206Driving and the environment
Environmental friendliness
Environmental protection is a top priority in the design, choice of materials
and manufacture of your new SEAT.
Constructive measures to encourage recycling
●Joints and connections designed for easy dismantling
● Modular construction to facilitate dismantling
● Increased use of single-grade materials
● Plastic parts and elastomers are marked in accordance with ISO 1043,
ISO 11469 and ISO 1629
Choice of materials
● Use of recycled materials.
● Use of compatible plastics in the same part if its components are not
easily separated.
● Use of recycled materials and/or materials originating from renewable
sources.
● Reduction of volatile components, including odour, in plastic materials.
● Use of CFC-free coolants.
Ban on heavy metals, with the exceptions dictated the law (Annex II of ELV
Directive 2000/53/EC): cadmium, lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium.
Manufacturing methods
● Reduction of the quantity of thinner in the protective wax for cavities.
● Use of plastic film as protection during vehicle transport.
● Use of solvent-free adhesives.
● Use of CFC-free coolants in cooling systems.
● Recycling and energy recovery of residues (RDF).
● Improvement in the quality of waste water. ●
Use of systems for the recovery of residual heat (thermal recovery, en-
thalpy wheels, etc.).
● The use of water-soluble paints
Driving abroad Observations
To drive abroad, the following must be taken into consideration:
● For vehicles fitted with a catalytic converter ensure that unleaded petrol
is available for the journey. See the chapter “Refuelling”. Automobile organ-
isations will have information about service station networks selling unlea-
ded fuel.
● In some countries, it is possible that your vehicle model is not sold, and
therefore spare parts are not available or the Technical Services can only
carry out limited repairs.
SEAT importers and distributors will gladly provide information about the
technical preparations that you vehicle requires and also about necessary
maintenance and repair possibilities.
Adhesive strips for headlights
If you have to drive a right-hand drive vehicle in a left-hand drive country, or
vice versa, the asymmetric dipped beam headlights will dazzle oncoming
traffic.
To prevent dazzling, you must apply stickers to certain parts of the head-
light lenses. Further information is available at your Technical Service.
207
Driving and the environment
In vehicles with adaptive headlights, the rotation system must previously be
disconnected. To do this, please go to a specialised workshop.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications
209
Trailer towing
Where possible, operate the trailer with the maximum permitted drawbar
load on the ball joint of the towing bracket, but do not exceed the specified
limit.
Tyre pressure
Check the tyre pressures on your vehicle, and adjust for “full load” condi-
tions (refer to the sticker listing the tyre pressures on the door pillar). It may
also be necessary to adjust the tyre pressures on the trailer according to the
recommendations of the trailer manufacturer.
Exterior mirrors
Check whether you can see enough of the road behind the trailer with the
standard mirrors. If this is not the case you should have additional mirrors
fitted. The two exterior mirrors should be fitted on folding arms. Adjust the
mirrors to give sufficient rear vision.
Headlights
Before starting a journey, check the headlight beam settings with the trailer
hitched up. If necessary, alter the height of the headlight beams by means
of the headlight range control. See ⇒ page 121.
Power supply
When you remove the ignition key, the power supply to the trailer is inter-
rupted.
Removable ball joint coupling
Vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket are equipped with a removable
ball joint coupling. This is stored in the spare wheel well in the luggage
compartment together with the necessary fitting instructions.
Note
If you frequently tow, we recommend you also have the vehicle serviced be-
tween services. Notes on towing
Towing a trailer involves additional attention by the driver.
Weight distribution
The weight distribution of a loaded trailer with an unladen vehicle is very
unfavourable. However, if this cannot be avoided, drive extra slow to allow
for the unbalanced weight distribution.
Speed
The stability of the vehicle and trailer is reduced with increasing speed.
Therefore, it is advisable not to drive at the maximum permissible speed in
unfavourable road, weather or wind conditions. This especially applies
when driving downhill.
You should always reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows the slight-
est sign of swaying. Never try to stabilise the trailer by accelerating.
Anticipate hazards and brake in good time. If towing a trailer with an inertia
brake, first brake gently and then harder. This will prevent brake tapping by
the trailer wheels when they lock. Select a low gear in due course before go-
ing down a steep downhill. This enables you to use the engine braking to
slow down the vehicle.
Swaying and pitching can be reduced by stabiliser aids. We recommend
having stabiliser aids installed when towing trailers with a high trailer
weight. They can be purchased and installed at a Technical Service.
Reheating
When climbing long hills in hot weather with the engine running fast in low
gear, you should keep an eye on the coolant temperature gauge ⇒ page 62.
Reduce speed immediately if the needle moves to the right end of the scale.
If the temperature warning lamp in the instrument panel should start
flashing, stop the vehicle and let the engine cool down by running it at
idling speed for a few minutes.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications
254Wheels and tyres
Tyre pressure warning lamp on
When you switch on the ignition, the tyre pressure warning lamp will
light up for about 2 seconds. There is a fault in the system if the indicator
stays on permanently after switching on the ignition. The instrument panel
also display TMPS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System). Please contact the
nearest specialised workshop as soon as possible.
The tyre pressure warning lamp lights up if the tyre pressure on one or
more wheels is significantly lower than the tyre pressure setting which was
confirmed by the driver ⇒
.
WARNING
● If the tyre pressure warning lamp lights up you must slow down
immediately and avoid any severe braking or steering manoeuvres. Stop
the vehicle as soon as possible and check the tyres and their pressure.
● The driver is responsible for maintaining correct tyre pressures.
Therefore, the tyre pressure must be regularly checked.
● Under certain conditions (e.g. driving at high speeds, on ice and snow
or on poor road surfaces) the tyre pressure warning lamp may not light
up immediately or not at all.
● Please ask your Technical Service or specialised workshop whether
run-flat tyres can be used on your vehicle. Fitting this type of tyre in an
undue manner could lead to your driving licence being taken away from
you. Furthermore, it may led to damage to the vehicle or, under certain
circumstances, may cause accidents.
● If you change normal tyres for run-flat tyres or vice versa, the control
unit must be reprogrammed by the Technical Service or a specialised
workshop.
Note
If you did not press the button for the tyre pressure monitoring system to
confirm a new tyre pressure setting after making changes to the tyre pres-
sures or changing one or more wheels, the warning lamp may light up
although the tyre pressures are correct. In this case, stop the vehicle as
soon as possible and, after examining the tyres, press the button for the
tyre pressure monitoring system.
264If and when
Changing a wheel
Preparation work
What you must do before changing a wheel.
– If you have a flat tyre or puncture, park the vehicle as far away
from the flow of traffic as possible. Choose a location that is as
level as possible.
– All occupants should leave the vehicle. They should wait in a
safe place (e.g. behind the roadside crash barrier).
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Engage first gear .
– When towing a trailer: Unhitch the trailer from your vehicle.
– Take the tools and the spare wheel ⇒ page 261 out of the lug-
gage compartment.
WARNING
If you have a puncture in heavy traffic, switch on the hazard warning
lights and place the warning triangle in a visible location. This is for your
own safety and also warns other road users.
CAUTION
If you have to change the tyre on a gradient, block the wheel opposite the
wheel being changed by placing a stone or similar object under it to prevent
the vehicle from rolling away.
Note
Please observe legal requirements when doing so.
Changing a wheel
Change the wheel as described below.
– Remove the wheel cover .
– Loosen the wheel bolts ⇒ page 265.
– Raise the vehicle with the jack ⇒ page 266.
– Take off the wheel with the flat tyre and then put on the spare
wheel ⇒ page 267.
– Lower the vehicle.
– Tighten the wheel bolts firmly in diagonal sequence with the
box spanner ⇒ page 265.
– Replace the cover.
After changing a wheel
After changing the wheel, there are still tasks to complete. – Place the wheel with the defective tyre in the spare wheel well
and secure it.
– Put the tools and jack back in the luggage compartment.
271
If and when
pressure is still lower than the specification the tyre is too badly
damaged and cannot be repaired using the tyre sealant.
Final check
– After about 10 minutes, stop to check the tyre pressure.
– If tyre pressure is less than 1.3 bar, the tyre is too badly dam-
aged. Do not drive on! You should obtain professional assis-
tance.
WARNING
● If you have a puncture in heavy traffic, switch on the hazard warning
lights and place the warning triangle in a visible location. This is for your
own safety and also warns other road users.
● Make sure your passengers wait in a safe place (for instance behind
the roadside crash barrier).
● Please observe the manufacturer's safety notes on the compressor
and the instructions supplied with the tyre sealant can.
● If it is not possible to build up a tyre pressure of 2.0 bar within 6 mi-
nutes this means that the tyre is too badly damaged. Do not drive on!
● Seek professional assistance if the repair of a tyre puncture is not
possible with the sealing product.
● If tyre pressure is less than 1.3 bar after driving about 10 minutes,
the tyre is too badly damaged. Do not drive on! Obtain technical assis-
tance.
CAUTION
Take special care if you have to repair a tyre on a slope.
Note
● Do not use the compressor for longer than 6 minutes. Otherwise, it
might overheat. When the compressor has cooled down, you can use it
again.
● If tyre sealant should leak out, leave it to dry and then pull it off like foil.
● After carrying out a tyre repair remember to buy a new tyre sealant can at
a specialised workshop. This will ensure that the Tyre Mobility System is op-
erative again.
● Please observe legal requirements when doing so.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications
272If and when
Fuses
Introduction
Due to the constant update of vehicles, fuse assignments depending on
equipment and the use of the same fuse for various electrical components,
at the time of printing this manual it is not possible to provide an up-to-date
summary of the electrical components fuse positions. For detailed informa-
tion about the fuse positions, please consult a Technical Service.
In general, a fuse can be assigned to various electrical components. Like-
wise, an electrical component can be protected by several fuses.
Only replace fuses when the cause of the problem has been solved. If a
newly inserted fuse blows after a short time, you must have the electrical
system checked by a specialised workshop as soon as possible.
Additional information and warnings:
● Working in the engine compartment ⇒ page 235
WARNING
The high voltages in the electrical system can give serious electrical
shocks, causing burns and even death!
● Never touch the electrical wiring of the ignition system.
● Take care not to cause short circuits in the electrical system.
WARNING
Using unsuitable fuses, repairing fuses or bridging a current circuit with-
out fuses can cause a fire and serious injury.
● Never use a fuse with a higher value. Only replace fuses with a fuse of
the same amperage (same colour and markings) and size.
● Never repair a fuse.
● Never replace a fuse by a metal strip, staple or similar.
CAUTION
● To avoid damage to the vehicles electric system, before replacing a fuse
turn off the ignition, the lights and all electrical elements and remove the
keys from the ignition.
● If you replace a fuse with higher-rating fuse, you could cause damage to
another part of the electrical system.
● Protect the fuse boxes when open to avoid the entry of dust or humidity.
Dirt and humidity inside fuse boxes can cause damage to the electrical sys-
tem.
Note
● One single consumer could have more than one fuse.
● Several consumers could run over one single fuse.
274If and when
Preparation
● Switch off the ignition, lights and all electrical equipment.
● Open the corresponding fuse box ⇒ page 273.
Identifying a blown fuse
A fuse is blown if its metal strip is ruptured ⇒ Fig. 204.
Point a lamp at the fuse. This will make it easier to see if the fuse is blown.
To replace a fuse
● Remove the fuse.
● Replace the blown fuse by one with an identical amperage rating (same
colour and markings) and identical size ⇒
.
● Replace the cover again or close the fuse box lid.
CAUTION
If you replace a fuse with higher-rating fuse, you could cause damage to an-
other part of the electrical system.
Bulbs
General information
You can change the following bulbs for exterior lights yourself:
● Main headlights: all bulbs (except xenon headlights)
● Tail lights: all bulbs
● Side turn signal bulb
The following bulbs can only be changed by a specialised workshop:●
Main headlights: Xenon* bulb ⇒ page 281
● Front fog lights: Bulb
As a rule, you require a certain degree of practical skill to change defective
bulbs. This applies in particular to those bulbs which are only accessible
from the engine compartment.
If in doubt, we recommend that you have defective bulbs changed by a spe-
cialised workshop or qualified mechanic.
If you do decide to change bulbs in the engine compartment yourself, be
aware of the safety risks involved ⇒ page 235 ⇒
in Types of bulbs on
page 275.
The name of many of the lamps fitted by SEAT ends in "LL". This means Long
Life. These lamps are used for functions with a long service time (dipped
beam, side lights, daylight driving, etc.). This does not apply to lamps with
a shorter service time (turn signals, etc.). A lamp with the same name ex-
cept for the last two letters, "LL“ or “SLL”, is compatible, but will have a
service life of approximately half of the LongLife lamps.
When replacing lamp bulbs, the same type of bulb as originally fitted
should always be used where possible.