Seats and storage compartments
140Rear seatsFold down the backrest – Pull the release button on the backrest (sectioned backrest)
forwards in the direction of the arrow
– Fold down the backrest. You might have to remove the rear head restraints before folding the seat forwards if the front seats have
been moved too far back ⇒page 137.
Folding up the backrest– Fold the backrest back and push the backrest firmly into the lock.
The red marking should no longer be visible ⇒fig. 94 .
WARNING
•Please be careful when raising the backrest! Injuries can be caused if
the seat height is adjusted without due care and attention.
Fig. 93 Folding the seat
backrests down
Fig. 94 Folding up the
rear backrest
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Seats and storage compartments141
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Storage compartmentStorage compartment on the front passenger side The compartment can be opened by pulling the lever ⇒fig. 95 . On opening,
a lamp* lights up, and on closing, it turns off.
If the glove compartment 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 compartment
remains open, after little time the lamp* turns off.
WARNING
Always keep the storage 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 drink holder
The centre console has a drink holder.Storage compartment under the left hand side front seat*
There is a storage compartment with a cover under the front
left hand side seat.The locker* ⇒fig. 96 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. 95 Passenger side:
storage compartment
Fig. 96 Storage area
under the front seats
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Air conditioning151
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Note
Please observe the general notes ⇒page 158.Heating and cooling the interiorInterior heating
– Turn the temperature selector ⇒fig. 108 clockwise to select
the required temperature.
– Turn the blower switch to one of the settings 1-4.
– Set the air distribution contro l 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 conditioner using the button
⇒page 150,
fig. 107 .
– 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. 108 On the dash panel: Climatic controls
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Driving161
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
•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 160,
fig. 115 . 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,
if the airbag is triggered, you may sustain injuries to the arms, hands and
head.
SafetyElectronic Stabilit y Programme (ESP)*
ESP helps make driving safer in certain situations.The Electronic Stability Programme (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. 116 Detailed view of
the centre console: ESP
button
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Driving
162•when driving in deep snow or on loose surfaces,•when the vehicle is stuck, to rock it backwards and forwards.
Next, the button should be pressed to reactivate the TCS.WARNING
•The Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) cannot defy the laws of
physics. This should be kept in mi nd, 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, as this can cause accidents.•Please refer to the corresponding warning notes on ESP in ⇒page 185,
“Intelligent technology”.
Ignition lockPosition of the ignition keyIgnition switched off, steering lock
In this position ⇒fig. 117 the ignition and the engine are OFF and the
steering may get 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. 117 Ignition key
positions
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Driving163
Safety First
Operating Instructions
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Technical Specifications
Starting
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 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 162.
– Le t go o f the ig nit io n key as so on as the e ngin e star t s; t he sta r ter 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.
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Driving165
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Operating Instructions
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WARNING
•Never start or run the engine in unventilated 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 in ⇒page 267, “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 off the engine–Stop the vehicle.
– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒page 162, fig. 117 .
After switching the engine off, the radiator fan may run on for up to 10
m i n u t e s . I t i s a l s o p o s si bl e t ha t t h e fa n tu r n s 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. The steering wheel cannot be turned. Risk of accident.Caution
When the engine has been running under a heavy load for a long period, heat
can accumulate in the engine compartment and cause engine damage. For
this reason, you should idle the engine for approx. 2 minutes before you
switch it off.
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Driving171
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Automatic gearbox* / DSG automatic
gearbox*Selector lever positionsSelector lever positions indicated on the cover
PParking 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 / DSG automatic gearbox has three
programmes.Selecting the economy programme
– This programme selects a higher ge ar 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 programme is designed for a sports
mode, that is, a programme which changes up at higher engine speeds to use
Fig. 123 Centre console:
Selector lever for auto-
matic gearbox / DSG auto-
matic gearbox
Fig. 124 Programme
selection
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