Seats and stowage135
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Stowage compartmentsStowage compartment on the front passenger sideThe compartment can be opened by pulling the lever ⇒fig. 96 . On opening,
a lamp* lights up, and on closing, it turns off.
If the glove box remains open inadvertently, on locking the vehicle using the
remote control or the key, the lamp* turns off. If the vehicle is not locked using
the remote control or the key and the glove box remains open, after little time
the lamp* turns off.
WARNING
Always keep the stowage compartment cover closed while the vehicle is in
motion in order to reduce the risk of injury caused by a sudden braking or
by an accident.
The centre console with drinks holder
The centre console has a drinks holder.Stowage compartment under the left hand side front seat*
There is a stowage locker with a cover under the front left
hand side seat.The locker* ⇒fig. 97 is opened by pulling on the cover.
There are two open positions of 15 and 60 degrees depending on the pres-
sure applied to the cover. In the 60 degree position, the cover will collapse if
too much pressure is applied.
To close the drawer, press the cover until it locks into position.
Fig. 96 Passenger side:
stowage compartment
Fig. 97 Stowage area
under the front seats
AA
Leon_EN.book Seite 135 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning
146
NotePlease observe the general notes ⇒page 153.Heating and cooling the interiorInterior heating
– Turn the temperature selector ⇒fig. 109 clockwise to select
the required temperature.
– Turn the blower switch to one of the settings 1-4.
– Set the air distribution control to the air flow configuration desired: (towards the windscreen), (towards the chest), (towards the footwell) and (towards the windscreen and
footwell areas). Interior cooling
– Switch on the air conditioning using the button
⇒page 145,
fig. 108 .
– Turn the temperature selector anti-clockwise until the desired cooling output is reached.
– Turn the blower switch to one of the settings 1-4.
Fig. 109 On the dash panel: Climatic controls
A1
AC
Leon_EN.book Seite 146 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Driving
156•Adjust the driver seat or steering wheel so that there is a distance of at
least 25 cm between the steering wheel and your chest ⇒page 155,
fig. 116 . If you fail to observe the minimum distance, the airbag will not
protect you. Risk of fatal injury.•If your physical constitution does not allow you to maintain the
minimum distance of 25 cm, contact an Authorised Service Centre. The
Authorised Service Centre will help you to decide if special specific modifi-
cations are necessary.•If you adjust the steering wheel so that it points towards your face, the
driver airbag will not protect you properly in the event of an accident. Make
sure that the steering wheel points towards your chest.•When driving, always hold the steering wheel with both hands on the
outside of the ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. Never hold the
steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position, or in any other manner (e.g. in
the centre of the steering wheel, or on the inside of the rim). In such cases,
you could receive severe injuries to the arms, hands and head.
SafetyElectronic stabilisation programme (ESP)*
ESP helps make driving safer in certain situations.The Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) contains the electronic differential
lock (EDL) and the traction control system (TCS). The ESP function works
together with the ABS. Both warning lamps will light up if the ESP or ABS
systems are faulty.
The ESP is started automatically when the engine is started.
The ESP is always active, and cannot be switched off. With the ESP switch it is
only possible to switch TCS off.
The TCS can be deactivated when in cases where wheel sliding is desirable.
For example:•When driving with snow chains,
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 117 Detail of the
centre console: ESP
button
Leon_EN.book Seite 156 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Driving157
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
•when driving in deep snow or on loose surfaces,•when rocking the vehicle backwards and forwards to free it from mud, for
example.
Next, the button should be pressed to reactivate the TCS.
When does the warning light switch on or flash ?•On switching the ignition on, it lights up for about two seconds to carry
out a function control.•The warning lamp will start flashing when the vehicle is moving if the ESP
or the TCS is activated. The warning lamp will light up slowly if the TCS is
switched off.•It will light up continuously if there is a malfunction in the ESP.WARNING
•The electronic stabilisation programme (ESP) cannot defy the laws of
physics. This should be kept in mind, particularly on slippery and wet
roads and when towing a trailer.•Always adapt your driving style to suit the condition of the roads and
the traffic situation. Do not let the extra safety afforded by ESP tempt you
into taking any risks when driving, this can cause accidents.•Please refer to the corresponding warning notes on ESP in ⇒page 181,
“Intelligent technology”.
Ignition lockPosition of the ignition keyIgnition switched off, steering lock
In this position ⇒ fig. 118 the ignition and the engine are OFF and the
steering may be locked.
For the Steering lock to operate without the ignition key, turn the steering
wheel until it locks with an audible sound. You should always lock the
steering wheel when you leave your vehicle. This will help prevent theft of the
vehicle ⇒.
Switching the ignition or the glow plug system on
Turn the ignition key to this position and release it. If the key cannot be turned
or it is difficult to turn from position to position , move the steering
wheel back and forth until it loosens up.
Fig. 118 Ignition key
positions
A0
A1
A0
A1
Leon_EN.book Seite 157 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Driving
158Starting
The engine is started when the key is in this position. Electrical components
with a high power consumption are switched off temporarily.
Every time the vehicle is started again, the ignition key must be turned to
position . The repetitive start prevention lock of the ignition prevents
possible damage to the starter motor if the engine is already running.
WARNING
•The ignition key must NOT be removed from the lock until the vehicle
comes to a standstill. Otherwise, the steering could be immediately
blocked- Risk of accident!•Always remove the key from the ignition lock when leaving the vehicle,
even for a short period. This is especially important if children or disabled
people are left alone in the vehicle. They could accidentally start the
engine or work electrical equipment such as the electric windows, conse-
quently resulting in an accident.•Unsupervised use of the keys could start the engine or any electrical
system, such as the electric window. This could result in serious injury.Caution
The starter motor will only work when the engine is stopped (ignition key
position ).Electronic immobiliser
The immobiliser prevents unauthorised persons from driving
the vehicle.Inside the key there is a chip that deactivates the electronic immobiliser auto-
matically when the key is inserted into the ignition. 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 position ⇒page 157.
– Le t go o f t he ign itio n key as so o n as t he eng in e sta r ts; t he sta r te r 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.
A2A0A2
Leon_EN.book Seite 158 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Driving
160
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 ⇒page 263, “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 engine.
– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒page 157, fig. 118 .
After switching the engine off, the radiator fan may run on for up to 10
m i n u t e s . I t is a l s o p o ss i b l e t h a t t h e fa n tu r ns i t s e l f o n o n ce m o r e i f t h e co o la n t
temperature increases due to the heat accumulated in the engine compart-
ment or due to its prolonged exposure to solar radiation.
WARNING
•Never switch the engine off until the vehicle is completely stationary.•The brake servo works only when the engine is running. With the
engine switched off, more strength is needed to brake. As normal brake
operation cannot be performed, risk of accidents and serious injury may
exist.•The steering lock can be immediately blocked once the key is removed
from the ignition lock. The vehicle cannot be steered. Risk of accident.Caution
If the engine has been driven hard for a long period, the engine could over-
heat when it is switched off. Risk of engine damage. For this reason, you
should idle the engine for approx. 2 minutes before you switch it off.
A0
Leon_EN.book Seite 160 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Driving
166Automatic gearbox* / DSG automatic
gearbox*Selector lever positionsSelector lever positions indicated on the cover
P Parking position (lever locked).
R Reverse position.
N Neutral position (lever locked). This position is similar to the neutral
position for manual gearboxes).
D Drive position (economic driving programme).
S Sports driving position.
+/- Tiptronic driving position (this programme is similar to the operation of
a manual gearbox).
Driving programmes
The automatic gearbox / direct shift gearbox has three
programmes.Selecting the economy programme
– This programme selects a higher gear earlier rather than remain
in a lower gear.
– Put the selector lever into position D to drive forwards.
– Put the selector lever into position R to reverse. This position is
shared by all programmes for reversing.
Selecting the sport programme
– Move the lever to position S.If you select the sport programme, S, the program is designed for a sports
mode, that is, a programme which changes up at higher engine speeds to use
Fig. 124 Centre console:
selector lever for auto-
matic gearbox / direct
shift gearbox DSG
Fig. 125 Program selec-
tion
Leon_EN.book Seite 166 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Driving167
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
the full power of the engine. This programme is not recommended for use on
the motorway or in the city.
Selecting the manual programme (tiptronic)
This programme allows driving similar to a manual gearbox.
This programme may be accessed using the selector lever or from the
steering wheel controls when this option is fitted
⇒page 169.
Selector lever locking
The selector lever lock prevents gears from being engaged
inadvertently, which would cause the vehicle to move.Releasing the selector lever lock
– Start the vehicle. – Press and release the brake pedal, at the same time press the
button on the selector lever.
The lock is only activated when the vehicle is stopped or at a speed of less
than 5 km/h. At higher speeds, the lock is automatically released in position
N.
For rapid changes of position (e.g. from R to D) the lever will not lock. If the
lever remains in the position N more than one second then it is locked. With
the automatic lock, the lever is prevented passing from P and N to any other
gear without first pressing the brake pedal.
The selector lever must be put in the position P in order to remove the key.Driving with an automatic gearbox* / DSG automatic gearbox*
The drive and reverse gears are automatically engaged.
Fig. 126 Deactivating the
lock
Fig. 127 Driving
Leon_EN.book Seite 167 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17