2012 Seat Ibiza ST lights

159
Driving
Selector lever positions
The selected gear is displayed on the side of the selector lever and on the
instrument panel display. The currently selected gear for the automatic
gearbox will also be shown on the display.
Tiptronic gear indicator
If the automatic gearbox is shifted manually, the selected gears are shown
on the screen.
P - parking lock
When the selector lever is in this position, the driven wheels are locked me-
chanically.
Position P on the lever must only be selected if the vehicle is stationary.
To move selector lever from position P, the locking button on the selector
lever handle must be pressed and the brake pedal depressed at the same
time while the ignition is switched on.
To put the selector lever in position P, simply press the lock button down
and, if necessary, depress the brake pedal down.
R - Reverse gear
The reverse gear is engaged in this position.
Reverse gear must be engaged only when the vehicle is stationary and the
engine is idling.
To move the selector lever to position R, press the lock button down and, at
the same time, press the brake pedal down, with the ignition switched on.
With the selector lever in position R and the ignition switched on the follow-
ing occurs:
● Reverse lights light up.
● The air conditioner automatically changes the air recirculation mode. ●
The wiper starts if the windscreen washer is on.
● The parking distance warning system switches on.*
N - Neutral (idling)
If this position is selected, the gearbox is in neutral. Power is not transmit-
ted to the wheels and the engine does not have a braking function.
Never use the N position to drive down a hill. The engine does not function
as a brake and the brakes are subjected to excessive stain.
You could damage the automatic gearbox if you drive down hills with the
gearbox lever in position N and the engine switched off.
D - Drive (forward)
In this position the gearbox automatically changes to a lower or higher gear,
according to the engine's requirements, the driving style and speed. The
braking effect of the engine when driving downhill is very limited when the
selector is in this position. The instrument panel display shows the selected
gear as well as the selector lever in position D.
If position N has been selected and you wish to select D, you must press the
foot brake if the vehicle is stationary, or travelling at under 5 km/h (3 mph).
S - Standard driving position (Sport programme)
When the selector lever is in position S, it will automatically change up into
a higher gear later, and change down into a low gear, if compared with posi-
tion D. This way, it is possible to take full advantage of the engine reserve
power, depending on the engine demand, driving style and speed. The
braking effect of the engine when driving downhill is very limited. On the
instrument panel display the selected gear is shown as well as the selector
lever to position S.
To select gear range S, press the lock button on the selector lever. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

161
Driving
WARNING
You could lose control of the vehicle if you accelerate on slippery road
surfaces. Risk of serious injury.
● Be particularly careful when using the kickdown features on slippery
road surfaces. With a fast acceleration, the vehicle could lose traction
and skid.
● You should use the kickdown feature only when traffic and weather
conditions allow it to be used safely.

Handbrake Using the handbrake
The handbrake should be applied firmly to prevent the vehi-
cle from accidentally rolling away.
Fig. 119 Handbrake be-
tween the front seats Always apply the handbrake when you leave your vehicle and when
you park.
Applying the handbrake
–
Pull the handbrake lever up firmly ⇒ Fig. 119.
Releasing the handbrake
– Pull the lever up slightly and press the release knob in the di-
rection of the arrow ⇒ Fig. 119 and guide the handbrake lever
down fully ⇒ 
.
Always apply the handbrake as far as it will go in order to prevent yourself
from driving with the handbrake applied by mistake ⇒ 
.
The handbrake warning lamp  lights up when the handbrake is applied
and the ignition switched on. The warning lamp turns off when the hand-
brake is released.
WARNING
● Never use the handbrake to stop the vehicle when it is in motion. The
braking distance is considerably longer, because braking is only applied
to the rear wheels. Risk of accident!
● If the handbrake is only partially released, this will cause the rear
brakes to overheat, which can impair the function of the brake system
and could lead to an accident. This also causes premature wear on the
rear brake pads.
CAUTION
Always apply the handbrake before you leave the vehicle. The first gear
should also be selected. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

168Intelligent technology
Practical Tips
Intelligent technology
Brakes Brake servo
The brake servo increases the pressure you apply to the brake pedal. It
works only when the engine is running .
If the brake servo is not functioning due to a malfunction, or if the vehicle
has to be towed, you will have to press the brake pedal considerably harder
to make up for the lack of servo assistance.
WARNING
The braking distance can also be affected by external factors.
● Never let the vehicle coast with the engine switched off. Failure to do
so could result in an accident. The braking distance is increased consid-
erably when the brake servo is not active.
● If the brake servo is not working, for example when the vehicle is be-
ing towed, you will have to press the brake pedal considerably harder
than normal.
 Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)*
The function (Hydraulic Brake Assist HBA) is only included in
vehicles with ESC.
In an emergency, most drivers brake in time, but not with maximum force.
This results in unnecessarily long braking distances.
This is when the brake assist system comes into action. When pressing the
brake pedal rapidly, the assistant interprets it as an emergency. It then very
quickly builds up the full brake pressure so that the ABS can be activated
more quickly and efficiently, thus reducing the braking distance.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake pedal. The brake assist system
switches off automatically as soon as you release the brake.
Automatic hazard warning lights activation
The brake lights flash automatically to indicate that the vehicle is braking
suddenly or in an emergency situation. If the emergency braking continues
until the vehicle comes to a standstill, the hazard warning lights will then
come on and the brake lights will remain on permanently from that moment.
The warning lights will automatically switch off when the vehicle begins to
move again or when the "warning" light button is pressed. 

171
Intelligent technology
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)*
The ESC reduces the risk of skidding by braking the wheels individually.
The system uses the steering wheel angle and road speed to calculate the
changes of direction desired by the driver, and constantly compares them
with the actual behaviour of the vehicle. When irregularities occur, for exam-
ple, if the vehicle begins to skid, the ESC brakes the appropriate wheel au-
tomatically.
The forces acting on the braked wheel bring the vehicle back to a stable
condition. If the vehicle tends to oversteer, the system will act on the front
wheel on the outside of the turn.
WARNING
● Remember that not even the ESC can 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.
CAUTION
● To ensure that the ESC works correctly, all four wheels must be fitted
with the same tyres. Any differences in the rolling radius of the tyres can
cause the system to reduce engine power when this is not desired.
● Any modifications made to the vehicle (for example, to the engine,
brake system, running gear or to the combination of wheels and tyres) may
affect the operation of the ABS, EDL, ESC and ASR. Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
The anti-lock brake system prevents the wheels locking during braking
⇒ page 169.

Electronic differential lock (EDL)*
The electronic differential lock helps prevent the loss of trac-
tion caused if one of the driven wheels starts spinning.
EDL helps the vehicle to start moving, accelerate and climb a gradient in
slippery conditions where this may otherwise be difficult or even impossi-
ble.
The system will control the revolutions of the driven wheels using the ABS
sensors (in case of an EDL fault the warning lamp for ABS lights up)
⇒ page 71.
At speeds of up to approximately 80 km/h (50 mph), it is able to balance
out differences in the speed of the driven wheels of approximately 100 rpm
caused by a slippery road surface on one side of the vehicle. It does this by
braking the wheel which has lost traction and distributing more driving
force to the other driven wheel via the differential.
To prevent the disc brake of the braking wheel from overheating, the EDL
cuts out automatically if subjected to excessive loads. The vehicle will con-
tinue to function normally without EDL. For this reason, the driver is not in-
formed that the EDL has been switched off.
The EDL will switch on again automatically when the brake has cooled
down. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

176Driving and the environment
WARNING
● The diesel engine particulate filter may reach extremely high temper-
atures; the vehicle should be parked so that the exhaust pipe does not
come into contact with flammable materials underneath the vehicle. Oth-
erwise there is a risk of fire.
CAUTION
● Your vehicle is not designed to use biodiesel fuel. Never, under any cir-
cumstances refuel with biodiesel. The use of biodiesel fuel could damage
the engine and the fuel system. The addition of biodiesel to diesel by the
diesel producer in accordance with standard EN 590 is authorised and will
not cause damage to the engine or the fuel system.
● Using diesel fuel with a high sulphur content may significantly reduce
the useful life of the diesel particulate filter. Your Technical Service will be
able to tell you which countries have diesel with a high sulphur content. 
Economical and environmentally friendly
driving
Economical and environmentally friendly driving
Fuel consumption, environmental pollution and wear to the engine, brakes
and tyres depends in large part on your driving style. By adopting an eco-
nomical driving style and anticipating the traffic situation ahead, you can
easily reduce fuel consumption by 10-15%. Some tips on how to help you
reduce pollution while saving money are listed below.
Drive anticipating the traffic situation
A vehicle uses most fuel when accelerating. When you anticipate the situa-
tion, you have to brake less often and, thus, accelerate less. If it is possible, let the vehicle roll with a
gear engaged, for example, if you see a red light
ahead. The braking effect achieved in this way helps to reduce the wear of
brakes and tyres; emissions and fuel consumption are reduced to zero (dis-
connection due to inertia).
Change gear early to save energy
An effective way of saving fuel is to change up quickly through the gears.
Running the engine at high rpm in the lower gears uses an unnecessary
amount of fuel.
Manual gearbox: Change from first to second gear as quickly as possible.
We recommend that, whenever possible, you change to a higher gear upon
reaching 2000 rpm. Follow the “recommended gear” indication that ap-
pears on the instrument panel ⇒ page 60.
Avoid driving at high speed
We advise you not to drive at the top speed permitted by the vehicle. Fuel
consumption, exhaust emissions and noise levels all increase very rapidly
at higher speeds. Driving at moderate speeds will help to save fuel.
Avoid idling
It is worthwhile switching off the engine when waiting in a traffic jam, at lev-
el crossings or at traffic lights with a long red phase. The fuel saved after
only 30 - 40 seconds is greater than the amount of fuel needed to restart
the engine.
The engine takes a long time to warm up when it is idling. Mechanical wear
and pollutant emissions are also especially high during this initial warm-up
phase. It is therefore best to drive off immediately after starting the engine.
Avoid running the engine at high speed.
Periodic maintenance
Periodic maintenance work guarantees that, before beginning a journey,
you will not consume more than the required amount of fuel. A well-serviced
engine gives you the benefit of improved fuel efficiency as well as maxi-
mum reliability and an enhanced resale value.
A badly serviced engine can consume up to 10% more fuel than necessary. 

178Driving and the environment
●Reduction of volatile compounds in plastics
● CFC-free refrigerant in air conditioner
Compliance with prohibited materials regulation : cadmium, lead, mercury,
chrome VI.
Manufacturing methods
● Use of recycled material for manufacturing plastic parts
● Solvent-free cavity sealing
● Solvent-free wax for protecting the vehicles in transit
● Solvent-free adhesives
● No CFCs used in production
● Surplus materials used extensively for energy conversion and building
materials
● Overall water consumption reduced
● Heat recovery systems
● The use of water-soluble paints 
Driving abroad Observations
To drive abroad, the following must be taken into consideration:
● For vehicles fitted with a catalytic converter ensure that unleaded petrol
is available for the journey. See the chapter “Refuelling”. Automobile organ-
isations will have information about service station networks selling unlea-
ded fuel.
● In some countries, it is possible that your vehicle model is not sold, and
therefore spare parts are not available or the Technical Services can only
carry out limited repairs. SEAT importers and distributors will gladly provide information about the
technical preparations that you vehicle requires and also about necessary
maintenance and repair possibilities.

Adhesive strips for headlights
If you have to drive a right-hand drive vehicle in a left-hand drive country, or
vice versa, the asymmetric dipped beam headlights will dazzle oncoming
traffic.
To prevent dazzling, you must apply stickers to certain parts of the head-
light lenses. Further information is available at your Technical Service.
In vehicles with adaptive headlights, the rotation system must previously be
disconnected. To do this, please go to a specialised workshop. 
Trailer towing What do you need to bear in mind when towing a trailer?
Your vehicle may be used to tow a trailer when fitted with the correct equip-
ment.
If the vehicle is supplied with a factory-fitted towing bracket it will already
have the necessary technical modifications and meet the statutory require-
ments for towing a trailer. If you wish to retrofit a towing bracket, consult
⇒ page 192.
Connectors
Your vehicle is fitted with a 12-pin connector for the electrical connection
between the trailer and the vehicle. 

210Checking and refilling levels
The windscreen washer and the headlight washers are supplied with fluid
from the windscreen washer fluid container in the engine compartment. The
container holds approx. 2 litres; in vehicles with headlight washers* it holds
approx. 4.5 litres.
The tank is in the engine compartment.
Plain water is not enough to clean the windscreen and headlights. We rec-
ommend that you always add a product to the windscreen washer fluid. Ap-
proved windscreen cleaning products exist on the market with high deter-
gent and anti-freeze properties, these may be added all-year-round. Please
follow the dilution instructions on the packaging.
WARNING
Any work carried out in the engine compartment or on the engine must
be carried out cautiously.
● When working in the engine compartment, always observe the safety
warnings ⇒ page 200.
CAUTION
● Never put radiator anti-freeze or other additives into the windscreen
washer fluid.
● Always use approved windscreen cleansing products diluted as per in-
structions. If you use other washer fluids or soap solutions, the tiny holes in
the fan-shaped nozzles could become blocked. Changing windscreen wiper blades
If the windscreen wiper blades are in perfect condition, you
will benefit from an improved visibility. Damaged wiper
blades should be replaced immediately.
Fig. 137 Windscreen
wipers in service position
Fig. 138 Change wind-
screen wiper blade


224If and when
If you have a puncture on one of the front wheels when using snow chains,
fit the compact temporary spare wheel in place of one of the rear wheels.
You can then attach the snow chains to the wheel taken from the rear and
use this wheel to replace the punctured front wheel.
WARNING
● The tyre pressures must be checked and corrected as soon as possi-
ble after fitting the temporary spare wheel.
● Do not drive faster than 80 km/h (50 mph). Higher speeds can cause
an accident.
● Avoid heavy acceleration, hard braking and fast cornering. Risk of ac-
cident.
● Never use more than one temporary spare wheel at the same time,
risk of accident.
● No other type of tyre (normal summer or winter tyre) may be fitted on
the compact temporary spare wheel rim.

Tyre repair kit*
The tyre repair kit (for vehicles not including a temporary
spare wheel) is stored under the floor panel in the luggage
compartment. Your vehicle is equipped with the Tyre Mobility System “Tyre repair kit”.
The tyre repair kit consists of a container with sealing product to repair the
puncture and a compressor to generate the required tyre pressure. The kit
will reliably seal punctures up to a size of about 4 mm caused by the pene-
tration of a foreign body into the tyre.
Note
● Seek professional assistance if the repair of a tyre puncture is not possi-
ble with the sealing product. 
Wheel change 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 vehicle occupants should leave the vehicle. They should
wait in a safe area (for instance behind the roadside crash barri-
er).
– Switch the engine off. Switch the hazard warning lights on and
place the warning triangles in position.
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Engage the first gear , or put the selector lever to position P for
those vehicles with an automatic gearbox.
– If you are towing a trailer, unhitch it from your vehicle.
– Take the vehicle tools and the spare wheel out of the luggage
compartment. 