2009 Seat Ibiza ST Owner's manual

Driving
136The reverse lights light up when the reverse gear is selected and the ignition
is on.
WARNING
•When the engine is running, the vehicle will start to move as soon as a
gear is engaged and the clutch released.•Never select the reverse gear when the vehicle is in motion. Risk of acci-
dent.Note
•Do not rest your hand on the gear lever while driving. The pressure of your
hand could cause premature wear on the selector forks in the gearbox.•When changing gear, you should always depress the clutch fully to avoid
unnecessary wear and damage.•Do not hold the car “on the clutch” uphills. This causes premature wear
and damage to the clutch.
Automatic gearbox*Gearbox programmes
The automatic gearbox has got two gearbox programmes.Selecting the normal programme
– Put the selector lever into position D.
Selecting the sport programme
– Put the selector lever into position S.If you select the normal programme, D , you will drive in the economy mode,
i.e. the programme is designed to reduce fuel consumption. The gearbox
changes up into a higher gear as soon as possible and down into a lower gear
as late as possible.
Fig. 103 Automatic
gearbox
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Driving137
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
If you select the sport programme,
S, you will drive in a sporty mode, i.e. a
programme in which shifts into high gears are postponed in order to use the
full power of the engine.
Selector lever lock functions
The selector lever lock in positi on P or N prevents gears from
being engaged inadvertently, which would cause the vehicle
to move.
The selector lever lock is released as follows:
– Switch the ignition on.
– Hold the brake pedal pressed down and at the same time, hold
the selector lever lock on the left of the selector lever also
pressed down.The warning lamp
 on t he inst ru m e nt pa ne l lig hts up whe n t he bra ke p e dal
should be applied. This is essential when the selector lever is taken from the
P or N positions.
The selector lever lock only works if the vehicle is stationary or driving at
s p e e d s u p t o 5 k m / h . A t h i g h e r s p e e d s t h e s e le c to r le v e r l o ck is a u t o m a t i ca ll y
unlocked in the N position.
The selector lever lock is not engaged if it is moved quickly through position
N (e.g. when shifting from R to D). This makes it possible, for instance, to
“rock” the vehicle backwards and forwards if it is stuck in snow or mud. The
selector lever lock engages automatically if the brake pedal is not depressed
and the lever is in position N for more than about 1second.
Fig. 104 Automatic
gearbox
Fig. 105 Automatic
gearbox: Instrument
panel display
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Driving
138Driving a car with an automatic gearbox
The gearbox changes gear ratios automatically as the vehicle
moves.Starting
– Start the engine with the selector lever in position P or N.
Driving
– Hold the brake pedal pressed down.
– By holding the lock button (button on the left in the selector lever), select R, or D.
– Release the lever and wait a little for the gearbox to engage the gear (a slight movement can be felt).
– Release the brake and press the accelerator ⇒. Stopping briefly
– If stopping for a short time, keep the vehicle stationary by
pressing the foot brake hard to prevent the car moving back-
wards on a slope or “creeping” forwards, e.g. at traffic lights. The
selector lever does not need to be put into the positions P or N.
– Do not press the accelerator.
Parking the vehicle
– Press and hold the brake pedal until the vehicle comes to a standstill ⇒.
– Apply the handbrake.
– By pressing the lock button down, move the selector lever to P
and release the lock button.
Driving up and down hills
– Press the selector lever from position “D” to the right into the Tiptronic selector gate.
– Lightly press the selector lever back to change down.
Holding the car on a hill
– The footbrake must be always pressed down to prevent the vehicle from “rolling backwards” ⇒. Do not try to prevent the
vehicle from “rolling backwards” by increasing the engine speed
while a range of gears is selected.
Starting the vehicle up hills
– Apply the handbrake.
Fig. 106 Automatic
gearbox
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Driving139
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
– With a selected gear, accelerate slowly and at the same time,
release the handbrake.The steeper the slope, the lower the needed gear. This increases the braking
effect of the engine. For example, when driving down a very steep slope in 3rd
gear. If the engine brake effect is not enough, the vehicle will speed up. The
automatic gearbox automatically changes up to prevent the engine over-
revving. Use the foot brake to reduce speed and change into 3rd gear again
using Tiptronic* ⇒.
Your vehicle has an automatic interlock which prevents the selector lever
from being put into a position for driving forwards or in reverse from positions
P or N if the brake pedal is not depressed.
The ignition key cannot be removed unless the selector lever is in position P.
Warning lamp “Pressing brake pedal”

When the warning lamp next to the selector lever lights up, press the brake
pedal. This is necessary when the automatic gearbox gear lever is moved out
of positions P or N . At the same time, a text message or the instructions to
perform necessary operations may appear on the instrument panel.
WARNING
•As a driver, you should never leave your vehicle if the engine is running
and a gear is engaged. If you have to leave your vehicle while the engine is
running, you must apply the parking brake and engage parking lock P.•If the engine is running and D or R are engaged, you will need to hold
vehicle stopped by depressing the brake pedal. The car would keep on
creeping forward as the power transmission is not fully interrupted even
when the engine is idling.•Never accelerate when changing gear or you may cause an accident.•Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving. Risk of accident!•Before driving down a long, steep slop e, it is advisable to reduce speed
and change into a lower gear.
•If you stop the vehicle up hill, always hold the foot brake strongly
depressed down to stop it from rolling back.•Never allow the brake to rub and do not use the brake pedal too often
or for long periods. Constant braking will cause the brakes to overheat and
will considerably reduce the brake effect. This increases the braking
distance and could cause the brake system to fail.•Never allow the car to roll down a mountain or a slope with the lever in
the N or D position, regardless of the engine is running or not.Caution
•If you stop the vehicle up hills, do not attempt to stop it from rolling back
by depressing the accelerator when a gear has been selected. Otherwise, the
automatic gearbox may overheat causing damage. Pull the handbrake up or
fully depress the brake pedal to prevent the vehicle from rolling away.•If you allow the car to roll when the engine is not running, or with the gear
lever in position N, a lack of lubrication in the automatic gearbox will damage
it.WARNING (continued)
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Driving
140Changing gear in Tiptronic mode*
The Tiptronic system allows the driver to select gears manu-
ally
General information about driving in Tiptronic mode
Changing gear in Tiptronic mode
– Press the selector lever from position D to the right into the
Tiptronic selector gate.
– Lightly press the selector forward + to change up into high gears.
– Lightly press the selector lever backwards - to change down into
low gears.
Changing gear with the steering wheel paddle levers*
– Press the right paddle lever towards the steering wheel to change up. ⇒fig. 108 .
– Press the left paddle lever towards the steering wheel to change down. ⇒fig. 108 .Using the paddle levers on the steering wheel, you can access manual driving
mode regardless of the pre-selected driving mode.
General information about driving in Tiptronic mode
When accelerating, the automatic gearbox / DSG automatic gearbox goes
into a higher gear a little before the engine reaches its maximum permitted
revolutions.
If a lower gear is selected, the automatic gearbox / DSG automatic gearbox
will only change down when the engine cannot go over its maximum
permitted revolutions.
If the “Tiptronic” is selected whilst the vehicle is in motion and the automatic
gearbox / DSG automatic gearbox is in 3rd gear in gear lever position D, the
“Tiptronic” will then also be in 3rd gear.
Fig. 107 Changing gear
with TiptronicFig. 108 Steering wheel
with paddle levers for
automatic gearbox
A+A–
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Driving141
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
Changing gears in the normal or sport programme using the steering wheel
paddle levers
If the paddle levers ⇒
page 140, fig. 108 are used in the normal or sport
programme, the system switches temporarily to “Tiptronic” mode. To exit
“Tiptronic” mode again, press the right paddle lever towards the steering
wheel for approximately one second. You will also leave “Tiptronic” mode if
the paddle levers are not moved for a certain time.
Note
•The gear paddle levers on the steering wheel can be operated with the
gear lever in any position and with the vehicle in motion.Selector lever positions
The selector lever positions and gears are shown on the
instrument panel screen.
Selector lever positions
The selected gear is displayed on the side of the selector lever and on the
instrument panel screen. The currently selected gear for the automatic
gearbox will also be shown on the display.
Tiptronic gear indicator
If the automatic gearbox is shifted manually, the selected gears are shown on
the screen.
P - parking lock
When the selector lever is in this position, the drive wheels are locked
mechanically.
Position P on the lever must only be selected if the vehicle is stationary.
To move selector lever from position P, the locking button on the selector
lever handle must be pressed and the brake pedal depressed at the same
time while the ignition is switched on.
To put the selector lever in position P, simply press the lock button down and,
if necessary, depress the brake pedal down.
R - Reverse gear
The reverse gear is engaged in this position.
Reverse gear must be engaged only when the vehicle is stationary and the
engine is idling.
To move the selector lever to position R, press the lock button down and, at
the same time, press the brake pedal down, with the ignition switched on.
With the selector lever in position R and the ignition switched on the
following occurs:•Reverse lights light up.•The air conditioner automatically changes the air recirculation mode.•The wiper starts if the windscreen washer is on.•The parking distance warning system switches on.*
+Fig. 109 Automatic
gearbox: Instrument
panel display
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Driving
142N - Neutral (idling)
If this position is selected, the gearbox is in neutral. Power is not transmitted
to the wheels and the engine does not have a braking function.
Never use the N position to drive down a hill. The engine does not function as
a brake and the brakes are subjected to excessive stain.
You could damage the automatic gearbox if you drive down hills with the gear
lever in position N and the engine switched off.
D - Drive (forwards)
In this position the gearbox automatically changes to a lower or higher gear,
according to the engine's requirements, the driving style and speed. The
braking effect of the engine when driving downhill is very limited when the
selector is in this position. The instrument panel displays the selected gear
as well as the selector lever in position D.
If position N has been selected and you wish to select D, you must press the
foot brake if the vehicle is stationary, or travelling at under 5 km/h.
S - Standard driving position (Sport programme)
When the selector lever is in position S, it will automatically change up into a
higher gear later, and change down into a low gear, if compared with position
D . This way, it is possible to take full advantage of the engine reserve power,
depending on the engine demand, driving style and speed. The braking
effect of the engine when driving downhill is very limited. On the instrument
panel display the selected gear is shown as well as the selector lever to posi-
tion S.
To se lec t gea r range S, press the lock button on the selector lever.
WARNING
If the vehicle moves with no control, an accident and serious injury may
occur.
•As a driver, you should never leave your vehicle if the engine is running
and a gear is engaged. If you have to leave your vehicle while the engine is
running, you must always apply the handbrake and engage parking lock P.•If the engine is running and if D or R are engaged, you will need to hold
the the vehicle stopped by depressing footbrake down. The car would creep
forward as the power transmission is not fully interrupted even when the
engine is idling.•Never accelerate when changing gear or you may cause an accident.•Never move the selector lever to “R” or “P” when driving. Risk of acci-
dent.•Before driving down a very steep slope, reduce your speed and shift to
position 1st.•Always hold the vehicle on the foot brake if you stop uphills. Otherwise,
the vehicle could roll back.•Never allow the brake to rub and do not use the brake pedal too often
or for long periods. Constant braking will cause the brakes to overheat and
will considerably reduce the brake effect. This increases the braking
distance and could cause the brake system to fail.WARNING
Never switch the engine off until the vehicle is stationary. You could lose
control of your vehicle. This could cause an accident and serious injury.•The airbags and belt tensioners do not work when the ignition is
switched off.•The brake servo does not work when the engine is not running. You
need more force to stop the vehicle.•Power assisted steering does not work when the engine is not running.
That is why it is much more difficult to turn the steering wheel.WARNING (continued)
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Driving143
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
•Never remove the key from the ignition if the vehicle is in motion. The
steering lock could suddenly engage, and you would not be able to steer
the vehicle.•Never allow the car to roll downhill with the gear in “N”, regardless of
the engine is running or not.Caution
If you allow the vehicle to move when the engine is switched off or with the
selector lever in position “N”, take your foot off the accelerator and wait until
the engine starts idling before returning to position “D”.Kickdown feature
The kickdown feature is designed to give maximum accelera-
tion.If you press the accelerator down thoroughly, the gearbox automatically
changes down, depending on speed and e ngine speed, into a lower gear to
take full advantage of give the vehicle maximum acceleration.
The gearbox does not change gear until the engine reaches the maximum
determined engine speed for the gear.
WARNING
You could lose control of the vehicle if you accelerate on slippery road
surfaces. Risk of serious injury.•Be particularly careful when using the kickdown features on slippery
road surfaces. With a fast acceleration, the vehicle could lose traction and
skid.
•You should use the kickdown feature only when traffic and weather
conditions allow it to be used safely.
HandbrakeUsing the handbrake
The handbrake should be applied firmly to prevent the
vehicle from accidentally rolling away.Always apply the handbrake when you leave your vehicle and when
you park.
WARNING (continued)
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 110 Handbrake
between the front seats
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