2010 Seat Altea XL coolant

Checking and refilling levels229
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
For the sake of the environment
Service fluids leaks are harmful to the environment. For this reason you
should make regular checks on the ground underneath your vehicle. If you
find spots of oil or other fluids, have your vehicle inspected in a qualified
workshop.Opening the bonnet
The bonnet is released from inside the vehicle.
Before opening the bonnet ensure that the windscreen wipers are in
rest position.
– To release the bonnet, pull the lever under the dashboard
⇒fig. 163 in the direction indicated (arrow). The bonnet will be
released by a spring action ⇒.
– Lift the bonnet using the release lever (arrow) and open the bonnet.
– Release the bonnet stay and secure it in fixture designed for this
in the bonnet.
WARNING
Hot coolant can scald!•Never open the bonnet if you see steam, smoke or coolant escaping
from the engine compartment.
Fig. 163 Detail of foot-
well area on driver's side:
lever for unlocking the
bonnet.
Fig. 164 Arrester hook
for bonnet.
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Checking and refilling levels
230•Wait until no more steam, smoke or coolant is emitted from the bonnet,
then carefully open the bonnet.•When working in the engine compartment, always observe the safety
warnings ⇒page 227.
Closing the bonnet– Raise the bonnet slightly.
– Release the bonnet stay and replace it in its support.
– At a height of about 30 cm let it fall so it is locked.If the b onn et d o es n ot clos e , do not p ress d ownwa rds . Op e n it o nce m or e an d
let it fall as before.
WARNING
If the bonnet is not closed properly, it could open while you are driving and
completely obscure your view of the road. Risk of accident.•After closing the bonnet, always check that it is properly secured. The
bonnet must be flush with the surrounding body panels.•If you notice that the bonnet latch is not secured when the vehicle is
moving, stop the vehicle immediately and close the bonnet properly. Risk
of accident.
Engine oilEngine oil specifications
The engine oil used must conf orm with exact specifications.Specifications
The engine comes with a special, high quality, multi grade oil that can be
used in all seasons of the year except for those regions affected by extreme
cold.
As the use of high quality oil is essential for the correct operation of the
engine and its long useful life, when topping up or replacement is necessary
use only those oils that conform to the requirements of the VW standards.
If it is not possible to find oil conforming to the VW standards then oil
conforming to the ACEA or API standards with an appropriate viscosity at
atmospheric temperature should be used instead. The use of this type of oil
may have some repercussions on the performance of the engine for example,
long starting time, increased consumption and a higher emission level.
If a top up is required then different oils may be mixed as long as they all
conform to the VW standards.
The specifications (VW standards) set out in the following page should
appear on the container of the service oil; the container will display together
the different standards for petrol and diesel engines, the oil can be used for
both types of engines.
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels
234•Never pour oil down drains or into the ground.•Use a suitable container when draining the used oil. It has to be large
enough to hold all the engine oil.CoolantCoolant specifications
Coolant is a mixture of water and at least 40% coolant addi-
tive.The cooling system must be filled with a mixture of water and at least 40 % of
our coolant additive G 12+ or an additive with the specification TT-VW 774 F
(it is dyed purple). This mixture gives the necessary frost protection down to
-25°C and protects the alloy parts of the cooling system against corrosion. It
also prevents scaling and raises the boiling point of the coolant.
The concentration of coolant must always be at least 40% - even if frost
protection is not required.
If greater frost protection is required in very cold climates, the proportion of
the antifreeze additive G 12+ can be increased. However, the percentage of
coolant additives should not exceed 60%, as this would reduce the frost
protection. It would also reduce the cooling effect. A mixture with 60%
coolant additive will give frost protection to approx. -40°C.
WARNING
•The coolant additive is toxic. There is a toxic risk. Always keep the
coolant additive in the original container which should be stored out of the
reach of children. The same applies to coolant which you have drained off.
•The coolant additive G 12+ must be added in sufficient quantities to
provide anti-freeze protection at the coldest ambient temperatures that
can be expected. At extremely cold ambient temperatures, the coolant
could freeze, causing the vehicle to breakdown. As the heater would also
not work in this situation, there is a risk of suffering exposure!Caution
•Other additives may give considerably inferior corrosion protection. The
resulting corrosion in the cooling system can lead to a loss of coolant,
causing serious damage to the engine.•The coolant additive G 12+ (purple) can be mixed with the additive G 12
(red) or G 11. Never mix G12 (red colour) with G 11.WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels235
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
Checking the coolant level and topping up

The correct coolant level is important for fault-free func-
tioning of the engine cooling system.Before opening the bonnet, read and observe the warnings ⇒ in
“Safety instructions on working in the engine compartment” on
page 227.
Opening the coolant expansion tank
– Switch off the engine and allow it to cool.
– To prevent scalding, cover the cap on the expansion tank with a
thick cloth and carefully unscrew the cap ⇒.
Checking coolant level
– Look into the open coolant expansion tank and read off the coolant level. – If the level is underneath the “MIN” mark, top up with coolant.
To p p i n g u p c o o l a n t
–Only use
new coolant.
– Do not fill above the “MAX” mark.
Closing the coolant expansion tank
– Screw the cap on again tightly.
The position of the coolant expansion reservoir is shown in the corresponding
engine compartment diagram ⇒page 287.
Make sure that the coolant meets the required specifications ⇒ page 234.
Do not use a different type of additive if coolant additive G 12+ is not avail-
able. In this case use only water and bring the coolant concentration back up
to the correct level as soon as possible by putting in the specified additive
⇒ page 234.
Always top up with new coolant.
Do not fill above the “MAX” mark. Otherwise the excess coolant will be forced
out of the cooling system when the engine is hot.
The coolant additive G 12+ (dyed purple) may be mixed with G 12 (dyed red)
and also with G 11.
WARNING
Any work carried out in the engine compartment or on the engine must be
carried out cautiously.•When working in the engine compartment, always observe the safety
warnings ⇒page 227.
Fig. 168 In the engine
compartment: Coolant
expansion tank cap
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Checking and refilling levels
236•When the engine is warm or hot, the cooling system is pressurised! Do
not unscrew the cap on the expansion tank when the engine is hot. This is
a burn injury risk.Caution
•When mixed with other additives the colour of G 12 will change to brown.
If this occurs you should have the coolant changed immediately. Failure to do
so will result in engine damage!•If a lot of coolant has been lost, wait for the engine to cool down before
putting in cold coolant. This avoids damaging the engine. Large coolant
losses are an indication of leaks in the cooling system. See a specialised
workshop immediately and have the cooling system checked. Otherwise,
there is a risk of engine damage.
Washer fluid and windscreen wiper bladesTopping up washer fluid

The water for cleaning the windscreen should always be
mixed with washer fluid.The windscreen washer and the headlight washing system are supplied with
fluid from the windscreen washer fluid container in the engine compartment.
The reservoir is located on the right-hand side of the engine compartment.
Plain water is not enough to clean th e windscreen and headlights. We recom-
mend that you always add a product to the windscreen washer fluid.
Approved windscreen cleaning products exist on the market with high deter-
gent and anti-freeze properties, these may be added all-year-round. Please
follow the dilution instructions on the packaging.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 169 In the engine
compartment: Cap of
windscreen washer fluid
reservoir.
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Technical Data287
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
Te c h n i c a l D a t aChecking fluid levelsFrom time to time, the levels of the different fluids in the
vehicle must be checked. Never fill with incorrect fluids,
otherwise serious damage to the engine may be caused.
Coolant expansion tank
Windscreen washer fluid reservoir
Engine oil filler cap
Engine oil dipstick
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery (underneath the cover)
The checking and refilling of service fluids are carried out on the components
mentioned above. These operations are described in the ⇒page 227. Overview
Further explanations, instructions and restrictions on the technical data as of
⇒
page 283 are given.
Fig. 210 Diagram for the
location of the various
elements
A1A2A3A4A5A6
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Index
302CCatalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
CD changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Automatic speed dependent locking and un-locking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Emergency unlocking system . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Locking system for involuntary unlocking . . 97
Selective unlocking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Unlocking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Central locking button Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Centre arm rest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Cetane number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Changing gear See Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Changing gear with the Tiptronic gear system 181
Changing the lamps Main headlight lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
rear lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Changing the main headlight lamps dipped beam lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
main beam lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Side lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
turn signal lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Changing the rear light lamps Position light, fog light and rear light on the tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273 Changing the rear lights
Indicator, side and brake lights on the bodywork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
luggage compartment lights . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Changing windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . . . . 237
Chassis number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Checking battery electrolyte level . . . . . . . . . . 242
Checking engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Categorisation in groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Group 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Group 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Group 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Groups 0 and 0+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
ISOFIX system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Child seats on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Cigarette lighter* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Cleaning alloy wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Cleaning and caring for your vehicle . . . . . . . . 209
Cleaning chrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Cleaning engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Cleaning steel wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Cleaning windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Climatic* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Climatronic General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Cloth seat covers cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Clothes hook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Coming/leaving home function . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Control lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Control lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Controls
Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Light switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Convenience closing Sliding/tilting roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Convenience opening Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234, 235 Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Coolant Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Coolant level warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Coolant Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Coolant temperature Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Cruise control system Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Cruise control* Turning off the cruise control system . . . . 190
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Index
304Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Engine fault
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Engine management Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Checking level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Oil properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Topping up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Engine oil dipstick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine oil pressure monitor indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Environmental friendliness . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Environmental tip Avoiding pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
ESP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85, 195
Example of menu use Program a speed limit warning . . . . . . . . . . 69
To activate and deactivate the speed limit warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Example of the use of the menus Open the Configuration menu with the MFD lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Open the Configuration menu with the steering wheel controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Examples of menu use
Open the main menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Open the winter tyres menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
To close the winter tyres menu . . . . . . . . . . 69
Exhaust gasses purification system . . . . . . . . 201
Exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
FFabric trim cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Fire extinguisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Floor mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Fog lights with cornering function . . . . . . . . . . 118
folding table* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Folding the seat backrests down . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Foot brake Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Four wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Front interior light type 1 Switching light off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Switching light on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Front interior light type 2 Switching light off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Switching light on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Front passenger airbag deactivation . . . . . . . . . 44
Front reading lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Front seat adjustment Lumbar support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Frontal airbags
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Fuel Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Fuel level Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 warning message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Fuel Tank Opening the fuel tank flap . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Fuel tank See Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Fuel: saving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
GG 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Gear shift pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
General overview of the engine compartment 287
Glove compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Glow plug system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
GRA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188HHandbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83, 183
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