
Contents3
ContentsManual structure
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Content
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Safety First
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Safe driving
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Proper sitting position for occupants . . . . . . . . . 
Pedal area  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Stowing luggage  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Seat belts
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Why wear seat belts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Belt tension devices*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Airbag system
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Front airbags  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Curtain airbags  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Deactivating airbags*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Child safety
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Securing child seats  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Operating instructions
 . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Cockpit
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Overview  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Instruments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Digital display in the instrument panel  . . . . . . . 
Warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Steering column controls*
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
General information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Audio Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Audio + Telephone Control  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Unlocking and locking
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Radio frequency remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Anti-theft alarm system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Windows  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Panoramic tilting roof*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Lights and visibility
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Interior lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Windscreen washers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Rearview mirrors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Seats and stowage
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
The importance of correct seat adjustment . . . . 
Head restraints  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Rear seat bench . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Stowage compartments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Ashtrays, cigarette lighter and power point  . . .  First-aid kit, warning triangle, fire extinguisher*
Boot  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning
 . . 
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Air conditioning* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
General notes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Driving
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Address  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Ignition lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Starting and stopping the engine  . . . . . . . . . . . 
Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Automatic gearbox*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Acoustic parking aid system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Cruise control system (CCS)*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Practical tips
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Intelligent technology
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brakes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Anti-lock brake system and traction control ABS
Electronic stabilisation programme (ESP)*  . . . . 
Driving and the environment
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Running-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Exhaust gas purification system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Economical and environmentally-friendly driving
Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
5
6
7
7
7
9
14
15
16
16
18
21
25
26
26
29
31
35
38
40
40
42
45 49
49
49
51
52
57
68
68
68
70
72
72
77
78
79
82
84
87
89
89
95
96
97
100
103
103
104
106
108
109
113 115
115
118
118
121
124
127
129
129
130
131
132
134
135
142
144
145
149
149
149
150
151
153
153
154
155
157
161
Ibiza250_angles  Seite 3  Dienstag, 5. August 2008  1:11 13 

Seat belts
18Why wear seat belts?Physical principles of frontal collisions
In the event of a frontal collision, a large amount of kinetic 
energy must be absorbed.
It is easy to explain how the laws of physics work in the case of a head-on 
collision: When a vehicle starts moving  ⇒fig. 6  there is a certain amount of 
energy known as “kinetic energy”, both  in the vehicle and in the occupants.
The amount of “kinetic energy” depends  on the speed of the vehicle and the 
weight of the vehicle and its passengers. The higher the speed and the 
greater the weight, the more energy there is to be “released” in an accident.
The most significant factor, however, is the speed of the vehicle. If the speed 
doubles from 25 km/h to 50 km/h, for example, the kinetic energy is multi-
plied by four.
Because the passengers in our example ar e not restrained by seat belts, the 
entire amount of kinetic energy has to be absorbed at the point of impact 
⇒ fig. 7 .
Even at speeds of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces acting on bodies in a colli-
sion can easily exceed one tonne (1000 kg). At greater speed these forces are 
even higher.
Passengers not wearing seat belts are not “attached” to the vehicle. In a 
frontal collision, they will move forward at the same speed their vehicle was 
Fig. 6  Vehicle about to hit 
a wall: the occupants are 
not wearing seat belts
Fig. 7  The vehicle hits 
the wall: the occupants 
are not wearing seat belts
Ibiza250_angles  Seite 18  Dienstag, 5. August 2008  1:11 13 

Seat belts
20Seat belts protection
Passengers not wearing seat belts risk severe injuries in the 
event of an accident.Properly worn seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting posi-
tions and substantially reduce the kinetic energy in the event of an accident. 
Seat belts also help to prevent uncontrolled movements that could lead to 
severe injuries. In addition, properly worn seat belts reduce the danger of 
being thrown from the car.
Passengers wearing their seat belts correctly benefit greatly from the ability 
of the belts to absorb kinetic energy. Th e front part of your vehicle and other 
passive safety features (such as the airbag system) are also designed to 
absorb the kinetic energy released in a collision. Taken together, all these 
features reduce the releasing kinetic energy and consequently, the risk of 
injury.
Our examples describe frontal collisions. Of course, properly worn seat belts 
reduce substantially the risk of injury in all other types of accidents. This is  why it is so important to fasten seat belts before every trip, even when "just 
driving around the corner".
Ensure that your passengers wear their seat belts as well. Accident statistics 
have shown properly that wearing seat belts is an effective mean of substan-
tially reducing the risk of injury and improving the chances of survival in a 
serious accident. Furthermore, properly worn seat belts improve the protec-
tion provided by airbags in the event of
 an accident. For this reason, wearing 
a seat belt is required by law in most countries.
Although your vehicle is equipped with airbags, the seat belts must be 
fastened and worn. The front airbags, for example, are only triggered in some 
frontal accidents. The front airbags will  not be triggered during minor frontal 
collisions, minor side collisions, rear collisions, rolls or accidents in which the 
airbag trigger threshold value in the control unit is not exceeded.
Therefore, you should always wear your seat belt and ensure that your 
passengers have fastened their seat belts properly before you drive off!
Safety instructions on using seat belts
If seat belts are used correctly, they can reduce the risk of 
injury in an accident.– Always wear the seat belt as described in this booklet.
– Ensure that the seat belts can be fastened at all times and are not  damaged.
WARNING
•
If the seat belts are worn incorrectly or  not at all, the risk of severe inju-
ries increases. The optimal protection from seat belts can be achieved only 
if you use them properly.
Fig. 10  Driver wearing 
the seat belt properly: is 
secured by the belt in 
sharp braking
Ibiza250_angles  Seite 20  Dienstag, 5. August 2008  1:11 13 

Airbag system27
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
•
Always properly adjust the front seats.
The danger of fitting a child seat on the front passenger seat
Rear-facing child seats must never be used on the front 
passenger seat when the front  passenger airbag is enabled.An enabled front airbag on the front passenger side is potentially a major 
danger to a child. The front passenger seat is life threatening to a child if 
he/she is transported in a rear-facing child seat. You should always transport 
all children up to 12 years of age on the rear seat.
If a rear-facing child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, an inflating 
airbag can strike it with such great force that critical or fatal injuries may 
result.
Therefore we strongly recommend you to transport children on the rear seats. 
That is the safest place for children in the vehicle. Alternatively, the front 
passenger airbag can be disabled with a key-operated switch  ⇒page 38. 
When transporting children, use a child seat appropriate to the age and size 
of each child.
For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to turn the airbag off, 
an Authorised Service Centre must be consulted.
WARNING
•
If a child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, the risk to the child 
of sustaining critical or fatal injuries in the event of an accident increases.
•
Never secure a rear-facing child seat to the front passenger seat if the 
front passenger airbag is enabled. The child can suffer critical or fatal inju-
ries when the front passenger airbag is triggered.
•
An inflating front passenger airbag can strike the rear-facing child seat 
and hurl it with great force against the door, the roof or the backrest.
•
If, under special circumstances, it is necessary to transport a child in a 
rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, it is absolutely essential 
that you observe the following safety measures:
−Disable the front passenger airbag  ⇒page 38, “Deactivating 
airbags*”.
− The child seat must be approved by the child seat manufacturer for 
use on a front passenger seat with front or side airbag.
− Follow the installation instructio ns of the child seat manufacturer 
and absolutely observe all warnings.
− Before properly installing the child seat, push the front passenger 
seat completely backwards so that the greatest possible distance to 
the front passenger airbag is ensured.
− Ensure that no objects prevent the front passenger seat from being 
pushed completely back.
− The backrest of the front passenger seat must be in an upright 
position.
Warning lamp for airbag and belt tension device system 
This warning lamp monitors the airbag and belt tension 
device system.The warning lamp monitors all airbags and belt tension devices in the 
vehicle, including control units and wiring connections.
WARNING (continued)
WARNING (continued)
Ibiza250_angles  Seite 27  Dienstag, 5. August 2008  1:11 13 

Cockpit
58
Item Symbol Meaning of warning and control lamps Further information
Engine fault (petrol engine)
⇒page 60
Glow plug system for diesel engine 
If lit:  preheating active 
If flashing:  engine fault ⇒
page 60
 
Pollen accumulation in the diesel engine particulate filter ⇒page 60
Engine oil pressure ⇒page 61
Bulb defective ⇒page 61
Rear fog light switched on ⇒page 61
Seat belt warning lamp* ⇒page 16
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) * ⇒page 61
If flashing : electronic stabilisation programme (ESP) is 
working
If it remains lit:  fault on ESP ⇒
page 62
Handbrake applied, 
 lack of brake fluid level or
 serious fault in the brake system ⇒
page 63
Cruise control system switched on ⇒page 63
Tyre pressure  ⇒page 63
Automatic selector lever lock (automatic gearbox) ⇒page 64
A1A1A2A3A4A5A6A7A8A9A10A11A12
Ibiza250_angles  Seite 58  Dienstag, 5. August 2008  1:11 13 

Cockpit61
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Engine oil pressure 
This warning lamp indicates that the engine oil pressure is 
too low.If this warning symbol starts to flash, and is accompanied by three  audible 
warnings , switch off the engine and check the oil level. If the oil level is too 
low, top up with oil.
If the symbol flashes although the oil level is correct,  do not drive on. The 
engine must not even run at idle speed. Obtain technical assistance.Bulb defect* 
The indicator lights up when a bulb is not functioning.The warning lamp 
 lights up when there is a fault in the indicator lights, 
headlights, position light or fog lights.
Rear fog light* 
This warning lamp lights up when  the rear fog light is switched on 
. Further 
information  ⇒page 89.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) 
 
A warning lamp system monitors the ABS.
The warning lamp 
 should light up for a few seconds when the ignition is 
switched on. It goes out again after th e system has run through an automatic 
test sequence.
There is a fault in the ABS if:
•
The warning lamp 
 does not light up when the ignition is switched on.
•
The warning lamp does not go out again after a few seconds.
•
The warning lamp lights up when the vehicle is moving.
The vehicle can still be braked in the normal way (except that the ABS control 
function will not function). Please take the vehicle to a qualified workshop as 
soon as possible. For further information on the ABS see the  ⇒page 150.
If there is a fault in the ABS, the ESP* and the tyre pressure warning lamp will 
also light up.
Brake system fault
If the ABS warning lamp 
 lights up together with the brake warning lamp 
, this indicates not only a fault in the  ABS function, but also a possible fault 
in the brake system  ⇒.
WARNING
•
Before opening the bonnet, read and observe the warnings on 
⇒ page 181, “Working in the engine compartment”.
•
If the brake warning lamp 
 should light up together with the ABS 
warning lamp 
, stop the vehicle immediately and check the brake fluid 
level in the reservoir  ⇒page 193, “Brake fluid”. If the fluid level has 
dropped below the “MIN” mark you must not drive on. Risk of accident. 
Obtain technical assistance.
Ibiza250_angles  Seite 61  Dienstag, 5. August 2008  1:11 13 

Cockpit
62•
If the brake fluid level is correct, the fault in the brake system may have 
been caused by a failure of the ABS system. This could cause the rear 
wheels to lock quickly when you brake. This could cause the rear to break 
away. Risk of skidding. Stop the vehicle and seek technical assistance.
Differential lock fault (EDL)*
EDL operates along with the ABS in vehicles equipped with an 
Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP)*A malfunction in the EDL is indicated by the ABS warning lamp 
. Please 
take the vehicle to a qualified workshop as soon as possible. For further infor-
mation on the EDL  ⇒page 152, “Electronic differential lock (EDL)*”.
Traction control system (TCS)*
The traction control system prevents the driven wheels from 
spinning when the vehicle is acceleratingThe warning lamp lights up when the ignition is switched on and should turn 
out after about 2 seconds.
When the TCS is operating while driving, its warning lamp flashes rapidly. If 
there is a fault in the system, the diode is lit permanently.
It will also come on if a fault should occur in the ABS because the TCS oper-
ates in conjunction with the ABS. For further information see  ⇒page 149, 
“Brakes”. If the ESP* button is activated, the TCS function deactivates and the warning 
lamp flashes slowly. By pressing again, the TCS function is reactivated and 
the warning lamp switched off.
Electronic stabilisation programme (ESP)* 
 
This warning lamp monitors the electronic stabilisation 
programme.
This programme includes the ABS, EDL and TCS.
The warning lamp 
 has the following functions:
•
It will light for about 2 seconds when the ignition is switched on while a 
test of the function is carried out.
•
It flashes rapidly when the ESP is activated while driving.
•
It will light up continuously if there is a malfunction in the ESP.
•
It will also come on if a fault should occur in the ABS because the ESP 
operates in conjunction with the ABS.
If the ESP warning lamp 
 lights up and stays on after the engine is started, 
this may mean that the control system has temporarily switched off the ESP. 
In this case the ESP can be reactivated by switching the ignition off and then 
on again. If the warning lamp goes out, this means the system is fully 
functional.
WARNING (continued)
Ibiza250_angles  Seite 62  Dienstag, 5. August 2008  1:11 13 

Cockpit63
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Brake system* / handbrake 
 
The warning lamp lights up if the handbrake is applied, if the 
brake fluid level falls too low or if there is a fault in the brake 
system.
This warning lamp 
 lights up if
•
If the handbrake is applied
•
If the brake fluid level is too low  ⇒page 193
•
If there is a fault in the brake system
This warning lamp can light up together with the anti-lock brake system 
warning lamp.
WARNING
•
If the brake warning lamp does not  go out, or if it lights up when 
driving, the brake fluid level ⇒ page 193, “Brake fluid” in the reservoir is 
too low. Risk of accident. Stop the vehicle and do not drive on. Obtain tech-
nical assistance.
•
If the brake warning lamp 
 lights up together with the ABS warning 
lamp 
, the control function of the ABS could be out of action. This could 
cause the rear wheels to lock quickly when you brake. This could cause the 
rear to break away. Risk of skidding. Stop the vehicle and seek technical 
assistance.
Cruise control system* 
The warning lamp comes on when the cruise control system 
is switched on.The warning lamp 
 lights up when the cruise control system is switched on. 
Further notes on the cruise control system  ⇒page 145.
Tyre pressure* 
The tyre monitor 
5) compares wheel revolutions and with this information, the 
diameter of each wheel using the ESP sensors. If the diameter of a wheel 
changes, the tyre monitor indicator lights  . The wheel diameter changes 
when:
•
Tyre pressure is insufficient.
5)Depending on the model version
Fig. 37  Centre console: 
tyre monitor system 
button
Ibiza250_angles  Seite 63  Dienstag, 5. August 2008  1:11 13