2012 Seat Exeo handbrake

172Driving
Warnings
Fig. 139 Driver warnings
Fig. 140 Driver warnings
Start the engine manually. Start-Stop system activated
Start-Stop is not possible.
A
B
Fault or warning with priority over the Start-Stop warnings that appear
in the upper part of the display. Some Start-Stop warning in this zone
may not be displayed.
Press clutch pedal to start engine warning.
On-screen message and audible warning of the Start-Stop system in
the event that a door is opened and seat belt is unfastened in a stop
phase.

Handbrake Handbrake
The handbrake should be applied firmly to prevent the vehi-
cle from accidentally rolling away.
Fig. 141 Detailed view of
the centre console: Hand-
brake on
Applying the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up all the way. 
C
DE

173
Driving
Releasing the handbrake
– Pull the lever up slightly and at the same time press in the re-
lease button ⇒ Fig. 141 (arrow).
– Keep the release button pressed and push the lever all the way
down ⇒ 
.
If you drive by mistake with the handbrake still applied, you will hear a
warning buzzer and the display will show the message: Handbrake on
The handbrake warning switches on after driving for 3 seconds at speeds
above 5 km/h.
The handbrake warning lamp  lights up when the handbrake is applied
with the ignition on.
WARNING
Please note that the handbrake should be released all the way. If it is on-
ly partially released, this will cause rear brakes overheating, which can
impair the function of the brake system and could lead to an accident.
CAUTION
Once the vehicle has come to a standstill, always apply the handbrake firm-
ly and then, on a manual gearbox, engage a gear, or select P on an auto-
matic. Parking
The following points will ensure there is no risk of the vehi-
cle rolling away accidentally after it is parked:
– Use the foot brake to stop the vehicle.
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Switch the engine off.
– On a manual gearbox engage 1st gear or on an automatic move
the selector lever to P ⇒ 
.
When parking on slopes:
Turn the steering wheel so that the, if the vehicle moves, it will do so to-
wards the curb.
WARNING
● Do not leave anyone (especially children) in the vehicle when it is
locked. Locked doors could delay assistance in an emergency, potentially
putting lives at risk.
● Never leave children unsupervised in the vehicle. They could release
e.g. the handbrake or gear lever, moving the vehicle and causing an acci-
dent.

Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

209
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning General notes
Regular washing and care help maintain the value of your
vehicle.Vehicle maintenance
Regular care and washing help to maintain the value of the vehicle. This
may also be one of the requirements for acknowledging warranty claims in
the event of bodywork corrosion or paint defects.
The best way to protect your vehicle against the harmful effects of the envi-
ronment is through correct maintenance and frequent washing. The longer
substances such as insect remains, bird droppings, resinous tree sap, road
dirt, industrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt and other aggressive materi-
als remain on the vehicle, the more damage they do to the paintwork. High
temperatures (for instance in strong sunlight) further intensify the corrosive
effect.
After winter, a period when salt is put on the roads, it is important to have
the underside of the vehicle washed thoroughly.
Products for vehicle maintenance
Car care products are available in your Technical Services. Keep the product
instructions until you have used them up.
WARNING
● Car care products can be toxic. Because of this, they must always be
kept closed in their original container. Keep them out of the reach of chil-
dren. Failure to comply could result in poisoning.
● Always read and observe the instructions and warnings on the pack-
age before using vehicle care products. Improper use could cause health
problems or damage the vehicle. The use of certain products may pro-
duce noxious vapours; they should be used in well ventilated areas.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail varnish remover or other
volatile fluids. These are toxic and highly flammable. Risk of fire and ex-
plosion.
● Before washing your vehicle, or carrying out any maintenance, switch
the engine off, apply the handbrake firmly and remove the key from the
ignition.
CAUTION
Never attempt to remove dirt, mud or dust if the surface of the vehicle is dry.
Never use a dry cloth or sponge for cleaning purposes. This could damage
the paintwork or the windows of your vehicle. Soak dirt, mud or dust with
plenty of water.
For the sake of the environment
● When purchasing products for your vehicle maintenance, select the
ones which are not harmful to the environment.
● The waste from car care products should not be disposed of with ordina-
ry household waste. Observe the disposal information on the package. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

227
Checking and refilling levels
Opening the bonnet
Fig. 168 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. 168.
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

253
If and when
wheels fitted on the vehicle because of the wheel/tyre dimensions, rubber
composition, tread pattern, etc. Therefore, note the following restrictions:
● The spare steel wheel is designed only for your vehicle model. Do not
attempt to mount the wheel on any vehicle but your own.
● Your vehicle will have different driving characteristics when the spare
steel rim wheel is mounted ⇒ 
.
● The spare wheel is only intended for temporary use after having a flat
tyre. Replace the spare wheel with a normal wheel that has the proper tyre
dimensions as soon as possible.
● If the size of the spare steel rim wheel is different to that of the other
wheels, it is unlikely that snow chains suitable for the other wheels will fit it.
WARNING
● After mounting the spare steel rim wheel, the tyre pressure must be
checked and corrected as soon as possible. The tyre pressure must corre-
spond to the vehicle load (consult the table containing the inflation pres-
sures). Otherwise there is danger of causing an accident. Use the highest
tyre pressure as indicated in the table.
● Do not drive faster than 80 km/h, as higher speeds can cause an acci-
dent.
● Avoid heavy acceleration, hard braking and fast cornering, as this
could cause an accident.
 Changing a wheel
Preparation work
What you must do before changing a wheel. – If you have a flat tyre or puncture, park the vehicle as far away
from the flow of traffic as possible. Choose a location that is as
level as possible.
– All passengers should leave the vehicle. They should wait in a
safe place (e.g. behind the roadside crash barrier).
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Engage first gear .
– When towing a trailer: Unhitch the trailer from your vehicle.
– Take the tools and the spare wheel ⇒ page 251 out of the lug-
gage compartment.
WARNING
If you have a puncture in heavy traffic, switch on the hazard warning
lights and place the warning triangle in a visible location. This is for your
own safety and also warns other road users.
CAUTION
If you have to change the tyre on a gradient, block the wheel opposite the
wheel being changed by placing a stone or similar object under it to prevent
the vehicle from rolling away. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

260If and when
Repairing a tyre
Fig. 187 Repairing a tyre
Preparations
– If you have a flat tyre or puncture, park the vehicle as far away
from the flow of traffic as possible.
– Apply the handbrake firmly to prevent the vehicle from moving
accidentally on slopes.
– Engage first gear .
– Check whether a repair is possible using the Tyre Mobility Sys-
tem ⇒ page 258.
– Ensure that all passengers leave the vehicle and move away
from the danger area ⇒ 
.
– Take the tyre sealant can and the compressor out of the lug-
gage compartment. –
Stick the “max. 80 km/h” adhesive, which is included with the
tyre sealant can, onto the instrument panel where the driver will
see it.
Filling the tyre
– Shake the tyre sealant can well.
– Screw the enclosed filling hose onto the sealant can as far as it
will go. This will automatically pierce the foil sealing the can.
– Take the valve cap off the tyre valve and use the enclosed valve
insert tool to unscrew the valve insert ⇒ Fig. 187.
– Place the valve insert onto a clean surface.
– Remove the sealing plug from the filling hose and insert the
hose into the tyre valve.
– Hold the tyre sealant can upside down and fill the complete
contents of the can into the tyre.
– Then disconnect the hose and screw the valve insert firmly back
into the tyre valve.
Inflating the tyre
– Screw the compressor filling hose onto the tyre valve and plug
the connector into the cigarette lighter.
– Pump the tyre up to 2.0 to 2.5 bar and monitor the pressure
shown on the pressure gauge.
– If the tyre pressure remains lower than the value specified
above drive the vehicle approx. 10 metres forwards or back-
wards, so that the sealant can spread evenly in the tyre. If the 

Deactivating temporarily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Setting the speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Cruise speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Curtain airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
D Danger of fitting a child seat on the front pas- senger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Dash panel cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Data entry control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Date display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Daytime running lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Deactivating front passenger airbag Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Deactivating the airbag Front passenger airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Diesel engine Winter driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Diesel engine particulate filter . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Diesel particulate filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Digital clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Dipped beam headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
DIS Average fuel consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Average speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Driving time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Instantaneous fuel consumption . . . . . . . . 86
Disposal Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Seat belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Distance covered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Distance to empty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74, 86
Door and rear lid warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Door lock cylinders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Doors Childproof lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Locking the doors manually if the centrallocking fails to work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Driver see Correct sitting position . . . . . . . 10, 11, 12
Driver information system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Auto-check system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
CD, radio and telephone display . . . . . . . . . 73
Door and rear lid warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Driver messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Handbrake warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Menu display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Onboard computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Outside temperature display . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Red symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Speed warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Warning messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Yellow symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Driver messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
driver seat Assigning the key to the seat . . . . . . . . . . 139 Driver seat
Activating stored settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
With memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Driving Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Economically / Environmentally friendly . 196
Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Driving safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
DRP see Dynamic gear control programme . . . 184
Dynamic gear control programme . . . . . . . . . . 184
E
Economical driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Possible malfunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Rear doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Switches on the driver door . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Switch on front passenger's door . . . . . . . 110
Electronic differential lock How it works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Electronic immobiliser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
307
Index

EmergenciesChanging a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Disconnecting the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251, 256
Sunroof emergency activation . . . . . . . . . . 114
Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Tyre mobility system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Engine Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Engine compartment Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Engine coolant G 12 plus-plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
G 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228 Checking oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Checking the level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Engine oil pressure too low . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Oil properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Oil sensor defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Topping up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine speed governing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Environmental friendliness . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Roof racks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Environmentally friendly driving . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Environmental tip Avoiding pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224 ESC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
see also Electronic Stability Control . . . . . 165
Exhaust gas purification system . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
F
Floor mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Front drink holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Front passenger airbag deactivation . . . . . . . . 44
Fuel Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Fuel gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Fuel level low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Instantaneous fuel consumption . . . . . . . . 86
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Fuel consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196, 293
Fuel tank opening the fuel tank flap . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Fuel: save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Fuse Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
G
Gear display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Gear shift pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
General overview of the engine compartment 296
Glove compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
H
Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Hazard warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Headlight range control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Dynamic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Faulty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Headlights Adaptive headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Automatic headlight control . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Automatic headlight control photosensors . .116
Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Front fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Headlight range control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Headlight washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Head restraint Rear seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Head restraints Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Removing and fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Heated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Heated rear window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Heated seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
High pressure cleaners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
308 Index