
175
Driving and the environment
Driving tips
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care. Weight distribution
The weight distribution of a loaded trailer with an unladen vehicle is very
unfavourable. However, if this cannot be avoided, drive extra slowly to allow
for the unbalanced weight distribution.
Speed
The stability of the vehicle and trailer is reduced with increasing speed. For
this reason, it is advisable not to drive at the maximum permissible speed
in an unfavourable road, weather or wind conditions. This applies especially
when driving downhill.
You should always reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows the slight-
est sign of snaking. Never try to stop the “snaking” by increasing speed.
Always brake in due course. If the trailer has an overrun brake, apply the
brakes gently at first and then, firmly. This will prevent the jerking that can
be caused by locking of trailer wheels. Select a low gear in due course be-
fore going down a steep downhill. This enables you to use the engine brak-
ing to slow down the vehicle.
Reheating
At very high temperatures and during prolonged slopes, driving in a low
gear and high engine speed, always monitor the coolant temperature gauge
⇒ page 53.
Electronic Stability Control*
The ESC* system helps to stabilise the trailer in case of skidding or rocking.
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

195
Checking and refilling levels
Winter driving
Diesel can thicken in winter.
Winter-grade diesel
When using “summer-grade diesel fuel”, difficulties may be experienced at
temperatures below 0 °C because the fuel thickens due to wax separation.
Therefore, “winter-grade diesel fuel” is available in some countries during
the cold months. It can be used at temperatures as low as -22 °C.
In countries with different climatic conditions the diesel fuel generally sold
has different temperature characteristics. Check with the Technical Services
or filling stations in the country concerned regarding the type of diesel fuels
available.
Filter pre-heater
Your vehicle is fitted with a fuel filter glow plug system, making it well
equipped for operation in winter. This ensures that the fuel system remains
operational to approx. -24 °C, provided you use winter-grade diesel which is
safe to -15 °C.
However, if the fuel has waxed to such an extent that the engine will not
start at temperatures of under -24 °C, simply place the vehicle in a warm
place for a while.
CAUTION
Do not mix fuel additives (thinners or similar products) with diesel fuel. Working in the engine compartment
Safety instructions on working in the engine compartment
Any work carried out in the engine compartment or on the
engine must be carried out cautiously.
Before starting any work on the engine or in the engine compart-
ment:
1. Switch off the engine and remove the key from the ignition.
2. Apply the handbrake.
3. Move the gear lever to neutral or the selector lever to position P.
4. Wait for the engine to cool down.
5. Keep children away from the vehicle.
6. Raise the bonnet ⇒ page 197.
You should not do any work in the engine compartment unless you know ex-
actly how to carry out the jobs and have the correct tools! Have the work car-
ried out by a specialised workshop if you are uncertain.
All service fluids and consumables, e.g. coolant, engine oil, spark plugs
and batteries, are under constant development. SEAT provides a constant
flow of information to the Technical Services concerning modifications. For
this reason, we recommend you to have service fluids and consumables re-
placed by a Technical Service. Please observe the relevant instructions
⇒ page 185. The engine compartment of the vehicle is a hazardous area
⇒
.
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

196Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
All work on the engine or in the engine compartment, e.g. checking and
refilling fluids, involves the danger of injury and scalding as well as the
risk of accident or fire.
● Never open the bonnet if you see steam, smoke or coolant escaping
from the engine compartment. Otherwise, there is a risk of sustaining
burns. Wait until no more steam or coolant is emitted, then allow the en-
gine to cool before carefully opening the bonnet.
● Switch off the engine and remove the key from the ignition.
● Apply the handbrake and move the gear lever to neutral or selector
lever to position P.
● Keep children away from the vehicle.
● Never touch hot engine parts. There is a risk of burns.
● Never spill liquids on a hot engine or on a hot exhaust gas system.
This is a fire hazard.
● Avoid causing short-circuits in the electrical system, particularly at
the points where the jump leads are attached ⇒ page 243. The battery
could explode.
● Never touch the radiator fan. It is temperature controlled and could
start automatically, even when the engine has been switched off and the
key removed from the ignition!
● Do not unscrew the cap on the coolant expansion tank when the en-
gine is hot. If the coolant is hot, the cooling system will be pressurised!
● Protect face, hands and arms by covering the cap with a large, thick
cloth to protect against escaping coolant and steam.
● Always make sure you have not left any objects, such as cleaning
cloths and tools, in the engine compartment.
● If you have to work underneath the vehicle, you must use suitable
stands additionally to support the vehicle, there is a risk of accident!. A
hydraulic jack is insufficient for securing the vehicle and there is a risk of
injury.WARNING (Continued)
● If any work has to be performed when the engine is started or with
the engine running, there is an additional, potentially fatal, safety risk
from the rotating parts, such as the drive belts, alternator, radiator fan,
etc., and from the high-voltage ignition system. You should also observe
the following points:
–Never touch the electrical wiring of the ignition system.
– Ensure that jewellery, loose clothing and long hair do not get trap-
ped in rotating engine parts. Danger of death. Before starting any
work remove jewellery, tie back and cover hair, and wear tight-fitting
clothes.
– Never accelerate with a gear engaged without taking the necessary
precautions. The vehicle could move, even if the handbrake is ap-
plied. Danger of death.
● If work has to be carried out on the fuel system or on electrical com-
ponents, you must observe the following safety notes in addition to the
above warnings:
–Always disconnect the battery from the on-board network. The ve-
hicle must be unlocked when this is done, otherwise the alarm will be
triggered.
– Do not smoke.
– Never work near naked flames.
– Always have a fire extinguisher on hand.
CAUTION
When topping up service fluids, make sure not to mistake them. Using the
wrong fluids could cause serious malfunctions and engine damage!

203
Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
If there is not enough anti-freeze in the coolant system, the engine may
fail leading to serious damage.
● Please make sure that the percentage of additive is correct with re-
spect to the lowest expected ambient temperature in the zone in which
the vehicle is to be used.
● When the outside temperature is very low, the coolant could freeze
and the vehicle would be immobilised. In this case, the heating would
not work either and inadequately dressed passengers could die of cold.
CAUTION
The original additives should never be mixed with coolants which are not
approved by SEAT. Otherwise, you run the risk of causing severe damage to
the engine and the engine cooling system.
● If the fluid in the expansion tank is not purple but is, for example,
brown, this indicates that the G 13 additive has been mixed with an inade-
quate coolant. The coolant must be changed as soon as possible if this is
the case! This could result in serious faults and engine damage.
For the sake of the environment
Coolants and additives can contaminate the environment. If any fluids are
spilled, they should be collected and correctly disposed of, with respect to
the environment. Checking the coolant level and topping up
The correct coolant level is important for fault-free function-
ing of the engine cooling system.
Fig. 127 In the engine
compartment: Coolant
expansion tank cap
Before opening the bonnet, read and observe the warnings ⇒
in
Safety instructions on working in the engine compartment on
page 195.
Opening the coolant expansion tank
– Switch off the engine and allow it to cool.
– To prevent scalding, cover the cap on the coolant expansion
tank with a thick cloth and carefully unscrew the cap ⇒
.
Checking coolant level
– Look into the open coolant expansion tank and read off the
coolant level.
– If the level is below the “MIN” mark, top up with coolant.
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

Central lock buttonLocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Automatic speed-dependent locking . . . . . 82
Emergency unlocking system . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Locking system for involuntary unlocking . 82
Selective unlocking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Unlocking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Cetane number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Changing bulbs interior light and reading light . . . . . . . . . 241
Changing bulbs on tail lights . . . . . . . . . 239, 240
Changing gear see Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Changing gear in tiptronic mode . . . . . . . . . . 151
Changing single headlight bulbs Turn signal bulb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Changing the AFS headlight bulbs Xenon lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Changing the bulbs AFS headlight bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
fog light bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
luggage compartment light . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
number plate light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Side turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Changing the main headlight bulb turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Changing the main headlight bulbs turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237 Changing the single headlight bulbs
Dipped/main beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Side light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Changing windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . . . 205
Chassis number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Checking battery electrolyte level . . . . . . . . . . 210
Checking engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Child seat Categorisation in groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Group 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Group 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Group 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Groups 0 and 0+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 ISOFIX system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Top Tether system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Cigarette lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Cleaning alloy wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Cleaning chrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Cleaning engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Cleaning steel wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Cleaning windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Climatronic automatic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
manual mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Cloth seat covers cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Coming Home function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Compartment for on-board documentation . . 120
Control
Exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Control lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Control lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Controls Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Convenience closing Sliding/tilting sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Convenience opening Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202, 203
Coolant level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Coolant loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Coolant temperature control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Correct adjustment of front head restraints . . . 13
Correct sitting position front passenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Incorrect sitting position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
passenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Cruise control Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Cruise control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
270 Index

RRadio frequency remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Changing the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Rain sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Rear drink holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Rear fog light control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Rear head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Rear lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Emergency opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Rear seat folding down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Rear shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Rear view mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Rear window automatic wiper/washer . . . . . . 109
Rear window wiper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Recommended gear display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Remote control key Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Synchronising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Removing and fitting the wheel . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Repairs Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Replacement keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Replacement of parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Rev counter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Reverse gear
Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Roll-back function panoramic/tilting sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Roof aerial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Roof rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Rubber seals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Running in Brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Running in tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
S Safe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Safe driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Safe Security system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Safety equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Safety instructions Coolant temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Safety notes Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Deactivating front passenger airbag . . . . . . 40
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Seat belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Using child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Using seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Seals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Seat adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113, 116
Seat belt cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Seat belt control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Seat belt position
Pregnant women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Seat belt protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Seat belt release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Incorrectly fastened . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Not worn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Seat belt tensioner control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Seat belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Seat heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Selective opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Semiautomatic air conditioning controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Service interval display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Side lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Single headlight bulb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Sitting position driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Sitting position, occupants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Snow chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216, 252
274 Index