2012 Seat Altea charging

85
Cockpit
The following message is shown on the instrument panel display* 1)
: REFILL
WINDSCREEN WASHER FLUID . 
Alternator 
This warning lamp signals a fault in the alternator.
The warning lamp  lights up when the ignition is switched on. It should
go out when the engine has started running.
If the warning lamp  lights up while driving, the alternator is no longer
charging the battery. You should immediately drive to the nearest special-
ised workshop.
You should avoid using electrical equipment that is not absolutely necessa-
ry because this will drain the battery. 
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. Tyre pressure 
The tyre pressure control system controls the tyre speed and
the frequency spectrum of each tyre.
Fig. 52 Centre console:
tyre monitor system but-
ton
The tyre warning lamp 2)
compares wheel revolutions and with this informa-
tion, the diameter of each wheel using the ESC (ESP) sensors. If the diame-
ter of a wheel changes, the tyre warning lamp  lights up. The wheel diam-
eter changes when:
● Tyre pressure is insufficient.
● The tyre structure is damaged.
● The vehicle is unbalanced because of a load.
● The wheels of one axle are under more pressure (for example, driving
with a trailer or on extreme slopes).
● The vehicle is fitted with snow chains. 
1)
Depending on the version of the model.
2) Depending on the model version
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

124Lights and visibility
● The headlight flasher comes on for as long as you pull the lever – even if
no other lights are switched on. The warning lamp  then comes on in the
instrument panel.
● When the parking lights are switched on, the headlight and the tail light
on the corresponding side of the vehicle light up. The parking lights will on-
ly work if the key is removed from the ignition. If the lights are switched on,
an acoustic signal will be emitted while the driver door is open.
● If the turn signal lever is left on after the key has been taken out of the
ignition lock, an acoustic signal sounds when the driver door is opened.
This is a reminder to switch off the turn signal, unless of course you wish to
leave the parking light on. 
Interior lights
Interior front light, type 1
Fig. 79 Interior roof trim:
front interior lights
The switch ⇒ fig. 79 A
is used to select the following positions: Courtesy light position

Rocker switch in flat position (not activated). The interior lights are automat-
ically switched on when the vehicle is unlocked or the key removed from the
ignition. And turn off approx. 20 seconds after closing the doors. The interi-
or lights are switched off when the vehicle is locked or when the ignition is
switched on.
Interior light switched on 
Push the switch to the position .
Interior light switched off O
Push the switch to position O ⇒ fig. 79.
Note
If not all the vehicle doors are closed, the interior lights will be switched off
after approx. 10 minutes, providing the key has been removed and the cour-
tesy light position selected. This prevents the battery from discharging. 

125
Lights and visibility
Interior front light, type 2
Fig. 80 Interior roof trim:
front interior lights
The switch ⇒ fig. 80 A
is used to select the following positions:
Courtesy light position 
Rocker switch in flat position (not activated). The interior lights are automat-
ically switched on when the vehicle is unlocked or the key removed from the
ignition. And turn off approx. 20 seconds after closing the doors. The interi-
or lights are switched off when the vehicle is locked or when the ignition is
switched on.
Interior light switched on 
Push the switch to the position .
Interior light switched off O
Push the switch to position O ⇒ fig. 80.
Note
If not all the vehicle doors are closed, the interior lights will be switched off
after approx. 10 minutes, providing the key has been removed and the cour-
tesy light position selected. This prevents the battery from discharging. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

127
Lights and visibility
lights are switched off when the vehicle is locked or when the ignition is
switched on.
Interior lights or both reading lights switched on 
Turn the control to position 5
.
Note
If not all the vehicle doors are closed, the interior lights will be switched off
after approx. 10 minutes, providing the key has been removed and the cour-
tesy light position selected. This prevents the battery from discharging. 
Visibility Sun visors
Fig. 84 Sun visor on the
driver side The sun visors for the driver and the front passenger can be pulled out of
their mountings in the centre of the vehicle and turned towards the doors
⇒ fig. 84
1
The vanity mirrors in the sun visors have covers. When you open the cover
2, a lamp in the roof lights up.
The light* in the roof lining will go out when the vanity mirror cover is push-
ed back or the sun visor is pushed back up.
Note
The roof lamp will turn off about 10 minutes following the removal of the ig-
nition key. This prevents the battery from discharging. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

173
Driving
If the engine does not start immediately, switch the starter off after 10 sec-
onds and try again after half a minute. If the engine still does not start, the
fuel pump fuse should be checked ⇒ page 264, Fuses.
WARNING
● Never start or run the engine in unventilated or closed rooms. The ex-
haust fumes contain carbon monoxide, an odourless and colourless poi-
sonous 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 fol-
low the instructions in ⇒ page 277, Jump-starting.
For the sake of the environment
Do not warm-up the engine by running the engine with the vehicle station-
ary. Start off immediately, driving gently. This helps the engine reach oper-
ating 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 start-
er to turn the engine on.
– Turn the ignition key to the starting position.
– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒ fig. 136 1
. The indicator
lamp  will light for engine pre-heating.
– When the warning lamp turns off, turn the key to position 2
to
start the engine. Do not press the accelerator.
– Let go of the ignition key as soon as the engine starts, the start-
er 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 sec-
onds 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 277.
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. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

245
Checking and refilling levels
Checking the electrolyte level
The electrolyte level should be checked regularly in high-
mileage vehicles, in hot countries and in older batteries. – Open the engine bonnet and the battery cover ⇒ 
in Safety in-
structions on working in the engine compartment on page 230
⇒ 
in Warnings on handling the battery on page 244.
– Check the colour display in the "magic eye" on the top of the
battery.
– If there are air bubbles in the window, tap the window gently
until they disperse.
The position of the battery is shown in the corresponding engine compart-
ment diagram ⇒ page 287.
The “magic eye” indicator, located on the top of the battery changes colour,
depending on the charge state and electrolyte level of the battery.
There are two different colours:
● Black: correct charge status.
● Transparent/clear yellow: the battery must be replaced. Contact a spe-
cialist workshop. Charging 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 peri-
ods, 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
specifications 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 244. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

Index
A
ABS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Acoustic signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Acoustic warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Adaptive headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Adjusting the seat belt height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
AFS (cornering lights) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Airbag covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Curtain airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Air conditioner 2C-Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Air conditioner automatic mode 2C-Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Air conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Air recirculation mode 2C-Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Manual air conditioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Alarm system Switching off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
All-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Alternator
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Anti-freeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Anti-lock brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Anti-theft alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Switching off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Anti-theft wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Aquaplaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Aspects to note before setting off . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
ASR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Automatic anti-dazzle interior mirror Activating the anti-dazzle function . . . . . . 132
Deactivating the anti-dazzle function . . . . 132
Automatic car wash tunnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Automatic gearbox Kick-down feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Automatic gearbox/DSG automatic gearbox . 180
Automatic lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Automatic windscreeen wiper/washer . . . . . . 128
Auxiliary audio input: AUX-IN . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
B
Ball coupling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 Battery
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Winter conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Before setting off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Biodiesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Biodiesel fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Brake pedal warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Worn brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Brake servo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194, 202
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Brake servo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Braking distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Bulb changes General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Bulb defect Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Buzzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123, 171
301
Index