If and when
266Towing and tow-startingTo w - s t a r t i n g
The use of jump leads is preferable to tow-starting.We recommend that you do not tow-start your vehicle. Jump-starting
is preferable ⇒ page 263.
However, if your vehicle has to be tow-started:
– Engage the 2
nd or the 3
rd gear.
– Keep the clutch pressed down.
– Switch the ignition on.
– Once both vehicles are moving, release the clutch.
– As soon as the engine starts, press the clutch and move the gear lever into neutral. This helps to prevent driving into the towing
vehicle.
WARNING
The risk of accidents is high when tow-starting. The vehicle being towed
can easily collide with the towing vehicle.
Caution
When tow-starting, fuel could enter the catalytic converter and damage it.
CommentsPlease observe the following points if you use a tow-rope:
Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
– Drive slowly at first until the tow-rope is taut. Then accelerate gradually.
– Begin and change gears cautiously. If you are driving an auto- matic vehicle, accelerate gently.
– Remember that the brake servo and power steering are not working in the vehicle you are towing. Brake earlier than you
would normally, but with a more gentle pressure on the brake.
Notes for the driver of the towed vehicle
– Ensure that the tow-rope remains taut at all times when towing.Tow-rope or tow-bar
It is easier and safer to tow a vehicle with a tow-bar. You should only use a
tow-rope if you do not have a tow-bar.
A tow-rope should be slightly elastic to reduce the loading on both vehicles.
It is advisable to use a tow-rope made of synthetic fibre or similarly elastic
material.
Attach the tow-rope or the tow-bar only to the towing eyes provided or a
towing bracket.
Driving style
Towing requires some experience, especially when using a tow-rope. Both
drivers should be familiar with the technique required for towing. Inexperi-
enced drivers should not attempt to tow-start or tow away another vehicle.
Leon_EN.book Seite 266 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
General notes on the technical data
272Towing a trailerTrailer weightsTrailer weights
The trailer weights and drawbar loads approved are selected in intensive
trials according to precisely defined criteria. The approved trailer weights are
valid for vehicles in the EU for maximum speeds of 80 km/h (in certain
circumstances up to 100 km/h). The figures may be different in other coun-
tries. All data in the official vehicle documents take precedence over these
data ⇒ .
Drawbar load
The maximum permitted weight exerted by the trailer drawbar on the ball joint
of the towing bracket must not exceed 75 kg.
In the interest of road safety, we recommend that you always tow
approaching the maximum drawbar load. The response of the trailer on the
road will be poor if the drawbar load is too small.
If the maximum permissible drawbar load cannot be met (e.g. with small,
empty and light-weight single axle trailers o r ta n d e m a x l e t r a i l e r s wi t h a n a x le
base of less than 1 metre), at least 4% of the actual trailer weight is a legal
stipulation for a drawbar load.
WARNING
•For safet y reas ons , d o not excee d the 8 0 k m/h limit . Th is is als o valid in
countries where higher speeds are permitted.•Never exceed the maximum trailer weights or the draw bar loading. If
the permissible axle load or the permissible total weight is exceeded, the
driving characteristics of the vehicle may change, leading to accidents,
injuries and damage to the vehicle.
WheelsTyre pressure, snow chains, wheel boltsTyre pressures
The sticker with the tyre pressure values can be found on the inside of the
tank flap. The tyre pressure values given there are for cold tyres. The slightly
raised pressures of warm tyres must not be reduced ⇒.
Snow chains
Snow chains may be fitted only to the front wheels.
Consult the chapter “wheels” of this manual.
Wheel bolts
After the wheels have been changed, the tightening torque of the wheel bolts
s ho uld b e che cke d as s o on as p ossible wit h a to rqu e w re nch ⇒ . The tight-
ening torque for steel and alloy wheels is 120 Nm.
WARNING
•Check the tyre pressure at least once per month. Checking tyre pressure
value is very important. If the tyre pressure is too high or too low, there is
an increased danger of accidents, particularly at high speeds.•If the torque of the wheel bolts is too low, they could loosen while the
vehicle is in motion. Risk of accident! If the tightening torque is too high,
the wheel bolts and threads can be damaged.Note
We recommend that you ask your Authorised Service Centre for information
about appropriate wheel, tyre and snow chain size.
Leon_EN.book Seite 272 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Index295
Coolant temperature
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Cruise control system Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Cruise control* Turning off the cruise control system . . . . . 178
Curtain airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40DDanger of fitting a child seat on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Dash panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Dash panel cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Dash panel menu Configuration menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Example of menu use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Lights and visibility menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Dash panel menus Main menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Vehicle status menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Daytime lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Diesel engine Winter driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Diesel engine particulate filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 Differential lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Differential lock fault (EDL)
warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Digital clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Dipped headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Disabling front passenger airbag Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Disabling the airbag Disabling front passenger airbag . . . . . . . . . 42
Display (without warning or information texts) . 59
Displays in the Multi-function display Memory displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Disposal Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Door lock cylinders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Door release lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Doors Childproof locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Drive wheels traction control system . . . . . . . . 182
Driveshaft differential XDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Driving Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Economically / With Respect for the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
With a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Driving programmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Driving safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Driving with an automatic gearbox / DSG automatic
gearbox* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Duplicate keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Dust filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Dynamic curve lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Dynamic headlight range control . . . . . . . . . . . 115
EEconomical driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
EDL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
EDS Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Electrical sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Electronic differential lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Electronic immobiliser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84, 158
Electronic stabilisation program . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Electronic stabilisation programme . . . . . . . . . . 83 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Electronic stabilisation programme (ESP) warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Emergency braking function . . . . . . . . . . 117, 181
emergency manual locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Emergency opening Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Emission control system warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Engine Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Leon_EN.book Seite 295 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17
Index
296Engine compartment
Working in the engine compartment . . . . . 215
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Engine fault Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Engine management Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Checking level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Oil properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Topping up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Engine oil dipstick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Engine oil pressure monitor indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 Environmental friendliness . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Environmental tip Avoiding pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Environmentally friendly driving . . . . . . . . . . . 190
ESP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83, 183
Example of menu use Program a speed limit warning . . . . . . . . . . 67
To activate and deactivate the speed limit warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Example of the use of the menus
Open the Configuration menu with the MFD lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Open the Configuration menu with the steering wheel controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Examples of menu use Open the main menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Open the winter tyres menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
To close the winter tyres menu . . . . . . . . . . 67
Exhaust gas purification system . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
FFabric trim cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Fastening rings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Fire extinguisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
First-aid kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Floor mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Fog lights with cornering function . . . . . . . . . . 116
Foot brake Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Four wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Front drinks holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Front interior light Switching off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Switching on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Front passenger airbag deactivation . . . . . . . . . 42 Front reading lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Front seat adjustment
Lumbar support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Frontal airbags Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Fuel Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Fuel level Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 warning message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Fuel Tank Opening the fuel tank flap . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Fuel tank See Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Fuel: save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
GG 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Gear shift pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
General overview of the engine compartment 273
Glove compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Glow plug system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
GRA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Leon_EN.book Seite 296 Dienstag, 8. September 2009 5:25 17