2011 Seat Altea service

Checking and refilling levels
246•Before opening the bonnet to check the brake fluid level, read and
observe the warnings ⇒page 232.•Brake fluid should be stored in the closed original container in a safe
place out of reach of children. There is a toxic risk.•Complete the brake fluid change according to the Maintenance
Programme. Heavy use of the brakes may cause a vapour lock if the brake
fluid is left in the system for too long. This would seriously affect the effi-
ciency of the brakes and the safety of the vehicle. This may cause an acci-
dent.Caution
Brake fluid could damage the paintwork. Wipe off any brake fluid from the
paintwork immediately.
For the sake of the environment
The brake pads and fluid must be collected and disposed of according the
applicable regulations. The SEAT service network has the necessary equip-
ment and qualified personnel for collecting and disposing of this waste
material.
Vehicle batteryWarnings on handling the battery
WARNING
Always be aware of the danger of injury and chemical burns as well as the
risk of accident or fire when working on the battery and the electrical
system:•Wear eye protection. Protect your eyes, skin and clothing from acid and
particles containing lead.•Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. Wear protective gloves and
eye protection. Do not tilt the batteries. This could spill acid through the
vents. Rinse battery acid from eyes immediately for several minutes with
clear water. Then seek medical care immediately. Neutralise any acid
splashes on the skin or clothing with a soapy solution, and rinse off with
plenty of water. If acid is swallowed by mistake, consult a doctor immedi-
ately.•Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking are prohibited. When handling
cables and electrical equipment, av oid causing sparks and electrostatic
WARNING (continued)

Wear eye protection

Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. Wear protec-
tive gloves and eye protection!
Ž
Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking are prohibited!
Ÿ
A highly explosive mixture of gases is released when the
battery is under charge.

Keep children away from acid and batteries!
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Checking and refilling levels
248Charging and changing the vehicle battery
The battery is maintenance-free and is checked during the
inspection service. All work on the vehicle battery requires
specialist knowledge.If you often drive short distances or if the vehicle is not driven for long
periods, the battery should be checked by a specialised workshop between
the scheduled services.
If the battery has discharged and you have problems starting the vehicle, the
battery might be damaged. If this happens, we recommend you have the
vehicle battery checked by an Authorised Service Centre where it will be re-
charged or replaced.
Charging the battery
The vehicle battery should be charged by a specialised workshop only, as
batteries using special technology have been installed and they must be
charged in a controlled environment.
Replacing a vehicle battery
The battery has been developed to suit the conditions of its location and has
special safety features.
Genuine SEAT batteries fulfil the maintenance, performance and safety spec-
ifications of your vehicle.
WARNING
•We recommend you use only maintenance-free or cycle free leak-proof
batteries which comply with standards T 825 06 and VW 7 50 73. This
standard applies as of 2001.•Before starting any work on the batteries, you must read and observe
the warnings ⇒ in “Warnings on handling the battery” on page 246.
For the sake of the environment
Batteries contain toxic substances such as sulphuric acid and lead. They
m ust b e d isp ose d of app ro pr iate ly a nd m ust no t b e disp ose d of wit h or di na r y
household waste.
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Wheels and tyres249
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Wheels and tyresWheelsGeneral notesAvoiding damage
– If you have to drive over a kerb or similar obstacle, drive very
slowly and at a right angle.
– Keep grease, oil and fuel off the tyres.
– Inspect the tyres regularly for da mage (cuts, cracks or blisters,
etc.). Remove any foreign objects embedded in the treads.
Storing tyres
– When you remove the tyres, mark them in order to maintain the same direction of rotation when they are installed again.
– When removed, the wheels and/or tyres should be stored in a cool, dry and preferably dark location.
– Store tyres in a vertical position if they are not fitted on wheel
rims.New tyres
New tyres must be run in ⇒ page 205.
The tread depth of new tyres may vary, according to the type and make of tyre
and the tread pattern. Concealed damage
Damage to tyres and rims is often not readily visible. If you notice unusual
vibrations or the vehicle pulling to one side, this may indicate that one of the
tyres is damaged. The tyres should be checked immediately by an Authorised
Service Centre.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
An arrow on the tyre sidewall indicates the direction of rotation on tyres with
directional tread. Always observe the direction of rotation indicated when
fitting the wheel. This guarantees optimum grip and helps to avoid aqua-
planing, excessive noise and wear.
WARNING
•New tyres do not have maximum grip during the first 500 km. Drive
particularly carefully to avoid possible accidents.•Never drive with damaged tyres. This may cause an accident.•If you notice unusual vibrations or if the vehicle pulls to one side when
driving, stop the vehicle immediately and check the tyres for damage.
Checking tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure can be seen on the sticker on the
inside of the tank flap.1. Read the required tyre inflatio n pressure from the sticker. The
values refer to Summer tyres. For Winter tyres, you must add 0.2
bar to the values given on the sticker.
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Wheels and tyres251
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres lead to increased fuel consumption and tyre wear.Significant tyre pressure lossThe tyre symbol
~ is displayed and indicates that the tyre pressure of at least
one tyre is insufficient.
–Stop the vehicle.
– Switch the engine off.
– Check the tyre(s).
– Change the wheel if necessary.
Tyre ser vice life
The service life of tyres is dependent on tyre pressure, driving
style and fitting.
Fig. 172 Tyre tread wear
indicatorsFig. 173 Diagram for
changing wheels
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Wheels and tyres
252Wear indicators
The original tyres on your vehicle have 1.6 mm high tread wear indicators
⇒ page 251, fig. 172 , running across the tread. Depending on the make,
there will be 6 to 8 of them evenly spaced around the tyre. Markings on the
tyre sidewall (for instance the letters “TWI” or other symbols) indicate the
positions of the tread wear indicators. The minimum tread depth required by
law is 1.6 mm (measured in the tread grooves next to the tread wear indica-
tors). Worn tyres must be replaced. Different figures may apply in export
countries ⇒.
Tyre pressure
Incorrect tyre pressure causes premature wear and could cause tyre blow-out.
For this reason, the tyre pressure should be checked at least once per month
⇒ page 249.
Driving style
Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard braking all increase tyre wear.
Changing wheels around
If the front tyres are worn considerably more than the rear ones it is advisable
to change them around as shown ⇒page 251, fig. 173. All the tyres will then
last for about the same time.
Wheel balance
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced. However, various factors encoun-
tered in normal driving can cause them to become unbalanced, which results
in steering vibration.
Unbalanced wheels should be rebalanced, as they otherwise cause excessive
wear on steering, suspension and tyres. A wheel must also be rebalanced
when a new tyre is fitted.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment causes excessive tyre wear, impairing the safety of
the vehicle. If tyres show excessive wear, you should have the wheel align-
ment checked by an Authorised Service Centre.
WARNING
There is a serious danger of accidents if a tyre bursts during driving!•The tyres must be replaced at the latest when the tread is worn down to
the tread wear indicators. Failure to do so could result in an accident. Worn
tyres do not grip well at high speeds on wet roads. There is also a greater
risk of aquaplaning.•At continuously high speeds, a tyre with insufficient pressure flexes
more. This causes it to overheat. This can cause tread separation and tyre
blow-out. Risk of accident. Always observe the recommended tyre pres-
sures.•I f t y r e s s h o w e x ce s s i v e w e a r, y o u s h o u l d h a v e t h e r u n n i n g g e a r ch e cke d
by an Authorised Service Centre.•Keep chemicals such as oil, fuel and brake fluid away from tyres.•Damaged wheels and tyres must be replaced immediately!For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption.Run-flat tyres
Run-flat tyres allow you to continue driving even with a punc-
tured tyre, in the majority of cases.In vehicles that are factory-fitted with run-flat tyres
25) the loss of tyre
pressure is indicated on the instrument panel.
25)Depending upon version and country.
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Wheels and tyres253
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Driving with run-flat tyres (emergency running)
– Leave the ESP/TCS (Electronic Stability Programme) switched on,
or switch on ⇒page 198.
– Continue driving carefully and slowly (80 km/h maximum).
– Avoid sudden manoeuvres and sharp turns.
– Avoid driving over obstacles (for example kerbs) or potholes.
– Look out for the ESP/TCS intervening often, smoke coming from the tyres or the smell of rubber, the vehicle vibrating or a clat-
tering noise. If any of these occur, stop the vehicle.The run-flat tyres have a tag on the side of the tyre, with the description:
“DSST”, “Eufonia”, “RFT”, “ROF”, “RSC”, “SSR” or “ZP”.
The sides of this type of tyre are reinforced. When the tyres lose air they are
supported on the sides (emergency driving).
The loss of pressure in the tyre is shown on the instrument panel. You can
then drive a maximum of 80 km and if the circumstances are favourable (for
example, low load), even more.
The damaged tyre should be changed as soon as possible. The rim should be
checked in a specialist workshop to detect possible damage and replace it if
necessary. We recommend you contact Technical Service. If more than one
tyre is being used under emergency conditions, this reduces the distance
which can be travelled.
Starting driving in emergency conditions
When loss in tyre pressure is displayed on the instrument panel, this means
that at least one tyre is being driven in emergency conditions ⇒.
End of emergency operation
Do not drive on if:
•smoke is coming from one of the tyres,•there is a smell of rubber,•the vehicle vibrates,•there is a rattling noise.
When is it no longer possible to continue driving even using run-flat tyres?•If one of the tyres has been severely damaged in an accident, etc. If a tyre
has been badly damaged there is a risk that parts of the tread can be thrown
off and cause damage to the fuel lines, brake pipes or fuel filler.•It is also advisable to stop driving if severe vibrations occur, or if the wheel
starts overheating and gives off smoke.WARNING
When driving in emergency conditions, the driving quality of the vehicle is
considerably impaired.•The maximum permitted speed of 80 km/h is subject to road and
weather conditions. Please observe legal requirements when doing so.•Avoid sharp turns and rapid manoeuvres, and brake earlier than usual.•Avoid driving over obstacles (for example kerbs) or potholes.•If one or more tyres are being driven in emergency conditions, the
driving quality of the vehicle is impaired and there is a risk of accident.Note
•The run-flat tyres do not “deflate” on losing pressure because they are
supported on the reinforced sides. Therefore defects in the tyre cannot be
detected with a visual inspection.•Snow chains must not be used on front tyres used in emergency
conditions.
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Wheels and tyres
254New tyres and wheels
New tyres and wheels have to be run in.The tyres and wheel rims are an essential part of the vehicle’s design. The
tyres and rims approved by SEAT are specially matched to the characteristics
of the vehicle and make a major contribution to good road holding and safe
handling ⇒.
Tyres should be replaced at least in pairs and not individually (i.e. both front
tyres or both rear tyres together). A knowledge of tyre designations makes it
easier to choose the correct tyres. Radial tyres have the tyre designations
marked on the sidewall, for example: 195/65 R15 91T
This contains the following information:
195 Tyre width in mm
65 Height/width ratio in %
RTyre construction: Radial
15 Rim diameter in inches
91 Load rating code
TSpeed rating
The tyres could also have the following information:•A direction of rotation symbol•“Reinforced” denotes heavy-duty tyres.
The manufacturing date is also indicated on the tyre sidewall (possibly only
on the inner side of the wheel).
“DOT ... 1103 ...” means, for example, that the tyre was produced in the 11th
week of 2003.
We recommend that work on tyres and wheels be carried out by an Authorised
Service Centre. They are familiar with the procedure and have the necessary special tools and spare parts as well as the proper facilities for disposing of
the old tyres.
Any Authorised Service Centre has full information on the technical require-
ments when installing or changing tyres, wheels or wheel trims.
WARNING
•We recommend that you use only wheels and tyres which have been
approved by SEAT for your model. Failure to do so could impair vehicle
handling. Risk of accident.•Avoid running the vehicle on tyres that are more than 6 years old. If you
have no alternative, you should drive slowly and with extra care at all
times.•Never use old tyres or those with an unknown history of use.•If wheel trims are retrofitted, you must ensure that the flow of air to the
brakes is not restricted. This could cause them to overheat.•All four wheels must be fitted with radial tyres of the same type, size
(rolling circumference) and the same tread pattern.For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of according to the laws in the country concerned.
Note
•For technical reasons, it is not generally possible to use the wheels from
other vehicles. This can also apply to wheels of the same model. The use of
wheels or tyres which have not been approved by SEAT for use with your
model may invalidate the vehicle’s type approval for use on public roads.•If the spare tyre is not the same as the tyres that are mounted on the
vehicle (e.g. winter tyres) you should only use the spare tyre for a short period
of time and drive with extra care. Refit the normal road wheel as soon as
possible.
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Wheels and tyres255
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must be tightened to the correct torque.The design of wheel bolts is matched to the rims. If different wheel rims are
fitted, the correct wheel bolts with the right length and correctly shaped bolt
heads must be used. This ensures that wheels are fitted securely and that the
brake system functions correctly.
In certain circumstances, you should not use wheel bolts from a different
vehicle, even if it is the same model ⇒page 224.
After the wheels have been changed, the tightening torque of the wheel bolts
s ho uld b e ch ecke d as so on as possi ble wi th a to rq ue wre nch ⇒ . The tight-
ening torque for steel and alloy wheels is 120 Nm.
WARNING
If the wheel bolts are not tightened correctly, the wheel could become
loose while driving. Risk of accident.•The wheel bolts must be clean and turn easily. Never apply grease or oil
to them.•Use only wheel bolts which belong to the wheel.•If the torque of the wheel bolts is too low, they could loosen whilst the
vehicle is in motion. Risk of accident! If the tightening torque is too high,
the wheel bolts and threads can be damaged.Caution
The prescribed tightening torque for wheel bolts for steel and alloy wheels is
120 Nm.
Winter tyres
Winter tyres will improve the vehicles handling on snow and
ice.In winter conditions winter tyres will considerably improve the vehicle’s
handling. The design of summer tyre s (width, rubber compound, tread
pattern) gives less grip on ice and snow.
Winter tyres must be inflated to a pressure 0.2 bar higher than the pressures
specified for summer tyres (see sticker on tank flap).
Winter tyres must be fitted on all four wheels.
Information on permitted winter tyre sizes can be found in the vehicle’s regis-
tration documents. Use only radial winter tyres. All tyre sizes listed in the
vehicle documentation also apply to winter tyres.
Winter tyres lose their effectiveness when the tread is worn down to a depth
of 4 mm.
The speed rating code ⇒page 254, “New tyres and wheels” determines the
following speed limits for winter tyres: ⇒
Q max. 160 km/h
S max. 180 km/h
T max. 190 km/h
H max. 210 km/h
In some countries, vehicles which can exceed the speed rating of the fitted
tyre must have an appropriate sticker in the driver’s field of view. These
stickers are available from your Authorised Service Centre. The legal require-
ments of each country must be followed.
Do not have winter tyres fitted for unnecessarily long periods. Vehicles with
summer tyres handle better when the roads are free of snow and ice.
If you have a flat tyre, please refer to the notes on the spare wheel
⇒ page 254, “New tyres and wheels”.
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