2012 Seat Exeo ST lock

173
Driving
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) contains the electronic differential lock
(EDL) and the traction control system (ASR). The ESC works together with
the ABS. If a fault in the ABS occurs, both warning lamps light up, but if the
ESC fails, only the ESC warning lamp lights up.
The ESC system is started automatically when the engine is started.
The ESC system is always active and cannot be switched off. The ESC switch
only switches the ASR off.
The ASR can be deactivated when wheel spin is desirable.
For example:
● When driving with snow chains.
● When driving in deep snow or on loose surfaces.
● When the vehicle is stuck, to rock it backwards and forwards.
Press the button to switch the ASR back on when you no longer need wheel
spin.
Situations in which the warning lamp lights 
●
On switching the ignition on, it lights up for about two seconds to carry
out a function control.
● The warning lamp will start flashing when the vehicle is moving if the
ESC or the ASR is activated.
● It will light up continuously if there is a fault in the ESC.
WARNING
● Do not forget that the electronic stability control ESC cannot defy the
laws of physics. This should be kept in mind, particularly on slippery and
wet roads and when towing a trailer.
● Always adapt your driving style to suit the condition of the roads and
the traffic situation. The greater safety provided by the ESC should not
encourage you to run any risks.
● Please refer to the corresponding warning notes on ESC in
⇒ page 195, Intelligent technology.

Ignition lock Ignition key positions
The ignition key is used to start and stop the engine.
Fig. 145 Ignition key po-
sitions 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

174Driving
Position 1
The ignition key is inserted in this position. To
engage the steering wheel
lock, take out the key and turn the wheel until you hear the pin engage. You
should always engage the steering lock when you leave the vehicle. This
will help to deter thefts ⇒ 
.
Switching on the ignition/pre-heating glow plugs 2
If the key is difficult to turn in the lock, move the steering wheel (to take the
load off the steering lock mechanism) until the key turns freely. In the case
of vehicles with a diesel engine, the key is turned to this position to preheat
the glow plugs.
Starting the engine 3
The engine is started in this position. Electrical components with a high
power consumption are switched off temporarily.
After the engine has started, the ignition key returns to position 2
by itself.
The ignition key has to be turned back to position 1
before re-starting the
engine. The starter inhibitor in the ignition lock prevents the starter motor
from engaging when the engine is running, as this could cause damage.
Switching off the ignition 1
Turn the ignition key to this position.
WARNING
● Never remove the ignition key until the vehicle is stationary! Other-
wise the steering lock could engage suddenly, which could cause an acci-
dent.
● Always take the key with you when leaving the vehicle, even if you
only intend to be gone for a short time. This is particularly important if
there are children in the vehicle, as they might otherwise be able to start
the engine or use power-operated equipment (e.g. the electric windows),
which could cause injuries.
Note
● If the battery has been disconnected and then reconnected, it will be
necessary to leave the key in position 2
for about 5 seconds before start-
ing the engine.
● Vehicles with automatic gearbox: After switching off the ignition, you
can only remove the ignition key if the selector lever is in position “P” (park-
ing lock). The selector lever is locked after the ignition key has been re-
moved. 
Starting and stopping the engine Starting the engine
The engine can only be started with an original SEAT key.
Fig. 146 Ignition key po-
sitions
Vehicles with a petrol engine:
– Use the foot brake. 

180Driving
Releasing the handbrake
–Pull the lever up slightly and at the same time press in the re-
lease button ⇒ Fig. 152 (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.


188Driving
Driving instructions
The gears are changed automatically.
Fig. 157 Detailed view of
the centre console: Se-
lector lever with lock but-
ton
Starting the vehicle
– Press and hold the brake pedal.
– Press and hold the interlock button (the button on the selector
lever handle), move the selector lever to the required position,
for instance D, and release the interlock button.
– Wait for the gearbox to engage the gear (a slight movement can
be felt).
– Release the brake and press the accelerator ⇒ 
.
Stopping briefly
– Apply the foot brake to hold the vehicle when stationary (for in-
stance at traffic lights). –
To prevent the vehicle from rolling away, apply the parking
brake before moving off on steep gradients ⇒ 
.
Parking the vehicle
– Press and hold the brake pedal ⇒ 
.
– Apply the parking brake.
– Press and hold the interlock button, move the selector lever to P
and release the interlock button.
The engine can only be started when the selector lever is at P or N.
On level ground it is sufficient to move the selector lever to P. On slopes,
first engage the parking brake and then put the selection lever into the P
position. This avoids overloading the locking mechanism and it will be eas-
ier to move the selector lever from position P.
Vehicles with multitronic® gearbox: Your vehicle is equipped with the hill
hold assist function which makes it easier to start off on a slope. The sys-
tem is activated when you press and hold the brake pedal for a few sec-
onds. When you release the brake pedal the braking force will be main-
tained for a short moment in order to prevent the vehicle rolling back when
you drive away.
WARNING
● While you are selecting a gear and the vehicle is stopped with the en-
gine running, do not accelerate. Failure to do so could result in an acci-
dent.
● Please note that some power will still be transmitted when you stop
temporarily with the selector lever in position D, S or R. Therefore, when
stopping you will need to press the brake with the force required to hold
the vehicle still. Failure to do so could result in an accident.
● Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving, as this could
cause an accident.


189
Driving
Selector lever positions
This section covers all the selector lever positions.
Fig. 158 Display: Selec-
tor lever positions
The current selector lever position is shown on the instrument panel dis-
play.
P - parking lock
This locks the driving wheels mechanically. The parking brake should only
be used when the vehicle is already stopped
⇒ 
.
The interlock button (the button on the selector lever handle) must be
pressed in and the brake pedal must be depressed before moving the selec-
tor lever either in or out of position P. This is only possible when the ignition
is on.
R - Reverse gear
When reverse gear is engaged the gearbox automatically selects the lowest
gear ratio.
The reverse gear may be engaged only when the vehicle is stationary and
the engine is idling ⇒ 
. To move the selector lever to position R, press in the interlock button
and at
the same time press the brake pedal. Depending on the model, one or two
reverse lights will come on in selector lever position R (when ignition is
switched on).
N - Neutral (idling)
In this position the gearbox is in neutral ⇒ 
.
D - Drive (forward)
In this position, the gearbox selects the optimal transmission ratio depend-
ing on the engine load, speed and the dynamic gear regulation programme
(DRP).
Press the brake pedal when moving the selector lever from N to D if the ve-
hicle is stationary or at speeds below 5 km/h ⇒ 
.
Under certain circumstances (e.g. when driving in mountains or towing a
trailer or caravan) it can be advantageous to switch temporarily to tiptronic
mode ⇒ page 192, so that the gear ratios can be selected manually to suit
the driving conditions.
S - Sport position
To drive in sports mode, select the position S. The engine power reserve is
used to its maximum. When accelerating the gear shifts will be noticeable.
Press the brake pedal when moving the selector lever from N to S if the vehi-
cle is stationary or at speeds below 5 km/h ⇒ 
.
WARNING
● Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving. Failure to do so
could result in an accident.
● In selector position D or S the vehicle must always be held with the
foot brake when the engine is running. This is because an automatic
gearbox still transmits power even at idling speed, and the vehicle tends 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

190Driving
WARNING (Continued)
to “creep”. The throttle must on no account be opened inadvertently (for
instance by hand from the engine compartment) when a gear is engaged
with the vehicle stationary. The vehicle could otherwise start moving im-
mediately (in some cases even if the parking brake is engaged) and pos-
sibly cause an accident.
● To avoid accidents, apply the parking brake and put the selector lever
in position P before opening the bonnet and working on the vehicle with
the engine running. Please observe the important safety warnings
⇒ page 234, Work in the engine compartment.
Note
● Applies to vehicles with tiptronic gearbox:
● If the lever is moved accidentally to N when driving, release the accelera-
tor and let the engine speed drop to idling before selecting D or S again.
● For the sake of fuel economy (and the environment), the gearbox ratios
on some models are designed so that maximum speed is only obtained
when the gear lever is in position S. Selector lever lock
The selector lever lock prevents gears from being engaged
inadvertently, so that the vehicle is not set in motion unin-
tentionally.
Fig. 159 Selector lever
lock functions
The selector lever lock is released as follows:
– Switch the ignition on.
– Press the brake pedal and at the same time press in the inter-
lock button.
Automatic selector lever lock
With the ignition turned on, the selector lever is locked in the positions P
and N. To remove it from these positions, press on the brake. The following
message appears in the instrument panel as a reminder for the driver when
the selector lever is in position P or N: WHEN STATIONARY APPLY FOOTBRAKE WHILE SELECTING GEAR 

191
Driving
The selector lever lock only works if the vehicle is stationary or driving at
speeds up to 5 km/h. At higher speeds the selector lever lock in the N posi-
tion is disengaged automatically.
The selector lever lock is not engaged if the selector lever is moved quickly
through position N (e.g. when shifting from R to D). This makes it possible,
for instance, to “rock” the vehicle backwards and forwards if it is stuck in
snow or mud. The selector lever lock engages automatically if the brake
pedal is not depressed and the lever is in position N for more than about a
second.
Interlock button
The interlock button on the selector lever handle prevents the driver from
inadvertently engaging particular gears. Press the button in to disengage
the selector lever lock. The selector lever positions in which the interlock
button has to be pressed are shown in the illustration, highlighted in colour
⇒ Fig. 159.
Safety interlock for ignition key
Once the ignition has been turned off, the key may be removed only if the
gear selector is in position P. While the key is not in the ignition, the selec-
tor lever is locked in position P. 
Kick-down feature
This feature allows maximum acceleration. Vehicles with multitronic ®
gearbox
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right down past the point of resist-
ance at full throttle, the gearbox will select a lower gear ratio, depending on
road speed and engine speed. While you keep the accelerator depressed
the engine speed is automatically controlled to give your vehicle maximum
acceleration. Vehicles with tiptronic gearbox
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right down past the point of resist-
ance at full throttle, the gearbox will shift down to a lower gear, depending
on road speed and engine speed. The upshift to the next higher gear is de-
layed until the engine reaches maximum rpm.
WARNING
Please note that if the road surface is slippery or wet, the kick-down fea-
ture could cause the driving wheels to spin, which could result in skid-
ding.

Dynamic gear control programme (DCP)
The automatic gearbox is controlled electronically.
The vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled gearbox. The gear
ratios are selected automatically according to preset gearshift programmes.
When you drive at moderate speeds the gearbox will select the most eco-
nomical shift programme. It will then change up early and delay the down-
shifts to give better fuel economy.
If you drive at higher speeds with heavy acceleration, if you open the throt-
tle quickly, or if you use the kick-down or the vehicle's maximum speed, the
gearbox will automatically select the sport programme.
The gearbox is self-adapting, and continuously selects the most suitable
shift programme. At the same time, the driver can also make the gearbox
switch to the sport programme by pressing the accelerator quickly. This
makes the gearbox shift down into a lower gear ratio, allowing a more rapid
acceleration (for instance to pass another vehicle), without having to press
the accelerator all the way down into the kick-down position. After the gear-
box has shifted back up it returns to the original programme, depending on
your style of driving. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

193
Driving
If you select a gear which is lower than the gear shown on the instrument
panel display ⇒ Fig. 161, the gearbox will only shift down when there is no
longer a risk of over-revving the engine.
When the vehicle slows down (for instance when braking), the gearbox au-
tomatically shifts down into the next gear when the minimum engine speed
is reached.
Changing down to a lower gear increases the engine braking effect on
downhill gradients.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right down past the point of resist-
ance at full throttle, the gearbox will select a lower gear ratio, depending on
road speed and engine speed. 
Back-up programme
A back-up system is in place if a fault should occur in the
control system.
The automatic gearbox switches to the back-up programme if a fault should
occur in the control system. This is indicated by a gear pinion symbol which
lights up on the instrument panel display.
It is still possible to move the selector lever to all positions. The manual
shift programme (tiptronic) is not available when the back-up programme is
active.
Vehicles with tiptronic gearbox: When the selector lever is in position D or S
or in the manual shift programme, the gearbox will remain in 3rd gear if 1st,
2nd or 3rd gears were engaged when the fault occurred. The gearbox will
remain in 5th gear if 4th, 5th or 6th gears were engaged. The gearbox will
then engage 3rd gear when you drive away from a standstill or after the en-
gine is restarted. It will still be possible to use reverse gear in the normal way. However, the
electronic lock for reverse gear will be switched off.
CAUTION
Should the gearbox ever switch into the back-up programme, you should
take the vehicle to a technical service or specialised workshop as soon as
possible. 
Steering wheel with paddle levers
The paddle levers on the steering wheel enable the driver to
manually select pre-programmed ratios or gears.
Fig. 162 Steering wheel:
tiptronic controls
– Briefly pull the left-hand paddle lever –
to change down to a
lower gear.
– Briefly pull the right-hand paddle lever +
to change up to a
higher gear. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications