Checking and refilling levels229
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Charging and changing the vehicle battery
The battery is maintenance-free and is checked during the 
inspection service. All work on the vehicle battery requires 
specialist knowledge.If you often drive short distances or if the vehicle is not driven for long 
periods, the battery should be checked by a qualified workshop between the 
scheduled services.
If the battery has discharged and you have problems starting the vehicle, the 
battery might be damaged. If this happens, we recommend you have the 
vehicle battery checked by an Authorised Service Centre where it will be re-
charged or replaced.
Charging the battery
The vehicle battery should be charged by a qualified workshop only, as 
batteries using special technology have been installed and they must be 
charged in a controlled environment.
Replacing a vehicle battery
The battery has been developed to suit the conditions of its location and has 
special safety features.
Genuine SEAT batteries fulfil the maintenance, performance and safety spec-
ifications of your vehicle.
WARNING
•
We recommend you use only maintenance-free or cycle free leak-proof 
batteries which comply with the st andards T 825 06 and VW 7 50 73. This 
standard applies as of 2001.
•
Before starting any work on the batteries, you must read and observe 
the warnings  ⇒ in “Warnings on handling the battery” on page 227.
For the sake of the environment
Batteries contain toxic substances such as sulphuric acid and lead. They 
must be disposed of appropriately and must not be disposed of with ordinary 
household waste.
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 229  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12 
Technical Data273
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Te c h n i c a l  D a t aChecking fluid levelsFrom time to time, the levels of the different fluids in the 
vehicle must be checked. Never fill with incorrect fluids, 
otherwise serious damage to the engine may be caused.
Coolant expansion tank
Windscreen washer fluid reservoir
Engine oil filler cap
Engine oil dipstick
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery (underneath the cover)
The checking and refilling of service fluids are carried out on the components 
mentioned above. These operations are described in the  ⇒page 213. Overview
Further explanations, instructions and restrictions on the technical data are 
contained as of 
⇒page 269.
Fig. 203  Diagram for the 
location of the various 
elements
A1A2A3A4A5A6
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 273  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12