2013 Seat Ibiza ST brake fluid

207
Checking and refilling levels
6. Raise the bonnet ⇒ page 208.
You should not do any work in the engine compartment unless you know ex-
actly how to carry out the jobs and have the correct tools! Have the work car-
ried out by a specialised workshop if you are uncertain.
All service fluids and consumables, e.g. coolant, engine oil, spark plugs
and batteries, are under constant development. SEAT provides a constant
flow of information to the Technical Services concerning modifications. For
this reason, we recommend you to have service fluids and consumables re-
placed by a Technical Service. Please observe the relevant instructions
⇒  page 196. The engine compartment of the vehicle is a hazardous area
⇒ 
.
WARNING
All work on the engine or in the engine compartment, e.g. checking and
refilling fluids, involves the danger of injury and scalding as well as the
risk of accident or fire.
● Never open the bonnet if you see steam, smoke or coolant escaping
from the engine compartment. Otherwise, there is a risk of sustaining
burns. Wait until no more steam or coolant is emitted, then allow the en-
gine to cool before carefully opening the bonnet.
● Switch off the engine and remove the key from the ignition.
● Apply the handbrake and move the gear lever to neutral or selector
lever to position P.
● Keep children away from the vehicle.
● Never touch hot engine parts. There is a risk of burns.
● Never spill liquids on a hot engine or on a hot exhaust gas system.
This is a fire hazard.
● Avoid causing short-circuits in the electrical system, particularly at
the points where the jump leads are attached ⇒ page 257. The battery
could explode.
WARNING (Continued)
● Never touch the radiator fan. It is temperature controlled and could
start automatically, even when the engine has been switched off and the
key removed from the ignition!
● Do not unscrew the cap on the coolant expansion tank when the en-
gine is hot. If the coolant is hot, the cooling system will be pressurised!
● Protect face, hands and arms by covering the cap with a large, thick
cloth to protect against escaping coolant and steam.
● Always make sure you have not left any objects, such as cleaning
cloths and tools, in the engine compartment.
● If you have to work underneath the vehicle, you must use suitable
stands additionally to support the vehicle, there is a risk of accident!. A
hydraulic jack is insufficient for securing the vehicle and there is a risk of
injury.
● 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., and from the high-voltage ignition system. You should also observe
the following points:
–Never touch the electrical wiring of the ignition system.
– Ensure that jewellery, loose clothing and long hair do not get trap-
ped in rotating engine parts. Danger of death. Before starting any
work remove jewellery, tie back and cover hair, and wear tight-fitting
clothes.
– Never accelerate with a gear engaged without taking the necessary
precautions. The vehicle could move, even if the handbrake is ap-
plied. Danger of death.
● If work has to be carried out on the fuel system or on electrical com-
ponents, you must observe the following safety notes in addition to the
above warnings:
–Always disconnect the battery from the on-board network. The ve-
hicle must be unlocked when this is done, otherwise the alarm will be
triggered.
– Do not smoke. 
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219
Checking and refilling levels
Brake fluid Checking the brake fluid level
The brake fluid is checked at the intervals given in the serv-
ice schedule.
Fig. 144 In the engine
compartment: Brake fluid
reservoir cover
– Read off the fluid level at the transparent brake fluid reservoir. It
should always be between the “MIN” and “MAX” marks.
The position of the brake fluid reservoir is shown in the corresponding en-
gine compartment illustration ⇒ page 267. The brake fluid reservoir has a
black and yellow cap.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the vehicle is being used as the
brake pads are automatically adjusted as they wear.
However, if the level goes down noticeably in a short time, or drops below
the “MIN” mark, there may be a leak in the brake system. A display on the
instrument panel will warn you if the brake fluid level is too low ⇒ page 65.
WARNING
Before opening the bonnet to check the brake fluid level, read and ob-
serve the warnings ⇒ page 206.

Changing the brake fluid
The Maintenance Programme indicates the brake fluid
change intervals. We recommend that you have the brake fluid changed by a Technical Serv-
ice.
Before opening the bonnet, please read and follow the warnings ⇒ 
in
Safety instructions on working in the engine compartment on page 206 in
section “Safety notes for working in the engine compartment”.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture. In the course of time, it will absorb water from
the ambient air. If the water content in the brake fluid is too high, the brake
system could corrode. This also considerably reduces the boiling point of
the brake fluid. Heavy use of the brakes may then cause a vapour lock
which could impair the braking effect.
Be sure to always use the correct brake fluid. Only use brake fluid that ex-
pressly meets VW 501 14 standards.
You can buy VW 501 14 standard brake fluid in a SEAT dealership or SEAT
Official Service. If none is available, use only high quality brake fluid that
meets DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards, or USA Standards FMVSS 116 DOT
4.
Using any other kind of brake fluid or one that is not of a high quality may
affect operation of the brake system and reduce its effectiveness. Never use
a brake fluid if the container does not state that it complies with VW 501 14,
DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards, or USA standards FMVSS 116 DOT 4. 
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220Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous. Old brake fluid impairs the braking effect.
● Before opening the bonnet to check the brake fluid level, read and ob-
serve the warnings ⇒ page 206.
● Brake fluid should be stored in the closed original container in a safe
place out of reach of children. There is a toxic risk.
● Complete the brake fluid change according to the Maintenance Pro-
gramme. Heavy use of the brakes may cause a vapour lock if the brake
fluid is left in the brake system for too long. This would seriously affect
the effectiveness of the brakes and the safety of the vehicle. This may
cause an accident.
CAUTION
Brake fluid damages the vehicle paintwork. Wipe off any brake fluid from
the paintwork immediately.
For the sake of the environment
The brake pads and brake fluid must be collected and disposed of accord-
ing the applicable regulations. The SEAT Technical Service network has the
necessary equipment and qualified personnel for collecting and disposing
of this waste material. Vehicle battery
Warnings on handling the battery
Wear eye protection
Battery acid is extremely corrosive. Wear protective gloves and
eye protection!
Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking are prohibited!
A highly explosive mixture of gases is released when the battery
is under charge.
Keep children away from acid and batteries!
WARNING
Always be aware of the danger of injury and chemical burns as well as
the risk of accident or fire when working on the battery and the electrical
system:
● Wear eye protection. Protect your eyes, skin and clothing from acid
and particles containing lead.
● Battery acid is extremely corrosive. Wear protective gloves and eye
protection. Do not tilt the batteries. This could spill acid through the
vents. Rinse battery acid from eyes immediately for several minutes with
clear water. Then seek medical care immediately. Neutralise any acid
splashes on the skin or clothing with a soapy solution, and rinse off with
plenty of water. If acid is swallowed by mistake, consult a doctor immedi-
ately. 

225
Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
There is a serious danger of accidents if a tyre bursts during driving!
● The tyres must be replaced at the latest when the tread wear indica-
tors are worn ⇒ page 224. Failure to do so could result in an accident.
Worn tyres do not grip well at high speeds on wet roads. There is also a
greater risk of aquaplaning.
● At continuously high speeds, a tyre with insufficient pressure flexes
more. This causes it to overheat. This can cause tread separation and tyre
blow-out. Risk of accident. Always observe the recommended tyre pres-
sures.
● If tyres show excessive wear, you should have the running gear
checked by a Technical Service.
● Keep chemicals such as oil, fuel and brake fluid away from tyres.
● Damaged wheels and tyres must be replaced immediately!
For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption. 
New tyres and wheels
New tyres and wheels have to be run in.
The tyres and wheel rims are an essential part of the vehicle's design. The
tyres and rims approved by SEAT are specially matched to the characteris-
tics of the vehicle and make a major contribution to good road holding and
safe handling ⇒ 
.
Tyres should be replaced at least in pairs and not individually (i.e. both front
tyres or both rear tyres together). A knowledge of tyre designations makes it
easier to choose the correct tyres. Radial tyres have the tyre designations
marked on the sidewall, for example: 195/65 R15 91T
This contains the following information: Tyre width in mm
Height/width ratio in %
Tyre construction: Radial
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating code
Speed rating
The tyres could also have the following information:
● A direction of rotation symbol
● “Reinforced” denotes heavy-duty tyres.
The manufacturing date is also indicated on the tyre sidewall (possibly only
on the inner side of the wheel).
“DOT... 1103...” means, for example, that the tyre was produced in the 11th
week of 2003.
We recommend that work on tyres and wheels be carried out by a Technical
Service. They are familiar with the procedure and have the necessary spe-
cial tools and spare parts as well as the proper facilities for disposing of the
old tyres.
Any Technical Service has full information on the technical requirements
when installing or changing tyres, wheels or wheel trims. 
195
65
R
15
91
T
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Technical specifications
Technical specifications
Checking fluid levels
From time to time, the levels of the different fluids in the ve-
hicle must be checked. Never fill with incorrect fluids, other-
wise serious damage to the engine may be caused.
Fig. 194 Diagram for the location of the various elements
Fig. 195 For vehicles
with the battery in the
luggage compartment.
Coolant expansion tank
Engine oil level dipstick
Engine oil filler cap
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery
Windscreen washer fluid container
The checking and refilling of service fluids are carried out on the compo-
nents mentioned above. These operations are described in the ⇒ page 206.
Overview
You will find further explanations, instructions and restrictions on the tech-
nical specifications as of ⇒ page 262.
Note
The layout of parts may vary depending on the engine. 
123456
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

Index
A
ABS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Acoustic warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Adaptive headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
AFS headlight bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Airbag covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Air conditioner Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Air conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Air outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Air recirculation Semi-automatic air conditioning . . . . . . . . 142
Air recirculation mode Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Alarm system Switching off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Alternator Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Anti-lock brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Anti-theft alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Switching off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Anti-theft wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Antifreeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Aquaplaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Aspects to note before setting off . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
ASR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
ASR (Traction control system) Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Audible warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Automatic anti-dazzle interior rear vision mirror Activating the anti-dazzle function . . . . . . 114
Deactivating the anti-dazzle function . . . . 114
Automatic car washing tunnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Kick-down feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Selector lever positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Automatic lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Automatic windscreen wiper/washer . . . . . . . 111
AUX/USB input connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Auxiliary audio input connection (AUX) . . . . . 130
B
Ball coupling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Battery Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Winter conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 Before setting off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Biodiesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Biodiesel fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Brake servo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174, 179
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Braking distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Bulb change double headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Single headlight bulb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Bulb changes General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Bulb defect Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Buzzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108, 148
C
Car care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Car phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
CCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
283
Index