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
EDS Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Electrical sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Electrohydraulic steering warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Electronic differential lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Electronic immobiliser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66, 125
Electronic stabilisation program . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Electronic stabilisation programme . . . . . . . . . . 66 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Electronic stabilisation programme (ESP)
warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Emission control system warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Engine Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Engine compartment Working in the engine compartment . . . . . 169
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Engine fault Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Engine management Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Checking level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Oil properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Topping up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Engine oil dipstick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Engine oil pressure Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Environmental tip Avoiding pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
ESP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66, 141
Exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
External aerial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
FFastening rings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 110
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