2012 Seat Mii alternator

160Driver assistance systems
Malfunction in the laser sensor
If the laser sensor operation is impaired, for example due to heavy rain,
spray, snow or dirt, the City Safety Assist system function is temporarily
switched off. On the instrument panel display the control lamp  flashes.
When the fault in the laser sensor has been rectified, the City Safety Assist
system function automatically becomes available. The control lamp 
switches off.
The following conditions could prevent the City Safety Assist system from
functioning:
● Tight bends.
● Accelerator pressed all the way down to the floor.
● If the City Safety Assist system is switched off or there is a fault
⇒ page 156.
● If the laser sensor is dirty, covered or overheated ⇒ page 157.
● In the event of snow, heavy rain or dense fog.
● If there are vehicles in front.
● Vehicles changing lanes.
● Vehicles moving in the opposite direction in the same lane.
● Very dirty vehicles with a low degree of reflection.
● Presence of thick dust. 
Hill hold
Introduction
Additional information and warnings:
● SEAT information system ⇒ page 22
● Braking, stopping and parking ⇒ page 134 ●
Vehicle battery ⇒ page 193
● Wheels and tyres ⇒ page 210
● Accessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 222
● Hill hold ⇒ page 273
WARNING
The smart technology included in the hill hold cannot change the laws of
physics. Do not let the extra convenience afforded by the hill hold tempt
you into taking any risks when driving.
● Any accidental movement of the vehicle could result in serious injury.
● The hill hold is not a replacement for driver awareness.
● Adjust your speed and driving style to visibility, weather, road and
traffic conditions.
● The hill hold cannot always keep the vehicle at a standstill on a slope
or brake sufficiently when travelling downhill (e.g. on slippery or frozen
surfaces).

Warning lamps
lights upPossible causeSolution
The Start-Stop system is ena-
bled.

The Start-Stop system is ena-
bled but the engine cannot be
automatically stopped.Contact a Specialised
workshop.

The Start-Stop system cannot
start the engine.Start the engine by hand
using the vehicle's key
⇒ page 120.
There is a fault in the alternator.⇒ page 193 

181
In the engine compartment
WARNING (Continued)
● Never open the bonnet if you see steam or coolant escaping from the
engine compartment. Hot vapours and coolant can cause serious burns.
Always wait until you cannot see or hear the sound of steam or coolant
coming from the engine compartment.
● Always allow the engine to cool down before opening the bonnet.
● Contact with hot elements of the engine and the exhaust system can
cause burns.
● Once the engine has cooled, follow the instructions below before
opening the bonnet:
–Engage the handbrake and place the gear selector lever in P or the
gear stick in neutral.
– Remove the key from the ignition.
– Keep children away from the engine compartment and never leave
them unsupervised.
● When the engine is warm or hot, the cooling system is pressurised.
Do not unscrew the cap on the coolant expansion tank when the engine
is hot. Otherwise, coolant may spray out under pressure causing burns
and serious injury.
–After cooling, carefully and slowly unscrew the cap anticlockwise,
gently pressing down on it.
– Always protect your face, hands and arms from hot coolant and
steam using a large, thick cloth.
● When refilling liquids, avoid spilling them on parts of the engine and
the exhaust system. Spilled liquids could cause a fire.WARNING
The high voltages of the electrical system can give electric shocks as well
as causing burns and serious injury and possibly even death!
● Never cause short circuits in the electrical system. The battery could
explode.
● To minimise the risk of electric shock and serious consequences
while the engine is running or starting the engine, note the following:
–Never touch the electrical wiring of the ignition system.
WARNING
In the engine compartment, there are rotating parts that could cause se-
rious injury.
● Never place your hands directly on or near the radiator fan. Touching
the rotor blades could seriously harm you. The ventilator works accord-
ing to the engine temperature and could start suddenly even when the ig-
nition is turned off and the key is removed.
● If any work has to be performed when the engine is started or with
the engine running, there is an additional, potentially fatal, safety risk
from the rotating parts, such as the drive belts, alternator, radiator fan
etc as well as from the high-voltage ignition system. Always work with
the utmost caution.
–Always make sure that no parts of your body, jewellery, ties, loose
clothing and long hair can be trapped by the rotating parts of the en-
gine. Before any work, remove ties and jewellery ( necklaces, etc), tie
longhair back and tie all items of loose clothing to your body to make
sure that they cannot be trapped by engine components.
– Take extreme caution when operating the accelerator and remain
attentive. The vehicle could move, even if the handbrake is applied.
● Always make sure you have not left any objects, such as cloths or
tools, in the engine compartment. If any object is left in the engine com-
partment, this could cause malfunctions, engine faults and even a fire. 
Vehicle diagramPrior to a journey...While drivingCare, cleaning and mainte-
nanceIf and whenTechnical Data

196In the engine compartment
the maximum service intervals permitted ⇒ Booklet Maintenance
Programme.
Automatic consumer disconnection
The intelligent vehicle electrical system automatically implements a range
of measures to prevent the battery from discharging when high demands
are made on it:
● the idling speed is increased so that the alternator provides more elec-
tricity.
● where necessary, the power of the most powerful consumers is reduced
or even completely disconnected.
● On starting the engine, the power supply from the 12-volt socket and
the cigarette lighter may be interrupted for a short time.
The on-board management program cannot always prevent the battery from
running flat. For example, if the ignition is left on for a long period with the
engine off or if the side lights or parking lights are left on while the vehicle
is stationary.
Why the battery runs flat:
● When stationary for a long time without starting the engine, particularly
if the ignition is switched on.
● Use of electrical consumers with the engine switched off.
WARNING
Incorrectly securing the battery or using the wrong battery can cause
short-circuits, fire and serious injuries.
● Always use only maintenance free batteries, protected to prevent a
leak, and whose properties, specifications and size correspond to the
standard battery.
WARNING
A highly explosive mixture of gases is released when the battery is under
charge.
● The batteries should be charged in a well-ventilated room only.
● Never charge a frozen or recently thawed battery. A flat battery can al-
so freeze at temperatures close to 0 °C (+32 °F).
● Always replace a battery which has frozen.
● Battery cables not correctly connected may cause a short circuit. Re-
connect first the positive cable and then the negative cable.
CAUTION
● Never disconnect the battery if the ignition is switched on or if the en-
gine is running. This could damage the electrical system or electronic com-
ponents.
● Never plug accessories supply current, such as solar panels or a battery
charger, to the 12-volt socket or the cigarette lighter. This could damage the
vehicle's electrical system.
For the sake of the environment
Dispose of the battery in an environment-friendly manner. Batteries contain
toxic substances such as sulphuric acid and lead.
For the sake of the environment
Battery acid can contaminate the environment. Collect any spilt service flu-
ids and allow a dispose of them correctly. 

Index
A
AbroadExtended stay abroad with your vehicle . . 234
Sale of vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
ABS See "Braking assist systems" . . . . . . . . . . 140
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222, 223
Additional equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Adjust Headlight range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Adjustment Correct sitting position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
rear head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Steering wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Aerial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Cleaning dash panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Deactivating the front passenger airbag . . 73
Deactivating using the key switch . . . . . . . . 73
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Differences between front passenger airbagsystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Locking the vehicle after airbag deploy- ment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Use of child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Vehicle care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Air conditioner Air recirculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Air vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Things to note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
User instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Air conditioning system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Air recirculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 How it works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
switch off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
temporarily switch off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Air vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Alternator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Aluminium care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Anodized surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Anti-puncture kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Anti-theft locking bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Anti-theft wheel locking bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Antifreeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Antitheft bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 ASR
see Brake assist systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Assistance systems Brake assist system (BAS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Cruise control system (CCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Electronic differential lock system (EDL) . 140
electronic stability control (ESC) . . . . . . . . 139
Hill hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Optical parking system (OPS) . . . . . . . . . . 150
Parking aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Parking distance warning system . . . . . . . 150
Safety Assist (City Safety Assist function) 155
Traction control system (ASR) . . . . . . . . . . 140
Traction Control (TC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Assisted braking systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Assist systems Anti-lock brake system (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 140
Audible warnings Control and warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Seat belt not fastened . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Automatic belt retainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Automatic car wash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Automatic consumer disconnection . . . . . . . . 196
automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Ignition key lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Kickdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
291
Index

Vehicle's batteryAutomatic consumer disconnection . . . . . 196
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Checking the electrolyte level . . . . . . . . . . 194
Connecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Disconnecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Replacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Running flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Vibrations Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
W Warning and control lamps Changing gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Warning lamp Alternator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
City Safety Assist function . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Hill hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Vehicle battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Warning lamps Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Warning triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Washing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 by hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
with high pressure cleaning apparatus . . 199
Washing the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Sensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Special features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Water box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Wear indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Wear of tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250, 251
Caps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Tightening torque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Wheel load capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 Beadlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
See "Wheels and tyres" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Wheels and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 Avoiding damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Damaged tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Errors in wheel alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Foreign bodies in the tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Interchanging tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
New tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Older tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Replacing tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Run-out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Serial number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Snow chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Spare wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Speed rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219, 220
storing the replaced wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Storing tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Temporary spare wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Tread depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Tyre code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 Tyre identification number (TIN) . . . . . . . . 219
Tyre load rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Tyres with directional tread pattern . 211, 220
Valve caps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Wear indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Wear of tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Wheel balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Wheel trims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 Bolted trims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Full hub caps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Hub caps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Wheel bolts caps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Windscreen Heat-insulating glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Windscreen washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Windscreen washer water Checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Topping up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Windscreen wiper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Windscreen wiper lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Windscreen wipers Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Headlight washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Heated windscreen washer jets . . . . . . . . . 92
Lifting the wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Replacing the wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Service position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Special features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Windscreen wipers service position . . . . . . . . . 93
Windscreen with metal coating . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
303
Index