
Checking and refilling levels219
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
– To avoid over-filling with engine oil, you should top-up using 
small quantities, wait a while and check the oil level before 
adding any more oil.
– As soon as the oil level is in area  , carefully close the cap.The position of the oil filler opening is shown in the corresponding engine 
compartment diagram  ⇒page 273.
Engine oil specification  ⇒page 216.
WARNING
Oil is highly inflammable! Ensure that no oil comes into contact with hot 
engine components when topping up.
Caution
If the oil level is above the area   do not start the engine. This could result 
in damage to the engine and catalytic converter. Contact a qualified work-
shop.
For the sake of the environment
The oil level must never be above ar ea  . Otherwise oil can be drawn in 
through the crankcase breather and escape into the atmosphere via the 
exhaust system.
Changing engine oil
The engine oil must be changed at the intervals given in the 
service schedule.We recommend that you have the engine oil changed by an Authorised 
Service Centre.
The oil change intervals are shown in the Maintenance Programme ⇒.
WARNING
Only change the oil yourself if you have the specialist knowledge required!•
Before opening the bonnet, read and observe the warnings 
⇒ page 213, “Safety instructions on wo rking in the engine compartment”.
•
Wait for the engine to cool down. Hot oil may cause burn injuries.
•
Wear eye protection to avoid injuries caused by splashes of oil.
•
When removing the oil drain plug with  your fingers, keep your arm hori-
zontal to help prevent oil from running down your arm.
•
Wash your skin thoroughly if it comes into contact with engine oil.
•
Engine oil is poisonous! Used oil must be stored in a safe place out of 
the reach of children until it is disposed of.Caution
No additives should be used with engine  oil. This could result in engine 
damage. Any damage caused by the use of such additives would not be 
covered by the factory warranty.
For the sake of the environment
•
Because of the disposal problems, the necessary special tools and 
specialist knowledge required, we recommend that you have the engine oil 
and filter changed by an Authorised Service Centre.
AB
AA
AA
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Checking and refilling levels
226Brake fluidChecking the brake fluid level
The brake fluid is checked at the intervals given in the service 
schedule.– Read off the fluid level at the transparent brake fluid reservoir. It 
should always be between the “MIN” and “MAX” marks.The position of the brake fluid reservoir is shown in the corresponding engine 
compartment diagram ⇒ page 273. The brake fluid reservoir has a black and 
yellow cap.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the vehicle is being used as the 
brake pads are automatically adjusted as they wear. However, if the level goes down noticeab
ly in a short time, or drops below the 
“MIN” mark, there may be a leak in the brake system. A display on the instru-
ment panel will warn you if the brake fluid level is too low  ⇒page 73.
WARNING
Before opening the bonnet to check the brake fluid level, read and observe 
the warnings  ⇒page 213.Changing the brake fluid
The Maintenance Program indicates the brake fluid change 
intervals.We recommend that you have the brake fluid changed by an Authorised 
Service Centre.
Before opening the bonnet, please read and follow the warnings  ⇒ in 
“Safety instructions on working in the engine compartment” on page 213 in 
“Working in the engine compartment”.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture. In the cour se of time, it will absorb water from 
the ambient air. If the water content in the brake fluid is too high, the brake 
system could corrode. This also consider ably reduces the boiling point of the 
brake fluid. Heavy use of the brakes may then cause a vapour lock which 
could impair the braking effect.
It is important that you use only brake fluid compliant with the US standard 
FMVSS 116 DOT 4. We recommend the  use of Genuine SEAT brake fluid.
WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous. Old brake fluid impairs the braking effect.
Fig. 167  In the engine 
compartment: Brake fluid 
reservoir cover
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Index293
Using child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Using seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Safety system- safe  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Seals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Seat adjustment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  128, 131, 133
Seat belt position Pregnant women  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Seat belt release  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Seat belt warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Incorrectly fastened . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Not worn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Seat belts cleaning  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Seat belts protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Seat heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Selective opening*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Selector lever locking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Selector lever positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Self directional headlights  .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Service interval display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
servotronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Shoes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Function  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Side lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Sitting position Driver  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Front passenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Incorrect sitting position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Passengers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Sitting position, occupants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Sliding/tilting roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Snow chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Soot accumulation in the  diesel engine particulate 
filter
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Spare wheel* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Starting on an uphill  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Starting Petrol engines  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Starting the engine  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  166, 167 After the fuel tank has been run dry . . . . . . 167
Steam jets  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Steering  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Steering lock  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Steering wheel audio controls audio + telephone version  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
audio version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Steering wheel height adjustment . . . . . . . . . . 163 Stowage area
Centre arm rest  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Front seats  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Other stowage areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Stowage compartment Front passenger side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Stowage in the luggage compartment . . . . . . . 138
Sun visor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Sun visors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Sunroof blind Sliding/tilting roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Switch Hazard warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Switches Electric windows  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Electrical exterior mirrors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Sliding/tilting roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Switching off the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
TTailgate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Emergency opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Warning lamp  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Tank fuel level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
reserve indicator  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
tank capacity  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
TCS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
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