2012 Seat Leon 5D technical specifications

195
Trailer
Note
● Towing a trailer places additional demands on the vehicle. We recom-
mend additional services between the normal inspection intervals if the ve-
hicle is used frequently for towing a trailer.
● Find out whether special regulations apply to towing a trailer in your
country. 
Ball coupling of towing bracket*
The ball coupling is provided with instructions on fitting and removing the
ball coupling of the towing bracket.
WARNING
The towing bracket ball coupling must be stored securely in the luggage
compartment to prevent them being flung through the vehicle and caus-
ing injury.
Note
● By law, the ball coupling must be removed if a trailer is not being towed
if it obscures the number plate. 
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 69.
Electronic Stability Control*
The ESC* system helps to stabilise the trailer in case of skidding or rocking. 
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Trailer
Note
● SEAT recommends that the towing hooks be fitted at a specialised work-
shop. In certain versions this may entail fitting a heat insulating plate,
which is why it is recommended that you go to a SEAT Dealer. In the event
that the plate is not installed correctly, SEAT is exempt from any liability.
● Due to the specific design of the exhaust, the fitting of a conventional
towing hook is not recommended for some sportier versions. Please consult
your Technical Service. 
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199
Care and cleaning
Washing the car by hand
When washing the car by hand, use plenty of water to soften the dirt first,
and rinse off as well as possible.
Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge, glove or brush using only slight
pressure. You should start on the roof and work down. Special car shampoo
should only be used for very persistent dirt.
Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and often.
Wheels, sills and similar should be cleaned last. Use a second sponge for
this.
WARNING
● The vehicle should only be washed with the ignition switched off.
Failure to do so could result in an accident.
● Do not clean the underside of chassis, the inside of wheel arches or
wheel trims without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut your-
self on sharp-edged metal parts. Otherwise, there is a risk of sustaining
cuts.
● When washing the car during the winter season: water and ice in the
brake system can reduce braking effectiveness: risk of accident!
CAUTION
● Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight – otherwise the paint can be
damaged.
● Do not use sponges, abrasive household sponges or similar to clean in-
sect remains. This could damage the surface.
● Clean off stubborn dirt (insects, etc.) from the headlights at regular in-
tervals, for instance when filling the fuel tank. The headlights should only
be washed with water, do not wipe them with a dry cloth or sponge. It is
best to use soapy water. ●
Never wash tyres with a jet that sprays the water out in a direct stream.
This could damage the tyres even if the spray is kept at a distance and only
used for a very short time.
● Before washing the vehicle in an automatic car wash, please make sure
to retract the exterior mirrors to prevent them from being damaged. Electri-
cally retractable exterior mirrors must not be folded in or out by hand. Al-
ways use the electrical power control.
For the sake of the environment
The car should only be washed in special wash bays. This prevents oily wa-
ter from getting into the public drains. In some places, washing vehicles
anywhere else may be prohibited. 
Sensors and camera lenses
● Use a small brush to remove snow and a de-icer spray to remove ice.
● Clean the sensors with a solvent-free product and a soft, dry cloth.
● Moisten the camera lens using a standard alcohol-based glass cleaning
agent and clean the lens with a dry cloth. The area in front of the active
Lane Assist* lens area is normally cleaned with the windscreen washer.
CAUTION
● When you clean the vehicle with a pressure washer,
– stay a suitable distance from the sensors on the front and rear bump-
ers.
– Do not clean the camera lenses or surrounding area with the pressure
washer.
● Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from the reverse
camera lens, as it could crack the lens.
● Never use abrasive cleaning agents on the lens. 
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201
Care and cleaning
Windows
Clear vision is an essential safety factor.
The windscreen must not be cleaned with insect remover or wax, otherwise
the windscreen wipers will not function properly (juddering).
Traces of rubber, oil, grease or silicone can be removed with a window
cleaning solution or a silicone remover. Wax residue can only be removed
with a special cleaner. Your SEAT Official Service will be able to provide you
with more detailed information.
The windows should also be cleaned on the inside at regular intervals.
Use a separate cloth or chamois to dry the windows. Cloths used for waxing
and polishing contain residues that will cause smears on the glass.
WARNING
Do not use water-repellent coatings on the windscreen. In bad visibility
conditions (e.g. in the rain, dark or with a low sun), these coatings may
cause dazzle: risk of accident! Such coatings can also cause the wind-
screen wiper blades to make noise.
CAUTION
● Remove snow and ice from windows and exterior mirrors with a plastic
scraper only. To avoid scratches caused by dirt on the glass, the scraper
should only be pushed in one direction and not moved to and fro.
● The heating element for the rear window is located on the inner side of
the window. To avoid damaging them, do not apply stickers to the heating
elements.
● Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from windows and
mirrors. This could cause the glass to crack! Rims
The wheels require regular attention to preserve their appearance. It is im-
portant to remove road salt and brake dust by washing the wheels at regu-
lar intervals, otherwise the finish will be impaired.
After washing, the wheels should only be cleaned with an "acid-free" clean-
ing agent for alloy wheels. This is available from SEAT Official Services and
specialist retailers. Never leave the cleaning agent on the rims for any lon-
ger than specified in the instructions before rinsing it off. If the wheel clean-
er fluid contains acid it can attack the surfaces of the wheel bolts.
Car polish or other abrasive agents should not be used for maintaining the
rims. If the protective coating is damaged, e.g. by stone impact, the dam-
aged area should be touched up immediately.
WARNING
Please note when cleaning the wheels that water, ice and road salt can
impair the effectiveness of the brakes; this can cause an accident.

Exhaust tail pipe
It is important to remove road salt and brake dust by washing the wheels at
regular intervals, otherwise the exhaust tail pipe material could be dam-
aged. To remove impurities, do not use rim, paint or chrome cleaners or oth-
er abrasive products. Clean the exhaust tail pipes with cleaning products
that are suitable for stainless steel.
SEAT Official Services carry stocks of cleaning products that have been tes-
ted and approved for use on your vehicle. 
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203
Care and cleaning
Natural leather
SEAT does everything possible to preserve the genuine qual-
ities of this natural product. General information
Our range of leathers is large. The main type used is nappa in various forms,
that is, leather with a smooth surface in various different colours.
The amount of dye used determines the appearance and properties of leath-
er. If the leather is left in a more natural state, it retains its typical natural
napped appearance and confers excellent all-weather properties to the
seats. Fine veins, healed scars, insect bites, wrinkles and a subtle variation
in shading remain visible; these are the characteristic features of genuine
natural leather.
Natural napped leather does not have a protective surface coating of dye. It
is therefore somewhat more prone to damage. This should be borne in mind
if children or pets often travel in the car, or if there are other factors that
could lead to damage.
Types of leather with a coloured surface coating are likely to be more resist-
ant to damage. This has a great advantage for day-to-day use. However, this
means that the typical natural characteristics of the surface are less appa-
rent, though this does not affect quality.
Cleaning and care
Due to the natural properties of the specially selected hides employed, the
finished leather has a certain sensitivity to grease and dirt, etc. so a degree
of care is required in everyday use and when looking after the leather. Dark
clothing (especially if damp or incorrectly dyed) may stain leather uphols-
tery. Dust and grit in the pores and seams can scratch and damage the sur-
face. Therefore leather should be cleaned at regular intervals, depending on
the actual amount of use. When they have been in use for a certain time,
your car seats will acquire a typical and unmistakable patina. This is charac-
teristic for leather as a natural product and is a sign of genuine quality. To maintain the value of natural leather you should note the following
points:
CAUTION
● Avoid exposing leather to direct sunlight for long periods, otherwise it
may tend to lose some of its colour. If the car is left for a prolonged period
in the bright sun, it is best to cover the leather.
● Sharp-edged objects on clothing, such as belts, zip fasteners, rivets or
similar, can also leave permanent scratches and rough marks on the surface
of the leather.
Note
● Use a suitable impregnating cream with ultra-violet protection at regular
intervals and after cleaning. The cream nourishes and moisturises the leath-
er, keeps it supple and able to breathe. It will also form a protective film.
● Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months and remove fresh dirt as soon as
possible.
● Remove stains from fresh ball-pen and other inks, lipstick, shoe cream
and similar stains as soon as possible.
● Preserve the colour of the leather. A special coloured cream will renew
the colour of the leather when required and will eliminate differences in col-
our. 
Cleaning and care of leather upholstery
Natural leather requires an extra degree of attention and
care.
Normal cleaning
– Moisten a cotton or woollen cloth with water and wipe over the
leather surfaces. 
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Care and cleaning
be protected against direct sunlight to prevent it from fading. However,
slight colour variations will arise in normal use.
CAUTION
● Do not use solvents, wax polish, shoe cream, stain removers, leather
cleaning products or any similar products on Alcantara.
● To avoid damage, stubborn stains should be removed by a specialised
workshop.
● On no account use brushes, hard sponges or similar utensils. 
Seat belts
– Keep the seat belts clean.
– For cleaning, use a mild solution of soap and water.
– Check the condition of the seat belts at regular intervals.
The retract function may not operate properly in very dirty belts. Make sure
that the inertia reel seat belts are completely dry before allowing them to
retract.
CAUTION
● Do not remove the seat belts from the vehicle to clean them.
● Do not use chemical cleaning agents on the seat belts, as this can dam-
age the webbing. Ensure that the seat belts do not come into contact with
corrosive fluids.
● If you find any damage to the belt webbing, belt fittings, the belt retrac-
tor or the buckle, the belt in question must be replaced by a specialised
workshop. 
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Checking and refilling levels
Diesel Fuel
Please note the information on the inside of the fuel tank
flap.
We recommend the use of Diesel fuel which complies to European standard
EN 590. If diesel fuel which meets European standard EN 590 is not availa-
ble, the Cetane number (CZ) must, at minimum, be 51. If the engine is
equipped with a particulate filter, the sulphur content of the fuel must be
below 50 parts per million.
Winter-grade diesel
Summer fuel becomes thicker in winter and it is more difficult to start the
engine. For this reason petrol stations in some countries also offer winter
diesel with improved fluidity when cold.
CAUTION
● The vehicle is not designed for the use of biodiesel (FAME fuel). The fuel
system would be damaged if you used biodiesel.
● Do not mix fuel additives, the so-called “thinners”, petrol or similar ad-
ditives with diesel fuel.
● If poor-quality diesel fuel is used, it may be necessary to drain the fuel
filter more frequently than is specified in the Service Plan. We recommend
having this done by a specialised workshop. If water is allowed to collect in
the filter, this can cause engine performance problems. Filling the tank
Filling the tankFig. 106 Fuel tank flap
with tank cap attached
The flap that covers the tank cap is unlocked and locked automati-
cally by the central locking.
Opening the fuel tank cap
– Open the fuel tank flap, by pressing on the left side.
– Unscrew the fuel tank cap anti-clockwise.
– Place the cap in the housing on the hinge of the open flap
⇒ Fig. 106.
Closing the fuel tank cap
– Screw on the tank cap clockwise until it you hear it click into po-
sition. 
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208Checking and refilling levels
–Close the tank flap. Make sure you hear it click into place.
If the automatic filler nozzle is operated correctly, it will switch itself off as
soon as the fuel tank is “full”. Do not try to put in more fuel after the nozzle
cuts out, as this will fill the expansion chamber in the fuel tank.
The correct fuel grade for your vehicle is given on a sticker on the inside of
the fuel tank flap. Further notes on fuel can be found at ⇒ page 206.
The capacity of the fuel tank is listed in the vehicle technical specifications
⇒ page 276.
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable and can cause serious burns and other injuries.
● Do not smoke when filling the fuel tank or a canister. Naked flames
are forbidden in the vicinity due to the risk of explosion.
● Observe legislation governing the use, storage and carrying of a
spare fuel canister in the vehicle.
● For safety reasons we do not recommend carrying a spare fuel canis-
ter in the vehicle. In an accident the canister could be damaged and could
leak.
● If, in exceptional circumstances, you have to carry a spare fuel canis-
ter, please observe the following points:
–Never fill fuel into the spare fuel canister if it is inside or on top of
the vehicle. An electrostatic charge could build up during filling, caus-
ing the fuel vapour to ignite. Danger of explosion. Always place the
canister on the ground to fill it.
– Insert the filling nozzle as far as possible into the spare fuel canis-
ter.
WARNING (Continued)
– If the spare fuel canister is made of metal, the filling nozzle must
be in contact with the canister during filling. This helps prevent an
electrostatic charge building up.
– Never spill fuel in the vehicle or in the luggage compartment. Fuel
vapour is explosive. Risk of fatal accident!
CAUTION
● If any fuel is spilt onto the vehicle, it should be removed immediately. It
could otherwise damage the paintwork.
● Never run the tank completely dry. An irregular fuel supply could cause
misfiring. As a result, unburnt fuel could enter the exhaust system and dam-
age the catalytic converter.
● When filling the fuel tank after having run it completely dry on a vehicle
with a diesel engine , the ignition must be switched on for at least 30 sec-
onds before starting the engine. When you then start the engine it may take
longer than normal (up to one minute) for the engine to start firing. This is
because air needs to be bled from the fuel system while starting.
For the sake of the environment
Do not overfill the fuel tank – it may cause the fuel to overflow if it becomes
warm. 