2012 Seat Leon 5D heating

135
Air conditioning
CAUTION
● Switch the air conditioner off if you think it may be broken. This will
avoid additional damage. Have the air conditioner checked by a specialised
workshop.
● Repairs to the air conditioner require specialist knowledge and special
tools. SEAT recommends visiting a SEAT Official Service.
Note
● When the cooling system is turned off, air coming from the outside will
not be dried. To prevent fogging of the windows, SEAT recommends leaving
the cooling system (compressor) turned on. To do this, press the button 
.
The button lamp should light up.
● The maximum heat output required to defrost windows as quickly as
possible is only available when the engine has reached its normal running
temperature.
● Keep the air intake slots in front of the windscreen free of snow, ice and
leaves to ensure heating and cooling are not impaired, and to prevent the
windows from misting over. Air conditioner controls
Fig. 81 In the centre console: Climatronic controls
To switch a function on or off, press the appropriate button. Press the but-
ton again to switch off the function.
The LED on each control lights up to indicate that the respective function of
a control has been switched on.
Control but- tonAdditional information. Climatronic.
1 Temper-
ature
 ... The left and right sides can be adjusted separately. Rotate
the control to adjust the temperature accordingly.
2 Fan
The power of the fan is automatically adjusted. The fan is al-
so adjusted manually by turning the control.
3 Air dis-
tributionThe airflow adjusts automatically for comfort. You can also
switch it on manually using the buttons 3.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

136Air conditioning
Control but-
tonAdditional information. Climatronic.
4Indications on the temperature display screen selected for
the right and left sides.

Defrost function. The air drawn in from outside the vehicle is
directed at the windscreen and air recirculation is automati-
cally switched off. To defrost the windscreen more quickly,
the air is dehumidified at temperatures over approximately
+3 °C (+38 °F) and the fan runs at maximum output.
The air is directed at the chest of driver and passengers by
the dash panel air vents.
Air distribution towards the footwell.
Upward air distribution.

Heated rear window: this only works when the engine is run-
ning and switches off automatically after a maximum of 10
minutes.
Air recirculation ⇒ page 141.
 Buttons for seat heating ⇒ page 126.
Press the button to switch on or off the cooling system.

Press the button to make maximum cooling capacity availa-
ble. The recirculation of air and the cooling system turn on
automatically and air distribution adjusts automatically to
the position  .

Transfer the driver side temperature settings to the passen-
ger side: when the button lamp is lit , the temperature
settings on the driver side also apply to the passenger side.
Press the button or the temperature control on the passenger
side in order to change the temperature on that side. The
button lamp is lit.
Control but- tonAdditional information. Climatronic.

Automatic adjustment of temperature, fan, and air distribu-
tion. Press the button to switch on the function. The button
will light up 
.

When the configuration button  is pressed the air condi-
tioner management menu will be shown on the Easy Connect
system screen.
Switching offTurn the fan control to the 0 position or press the button .
WARNING
Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and reduce driver concentration
possibly resulting in a serious accident.
● Never leave the fresh air fan turned off or use the air recirculation for
long periods of time; the air in the vehicle interior will not be refreshed.

Operating by using the Easy Connect* system (valid for
Radio Entry)
In the Easy Connect system it is also possible to perform various adjust-
ments to the Climatronic.
Open the air conditioner menu
● Press the Setup
button
● ALTERNATIVELY: press the MENU button in Easy Connect. With the rotat-
ing switch select the air conditioner menu and open it.
On the screen you can see and change the current settings, for example, the
temperature set for the driver side and for that of the passenger. 

138Air conditioning
Control but-
tonAdditional information. Manual air conditioning system.
1 Temper-
ature
 ... Rotate the control to set the temperature accordingly.
2 Fan
Setting 0: fan and manual air conditioning switched off, level
6: maximum fan level
3 Air dis-
tributionRotate the continuous control to direct the airflow to the de-
sired area.

Defrost function. The airflow is directed at the windscreen. In
this position, air recirculation is automatically switched off or
is not switched on. Increase the fan power to clear the wind-
screen of condensation as soon as possible. To dehumidify
the air, the cooling system will automatically switch on.
The air is directed at the chest of driver and passengers by
the dash panel air vents.
Distribution of air towards the chest and the footwell area.
Air distribution towards the footwell.
Air distribution towards the windscreen and the footwell.

Heated rear window: this only works when the engine is run-
ning and switches off automatically after a maximum of 10
minutes.
Air recirculation ⇒ page 141.
Control but- tonAdditional information. Manual air conditioning system.
 Buttons for seat heating ⇒ page 126.

Turn the control to the position   to make maximum
cooling capacity available. Air recirculation and the cooling
system are turned on automatically.
WARNING
Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and reduce driver concentration
possibly resulting in a serious accident.
● Never leave the fresh air fan turned off or use the air recirculation for
long periods of time; the air in the vehicle interior will not be refreshed.

Heating system and fresh air controls
Fig. 83 In the centre console: heating system and fresh air controls 

139
Air conditioning
Control but-
tonAdditional information. Heating and fresh air system
1 Temper-
ature
 ... Rotate the control to adjust the temperature accordingly. The
desired temperature for the interior cannot be lower than
that of the exterior air temperature, as the heating and fresh
air system cannot cool or dehumidify the air.
2 Fan
Setting 0: fan, heating and fresh air systems switched off,
level 6: maximum fan level.
3 Air dis-
tributionRotate the continuous control to direct the airflow to the de-
sired area.
The airflow is directed at the windscreen.
The air is directed at the chest of driver and passengers by
the dash panel air vents.
Distribution of air towards the chest and the footwell area.
Air distribution towards the footwell.
Air distribution towards the windscreen and the footwell.

Heated rear window: this only works when the engine is run-
ning and switches off automatically after a maximum of 10
minutes.
Air recirculation ⇒ page 141.
Setting for conditions of optimal visibility
● Disable air recirculation mode.
● Set the fan 2
to setting 1 or 2.
● Turn the temperature control 1 to the desired position. ●
Open and direct all the air outlets in the dash panel.
● Turn the air distribution control 3
to the desired position.
WARNING
Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and reduce driver concentration
possibly resulting in a serious accident.
● Never leave the fresh air fan turned off or use the air recirculation for
long periods of time; the air in the vehicle interior will not be refreshed.

Instructions for use of the air conditioner
The interior cooling system only works when the engine is running and fan
is switched on.
The air conditioner operates most effectively with the windows and the pan-
oramic sliding sunroof closed. However, if the vehicle has heated up after
standing in the sun for some time, the air inside can be cooled more quickly
by opening the windows and the panoramic sliding sunroof briefly.
Setting for conditions of optimal visibility
When the air conditioning is switched on, the temperature and the air hu-
midity in the vehicle interior drop. Hence, when the outside air humidity is
high, the windows do not mist over and comfort for the vehicle occupants is
improved:
With manual air conditioning
● Switch off air recirculation.
● Set the fan to the required setting.
● Turn the temperature control to the centre position.
● Open and direct all the air outlets in the dash panel. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

140Air conditioning
● Turn the air distribution control to the required position.
● Press the button 
to switch on the cooling system. The button will
light up.
With Climatronic
● Press button 
.
● Set the temperature to +22 °C (+72 °F).
● Open and direct all the air outlets in the dash panel.
Climatronic: change the temperature unit on the screen of the radio or on
the factory-fitted navigation system
Changing the temperature display from Celsius to Fahrenheit on radio or on
the factory-fitted navigation system is done using the menu on the instru-
ment panel ⇒ page 73.
The cooling system cannot be activated
If the air conditioning system cannot be switched on, this may be caused by
the following:
● The engine is not running.
● The fan is switched off.
● The air conditioner fuse has blown.
● The outside temperature is lower than approximately +3 °C (+38 °F).
● The air conditioner compressor has been temporarily switched off be-
cause the engine coolant temperature is too high.
● Another fault in the vehicle. Have the air conditioner checked by a speci-
alised workshop.
Special Characteristics
If the humidity and temperature outside the vehicle are high, condensation
can drip off the evaporator in the cooling system and form a pool under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and does not indicate a leak!
Note
After starting the engine, any residual humidity in the air conditioner could
mist over the windscreen. Switch on the defrost function as soon as possi-
ble to clear the windscreen of condensation. 
Air vents
Fig. 84 On the dash panel: air vents Air vents
To ensure proper heating, cooling and ventilation in the vehicle interior, air
vents ⇒ Fig. 84 1
should remain open.
● Turn the corresponding thumbwheel (detail) in the required direction to
open and close the air vents. When the thumbwheel is in the  position, the
corresponding air vent is closed.
● Change the air direction using the ventilation grille lever. 

141
Air conditioning
There are other additional, non-adjustable air vents in the dash panel 2
, in
the footwell and in the rear area of the interior.
Note
Never place food, medicines or other heat-sensitive objects close to the air
vents. Food, medicine and other heat or cold sensitive objects may be dam-
aged or made unsuitable for use by the air coming from the air vents. 
Air recirculation
Basic points
Air recirculation:
Manual air recirculation (heating and fresh air system, manual
air conditioning).
Air recirculation mode prevents the ambient air from entering the interior.
When the outside temperature is very high, selecting manual air recircula-
tion mode for a short period refreshes the vehicle interior more quickly.
For safety reasons, air recirculation mode is switched off when the button
 is pressed or the air distributor turned to .
Switching on and switching off manual air recirculation with air conditioner
(manual) or with the heating and fresh air systems 
Activate: press the button  until the warning lamp lights up.
Deactivate: press the button  until all warning lamps switch off.
Switching on and off manual air recirculation with Climatronic 
Activate: press the * button until the warning lamp lights up.
Deactivate: press the * button until all warning lamps switch off. Functioning mode of manual air recirculation (air conditioning menu)
With the automatic air recirculation mode activated, the entry of fresh air in-
to the cabin interior is enabled. If the system detects a high concentration
of hazardous substances in the ambient air, air recirculation mode is
switched on automatically. When the level of impurities drops to within a
normal range, recirculation mode is switched off.
The system is unable to detect unpleasant smells.
Air recirculation mode is
not automatically switched on in the following ca-
ses of outside temperatures and conditions:
● The cooling system is switched on (the * button lamp is on) and the am-
bient temperature is below +3 ° C (+38 ° F).
● The cooling system and the windscreen wipers are switched off and the
outside temperature is below +10 °C (+50 °F).
● The cooling system is switched on, the outside temperature is below
+15 °C (+59 °F) and the windscreen wipers are switched on.
Activation/deactivation of automatic air recirculation is done in the air con-
ditioner menu, under Configuration.
WARNING
Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and reduce driver concentration
possibly resulting in a serious accident.
● Never use recirculation mode for long periods as it does not refresh
the air inside the vehicle.
● If the cooling system is switched off and air recirculation mode
switched on, the windows can mist over very quickly, considerably limit-
ing visibility.
● Switch air recirculation mode off when it is not required. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

144Driving
Ignition lock
Starting the engine with the ignition key
Switch on the ignition with the key in the ignition and start
the engine.
Fig. 86 Ignition key po-
sitions
Steering wheel lock
– To lock the steering wheel, remove the key from the ignition and
turn the wheel until it locks. In vehicles with the automatic gear-
box*, the selector lever must be in the position P in order to re-
move the key.
– To unlock the steering wheel, insert the key into the ignition
and simultaneously turn the key (in the direction of the arrow)
and the steering wheel.
Warning: If the steering wheel cannot be turned, this is because
the steering wheel lock is activated. Switching the ignition on/off, preheating
–
Turn the ignition key to position 2
to switch on the ignition.
– Turn the ignition key to position 1
to switch off the ignition.
Preheating is produced in Diesel vehicles  when the ignition is
switched on.
Starting up the engine
– Manual gearbox: Press the clutch pedal all the way down and
move the gearbox lever into neutral.
– Automatic gearbox : Press the brake pedal and move the selec-
tor lever to position P or N.
– Turn the ignition key to position 3
. The key returns to position
2 automatically. Do not press the accelerator.
Diesel engines can take a few seconds longer than usual to start
on cold days. Therefore the clutch pedal (manual gearbox) or the
brake pedal (automatic gearbox) must remain pressed until the en-
gine starts up. During preheating, the warning lamp  remains lit.
The preheating time depends on the coolant and exterior tempera-
tures. When the engine is at operating temperature or at outside
temperatures above +8 °C (46 °F) the warning lamp  will only
light up for about one second. This means that the engine starts
immediately.
If the engine does not immediately start up, interrupt the starting process
and try again after 30 seconds. To start the engine again, return the key to
position 1
.


157
Driving
Stopping/Parking
If the driver door is opened and the selector lever is not in position
P, the vehicle could move. Driver message:  Gear change: selector
lever in drive position! will be displayed. Additionally, a buzzer will sound.
– Press and hold the brake pedal ⇒ 
.
– Apply the handbrake.
– Move the selector lever to position P.
Holding the car on a hill
– Always apply the brake pedal firmly to prevent the vehicle from
“moving backwards; if necessary, apply the handbrake” ⇒ 
.
Do not try to stop the vehicle “rolling back” by increasing the
engine speed when a gear is engaged (pressing the accelera-
tor) ⇒ 
.
Moving off uphill in vehicles without Hill start assistant*
– Apply the handbrake.
– Once you have engaged a gear press the accelerator carefully
and disengage the handbrake.
Moving off uphill in vehicles without Hill start assistant*
– Once you have engaged a gear, release the footbrake and press
the accelerator ⇒ page 148, Hill hold assist*.
Driving down hills: In some situations (on mountain roads or when towing a
trailer or caravan) it can be advantageous to switch temporarily to the man-
ual gearbox programme so that the gear ratios can be selected manually to
suit the driving conditions ⇒ 
. On level ground it is sufficient to move the selector lever to position P. On
slopes, first engage the parking brake and then put the selection lever into
the P position. This avoids overloading the locking mechanism and it will be
easier to move the selector lever from position P.
WARNING
● 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.
● If the engine is running and a gear is engaged (D/S or R) or the vehi-
cle is in tiptronic mode, you will need to hold the car with the footbrake.
Otherwise, the car will creep forwards as the power transmission is not
fully interrupted even when the engine is idling.
● Take care not to accidentally press the accelerator pedal when the ve-
hicle is stopped. The vehicle could otherwise start moving immediately
(in some cases even if the parking brake is engaged) resulting in the risk
of an accident.
● 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.
● Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving: this could result
in an accident!
● Before you drive down a steep gradient, reduce your speed and use
tiptronic to select a low gear.
● Never allow the brake to rub and do not use the brake pedal too often
or for long periods. Constant braking causes overheating in the brakes.
This could significantly reduce braking power, increase braking distance
or even result in the total failure of the brake system.
● To avoid rolling back on gradients always hold the vehicle with the
footbrake or handbrake if you have to stop. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications