Unlocking and locking
104Ta i l g a t eUnlocking and locking
The operation of the tailgate opening system is electric. It is
activated by using the handle on the tailgate
Opening the tailgate
– Pull on the release lever and lift the tailgate ⇒fig. 65 . The tail-
gate will then open.
Closing the tailgate
– Grip the tailgate by one of the two handles on the interior lining and close it, using a light movement.The system may or may not operate depending on the situation of the vehicle.
If the tailgate is locked then it cannot be opened, however if it is unlocked
then the opening system is operative and the boot may be opened.
To the locking / unlocking status, press the button or the button on
the remote control key.
A warning appears in the instrument panel if the tailgate is open or not prop-
erly closed.* An audible warning is also given if the tailgate is opened while
the vehicle is moving faster than 6 km/h.*
Fig. 65 Tailgate: opening
from the outside
Fig. 66 Detail of the
inside of the tailgate:
hand grip
A1
Leon_EN.book Seite 104 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Unlocking and locking105
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
WARNING
•Always close the tailgate properly. Risk of accident or injury.•The tailgate must not be opened when the reverse or rear fog lights are
lit. This may damage the lighting units.•Do not close the tailgate by pushing it down with your hand on the rear
window. The glass could smash. Risk of injury!•Ensure the tailgate is locked after closing it. If not, it may open unex-
pectedly while driving.•Never allow children to play in or around the vehicle. A locked vehicle
can be subjected to extremely high and low temperatures, depending on
the time of year, thus causing serious injuries/illness. It could even have
fatal consequences. Close and lock both the tailgate and all the other doors
when you are not using the vehicle.•Closing the tailgate without observing and ensuring it is clear could
cause serious injur y to you and to third parties. Make sure that no one is in
the path of the tailgate.•Never drive with the tailgate open or half-closed, exhaust gases may
penetrate into the interior of the vehicle. Danger of poisoning!•If you only open the tailgate, do not leave the key inside. The vehicle
will not be opened if the key is left inside.
Emergency opening
This allows the vehicle to be opened if the central locking
does not operate (for exampl e, if the battery is flat)There is a groove in the boot allowing access to the emergency
opening mechanism.
Opening the tailgate from inside the luggage compartment
– Insert the key bit in the groove and unlock the locking system,
turning the key from right to left, as shown by the arrow
⇒fig. 67 .
Fig. 67 Tailgate: emer-
gency open
Leon_EN.book Seite 105 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Lights and visibility111
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Lights and visibilityLightsSwitching lights on and off
Switching on the side lights
– Turn the light switch ⇒fig. 72 to position
.
Switching on dipped headlights
– Turn the light switch to position
.
Switching off the lights
– Turn the light switch to position 0. Switching on the fog lights*
– Pull the switch out of position
or to the first stop. The
symbol
in the light switch lights up.
Switching on the rear fog lights (vehicles with front fog lights)
– Pull the switch out of position
or to the second stop
⇒ . A warning lamp lights up in the dash panel.
Switching on the rear fog lights (vehicles with no front fog lights)
– Pull the light switch from position
to the last stop. A warning
lamp lights up in the dash panel.
WARNING
Never drive with just the side lights on. Risk of accident. The side lights are
not bright enough to illuminate the road ahead and to ensure that other
road users are able to see you. Always use your dipped headlights if it is
dark or if visibility is poor.
Note
•The dipped beam headlights will only work with the ignition on. The side
lights come on automatically when the ignition is turned off.•If the lights are left on after the key has been taken out of the ignition lock,
a buzzer will sound while the driver door remains open. This is a reminder to
switch the lights off.
Fig. 72 Detailed view of
instrument panel: lights,
fog light and rear fog light
control
Leon_EN.book Seite 111 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Lights and visibility
112•The rear fog light is so bright that it can dazzle drivers behind you. You
should use the rear fog light only when visibility is very poor.•If you are towing a trailer equipped with a rear fog light on a vehicle with
a factory-fitted towing bracket , the rear fog light on the car will automatically
be switched off.•The use of the lighting described here is subject to the relevant statutory
requirements.•Depending on weather conditions (ver y cold or wet), the front and rear
lights and the indicators may be temporarily misted. This has no influence on
the life expectancy of the lighting system. The lights will soon demist when
they are switched on.Automatic lighting*Activation
– Rotate the switch to the position “Auto”, this indication will light up. Deactivation
– Turn the light switch to 0.
Automatic lighting
If automatic headlight control is switched on, dipped headlights are automat-
ically switched on by a light-sensitive sensor if you drive into a tunnel, for
example.
The motorway function switches on the dipped headlights when the vehicle
is driven at over 140 km/h for a few seconds and it switches the lights off
when the vehicle is driven at less than 65 km/h for a few minutes.
The rain sensor switches on the dipped headlights when the windscreen
wipers have been operating continuously for a few seconds and it switches
the lights off when the continuous or intermittent wipe is switched off for
some minutes
⇒page 123.
When the automatic dipped light control is connected but the dipped lights
are off, the warning lamp
lights up on the light control ⇒fig. 73 . If the
automatic control switches on the dipped lights, the instrument and control
lighting is also switched on.
WARNING
•If automatic headlight control is switched on, the headlights will not be
switched on in fog or heavy rain. Therefore, the dipped beam must be
switched on manually.Note
•For those vehicles with the automatic headlight system, when the key is
removed from the ignition, the acoustic signal will only sound if the light
control is in the position
or if the vehicle is not fitted with the coming
home function.
Fig. 73 Automatic
lighting
Leon_EN.book Seite 112 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Lights and visibility
116Dynamic curve lights (AFS)
The dynamic curve lights only operate if the vehicle is travelling at more than
10 km/h and the dipped headlamps are on. When taking a bend, the road is
illuminated better with directional gas discharge lamps than with conven-
tional fixed headlamps.
A fault in the system is indicated via the flashing of the control lamp
on the
dash panel. At the same time, a text message with information or instructions
to perform necessary operations may appear on the dash panel display. Take
the vehicle to a qualified workshop and have the fault repaired.
If the control lamp
lights up on the dash panel but all the lamps are oper-
ating correctly ⇒page 254, there may still be a fault in the dynamic curve
lighting system (AFS). Take the vehicle to a qualified workshop and have the
fault repaired.
WARNING
If the “automatic dipped light control” is switched on, the dipped head-
lights will not be switched on in fog. They should be switched on manually
using the light switch. The driver is personally responsible for the correct
use of lights in all situations. “Automatic headlight control” is merely a
system to support the driver. Where necessary, switch on the lights manu-
ally using the light switch.Fog lights with cornering function*When the indicator is switched on to turn or on very tight bends, the right or
left fog lamp automatically comes on to function as a cornering light. The
cornering light only operates if the dipped lights are on.
WARNING
If the “automatic dipped light control” is switched on, the dipped head-
lights will not be switched on in fog. They should be switched on manually
using the light switch. The driver is personally responsible for the correct
use of lights in all situations. “Automatic headlight control” is merely a
system to support the driver. Where necessary, switch on the lights manu-
ally using the light switch.Hazard warning lights
The hazard warning lights are used to draw the attention of
other road users to your vehicle in emergencies.
If your vehicle breaks down:
1. Park your vehicle at a safe distance from moving traffic.
Fig. 76 Instrument panel:
switch for hazard warning
lights
Leon_EN.book Seite 116 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Lights and visibility117
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
2. Press the button to switch on the hazard warning lights ⇒.
3. Switch the engine off.
4. Apply the handbrake.
5. On a manual gearbox engage 1st gear, and for an automatic move the selector lever to P.
6. Use the warning triangle to draw the attention of other road users to your vehicle.
7. Always take the vehicle key with you when you leave the vehicle.You should switch on the hazard warning lights to warn other road users, for
instance when:•reaching the tail end of a traffic jam,•there is an emergency•your vehicle breaks down due to a technical fault,•you are towing another vehicle or your vehicle is being towed.
All turn signals flash simultaneously when the hazard warning lights are
switched on. That is that the two turn signal indicator lamps
and the
indicator lamp in the switch
will flash at the same time. The hazard
warning lights also work when the ignition is switched off.
Emergency braking function
When the vehicle detects sudden braking, the hazard warning lights auto-
matically come on to warn vehicles behind. The hazard warning lights go off
when the vehicle accelerates or the hazard warning light switch is pressed.
WARNING
•The risk of an accident increases if your vehicle breaks down. Always
use the hazard warning lights and a warning triangle to draw the attention
of other road users to your stationary vehicle.•Never park where the catalytic converter could come into contact with
inflammable materials under the vehicle, for example dry grass or spilt
petrol. This could start a fire!Note
•The battery will run down if the hazard warning lights are left on for a long
time, even if the ignition is switched off.•The use of the hazard warning lights described here is subject to the rele-
vant statutory requirements.
Leon_EN.book Seite 117 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Lights and visibility
118Indicator and main beam headlight lever
The turn signal and main beam lever also operates the
parking lights and the headlight flasher.The turn signal and main beam headlight lever has the following
functions:
Switching on the turn signals
– Move the lever all the way up ⇒fig. 77 to indicate right , and
all the way down to indicate left .
Signalling a lane change
– Push the lever up or down to the point where you incur resistance and then release it. The turn signal will flash several
times. The corresponding warning lamp will also flash. Switching main beam on and off
– Turn the light switch to position
.
–Press the lever forward ⇒fig. 77 to switch on the main
beams.
– Pull the lever back towards you to switch the main beam head- lights off again.
Headlight flashers
– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel to operate the flasher.
Switching on parking lights
– Switch the ignition off and remove the key from the lock.
– Move the lever up or down to turn the right or left-hand parking lights on, respectively.
WARNING
The main beam can dazzle other drivers. Risk of accident! Never use the
main beam headlights or the headlight flasher if they could dazzle other
drivers.
Note
• The turn signals only work when the ignition is switched on. The corre-
sponding warning lamp
or flashes on the dash panel. The warning lamp
flashes when the turn signals are operated, provided a trailer is correctly
attached and connected to the vehicle. If a turn signal bulb is defective, the
warning lamp flashes at double speed. If the trailer turn signal bulbs are
damaged, warning lamp
does not light up. Change the bulb.
Fig. 77 Indicator and
main beam headlight
lever
A1
A2A1
A2
A3
A4
Leon_EN.book Seite 118 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Lights and visibility119
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
•The main beam headlights can only be switched on if the dipped beam
headlights are already on. The warning lamp
then lights up on the dash
panel.
•The headlight flasher comes on for as long as you pull the lever – even if
no other lights are switched on. The warning lamp
then lights up on the
dash panel.
•When the parking lights are switched on, the headlight and the rear light
on the corresponding side of the vehicle light up. The parking lights will only
work if the key is removed from the ignition. If the lights are switched on, a
buzzer gives an audible warning while the driver door is open.•If the turn signal lever is left on after the key has been taken out of the
ignition lock, an acoustic signal sounds when the driver door is opened. This
is a reminder to switch off the turn signal, unless of course you wish to leave
the parking light on.
Interior lightsFront interior light The switch ⇒fig. 78 is used to select the following positions:
Courtesy light position
Rocker switch in flat position (not activated). The interior lights are automat-
ically switched on when the vehicle is unlocked or the key removed from the
ignition lock And turn off approx. 20 seconds after closing the doors. The inte-
rior lights are switched off when the vehicle is locked or when the ignition is
switched on.
Interior light switched on
Push the switch to the position
.
Interior light switched off O
Push the switch to position O ⇒fig. 78.
Fig. 78 Interior roof trim:
front interior lights
AA
Leon_EN.book Seite 119 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17