2012 Seat Leon 5D towing

246Emergencies
Rear towline anchorage
The rear towline anchorage should only be mounted if you
wish to tow another vehicle.
Fig. 129 Right side of
the rear bumper: cover
cap
Fig. 130 Right side of
the rear bumper: towline
anchorage screwed in Vehicles with towline anchorage
On the right of the rear bumper there is a cover which covers a
threaded hole.
–
Take the towline anchorage out of the vehicle tool set
⇒ page 232.
– To remove the bumper cover, press the upper side of the cover
inwards -arrow- and remove the cover by levering on the left
side ⇒ Fig. 129.
– Screw the towline anchorage into the screw connection as far as
it will go ⇒ Fig. 130 and tighten with the wheel brace.
After use, unscrew the towline anchorage and put it back in the vehicle tool
kit. Replace the cover on the bumper. The towline anchorage should always
be kept in the vehicle.
WARNING
● If the towline anchorage is not screwed in as far as the stop, there is a
risk of the screw connection shearing off during towing (accident risk).
● If your car has a towing bracket, only use special towing ropes. Risk
of accident!
CAUTION
In vehicles fitted with a towing bracket, only use special tow bars to prevent
damage to the ball joint. These tow bars have been specially approved for
use with towing brackets.
Note
If the vehicle is fitted with a towing hook, the ball must be fitted in it when
towing the vehicle. 

247
Emergencies
Tow-starting
As a general rule, tow-starting is not recommended.
– Engage 2nd or 3rd gear before moving off.
– Press the clutch and hold the pedal down.
– Switch the ignition on.
– Once both vehicles are moving, release the clutch.
– As soon as the engine starts: press the clutch and put the gear
lever in neutral.
If the engine will not start, it is best to try starting it using the battery of an-
other vehicle ⇒ page 241 before attempting to tow start. You should only try
to tow-start the engine if jump starting is not successful. Tow-starting is an
attempt to start the engine via the movement of the wheels.
When tow-starting a vehicle with a petrol engine, do not tow it more than a
short distance, otherwise sunburnt fuel can enter the catalytic converter and
cause damage.
WARNING
The risk of accidents is high when tow-starting, as the towed vehicle can
easily be driven into the towing vehicle.
CAUTION
Do not tow vehicles for more than 50 m. Risk of damage to the catalytic con-
verter. Towing vehicles with a manual gearbox
Towing is relatively straightforward.
Please observe the relevant instructions ⇒ page 244.
The vehicle can be towed using a tow bar or tow rope in the normal way,
with all four wheels on the road; it can also be towed with either the front or
rear wheels lifted off the road. The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h (30
mph). 
Towing a vehicle equipped with automatic gearbox
Certain restrictions must be observed when towing your ve-
hicle. Please observe the relevant instructions ⇒ page 244.
The vehicle can be towed with a tow bar or tow rope in the normal way, with
all four wheels on the ground. When doing so, please note the following
points:
● Make sure the selector lever is in the N position.
● The vehicle must not be towed faster than 50 km/h (30 mph).
● The vehicle must not be towed further than 50 km (30 miles). Reason:
when the engine is not running, the gearbox oil pump does not work and
the gearbox is not adequately lubricated for higher speeds or longer distan-
ces.
If the vehicle has to be towed with a breakdown truck, it must only be sus-
pended at the front wheels. Reason: the drive shafts are located on the front
wheels. If the car is towed with the rear wheels lifted off the road (I.e. travel-
ling backwards), the drive shafts also turn backwards. The planetary gears
in the automatic gearbox then turn at such high speeds that the gearbox
will be severely damaged in a short time. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

265
Technical specifications
Information on fuel consumption
Fuel consumption
The consumption and emission details shown on the vehicle
data sticker differ from one vehicle to another. The vehicle fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions can be consulted on the
vehicle data sticker in the spare wheel well, inside the luggage compart-
ment and on the rear cover of the Maintenance Programme.
The fuel consumption and CO 2 emission values refer to the weight category
assigned to your vehicle according to the engine and gearbox combination,
as well as the specific equipment fitted, and is only used to compare be-
tween the different models.
The fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions do not depend only on the per-
formance of the vehicle, they can also differ from the established values de-
pending on other factors such as driving style, road conditions, traffic con-
ditions, environmental conditions, load and number of passengers.
Calculation of fuel consumption
The consumption values have been calculated based on measurements per-
formed or supervised by certified CE laboratories according to the latest ver-
sion of directives 715/2007/EC and 80/1268/CEE (for more information
consult the European Union Publications Office at EUR-Lex: © European Un-
ion, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm) and are valid for the kerb
weight indicated for the vehicle.
Note
In practice, and considering all the factors mentioned here, consumption
values can differ from those calculated in the current European regulations. Weights
Kerb weight refers to the basic model with a fuel tank filled to 90% capacity
and without optional extras. The figure quoted includes 75 kg to allow for
the weight of the driver.
For special versions and optional equipment fittings or for the addition of
accessories, the weight of the vehicle will increase
⇒ 
.
WARNING
● Please note that the centre of gravity may shift when transporting
heavy objects; this may affect vehicle handling and lead to an accident.
Always adjust your speed and driving style to suit road conditions and re-
quirements.
● Never exceed the gross axle weight rating or the gross vehicle weight
rating. If the allowed axle load or the allowed total weight is exceeded,
the driving characteristics of the vehicle may change, leading to acci-
dents, injuries and damage to the vehicle.

Towing a trailer Trailer weights
Trailer weight
The trailer weights and drawbar loads approved are selected in intensive tri-
als according to precisely defined criteria. The approved trailer weights are
valid for vehicles in the EU for maximum speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph) (in
certain circumstances up to 100 km/h, 60 mph). The figures may be differ-
ent in other countries. All data in the official vehicle documentation takes
precedence over these data at all times ⇒ 
.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

266Technical specifications
Drawbar loads
The maximum permitted drawbar load on the ball joint of the towing bracket
must not exceed 80 kg.
In the interest of road safety, we recommend that you always tow approach-
ing the maximum drawbar load. The response of the trailer on the road will
be poor if the drawbar load is too small.
If the maximum permissible drawbar load cannot be met (e.g. with small,
empty and light-weight single axle trailers or tandem axle trailers with a
wheelbase of less than 1 metre), a minimum of 4% of the actual trailer
weight is legally required for the drawbar load.
WARNING
● For safety reasons, do not exceed the 80 km/h (50 mph) limit. This is
also valid in countries where higher speeds are permitted.
● Never exceed the maximum trailer weights or the drawbar load. If the
permissible axle load or the permissible total weight is exceeded, the
driving characteristics of the vehicle may change, leading to accidents,
injuries and damage to the vehicle.

Wheels
Tyre pressure, snow chains, wheel bolts
Tyre pressures
The sticker with the tyre pressure values can be found on the inside of the
fuel tank flap. The tyre pressure values given there are for cold tyres. The
slightly raised pressures of warm tyres must not be reduced. ⇒ 
Snow chains
Snow chains may be fitted only to the front wheels, and only for the follow-
ing tyres:
175/70R14
185/60R15Chains with links not exceeding 15 mm (including the chain
closure)
215/45R16Chains with links not exceeding 9 mm (including the chain
closure)
215/40R17Chains with links not exceeding 7 mm (including the chain
closure)
Wheel bolts
After the wheels have been changed, the tightening torque of the wheel
bolts should be checked as soon as possible with a torque wrench ⇒ 
.
The tightening torque for steel and alloy wheels is 120 Nm.
WARNING
● Check the tyre pressure at least once per month. Checking the tyre
pressure is very important. If the tyre pressure is too high or too low,
there is an increased danger of accidents, particularly at high speeds.
● If the tightening torque of the wheel bolts is too low, they could loos-
en while the vehicle is in motion. Risk of accident! If the tightening tor-
que is too high, the wheel bolts and threads can be damaged.
Note
We recommend that you ask your Technical Service for information about
appropriate wheel, tyre and snow chain size. 

Outside temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Outside temperature display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
OverviewTurn signal and main beam lever . . . . . . . 107
Overview (controls and displays) . . . . . . . . . . . 59
P Paint code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Paint damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Panoramic sliding sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Convenience closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Convenience opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Fault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Roll-back function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Parking aid Adjusting the display/audible warnings . 181
Environment warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Fault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Plus parking aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Rear parking aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Sensors/Camera: cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Towing bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Parking aid system see Parking aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Parking light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Parking (automatic gearbox) . . . . . . . . . . 156, 157
Particulate filter (Diesel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 Passenger
see Correct sitting position . . . . . . . 11, 12, 13
Pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Physical principles of a frontal collision . . . . . . 21
Plastic parts: Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200, 202
Polishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Power socket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Preheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Pressure (tyres) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
R Racks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Radio display: cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Radio transmitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Rain sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Control of function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Rear lid automatic locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Manual release in an emergency . . . . . . . . 99
Rear lights Changing a bulb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Rear vision mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Rear vision mirrors Adjusting the exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . 122
see also Rear vision mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Reflective vests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Remote control See "Keys" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Remote control key
Unlocking/Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Remove the wheel cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Removing the head restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Replacement parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Reservoir capacity Windscreen washer water reservoir . . . . . 122
Reset button (trip recorder) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Reset the trip recorder to zero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Retrofitting a towing bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Rev counter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61, 66
Reverse gear (automatic gearbox) . . . . . . . . . 154
Rims Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
RME (fuel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Roll-back function Panoramic sliding sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Roof carrier (roof load) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Running in New brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
New engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
New tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
S Safe driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Safelock see Anti-theft security system . . . . . . . . . . . 86
283
Index

SystemsCruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Tiredness detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Tyre monitoring indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Tyre monitoring systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
T Technical data Reservoir capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Technical modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Technical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Temperature display Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Outside temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64, 73
The danger of not using the seat belt . . . . . . . . 22
Tightening torque of wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . 266
tiptronic (automatic gearbox) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Tiptronic (automatic gearbox) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Tiredness detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Top Tether system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54, 55
Tow-away protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Tow-starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Tow-starting the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Towing Retrofitting a towing bracket . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194, 265
Towing bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Towline anchorage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Traction control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Trailer
Parking aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Trailer weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Transporting children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Trim parts: cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Trims: Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Trip recorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61, 67
Turning off the lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Turning on the headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Turn signal convenience function . . . . . . . . . . 107
Turn signal lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Tyre Tyre pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Useful life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Tyre Mobility System (Tyre repair kit) . . . . . . . 233
Tyre monitoring indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Tyre monitoring system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Tyre monitoring systems Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Tyre monitoring indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Tyre repair kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Tyres Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Indications of wear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Repair kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232, 233
With compulsory direction of rotation . . . 239 U
Unlocking/Locking With remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
With the central locking switch . . . . . . . . . . 93
Upholstery: Cleaning Alcantara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Fabrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
V
Vehicle Identification number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Raising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Sticker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Vehicle identification data . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Vehicle battery Disconnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Vehicle care Changing wiper blades of the windscreenand rear window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Cleaning windscreen and rear window wip- er blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Service position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Vehicle interior monitoring and anti-tow system Activation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Vehicle key Synchronising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Vehicle tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Ventilation slits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
285
Index