
Safe driving
10Proper sitting position for occupantsProper sitting position for driver
The proper sitting position for the driver is important for a 
safe and relaxed driving.
For your own safety and to reduce the  risk of injury in the event of an 
accident, we recommend the following adjustments for the driver:
– Adjust the steering wheel so that there is a distance of at least 25  cm between the steering wheel and the centre of your chest 
⇒fig. 1 .
– Move the driver seat forwards or backwards so that you are able  to press the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals to the floor with 
your knees still slightly angled  ⇒.
– Ensure that you can reach the highest point of the steering  wheel.
– Adjust the head restraint so that its upper edge is at the same  level as the top of your head, or as close as possible to the same 
level as the top of your head  ⇒fig. 2 .
– Move the backrest to an upright position so that your backrests  completely against it.
Fig. 1  The proper 
distance between driver 
and steering wheel
Fig. 2  Proper head 
restraint position for 
driver
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Safe driving
16•do not allow anyone to travel in the footwell,•never travel without wearing the seat belt,•do not allow anyone to travel in the luggage compartment.WARNING
•Any incorrect sitting position increases the risk of severe injuries.•Sitting in an incorrect position exposes the occupants to severe injuries 
if airbags are triggered, by striking a passenger who has assumed an incor-
rect sitting position.•Before the vehicle moves, assume the proper sitting position and main-
tain it throughout the trip. Before every trip, instruct your passengers to sit 
properly and to stay in this position during the trip  ⇒page 10, “Proper 
sitting position for occupants”.
Pedal areaPedals
The operation of all pedals must never be impaired by objects 
or floor mats.– Ensure that you can always press the accelerator, brake and  clutch pedals unimpaired to the floor.
– Ensure that the pedals can return unimpaired to their initial posi- tions.Use only floor mats which leave the pedal area free and can be securely 
fastened on the footwell. If a brake circuit fails, the brake pedal must be pressed down thoroughly in 
order to stop the vehicle.
Wearing suitable shoes
Always wear shoes which support your feet properly and give you a good 
feeling for the pedals.
WARNING
•Restricting pedal operation can lead to critical situations while driving.•Never place objects on the driver footwell. An object could move into 
the pedal area and impair pedal operation. In the event of a sudden driving 
or braking manoeuvre, you will not be able to operate the brake, clutch or 
accelerator pedal. Risk of accident!
Floor mats on the driver side
Only floor mats may be used which can be securely fastened 
in the footwell and do not impair operation of the pedals.– Ensure that the floor mats are securely fastened during the trip  and do not obstruct the pedals  ⇒.Only use floor mats which leave the pedals clear and which are secured to 
prevent them from slipping. You can obtain suitable floor mats from a special-
ised dealership. Fasteners* for floor mats are fitted in the footwells.
WARNING
•If the pedals are obstructed, an accident may occur. Risk of serious inju-
ries.•Ensure that the floor mats are always securely attached.
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Cockpit81
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
If several priority 1 faults are detected at the same time, the symbols will be 
displayed one after the other for about 2 seconds at a time and will continue 
until the fault is corrected.
No menus will be shown in the display for the duration of a priority 1 warning 
message.
Examples of priority 1 warning messages (red)
•Brake system symbol 
 H with the warning message 
STOP BRAKE FLUID 
SERVICE MANUAL  or STOP BRAKE FAULT SERVICE MANUAL .
•Coolant symbol 
 v with the warning message STOP SEE COOLANT 
INSTRUCTION MANUAL .
•Engine oil pressure symbol 
 E with the warning message  STOP ENGINE 
OIL PRESSURE LOW! INSTRUCTION MANUAL .
Warning reports, Priority 2 (yellow) 
If one of these faults occurs, the warning lamp lights up, and is accompanied 
by  one audible warning . Check the corresponding function as soon as 
possible although the vehicle may be used without risk.
If several priority 2 warning messages are detected at the same time, the 
symbols are displayed one after the other for about 2 seconds at a time. After 
a set time, the information text will disappear and the symbol will be shown 
as a reminder at the side of the display.
Priority 2  warning messages will not be shown until all  Priority 1 warning 
messages have been dealt with!
Examples of priority 2 warning messages (yellow):
10)
•Fuel warning light with the information text PLEASE REFUEL .•Windscreen washer fluid symbol 
 with the information text REFILL 
WINDSCREEN WASHER FLUID . Top up the washer fluid level.
Information messages displayed on the screen*
10)Depending on the version of the model.
Message
a)
Description
SERVICE
The service interval has ended. Take the vehicle to an 
authorised service.
IMMOBILISER
Immobiliser system active. The vehicle will not start. Take 
the vehicle to an authorised service.
ERROR
Instrument panel faulty. Take the vehicle to an authorised 
service.
CLEAN AIR 
FILTER
Warning: The air filter must be cleaned
NO KEY
Warning: Correct key cannot be found in the vehicle.
KEY BATTERY
Warning: Key battery low. Change the battery.
CLUTCH
Warning: Press the clutch to start. In vehicles with manual 
gearbox and Start/Stop system.
--> P/N
Warning: Place the selector level in P/N to start. Only in 
vehicles with automatic gearbox.
--> P
Warning: Place the selector lever in position P to stop the 
engine.
STARTING
Warning: The engine starts automatically. Start-Stop sys-
tem activated.
START 
MANUALLY
Warning: The engine must be started manually. Start-Stop 
system activated.
ERROR START 
STOP
Warning: Start-Stop system error.
START STOP 
IMPOSSIBLE
Warning: Although the Start-Stop system is switched on, 
the engine cannot be stopped automatically. Not all the 
necessary conditions are met
Altea_EN.book  Seite 81  Donnersta g, 2. September 2010  2:00 14 

Seats and storage compartments
148
– Use the fastening rings located on the side of the luggage compartment to attach the retaining net ⇒ page 147, fig. 108.
Note•Do not exceed the maximum authorised weight for the vehicle 
⇒ page 291.Other storage areasOther storage areas can be found:•in the centre console,•in the door trims (front and rear),•in the side trims of the luggage compartment,•in the spare wheel recess in the luggage compartment (only on vehicles 
with an optional anti-puncture kit*.
The clothes hooks are located on the rear roof handles.WARNING
•Do not store loose objects on the dash panel. These objects could be 
flung through the passenger compartment when the vehicle is moving (e.g. 
while accelerating, braking or cornering) and distract the driver. Risk of 
accident.•Ensure that no objects can fall from the centre console or other storage 
areas into the driver footwell while the vehicle is moving. In the event of a 
sudden braking manoeuvre, you will not be able to use the brake, clutch or 
accelerator. Risk of accident.•Clothing hung on the coat hooks must not restrict the driver’s view. 
Risk of accident. The coat hooks are intended only for use with light arti- cles of clothing. Do not leave any hard, sharp or heavy objects in hanging 
articles of clothing. During sudden br
aking manoeuvres or accidents, espe-
cially those involving airbag deployment, these objects could injure the 
vehicle occupants.
Front drinks holdersIn the centre console, in front of the gear lever, there are two drink holders 
⇒ fig. 109.
WARNING
•Never place hot drinks in the drink holders. During normal or sudden 
driving manoeuvres, sudden braking or an accident, the hot drink could be 
spilled. Danger of scalding.WARNING (continued)
Fig. 109  Front drink 
holders
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Driving
174Starting 
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 173.
– Le t go  o f t he  ign itio n  key  as so o n  as t he  eng in e sta r ts;  t he  sta r te r  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.
A2A0A2
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Driving175
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
If the engine does not start immediately, switch the starter off after 
10 seconds and try again after half a minute. If the engine still does not start, 
the fuel pump fuse should be checked 
⇒page 267, “Fuses”.
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 281, “Jump-starting”.For the sake of the environment
Do not warm-up the engine by running the engine with the vehicle stationary. 
Start off immediately, driving gently. This helps the engine reach operating 
temperature faster and reduces emissions.
Starting diesel 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.
– Turn the ignition key to position  ⇒page 173, fig. 136   . The 
indicator lamp 
 D will light for engine pre-heating.
– When the warning lamp turns off, turn the key to position   to  start the engine. Do not press the accelerator.
– Let go of the ignition key as soon as the engine starts, the starter  motor must not be allowed to run on with the engine.
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.
If there are problems starting the engine, see the  ⇒page 281.
Glow plug system for the diesel engine
To avoid unnecessary discharging of the battery, do not use any other major 
electrical equipment while the glow plugs are pre-heating.
Start the engine as soon as the glow plug warning lamp  ⇒page 83 goes out.
Starting the engine after the fuel tank has been completely run dry
If the fuel tank has been completely run dry, it may take longer than normal 
(up to one minute) to start the engine after refuelling with diesel fuel. This is 
because the system must eliminate air first.
A1A2
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Driving
178Manual switch from LPG to petrol
Press the   button on the centre console  ⇒page 177, fig. 137 to change 
mode. The green lamp on the instrument panel goes out and the notification 
changed to petrol mode  is displayed.
Running on petrol
Run the engine with petrol for short journeys at regular intervals to avoid 
problems in the petrol system.
WARNING
LPG is a highly explosive and inflammable substance. It may cause severe 
burns and other injury.•Due care must be taken to avoid any risk of fire or explosion.•When parking the vehicle in a closed area (for example in a garage), 
make sure that there is adequate ventilation, either natural or mechanical, 
to neutralise the LPG in the event of a leak.Note
•If frequent short journeys are made, especially when the outside temper-
ature is low, the vehicle will tend to run on petrol more often than on LPG. 
Therefore, the petrol tank may empty before the LPG tank.•The notification LPG mode not possible  may be displayed.Start-Stop function*Description and operationThe Start-Stop function stops the engine when the vehicle is 
stopped and starts it automatically when required. – When the vehicle is stopped, put it in neutral and release the 
clutch pedal. The engine will stop.
– When the clutch pedal is pressed, the engine starts again.
– The instrument panel screen displays information about the  status of the Start-Stop function  ⇒page 180, fig. 139 .
Start-Stop function conditions•The driver seat belt must be buckled.•The engine hood must be closed.•The engine must be at operating temperature•The steering wheel must be straight.•The vehicle must be on flat ground.•The vehicle must not be in reverse.•A trailer must not be connected.•The temperature of the passenger compartment must be within the 
comfort limits (button      ⇒page 168, fig. 132  should be selected).•The windscreen de-mist function must be off.•If not , it requires an increase in airflow    ⇒page 168, fig. 132 for more 
than three presses.•The temperature must not be set to  HI or  LO.•The driver door must be closed.•The diesel particulate filter must not be in regeneration mode, for diesel 
engines.•The battery charge must not be low for the next start.•The battery temperature must be between -1 °C and 55 °C.•The parking assistant, Park Assist* must not be activated.
GAS
ACA11
A10
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Driving179
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Start-Stop function interruption
In the following situations, the Start-Stop function will be interrupted and the 
engine will automatically start:
•The vehicle starts moving.•The brake pedal is pressed several times in a row.•The battery has been discharged excessively.•The Start-Stop System is manually deactivated.•The windscreen de-mist function is turned on.•The temperature of the passenger compartment exceeds the comfort 
limits (button      ⇒page 168, fig. 132  should be selected).•If in an increase in airflow    ⇒page 168, fig. 132  is required for more 
than three presses.•Temperature setting  HI or  LO is selected.•The engine coolant temperature is insufficient.•The alternator is faulty, for example the V-belt has ruptured.•If any of the conditions described in the previous section are not fulfilled.WARNING
Never allow the vehicle to move with the engine off for any reason. You 
could lose control of your vehicle. This could cause an accident and serious 
injury.•The brake servo does not work with the engine off. You need more force 
to stop the vehicle.•Power steering does not work when the engine is not running. That is 
why it is much more difficult to turn the steering wheel.•Disconnect the Start-Stop system when driving through water (fording 
streams, etc.).
Note
•For vehicles with the Start-Stop function and a manual gearbox, when the 
engine is started, the clutch must be pressed.•When the conditions for the Start-Stop function are not fulfilled, the 
instrument panel displays the Start-Stop indicator dimmed.•The vehicle can be restarted by rotating the steering wheel three times, 
that is, more than 270°.Switching the Start-Stop function on and offEvery time the ignition is switched on, the Start-Stop function is 
automatically switched on.
ACA11
A10
Fig. 138  The Start-Stop 
function button.
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