2012 Seat Leon 5D light

114Lights and visibility
Headlight range control, lighting of the instrument panel
and controls
Fig. 62 Next to the
steering wheel: Head-
light range control
Lighting of the instrument panel and controls*
Depending on the model, lighting of the instrument panel and controls can
be adjusted in the Easy Connect system, using the button 
and the func-
tion button SETUP ⇒ page 81.
Headlight range control
The headlight range control ⇒ Fig. 62 is modified according to the value of
the headlight beam and the vehicle load status. This offers the driver opti-
mum visibility and the headlights do not dazzle oncoming drivers ⇒ 
.
The headlights can only be adjusted when the dipped beam is switched on.
To reset, turn switch ⇒ Fig. 62:
ValueVehicle load status a)–Two front occupants, luggage compartment empty1All seats occupied, luggage compartment empty
ValueVehicle load statusa)
2All seats occupied, luggage compartment full With trailer
and minimum drawbar load
3Driver only, luggage compartment full With trailer and
maximum drawbar load
a)
If the vehicle load does not correspond to those shown in the table, it is possible to select
intermediary positions.
Dynamic headlight range control
The control is not mounted in vehicles with dynamic headlight range con-
trol. The headlight range is automatically adjusted according to the vehicle
load status when the headlights are switched on.
Instrument panel lighting
In vehicles with the daytime driving light, the instrument panel lighting
switches on in dark conditions (for example, when passing through a tun-
nel). This reminds the driver to manually switch on the dipped beam, so
that the vehicle rear lights also switch on ⇒ page 109.
WARNING
Heavy objects in the vehicle may mean that the headlights dazzle and
distract other drivers. This could result in a serious accident.
● Adjust the light beam to the vehicle load status so that it does not
blind other drivers.


115
Lights and visibility
Interior and reading lights 1)
Button/
SwitchFunction
Switches interior lights off.
Switches interior lights on.

Switches door contact control on (central position).
The interior lights come on automatically when the vehicle is
unlocked, a door is opened or the key is removed from the ig-
nition.
The lights go off a few seconds after all the doors are closed,
the vehicle is locked or the ignition is switched on.
Turning the reading light on and off
Glove compartment and luggage compartment lighting
When opening and closing the glove compartment on the front passenger
side and the rear lid, the respective light will automatically switch on and
off.
Footwell lighting*
The lights in the footwell area below the dash (driver and front passenger
sides) will switch on when the doors are opened and will decrease in inten-
sity while driving. The intensity of these lights can be adjusted using the ra-
dio menu (see Easy Connect > Adjusting Lighting > Interior lighting⇒ page 81).
Ambient light*
The ambient light in the door panel changes colour (white or red) depend-
ing on the driving mode. The intensity of these lights can be adjusted using the radio menu (see Easy Connect > Adjusting Lights > Interior lighting
⇒  page 81).
Note
The reading lights switch off when the vehicle is locked using a key or after
several minutes if the key is removed from the ignition. This prevents the
battery from discharging. 
Sun blind Introduction
WARNING
Folded sun blinds can reduce visibility.
● Always store sun blinds and visors in their housing when not in use.

1)
Depending on the level of equipment fitted in the vehicle, LEDs can be used for the follow-
ing interior lights: front courtesy light, rear courtesy light, footwell light and sun visor light.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

116Lights and visibility
Sun visors
Fig. 63 Sun visor
Options for adjusting driver and front passenger sun visors:
● Lower by unfolding towards the windscreen.
● The sun visor can be pulled out of its mounting and turned towards the
door ⇒ Fig. 63 1
.
● Swing the sun visor towards the door, longitudinally backwards.
Vanity mirror light
There may be a vanity mirror, with a cover, on the rear of the sun visor. When
the cover is opened 2
a light comes on.
The lamp goes out when the vanity mirror cover is closed or the sun visor is
pushed back up.
Note
The light above the sun visor automatically switches off after a few minutes
in certain conditions. This prevents the battery from discharging. Windscreen wiper system
Introduction
Additional information and warnings:
● Changing wheels round
● Heating, ventilation, cooling
● Caring for and cleaning the vehicle exterior
WARNING
If the water from the windscreen washer does not contain enough anti-
freeze, it may freeze on the windscreen, reducing forward visibility.
● In winter, ensure the windscreen washer contains enough anti-freeze.
● In cold conditions, you should not use the wash/wipe system unless
you have warmed the windscreen with the ventilation system. The anti-
freeze could freeze on the windscreen and reduce visibility.
WARNING
Worn or dirty wiper blades reduce visibility and increase the risk of acci-
dent and serious injury.
● Always replace damaged or worn blades or blades which do not clean
the windscreen correctly.
CAUTION
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper blades are not frozen to the
glass before using the wipers. In cold weather, it may help to leave the vehi-
cle parked with the wipers in service position ⇒ page 119. 

117
Lights and visibility
Control lamp
lights upPossible causeSolution
Windscreen wiper fluid level
too lowTop up the windscreen wiper
reservoir as soon as possible
⇒ page 121.
Several warning and control lamps should light up for a few seconds when
the ignition is switched on, signalling that the function is being verified.
They will switch off after a few seconds.
CAUTION
Failure to heed the control lamps and text messages when they appear may
result in faults in the vehicle. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

118Lights and visibility
Window wiper lever
Fig. 64 Operating the
windscreen wiper and
rear wiper
Move the lever to the required position ⇒ :0OFFWindscreen wiper off.
1INTWindscreen wipers interval wipe.
Using the control ⇒ Fig. 64 A adjust the interval (vehicles
without the rain sensor), or the sensitivity of the rain sensor.
2LOWSlow wipe.3HIGHContinuous wipe.
41xBrief press, short clean. Hold the lever down for more time to
increase the wipe frequency.
5
The windscreen washer function is activated by pushing the
lever forwards, and simultaneously the windscreen wipers
start.
6Interval wipe for rear window. The rear wiper will wipe the win-
dow approximately every six seconds.
7The windscreen washer function is activated by pressing the
lever, and the rear wiper starts simultaneously.
CAUTION
If the ignition is switched off with the windscreen wipers active, they com-
plete their wipe before returning to the rest position. Ice, snow and other
obstacles on the windscreen may damage the wiper and the windscreen
wiper motor.
● If necessary, remove snow and ice from the windscreen wipers before
starting your journey.
● Carefully lift the frozen windscreen wipers from the glass. SEAT recom-
mends a de-icer spray for this operation.
CAUTION
Do not switch on the windscreen wipers if the windscreen is dry. Cleaning
with the windscreen wipers while dry can cause damage.
Note
● The windscreen wipers will only function when the ignition is switched
on and the respective bonnet or rear lid are closed.
● The interval wipe speed varies according to the vehicle speed. The faster
the vehicle is moving, the more often the windscreen is cleaned.
● The rear wiper is automatically switched on when the windscreen wiper
is on and the car is in reverse gear. 

119
Lights and visibility
Windscreen wiper functions
Windscreen wiper performance in different situations:If the vehicle is at a stand-
still:The activated position provisionally changes
to the previous position.
During the automatic wipe:
The air conditioner comes on for approxi-
mately 30 seconds in air recirculation mode
to prevent the smell of the windscreen wash-
er fluid entering the inside the vehicle.
For the interval wipe:The intervals between wipes vary according
to the speed of the vehicle. The higher the
vehicle speed the shorter the intervals.
Heated windscreen washer jets
The heating only thaws the frozen jets, it does not thaw the water in the
washer hoses. The heated windscreen washer jets automatically adjust the
heat depending on the ambient temperature, when the ignition is switched
on.
Headlight wash/wipe system
The headlight washers/wipers clean the headlight lenses.
After the ignition is switched on, the first and every fifth time the wind-
screen washer is switched on, the headlights are also washed. Therefore,
the windscreen wiper lever should be pulled towards the steering wheel
when the dipped beam or main beam are on. Any incrusted dirt (such as in-
sects) should be cleaned regularly (e.g. when refuelling).
To ensure the headlight washers work correctly in winter, any snow which
has got into the bumper jet supports should be cleaned away. If necessary,
remove snow with an anti-icing spray.
Note
The wiper will try to wipe away any obstacles that are on the windscreen.
The wiper will stop moving if the obstacle blocks its path. Remove the ob-
stacle and switch the wiper back on again. 
Windscreen wipers service position
Fig. 65 Wipers in service
position
The wiper arms can be raised when the wipers are in service position
⇒ Fig. 65. To place the windscreen wipers in the service position, proceed
as follows:
● The bonnet must be closed ⇒ page 209.
● Switch the ignition on and off.
● Press the windscreen wiper lever downwards briefly ⇒ Fig. 64 4
.
Before driving, always lower the wiper arms. Using the windscreen wiper
lever, the windscreen wiper arms return to their initial position. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

120Lights and visibility
Lifting and returning windscreen wiper arms
● Place the wiper arms in the service position ⇒ 
.
● Only hold the wiper arms at the point where the blade is fixed.
CAUTION
● To prevent damage to the bonnet and the wiper arms, only leave them in
the service position.
● Before driving, always lower the wiper arms. 
Rain sensor*
Fig. 66 Windscreen wip-
er lever: adjusting the
rain sensor A
Fig. 67 Rain sensor sen-
sitive surface
The rain sensor controls the frequency of the windscreen wiper intervals,
depending on the amount of rain ⇒ 
. The sensitivity of the rain sensor can
be adjusted manually. Manual wipe ⇒ page 118
Move the lever to the required position ⇒ Fig. 66:
Rain sensor off.
Rain sensor on; automatic wipe if necessary.
Setting sensitivity level of rain sensor
– Set control to the right: highly sensitive.
– Set control to the left: less sensitive.
When the ignition is switched off and then back on, the rain sensor stays on
and starts operating again when the windscreen wipers are in position 1
and the vehicle is travelling at more than 16 km/h (10 mph).
Rain sensor modified behaviour
Possible causes of faults and mistaken readings
on the sensitive surface
⇒  Fig. 67 of the rain sensor include:

0
1A

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 ⇒ 
. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications