2012 Seat Exeo ST ignition

117
Lights and visibility
Lights and visibility
Lights Lights: switching on and off 
Fig. 83 Detailed view of
the dash panel: Light
switch
Switching on the side lights
– Turn the light switch ⇒ Fig. 83 to position .
Switching on dipped or main beam headlights (driving lights)
Dipped beam headlights
– Turn the lights switch to position .
Main beam headlights
– Turn the lights switch to position . –
Press the main beam lever forward ⇒ page 124.
Switching off the lights
– Turn the light switch to position O.
Daytime running lights: In vehicles for countries where daytime running
lights are obligatory and in all vehicles with AFS headlights, daytime run-
ning lights are turned on or off with the ignition. Daytime running lights
have main beam flashers, as usual, but not the dipped beam headlight
function
The dipped beam headlights will only work with the ignition on. The head-
lights are automatically switched to side lights after the ignition has been
switched off.
If the side lights or the dipped beam headlights are turned on, the  sym-
bol will come on together with the lights switch.
Note
● If the lights are left on after the key has been taken out of the ignition
lock, a buzzer sounds when the driver door is opened.
● Observe all relevant legal requirements when using the signalling and
lighting systems described here.
● Depending on weather conditions (cold or wet), the front lights, the fog
lights, the tail lights and the turn signals may be temporarily misted. This
has no influence on the useful life of the lighting system. By switching on
the lights, the area through which the beam of light is projected will quickly
be demisted. However, the edges may continue to be misted. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

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. 

121
Lights and visibility
Instrument lighting
The brightness of the instrument lighting, displays and cen-
tre console lighting can be varied as required.
Fig. 86 Instrument panel
lighting
– Press the +
button to increase the brightness.
– Press the -
button to reduce the brightness.
With the ignition switched on
The lighting of the digital displays will adjust automatically, depending on
the ambient light.
With the vehicle's lights switched on
When the vehicle's lights are switched on, the brightness of the instrument
lighting, displays and centre console lighting can be varied by pressing the +
and - buttons. Headlight range control

When the dipped beam headlights are switched on, the
range of the headlights can be adjusted to suit the load of
the vehicle.
Fig. 87 Headlight range
control
– Briefly press the knob  ⇒ Fig. 87 to release it from its set posi-
tion.
– Turn the knob to the required setting.
– Press the knob in again to prevent the setting from being
changed unintentionally.
Settings
The settings roughly correspond to the following load conditions: Two front occupants, luggage compartment empty
All seats occupied, luggage compartment empty 
O
1
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

122Lights and visibility
All seats occupied, luggage compartment loaded
Driver only, luggage compartment loaded
CAUTION
Always adjust the headlights to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic. Make sure
you lower the headlights when the vehicle is more heavily laden. 
Dynamic headlight range control
On vehicles with xenon lamps, the headlights automatically adapt to suit
the load being carried when the ignition is switched on and when the vehi-
cle is moving, depending on the load of the vehicle and the type of driving
(e.g. when accelerating and braking). 
2
3Daytime running lights*
The daytime running lights turn on automatically when the
ignition is switched on.
Fig. 88 Daytime running
lights switch
Activating the function
– Briefly press the knob ⇒ Fig. 88 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. 88 to release it from its set posi-
tion.
– Turn the knob to position 0. 

123
Lights and visibility
– Press the knob in again to prevent the setting from being
changed unintentionally.
This button activates or deactivates the daytime running lights function.
With the function activated, when the ignition is switched on the daytime
running lights are turned on automatically.
Note
Please observe any relevant legal requirements which may apply in your
country. 
Adaptive headlights* (for driving around bends)
When driving around bends, the headlights will light the
most important areas of the road.
Fig. 89 Adaptive head-
lights when driving
The dynamic cornering light gives better illumination of the curve area and
the side of the road when driving around a bend ⇒ Fig. 89. The dynamic cor-nering light is controlled automatically depending on the speed and the
steering wheel angle.
The dipped beam headlights are regulated automatically when you drive
around a bend, depending on how far you turn the steering wheel. The two
main headlights move at different angles to avoid that the front of the vehi-
cle is left completely in the dark.
Note
The system operates from a speed of about 10 km/h. 
Hazard warning lights 
The hazard warning lights are used to draw the attention of
other road users to your vehicle in emergencies.
Fig. 90 Centre console:
Switch for hazard warn-
ing lights
– Press the switch 
⇒ 
Fig. 90 to switch the hazard warning
lights on or off. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

124Lights and visibility
All four turn signals flash simultaneously when the hazard warning lights
are switched on. The turn signal indicators   and the hazard warning
light indicator  flash at the same time. The hazard warning lights also
work when the ignition is switched off.
In an accident in which the airbags are triggered, the hazard warning lights
are switched on automatically.
Note
You should switch on the hazard warning lights to warn other road users,
e.g.
● When reaching the tail end of a traffic jam
● If your vehicle breaks down or there is an emergency
● If your vehicle is being towed away or if you are towing another vehicle Turn signal
  and main beam headlight lever 
The turn signal and main beam headlight lever also oper-
ates the parking lights and the headlight flasher.
Fig. 91 Turn signal and
main beam headlight lev-
er
The turn signal and main beam headlight lever has the following
functions:
Turn signals  
– Move the lever all the way up to indicate right or all the way
down to indicate left ⇒ Fig. 91.
– Move the lever up or down just as far as the point of resistance
and hold it there: the turn signals flash for as long as you hold
the lever (for instance when changing a lane).
– Move the lever briefly up or down as far as the point of resist-
ance and release it to signal briefly (the turn signals flash three
times). 

125
Lights and visibility
Main beam headlights 
– Press the lever forward to switch on the main beams.
– Pull the lever back towards you to switch the main beam head-
lights off again.
Headlight flasher 
– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel to operate the flasher.
Parking light 
– Switch the ignition off.
– Move the lever up or down to turn on the right or left-hand park-
ing lights respectively.
Notes on these functions
● The turn signals only work when the ignition is switched on. The turn
signal lamp  or  flashes in the instrument panel when the turns signals
⇒ page 67 are working.
● The turn signals are cancelled automatically when the steering wheel is
returned to the straight-ahead position.
● The main beam headlights can only be switched on if the dipped beam
headlights are already on. The main beam headlight indicator lamp  then
comes on in the instrument panel.
● The headlight flasher comes on for as long as you pull the lever, even if
no other lights are switched on. The main beam headlight indicator lamp 
then comes on in the instrument panel.
● When the parking lights are switched on, the headlight and the tail light
on one side of the vehicle light up with reduced intensity. The parking lights
will only work with the ignition off.
CAUTION
Never use the main beam headlights or the headlight flasher if this would
dazzle oncoming traffic. 
Interior lights
Front interior lights and glove compartment light
The front interior light also incorporates the reading lights
for the driver and passenger.
Fig. 92 Detail of headlin-
er: front interior lights
The rocker switch A

⇒ 
Fig. 92 for the front interior light has the
following functions:
Door light position
– Move switch A
to the centre position. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications