199
Vehicle care and maintenance
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the vehicle, please observe the following before en-
tering an automatic car wash :
● Compare the distance between the vehicle wheels and the distance be-
tween the guide-rails of the car wash to prevent damage to the wheels and
tyres!
● Switch off the rain sensor before taking the vehicle to an automatic car
wash.
● Compare the height and width of your vehicle with the available height
and width when entering and driving through the car wash!
● Fold in exterior mirrors Electrically retractable exterior mirrors must NOT
be folded in or out by hand. Always use the electrical power control.
● To avoid damaging the bonnet paintwork, rest the windscreen wipers on
the windscreen after drying the wiper blades. Do not let them fall!
● Lock the rear lid to prevent it from opening unexpectedly while inside
the car wash.
Washing the vehicle with high pressure cleaning apparatus
When cleaning the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, always follow the
operating instructions for the equipment. Pay special attention to the re-
quired pressure of the jet and the distance between the jet and the vehicle
⇒
.
Keep a suitable distance from soft materials, such as rubber hoses or insu-
lating material, and from the parking distance warning system sensors. The
sensors of the parking distance warning system are situated on the rear
bumper ⇒
.
Do not use a nozzle that sprays the water out in a direct stream or one that
has a rotating jet for forcing off dirt ⇒
.
WARNING
The incorrect use of high pressure cleaning equipment could result in
permanent damage, visible or invisible, to the tyres or other materials.
This could result in serious accident.
● Ensure there is a suitable distance between the nozzle and the tyres.
● Never wash tyres with a concentrated jet or so-called “dirt blasters”.
Even at large spraying distances and short cleaning times, you may dam-
age the tyres.
WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the braking effect will be reduced
(and the braking distance increased) due to moisture (and ice in winter)
on the brakes.
● “Dry the brakes and remove ice” by braking carefully. Ensure that you
are not endangering other road-users or breaking traffic regulations in
the process.
CAUTION
● The temperature of the water must not be above +60 °C (+140 °F).
● To avoid damage to the paintwork, do not wash the vehicle in full sun.
● To ensure that the system functions well, the sensors located on the
bumper must be kept clean and free from ice. When cleaning with pressure
hoses and steam cleaners, the sensors should be sprayed only briefly. A
distance of 10 cm between the sensors and the steam / hose nozzle must
be observed.
● Do not use a high pressure cleaner to remove ice or snow from windows
● Washing the vehicle in low temperatures: When washing the vehicle
with a hose, do not direct water into the lock cylinders or the gaps around
the doors, rear lid, or sunroof. Locks and seals could freeze!
Vehicle diagramPrior to a journey...While drivingCare, cleaning and mainte-
nanceIf and whenTechnical Data
219
Vehicle care and maintenance
Radial
Rim diameter code
Load index & speed rating
DOT tyre identification number
Severe snow conditions
Tyre ply composition and materials used
Max. load rating
Treadwear, traction and temperature grades
Max. permissible inflation pressure
Passenger vehicle tyre
Nominal width of tyre in millimetres
Ratio of height to width (aspect ratio)
Tyre code (example)MeaningMake, logotypeManufacturerProduct nameName of tyre assigned by manufacturer.P255 / 55 R 18Size:PPassenger vehicle code.255Nominal width between walls, in mm.55Height/width ratio in %RTyre type (R indicates "radial").18Rim diameter in inches109 HLoad index ⇒ page 220 and speed rating
⇒ page 220.
XL(“Reinforced”) tyres.M+S or M/S or Winter tyres code (mud and snow tyres).RADIAL TUBELESSRadial tyre without inner tube.E4 ...E-mark certifying tyre complies with internation-
al legislation followed by a number denoting the
country granting the authorisation. The authori-
sation number ( several digits) is shown below.
123456789101112
Tyre code (example)MeaningDOT BT RA TY5 1709Tyre identification number (TIN a)
, may be only on
interior wall of wheel) and date of manufacture:
DOTThe tyre complies with the legal require-
ments of the US Department of Trans-
port, responsible for tyre safety regula-
tions.
BTPlace of manufacture code.RAInformation about manufacturer and tyre
size.
TY5Manufacturer's tyre specifications.1709Date of manufacture: Week 17 of 2009.TWIThis identifies the position of the Tread Wear In-
dicator ⇒ page 215.
Made in GermanyCountry of manufacture.MAX LOAD 615 KGUS load rating, indicating maximum permitted
load per tyre.
MAX INFLATION 350 KPA
(51 PSI)US limit, indicating maximum permitted tyre
pressure.
SIDEWALL 1 PLY RAYONInformation about tyre wall components:
1 layer of rayon (artificial silk).
TREAD 4 PLIES
1 RAYON + 2 STEEL +
1 NYLONInformation about tread components:
In the example, there are 4 layers below the
tread: 1 layer of rayon (artificial silk), 2 layers of
steel reinforcement and 1 layer of nylon.
Information for the end consumer concerning the comparative values of
the established base tyres (standardised test procedures) ⇒ page 233:
TREADWEAR 220Relative service life of the tyre, with respect to
specific US standard test.
TRACTION ABraking capacity of tyre on wet surface (AA, A, B
or C).
Vehicle diagramPrior to a journey...While drivingCare, cleaning and mainte-
nanceIf and whenTechnical Data
225
Vehicle care and maintenance
The vehicle owner should keep the documentation for the additional equip-
ment safely and hand it over to the scrap yard at the end of the vehicle's
service life. This ensures that any additional equipment mounted in end-of-
life vehicles is correctly disposed of with respect for the environment.
WARNING
Repairs or modifications which are not performed correctly may result in
damage or errors in the vehicle operation, affecting the efficiency of the
driver assist systems. This could result in serious accident.
● All repairs and modifications to the vehicle should only be performed
by a Specialised workshop.
Repair and faults in the airbag system
When performing repairs and technical modifications, SEAT's directives
must be observed! ⇒
Modifications and repairs to the front bumper, doors, front seats, and re-
pairs to the roof or chassis should only be carried out in a Specialised work-
shop. These components may contain parts or sensors belonging to the air-
bag system.
If work is carried out on the airbag system or parts have to be removed and
fitted on the system when performing other repair work, parts of the airbag
system may be damaged. The consequence may be that, in the event of an
accident, the airbag inflates incorrectly or does not inflate at all.
So that the effectiveness of the airbag is not reduced and that removed
parts do not cause any injuries or environmental pollution, regulations must
be observed. These requirements are known to qualified dealerships.
Modifications to the vehicle suspension may affect the operation of the air-
bag system in the event of collision. For example, if wheel and tyre combi-
nations not approved by SEAT are used, or if the vehicle height is lowered, the suspension is stiffened or the suspension springs, telescopic arms,
dampers, etc., are modified, the results received by the airbag sensors and
sent to the control unit may not be accurate. For example, some modifica-
tions to the suspension could increase the force measured by the sensors
and result in the triggering of the airbag systems in collisions. Under normal
conditions, the measured values would be lower and the airbag would not
have been triggered. Other modifications may reduce the forces measured
by the sensors and therefore the airbags are not triggered in situations
when they should have triggered.
WARNING
Repairs or modifications which are not performed correctly may result in
damage or errors in the vehicle operation, affecting the efficiency of the
airbag systems. This could result in serious or fatal accident.
● All repairs and modifications to the vehicle should only be performed
by a Specialised workshop.
● Airbag modules must never be repaired: if damaged, they must be re-
placed.
● Never fit recycled or reused airbag components in your vehicle.
WARNING
Modifications to the vehicle suspension, including the use of unauthor-
ised wheel and tyre combinations, may affect the performance of the air-
bags and increase the risk of serious or fatal injury in the event of acci-
dent.
● Never fit suspension components which are not identical to the origi-
nal parts mounted in the vehicle.
● Never use wheel and tyre combinations not approved by SEAT.
Vehicle diagramPrior to a journey...While drivingCare, cleaning and mainte-
nanceIf and whenTechnical Data
290Description of specifications
Dimensions
Longitude3557 mmWidth1641 - 1645 mmHeight, unladen1478 - 1489 mmWheelbase2420 mmTurning circle diameter a)approx. 9.8 mFront track widtha)1412 - 1428 mmRear track widtha)1408 - 1424 mmGround clearance with maximum au-
thorised load109 mm
a)
Depending on the dimensions of the wheel trims and tyres, there may be variations.
CAUTION
● Special care should be taken when parking in areas with high kerbs or
fixed barriers. Objects protruding from the ground may damage the bumper
or other parts of the vehicle during manoeuvres.
● Special attention is required when driving through entrances, over
ramps, kerbs or other objects. The vehicle underbody, bumpers, mudguards
and running gear, and the engine and exhaust system could be damaged as
you drive over these objects.
Capacities
Fuel tank capacity
Petrol enginesAround 35.0 l,
of which approximately 4.0 are the reserve.