
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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Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
220Steel wheel rims– Clean steel wheel rims regularly using a separate sponge.Use an industrial cleaner to remove brake dust. Any damage to the paint on 
steel wheel rims should be repaired before starting to rust.
WARNING
•Never wash tyres with a cylindrical jet. Even at large spraying distances 
and short cleaning times, visible and invisible damage can occur to the 
tyres. This may cause an accident.•Water, ice and salt on the brakes can reduce braking efficiency. Risk of 
accident. Directly after washing, avoid sudden and sharp braking. Dry the 
brakes by braking several times  ⇒page 205.
Alloy wheel rimsEvery two weeks
– Wash salt and brake dust from alloy wheels.
– Use an acid free detergent to clean the wheel rims.
Every three months
– Apply a hard wax compound to the wheels.Alloy wheels require regular attention to preserve their appearance. If road 
salt and brake dust are not often removed, the aluminium finish will be 
impaired.
Always use an acid-free detergent for alloy wheel rims. Car polish or other abrasive agents should not be used. If the protective 
coating is damaged, e.g. by flying stones, the damaged area should be 
repaired immediately.
WARNING
•Never wash tyres with a cylindrical jet. Even at large spraying distances 
and short cleaning times, visible and invisible damage can occur to the 
tyres. This may cause an accident.•Water, ice and salt on the brakes can reduce braking efficiency. Risk of 
accident. Directly after washing, avoid sudden and sharp braking. Dry the 
brakes by braking several times  ⇒page 205.
Underbody protection
The vehicle underbody is coated to protect it from chemical 
and mechanical damage.The protective coating can be damaged  when driving. We recommend you to 
check the protective coating under the body and on the running gear, and 
reinstated if necessary, before and after the winter season.
We recommend you to go to your Authorised Service Centre to carry out repair 
work and additional anti-corrosion work.
WARNING
Do not apply underseal or anti-corrosion coatings to the exhaust pipes, 
catalytic converter or the heat shields on the exhaust system. The heat of 
the exhaust system or the engine could cause them to ignite. Risk of fire.
Altea_EN.book  Seite 220  Donnerstag, 2. September 2010  2:00 14 

Vehicle maintenance and cleaning221
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Cleaning the engine compartment
Take special care when cleaning the engine compartment.Anti-corrosion treatment
The engine compartment and the surface of the power unit are given anti-
corrosion treatment at the factory.
Good corrosion protection is particularly important in winter when the vehicle 
is frequently driven on salted roads. To prevent the salt corroding the vehicle, 
the entire engine compartment should be thoroughly cleaned before and 
after winter.
Yo u r  A u t h o r i s e d  S e r v i ce  Ce n t re has got the necessary equipment to provide 
the correct cleaning and preserving products. For this reason, we recommend 
having this work performed by them.
The anti-corrosion protection is usually removed if the engine compartment 
is cleaned with grease removing solutions, or if you have the engine cleaned. 
On commissioning this work, ensure that all surfaces, seams, joints and 
components in the engine compartment are given anti-corrosion treatment.
WARNING
•When working in the engine compartment, always observe the safety 
warnings  ⇒page 232.•Before opening the bonnet, switch the engine off, apply the handbrake 
firmly and always remove the key from the ignition.•Allow the engine to cool before you clean the engine compartment.•Do not clean the vehicle underbody, wheel arches or wheel trims 
without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp-
edged metal parts. Failure to comply could result in injury.•Moisture, ice and salt on the brakes may affect braking efficiency. Risk 
of accident. Directly after washing, avoid sudden and sharp braking.
•Never touch the radiator fan. It is temperature-controlled and could 
start automatically, even when the key is removed from the ignition!For the sake of the environment
Fuel, grease and oil deposits could be removed when the engine is washed. 
The polluted water must be cleaned in an oil separator. For this reason, 
engine washing should be carried out only by a specialised workshop or a 
petrol station.Vehicle interior maintenancePlastic parts and dash panel cleaning– Use a clean, damp cloth to clean plastic parts and the dash  panel.
– If this does not provide satisfactory results, use a special  solvent-free plastic cleaning product.
WARNING
Never clean the dash panel and the airbag module surface with cleaners 
containing solvents. Solvents cause the surface to become porous. If the 
airbag triggered, plastic parts could become detached and cause injuries.
Caution
Cleaning products which contain solvents will damage the material.
WARNING (continued)
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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 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.
Altea_EN.book  Seite 254  Donnerstag, 2. September 2010  2:00 14 

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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If and when
260After changing a wheel
After changing the wheel there are still tasks to complete.– Put the tools and jack back in the luggage compartment.
– Place the wheel with the defective tyre in the luggage compart-
ment and secure it.
– Check the tyre pressure of the newly fitted tyre as soon as  possible.
– Have the tightening torque of the wheel bolts checked as soon as  possible with a torque wrench. The prescribed torque must be 
120 Nm.
Note•If you notice that the wheel bolts are corroded and difficult to turn when 
changing a wheel, they must be replaced before having the wheel bolt torque 
checked.•For safety reasons, drive at moderate speeds until the wheel bolt tight-
ening torque has been checked.
Wheel trims
The wheel trims must be removed to gain access to the wheel 
bolts.Removing
– Insert the  extraction hook  from the tools into the designated 
ring, located in one of the bolt hole covers of the wheel cover 
⇒ fig. 175 .
– Pull off the hub cap .
Fig. 175  Changing the 
wheel: Removing a hub 
cap
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Index
306CCatalytic converter  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  206
CD changer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  144
Central lock button
Locking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  102
Unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  102
Central locking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  99 Automatic locking system for involuntary unlocking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  101
Automatic speed dependent locking and un- locking system*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  101
Emergency unlocking system . . . . . . . . . . .  101
Selective unlocking system*  . . . . . . . . . . .  100
Unlocking system*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  101
Centre armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  144
Cetane number  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  231
Changing gear See Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  181
Changing gear in tiptronic mode . . . . . . . . . . .  185
Changing the bulbs Main headlight bulbs  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  273
Tail lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  276
Changing the main headlight bulbs dipped beam headlights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  274
Main beam headlights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  275
Side lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  276
Turn signal bulbs  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  274
Changing the tail lights Luggage compartment lights . . . . . . . . . . .  279
Rear fog light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  278 Reverse light  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  278
Side lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  277
Turn signal light  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  278
Changing windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . . . .  242
Chassis number  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  288
Checking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  247
Checking battery electrolyte level  . . . . . . . . . .  247
Checking engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  236
Child safety  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
Child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48 Categorisation in groups  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
Group 1  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
Group 2  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
Group 3  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
Groups 0 and 0+  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
Child seats ISOFIX system  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
Top Tether system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
Cigarette lighter* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  153
Cleaning alloy wheel rims  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  220
Cleaning chrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  219
Cleaning engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . .  221
Cleaning steel wheel rims  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  220
Cleaning windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  218
Climatic*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  161
Climatronic General notes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  169 Clock  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  59
Cloth seat covers cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  222
Clothes hook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  148
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
Compartment for on-board documentation  . .  144
Control lamps  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  77
Control lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
Controls
Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  113
Exterior mirrors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  135
Sliding/tilting sunroof  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  115
Convenience closing Sliding/tilting sunroof  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  116
Windows  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  115
Convenience opening Windows  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  115
Coolant  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239, 240 Warning lamp  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  66
Coolant level  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  240 Warning lamp  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  82
Coolant loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  240
Coolant temperature Gauge  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
Safety instructions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  83
Correct adjustment of front seat head restraints  . . 13
Correct adjustment of rear seat head restraints In-use and non-use positions  . . . . . . . . . . .  14
Correct sitting position Front passenger  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
Incorrect sitting position  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
Altea_EN.book  Seite 306  Donnerstag, 2. September 2010  2:00 14