2012 Seat Exeo ST sensor

118Lights and visibility
Automatic headlight switch* (sensor-controlled)
If you set the light switch to “AUTO”, the dipped headlights
will switch on and off automatically according to the ambi-
ent light level.
Fig. 84 Detailed view of
the dash panel: Light
switch
Turning on dipped beam headlights
– Turn the light switch ⇒ Fig. 84 to the AUTO position.
Turning off dipped beam headlights
– Turn the light switch to position O.
The symbol on the switch lights up when the switch is in the AUTO position.
The dipped beams, side lights, tail lights and number plate lights come on
together when the headlights are switched on automatically.
When you are using the automatic headlights switch, you can also operate
the main beam headlights, however, please note the following: If you ena-
ble the main beam headlights while using the automatic headlights func-
tion during the day (e.g. when driving through a tunnel), but do not disable them again, only the dipped beam headlights will come on the next time
the lights are automatically switched on. To be able to use the main beam
headlights again, you must first pull the main beam lever back to the "off"
position and then push it forward again to "on".
The side lights, headlights, fog lights and rear fog light can still be switched
on manually in the normal way by using lights switch
⇒ page 117.
The interior mirror is fitted with sensors that measure the ambient light. The
dipped beam headlights will be switched on automatically if the available
light drops below the factory preset value (for instance when driving
through a tunnel, etc.). The headlights switch off again automatically when
the light level increases ⇒ 
.
WARNING
● The automatic dipped beam headlights are only intended to assist
the driver. Automatic dipped beam headlights do not relieve the driver of
his or her responsibility to control them and turn off or turn on the lights
manually according to weather or lighting conditions. The light sensors
are, for example, unable to detect rain and fog - you should therefore al-
ways switch on the dipped beam headlights  manually in these condi-
tions and when driving after dark.
● Observe all relevant legal requirements when using the signalling
and lighting systems described here.
Note
● If automatic headlight switching is activated, when the ignition is turned
off the dipped beam headlights are turned off, and when the key is removed
from the ignition the side lights are turned off.
● If you have to attach any type of sticker on the windscreen, do not do so
in front of the sensors. Doing so could prevent the automatic dipped beam
headlight or anti-dazzle function from working correctly or even from work-
ing at all. 

120Lights and visibility
Activating the function
–Briefly press the knob ⇒ Fig. 85 to release it from its set posi-
tion.
– Turn the knob to position 1.
– Press the knob in again to prevent the setting from being
changed unintentionally.
Deactivating the function
– Briefly press the knob ⇒ Fig. 85 to release it from its set posi-
tion.
– Turn the knob to position 0.
– Press the knob in again to prevent the setting from being
changed unintentionally.
The coming home and leaving home functions are controlled by light sen-
sors in the interior mirror housing. The system will function when the follow-
ing requirements are met:
● The knob is set to position 1.
● The headlights and the ignition are switched off.
● Dark conditions; the sensors register little or no light.
Coming home
When the system is enabled and it is dark, the corresponding exterior lights
switch on as soon as the driver door is opened.
The exterior lights will stay on for up to a maximum of 2 minutes as long as
one of the doors or the rear lid is open.
The exterior lights stay on for about 30 seconds to light up the area around
the vehicle after all the doors and the rear lid have been closed. This time interval is factory-set, but you can have it changed by a special-
ised workshop to suit your own requirements (max. setting is 60 seconds).
Leaving home
The exterior lights are switched on when the vehicle is unlocked with the

button on the remote control key.
The exterior lights go out when the driver door is opened or after 60 sec-
onds when the vehicle locks itself again automatically
⇒ page 108.
WARNING
Before leaving the vehicle, remove the key from the ignition, as the lights
will not go out if the coming home function is activated. This will lead to
battery discharge and vehicle breakdown.
Note
● If you always wish to use the coming home and leaving home functions,
you can leave them permanently switched on. As the system is controlled
via a photosensor, it will only work in dark conditions.
● Permanent use of the coming home and leaving home functions, partic-
ularly on short journeys, will increase the load on the battery. To make sure
the battery is always sufficiently charged, occasionally drive longer distan-
ces.
● If the fog lights have been switched on by the coming home and leaving
home functions, they will always be switched off when you switch on the ig-
nition.
● Observe all relevant legal requirements when using the signalling and
lighting systems described here. 

129
Lights and visibility
light switches itself off when the cover is closed and when the sun visor is
pushed back up. 
Sun blind*
The rear side windows are fitted with sun blinds.
Fig. 98 Sun blind exten-
ded to cover rear side
window
Sun blind (rear side windows)
– Pull out the blind and hook it into the hooks at the top of the
door frame ⇒ Fig. 98. Windscreen wipers
Windscreen wipers 
The windscreen wiper lever controls the windscreen wipers
and the automatic wash and wipe.
Fig. 99 Windscreen wip-
er lever
The windscreen wiper lever ⇒ Fig. 99 has the following settings:
Short wipe
– Move the lever down to position 1
to give the windscreen a
short wipe.
Intermittent wipe  / Rain sensor* (activate)
– Move the lever up to position 2
.
– Move the switch A
up or down to set the wiper intervals. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

130Lights and visibility
–In vehicles equipped with a rain sensor*, you can move the
switch A
up and down to set the sensitivity of the rain sensor.
Slow wipe
– Move the lever up to position 3
.
Continuous wipe
– Move the lever up to position 4
.
Automatic wash and wipe
– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel, 5
, to activate the
windscreen washer.
– Release the lever. The washer will stop and the wipers will keep
running for approximately 4 seconds.
Deactivating the windscreen wiper
– Pull the lever to basic position 0
.
General notes
The washers and wipers will work only when the ignition is switched on.
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 220. 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. 

131
Lights and visibility
Note
● Check that the washer fluid reservoir is full before starting a long jour-
ney. Fill the reservoir ⇒ page 241.
● 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. 
Rear window wiper 
The windscreen wiper lever also operates the rear window
wiper and the automatic wash and wipe.
Fig. 100 Windscreen
wiper lever
The rear window wiper and the automatic wash/wipe system are
switched on as follows: Intermittent wipe
–
Push the windscreen wiper lever forwards until it clicks into the
first position ⇒ Fig. 100 1
. The rear window wiper will wipe the
window approximately every 4 seconds.
Automatic wash/wipe 
– Push the lever forwards to position 2
. The rear window wiper
will work for the time you hold the lever in this position.
– Release the lever. The rear window wiper will keep working for
approximately 4 seconds.
Deactivating the interval wipe function
– Pull the lever backwards until it returns to its original position.
The rear window wiper will start working automatically if reverse gear is en-
gaged while the windscreen wipers are switched on.
WARNING
For correct visibility and safe driving, the wiper must be in perfect condi-
tion ⇒ page 220. Failure to do so could result in an accident.
CAUTION
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper blades are not frozen to the
glass before using the windscreen wipers/rear window wiper. The wind-
screen wiper blades and even the windscreen wiper motor could be dam-
aged if you start the windscreen wipers/rear window wiper with the blades
frozen to the glass. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

133
Lights and visibility
Switching off the anti-dazzle function
– Press button A
⇒ Fig. 102. Indicator lamp B goes off.
Switching on the anti-dazzle function
– Press button A
⇒ Fig. 102. Indicator lamp B turns on.
Anti-dazzle function
The anti-dazzle function is activated every time the ignition is switched on.
The green indicator lamp lights up in the mirror housing.
When the anti-dazzle function is enabled, the interior mirror will darken au-
tomatically according to the amount of light it receives. The anti-dazzle
function is disabled if:
● the interior lighting is switched on
● reverse gear is engaged
Sensors for automatic headlights*
When the light switch is set to the AUTO position, the dipped beam head-
lights are switched on and off automatically according to the ambient light
level with the aid of the sensors located in the interior mirror ⇒ page 118.
WARNING
Electrolyte fluid can leak from a broken mirror. This fluid can cause irrita-
tion to the skin, eyes and respiratory organs. Wash thoroughly with clean
water should you come into contact with this fluid. Seek medical assis-
tance if needed!
CAUTION
Electrolyte fluid leaking from a broken mirror can cause damage to plastic
surfaces. Use a sponge or similar to remove the fluid as soon as possible.
Note
● The interior mirror automatic anti-dazzle function* will only work proper-
ly if the sun blind* for the rear window is retracted and if there are no other
objects preventing light from reaching the mirror.
● If you have to stick any type of sticker on the windscreen, do not do so in
front of the sensors. Doing so could prevent the automatic headlight or anti-
dazzle function from working correctly or even from working at all. 
Exterior mirrors
The exterior mirrors are adjusted electrically.
Fig. 103 Detailed view of
the armrest: Adjuster
knob
Adjusting the exterior mirrors
– Turn the adjuster knob to position ⇒ 
Fig. 103 L
(left exterior
mirror) or position R (right exterior mirror).
– Move the knob as required to adjust the exterior mirror for a
good view behind you. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

164Air conditioning
Controls
This overview will help you become quickly familiar with the controls for the air conditioner.
Fig. 139 Air conditioner controls
The left-hand display shows the temperature selected for the left-hand side
and the right-hand display the temperature for the right-hand side.
The functions can be switched on or off by briefly pressing the buttons. The
diode on the buttons lights up when the function is enabled.
The grille between buttons 
and  must be kept clear, as the tempera-
ture sensors are located behind the grille.
● Do not cover the grille.
● Do not clean the grille with a vacuum cleaner, as this could damage the
temperature sensors located behind the grille.
Button(s)Meaning
Automatic mode
 (left and right)Temperature selection for driver and passenger
sides
Defrost
Manual air recirculation mode
Switches off air cooling
Switches off air conditioner (instead of )
Automatic air recirculation mode (instead of OFF)


167
Air conditioning
Note
If the diode on the ECON button continues to light up when the ECON mode
has been switched off (i.e. the air conditioner has been switched on) this is
due to a defect in one of the air conditioner components. If a malfunction
should occur, please contact a specialised workshop. 
Air recirculation: automatic activation* 
If the outside air is polluted by diesel and petrol emissions,
an air quality sensor in the vehicle will automatically switch
on the air recirculation.
Fig. 140 Button for auto-
matic air recirculation
Activating air recirculation mode
– Press the button 

⇒ 
Fig. 140.
Deactivating air recirculation mode
– Press the 
button again or –
Press the AUTO
button or
– Press button 
.
The automatic air recirculation mode should normally be left switched on at
all times.
The system is ready to operate approx. 30 seconds after the engine ignition
key has been turned. During this initial period, fresh air is fed into the vehi-
cle.
If the air purity sensor in the air conditioner detects a certain concentration
of fumes in the outside air, the control unit will either pass the incoming air
through the pollution filter or automatically switch on the air recirculation. If
there is a high concentration of pollution in the outside air, the air condi-
tioner automatically switches to air recirculation and the supply of air from
the outside is cut off. As soon as the level of pollution decreases, air is fed
into the vehicle from the outside again.
The automatic air recirculation operates for a maximum period of 12 mi-
nutes. If the windows mist up when the automatic air recirculation is on,
press the 
button immediately.
The automatic air recirculation switches itself off under certain circumstan-
ces (for instance if 
or  is selected). In “ECON” and at temperatures
lower than approx. 8°C below zero, the automatic air recirculation mode is
limited to 12 seconds. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications