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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Storing objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Brief introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Why wear seat belts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Seat belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Brief introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Side airbags* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Curtain airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Deactivating airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Brief introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Securing child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Operating instructions
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Controls and displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Instruments and warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Multi-function display* (on board computer) . . . 59
MAXI DOT* (Informative display) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Control lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Steering wheel controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Multimedia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Opening and closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Anti-theft alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Vehicle interior monitoring and tow-away
protection system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Rear lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Opening and closing electric windows . . . . . . . . 92
Lights and visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Interior lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Windscreen wipers and windscreen washers . . . 103
Rear vision mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Seats and storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Luggage compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Roof carrier* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Drink holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Cigarette lighter, 12V power socket . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Storage compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Coat hooks* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Heating and air conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Heating and air conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Air vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Air conditioning (manual)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Climatronic* (automatic air conditioning) . . . . . . 132
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Starting and stopping the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Brakes and brake servo systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Foot pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Parking aid* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
START-STOP* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Practical Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Driving and the environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
The first 1500 km (900 miles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Economical and ecological driving . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Environmental compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Preventing damage to the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Driving through water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Driving the vehicle with a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Driving the vehicle with a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Care of the vehicle and cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Care of the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
3
Table of Contents
65
Controls and displays
Stop the vehicle in this case, stop the engine and wait until the symbol
has switched off. Danger of damage to the gearbox! You can continue driv-
ing once the symbol is switched off.
Engine oil pressure fault
If the symbol appears on the informative display, the vehicle must be im-
mediately taken to a specialised service. Information regarding the maxi-
mum engine speed is displayed together with this symbol.
WARNING
If the vehicle has to be stopped for technical reasons, park it a safe dis-
tance away from moving traffic, switch off the engine and turn on the
hazard warning lights ⇒ page 98.
Note
● If a warning appears on the informative display it must be confirmed by
pressing the button, B
⇒ Fig. 35 ⇒
page 63 before proceeding to the main
menu.
● The symbols are displayed again until the fault is corrected. After the
first time a symbol is displayed they reappear, but without a message for
the driver.
Control lamps Summary
The control lamps indicate certain functions or faults accompanied by an
audible warning.
When the ignition is switched on some of the warning lamps light up for
several seconds for the purpose of the control systems of the vehicle. These warning lamps must switch off several seconds after the ignition is switched
on.
Handbrake⇒ page 66
Brake system⇒ page 66
Fasten your seat belt⇒ page 67
Alternator⇒ page 67
Door open⇒ page 67
Engine oil (red or yellow colour)⇒ page 67
Coolant temperature/level (red or blue colour)⇒ page 68
Power steering⇒ page 69
Electronic stability control (ESC)⇒ page 69
Traction control system (ASR)⇒ page 69
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)⇒ page 70
Rear fog light⇒ page 70
Bulb fault⇒ page 70
Emission control system⇒ page 70
Glow plug system (diesel engines)⇒ page 70
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
69
Controls and displays
WARNING
● If the vehicle has to be stopped for technical reasons, park it a safe
distance away from moving traffic, switch off the engine and turn on the
hazard warning lights ⇒ page 98.
● Take care when opening the coolant reservoir. When the engine is
warm or hot, the system is pressurised – Danger of burns! Wait for the
engine to cool before opening the cover.
● Do not touch the fan. The fan can switch on automatically regardless
of whether the ignition is switched on.
Power steering
If the warning lamp, is lit up there is a fault in the power steering.
The power steering system functions with reduced power steering effect.
Seek professional help.
Stability Control (ESC)
If the control lamp flashes, the ESC is working.
If the warning lamp lights up on ignition the ESC system may have
switched off due to technical reasons. Turn off the ignition and turn it on
again. Upon switching on the ignition again, if the warning lamp has switch-
ed off, this means the ESC is functioning correctly again.
If the warning lamp, is lit up there is a fault in the ESC.
The informative display indicates: Report No.: Stability control (ESC) or
Report No.: Traction control system (ASR)
Seek professional help.
Further information ⇒ page 141, Stability system (ESC).
Note
If the battery is disconnected and connected again, the yellow warning
lamp lights up when the ignition is switched on. This warning lamp must
switch off after covering a short distance.
Traction control system (ASR)
If the control lamp flashes, the ASR is working.
If the warning lamp lights up on ignition the ASR system may have
switched off due to technical reasons. Turn off the ignition and turn it on
again. Upon switching on the ignition again, if the warning lamp has switch-
ed off, this means the ASR is functioning correctly again.
If the warning lamp, remains lit up there is a fault in the ASR.
The informative display indicates: Report No.: Traction control system (ASR)
Seek professional help.
Further information ⇒ page 142, Traction control system (ASR).
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
136Driving
Driving
Starting and stopping the engine
Introduction
WARNING
● Never adjust the steering wheel while the vehicle is moving!
● Maintain at least 25 cm distance between the steering wheel and the
upper part of your body 1
⇒ Fig. 101
⇒ page 137. The airbag system
will not be able to give the required protection if the minimum distance is
not observed. This can cause a risk of fatal injury!
● For safety reasons, the steering wheel adjustment lever must always
be pushed securely against the steering column to prevent the steering
wheel from accidentally changing position while driving. Risk of acci-
dent!
● If the steering wheel is adjusted closer to your face, the protective ef-
fect of the driver airbag will be decreased in the event of an accident.
Check that the steering wheel is pointing towards the upper part of your
body.
● When driving, always hold the steering wheel with both hands on the
outside part at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. Never hold the
steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position, or in any other manner (e.g. in
the centre of the steering wheel). In such cases, if the airbag is triggered,
you may sustain injuries to the arms, hands and head.
● When moving with the engine switched off, the ignition key must al-
ways remain in position 2
⇒ Fig. 102 ⇒
page 138 (ignition on). The
control lamps will light up in this position. Otherwise, the steering lock
could engage suddenly. Risk of accident!
WARNING (Continued)
● Do not remove the key from the ignition until the vehicle has come to
a standstill and is secure (e.g. the handbrake is engaged). Otherwise, the
steering lock could suddenly engage. Risk of accident!
● Always take the ignition key with you when you leave the vehicle.
This is particularly important if you leave children in the vehicle. Children
could start the engine, for example, with the subsequent risk of accident.
● Never leave the engine running in unventilated or closed rooms. The
exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, an odourless and colourless
poisonous gas. Risk of fatal accidents! Carbon monoxide can cause peo-
ple to lose consciousness and can cause death.
● Never leave the vehicle unattended if the engine is running.
● Never switch the engine off until the vehicle is stationary. Risk of ac-
cident!
CAUTION
● Turning the steering wheel fully in either direction when the vehicle is
stationary and the engine in gear puts the power steering under great
stress. This could lead to noise. Never leave the steering wheel turned fully
in either direction for more than 15 seconds. Risk of damage to the power
steering system!
● The starter motor may only be used (key position 3
⇒ Fig. 102
⇒ page 138 in the ignition) if the engine is off. Using the starter motor
when the engine is running could cause damage.
● Immediately release the ignition key when the engine starts, otherwise
damage could be caused to the starter motor.
● When the engine is cold, you should avoid high engine speeds, driving
at full throttle and over-loading the engine before it reaches operating tem-
perature. Risk of engine damage!
137
Driving
● Do not tow-start the engine. Risk of engine damage! In vehicles with a
catalytic converter, unburnt fuel could reach the catalytic converter and
catch fire in it. This would lead to a fault in the catalytic converter. Use the
battery from another vehicle for help in starting the engine ⇒ page 205,
Jump-starting.
● After the engine has been working hard for a long time, leave the engine
idling for about one minute before switching it off at the end of a journey.
This will stop the engine from overheating.
For the sake of the environment
Do not warm up the engine when the vehicle is stationary. If possible, move
off immediately after starting the engine. This will help the engine reach op-
erating temperature more quickly, reducing the quantity of emissions.
Note
● The engine can only be started with the original SEAT key.
● Loud running noises may be heard briefly after cold-starting the engine.
This is normal and is no cause for concern.
● After the engine has been stopped and the ignition switched off, the ra-
diator fan may continue running for around 10 minutes.
● If the engine still does not start after a second attempt, the fuel pump
fuse might have blown. Check the fuse and replace if necessary
⇒ page 211, Fuses in the dash panel or contact your Specialised Service.
● You should always engage the steering lock when you leave the vehicle.
This will hinder any attempts at theft. Adjusting the steering wheel position
Fig. 101 Adjustable steering wheel: lever beneath steering column/safe distance from
steering wheel
The steering wheel can be adjusted vertically and horizontally.
– First adjust the position of the driver seat ⇒ page 107, Front
seats.
– Pull down the leave located below the steering wheel
⇒ Fig. 101 .
– Adjust the steering wheel vertically or horizontally.
– Pull the lever upwards as far as it will go.
Power steering
The power steering allows you to turn the steering wheel more easily.
If the power steering fails or the engine is off (towing), it is still possible to
turn the vehicle's steering wheel fully. However, you need more strength to
steer the vehicle.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
141
Driving
The warning lamp lights up when the handbrake is applied with the ignition
on .
Stability system (ESC)
Fig. 104 ESC system:
ASR switch
The ESC system increases control of the vehicle in emergency situations,
e.g. during a sudden change in direction. Depending on the driving condi-
tions, it reduces the risk of skidding and increases driving stability.
The system uses the steering wheel angle and road speed to calculate the
changes of direction desired by the driver, and constantly compares them
with the actual behaviour of the vehicle. When irregularities occur, for exam-
ple, if the vehicle begins to skid, the ESC brakes the appropriate wheel au-
tomatically.
The warning lamp in the general instrument panel starts flashing when
the system is working.
The stability (ESC) system includes the following systems:
● Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
● Traction control system (ASR)
● Electronic differential lock (EDL) ●
Brake assist system (HBA)
● Hill hold control (HHC)
The ESC system cannot be switched on. The
⇒ Fig. 104 button can only
be used to switch off the ASR system. The warning lamp lights up on the
general instrument panel if the ASR system is switched off.
The ASR should be switched on at all times. Only under certain circumstan-
ces should the system be switched off, e.g.
● Driving with chains
● Driving in deep snow or on very soft surfaces
● During the “swinging movement” required to remove a stuck vehicle
Switch the ASR back on as soon as possible.
Brake assist system (HBA)*
The HBA system is activated when you press down on the brake pedal sud-
denly. It increases braking power, helping to reduce braking distances. To
reduce the braking distance as much as possible, keep the brake pedal
pressed down firmly until the vehicle comes to a standstill.
With the help of this system, the ABS is activated more quickly and more
efficiently.
The brake assist function is deactivated automatically when the brake pedal
is released.
Hill hold control (HHC)*
The HHC system makes it easier to start the vehicle on hills. The system
maintains the brake pressure created by pressing down on the brake pedal
for 2 seconds after it has been released. Your foot can be removed from the
brake pedal and you can use the accelerator pedal and move away on a hill
without having to use the handbrake. The brake pressure drops as the ac-
celerator pedal is pressed. If the vehicle is not started then it will start to
move backwards after two seconds.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications
152Driving
● Engine at operating temperature
● Vehicle's battery sufficiently charged
● Vehicle not on a very steep slope
● Engine speed below 1200 rpm
● Vehicle's battery temperature is neither too high nor too low
● Sufficient brake system pressure
● Difference between outside temperature and set interior temperature
not too great
● Vehicle speed since last time the engine started was above 3 km/h (2
mph)
● Particulate filter ⇒ page 71 not being cleaned
● Front wheels not overly turned (steering wheel turned less than three
quarters of a turn)
Conditions for engine start up (Start phase)
● Clutch pedal pressed
● Max./min. temperature set
● Windscreen defrost function switched on
● High blower speed
● START-STOP button pressed
Conditions for automatic engine start up without driver involvement
● Vehicle moving at a speed of over 3 km/h (2 mph)
● Difference between outside temperature and interior temperature is too
great
● Vehicle's battery insufficiently charged
● Insufficient brake system pressure
If the driver seat belt is unfastened for more than 30 seconds in Stop phase,
the engine must be started using the ignition key. Please observe the mes-
sages on the general instrument panel display. Warnings on the instrument panel display (valid for vehicles not fitted with
an informative display)
FAULT: START-STOPFault in the START-STOP systemSTART-STOP IMPOSSIBLEEngine cannot be automatically shut
down
START-STOP ACTIVEAutomatic engine shut down (Stop
phase)
SWITCH OFF IGNITIONSwitch ignition off.START MANUALLYStart the engine manually
WARNING
● If the engine is switched off, neither the brake servo or the power
steering will work.
● Do not move the vehicle when the engine is switched off.
CAUTION
Switch off the START-STOP system ⇒ page 159 before driving through a
pool of water on the road.
Note
● The battery temperature may reflect the changes in outside temperature
after several hours. If the vehicle has been stopped outside at temperatures
below zero or in direct sunlight, for example, the battery temperature may
take several hours to reach the values required for the correct operating of
the START-STOP system.
● If the Climatronic system is operating automatically, this could impair
automatic engine shut down in certain conditions.
208Self-help
road. If the vehicle is towed with the rear wheels lifted off the road
the automatic gearbox will be damaged!
It is easier and safer to tow a vehicle with a towbar. A towrope
should only be used if you do not have a towbar.
Follow the instructions below when towing a vehicle:
Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
– Engage the clutch very gently when starting to move or on vehi-
cles with automatic gearbox press the accelerator carefully.
– On vehicles with manual gearbox, the towrope must be taut be-
fore driving off.
The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h (31 mph).
Notes for the driver of the towed vehicle
– The ignition should be switched on so that the steering wheel
lock is not engaged and the turn signals, horn and windscreen
wipers and washers can be used.
– Put the gear lever in neutral or move the selector lever to posi-
tion N (automatic gearbox).
The brake servo and power steering only work when the engine is
running. Considerably more effort is required on the brake pedal
and steering wheel when the engine is switched off.
Ensure the towrope remains taut at all times when towing.
CAUTION
● Do not tow-start the engine. Risk of engine damage! In vehicles with a
catalytic converter, unburnt fuel could reach the catalytic converter and
catch fire in it. This could damage and destroy the catalytic converter. Use
the battery from another vehicle for help in starting the engine ⇒ page 206,
Starting the engine.
● If, due to a fault, there is no oil in the gearbox, the car may only be tow-
ed with the driven wheels lifted clear of the road and transported on a spe-
cial vehicle transporter or trailer.
● If normal towing is not possible or if the vehicle is to be towed for further
than 50 km (31 miles), the vehicle must be transported on a special vehicle
transporter or trailer.
● The towrope should be slightly elastic to reduce the loading on both ve-
hicles during towing. It is advisable to use a towrope made of synthetic fibre
or similar material only.
● Do not pull too hard with the towing vehicle and always take care to
avoid jerking the towrope. When towing on a loose surface there is always a
risk of overloading and damaging the anchorage points.
● Attach the towrope or towbar only to the towline anchorages or to the
removable towing bracket ⇒ page 161, or ⇒ page 209.
Note
● We recommend you use the towrope or towbar available in the SEAT
Original Accessories programme from authorised SEAT dealers.
● Towing a vehicle requires some experience. Both drivers should be fa-
miliar with the technique required for towing. Inexperienced drivers should
not attempt to tow away another vehicle or to have their vehicle towed.
● Note the legal regulations concerning towing, particularly those regard-
ing the signalling of the towed and towing vehicle.
● The towrope must not be twisted, as under certain circumstances this
could unscrew the front towline anchorage.