
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
168If 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 156, “Braking effect and braking distance”the brakes by braking
several times.
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 156, “Braking effect and braking distance”the brakes by braking
several times.
Ibiza ST_EN.book Seite 168 Dienstag, 12. Januar 2010 4:03 16

Checking and refilling levels
194Charging 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 192.
For the sake of the environment
Batteries contain toxic substances such as sulphuric acid and lead. They
m ust b e d isp ose d of app ro pr iate ly a nd m ust no t b e disp ose d of wit h or di na 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 damage (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.
Ibiza ST_EN.book Seite 194 Dienstag, 12. Januar 2010 4:03 16

Checking and refilling levels195
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
New tyres
New tyres must be run in ⇒
page 156.
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 inflatio n 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 pressures 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.
Ibiza ST_EN.book Seite 195 Dienstag, 12. Januar 2010 4:03 16

Checking and refilling levels197
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
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 recommend 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.
Ibiza ST_EN.book Seite 197 Dienstag, 12. Januar 2010 4:03 16

Checking and refilling levels
198•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 172.
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 tightening 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 tyres (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).
WARNING (continued)
Ibiza ST_EN.book Seite 198 Dienstag, 12. Januar 2010 4:03 16

Index
242Car phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Changing bulbs interior light and front reading lights . . . . 221
Changing double headlight bulbs . . . . . . . . . . 214 dipped beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
main beam and side lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
turn signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Changing gear See Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Changing gear in Tiptronic mode . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Changing rear lights on the rear lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
on the wing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Changing single headlight bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 216 turn signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Changing the bulbs Luggage compartment light . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
number plate light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Side turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 Changing the single headlight bulbs
dipped/main beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Side lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Changing windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . . . . 189
Chassis number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Checking battery electrolyte level . . . . . . . . . . 193
Checking engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Child seats on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Cigarette lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Cleaning alloy wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Cleaning chrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Cleaning engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Cleaning steel wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Cleaning windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Climatronic automatic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
manual mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Cloth seat covers cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Coming home function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Control
exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Control lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Control lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Controls Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Light switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Convenience closing Sliding/tilting sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Convenience opening Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186, 187
Coolant Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Coolant level warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Coolant Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Coolant temperature Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Correct adjustment of front head restraints . . . 12
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Cruise control system warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Ibiza ST_EN.book Seite 242 Dienstag, 12. Januar 2010 4:03 16