2012 Seat Leon 5D stop start

Table of Contents
Manual structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Safety First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Safe driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Brief introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Sitting position for vehicle occupants . . . . . . . . . 10
Pedal area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Storing objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Brief introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Why wear seat belts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Seat belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Brief introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Knee airbag* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Side airbags* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Curtain airbags* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Deactivating airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Brief introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Securing child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Operating instructions
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Controls and displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Instruments and warning/control lamps . . . . 61
Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Control lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Driver information system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Information system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Introduction to the Easy Connect system* . . . 79
System settings (CAR)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Opening and closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Anti-theft alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Emergency locking and unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Rear lid (luggage compartment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Panoramic sliding sunroof* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Lights and visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Sun blind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Windscreen wiper system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Rear vision mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Seats and storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Seat functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Luggage compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Air conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Heating, ventilation, cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 Driving
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Ignition lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Kick-down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Hill hold assist* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Speed warning function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Start-Stop system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Automatic gearbox/DSG automatic gearbox* . . . 154
Driver assistance systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Cruise control system (CCS)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Lane Assist system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
SEAT Drive Modes* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Tiredness detection (break recommendation)* . 173
Tyre monitoring systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Parking aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Practical Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Intelligent technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Electro-mechanical steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Information recorded in the control units . . . . . . 189
Driving and the environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Running in the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Driving through flooded roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Installation of exhaust gas filtration systems . . . 190
Economic and ecological driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Environmental friendliness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
3
Table of Contents

19
Seat belts
Seat belts
Brief introduction Before driving: remember your seat belt!
Wearing a seat belt properly can save your life!
In this section you will learn the importance of wearing seat belts,
how they work and how to properly fasten, adjust and wear them.
– Read and consider all the information as well as the warnings in
this chapter.
WARNING
● If seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at all, the risk of severe inju-
ries increases.
● Properly worn seat belts can reduce severe injuries in case of sudden
braking manoeuvres or accidents. For safety reasons, you and all other
vehicle occupants must always wear the seat belts properly while the ve-
hicle is moving.
● Pregnant women or people with physical disabilities must also use
seat belts. Like all other vehicle occupants, these people can also sustain
severe injuries if they are not wearing their seat belts properly.

Number of seats
Your vehicle has five seats, two in the front and three in the rear. Each seat
is equipped with a three-point seat belt. In some versions, your vehicle is approved
only for four seats. Two front
seats and two rear seats.
WARNING
● Never transport more than the permitted amount of people in your ve-
hicle.
● Every vehicle occupant must properly fasten and wear the seat belt
belonging to his or her seat. Children must be protected with an appro-
priate child restraint system.

Seat belt warning lamp* 
The control lamp acts as a reminder to the driver to fasten
the seat belt.
Before starting the vehicle:
– Fasten your seat belt securely.
– Instruct your passengers to fasten their seat belts properly be-
fore driving off.
– Protect children by using a child seat according to the child's
height and weight. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

21
Seat belts
Why wear seat belts? Physical principles of frontal collisions
In the event of a frontal collision, a large amount of kinetic
energy must be absorbed.
Fig. 6 Vehicle about to
hit a wall: the occupants
are not wearing seat
belts
Fig. 7 The vehicle hits
the wall: the occupants
are not wearing seat
belts
It is easy to explain how the laws of physics work in the case of a head-on
collision: When a vehicle starts moving ⇒ Fig. 6, a certain amount of energy
known as kinetic energy is produced in the vehicle and its occupants.
The amount of kinetic energy depends on the speed of the vehicle and the
weight of the vehicle and its passengers. The higher the speed and the
greater the weight, the more energy there is to be released in an accident.
The most significant factor, however, is the speed of the vehicle. If the
speed doubles from 25 km/h (15 mph) to 50 km/h (30 mph), for example,
the kinetic energy is multiplied by four.
Because the vehicle occupants in our example are not restrained by seat
belts, all of the occupants' kinetic energy has to be absorbed at the point of
impact ⇒ Fig. 7.
Even at speeds of 30 km/h (20 mph) to 50 km/h (30 mph), the forces acting
on bodies in a collision can easily exceed one tonne (1000 kg). At greater
speed these forces are even higher. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

59
Controls and displays
Operating instructions Controls and displays
Overview
Door handle
Central locking switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Electric control to adjust exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
Air outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Control lever for:
– Turn signals and main beam headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
– Lane Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
– Main beam assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
– Cruise control system (CCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Depending on equipment fitted:
– Lever for cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Steering wheel with horn and
– Driver airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
– On-board computer controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
– Controls for radio, telephone, navigation and speech dia-
logue system ⇒  Booklet Radio
– Paddle levers for tiptronic gearshift (automatic gearbox) . .159
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Control lever for:
– Windscreen wipers and washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
– Wipe and wash system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
– On-board computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
12345
6
7
89
Depending on equipment fitted: Radio or display for Easy
Connect (navigation, radio, TV/video)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
Depending on the equipment, buttons for:
– SEAT driving modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
– Start-Stop system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
– Park assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
– Hazard warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
– Airbag off display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Glove compartment with CD changer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
Depending on the equipment:
– Multimedia interface* ⇒ Booklet Radio
– Tyre pressure switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Front passenger airbag switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Front passenger airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Passenger seat heating control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Storage compartment
Depending on gearbox fitted, gear lever or selector lever for:
– manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
– automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Depending on the equipment, controls for:
– Heating and ventilation system or manual air conditioner .138, 137
– Automatic air conditioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Driver seat heating control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
10
11
1213
1415161718
19
2021
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

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. 

64Instruments and warning/control lamps
The time can also be set via the 
key and Setup function button in the
Easy Connect system ⇒ page 79.
Outside temperature display
When the outside temperature is below +4 °C (+39 °F), the symbol “ice crys-
tal” (warning of risk of freezing) is also displayed next to the temperature.
At first this symbol flashes and then it remains lit until the outside tempera-
ture rises above +6 °C (+43 °F) ⇒ 
.
When the vehicle is at a standstill or when travelling at very low speeds, the
temperature displayed may be higher than the true outside temperature as
a result of the heat produced by the engine.
The temperatures measured range from -40 °C to +50 °C (-40 °F to +122 °F).
Compass
With the ignition on and the navigation system on, the cardinal point corre-
sponding to the direction of travel of the vehicle is displayed on the instru-
ment panel.
Selector lever positions
The selected gear is displayed on the side of the selector lever and on the
instrument panel display. In positions D and S, and with the Tiptronic, the
corresponding gear is also displayed.
Recommended gear (manual gearbox)
The recommended gear in order to save fuel is displayed on the instrument
panel while you are driving ⇒ page 68.
Second speed display (mph or km/h)
In addition to the speedometer, the speed can also be displayed in a differ-
ent unit of measurement (in miles or in km per hour).
This option cannot be deactivated in models destined for countries in which
the second speed must always be visible.
The second speed display can be adjusted in the Easy Connect system via
the 
key and the Setup function button ⇒ page 79. Speed warning
When the speed setting is exceeded, this will be indicated on the instru-
ment panel display. This is very useful, for example when using winter tyres
that are not designed for driving at the maximum speed of the vehicle
⇒ 
page 149.
The speed warning settings can be adjusted in the Easy Connect system via
the 
key and the Setup function button ⇒ 
page 79.
Start/Stop operating display
Updated information relating to the status is displayed on the instrument
panel ⇒ page 149.
Identifying letters on engine (MKB)
Hold the button ⇒ Fig. 36 4
down for more than 15 seconds to display the
identifying letters of the vehicle engine (MKB). To do this, the ignition must
be switched on and the engine switched off.
WARNING
If the warning lamps and messages are ignored, the vehicle may stall in
traffic, or may cause accidents and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps or text messages.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
● A faulty vehicle represents a risk of accident for the driver and for oth-
er road users. If necessary, switch on the hazard warning lamps and put
out the warning triangle to advise other drivers.
● Park the vehicle away from the traffic, ensuring that there are no easi-
ly inflammable materials under the vehicle which could come into contact
with the exhaust system (e.g. dry grass, fuel). 

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 
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71
Instruments and warning/control lamps
SymbolMeaning ⇒ See
Lane Assist is switched on, but not active.⇒ page 168
On the instrument panel display: a)
Fault in the gearbox.⇒ page 162
a) Colour presentation on instrument panel with colour display.
Other control lamps
SymbolMeaning ⇒ See

Left or right turn signal.⇒ page 106
Hazard warning lights on.⇒ page 110
Trailer turn signals⇒ page 194

lights: Press the foot brake!
flashes: The selector lever locking button has
not engaged.⇒ page 154
The vehicle is stopped by engine braking.

lights: Cruise control operating.
⇒ page 164lights: Speed limiter switched on and active.flashes: The speed set by the speed limiter has
been exceeded.
Lane Assist is switched on and active.⇒ page 168
Main beam on or flasher on.⇒ page 106
On the instrument panel display:
Light Assist switched on.
On the instrument panel display:
Immobiliser active.
SymbolMeaning ⇒ See
On the instrument panel display:
Service interval display.⇒ page 65

On the instrument panel display:
Mobile telephone is connected via Bluetooth to
the original telephone device.
⇒ Book-
let Bluetooth
System

On the instrument panel display:
Mobile telephone battery charge meter. Availa-
ble only for pre-installed factory-fitted devices.

On the instrument panel display:
Ice warning. The outside temperature is lower
than +4 °C (+39 °F).⇒ page 64
On the instrument panel display:
Start-Stop system active.
⇒ page 149On the instrument panel display:
Start-Stop system not available.
On the instrument panel display:
Engine running.
WARNING
If the warning lamps and messages are ignored, the vehicle may stall in
traffic, or may cause accidents and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps or text messages.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
● Park the vehicle away from the traffic, ensuring that there are no easi-
ly inflammable materials under the vehicle which could come into contact
with the exhaust system (e.g. dry grass, fuel).
● A faulty vehicle represents a risk of accident for the driver and for oth-
er road users. If necessary, switch on the hazard warning lamps and put
out the warning triangle to advise other drivers. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications