
Cockpit57
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Memory displays
•
Time
•
Journey duration
•
Average speed
•
Distance
•
Distance to empty (the distance you can travel with the remaining fuel)
•
Average fuel consumption
•
Current fuel consumption
•
Ambient temperature display
Time
The time is also displayed when the ignition is switched off. The clock can be 
set with the right-hand rotating button below the rev counter “digital clock”.
min - Journey duration
The display shows the amount of time which has elapsed since the ignition 
was switched on.
The maximum display value in both me mories is 99 hours and 59 minutes. 
The memory will automatically be deleted once this value has been reached.
Ø km/h - Average speed
The average speed will be shown after a distance of approximately 100 
metres has been travelled. Dashes will appear in the display until that time. 
The display will be updated every 5 seconds whilst the vehicle is in motion.
Miles - Distance travelled
The display shows the distance travelled since the ignition was switched on.
The maximum display value in both memories is 9999 miles. The memory will 
automatically be deleted once this value has been reached.
 Miles - Fuel range
The fuel range is calculated using the fi gures for tank content and current fuel 
consumption. It shows how far the vehicle can travel using the same condi-
tions as a reference.
Ø litre/100km - Average fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption will be shown  ⇒page 56, fig. 38  after a 
distance of approximately 100 metres has been travelled. Dashes will appear 
in the display until that time. The display will be updated every 5 seconds 
whilst the vehicle is in motion. The amount of fuel used will not be shown.
ltr/100km or ltr/hr - Current fuel consumption
The display will show the current fuel consumption in litre/km whilst the 
vehicle is in motion or in litre/hour when  the vehicle is in a stationary position 
with the engine running.
Using this display you can see how your driving style affects fuel consump-
tion  ⇒page 160.
Ambient temperature display
The measurement margin extends from -45°C to +58°C. At temperatures 
lower than +4°C, an “ice crystal symbol” is displayed and a “warning” sounds 
if the vehicle is moving at more than  10 km/h (ice warning). This symbol will 
flash for about 10 seconds and remains lit until the exterior temperature rises 
above +4°C or 6°C if it was already lit.
WARNING
There could be black ice on the road surface even if the “snowflake symbol” 
is not shown. You should, for this reason, not rely exclusively on this 
display - Risk of accident!
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Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning 125
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
•
If the function is not deactivated by pressing the button, this will be deac-
tivated after about 20 min.
Economic use of the air conditioningWhen the air conditioning is switched on, the compressor consumes engine 
power and has an effect on fuel consumption. Observe the following points 
in order to have the equipment operating for a short a time as possible.
•
If the vehicle interior has overheated due to excessive solar radiation, it is 
best to open the windows or doors to allow the hot air to escape.
•
When travelling the air conditioning  should not be switched on if the 
windows or sun roof are open.*
ClimatronicControl switchesThe air conditioning system only works when  t
he engine is 
running and the b lower
  is swit ched on.
Fig. 96  On the instrument panel: Climatronic controls
IBI_ANG_0707  Seite 125  Montag, 6. August 2007  3:59 15 

Driving and the environment
160Speed
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 immediately 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 pr event the jerking that can be 
caused by the trailer wheels locking. Select 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
At very high temperatures and during prolonged ascents, driving in a low gear 
and high engine speed, always monitor the temperature indicator for the 
coolant  ⇒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 ObservationsFuel consumption, environmental pollution and wear to the engine, brakes 
and tyres depends in large part on your driving style. Fuel consumption may 
be reduced from 10 to 15 % by driving defensively and economically. Below  we will give you some suggestions to "alleviate" some of the strain in the 
environment and, at the same time, your wallet.
Anticipate the traffic situation well in advance
A vehicle uses most fuel when accele
rating. When you anticipate the situa-
tion, you will have to brake less often and, thus, accelerate less. If it is 
possible, let the vehicle roll with a  gear engaged, for example, if you see a red 
light ahead.
Change gear early to save energy
An effective way of saving fuel is to change up through the gears  quickly. 
Running the engine at high rpm in  the lower gears uses an unnecessary 
amount of fuel.
Manual gearbox:  Change from first to second gear as quickly as possible. We 
recommend that, whenever possible, you change to a higher gear upon 
reaching 2,000 rpms.
Automatic gearbox:  Accelerate slowly and avoid the “kick-down” position.
Avoid driving at high speed
We advise you not to drive at the top speed permitted by the vehicle. Fuel 
consumption, exhaust emissions and noise levels all increase very rapidly at 
higher speeds. Driving at moderate speeds will help to save fuel.
Avoid idling
It is worthwhile switching off the engine when waiting in a traffic jam, at level 
crossings or at traffic lights with a long red phase. The fuel saved after only 
30 - 40 seconds is greater than the amount of fuel needed to restart the 
engine.
The engine takes a very long time to  warm up when it is running at idling 
speed. Mechanical wear and pollutant emissions are also especially high 
during this initial warm-up phase. It is therefore best to drive off immediately 
after starting the engine . Avoid running the engine at high speed.
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Driving and the environment161
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Periodic maintenance
Periodic maintenance work guarantees 
that, before beginning a journey, you 
will not waste fuel. A well-serviced engine gives you the benefit of  improved 
fuel efficiency  as well as maximum reliability and an enhanced resale value.
A maladjusted engine may mean an increase of 10 % over normal fuel 
consumption.
Check the  oil level every time you fill the tank.  Oil consumption depends to a 
great extent on the  engine load and engine speed. It  is quite normal that the 
oil consumption of a new engine only  reaches its lowest level after a certain 
mileage. This means that the oil consumption can only be properly assessed 
after about 5,000 km. Depending on your personal driving style, oil consump-
tion can be up to 0.5 litres per 1,000 km.
Avoid short journeys
To reduce the consumption and emission of polluting gases, the engine and 
the exhaust filtration systems should reach the optimum  service tempera-
ture .
With the engine cold, fuel consumption is proportionally higher. The engine 
does not warm up and fuel consumption does not regularise until having 
driven some  four kilometres. This is the reason why we recommend avoiding 
short trips wherever possible.
Maintain the correct tyre pressures
Bear in mind that keeping  the tyres at an adequate pressure saves fuel. If the 
tyre pressures are just 1 bar too low, this can put the fuel consumption up by 
as much as 5 %. Due to the greater rolling resistance, under-inflation also 
increases  tyre wear and impairs handling.
The tyre pressures should always be checked when the tyres are  cold.
Do not use  winter tyres  all through the year: they will increase fuel consump-
tion by up to 10 %. Avoid unnecessary weight
Every kilo of 
extra weight  will put up the fuel consumption, so it is worth 
checking the luggage compartment occasionally to make sure that no unnec-
essary loads are being transported.
Save electrical energy
The engine activates the alternator, whic h produces electricity. With the need 
for electricity, fuel consumption is also increased. Because of this, always 
turn off electrical equipme nt when you do not need them. Examples of equip-
ment that use a lot of electricity are: the fan at high speeds, the rear window 
heating or the seat heaters*.
Logbook
A good way of keeping a check on  fuel consumption is to take regular notes. 
You will be able to note the variations (both positive and negative) and react 
accordingly.
 Environmental friendlinessEnvironmental protection is a top priori ty in the design, choice of materials 
and production of your new Seat.
Design measures for economical recycling•
Joints and connections designed for ease of dismantling
•
Modular construction to facilitate dismantling
•
Increased use of single-grade materials
•
Plastic parts and elastomers are labelled in accordance with ISO 1043, 
ISO 11469 and ISO 1629
Choice of materials
•
Nearly all materials used can be recycled
•
Similar types of plastics grouped together for easy recycling
IBI_ANG_0707  Seite 161  Montag, 6. August 2007  3:59 15 

Checking and refilling levels
178
− Insert the fuel nozzle into the mouth of the canister as far as 
possible.
− If the spare fuel canister is made of metal, the filling nozzle must be 
in contact with the canister during filling. This helps prevent an electro-
static charge building up.
− Never spill fuel in the vehicle or in the luggage compartment. Fuel 
vapours are explosive. Danger of death.Caution
•
Fuel spills should be removed  from the paintwork immediately.
•
Never run the tank completely dry. An  irregular fuel supply could cause 
misfiring. As a result, unburnt fuel could enter the catalytic converter and 
cause damage.For the sake of the environment
Do not try to put in more fuel after the automatic filler nozzle has switched off; 
this may cause the fuel to overflow if it becomes warm.PetrolPetrol types
The correct petrol types are listed on a sticker inside the fuel 
tank flap.Only  unleaded petrol, corresponding to the standard DIN EN 228 , may be 
used for vehicles with catalytic converters (EN = “European Norm”). Fuel types are differentiated by the 
octane rating, e.g: 91, 95, 98 RON (RON 
= “Regulation Octane Number, unit for determining the knock resistance of 
petrol”). You may use petrol with a higher octane number than the one recom-
mended for your engine. However, this  has no advantage in terms of fuel 
consumption and engine power. If, in exceptional circumstances, the correct 
octane rating is not available:
•
For engines which require  Premium unleaded petrol (95 RON)  the 
following is valid: Regula r unleaded fuel with 91 RON can also be used. This 
can, however, result in a slight loss of power under certain driving conditions.
•
For engines which require  Premium unleaded petrol (98 RON)  the 
following is valid: Premium unleaded fuel with 95 RON can also be used. This 
can, however, result in a slight loss  of power under certain driving conditions. 
– If premium unleaded petrol is not available, the engine can be run on 
regular unleaded petrol with 91 RON as  an “emergency measure”. In this 
case only use moderate engine speeds and a light throttle. Avoid using full 
throttle. Fill up with premium petrol as soon as possible.Caution
•
Petrol that follows EN 228 may be mixed with small quantities of ethanol. 
However, the so-called “bioethanol fuels” available at commercial establish-
ments with reference E50 or E85, which contain a high percentage of ethanol, 
may  not be used, as they will damage the fuel system.
•
Even one tankfull of leaded fuel would permanently impair the efficiency 
of the catalytic converter.
•
High engine speed and full throttle can damage the engine when using 
petrol with an octane rating lower than the correct grade for the engine.For the sake of the environment
Just one full tank of leaded fuel would  seriously impair the efficiency of the 
catalytic converter.
WARNING (continued)
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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
Petrol additives
Petrol additives improve the quality of the petrol.The quality of the petrol influences running behaviour, performance and 
service life of the engine. For this reason you should use good quality petrol 
containing additives. These additives will help to prevent corrosion, keep the 
fuel system clean and prevent deposits from building up in the engine.
If good quality petrol with additives is  not available or engine problems occur, 
the required additives must  be added during refuelling.DieselDiesel*Diesel fuel must correspond to DIN EN 590 (EN = “European standard”). It 
must have a cetane number (CN) of at  least 51. The cetane number indicates 
the ignition quality of the diesel fuel.
Notes on filling with fuel  ⇒page 177.RME fuel*
Only those vehicles fitted with special equipment (number PR 
2G0 for biodiesel use) may use biodiesel corresponding to 
the standard DIN EN 14214.The biodiesel fuel must comply wit h the DIN EN 14.214 (FAME) Standard.•
Biodiesel is a methylester obtained from rapeseed oil.
•
DIN is a German abbreviation for “Deutsches  Institut für  Normung e.V.”, 
the German standards institute.
•
EN means  European  Norm.
•
FAME is the English abbreviation for “ Fatty  Acid  Methyl  Ester”
If the date sticker of the vehicle in cludes the number PR 2G0 optional equip-
ment) this means that that vehicle has been prepared for biodiesel use.
Your Authorised Service Centre or automobile association will be able to 
advise on where you can obtain RME biodiesel fuel.
Your Authorised Service Centre can also be consulted to know if the vehicle 
has been prepared for biodiesel use.
Things to note about RME fuel (biodiesel)
•
The performance of a vehicle using biodiesel maybe somewhat reduced.
•
Fuel consumption of a vehicle using biodiesel may be slightly higher.
•
RME fuel can be used in winter at  temperatures down to approx. -10°C.
•
At outside temperatures below -10° C, we recommend using winter diesel 
fuel.Caution
•
RME fuel can damage the fuel system in vehicles which are not suitably 
adjusted.
•
If you decide to use biodiesel in your vehicle, please use only RME fuel 
which is DIN E 14,214 compliant.
•
If you use biodiesel that does not me et the required standard, the fuel 
filter could become clogged.Note
•
In case of low exterior temperatures and a fuel biodiesel percentage of 
higher than 50%, an increase in gas emission may occur during operation of 
the independent heating.
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Checking and refilling levels197
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Checking tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure can be seen on the sticker on the 
inside of the tank flap.1. Read the required tyre inflation pressure from the sticker. The 
values refer to Summer tyres. For Winter tyres, you must add 0.2 
bar to the values given on the sticker.
2.  The tyre pressures should only be checked when the tyres are  cold. The slightly raised pressures of warm tyres must not be 
reduced.
3.  Adjust the tyre pressure to the load you are carrying.Tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure is especially important at high speeds. The pressure 
should therefore be checked at least once a month and before starting a 
journey.
WARNING
A tyre can easily burst if the pressure is too low, causing an accident!•
At continuously high speeds, a tyre with insufficient pressure flexes 
more. In this way it becomes too hot, and this can cause tread separation 
and tyre blow-out. Always observe the recommended tyre pressures.
•
If the tyre pressure is too low or too high, the tyres will wear prema-
turely and the vehicle will not handle well. Risk of accident!For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption.
Tyre service life 
The service life of tyres is dependent on tyre pressure, driving 
style and fitting.
Fig. 134  Tyre tread wear 
indicatorsFig. 135  Changing 
wheels
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Checking and refilling levels
198Wear indicators
The original tyres on your vehicle have 1.6 mm high “tread wear indicators” 
⇒ page 197, fig. 134 , 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. D ifferent 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 197.
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 197, fig. 135. 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 tyre s. A wheel must also be rebalanced 
when a new tyre is fitted.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment causes excessiv e 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.New tyres and wheels
New tyres and wheels have to be run-in.The tyres and wheel rims are an essenti al part of the vehicle's design. The 
tyres and rims approved by SEAT are specially matched to the characteristics 
of the vehicle and make a major contribution to good road holding and safe 
handling  ⇒.
Tyres should be replaced at least in pairs and not individually (i.e. both front 
tyres or both rear tyres together). A knowledge of tyre designations makes it 
IBI_ANG_0707  Seite 198  Montag, 6. August 2007  3:59 15