2012 Seat Leon 5D open bonnet

62Instruments and warning/control lamps
CAUTION
● To prevent damage to the engine, the rev counter needle should only re-
main in the red zone for a short period of time.
● When the engine is cold, avoid high revs and heavy acceleration and do
not make the engine work hard.
For the sake of the environment
Changing up a gear in time reduces fuel consumption and noise. 
Displays on screen
Fig. 37 A: bonnet open; B: rear lid open; C: front left door open; D: rear right door
open (4-door vehicles only)
A variety of information can be viewed on the instrument panel display
⇒  Fig. 36 3
, depending on the vehicle equipment: ●
Bonnet, rear lid and doors open ⇒ Fig. 37.
● Information and warning texts
● Mileage
● Time
● Navigation instructions
● Outside temperature
● Compass
● Selector lever position ⇒ page 154
● Recommended gear (manual gearbox) ⇒ page 68
● Multifunction display (MFD) and menus with different setting options
⇒ page 73.
● Service interval display ⇒ page 65
● Second speed display ⇒ page 73
● Speed warning function ⇒ page 149
● Start-Stop system status display ⇒ page 149
● Identifying letters on engine (MKB)
Bonnet, rear lid and doors open
When the ignition is switched on or when driving, the bonnet, rear lid or
doors that are open will be indicated on the instrument panel display, and if
it should be the case, this will also be indicated audibly. The display may
vary according to the type of instrument panel fitted. 

63
Instruments and warning/control lamps
IllustrationKey to ⇒ Fig. 37See
A Do not continue driving!
The bonnet is open or is not properly
closed.⇒ page 209
B Do not continue driving!
The rear lid is open or is not properly
closed.⇒ page 98
C, D Do not continue driving!
A vehicle door is open or is not properly
closed.⇒ page 86
Warning and information texts
The system runs a check on certain components and functions when the ig-
nition is switched on and while the vehicle is moving. Faults in the opera-
tion are displayed on the screen using red and yellow symbols and messag-
es on the instrument panel display ( ⇒ page 69) and, in some cases, with
audible warnings. The display may vary according to the type of instrument
panel fitted.
Type of mes-
sageSymbol colourDescription
Priority 1
warning.Red
Symbol flashing or lit; partly combined with
audible warnings.
 Stop the vehicle! It is dangerous ⇒ 
!
Check the function that is faulty and repair it.
If necessary, request assistance from special-
ised personnel.
Priority 2
warning.Yellow
Symbol flashing or lit; partly combined with
audible warnings.
A faulty function, or fluids which are below
the correct levels may cause damage to the
vehicle! ⇒ 
Check the faulty function as soon as possible.
If necessary, request assistance from special-
ised personnel.
Informative
text.–Information relating to different vehicle pro-
cesses.
Mileage
The odometer registers the total distance travelled by the car.
The odometer (trip) shows the distance travelled since the last odometer re- set. The last digit of the trip recorder indicates distances of 100 metres or
one tenths of a mile.
● Briefly press the button ⇒ Fig. 36 4
to reset the trip recorder to 0.
● Keep the button 4 pressed for about 3 seconds and the previous value
will be displayed.
Time
● To set the time, keep the button ⇒ Fig. 36 4
pressed for more than 3
seconds to select the hour or minute display.
● To continue setting the time, press the upper or lower part of the button
4
. Hold button down to scroll through the numbers quickly.
● Press the button 4 again in order to finish setting the time.

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69
Instruments and warning/control lamps
Vehicles with an automatic gearbox*
The display is only visible in tiptronic mode ⇒ page 159
The following display symbols mean:
●  Shifting up a gear
●  Shifting down a gear
CAUTION
The gear-change indicator is intended to help save fuel. It is not intended to
recommend the right gear for all driving situations. In certain situations, on-
ly the driver can choose the correct gear (for instance when overtaking, driv-
ing up a steep gradient or towing a trailer).
Note
The display disappears from the instrument panel when you press the
clutch pedal. 
Control lamps Control and warning lamps
The control and warning lamps are indicators of warnings, ⇒ , faults ⇒ or certain functions. Some control and warning lamps come on when the ig-
nition is switched on, and switch off when the engine starts running, or
while driving.
Depending on the model, additional text messages may be viewed on the
instrument panel display. These may be purely informative or they may be
advising of the need for action ⇒ page 61, Instruments. Depending upon the equipment fitted in the vehicle, instead of a warning
lamp, sometimes a symbol may be displayed on the instrument panel.
When certain control and warning lamps are lit, an audible warning is also
heard.
Red symbols
SymbolMeaning ⇒ See
Central warning lamp: additional information
on the instrument panel display–

Symbol on the instrument panel display:

Do not continue driving!
With the corresponding indication: door(s), rear
lid or bonnet open or not properly closed.⇒ page 86
⇒ page 98
⇒ page 209
Parking brake on.⇒ page 147
⇒ page 185

 Do not continue driving!
The brake fluid level is too low or there is a fault
in the brake system.

Lit up on instrument panel display: a)
 Do not continue driving!
Engine coolant level too low, coolant tempera-
ture too high
Flashing on the instrument panel display: a)
Fault in the engine coolant system.
⇒ page 215

On the instrument panel display: a)
 Do not continue driving!
Engine oil pressure too low.⇒ page 211

Lit up or flashing:
 Do not continue driving!
Fault in the steering.⇒ page 186
Driver or passenger has not fastened seat belt.⇒ page 19 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

72Instruments and warning/control lamps
WARNING (Continued)
● Before opening the bonnet, switch off the engine and allow it to cool.
● In any vehicle, the engine compartment is a hazardous area and could
cause severe injuries ⇒ page 209.
CAUTION
Failure to heed the control lamps and text messages when they appear may
result in faults in the vehicle. 

87
Opening and closing
To deactivate the alarm, press the button 
on the remote control key, or
switch on the ignition. After a certain time, the alarm will automatically
switch off.
Switch off the vehicle interior monitoring and tow-away protection if you
wish to prevent the alarm from being triggered accidentally ⇒ page 95.
Turn signals
The turn signals will flash twice when the vehicle is unlocked and once
when the vehicle is locked.
If the signals do not flash, this indicates that one of the doors, the rear lid or
the bonnet is not closed correctly.
Accidental lock-out
The central locking system prevents you from being locked out of the vehi-
cle in the following situations:
● If the driver door is open, the vehicle cannot be locked with the central
locking switch ⇒ page 93.
Lock the vehicle with the remote control key, when all the doors and the rear
lid have been closed. This prevents the accidental locking of the vehicle.
WARNING
Do not leave anyone (especially children) in the vehicle if it is locked from
the outside and the anti-theft security system* is enabled, as the doors
and windows cannot then be opened from the inside. Locked doors could
delay assistance in an emergency, potentially putting lives at risk.
Note
● Never leave any valuable items in the vehicle unattended. Even a locked
vehicle is not a safe.
● If the diode on the driver door sill lights up for about 30 seconds when
the vehicle is locked, the central locking system or anti-theft alarm* is not
working properly. You should have the fault repaired at a SEAT Official Serv-
ice or specialised workshop.
● The vehicle interior monitoring of the anti-theft alarm* system will only
function as intended if the windows and the sunroof* are closed. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

94Opening and closing
● When the door is mechanically unlocked using the vehicle key without
turning the ignition within the following 15 seconds.
● A door is opened.
● The bonnet is opened.
● The rear lid is opened.
● When the ignition is switched on with a non-authorised key.
● When the vehicle battery is disconnected.
● Movement inside the vehicle (in vehicles with interior monitoring
⇒ page 95).
● When the vehicle is towed (in vehicles with anti-tow system
⇒ page 95).
● When the vehicle is raised (in vehicles with anti-tow system
⇒ page 95).
● When the vehicle is transported on a ferry or by rail (vehicles with an an-
ti-tow system or vehicle interior monitoring ⇒ page 95).
● When a trailer connected to the anti-theft alarm system is disconnected.
How to turn OFF the alarm
Unlock the vehicle with the unlocking button on the key or turn on the igni-
tion with a valid key.
Note
● The alarm will be triggered once more when anybody enters the same
zone of surveillance or any other zone. If, for example, after opening a door,
the rear lid is also opened.
● The anti-theft alarm 
is not activated when the vehicle is locked from
the inside using the central locking button. ●
If the driver door is unlocked mechanically with the key, only the driver
door is unlocked, the rest of the doors remain locked. Only when the igni-
tion has been turned on will the other doors be available - but not unlocked
- and the central lock button activated.
● If the vehicle battery is run down or flat then the anti-theft alarm will not
operate correctly. 
Vehicle interior monitoring and anti-tow system*
Monitoring or control function incorporated in the anti-theft
alarm* which detects unauthorized vehicle entry by means
of ultrasound.
Activation
– It is automatically switched on when the anti-theft alarm is acti-
vated.
Deactivation
– Open the vehicle with the key, either mechanically 1)
or by press-
ing the 
button on the remote control.
– Press the button 
on the remote control twice. The volumetric
sensor and tilt sensors will be deactivated. The alarm system re-
mains activated.
The vehicle interior monitoring and the anti-tow system are automatically
switched on again next time the vehicle is locked. 
1)
The time period from when the door is opened until the key is inserted in the contact
should not exceed 15 sec., otherwise the alarm will be triggered.

121
Lights and visibility
● Damaged blades: A film of water on the damaged blades may lengthen
the activation time, reduce the washing intervals or result in a fast and con-
tinuous wipe.
● Insects: insects on the sensor may trigger the windscreen washer.
● Salt on roads: in winter, salt spread in the roads may cause an extra
long wipe when the windscreen is almost dry.
● Dirt: dry dust, wax, coating on glass (Lotus effect) or traces of detergent
(car wash) may reduce the effectiveness of the rain sensor or make it react
more slowly, later or not at all.
● Cracked windscreen: the impact of a stone will trigger a single wipe cy-
cle with the rain sensor on. Next the rain sensor detects the reduction in the
sensitive surface area and adapts accordingly. The behaviour of the sensor
will vary with the size of the damage caused by the stone.
WARNING
The rain sensor may not detect enough rain to switch on the wipers.
● If necessary, switch on the wipers manually when water on the wind-
screen obstructs visibility.
Note
● Clean the sensitive surface of the rain sensor regularly and check the
blades for damage ⇒ Fig. 67 (arrow).
● To remove wax and coatings, we recommend a window cleaner contain-
ing alcohol. Checking and topping up the windscreen washer reservoir
with water
Fig. 68 In the engine
compartment: wind-
screen washer reservoir
top
Check the water level in the windscreen washer reservoir regularly and top
up as required.
● Open the bonnet 
⇒  page 209.
● The washer reservoir is marked with the symbol  on the lid
⇒ Fig. 68.
● Check there is enough water in the reservoir.
● To top up, mix water with a window cleaner recommended by SEAT
⇒ 
.
Please follow the instructions for use found on the packaging.
● In cold weather, a special antifreeze should also be added to prevent
the water from freezing ⇒ 
. 
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155
Driving
WARNING (Continued)
● With selector lever in any position (except P) 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 to “creep”. The accelerator pedal must on no account be
pressed inadvertently when a gear is engaged with the vehicle station-
ary. The vehicle could otherwise start moving immediately (in some ca-
ses even if the parking brake is engaged) resulting in the risk of an acci-
dent.
● 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.
● As a driver you should never leave your vehicle if the engine is run-
ning and a gear is engaged. If you have to leave your vehicle while the
engine is running, you must apply the handbrake and engage the parking
lock P.
● To avoid accidents, apply the handbrake and put the selector lever in
position P before opening the bonnet and working on the vehicle with
the engine running. Please always observe the important safety warn-
ings ⇒ page 209, Working on components in the engine compartment.
Note
● If the selector lever is moved accidentally to N when driving, release the
accelerator and let the engine speed drop to idling before selecting gear
range D or S again.
● Should the power supply to the selector lever be interrupted in posi-
tion P, the selector lever will be locked. If this should happen the manual
release can be used ⇒ page 163. 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. 90 Selector lever
lock
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 switched on, the selector lever is locked in the positions P
and N. The brake pedal must be pressed to release the lever while pressing
the release button if the selector lever is in the position P. As a reminder for
the driver, with the lever in positions P or N the following message will be
shown on the display: When stationary, apply footbrake while selecting a gear. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications