Driving
176If 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 269, “Fuses”.
WARNING
•Never start or run the engine in un ventilated 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 282, “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 174, fig. 139 . 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 282.
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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Driving177
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
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 282, “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 174, fig. 139 .
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.
A0
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Checking and refilling levels233
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Filter pre-heater
Your vehicle is fitted with a fuel filter glow plug system, making it well
equipped for operation in winter. This ensures that the fuel system remains
operational to approx. -24 °C, provided you use winter diesel which is safe to
-15 °C.
However, if the fuel has waxed to such an extent that the engine will not start
at temperatures of under -24 °C, simply place the vehicle in a warm place for
a while.
Caution
Do not mix fuel additives (thinners or similar products) with diesel fuel.Working in the engine compartmentSafety instructions on workin
g in the engine compartment
Any work carried out in the engine compartment or on the
engine must be carried out cautiously.Before starting any work on the engine or in the engine compart-
ment:
1. Switch off the engine and remove the key from the ignition.
2. Apply the handbrake.
3. Move the gear lever to neutral or the selector lever to position P.
4. Wait for the engine to cool down.
5. Keep children away from the vehicle. 6. Raise the bonnet
⇒page 235.
You should not do any work in the engine compartment unless you know
exactly how to carry out the jobs and have the correct tools! Have the work
carried out by a specialised workshop if you are uncertain.
All service fluids and consumables, e.g. coolant, engine oil, spark plugs and
batteries, are being constantly developed. SEAT provides a constant flow of
information to the Authorised Service Centres concerning modifications. For
this reason, we recommend you to have service fluids and consumables
replaced by an Authorised Service Centre. Please observe the relevant
instructions ⇒page 224. The engine compartment of the vehicle is a
hazardous area ⇒.
WARNING
All work on the engine or in the engine compartment, e.g. checking and
refilling fluids, involves a risk of injury and scalding as well as the risk of
accident or fire.•Never open the bonnet if you see steam, smoke or coolant escaping
from the engine compartment. Otherwise, there is a risk of sustaining
burns. Wait until no more steam or coolant is emitted, then allow the
engine to cool before carefully opening the bonnet.•Switch off the engine and remove the key from the ignition.•Apply the handbrake and move the gear lever to neutral or selector
lever to position P.•Keep children away from the vehicle.•Never touch hot engine parts. There is a risk of burns.•Never spill liquids on a hot engine or on a hot exhaust gas system. This
is a fire hazard.•Avoid causing short-circuits in the electrical system, particularly at the
points where the jump leads are attached ⇒page 283. The battery could
explode.
AlteaXL_EN.book Seite 233 Donnerstag, 9. September 2010 12:13 12
Checking and refilling levels
234•Never touch the radiator fan. It is temperature controlled and could
start automatically, even when the engine has been switched off and the
key removed from the ignition!•Do not unscrew the cap on the coolant reservoir when the engine is hot.
If the coolant is hot, the cooling system will be pressurised!•Protect face, hands and arms by covering the cap with a large, thick
cloth to protect against escaping coolant and steam.•Al wa ys m ake s u re yo u ha ve n o t l e f t a ny o bj e c t s , s u ch as cl e an i n g cl o t h s
and tools, in the engine compartment.•If you have to work underneath the vehicle, you must use suitable
stands additionally to support the vehicle, there is a risk of accident!. A
hydraulic jack is insufficient for securing the vehicle and there is a risk of
injury.•If any work has to be performed when the engine is started or with the
engine running, there is an additional, potentially fatal, safety risk from the
rotating parts, such as the drive belts, alternator, radiator fan, etc., and
from the high-voltage ignition system. You should also observe the
following points:
−Never touch the electrical wiring of the ignition system.
− Ensure that jewellery, loose clothing and long hair do not get
trapped in rotating engine parts. Da nger of death. Before starting any
work remove jewellery, tie back and cover hair, and wear tight-fitting
clothes.
− Never accelerate with a gear engaged without taking the necessary
precautions. The vehicle could move, even if the handbrake is applied.
Danger of death.•If work has to be carried out on the fuel system or on electrical compo-
nents, you must observe the following safety notes in addition to the above
warnings:
−Always disconnect the battery. The vehicle must be unlocked when
this is done, otherwise the alarm will be triggered. −
Do not smoke.
− Never work near naked flames.
− Always have a fire extinguisher on hand.
Caution
When topping up service fluids, make sure not to mistake them. Using the
wrong fluids could cause serious malfunctions and engine damage!
For the sake of the environment
Service fluids leaks are harmful to the environment. For this reason you
should make regular checks on the grou nd underneath your vehicle. If you
find spots of oil or other fluids, have your vehicle inspected at a specialised
workshop.
WARNING (continued)
WARNING (continued)
AlteaXL_EN.book Seite 234 Donnerstag, 9. September 2010 12:13 12
Index
312Multi-purpose mobile storage compartment* 151
Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150NNumber of seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19OObservations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Octane number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
236
Oil change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Oil properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
One-touch opening and closingElectric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Opening and locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Outside temperature display . . . . . . . . . . . . 65, 73
Overview Control lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Dash panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Indicator lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77, 80
PPaintwork
Polishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Parking lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Parking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Parking System Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Parts replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Passenger See Correct sitting position . . . . . . . . . . 11, 12
Pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231 Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Petrol additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Physical principles of a frontal collision . . . . . . 21
Plastic parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Plastic parts cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Pollen filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Pollution filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Power steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Products for vehicle maintenance . . . . . . . . . . 215RRadio frequency remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Changing the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Radio navigation steering wheel controls Audio + telephone version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Audio version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Rain sensor* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Rear drink holder*
Armrest* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Rear fog light Indicator lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Rear interior lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Rear reading lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Rear shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Rear window automatic wiper/washer . . . . . . 133
Rear window wiper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Recommended gear display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Registration light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Remote control key Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Synchronising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Removing and fitting the wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Repairs Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Replacement keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Rev counter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Reverse gear Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Roll-back function Sliding/tilting sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Roof aerial* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Roof rack* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
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