2008 Seat Altea tow

Seats and stowage147
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
The warning triangle* is located in a stowage box under the luggage compart-
ment cover
⇒page 146, fig. 122. To open this storage compartment, turn the
knob 90° fig. ⇒page 146, fig. 123 .
Note
•
The warning triangle is not part of the vehicle's standard equipment.
First-aid kit and fire extinguisherThe first-aid kit* is located in a stowage box on the left side of the luggage
compartment.
The fire extinguisher* is attached to the luggage compartment carpet by
velcro.
Note
•
The first-aid kit and the fire extinguisher are not part of the vehicle's
standard equipment.
•
The first aid kit must comply with legal requirements.
•
Observe the expiry date of the contents of the first aid kit. You should
purchase a new first-aid kit as soon as possible after the shelf-life date of the
first-aid kit has expired.
•
The fire extinguisher must comply with legal requirements.
•
Ensure that the fire extinguisher is fu lly functional. The fire extinguisher
should, therefore, be checked regularly. The sticker on the fire extinguisher
will inform you of the next date for checking.
•
Before acquiring accessories and emergency equipment see the instruc-
tions in “Accessories and spares” ⇒page 207.
Luggage compartmentStowing luggage
All luggage must be securely stowed.Please observe the following points to ensure the vehicle handles
well at all times:
– Distribute the load as evenly as possible.
– Place heavy objects as far forward in the luggage compartment
as possible.
– Secure luggage in the luggage compartment with suitable straps on the fastening rings.
WARNING
•
Loose luggage and other loose items in the vehicle can cause serious
injuries.
•
Loose objects in the luggage compartment can suddenly move and
change the way the vehicle handles.
•
During sudden manoeuvres or ac cidents, loose objects in the
passenger compartment can be flung forward, injuring vehicle occupants.
•
Always store objects in the luggage compartment and secure with suit-
able straps. This is especially important for heavy objects.
•
When you transport heavy objects, always keep in mind that a change
in the centre of gravity can also cause changes in vehicle handling.
•
Please observe information on safe driving ⇒page 7, “Safe driving”.
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Seats and stowage
148
CautionHard objects on the shelf could chafe against the wires of the heating
element in the rear window and cause damage.
Note
The ventilation slots in front of the rear side windows must not be covered as
this would prevent stale air being extracted from the vehicle.Rear shelf
Removing the cover
– Disengage the loops ⇒fig. 124 from the retaining pins .
– Extract the cover from its slot, in its rest position and pull outwards. The storage compartment should remain closed.
To remove the storage compartment
– Open the storage compartment by turning the knob 90° ⇒page 146, fig. 123 .
– Pull outwards until the compartmen t is freed from the pivot point
⇒ fig. 125.
WARNING
Do not place heavy or hard objects on the luggage compartment cover, this
will endanger the vehicle occupants in case of sudden braking.
Fig. 124 Luggage
compartment cover
Fig. 125 Removing
storage shelf
AB
AA
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Seats and stowage149
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Caution
•
Before closing the tailgate, ensure that the stowage compartment tray is
correctly fitted.
•
An overloaded boot could mean that the rear stowage tray is not correctly
seated and it may be bent or damaged.
•
If the boot is overloaded, remove the tray.Note
•
Ensure that, when placing items of clothing on the luggage compartment
cover, rear visibility is not reduced.
•
Only the warning triangle* and other lightweight objects should be stored
in the storage compartment.
Roof carrier*Please observe the following points if you intend to carry loads on the roof:•
For safety reasons, only luggage racks and accessories approved by SEAT
should be used.
•
It is imperative to precisely follow the fitting instructions included for the
rack, taking special care when fitting the front bar in the holes designed for
this and the rear bar between the marks on the upper part of the rear door
frame while respecting the correct direction of travel indicated in the installa-
tion manual. Not following these instructions may lead to paintwork damage
or marks on the bodywork.
•
Pay special attention to the tightening torque of the attachment bolts and
check them following a short journey. If necessary, retighten the bolts and
check them at regular intervals.
•
Distribute the load evenly. A maximum load of 40 kg only is permitted for
each roof carrier system support bar, the load must be distributed evenly over the entire length. However, the maximum load permitted for the entire roof
(including the support system) of 75 kg must not be exceeded nor should the
total weight of the vehicle be exceeded. See the chapter on “Technical Data”.
•
When transporting heavy or large objects on the roof, any change in the
normal vehicle behaviour due to a change in the centre of gravity or an
increased wind resistance must be taken into account. For this reason, a suit-
able speed and driving style must be used.
•
For those vehicles fitted with a sunroof*, ensure that it does not interfere
with the load on the roof carrier system when opened.
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Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning 151
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
With low temperatures outside, the air recirculation increases the effective-
ness of the heating system by heating the air inside the passenger compart-
ment rather than the air from outside.
Air distribution
Control for setting the flow of air in the required direction.
 – Air distribution towards the windsc
reen. Air recirculation is, for safety
reasons, not possible in this position. – Air distribution to the upper body. – Air distribution to footwell – Air distribution to the windscreen and the foot well.
Blower
The air flow can be set at four speeds with the control . The air flow should
always be set at the lowest speed when driving slowly.
WARNING
•
For road safety all windows must be clear of ice, snow, and condensa-
tion. This is essential to ensure good visibility. Please familiarise yourself
with the correct operation of the heat ing and ventilation system, including
the anti-fog/defrost functions for the windscreens.
•
In air recirculation mode, no ambient air enters the vehicle interior. The
windows can quickly fog over if the heating is switched off. Therefore, you
should never leave the air recirculat ion mode switched on for longer
periods, as this increases the risk of an accident.Note
Please observe the general notes ⇒page 159.
A4
A5
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Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning 153
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Note
Please observe the general notes ⇒page 159.Heating and cooling the interiorHeating of the vehicle interior
– Turn the temperature selector ⇒fig. 128 clockwise to select
the required temperature.
– Turn the blower switch to one of the settings 1-4.
– Set the air distribution control to the air flow configuration desired: (towards the windsc reen), (towards the chest),
(towards the foot rest) and (towards the windscreen and
foot rest areas). Cooling the passenger compartment
– Switch on the air conditioning using the button
⇒page 152,
fig. 127 .
– Turn the temperature selector anti-clockwise until the desired cooling output is reached.
– Turn the blower switch to one of the settings 1-4.
Fig. 128 On the dash panel: Climatic controls
A1




AC
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Driving161
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
•
Adjust the driver seat or steering wheel so that there is a distance of at
least 25 cm between the steering wheel and your breast bone ⇒page 160,
fig. 133 . If you fail to observe the minimum distance, the airbag will not
protect you. Risk of fatal injury.
•
If your physical constitution prevents you from maintaining the
minimum distance of 25 cm, contact an Authorised Service Centre. The
Authorised Service Centre will help you decide if special specific modifica-
tions are necessary.
•
If you adjust the steering wheel so th at it points towards your face, the
driver airbag will not protect you prop erly in the event of an accident. Make
sure that the steering wheel points towards your chest.
•
When driving, always hold the steering wheel with both hands on the
outside of the ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. Never hold the
steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position, or in any other manner (e.g. in
the centre of the steering wheel, or on the inside of the rim). In such cases,
you could receive severe injuries to the arms, hands and head.
SafetyElectronic stabilisation programme (ESP)*
ESP helps make driving safer in certain situations.The Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP ) contains the electronic differential
lock (EDL) and the traction control system (TCS). The ESP function works in
conjunction with the ABS. Both warning la mps will light up if the ESP or ABS
systems are faulty.
The ESP is started automatically when the engine is started.
In specific circumstances where you requ ire less traction, you can switch off
the ESP by pressing button ⇒fig. 134 .
For example:•
When driving with snow chains,
•
when driving in deep snow or on loose surfaces,
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 134 Detail of the
centre console: ESP
button

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Driving
162•
when rocking the vehicle backwards and forwards to free it from mud, for
example.
You should press the button to switch the ESP back on when you no longer
need wheel spin.
The TCS and EDL are also switched off if the ESP is switched off. That is to say,
these systems are not available while ESP is not activated.
When does the button light up or flash?
•
It lights up when the ignition is switched on and should go out again after
about 2 seconds.
•
It will start flashing to indicate that ESP is counteracting an unstable
driving condition.
•
It will light up continuously if there is a malfunction in the ESP.
•
It will light up continuously if the ESP is switched off.
WARNING
•
The electronic stabilisation programme (ESP) cannot defy the laws of
physics. This should be kept in mind, particularly on slippery and wet
roads and when towing a trailer.
•
Always adapt your driving style to suit the condition of the roads and
the traffic situation. Do not let the extra safety afforded by ESP tempt you
into taking any risks when driv ing, this can cause accidents.
•
Please refer to the corresponding warning notes on ESP in ⇒page 179,
“Intelligent technology”.
Ignition lockPosition of the ignition keyIgnition switched off, steering lock
In the position ⇒fig. 135 the ignition and the engine are OFF and the
steering may be locked.
For the Steering lock to operate without the ignition key, turn the steering
wheel until it locks with an audible sound. You should always lock the
steering wheel when you leave your vehicle. This will help prevent theft of the
vehicle ⇒.
Switching on the ignition or glow plug system
Turn the ignition key to this position an d let go of the key. If the key cannot be
turned or is difficult to turn from position to position , move the
steering wheel (to take the load off the steering lock mechanism) until the key
turns freely.

Fig. 135 Ignition key
positions
A0
A1
A0
A12
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Driving
164
– Let go of the ignition key as soon as the engine starts; the starter motor must not be allowed to run on with the engine.After starting a very hot engine, you may need to press the accelerator briefly.
When starting from cold, the engine ma y be a little noisy for the first few
seconds until oil pressure has built up in the hydraulic valve compensators.
This is quite normal, and no cause for concern.
If the engine does not start immediately, switch off the starter after about
10 seconds and try again after about half a minute. If the engine still does not
start, the fuel pump fuse should be checked ⇒page 247, “Fuses”.
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 263, “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.Starting diesel 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 the starting position.
– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒page 162, fig. 135 . The
indication lamp

will light for engine pre-heating.
– When the warning lamp goes out, turn the key to position to start the engine. Do not press the accelerator.
– Let go of the ignition key as soon as the engine starts, the starter motor must not be allowed to run on with the engine.
When starting from cold, the engine may be a little noisy for the first few
seconds until oil pressure has built up in the hydraulic valve compensators.
This is quite normal, and no cause for concern.
If there are problems starting the engine, see ⇒page 263.
A1A2
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