2010 Seat Exeo ST tow

Trailer towing205
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Equipment and accessories
Before mounting equipment and accessories (e.g. bicycle
rack) please observe the following notes.The equipment/accessories mounted must not protrude more than 700 mm
from the ball joint .
The total weight (mounted equipment plus the load) must not exceed 75 kg.
The maximum load depends on where the centre of gravity lies.
The maximum weight decreases as the distance between the centre of gravity
and the ball joint increases.
The following limits apply:
If the distance is 300 mm, the total weight (incl. the equipment mounted)
must not exceed 75 kg.
If the distance is 600 mm, the total weight (incl. the equipment mounted)
must not exceed 35 kg. Only bicycle racks for
a maximum of three bicycles may be used.
Equipment and accessories mounted on the towing bracket
SEAT recommends that you only mount equipment (e.g. bicycle rack) on the
towing bracket which has been officially approved.. If you wish to attach other
equipment please make sure that it has been approved by the manufacturer
for use on the towing bracket. If you mount unsuitable equipment, this can
cause damage to the towing bracket. In an extreme case, damage to the
towing bracket could cause it to break ⇒.
WARNING
•If you wish to mount equipment which has not been approved by SEAT,
please ensure that it is suitable for use on SEAT vehicles.•The use of unsuitable accessories ca n result in severe damage to the
towing bracket, which could break while pulling a trailer. Risk of accident.•Never use tools of any kind when fitting and removing the ball joint.
This would damage the locking device, no longer guaranteeing the correct
working order of the bracket. This could lead to an accident.
Fig. 161 Load distribu-
tion of equipment and
accessories
A1A1
AAAB
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Trailer towing
206Removable towing bracketIntroduction
Special care is required when fitting and removing the towing
bracket.The removable ball joint attachment for the towing bracket is stored under the
floor panel in the luggage compartment.•Vehicles with a spare wheel ⇒ fig. 162.
The ball joint can be fitted and removed by hand.
Accessories mounted on the towing bracket
Please note that the ball joint attachment can be damaged by using unsuit-
able equipment that is mounted onto the towing bracket (e.g. bicycle rack).
Due to the material construction, such damage to the towing bracket dramat-
ically increases safety risks and in extreme cases could lead to breakage of
the towing bracket while towing ⇒. Therefore,
before buying such equipment, ensure that it is suitable for
mounting onto the vehicle's towing bracket and that it is approved for this
purpose. To prevent damage to the ball joint from unsuitable equipment, we
recommend that equipment for the towing bracket be purchased through
your SEAT Dealer. Also see ⇒page 223.
WARNING
•Only mount equipment on the towing bracket of your vehicle if you are
certain it will not damage the bracket. The use of unsuitable accessories
can result in severe damage to the towing bracket, which could break while
pulling a trailer. Risk of accident.•Never use tools of any kind when fitting and removing the ball joint.
This would damage the locking device, no longer guaranteeing the correct
working order of the bracket. This could lead to an accident.Note
•Do not attempt to modify or repair the ball joint or other towing bracket
components.•Should you have any difficulties when using the towing bracket, or
suspect that it is not fitted properly, contact a qualified workshop.•Before setting off, always check that the ball joint is secured properly
⇒ page 209.•Never disengage the ball joint with the caravan / trailer still hitched or
with a bicycle rack or similar accessory still attached.•It is advisable to remove the ball joint when you are not towing a trailer.
Make sure that the cover piece is properly fitted on the mounting fixture on
the vehicle.•Remove the ball joint before washing the vehicle with pressurised steam
equipment. Make sure the cover piece is fitted correctly onto the mounting
fixture.
Fig. 162 Luggage
compartment: Spare
wheel with towing bracket
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Trailer towing207
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Fitting the ball joint (step 1)– Remove the cover piece ⇒ fig. 163 on the mounting fixture
below the bumper as far as it will go. The cover piece is held
automatically in the open position.
– Make sure the mounting fixture is clean. If not, clean it ⇒.Cont ⇒page 207, “Fitting the ball joint (step 2)”.
WARNING
It is important to keep the mounting fixture clean. Otherwise the ball joint
may fail to engage safely and securely. This could lead to an accident.
Fitting the ball joint (step 2)
Fig. 163 Rear bumper:
Open the cover piece
A2
A1
Fig. 164 Removable
towing bracket: Ball jointFig. 165 Removable
towing bracket: Ball joint
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Trailer towing
208
Make sure the ball joint is clean and undamaged
– Check the locking pin , release pin , shaft section and knob ⇒page 207, fig. 164 on the ball joint to make sure they
are clean and undamaged.
The spring mechanism inside the ball joint must be in the ready
position
– Check that the red marking ⇒ page 207, fig. 165 on the knob
is inside the black zone marked on the ball joint.
– Check that the locking pin is inside the holes in the shaft section of the ball joint.
– Check that the knob protrudes visibly from the ball joint, so that there is a clear gap between the knob and the ball joint.The ball joint can only be installed if the internal spring mechanism is in the
ready position.
Cont ⇒page 208, “Fitting the ball joint (step 3)”.
Fitting the ball joint (step 3)
AA
AB
AC
AD
AAAB
AC
Fig. 166 Removable
towing bracket: Setting
the spring mechanism to
the "ready" positionFig. 167 Removable
towing bracket: Inserting
the ball joint
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Trailer towing209
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Setting the spring mechanism to the ready position (if required)
– Insert the key ⇒page 208, fig. 166 in the lock on the knob
and turn it towards the red marking.
– Pull out the knob in direction , hold and turn in direction
until the locking pin engages and the release pin moves
out visibly ⇒ .
Inserting the ball joint
– With the spring mechanism in the ready position, insert the ball joint into the mounting fixture and push it upwards ⇒page 208,
fig. 167 in the direction indicated (arrow) ⇒. It should lock
into position automatically. You should now clearly hear it click
into place.
– Lock the ball joint by turning the key to the green marking.
– Remove the key.Cont ⇒page 209, “Fitting the ball joint (step 4)”.
WARNING
•If it is not possible to set the spring mechanism to the ready position as
described above, do not use the ball joint. Please contact a qualified work-
shop.•To avoid injury, keep your hands away from the knob or cover piece
when inserting the ball joint in the mounting fixture. Otherwise, you could
be injured.
Fitting the ball joint (step 4)
A1
AA
AB
A2
A3
Fig. 168 Removable
towing bracket: Safety
checkFig. 169 Rear bumper:
Pulling down the power
socket
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Trailer towing
210
Safety check
– Check that the green marking ⇒ page 209, fig. 168 on the
knob is inside the black zone marked on the ball joint.
– Check that the knob is directly against the ball joint, so that there is no gap between the knob and the ball joint -arrow-.
– Check that the ball joint is locked and the key is removed so that the knob cannot be pulled out ⇒.
– Check that the ball joint fits tightly in the mounting fixture (try moving it about to check).
To w i n g s o c k e t
– To plug in the electrical connection for the trailer, pull down the socket below the bumper ⇒ page 209, fig. 169.If the safety check is not satisfactory, the ball joint must be fitted again prop-
erly.
WARNING
To avoid accidents, the ball joint must meet all the safety requirements
listed in the safety check. The towing bracket must not be used if any one
of these requirements is not met. If this is the case, you should contact a
qualified workshop.
Removing the ball joint– Insert the key in the lock ⇒fig. 170 on the knob.
– Unlock the ball joint by turning the key to the red marking.
AA
Fig. 170 Removable
towing bracket: Removing
the ball jointFig. 171 Rear bumper:
fitting the cover piece
A1
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Trailer towing211
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
– Take hold of the ball joint and pull out the knob in direction .
– Keep hold of the knob and turn it as far as it will go in direction
.
– Release the knob. The spring mechanism will remain in the ready position ⇒.
– Pull the ball joint down out of the mounting fixture ⇒page 210, fig. 171 . The cover piece will cover the mounting
fixture automatically .
– Put away the ball joint attachment under the floor panel in the luggage compartment.
– Move the socket back up to its original position.
WARNING
•To avoid injury, keep your hands away from the locking pin and the
release pin when releasing the locking mechanism.•Make sure that the cover piece is properly engaged on the mounting
fixture on the vehicle. Otherwise the ball joint may fail to engage securely
if dirt accumulates in the mounting fixture.
AA
AB
A1
A2
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Trailer towing
212Fitting a towing bracket*
It is possible to fit a towing bracket to the rear of the vehicle.
Fig. 172 Attachment
points for towing bracket
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