
Seats and stowage145
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
only be loaded to the maximum weight
permitted indicated in the assembly
instructions.
WARNING
•
Loads carried on the roof must be securely attached. Failure to do so
could result in an accident.
•
Do not exceed the maximum roof load for the vehicle, the maximum
axle loads or the maximum gross vehi cle weight. Failure to do so could
result in an accident.
•
When transporting heavy or bulky lo ads on the roof, bear in mind that
the car's handling is affected by the extra weight on the roof and a possible
susceptibility to cross winds. Adjust your speed and driving style accord-
ingly to avoid accidents.For the sake of the environment
Roof carriers are often left attached for convenience, even when they are not
being used. However, the increased air resistance means that the vehicle
uses more fuel. For this reason you should always take off the roof carrier
when it is not in use.
Drink holdersFront drink holders
– To open the drink holder, press the symbol
on the drink holder
lid ⇒fig. 123
– To close the drink holder, press it in until it engages.
WARNING
•
Do not put any hot drinks in the drink holder while the vehicle is
moving. You can be scalded if the hot liquid is spilt.
•
Do not use hard china cups or glasses. These could cause injury in the
event of an accident.
Fig. 123 Detailed view of
instrument panel: Drink
holders
Exeo_EN.book Seite 145 Freitag, 17. Oktober 2008 11:24 11

Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning
156Defrosting
The windscreen and side windows are defrosted or demisted
as quickly as possible.– To enable this mode, press the ⇒page 154, fig. 133 button.
– To disable, press the button again or select the button.The temperature is regulated automatically. The air output is increased to
maximum and most of the air comes out of outlets 1 and 2 ⇒page 159.
The air recirculation and ECON modes ar e switched off when the button is
pressed.Air recirculation: manual enabling
The air recirculation setting prevents fumes etc. from entering
the interior.Enabling air recirculation mode
– Press the ⇒page 154, fig. 133 ⇒ button.
Disabling air recirculation mode
– Press the button again or
– Press the button or
– Press the button.In this setting, the air in the vehicle is constantly recirculated. We recommend
using the air recirculation mode in the following circumstances:
•
When driving through a tunnel or in queues of traffic, to prevent fumes
entering the interior of the vehicle.
WARNING
Do not drive for too long with the ai r recirculation mode enabled because,
if the compressor is disconnected, the windscreen may mist up because no
fresh air is entering the interior of the vehicle, with the subsequent risk of
accidents.ECON Mode (economy)
ECON mode helps save fuel.– To enable, press the button ⇒page 154, fig. 133 .
– To disable, press the button again or select the button.Air cooling is disconnected in ECON mode. The heating and the blower are
adjusted automatically. “ECON” stan ds for “Economy”. Disconnecting air
cooling (compressor) saves on fuel.
Please note that the interior temperature must not be lower than the outside
temperature in ECON mode. The blower does not cool or dehumidify the air in
the interior. The windows could therefore mist up.
On diesel vehicles, the supplementary heater is switched off in ECON mode
to save fuel.
Note
If the diode on the ECON button contin ues to light up when the ECON mode
has been switched off (i.e. the climate control has been switched on) this is
AUTO
AUTO
ECONECONECON
AUTO
Exeo_EN.book Seite 156 Freitag, 17. Oktober 2008 11:24 11

Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning
160Each of the three buttons has a specific function. The numbers relate to the
air outlets ⇒ page 159, fig. 135.
Air directed to windows
This setting directs all the air to outlets 1 and 2. Unlike in setting , the
volume of air delivery remains the same.
Air to the driver/front passenger
All the air comes from outlets 3 and 4 in the dash panel and from the rear of
the centre console.
Air to the footwells
Most of the air emerges from outlets 5 and the outlets under the front seats.
Some of the air will also be issued from outlets 3 and 4.
Note
In all of the above air distribution settings, a small amount of air will still
come from the other outlets.Economical use of the climate control
Economical use of the climate control will help save fuel.Engine power is reduced and fuel consumption increases when the
climate control is in cooling mode. To ensure that the system is only
switched on when it is really necessary, please note the following
points:
– Select ECON mode if you wish to save fuel.
– Select ECON mode if you decide to open the windows or sun roof* while driving. – If the vehicle has heated up after standing in the sun, open the
windows and doors for a short time to cool the vehicle.
For the sake of the environment
By saving fuel you also reduce the am ount of pollutants emitted from your
vehicle.Key settings
When the ignition is switched on, the climate control settings
assigned to the key are selected automatically.The climate control settings selected are automatically stored and assigned
to the key in use. When the vehicle is started, the climate control automati-
cally selects the settings assigned to the key. Hence, every driver automati-
cally obtains his/her preferred settings without having to select them manu-
ally.
Note
Should another driver use the key and enter other settings, the previous
settings will be deleted.
Exeo_EN.book Seite 160 Freitag, 17. Oktober 2008 11:24 11

Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning 161
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Solar-powered blower/solar roof*
If the vehicle is parked in su fficiently strong sunlight, the
blower will operate in solar-powered mode when the ignition
is switched off.After the ignition is switched off, the blower is supplied with electrical power
from the solar roof. Please ensure that outlets 3 and 4 are open ⇒page 159,
fig. 135 to ensure the best possible ventilation.
The blower only works when the sun roof is closed or tilted open at the rear.
If the air recirculation mode is on when you switch off the engine, the climate
control will automatically switch to fresh air ventilation.Supplementary heating*Diesel vehicles are fitted with supplementary heating
2) to raise the tempera-
ture of the interior as quickly as possible. At outdoor temperatures below
+5°C and with the engine running, the supplementary heating will switch on
and off automatically depending on the temperature of the coolant.
In order to save fuel, the supplementary heating can be can be switched off
by briefly pressing the button on the climate control.
Seat heating*
The surface and backrest of the front seats can be electrically
heated.Turn thumbwheel or ⇒fig. 136 to switch on and adjust the
heating on the left or right front seats.The heating is switched off when the thumbwheel is set to 0. The temperature
settings range from 1 to 6.
Caution
To avoid damaging the heating elements of the seat heating, please do not
kneel on the seat or apply sharp pressure to a single point.
2)For Nordic countries only.
Fig. 136 Detailed view of
instrument panel: Thum-
bwheel controls for seat
heating
A1
A2
Exeo_EN.book Seite 161 Freitag, 17. Oktober 2008 11:24 11

Driving165
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Vehicles with a diesel engine:
–Use the foot brake.
– Manual gearbox: Push the clutch pedal all the way down.
– Move the gear lever into the neutral position ⇒.
– Turn the ignition key to position . The pre-heating indicator light
comes on while the glow plugs are preheating.
– When the indicator light
goes out, turn the ignition key to
position . Do not press the accelerator.
– Release the ignition key as soon as the engine starts (the starter motor must not be allowed to run on with the engine).
When starting a very cold engine, it 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 the engine fails to start straight-away, switch off the starter after about 10
seconds and try again after about half a minute.
Glow plug system*
To assist starting at low temperatures, diesel engines are equipped with a
glow plug preheating system. The pr eheating time depends on the coolant
temperature and the outside temperature. Start the engine as soon as the
glow plug indicator light
goes out.
When the engine is warm or at outside temperatures above +8°C, the glow
plug indicator light will only come on for about one second. This means that
the engine can be started immediately .
If the engine will not start...
•
⇒ page 271
•
⇒page 274
•
⇒page 208, “Refuelling”
WARNING
Never run the engine in confined spaces, as the exhaust gases are
poisonous.
Caution
Avoid high engine speeds, full throttle and extreme load conditions until the
engine has reached its normal operating temperature, otherwise this can
damage the engine.
For the sake of the environment
Do not warm up the engine by running the engine with the vehicle stationary.
Start immediately. This will help avoid unnecessary exhaust emissions.Stopping the engine– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒page 164, fig. 140 .
WARNING
•
Never switch the engine off until the vehicle is stationary.
•
The brake servo and the power steering system work only when the
engine is running. You need more stre ngth to steer and brake the vehicle
when the engine is switched off. Given that you will be unable to steer and
brake as usual, this could lead to a risk of accidents and injuries.
A1
A2
A0
Exeo_EN.book Seite 165 Freitag, 17. Oktober 2008 11:24 11

Driving and the environment
182your vehicle has automatic transmission). This makes use of engine
braking and relieves the brakes.•
Never let the brakes “slip” by applying light pressure. Continuous
braking will cause the brakes to overheat and the braking distance will
increase. Apply and then release the brakes alternately.
•
Never let the vehicle run with the engine switched off. The braking
distance is increased considerably when the brake servo is not active.
•
Very heavy use of the brakes may cause a vapour lock if the brake fluid
is left in the system for too long. This impairs the braking effect.
•
Non-standard or damaged front spoilers could restrict the airflow to the
brakes and cause them to overheat. Observe the relevant instructions
before purchasing accessories ⇒ page 206, “Technical modifications”.
•
If a brake circuit fails, the braking distance will be increased consider-
ably. Contact a qualified workshop immediately and avoid unnecessary
journeys.
Exhaust gas purification systemCatalytic converter*To conserve the useful life of the catalytic converter
– Always use unleaded petrol.
– Do not let the fuel get too low in the tank.
– For engine oil changes, do not replenish with too much engine oil ⇒page 215. – Never tow the vehicle to start it, use jump leads if necessary
⇒page 271.
If you notice misfiring, uneven running or loss of power when the vehicle is
moving, reduce speed immediately and have the vehicle inspected at the
nearest qualified workshop. In general, the exhaust warning lamp will light
up when any of the described symptoms occur ⇒page 66. If this happens,
unburnt fuel can enter the exhaust system and escape into the environment.
The catalytic converter can also be damaged by overheating.
WARNING
The catalytic converter reaches very high temperatures! Fire hazard!•
Never park where the catalytic convert er could come into contact with
dry grass or inflammable materials under the vehicle.
•
Do not apply additional underseal or anti-corrosion coatings to the
exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or the heat shields on the exhaust
system. These materials could catch fire when the vehicle is being driven.Caution
Never fully drain the fuel tank because the irregularity of the fuel supply may
cause ignition problems. This allows unburnt fuel to enter the exhaust
system, which could cause overheating and damage the catalytic converter.
For the sake of the environment
Even when the emission control system is working perfectly, there may be a
smell of sulphur from the exhaust under some conditions. This depends on
the sulphur content of the fuel used. Quite often the problem can be solved
by changing to another fuel brand.
WARNING (continued)
Exeo_EN.book Seite 182 Freitag, 17. Oktober 2008 11:24 11

Driving and the environment183
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Diesel engine particulate filter*
The diesel engine particulate filter eliminates soot produced
by burning diesel.The diesel engine dust filter eliminates most of the soot from the exhaust gas
system. Under normal driving conditions, the filter cleans itself. If the driving
conditions do not allow the filter to clean itself (for example, multiple short
trips) the filter will be obstructed by dust and pollen and the indicator
for
the diesel engine particulate filter indicator will light up. See section on
Warning Lights.
WARNING
•
The diesel engine particulate filter may reach extremely high tempera-
tures; it should not enter into contact with flammable materials under-
neath the vehicle. Failure to comply could result in fire.Caution
•
The vehicle is not designed for refuelling with mixtures of FAME fuel
(biodiesel) over 7%. The diesel particle filter is damaged when this mixture
percentage is exceeded.
Economical and environmentally friendly
drivingEconomical and environmentally friendly drivingFuel consumption, environmental pollut ion and wear to the engine, brakes
and tyres depends in large part on your driving style. By adopting an econom- ical driving style and anticipating the traffic situation ahead, you can easily
reduce fuel consumption by 10-15%. Some
tips on how to help you reduce
pollution while saving money are listed below.
As you drive try to anticipate the traffic situation
A vehicle uses most fuel when accele rating. When you anticipate the situa-
tion, you 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. The braking effect achieved in this way helps to reduce the wear of
brakes and tyres; emissions and fuel consumption are reduced to zero
(disconnection due to inertia).
Change gear early to save energy
An effective way of saving fuel is to change up quickly through the gears.
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 rpm.
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 pollutan t 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.
Exeo_EN.book Seite 183 Freitag, 17. Oktober 2008 11:24 11

Driving and the environment
184Periodic maintenance
Periodic maintenance work guarantees that, before beginning a journey, you
will not consume more than the required amount of fuel. A well-serviced
engine gives you the benefit of improved fuel efficiency as well as maximum
reliability and an enhanced resale value.
A badly serviced engine can consume up to 10% more fuel than necessary.
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 consumptio n does not regularise until having
driven some four kilometres. This is the reas on 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.
A roof carrier is often left in place for the sake of convenience, even when it is
no longer needed. At a speed of 100-120 km/h your car will use about 12%
more fuel as a result of the extra wind resistance caused by the roof carrier
even when it is not in use. Saving electrical energy
The engine activates the alternator, which produces electricity. With the need
for electricity, fuel consumption is al
so increased. Because of this, always
turn off electrical equipment 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*.
Environmental friendlinessEnvironmental protection is a top priority 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
•
Recycled materials used in manufacture
•
Reduction of volatile compounds in plastics
•
CFC-free refrigerant in air conditioning
Compliance with prohibited materials laws: cadmium, asbestos, lead,
mercury, chrome VI.
Manufacturing methods
•
Use of recycled material for manufacturing plastic parts
•
Solvent-free cavity sealing
Exeo_EN.book Seite 184 Freitag, 17. Oktober 2008 11:24 11