2009 Seat Altea Freetrack towing

If and when
242reliably seal punctures up to a size of about 4 mm caused by the penetration
of a foreign body into the tyre.
Note
•
Seek professional assistance if the repair of a tyre puncture is not
possible with the sealing compound.
Wheel changePreparation work
What you must do before changing a wheel.– If you have a flat tyre or puncture, park the vehicle as far away from the flow of traffic as possible. Choose a location that is as
level as possible.
– All passengers should leave the vehicle. They should wait in a safe area (for instance behind the roadside crash barrier).
– Switch off the engine. Switch on the hazard warning lights.
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
–Engage the first gear , or put the selector lever to position P for
those vehicles with an automatic gearbox.
– If you are towing a trailer, unhitch it from your vehicle.
– Take the vehicle tools and the spare wheel out of the luggage
compartment.
WARNING
Put the hazard warning lights on and place the warning triangle in position.
This is for your own safety and also warns other road users.
Caution
If you have to change the tyre on a gradient, block the wheel opposite the
wheel being changed by placing a stone or similar object under it to prevent
the vehicle from rolling away.
Note
Please observe legal requirements when doing so.Changing a wheelChange the wheel as described below
– Pull off the hub cap . Also see ⇒page 243.
– Slacken the wheel bolts.
– Raise the car with the jack in the corresponding zone.
– Remove the wheel and then mount the spare wheel.
– Lower the vehicle.
– Tighten the wheel bolts firmly with the box spanner.
– Replace the hub cap.
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If and when267
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Towing and tow-startingTo w - s t a r t i n g
The use of jump leads is preferable to tow-starting.We recommend that you do not tow-start your vehicle. Jump-starting
is preferable ⇒page 264.
However, if your vehicle has to be tow-started:
– Engage the 2
nd or the 3
rd gear.
– Keep the clutch pressed down.
– Switch the ignition on.
– Once both vehicles are moving, release the clutch.
– As soon as the engine starts, press the clutch and move the gear lever into neutral. This helps to prevent driving into the towing
vehicle.
WARNING
The risk of accidents is high when tow-starting. The vehicle being towed
can easily collide with the towing vehicle.
Caution
When tow-starting, fuel could enter the catalytic converter and damage it.
General notesPlease observe the following points if you use a tow-rope:
Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
– Drive slowly at first until the tow-rope is taut. Then accelerate
gradually.
– Begin and change gears cautiously. If you are driving an auto- matic vehicle, accelerate gently.
– Remember that the brake servo and power steering are not working in the vehicle you are towing. Brake earlier than you
would normally, but with a more gentle pressure on the brake.
Notes for the driver of the towed vehicle
– Ensure that the tow-rope remains taut at all times when towing.Tow-rope or tow-bar
It is easier and safer to tow a vehicle with a tow-bar. You should only use a
tow-rope if you do not have a tow-bar.
A tow-rope should be slightly elastic to reduce the loading on both vehicles.
It is advisable to use a tow-rope made of synthetic fibre or similarly elastic
material.
Attach the tow-rope or the tow-bar only to the towing eyes provided or a
towing bracket.
Driving style
Towing requires some experience, especially when using a tow-rope. Both
drivers should be familiar with the technique required for towing. Inexperi-
enced drivers should not attempt to tow-start or tow away another vehicle.
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If and when
268Do not pull too hard with the towing vehicle and take care to avoid jerking the
tow-rope. When towing on an unpaved road, there is always a risk of over-
loading and damaging the anchorage points.
The ignition of the vehicle being towed must be switched on to prevent the
steering wheel from locking and also to allow the use of the turn signals,
horn, windscreen wipers and washers.
As the brake servo does not work if the engine is not running, you must apply
considerably more pressure to the brake pedal than you normally would.
As the power assisted steering does not work if the engine is not running, you
will need more strength to steer than you normally would.•
The vehicle must not be towed faster than 50 km/h.
•
The vehicle must not be towed faster than 50 km/h.
Towing vehicles with an automatic gearbox
•
Put the selector lever into position “N”.
•
Do not drive faster than 50 km/h when towing a vehicle.
•
Do not tow further than 50 km.
•
If a breakdown vehicle is used, the vehicle must be towed with the front
wheels raised.Note
•
Observe legal requirements when towing or tow-starting.
•
Switch on the hazard warning lights of both vehicles. However, observe
any regulations to the contrary.
•
For technical reasons, vehicles with an automatic gearbox must not be
tow-started.
•
If damage to your vehicle means that there is no lubricant in the gearbox,
you must raise the drive wheels while the vehicle is being towed.
•
If the vehicle has to be towed more than 50 km, the front wheels must be
raised during towing, and towing should be carried out by a qualified person.
•
The steering wheel is locked when the vehicle has no electrical power. The
vehicle must then be towed with the front wheels raised. Towing should be
carried out by a qualified person.
•
The towing eye should always be kept in the vehicle. Please refer to the
notes on ⇒page 267, “Tow-starting”.
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If and when269
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Trailer eyesFitting the towing eye
– Take the towing ring from the onboard tool set. – Pull the lower front cover down and leave the cover hanging on
the vehicle.
– Remove the cover of the screw hole, insert a screwdriver into the lower slot and lever gently.
– Screw the towing eye as shown by the arrow anti-clockwise to the
limit position in the front ⇒fig. 199 or rear ⇒fig. 200 threaded
hole.
Fig. 199 The front right
section of the vehicle:
Fitting the front towing
eyeFig. 200 Fitting the
towing eye to the rear of
the vehicle
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General notes on the technical data
274To w i n g a t r a i l e rTra iler weig htsTrailer weigh ts
The trailer weights and drawbar loads approved are selected in intensive
trials according to precisely defined criteria. The approved trailer weights are
valid for vehicles in the EU for maximum speeds of 80 km/h (in certain
circumstances up to 100 km/h). The figures may be different in other coun-
tries. All data in the official vehicle documents take precedence over these
data ⇒ .
Drawbar load
The maximum permitted weight exerted by the trailer drawbar on the ball joint
of the towing bracket must not exceed 75 kg.
In the interest of road safety, we recommend that you always tow
approaching the maximum drawbar load. The response of the trailer on the
road will be poor if the drawbar load is too small.
If the maximum permissible drawbar load cannot be met (e.g. with small,
empty and light-weight single axle trailers or tandem axle trailers with an axle
base of less than 1 metre), at least 4% of the actual trailer weight is a legal
stipulation for a drawbar load.
WARNING
•
Fo r sa fet y rea sons, do no t excee d th e 8 0 km /h l im it. T his is a lso v ali d in
countries where higher speeds are permitted.
•
Never exceed the maximum trailer weights or the draw bar loading. If
the permissible axle load or the permissible total weight is exceeded, the
driving characteristics of the vehicle may change, leading to accidents,
injuries and damage to the vehicle.
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Index
288TCS (Traction control system)
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Technical modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
The danger of not using the seat belt . . . . . . . . 22
Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Towing bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Towing bracket, fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Towing eye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Tow-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Traction control system warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Trailer Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Trailer eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Trailer turn signals Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Trailer weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Trips, checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Turn signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78, 118
Turning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Type plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Tyre Mobility-System (Tyre repair kit) . . . . . . . 241
Tyre monitor indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Tyre pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232 Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Tyre pressure monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Tyre repair kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241, 249 Tyre-Mobility-System (Tyre repair kit) . . . . . . . 249
Tyres and wheels
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Tyres service life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Tyres tread depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Tyres with directional tread pattern . . . . . . . . . 232
UUnderbody maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Unlocking and locking Personalisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Using the Tiptronic gear system . . . . . . . . . . . 175VVehicle battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Vehicle data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Vehicle identification data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Vehicle identification number . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Vehicle Maintenance Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Vehicle modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Vehicle paintwork Products for vehicle maintenance . . . . . . . 201
Waxing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Vehicle tools Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Vehicle wallet storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Vehicle washing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Ventilation slits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Volumetric sensor*
Activation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Deactivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
WWarning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Warning reports
Red . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Yellow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Warning texts in the display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Warning triangle and first-aid kit . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Washing by hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Washing with high pressure cleaners . . . . . . . 203
Water warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Water in the windscreen washer tank . . . . . . . 224
Wear indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244 Torque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Wheel change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Wheel trims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Why assume the correct sitting position? . . . . . 30
Why should head restraints be correctly adjusted? 13
Why wear seat belts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 30
Why wear seatbelts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
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