
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
166If this does not provide satisfying results, use a specialist chrome cleaning
product . Chrome cleaning products will remove stains and coatings from the
surface.
Caution
To prevent scratching chrome surfaces:•Never use an abrasive care product on chrome.•Do not clean or polish chrome parts in a sandy or dusty environment.Steel wheel rims– Clean steel wheel rims regularly using a separate sponge.Use an industrial cleanser to remove brake dust. Any damage to the paint on
steel wheel rims should be repaired before starting to rust.
WARNING
•Never wash tyres with a cylindrical jet. Even at large spraying distances
and short cleaning times, visible and invisible damage can occur to the
tyres. This may cause an accident.•Water, ice and salt on the brakes can reduce braking efficiency. Risk of
accident. Directly after washing, avoid sudden and sharp braking. “Dry”
⇒ page 154, “Braking effect and braking distance”the brakes by braking
several times.
Cleaning alloy wheel rimsEvery two weeks
– Wash salt and brake dust from alloy wheels.
– Use an acid free detergent to clean the wheel rims.
Every three months
– Apply a hard wax compound to the wheels.Alloy wheels require regular attention to preserve their appearance. If road
salt and brake dust are not often removed, the aluminium finish will be
impaired.
Always use an acid-free detergent for alloy wheel rims.
Car polish or other abrasive agents should not be used. If the protective
coating is damaged, e.g. by stone impact, the damaged area should be
repaired immediately.
WARNING
•Never wash tyres with a cylindrical jet. Even at large spraying distances
and short cleaning times, visible and invisible damage can occur to the
tyres. This may cause an accident.•Water, ice and salt on the brakes can reduce braking efficiency. Risk of
accident. Directly after washing, avoid sudden and sharp braking. “Dry”
⇒ page 154, “Braking effect and braking distance”the brakes by braking
several times.
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Checking and refilling levels193
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
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 standards 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 191.
For the sake of the environment
Batteries contain toxic substances such as sulphuric acid and lead. They
m ust b e d isp os ed o f a ppro p ria tely and m ust not be d isp ose d of wi th o rd ina r y
household waste.WheelsGeneral notesAvoiding damage
– If you have to drive over a kerb or similar obstacle, drive very
slowly and as near as possible at a right angle to the kerb.
– Keep grease, oil and fuel off the tyres.
– Inspect the tyres regularly for da mage (cuts, cracks or blisters,
etc.). Remove any foreign objects embedded in the treads.
Storing tyres
– Mark tyres when you remove them to indicate the direction of rotation. This ensures you will be able to install them correctly
when you replace them.
– When removed, the wheels and/or tyres should be stored in a cool, dry and preferably dark location.
– Store tyres in a vertical position if they are not fitted on wheel
rims.
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Checking and refilling levels
194New tyres
New tyres must be run in ⇒page 154.
The tread depth of new tyres may vary, according to the type and make of tyre
and the tread pattern.
Concealed damage
Damage to tyres and rims is often not readily visible. If you notice unusual
vibrations or the car pulling to one side, this may indicate that one of the tyres
is damaged. The tyres should be checked immediately by an Authorised
Service Centre.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
An arrow on the tyre sidewall indicates the direction of rotation on tyres with
directional tread. Always observe the direction of rotation indicated when
fitting the wheel. This guarantees optimum grip and helps to avoid aqua-
planing, excessive noise and wear.
WARNING
•New tyres do not have maximum grip in the first 500 km. Drive particu-
larly carefully to avoid risk of accident.•Never drive with damaged tyres. This may cause an accident.•If you notice unusual vibration or if the vehicle pulls to one side when
driving, stop the vehicle immediately and check the tyres for damage.
Checking tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure can be seen on the sticker on the
inside of the tank flap.1. Read the required tyre inflation pressure from the sticker. The values refer to Summer tyres. 2. The tyre pressures should only be checked when the tyres are
cold. The slightly raised pressu res of warm tyres must not be
reduced.
3. Adjust the tyre pressure to the load you are carrying.
Tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure is especially important at high speeds. The pressure
should therefore be checked at least once a month and before starting a
journey.
WARNING
A tyre can easily burst if the pressure is too low, causing an accident!•At continuously high speeds, a tyre with insufficient pressure flexes
more. In this way it becomes too hot, and this can cause tread separation
and tyre blow-out. Always observe the recommended tyre pressures.•If the tyre pressure is too low or too high, the tyres will wear prema-
turely and the vehicle will not handle well. Risk of accident!For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption.
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Checking and refilling levels
196
WARNING
There is a serious danger of accidents if a tyre bursts during driving!•The tyres must be replaced at the latest when the tread is worn down to
the tread wear indicators. Failure to do so could result in an accident. Worn
tyres do not grip well at high speeds on wet roads. There is also a greater
risk of “aquaplaning” •At continuously high speeds, a tyre with insufficient pressure flexes
more. This causes it to overheat. This can cause tread separation and tyre
blow-out. Risk of accident. Always observe the recommended tyre pres-
sures.•If tyres show excessive wear, you should have the running gear checked
by an Authorised Service Centre.•Keep chemicals such as oil, fuel and brake fluid away from tyres.•Damaged wheels and tyres must be replaced immediately!For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption.New tyres and wheels
New tyres and wheels have to be run-in.The tyres and wheel rims are an essential part of the vehicle's design. The
tyres and rims approved by SEAT are specially matched to the characteristics
of the vehicle and make a major contribution to good road holding and safe
handling ⇒.
Tyres should be replaced at least in pairs and not individually (i.e. both front
tyres or both rear tyres together). A knowledge of tyre designations makes it easier to choose the correct tyres. Radial tyres have the tyre designations
marked on the sidewall, for example:
195/65 R15 91T
This contains the following information:
195 Tyre width in mm
65 Height/width ratio in %
RTyre construction: Radial
15 Rim diameter in inches
91 Load rating code
TSpeed rating
The tyres could also have the following information:
•A direction of rotation symbol•“Reinforced” denotes heavy-duty tyres.
The manufacturing date is also indicated on the tyre sidewall (possibly only
on the inner side of the wheel).
“DOT ... 1103 ...” means, for example, that the tyre was produced in the 11th
week of 2003.
We recomm end that work on tyres and wheels is carried out by an Authorised
Service Centre. They are familiar with the procedure and have the necessary
special tools and spare parts as well as the proper facilities for disposing of
the old tyres.
Any Authorised Service Centre has full information on the technical require-
ments when installing or changing tyres, wheels or wheel trims.WARNING
•We recommend that you use only wheels and tyres which have been
approved by SEAT for your model. Failure to do so could impair vehicle
handling. Risk of accident.
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Checking and refilling levels197
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
•Avoid running the vehicle on tyres that are more than six years old. If
you have no alternative, you should drive slowly and with extra care at all
times.•Never use old tyres or those with an unknown “history of use”.•If wheel trims are retrofitted, you must ensure that the flow of air to the
brakes is not restricted. This could cause them to overheat.•All four wheels must be fitted with radial tyres of the same type, size
(rolling circumference) and the same tread pattern.For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of according to the laws in the country concerned.
Note
•For technical reasons, it is not generally possible to use the wheels from
other vehicles. This can also apply to wheels of the same model. The use of
wheels or tyres which have not been approved by SEAT for use with your
model may invalidate the vehicle's type approval for use on public roads.•If the spare tyre is not the same as the tyres that are mounted on the
vehicle - for example with winter tyres - you should only use the spare tyre for
a short period of time and drive with extra care. Refit the normal road wheel
as soon as possible.Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must be tightened to the correct torque.The design of wheel bolts is matched to the rims. If different wheel rims are
fitted, the correct wheel bolts with the right length and correctly shaped bolt heads must be used. This ensures that wheels are fitted securely and that the
brake system functions correctly.
In certain circumstances, you may not use wheel bolts from a different car -
even if it is the same model
⇒page 170.
WARNING
If the wheel bolts are not tightened correctly, the wheel could become
loose while driving. Risk of accident.•The wheel bolts must be clean and turn easily. Never apply grease or oil
to them.•Use only wheel bolts which belong to the wheel.•If the prescribed torque of the wheel bolts is too low, they could loosen
whilst the vehicle is in motion. Risk of accident! If the tightening torque is
too high, the wheel bolts and threads can be damaged.Caution
The prescribed torque for wheel bolts for steel and alloy wheels is 120 Nm.Winter tyres
Winter tyres will improve the vehicles handling on snow and
ice.In winter conditions winter tyres will considerably improve the vehicles
handling. The design of summer tyre s (width, rubber compound, tread
pattern) gives less grip on ice and snow.
Winter tyres must be inflated to a pressure 0.2 bar higher than the pressures
specified for summer tyres (see sticker on tank flap).
Winter tyres must be fitted on all four wheels.
WARNING (continued)
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Index
248CCar care
Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Car phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Automatic speed dependent locking and un-locking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Emergency unlocking system . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Locking system for involuntary unlocking . . 72
Selective unlocking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Unlocking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Central locking button locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Cetane number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Changing bulbs on rear lights . . . . . . . . . 216, 217
Changing double headlight lamps dipped headlights and side lights . . . . . . . 213
main headlights and side lights . . . . . . . . 214
Changing gear See Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Changing gear with the Tiptronic gear system 137
Changing lamps interior light and reading light . . . . . . . . . . 218
Changing the lamps Main headlight lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212, 214
number plate light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Side indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 Changing the main headlight lamps
turn signal lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Changing the single headlight lamps dipped/main beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
indicator lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Side lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Changing windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . . . . 188
Chassis number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Checking battery electrolyte level . . . . . . . . . . 192
Checking engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Categorisation in groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Group 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Group 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Group 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Groups 0 and 0+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
ISOFIX system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Child seats on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Cigarette lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Cleaning alloy wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Cleaning chrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Cleaning engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Cleaning steel wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Cleaning windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Climatronic
automatic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
manual mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Cloth seat covers cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Coming home function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Control wing mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Control lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Control lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Controls Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Light switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Convenience closing Sliding/tilting roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Convenience opening Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185, 186
Coolant Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Coolant level warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Coolant Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Coolant temperature Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Correct adjustment of front head restraints . . . 12
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
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