2011 Seat Exeo wiper fluid

Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Removable towing bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning . . . . . . . . . 206
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Care of the vehicle exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Vehicle interior maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Accessories, parts replacement and
modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Accessories and spare parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Technical modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Mobile phones and two-way radios . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Athermic windscreen* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Checking and refilling levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Cooling system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Washer fluid and windscreen wiper blades . . . . 228
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Vehicle battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Wheels and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
If and when . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Tools, tyre repair kit and spare wheel . . . . . . . . . 245
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Tyre repair* (Tyre-Mobility-System) . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Changing bulbs. Halogen headlights . . . . . . . . . 259
Changing bulbs. Bi-Xenon AFS headlights . . . . . 265
Changing tail light bulbs (on side panel) . . . . . . 269
Changing tail light bulbs (on tailgate) . . . . . . . . . 274
Side turn signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277 Luggage compartment lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Registration light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Sun visor light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Towing and tow-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Description of specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Important information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Information on fuel consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Technical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Engine specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Dimensions and capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
4Table of Contents

81
Cockpit
Photosensor/rain sensor faulty 
 Automatic headlights / automatic wipers faulty
If the  symbol lights up, this means that the photosensor/rain sensor is
not working. For safety reasons, the dipped beam headlights will then be
switched on permanently when the light switch is set to the AUTO position.
However, you can still switch the lights on and off in the normal way with
the light switch. If the rain sensor is faulty, the functions operated via the
windscreen wiper lever will still be available. You should have the photosen-
sor/rain sensor checked by a specialised workshop as soon as possible. 
Worn brake pads 
If the  symbol lights up, have the front brake pads (and, for safety rea-
sons, the rear pads as well) inspected by a specialised workshop. 
Speed warning 1 
If the  symbol lights up, this means you are exceeding the speed that has
been pre-set with the speed warning function. You should reduce your
speed accordingly ⇒ page 82. 
Headlight range control faulty 
This symbol  indicates a malfunction in the dynamic headlight range con-
trol. Take the vehicle to a qualified workshop to have the dynamic headlight
range control function repaired. Adaptive headlights* faulty

 Adaptive headlights faulty
This symbol  indicates that the adaptive headlight system is faulty. Take
the vehicle to a qualified workshop to have the headlights or the adaptive
headlight control unit repaired. 
Washer fluid level low 
If the  symbol lights up, top up the fluid for the windscreen washer and
headlight washer system* ⇒ page 228. 
Speed warning 2 
If the  symbol lights up, this means you are exceeding the speed that has
been pre-set. You should reduce your speed accordingly ⇒ page 82.
Battery voltage too high or too low 
If the  symbol lights up, take the vehicle to a qualified workshop and
have the following items checked:
● Poly V-belt
● Battery condition
It is also advisable to check whether the alternator warning lamp has come
on ⇒ page 69. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

129
Lights and visibility
If you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights, the wiper speed will automatically be
reduced. The rain sensor* will automatically be set to the intermittent wipe
function.
The windscreen washer jets are heated when the ignition is switched on.
The wiper intervals in the intermittent wipe setting are also varied automati-
cally according to the road speed (in addition to the manual delay setting).
When the lights are switched on you should only pull the lever briefly to
wash the windscreen, otherwise the headlight washers* will also be ena-
bled. This will use an unnecessary amount of fluid from the reservoir.
Rain sensor
The rain sensor* will only function in the intermittent wipe position. The in-
termittent wipe function is enabled automatically when it starts to rain.
If the windscreen wiper lever was in the intermittent wipe position when the
ignition was off, the rain sensor will not activate until you reach a speed of 6
km/h.
Use switch A
to set the sensitivity of the rain sensor*.
If you have selected a high sensitivity level for the rain sensor the wind-
screen wipers will react sooner to any moisture on the windscreen.
The wiper intervals in the intermittent wipe setting are also varied automati-
cally according to the road speed (in addition to the sensitivity setting).
WARNING
● For correct visibility and safe driving, the wiper must be in perfect
condition ⇒ page 210. Failure to do so could result in an accident.
● The rain sensor* is only intended to assist the driver. The driver is
still obliged to manually operate the windscreen wipers as required de-
pending on visibility.
● Do not use water-repellent coatings on the windscreen. In bad visibili-
ty conditions such as light rain, low sun or when driving at night, these
coatings can cause increased dazzle, which is a serious safety hazard.
Such coatings can also cause the wiper blades to make noise.
CAUTION
● In the event of frost, check that the wiper blade has not frozen before
activating the windscreen wipers. Should the windscreen wiper system be
enabled when the blade is frozen, this could damage it or even the wind-
screen wiper system motor.
● Make sure you switch off the windscreen wiper system (lever in position
0) before you use an automatic car wash. This will avoid inadvertent trigger-
ing of the wipers and possible damage to the wiper system.
Note
● Check that the washer fluid reservoir is full before starting a long jour-
ney. Fill the reservoir ⇒ page 228.
● Worn or dirty wiper blades can cause smearing on the glass which can
also impair the effectiveness of the rain sensor*. Check the condition of
windscreen wiper blades at regular intervals. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

188Intelligent technology
Brakes
General notes
New brake pads
New brake pads do not provide optimal performance during the first 200
km; first they must be “run in”. However, the reduced braking capacity may
be compensated by pressing on the brake pedal a little harder. Avoid over-
loading the brakes during run-in.
Wear
The rate of wear on the brake pads depends a great deal on how you drive
and the conditions in which the vehicle is operated. Negative factors are, for
instance, city traffic, frequent short trips or hard driving with abrupt starts
and stops.
Wet roads or road salt
In certain conditions, such as in heavy rain, or after washing the vehicle or
driving through water, the full braking effect can be delayed by moisture (or
in winter by ice) on the discs and brake pads. In this case the brakes should
be dried by pressing the brake pedal several times.
When the speed is over 80 km/h and the windscreen wipers are on, the
brake system moves the pads towards the brake discs for a few seconds.
This occurs - without the driver knowing - at regular intervals and allows a
faster response from the brakes when driving on wet roads.
The effectiveness of the brakes can also be temporarily reduced if the vehi-
cle is driven for some distance without using the brakes when there is a lot
of salt on the road in winter. In this case, the layer of salt on the brake discs
and pads has to wear off before braking.
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for corrosion to form on the discs and dirt to build
up on the brake pads if the vehicle is used infrequently or the brakes are
not used very often. If the brakes are not used frequently, or if rust has formed on the disks, it is
advisable to clean off the pads and disks by braking firmly a few times at a
moderately high speed
⇒ 
.
Faults in the brake system
If the brake pedal travel should ever increase suddenly, this may mean that
one of the two brake circuits has failed. Drive immediately to the nearest
specialised workshop and have the fault repaired. Drive there slowly and re-
member that you will have to apply more pressure on the brake pedal and
allow for longer stopping distances.
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if the brake fluid level is too
low. The brake fluid level is monitored electronically.
WARNING
When applying the brakes to clean off deposits on the pads and discs,
select a clear, dry road. Be sure not to inconvenience or endanger other
road users. Risk of accident.
CAUTION
● Never let the brakes “drag” by leaving your foot on the pedal when it is
not necessary to brake. This overheats the brakes, resulting in longer stop-
ping distances and greater wear.
● Before driving down a long, steep gradient, it is advisable to reduce
speed and change to a lower gear (or move the gear lever to a lower gear
position if your vehicle has automatic transmission). This makes use of en-
gine braking and prolongs the service life of the brakes. If you still have to
use the brakes, it is better to brake firmly at intervals than to apply the
brakes continuously. 

209
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
Polishing the paintwork
Polishing brings back gloss to the paintwork. Polishing is only necessary if the paint has lost its shine, and the gloss can-
not be brought back by applying wax. Polishing products can be purchased
in your Authorised Service Centre.
The vehicle must be waxed after polishing if the polish used does not con-
tain wax compounds to seal the paint ⇒ page 208, Vehicle paint mainte-
nance.
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the paintwork:
● Do not use polishes and hard wax on painted parts with a matte finish
or on plastic parts.
● Do not polish your vehicle in a sandy or dusty environment. 
Caring for plastic parts
Solvents damage plastic parts.
If normal washing fails to clean plastic parts, clean them with approved sol-
vent-free plastic cleaning and care products.
CAUTION
● The use of liquid air freshener directly over the air vents of the vehicle
may damage the plastic parts if the liquid is accidentally spilled.
● Cleaning products which contain solvents will damage the material. Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors
Cleaning windows
–
Moisten the windows with commercially available, alcohol
based glass cleaner.
– Dry the windows with a clean chamois leather or a lint-free
cloth.
Removing snow
– Use a small brush to remove snow from the windows and mir-
rors.
Removing ice
– Use a de-icer spray.
Use a clean cloth or chamois leather to dry the windows. The chamois leath-
ers used on painted surfaces are not suitable to clean windows because
they are soiled with wax deposits which could smear the windows.
If possible, use a de-icing spray to remove ice. If you use an ice scraper,
push it in one direction only without swinging it.
Use window cleaner or a silicone remover to clean rubber, oil, grease and
silicone deposits off.
Wax deposits can be removed with a special cleaner available in your Au-
thorised Service Centre. Wax deposits on the windscreen could cause the
wiper blades to judder. Adding a window cleaner that dissolves wax to the
windscreen washer fluid prevents wiper blades from juddering, but wax de-
posits are not removed. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

221
Checking and refilling levels
Opening the bonnet
Fig. 165 Release catch
under the bonnet
Before opening the bonnet make sure that the windscreen wiper
arms are not lifted away from the glass. Otherwise the paint may
be damaged.
– Lift the bonnet slightly ⇒ 
.
– Press the release catch under the bonnet upwards ⇒ fig. 165.
This will release the arrester hook under the bonnet.
– Open the bonnet.
The bonnet is held in position by a gas-filled strut.
WARNING
Never open the bonnet if you see steam or drips of coolant being re-
leased from the engine compartment. Failure to comply could result in
burns. Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen before opening the
bonnet.
 Work in the engine compartment
Extra caution is necessary when working on components in
the engine compartment.
Always be aware of the danger of injury and scalding as well as the risk of
accident or even fire when working in the engine compartment (e.g. when
checking and refilling fluids). Always observe the warnings listed below
and follow all general safety precautions. The engine compartment of the
vehicle is a potentially hazardous area ⇒ 
WARNING
● Switch the engine off.
● Remove the ignition key.
● Apply the handbrake firmly.
● If your vehicle is equipped with a manual gearbox, place the gear lev-
er in neutral. If you are driving an automatic vehicle, place the selector
lever in position P.
● Wait for the engine to cool down.
● Children should not be allowed to approach the engine compartment.
● Never spill liquids used for vehicle operation on the engine compart-
ment, as these may catch fire (e.g. coolant).
● Take care not to cause short circuits in the electrical system, especial-
ly when working on the battery.
● Never touch the radiator fan while the engine is hot, as the fan could
start up suddenly.
● Never open the expansion tank when the engine is hot. The cooling
system is under pressure.
● Protect face, hands and arms from any hot steam or hot coolant fluid
released by covering the cap with a large, thick rag when opening the ex-
pansion tank. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

228Checking and refilling levels
Radiator fan
The radiator fan can start running spontaneously.
The auxiliary fan can continue to run for as long as 10 minutes after stop-
ping the engine, even after the ignition is switched off. It may also start run-
ning suddenly ⇒ 
after some while if
● Stored heat raises the coolant temperature, or
● The hot engine compartment is additionally heated up by the sun.
WARNING
When working in the engine compartment be aware that the radiator fan
may start running suddenly, leading to the risk of injury.
 Washer fluid and windscreen wiper blades
Windscreen washer system
Plain water is not sufficient for the windscreen washer sys-
tem.
Fig. 169 In the engine
compartment: Cap of
windscreen washer fluid
reservoir.
The container for the windscreen washer contains the cleaning fluid for the
windscreen and the headlight washer system*. The container is located in
the engine compartment (front left). The filler cap is marked with the symbol
 ⇒ fig. 169.
The capacity of the container is listed in ⇒ page 290.
Plain water on its own is not enough to clean the glass properly. It is there-
fore advisable to add a suitable washer fluid additive (with wax solvent) to
the water. A washer fluid with freeze-resistant additive should be used in
winter. 

229
Checking and refilling levels
CAUTION
● Never put radiator antifreeze or other additives into the windscreen
washer fluid.
● Never use washer fluid which contains paint thinners or solvents as it
can damage the paintwork. 
Changing windscreen wiper blades
If the windscreen wiper blades are in perfect condition, you
will benefit from an improved visibility. Damaged wiper
blades should be replaced immediately.
Fig. 170 Removing the
wiper blade
Fig. 171 Fitting the wip-
er blade
Removing the wiper blade
– Lift the wiper arm away from the windscreen.
– Slide the retainer catch on the wiper blade in the direction indi-
cated ⇒ fig. 170 A
. Hold onto the wiper blade at the same
time.
– Pull the wiper blade B
out of its mounting on the wiper arm.
Fitting the wiper blade
– Slide back the retainer catch on the new wiper blade. The
mounting on the wiper blade should now be visible.
– Fit the new wiper blade into the mounting on the wiper arm
⇒ fig. 171 C
.
– Slide the retainer catch on the wiper blade in direction D
so
that it clicks into place on the wiper arm.
– Fold the wiper arm back down onto the glass. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications