2012 Seat Ibiza ST rims

186Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
CAUTION
To prevent scratching chrome surfaces:
● Never use an abrasive cleaning product on chrome.
● Do not clean or polish chrome parts in a sandy or dusty environment. 
Steel wheel rims
– Clean steel wheel rims regularly using a separate sponge.
Use an industrial cleaner to remove brake dust. Any damage to the paint on
steel wheel rims should be repaired before starting to rust.
WARNING
● Never wash tyres with a cylindrical jet. Even at large spraying distan-
ces and short cleaning times, visible and invisible damage can occur to
the tyres. This may cause an accident.
● Water, ice and salt on the brake system can reduce braking effective-
ness. Risk of accident. Directly after washing, avoid sudden and sharp
braking. Dry the brakes by braking several times ⇒ page 173, Braking ca-
pacity and braking distance.

Alloy wheel rims
Every two weeks
– Wash salt and brake dust from alloy wheels.
– Use an acid free detergent to clean the wheel rims. Every three months
–
Apply a hard wax compound to the wheels.
Alloy wheels require regular attention to preserve their appearance. If road
salt and brake dust are not often removed, the aluminium finish will be im-
paired.
Always use an acid-free detergent for alloy wheel rims.
Car polish or other abrasive agents should not be used for maintaining the
rims. If the protective coating is damaged, e.g. by flying stones, the dam-
aged area should be repaired immediately.
WARNING
● Never wash tyres with a cylindrical jet. Even at large spraying distan-
ces and short cleaning times, visible and invisible damage can occur to
the tyres. This may cause an accident.
● Water, ice and salt on the brake system can reduce braking effective-
ness. Risk of accident. Directly after washing, avoid sudden and sharp
braking. Dry the brakes by braking several times ⇒ page 173, Braking ca-
pacity and braking distance.

Underbody protection
The vehicle underbody is coated to protect it from chemical
and mechanical damage.
The protective coating can be damaged when driving. We recommend you
to check the protective coating under the body and on the running gear, and
reinstated if necessary, before and after the winter season.
We recommend you to go to your Technical Service to carry out repair work
and additional anti-corrosion work. 

187
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
WARNING
Do not apply underseal or anti-corrosion coatings to the exhaust pipes,
catalytic converter or the heat shields on the exhaust system. The heat of
the exhaust system or the engine could cause them to ignite. Risk of fire.

Cleaning the engine compartment
Take special care when cleaning the engine compartment.
Anti-corrosion treatment
The engine compartment and the surface of the power unit are given anti-
corrosion treatment at the factory.
Good corrosion protection is particularly important in winter when the vehi-
cle is frequently driven on salted roads. To prevent the salt corroding the ve-
hicle, the entire engine compartment should be thoroughly cleaned before
and after winter.
Your Technical Services have got the necessary workshop equipment to pro-
vide the correct cleaning and preserving products. For this reason, we rec-
ommend having this work performed by them.
The anti-corrosion protection is usually removed if the engine compartment
is cleaned with grease removing solutions, or if you have the engine
cleaned. On commissioning this work, ensure that all surfaces, seams,
joints and components in the engine compartment are given anti-corrosion
treatment.
WARNING
● When working in the engine compartment, always observe the safety
warnings ⇒ page 200.
● Before opening the bonnet, switch the engine off, apply the hand-
brake firmly and always remove the key from the ignition.
● Allow the engine to cool before you clean the engine compartment.
● Do not clean the vehicle underbody, wheel arches or wheel trims
without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp-
edged metal parts. Failure to comply could result in injury.
● Moisture, ice and salt on the brake system may affect braking effec-
tiveness. Risk of accident. Directly after washing, avoid sudden and
sharp braking.
● Never touch the radiator fan. It is temperature-controlled and could
start automatically, even when the key is removed from the ignition!
For the sake of the environment
Fuel, grease and oil deposits could be removed when the engine is washed.
The polluted water must be cleaned in an oil separator. For this reason, en-
gine washing should be carried out only by a specialised workshop or a pet-
rol station. 
Vehicle interior maintenance Plastic parts and dash panel cleaning
– Use a clean, damp cloth to clean plastic parts and the dash
panel.
– If this does not provide satisfactory results, use a special sol-
vent-free plastic cleaning product. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

217
Checking and refilling levels
– When removed, the wheels and/or tyres should be stored in a
cool, dry and preferably dark location.
– Store tyres in a vertical position if they are not fitted on wheel
rims.
New tyres
New tyres must be run in ⇒ page 173.
The tread depth of new tyres may vary, according to the type and make of
tyre and the tread pattern.
Concealed damage
Damage to tyres and rims is often not readily visible. If you notice unusual
vibrations or the vehicle pulling to one side, this may indicate that one of
the tyres is damaged. The tyres should be checked immediately by a Techni-
cal Service.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
An arrow on the tyre sidewall indicates the direction of rotation on tyres with
directional tread. Always observe the direction of rotation indicated when
fitting the wheel. This guarantees optimum grip and helps to avoid aqua-
planing, excessive noise and wear.
WARNING
● New tyres do not have maximum grip during the first 500 km
(300 miles). Drive particularly carefully to avoid possible accidents.
● Never drive with damaged tyres. This may cause an accident.
● If you notice unusual vibrations or if the vehicle pulls to one side
when driving, stop the vehicle immediately and check the tyres for dam-
age.
 Checking tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure can be seen on the sticker on the
inside of the fuel tank flap.
1. Read the required tyre inflation pressure from the sticker. The values refer to Summer tyres.
2. The tyre pressures should only be checked when the tyres are cold. The slightly raised pressures of warm tyres must not be re-
duced.
3. Adjust the tyre pressure to the load you are carrying.
Tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure is especially important at high speeds. The pres-
sure should therefore be checked at least once a month and before starting
a journey.
WARNING
A tyre can easily burst if the pressure is too low, causing an accident!
● At continuously high speeds, a tyre with insufficient pressure flexes
more. In this way it becomes too hot, and this can cause tread separation
and tyre blow-out. Always observe the recommended tyre pressures.
● If the tyre pressure is too low or too high, the tyres will wear prema-
turely and the vehicle will not handle well. Risk of accident!
For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

219
Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
There is a serious danger of accidents if a tyre bursts during driving!
● The tyres must be replaced at the latest when the tread wear indica-
tors are worn ⇒ page 218. Failure to do so could result in an accident.
Worn tyres do not grip well at high speeds on wet roads. There is also a
greater risk of aquaplaning.
● At continuously high speeds, a tyre with insufficient pressure flexes
more. This causes it to overheat. This can cause tread separation and tyre
blow-out. Risk of accident. Always observe the recommended tyre pres-
sures.
● If tyres show excessive wear, you should have the running gear
checked by a Technical Service.
● Keep chemicals such as oil, fuel and brake fluid away from tyres.
● Damaged wheels and tyres must be replaced immediately!
For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption. 
New tyres and wheels
New tyres and wheels have to be run in.
The tyres and wheel rims are an essential part of the vehicle's design. The
tyres and rims approved by SEAT are specially matched to the characteris-
tics of the vehicle and make a major contribution to good road holding and
safe handling ⇒ 
.
Tyres should be replaced at least in pairs and not individually (i.e. both front
tyres or both rear tyres together). A knowledge of tyre designations makes it
easier to choose the correct tyres. Radial tyres have the tyre designations
marked on the sidewall, for example: 195/65 R15 91T
This contains the following information: Tyre width in mm
Height/width ratio in %
Tyre construction: Radial
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating code
Speed rating
The tyres could also have the following information:
● A direction of rotation symbol
● “Reinforced” denotes heavy-duty tyres.
The manufacturing date is also indicated on the tyre sidewall (possibly only
on the inner side of the wheel).
“DOT... 1103...” means, for example, that the tyre was produced in the 11th
week of 2003.
We recommend that work on tyres and wheels be carried out by a Technical
Service. They are familiar with the procedure and have the necessary spe-
cial tools and spare parts as well as the proper facilities for disposing of the
old tyres.
Any Technical Service has full information on the technical requirements
when installing or changing tyres, wheels or wheel trims. 
195
65
R
15
91
T
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

220Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
● We recommend that you use only wheels and tyres which have been
approved by SEAT for your model. Failure to do so could impair vehicle
handling. Risk of accident.
● Avoid running the vehicle on tyres that are more than 6 years old. If
you have no alternative, you should drive slowly and with extra care at all
times.
● Never use old tyres or those with an unknown history of use.
● If wheel trims are retrofitted, you must ensure that the flow of air to
the brakes is not restricted. This could cause the brake system to over-
heat.
● All four wheels must be fitted with radial tyres of the same type, size
(rolling circumference) and the same tread pattern.
For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of according to the laws in the country con-
cerned.
Note
● For technical reasons, it is not generally possible to use the wheels from
other vehicles. This can also apply to wheels of the same model. The use of
wheels or tyres which have not been approved by SEAT for use with your
model may invalidate the vehicle's type approval for use on public roads.
● If the spare wheel is not the same as the tyres that are mounted on the
vehicle (e.g. winter tyres) you should only use the spare tyre for a short peri-
od of time and drive with extra care. Refit the normal road wheel as soon as
possible. Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must be tightened to the correct torque.
The design of wheel bolts is matched to the rims. If different wheel rims are
fitted, the correct wheel bolts with the right length and correctly shaped
bolt heads must be used. This ensures that wheels are fitted securely and
that the brake system functions correctly.
In certain circumstances, you should not use wheel bolts from a different
vehicle, even if it is the same model ⇒ page 190.
WARNING
If the wheel bolts are not tightened correctly, the wheel could become
loose while driving. Risk of accident.
● The wheel bolts must be clean and turn easily. Never apply grease or
oil to them.
● Use only wheel bolts which belong to the wheel.
● If the prescribed torque of the wheel bolts is too low, they could loos-
en whilst the vehicle is in motion. Risk of accident! If the tightening tor-
que is too high, the wheel bolts and threads can be damaged.
CAUTION
The prescribed tightening torque for wheel bolts for steel and alloy wheels
is 120 Nm. 

C
Car care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Car phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
CCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Central lock button Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Automatic speed dependent locking andunlocking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Emergency unlocking system . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Locking system for involuntary unlocking . 84
Selective unlocking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Unlocking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Cetane number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Changing bulbs interior light and front reading lights . . . . 247
Changing gear see Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Changing gear in tiptronic mode . . . . . . . . . . 157
Changing rear lights on the rear lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
on the wing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Changing single headlight bulbs Turn signal bulb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Changing the AFS headlight bulbs Xenon lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Changing the bulbs AFS headlight bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
fog light bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243 Luggage compartment light . . . . . . . . . . . 248
number plate light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Side turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Changing the main headlight bulb turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Changing the main headlight bulbs turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Changing the single headlight bulbs Dipped/main beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Side light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Changing windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . . . 210
Chassis number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Checking battery electrolyte level . . . . . . . . . . 215
Checking engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Child seat Categorisation in groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Group 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Group 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Group 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Groups 0 and 0+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 ISOFIX system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Top Tether system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Cigarette lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Cleaning alloy wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Cleaning chrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Cleaning engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Cleaning steel wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Cleaning windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Climatronic
automatic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
manual mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Cloth seat covers cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Coming Home function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Compartment for on-board documentation . . 122
Control Exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Control lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Control lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Controls Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Convenience closing Sliding/tilting sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Convenience opening Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207, 208
Coolant level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Coolant loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Coolant temperature control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Correct adjustment of front head restraints . . . 13
272 Index