
Lights and visibility
98Headlight washer system
The headlight washers clean the headlight lenses.The headlight washers are activated automatically when the windscreen
washer is used and the windscreen wiper lever is pulled towards the steering
wheel for at least 1.5 seconds – provided the dipped beam headlights or
main beams are switched on. Clean off stubborn dirt (insects, etc.) from the
headlights at regular intervals, for instance when filling the fuel tank.
Note
•To ensure that the headlight washers work properly in winter, keep the
nozzle holders in the bumper free of snow and remove any ice with a de-icer
spray.•To remove water, the windscreen wipers will be activated from time to
time, the headlight wipers will be activated every three cycles.Rear vision mirrorsAdjusting the head restraintsBefore beginning any journey, adjust the rear vision mirrors for correct
visibility.
Rear vision mirror
It is dangerous to drive if yo u cannot see clearly through the
rear window.Manual anti-dazzle function for rear vision mirror
In the basic mirror position, the lever at the bottom edge of the mirror should
be at the front. Pull the lever to the back to select the anti-dazzle function.Automatic anti-dazzle rear vision mirror*
The automatic anti-dazzle function can be switched on and off
as desired.Switching off anti-dazzle function
–Press button ⇒ fig. 62. Indicator lamp goes off.
Fig. 62 Automatic anti-
dazzle rear vision mirror.
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Lights and visibility
100
– The mirrors demist for some minutes to prevent draining the battery.
– If necessary, press the button again to repeat the function.
Folding in exterior mirrors*
– Turn the control ⇒page 99, fig. 63 to position
to fold in the
exterior mirrors. You should always fold in the exterior mirrors if
you are driving through an automatic car wash. This will help
prevent damage.
Folding exterior mirrors back out to the extended position*
– Turn the knob to position L or R to fold the exterior mirrors back out ⇒ .
WARNING
•The rear view convex or aspheric mirror increase the field of vision
however the objects appear smaller and further away in the mirrors. If you
use these mirrors to estimate the distance to vehicles behind you when
changing lane, you could make a mistake. Risk of accident.•If possible, use the rear vision mirror to estimate distances to vehicles
behind you.•Make sure that you do not get your finger trapped between the mirror
and the mirror base when folding back the mirrors. Risk of injury!For the sake of the environment
The exterior mirror heating should be switched off when it is no longer
needed. Otherwise, it is an unnecessary fuel waste.
Note
•If the electrical adjustment ever fails to operate, the mirrors can be
adjusted by hand by lightly pressing the edge of the mirror glass.•In vehicles with electric exterior mirrors, the following points should be
observed: if, due to an external force (e.g. a knock while manoeuvring), the
adjustment of the mirror housing is altered, the mirror will have to be
completely folded electrically. Do not readjust the mirror housing by hand, as
this will interfere with the mirror adjuster function.•The rear vision mirrors can be adjusted separately or simultaneously, as
described before.•The fold-in function on the exterior mirrors is not active at speeds over 40
km/h.
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Seats and storage compartments115
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
•Ensure that the fire extinguisher is fully functional. The fire extinguisher
should, therefore, be checked regularly. The sticker on the fire extinguisher
will inform you of the next date for checking.•Before acquiring accessories and emergency equipment see the instruc-
tions in “Accessories and spares” ⇒page 172.Luggage compartmentLoading the luggage compartment
Loads in the luggage compartment should be safely secured.To maintain safe handling on the road, please observe the following
points:
– Distribute the load evenly. – Position heavy items as far forward as possible
⇒fig. 87 .
– Secure the load with a luggage net* or with non-elastic straps secured to the fastening rings ⇒page 116.
WARNING
•Unsecured objects in the luggage compartment can suddenly shift and
cause changes in the handling of the vehicle.•In an accident or a sudden manoeuvre, loose objects in the passenger
compartment can be flung forward and might injure vehicle occupants.•Always keep all objects in the luggage compartment and use appro-
priate grips to secure them, particularly in the case of heavy objects.•When you transport heavy objects, always bear in mind that a change
of the centre of gravity can also cause changes in vehicle handling.•Please refer to the notes on ⇒page 7.Caution
Make sure that no hard objects chafe against the wires of the heating element
in the rear window and damage them.
Note
The tyre pressure must be adjusted according to the load. When necessary
check the tyre pressures on the label located on the inside fuel tank flap
⇒page 195.
Fig. 87 Position heavy
items as far forward as
possible.
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Air conditioning
126•If the function is not deactivated by pressing the button, this will deacti-
vate after approx. 20 min.Economic use of the air conditioningWhen the air conditioning is switched on, the compressor consumes engine
power and has influence on fuel consumption. Consider the following points
in order to have the system operating in the minimum possible time.•If the vehicle interior has overheated due to an excessive solar radiation,
it is best to open the windows or doors to allow the hot air to escape.•While in motion, the air conditioning should not be switched on if the
windows or the sunroof are open.*
ClimatronicControl switchesFig. 98 Climatronic controls on the dash panelThe air conditioner only works when the engine is running and the
blower is switched on.
–Press keys and ⇒ fig. 98 to adjust temperature.
– The functions will be switched on when its buttons are pressed. When the function is activated, a symbol is displayed on the
screen. Press the button again to switch off the function.
Blower level indicator.
Air recirculation display:
Display AUTO (Automatic operation)
Demisting indicator
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Air conditioning
128Manual mode
In manual mode the air temperature, flow, and the desired air
distribution can be adjusted.Switching on manual mode
– Press one of the buttons ⇒ page 126, fig. 98 to or press
t he blo wer co n t rol a nd do wn . The in dicator is switche d o f f .Te m p e r a t u r e
The inside temperature can be set between +18°C (64°F) and +29°C (86°F).
These are approximate temperatures which may slightly vary depending on
the outside conditions.
If a temperature below 18°C (64°C), is selected, the display switches to LO In
this setting the system runs at maximum cooling output and the temperature
is not regulated.
If a temperature above 29°C (86°F) is selected, the display switches to HI In
this setting the system runs at maximum heating output and the temperature
is not controlled.
Blower
The blower can be adjusted with buttons and ⇒page 126, fig. 98 . If
the blower is off (level is not shown on the screen) and button is kept
pressed down, the Climatronic switches off. Then OFF is displayed on the
screen.
Air distribution
The air distribution is adjusted using the buttons , and . It is also
possible to open and close some of the air outlets separately. Switching the air conditioning system on and off
Pressing the button the air cooling system can be switched off in order to
save fuel. The temperature continues to self-regulate. The set temperature
can then only be reached if it is higher than the outside temperature.
Air recirculation mode
Air recirculation mode prevents fumes or unpleasant smells
from coming from the outside.– Press the button to switch air recirculation mode on or off.
This is ON if the symbol
⇒ page 126, fig. 98 is displayed on
the screen.
Air recirculation mode prevents strong odours in the ambient air from
entering the vehicle interior, for example when passing through a tunnel or in
a traffic jam.
When the outside temperature is low, air recirculation mode improves
heating performance by heating air from the interior instead of cold air from
the outside.
When the outside temperature is high, air recirculation mode improves
cooling performance by cooling air from the interior instead of warm air from
outside.
For safety reasons, the air recirculation should not be switched on when the
air distribution control is set to the windscreen setting
.
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AC
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Driving133
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
The immobiliser will be activated again automatically as soon as you pull the
key out of the ignition lock.
The engine can only be started using a genuine SEAT key with its correct code.
Note
A perfect operation of the vehicle is ensured if genuine SEAT keys are used.Starting and stopping the engineStarting petrol engines
The engine can only be started using a genuine SEAT key with
its correct code.– Move the gear lever to the neutral position and depress the
clutch pedal thoroughly and hold it in this position for the starter
to turn the engine on.
– Turn the ignition key to the starting ⇒page 132 position.
– Le t go o f the ig nit io n key as so on as the e ngin e star t s; t he sta r ter motor must not run on with the engine.After starting a very hot engine, you may need to slightly press down the
accelerator.
When starting a very cold engine, it may be a little noisy for the first few
seconds until oil pressure has built up in the hydraulic valve compensators.
This is quite normal, and no cause for concern. If the engine does not start immediately, switch the starter off after
10 seconds and try again after half a minute. If the engine still does not start,
the fuel pump fuse should be checked
⇒page 209, “Fuses”.
WARNING
•Never start or run the engine in unventilated or closed rooms. The
exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide, an odourless and colourless
poisonous gas. Risk of fatal accidents. Carbon monoxide can cause loss of
consciousness. It can also cause death.•Never leave the vehicle unattended if the engine is running.•Never use “cold start sprays”, they could explode or cause the engine
to run at high revs. Risk of injury.Caution
•When the engine is cold, you should avoid high engine speeds, driving at
full throttle and over-loading the engine. Risk of engine damage.•The vehicle should not be pushed or towed more than 50 metres to start
the engine. Unburnt fuel could enter the catalytic converter and damage it.•Before attempting to push-start or tow a vehicle in order to start it, you
should first try to start it using the battery of another vehicle. Note and follow
the instructions in ⇒page 222, “Jump-starting”.For the sake of the environment
Do not warm-up the engine by running the engine with the vehicle stationary.
You should drive off as soon as you start the engine. This helps the engine
reach operating temperature faster and reduces emissions.
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Driving
134Starting diesel engines
The engine can only be started using a genuine SEAT key with
its correct code.– Move the gear lever to the neutral position and depress the
clutch pedal thoroughly and hold it in this position for the starter
to turn the engine on.
– Turn the ignition key to the starting position.
– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒page 132, fig. 101 . The
indicator lamp
will light for engine pre-heating.
– When the warning lamp turns off, turn the key to position to start the engine. Do not press the accelerator.
– Let go of the ignition key as soon as the engine starts, the starter motor must not be allowed to run on with the engine.
When starting a very cold engine, it may be a little noisy for the first few
seconds until oil pressure has built up in the hydraulic valve compensators.
This is quite normal, and no cause for concern.
If there are problems starting the engine, see the ⇒page 222.
Glow plug system for the diesel engine
To avoid unnecessary discharging of the battery, do not use any other major
electrical equipment while the glow plugs are pre-heating.
Start the engine as soon as the glow plug warning lamp goes out.
Starting the engine after the fuel tank has been completely run dry
If the fuel tank has been completely run dry, it may take longer than normal
(up to one minute) to start the engine after refuelling with diesel fuel. This is
because the system must eliminate air first.
WARNING
•Never start or run the engine in un ventilated or closed rooms. The
exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide, an odourless and colourless
poisonous gas. Risk of fatal accidents. Carbon monoxide can cause loss of
consciousness. It can also cause death.•Never leave the vehicle unattended if the engine is running.•Never use “cold start sprays”, they could explode or cause the engine
to run at high revs. Risk of injury.Caution
•When the engine is cold, you should avoid high engine speeds, driving at
full throttle and over-loading the engine. Risk of engine damage.•The vehicle should not be pushed or towed more than 50 metres to start
the engine. Unburnt fuel could enter the catalytic converter and damage it.•Before attempting to push-start or tow a vehicle in order to start it, you
should first try to start it using the battery of another vehicle. Note and follow
the instructions in ⇒ page 222, “Jump-starting”.For the sake of the environment
Do not warm-up the engine by running the engine with the vehicle stationary.
You should drive off as soon as you start the engine. This helps the engine
reach operating temperature faster and reduces emissions.Switching the engine off– Stop the vehicle.
– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒page 132, fig. 101 .
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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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