160Driving and the environment
WARNING
● Driving through water, dirt and mud can reduce braking capability
and prolong the braking distance – Risk of accident!
● Do not carry out any sudden or strong braking manoeuvres after driv-
ing through water.
● Clean and dry the brakes as soon as possible after driving through
water by breaking intermittently. Carry out braking in order to dry the
brakes and clean the brake discs only if traffic so permits. Do not put oth-
er drivers at risk.
CAUTION
● In the event of driving through water the parts of the vehicle can be seri-
ously damaged, such as the engine, gearbox, catalytic converter, suspen-
sion or the electrical system.
● Oncoming vehicles that drive through water can cause waves that ex-
ceed your vehicle's permitted level for driving through water.
● There may be pot-holes mud or rocks under the water that can hinder or
prevent driving through water.
● Do not drive through salt water. The salt can cause rust. All components
that are exposed to salt water must be rinsed immediately with fresh water.
Note
After driving through water we recommend that you contact a specialised
service for an inspection.
162Driving the vehicle with a trailer
WARNING
● Exceeding the maximum established load per axle and the maximum
towing bracket load in addition to the maximum permitted load or the
load of the vehicle + trailer assembly can cause accidents and serious in-
juries.
● A sliding load could considerably affect the stability and safety of the
vehicle + trailer assembly, resulting in accidents and serious injuries.
Towing a trailer
Exterior mirrors
Check whether you can see enough of the road behind the trailer with the
standard rear vision mirrors. If this is not the case, you should have addi-
tional exterior mirrors fitted. Observe the relevant statutory requirements of
the country you are in.
Headlights
Before starting a journey, also check the headlight beam settings with the
trailer hitched up. Adjust the headlight range settings if necessary
⇒ page 96, Range control of main lights .
Driving speed
For your own safety do not drive faster than the maximum permitted speed
indicated on the trailer.
At all times, immediately reduce speed if you detect the slightest swaying
movement of the trailer. Never try to “return the trailer to a straight posi-
tion” by accelerating.
Brakes
Brake in due course! If the trailer has an overrun brake, apply the brakes
gently at first and then, firmly. This will prevent the jerking that can be caused by locking of trailer wheels. Change to a lower gear in good time be-
fore descending a slope in order to take advantage of the engine brake.
The trailer is incorporated into the vehicle anti-theft alarm system.
●
When the vehicle has a factory-fitted anti-theft alarm and a towing
bracket
● When the trailer is electrically connected to the vehicle via the towing
bracket socket
● When the vehicle electrical device and the towing bracket are operation-
al
● When the vehicle is locked and the vehicle anti-theft alarm device is ac-
tivated
Once the electrical connection is interrupted with the vehicle trailer locked,
the alarm sounds.
Always switch off the vehicle anti-theft alarm device before connecting or
disconnecting a trailer. The vehicle anti-theft alarm device could cause the
alarm to sound ⇒ page 88, Anti-theft alarm system.
Engine overheating
In the event that the coolant temperature gauge needle moves to the right
section of the scale or to the red area, immediately reduce speed. If the con-
trol lamp flashes on the general instrument panel, stop the vehicle and
switch off the engine. Wait several minutes and check the coolant level in
the tank ⇒ page 179.
Please observe the following indications ⇒ page 68, Coolant level and tem-
perature .
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.
163
Driving the vehicle with a trailer
WARNING
● Adjust your speed to suit the road and traffic conditions.
● An electrical installation that is connected incorrectly or by non-spe-
cialised personnel can prevent the connection of the current to the trailer
and cause faults in the electrical system operation throughout the entire
vehicle, leading to accidents and serious injury.
● All electrical work must be carried out only by the specialised serv-
ices.
● Never directly connect the trailer electrical device to the electrical
sockets of the reverse driving lights or other sources of electrical current.
CAUTION
● Avoid corners, and sudden and sharp braking.
● Once the trailing arm has been removed, place the corresponding cover
on the hole of the fastening point. This prevents dirt from entering the hole
– see the trailer system assembly manual.
Note
● In the event of frequent journeys with a trailer, we recommend also hav-
ing the vehicle inspected in-between the service intervals.
● When connecting and disconnecting the trailer, the handbrake must be
applied.
● For technical reasons, trailers with LED reverse lights cannot be incorpo-
rated into the vehicle anti-theft alarm system.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
164Care of the vehicle and cleaning
Care of the vehicle and cleaning
Care of the vehicle
Introduction
Regular and suitable care helps to maintain the useful life of your vehicle.
This may also be one of the requirements for upholding any warranty claims
in the event of corrosion or paint defects.
We recommend you use cleaning products from the SEAT Original Accesso-
ries programme available in SEAT dealers. Please follow the instructions for
use on the packaging.
WARNING
● Cleaning products and other materials used for car care can damage
the health if misused.
● Always keep car care materials in a safe place out of the reach of chil-
dren. Risk of poisoning!
● When washing the car during the winter season: Moisture and ice on
the brakes may affect braking efficiency. Risk of accident!
● The ignition must always be switched off when the car is washed.
Risk of accident!
● Do not clean the underside of the car or inside the wheel arches with-
out protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp metal
parts!
● Perfumes and air fresheners inside the vehicle may be harmful to
health at high temperatures in the interior.
CAUTION
● Check the colour stability of your clothing to avoid damaging or visibly
staining the fabric (leather), upholstery and fabric trim.
● Cleaning products containing solvents may damage the material being
cleaned.
● Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. Risk of damage to paintwork.
● If washing the vehicle with a hose in winter, do not direct the jet of water
directly at the locks or at the door seals or bonnet. Risk of freezing.
● Do not use insect sponges or abrasive household sponges, etc. on pain-
ted surfaces. Risk of damage to the painted surface.
● Do not put stickers on the inner side of the window in areas where heat-
ing elements or the aerial is located. This could cause damage and, in the
case of the aerial, radio and navigation system reception faults.
● Do not clean the inner side of the window with sharp objects or corro-
sive or acidic cleaning products. Risk of damaging the heating elements or
the aerial.
● Do not attach any fragrance or air freshener to the dash panel. Risk of
damage to the dash panel.
● To avoid damaging the parking aid system sensors, spray them only
briefly at a minimum distance of 10 cm when cleaning the vehicle with a
high-pressure or steam cleaner.
● Do not clean the roof panel with a brush. Risk of damage to the panel
surface!
For the sake of the environment
● The packaging of the product used to care for your vehicle is hazardous
waste. It must be disposed of according to current local law.
● Only wash the car in special wash bays.
166Care of the vehicle and cleaning
Washing with high-pressure cleaners
When cleaning the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, always follow the
operating instructions for the equipment. This particularly applies to the op-
erating pressure and the distance of the spray from the surface of the vehi-
cle. Do not hold the spray nozzle too close to the parking aid system sen-
sors and soft materials, such as rubber hoses or insulating material.
WARNING
Do no use a nozzle that sprays the water out in a direct stream or one
that has a “rotating jet”!
CAUTION
Do not use water hotter than 60 °C (140 °F). Risk of damage to the vehicle.
Waxing and polishing of the vehicle paintwork
Waxing
To a great extent, good waxing protects the vehicle surface from the harmful
effects of the environment.
The vehicle must be treated with a high quality, hard wax when water no
longer forms droplets on clean paintwork.
The new coat of high quality, hard wax can be applied to the clean, painted
surface only when it has fully dried. Even if a wax solution is used regularly
in the car wash, it is advisable to protect the paint with a coat of wax at least
twice a year.
Polishing
Polishing is only necessary if the paint has lost its shine, and the gloss can-
not be brought back by applying wax. The vehicle must be waxed after polishing if the polish used does not con-
tain wax compounds to seal the paint.
CAUTION
● Never wax the windows.
● Do not use polishes and hard wax on painted parts with a matt finish or
on plastic parts.
● Do not polish your vehicle in a sandy or dusty environment.
Cleaning chrome
Clean the chrome first with a clean cloth and then buff up with a soft, dry
cloth. If this does not clean the chrome properly, use a special chrome
cleaner.
CAUTION
Do not polish the chrome in a dusty environment or it could be scratched.
Paint damage
Minor damage to the paint, such as scratches or stone chips, should be
touched up without delay using paint.
Suitable touch-up brushes or sprays for the colour of your vehicle can be
purchased from authorised SEAT dealers.
Note
We recommend you leave paint damage repairs to a SEAT Authorised Serv-
ice.
168Care of the vehicle and cleaning
Note
● Make sure, when washing the vehicle, that the least amount of water
possible enters the lock cylinders.
● We recommend the use of products from the selection of SEAT Original
Accessories to care for the door lock cylinder.
Wheels
Wheel trims
If you wash the vehicle regularly, you must also thoroughly wash the wheel
trims. Regularly remove any brake abrasion residue and road salt from the
wheels, otherwise the wheel material could be damaged. Repair any dam-
age to the wheel paintwork immediately.
Alloy wheels
After thorough washing, treat the wheels with a protective product for alloy
wheels. Do not use abrasive products to care for the wheels.
WARNING
Moisture, ice and road salt may affect braking efficiency. Risk of acci-
dent!
CAUTION
Heavy dirt on the wheels could lead to their misalignment. This could result
in vibrations being transmitted to the steering wheel that under certain con-
ditions may cause premature steering wear. This dirt must be removed.
Note
We recommend you leave paint damage repairs to a SEAT Authorised Serv-
ice. Underbody sealant
The underside of the vehicle is coated to permanently protect it from chemi-
cal and mechanical agents.
Given that damage to the
protective coating during driving cannot be com-
pletely ruled out, we recommend you check the condition of the protective
coating on the underbody and suspension at regular intervals, preferably
before the start and end of the coldest season of the year.
Authorised SEAT dealers have suitable special products and the necessary
facilities and are aware of the techniques required for their application. We
therefore recommend all touch-up work or additional anti-corrosion meas-
ures be performed by an authorised SEAT dealer.
WARNING
Do not apply underseal or anti-corrosion coatings to the exhaust pipes,
catalytic converter, particulate filter or heat shields on the exhaust sys-
tem. Once the engine has reached operating temperature, these substan-
ces could catch fire. Risk of fire!
Cavity waxing
All cavities on the vehicle exposed to corrosion are permanently factory-pro-
tected by a wax solution .
This wax solution does not need to be checked or touched up. Should wax
run out of the cavities at high ambient temperatures, remove it using a plas-
tic scraper and clean away any stains using lighter fluid.
169
Care of the vehicle and cleaning
WARNING
Note the regulations concerning safety and environmental protection if
you use lighter fluid to remove the wax. Risk of fire!
Leatherette and upholstery
Leatherette can be cleaned with a damp cloth. If this is not sufficient, these
parts should only be cleaned with solvent-free plastic care and cleaning
products.
Textile covers and trim parts on doors, rear lid, etc. can be cleaned with spe-
cial detergents, e.g. dry foam. A soft sponge or brush or a micro-fibre cloth
for normal cleaning can be used. Use special products to clean the headlin-
er.
Some upholstery, such as dark jeans fabric, is sometimes not durable
enough. This can cause damage or visible colouring of the seat upholstery
(leather or fabric), even under normal conditions of use. This is particularly
applicable to light-coloured seat upholstery (fabric or leather). This is not an
upholstery defect but indicates that the dye in the item of clothing is not
solid enough.
Heated seat upholstery
Do not clean the seat upholstery with damp products, as this could damage
the seat heating system.
Clean the upholstery with special products, e.g. dry foam, etc. Natural leather
Leather should be looked after from time to time, depending on its use.
Normal cleaning
Moisten a cotton or woollen cloth with water and wipe over the leather sur-
faces.
More stubborn dirt
Do not let the water soak through the leather or penetrate into the seams.
Dry the leather with a soft, dry cloth.
Removing stains
Remove fresh water-based stains such as coffee, tea, juices, blood, etc.
with an absorbent cloth or kitchen roll. Use the special detergent to clean
dried-on stains.
Remove fresh fat-based stains such as butter, mayonnaise, chocolate, etc.
with an absorbent cloth or kitchen roll or with the special detergent if the
stain has not yet soaked through the surface.
Use a grease-dissolving product to treat
dried-in, fat-based stains.
Treat less common stains such as ball-pen and other inks, felt-tip pens, nail
polish, dispersion paint, shoe cream etc. with a special leather stain remov-
er.
Leather care
The leather should be treated twice a year with a special leather-care prod-
uct.
Apply the protective product very sparingly.
Dry the leather with a soft, dry cloth.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
170Care of the vehicle and cleaning
CAUTION
● Avoid exposing leather to direct sunlight for long periods so that it does
not lose its colour. If the car is left for a prolonged period outdoors, cover
the leather so that it does not lose its colour.
● Sharp-edged objects on clothing, such as zips, rivets or belts can leave
permanent scratches and rough marks on the surface of the leather.
● Use of the mechanical steering wheel lock can damage the leather sur-
face of the steering wheel.
Note
● Use a suitable impregnating cream with ultra-violet protection at regular
intervals and after cleaning. The cream will nourish and moisturise the
leather, keep it supple and able to breathe. In addition, it will also help to
protect the surface of the leather.
● Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months and remove fresh dirt as necessa-
ry.
● Preserve the colour of the leather. A special coloured cream for leather
will renew the colour of more heavily worn areas as required.
● Leather is a natural material with specific properties. During vehicle use,
parts of the leather covers may change in appearance, such as folds or wrin-
kles, as a result of their use.
Seat belts
Keep the seat belts clean!
Wash soiled seat belts with mild, soapy water, removing any heavier dirt
with a soft brush.
Check the condition of all seat belts at regular intervals.
Very soiled belts may not retract properly.
WARNING
● The seat belts should never be removed from the vehicle for cleaning.
● Never clean using chemical products, as chemical detergents destroy
the fabric. Ensure that the seat belts do not come into contact with corro-
sive fluids such as acids, etc.
● If you find any damage to the belt webbing, belt fittings, the belt re-
tractor or the buckle, the belt in question must be replaced by an Official
Service.
● Make sure that the inertia reel seat belts are completely dry before
allowing them to retract.