2008 Seat Altea clutch

Safe driving
10Proper sitting position for occupantsProper sitting position for driver
The proper sitting position for the driver is important for safe
and relaxed driving.
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injur y in the event of an
accident, we recommend the following adjustments for the driver:
– Adjust the steering wheel so that there is a distance of at least
25 cm between the steering wheel and the centre of your chest
⇒fig. 1.
– Move the driver's seat forwards or backwards so that you are able to press the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals to the floor with
your knees still slightly angled ⇒.
– Ensure that you can reach the highest point of the steering wheel.
– Adjust the head restraint so that its upper edge is at the same level as the top of your head, or as close as possible to the same
level as the top of your head ⇒fig. 2.
– Move the backrest to an upright position so that your back rests completely against it.
Fig. 1 The proper
distance between driver
and steering wheel
Fig. 2 Proper head
restraint position for
driver
altea ingles.book Seite 10 Dienstag, 11. September 2007 4:39 16

Safe driving
16•
never travel in a foot well ,
•
never travel on a seat without wearing the seat belt,
•
never carry any person in the luggage compartment.
WARNING
•
Every incorrect sitting position increases the risk of severe injuries.
•
Sitting in an incorrect position exposes the occupants to severe injuries
if airbags deploy, striking an occupant who has assumed an incorrect
sitting position.
•
Before the vehicle moves, assume the proper sitting position and main-
tain it throughout the trip. Before every trip, instruct your passengers to
assume the proper sitting position and to maintain it during the trip
⇒ page 10, “Proper sitting position for occupants”.
Pedal areaPedals
The operation and freedom of movement of all pedals must
never be impaired by objects or floor mats.– Ensure that you can always press the accelerator, brake and
clutch pedals unimpaired to the floor.
– Ensure that the pedals can return unimpaired to their initial posi- tions.Use only floor mats which leave the pedal area free and can be securely
fastened in the foot well. If a brake circuit fails, the brake pedal must be free to move further than
normal in order to bring the vehicle to a stop.
Wear suitable shoes
Always wear shoes which support your feet properly and give you a good feel
for the pedals.
WARNING
•
Restricting pedal operation can lead
to critical situations while driving.
•
Never place objects in the driver foot well. An object could move into the
pedal area and impair pedal operation. In the event of a sudden driving or
braking manoeuvre, you will not be ab le to operate the brake, clutch or
accelerator pedal. Risk of accident!
Floor mats on the driver side
Only floor mats may be used which can be securely fastened
in the foot well and do not impair operation of the pedals.– Ensure that the floor mats are securely fastened during the trip and do not obstruct the pedals ⇒.Only use floor mats which leave the pedals clear and which are secured to
prevent them from slipping. You can obta in suitable floor mats from a quali-
fied dealership.
WARNING
•
If the pedals are obstructed, you could cause an accident. Risk of
serious injuries.
•
Ensure that the floor mats are always securely attached.
altea ingles.book Seite 16 Dienstag, 11. September 2007 4:39 16

Seats and stowage
138Luggage compartment net
There is a retaining net in the luggage compartment for
securing objects.– Use the fastening rings located on the side of the luggage
compartment to attach the retaining net ⇒fig. 107.
Note•
The folding table is designed for a maximum load of 50 kg. For heavier
loads fold up the table and remove.
•
Do not exceed the maximum authorised weight for the vehicle
⇒ page 276.
Other stowage areasOther stowage areas can be found:•
in the centre console,
•
in the door trims (front and rear),
•
in the side trims of the luggage compartment,
•
in the spare wheel recess in the luggage compartment (only on vehicles
with an optional anti-puncture kit*.
The clothes hooks are located on the rear roof handles.
WARNING
•
Do not store loose objects on the dashboard. These objects could be
flung through the passenger compartment when the vehicle is moving (e.g.
while accelerating, braking or cornerin g) and distract the driver. Risk of
accident.
•
Ensure that no objects can fall from the centre console or other stowage
areas into the driver foot well while the vehicle is moving. In the event of a
sudden braking manoeuvre, you will not be able to use the brake, clutch or
accelerator. Risk of accident.
•
Clothing hung on the coat hooks mu st not restrict the driver's view.
Risk of accident. The coat hooks are in tended only for use with light arti-
cles of clothing. Do not leave any hard, sharp or heavy objects in hanging
articles of clothing. During sudden braking manoeuvres or accidents, espe-
cially those involving airbag deployment, these objects could injure the
vehicle occupants.
Fig. 107 Retaining net
altea ingles.book Seite 138 Dienstag, 11. September 2007 4:39 16

Driving163
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Starting
The engine is started when the key is in
this position. Electrical components
with a high power consumption are switched off temporarily.
Each time that the vehicle must be started, the ignition key must be turned to
the position . The repetitive start prevention lock of the ignition prevents
possible damage to the starter motor if the engine is already running.
WARNING
•
Wait for the vehicle to come to a standstill before removing the ignition
key from the lock. The steering lock could be activated immediately - Risk
of accident!
•
Always remove the key from the ignit ion lock when leaving the vehicle,
even if you only intend to be gone for a short period. This is especially
important if you must leave children or disabled people in the vehicle, they
could accidentally start the engine or work electrical equipment such as
the windows possibly resulting in an accident.
•
Unsupervised use of the keys could result in the engine being started
or electrical systems, such as the electric windows, being used. This can
result in serious injury.Caution
The starter motor will only work when the engine is stopped (ignition key
position ).
Electronic immobiliser
The immobiliser prevents unauthorised persons from driving
the vehicle.Inside the key there is a chip that deactivates the electronic immobiliser auto-
matically when the key is inserted into the ignition.
The immobiliser will be activated again automatically as soon as you pull the
key out of the ignition lock.
The engine can only be started using a genuine SEAT key with the correct
code.
Note
The vehicle cannot be operated properly if you do not have a genuine SEAT
key.Starting and stopping the engineStarting petrol engines
The engine can only be started using a genuine SEAT key with
the correct code.– Move the gear lever to the neutral 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 position ⇒page 162 to start the engine.
A2A0
A2
altea ingles.book Seite 163 Dienstag, 11. September 2007 4:39 16

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
altea ingles.book Seite 164 Dienstag, 11. September 2007 4:39 16

Driving
166
CautionIf the engine has been driven hard for a long period, the engine could over-
heat when it is switched off. Risk of engine damage. For this reason, you
should idle the engine for approx. 2 m inutes before you switch it off.Manual gearboxDriving a car with a manual gearbox
Selecting the reverse gear
– The vehicle should be stationary with the engine idling. Press the
clutch right down.
– Place the gear lever into neutral gate and push the lever all the way down.
– Slide the gearstick to the left, and then into the reverse position shown on the gearstick.The reverse gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary. When
the engine is running, before engaging this gear wait about 6 seconds with
the clutch pressed in fully in order to protect the gearbox.
The reversing lights come on when the reverse gear is selected and the igni-
tion is on.
Fig. 136 Detail of the
centre console: gear shift
pattern of a 5-speed
manual gearbox
Fig. 137 Detail of the
centre console: gear shift
pattern of a 6-speed
manual gearbox
altea ingles.book Seite 166 Dienstag, 11. September 2007 4:39 16

Driving167
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
WARNING
•
When the engine is running, the vehicle will start to move as soon as a
gear is engaged and the clutch released.
•
Never select the reverse gear when the vehicle is in motion. Risk of acci-
dent.Note
•
Do not rest your hand on the gear le ver when driving. The pressure of your
hand could cause premature wear on the selector forks in the gearbox.
•
When changing gear, you should always depress the clutch fully to avoid
unnecessary wear and damage.
•
Do not hold the car “on the clutch” on hills. This causes premature wear
and damage to the clutch.
Automatic gearbox* / DSG automatic gearboxSelector lever positionsSelector lever positions indicated on the cover
P Parking position (lever locked).
R Reverse position.
N Neutral position (lever loc ked). This position is similar to the neutral
position for manual gearboxes).
D Drive position (economic driving programme).
S Sports driving position.
+/- Tiptronic driving position (this programme is similar to the operation of
a manual gearbox).
Fig. 138 Central console:
selector lever for auto-
matic gearbox / direct
shift gearbox DSG
altea ingles.book Seite 167 Dienstag, 11. September 2007 4:39 16

Driving177
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
When you increase speed with the accelerator and then release the pedal, the
system will automatically restore the set speed. This will not be the case,
however, if the vehicle speed is more than 10 km/h higher than the stored
speed for longer than 5 minutes. The speed will have to be stored again.
Control of the set speed is switched off if you reduce speed by depressing the
brake pedal. You can reactivate the control by pressing once on the upper part
of the rocker switch
RES/+ ⇒ page 176, fig. 147 .
WARNING
It is dangerous to use a set speed wh ich is too high for the current road,
traffic or weather conditions. Risk of accident.Switching off system temporarily*The cruise control system will be switched off in the following situations:•
if the brake pedal is depressed,
•
if the clutch pedal is depressed,
•
if the vehicle is accelerated to over 180 km/h,
•
when the lever is moved to the position “CANCEL” without reaching
the “OFF” position. Once the “CANCEL” operation is completed, the lever is
released and returns to its initial position.
To resume the cruise control, release the brake or clutch pedal or reduce the
vehicle speed to less than 180 km/h and press once on the upper part of the
rocker switch RES/+ ⇒ fig. 148 .
WARNING
It is dangerous to use a set speed whic h is too high for the current road,
traffic or weather conditions. Risk of accident.Turning off the cruise control system*
AA
Fig. 148 Turn signal and
main beam headlight
lever switch and rocker
switch for the cruise
control
AB
AA
Fig. 149 Turn signal and
main beam headlight
lever switch and rocker
switch for the cruise
control
altea ingles.book Seite 177 Dienstag, 11. September 2007 4:39 16