2013 Seat Leon 5D ABS

22Seat belts
Why wear seat belts?
Physical principles of frontal collisions
In the event of a frontal collision, a large amount of kinetic
energy must be absorbed.
Fig. 8 Vehicle about to
hit a wall: the occupants
are not wearing seat
belts
Fig. 9 The vehicle hits
the wall: the occupants
are not wearing seat
belts
It is easy to explain how the laws of physics work in the case of a head-on
collision: When a vehicle starts moving ⇒ Fig. 8, a certain amount of energy
known as kinetic energy is produced in the vehicle and its occupants.
The amount of kinetic energy depends on the speed of the vehicle and the
weight of the vehicle and its passengers. The higher the speed and the
greater the weight, the more energy there is to be released in an accident.
The most significant factor, however, is the speed of the vehicle. If the
speed doubles from 25 km/h to 50 km/h, for example, the kinetic energy is
multiplied by four.
Because the vehicle occupants in our example are not restrained by seat
belts, all of the occupants' kinetic energy has to be absorbed at the point of
impact ⇒ Fig. 9.
Even at speeds of 30 km/h to 50 km/h, the forces acting on bodies in a col-
lision can easily exceed one tonne (1000 kg). At greater speed these forces
are even higher. 

24Seat belts
Seat belt protection
Passengers not wearing seat belts risk severe injuries in the
event of an accident.
Fig. 12 A driver wearing
the seat belt properly is
secured by the belt in
sharp braking
Properly worn seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting po-
sitions and substantially reduce the kinetic energy in the event of an acci-
dent. Seat belts also help to prevent uncontrolled movements that could
lead to severe injuries. In addition, properly worn seat belts reduce the dan-
ger of being thrown from the vehicle.
Vehicle occupants wearing their seat belts correctly benefit greatly from the
ability of the belts to absorb kinetic energy. The front part of your vehicle
and other passive safety features (such as the airbag system) are also de-
signed to absorb the kinetic energy released in a collision. Taken together,
all these features reduce the releasing kinetic energy and consequently, the
risk of injury.
Our examples describe frontal collisions. Of course, properly worn seat belts
substantially reduce the risk of injury in all other types of accidents. This is
why it is so important to fasten seat belts before every trip, even when "just
driving around the corner". Ensure that your passengers wear their seat belts as well. Accident statistics
have shown that wearing seat belts is an effective means of substantially
reducing the risk of injury and improving the chances of survival in a seri-
ous accident. Furthermore, properly worn seat belts improve the protection
provided by airbags in the event of an accident. For this reason, wearing a
seat belt is required by law in most countries.
Although your vehicle is equipped with airbags, the seat belts must be fas-
tened and worn. The front airbags, for example, are only triggered in some
frontal accidents. The front airbags will not be triggered during minor frontal
collisions, minor side collisions, rear collisions, overturns or accidents in
which the airbag trigger threshold value in the control unit is not exceeded.
Therefore, you should always wear your seat belt and ensure that all vehicle
occupants have fastened their seat belts properly before you drive off!

Safety instructions on using seat belts
If seat belts are used correctly, they can considerably reduce
the risk of injury in an accident.
– Always wear the seat belt as described in this section.
– Ensure that the seat belts can be fastened at all times and are
not damaged. 

32Airbag system
WARNING (Continued)
● To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating airbag, always wear the
seat belt properly ⇒ page 20.
● Always adjust the front seats properly.

The danger of fitting a child seat on the front passenger
seat
Rear-facing child seats must never be used on the front pas-
senger seat when the front passenger airbag is enabled. The front passenger front airbag is a serious risk for a child if it is activated.
The front passenger seat is life threatening to a child if he/she is transpor-
ted in a rear-facing child seat. Children up to 12 years old should always
travel on the rear seat.
If a rear-facing child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, an inflating
airbag can strike it with such force that it can cause critical or fatal injuries.
Therefore we strongly recommend you to transport children on the rear
seats. That is the safest place for children in the vehicle. Alternatively, the
front passenger airbag can be disabled with a key-operated switch
⇒ page 45. When transporting children, use a child seat suitable for the
age and size of each child ⇒ page 48.
For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to turn the airbag
off, a Technical Service must be consulted.
WARNING
● If a child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, the risk to the
child of sustaining critical or fatal injuries in the event of an accident in-
creases.
● Never secure a rear-facing child seat to the front passenger seat if the
front passenger airbag is enabled. The child can suffer critical or fatal in-
juries if the front passenger airbag is triggered.
● An inflating front passenger airbag can strike the rear-facing child
seat and project it with great force against the door, the roof or the back-
rest.
● For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to turn the
airbag off, a Technical Service must be consulted.
● If, under special circumstances, it is necessary to transport a child in
a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, it is absolutely es-
sential that you observe the following safety measures:
–Deactivate the front passenger airbag ⇒ page 45.
– Child seats must be approved by the child seat manufacturer for
use on a front passenger seat with front or side airbag.
– Follow the installation instructions given by the child seat manu-
facturer and observe the safety instructions ⇒ page 48, Child safe-
ty.
– Before properly installing the child seat, push the front passenger
seat completely backwards so that the greatest possible distance to
the front passenger airbag is ensured.
– Ensure that no objects prevent the front passenger seat from being
pushed completely back.
– The backrest of the front passenger seat must be in an upright po-
sition.


70Instruments and warning/control lamps
SymbolMeaning ⇒ See

Lit up on instrument panel display: a)
 Do not continue driving!
Engine coolant level too low, coolant tempera-
ture too high
Flashing on the instrument panel display: a)
Fault in the engine coolant system.
⇒ page 257

On the instrument panel display: a)
 Do not continue driving!
Engine oil pressure too low.⇒ page 253

Lit up or flashing:
 Do not continue driving!
Fault in the steering.⇒ page 225
Driver or passenger has not fastened seat belt.⇒ page 20
Use the foot brake!
On the instrument panel display: a)
Fault in the battery.⇒ page 260
a) Colour presentation on instrument panel with colour display. Yellow symbols
SymbolMeaning ⇒ See
Central warning lamp: additional information
on the instrument panel display–
Front brake pads worn.
⇒ page 222
lights: Fault in the ESC, or disconnection
caused by the system.
flashes: ESC or ASR activated.
ASR manually deactivated.
ABS faulty or does not work.
Rear fog light switched on.⇒ page 109

On the instrument panel display:
a)
Driving light totally or partially faulty.⇒ page 293
On the instrument panel display: a)
Fault in the cornering light system.⇒ page 109
Lights up or flashes: Fault in the emission con-
trol system.
⇒ page 230lights: pre-ignition of diesel engine.flashes: Fault in engine management.
Fault in engine management.
On the instrument panel display: a)
Diesel particulate filter blocked.
Lights up or flashes: Fault in the steering sys-
tem.⇒ page 162
Tyre pressure too low, or fault in the tyre pres-
sure monitoring system.⇒ page 214 

125
Lights and visibility
Recommended windscreen wipers
● For the hottest seasons we recommend summer G 052 184 A1 for clear
glass. Proportions of the mixture in the washer fluid tank: 1:100 (1 part con-
centrate per 100 parts water).
● All year round, G 052 164 A2 for clear glass. Approximate proportion of
the winter mixture, up to -18 °C (0 °F): 1:2 (1 part concentrate per 2 parts
water); otherwise, a 1:4 proportion of mixture in the washer fluid tank.
Reservoir capacity
The reservoir holds approximately 3 - 4 litres; in vehicles with headlight
washer, it is approximately 3 -6 litres.
WARNING
Never mix an unsuitable antifreeze or other similar additives with the
windscreen washer water. A greasy layer may be formed on the wind-
screen which will impair visibility.
● Use clean water with a window cleaner recommended by SEAT.
● If necessary, add a suitable antifreeze to the water in the reservoir.
CAUTION
● Do not mix cleaning products recommended by SEAT with other prod-
ucts. This could lead to flocculation and may block the windscreen washer
jets.
● When topping up service fluids, make absolutely certain that you fill the
fluids into the correct reservoirs. Using the wrong fluids could cause serious
malfunctions and engine damage! Rear vision mirror
Adjusting the exterior mirrors
Fig. 75 Driver door: con-
trol for the exterior mirror
Turn the knob to the appropriate position: – In these positions you can adjust the exterior mirrors (left or right) by
moving the control in the desired direction.
– The surfaces of the exterior mirrors are heated* depending on the
outside temperature, and on the equipment fitted in the vehicle.
– The exterior mirrors are retracted*.
Synchronized regulation of the exterior mirrors
● In the Settings - Convenience menu, select whether or not the exterior
mirrors should move in synchronisation.
● Turn the knob to position L.
● Adjust the left-hand exterior mirror. The right exterior mirror will be ad-
justed at the same time (synchronised). 
L/R


Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

142Seats and storage
Applies to the model: LEON ST
Use of the net partition behind the rear seat*
Fig. 98 In the luggage
compartment: pulling out
and securing the net par-
tition
Fig. 99 In the luggage
compartment: removing
the net partition Pulling out and securing the net partition
●
Pull up on the tab ⇒ Fig. 98 2
to remove the net from the casing 4.
● Secure the net partition on the right 3 (magnified image).
● Secure the net partition in the housing of the left side 1 by pulling the
bar.
The net partition is secured properly when the T-shaped ends are securely
fitted into the corresponding housings 3
and 1.
Retracting the net partition
● Remove the bars from the housings 3
and 1.
● Roll away the net in casing 4 by lowering it with your hand.
Removing the net partition
● Fold the rear seat backrests forward.
● Press the left or right release button ⇒ Fig. 99 in the direction of the ar-
row A
.
● Remove the support casing in the direction of arrow B.
Fitting the net partition
● Fold the rear seat backrests forward.
● Place the casing in the left and right supports.
● Press the housing in the left and right supports in the direction of arrow
B
until it engages ⇒ Fig. 99.
The red markings on the release tabs must not be seen.
WARNING
● Always secure objects, even when the net partition is properly fitted.
● When the vehicle is moving, nobody should be allowed to remain be-
hind the fitted net partition. 

216Driver assistance systems
WARNING (Continued)
● Driving with tyres at the wrong pressure can cause them damage and
result in an accident. Ensure that the tyre pressures of all the tyres corre-
spond to the vehicle load.
● Before starting a journey, always inflate tyres to the correct pressure.
● Tyres with insufficient pressure are subjected to more flexing. Due to
this, the tyre could become excessively hot, causing tread separation
and also tyre blow-out.
● With an overloaded vehicle at high speed, the tyres can overheat and
burst resulting in a loss of vehicle control.
● Tyre pressures which are too high or too low reduce the useful life of
the tyre, affecting vehicle performance.
● If a tyre has not been punctured then it does not have to be changed
immediately; drive to the nearest specialised workshop at a moderate
speed and have the tyre checked and inflated to the correct pressure.
WARNING
If the warning lamps and messages are ignored, the vehicle may stall in
traffic, or may cause accidents and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps or text messages.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
CAUTION
Failure to heed the control lamps and text messages when they appear may
result in faults in the vehicle.
Note
● If excessively low tyre pressure is detected with the ignition on, an audi-
ble warning will sound. In the event that there is a fault in the system, an
audible warning will sound.
● Driving on dirt tracks for a long period of time or driving in a sporty style
can temporarily deactivate the TPMS. The control lamp shows a fault, but
disappears when road conditions or the driving style change. 
Tyre monitoring indicator
Fig. 146 Instrument
panel: warning of loss of
tyre pressure
The tyre monitor indicator compares wheel revolutions and, with this infor-
mation, the tread of each wheel using the ABS sensors. If the rolling circum-
ference of one or more wheels has changed, the tyre monitoring indicator
will indicate this on the instrument panel through a warning lamp and a
warning to the driver ⇒ Fig. 146. When only one specific tyre is affected, its
position within the vehicle will be indicated.  Loss of pressure: Check left tyre pressure! 

217
Driver assistance systems
Wheel tread change
The wheel tread changes when:
● Tyre pressure is manually changed
● Tyre pressure is insufficient
● Tyre structure is damaged
● The vehicle is unbalanced because of a load
● The wheels on an axle are subject to a heavier load (e.g. when towing a
heavy load)
● The vehicle is fitted with snow chains
● The temporary spare wheel is fitted
● The wheel on one axle is changed
There may be a delay in the reaction of the tyre monitoring indicator  or it
may not indicate anything under certain circumstances (e.g. sporty driving,
snow-covered or unpaved roads, or when driving with snow chains). 
Calibrating the tyre monitoring indicator
Fig. 147 Glove compart-
ment: tyre control switch After changing the tyre pressure or replacing one or more wheels, the tyre
monitoring indicator must be recalibrated. Do the same, for example, when
the front and rear wheels are swapped.
●
Switch the ignition on.
● Store the new tyre pressure in the Easy Connect system with the button

and the function button Setup ⇒ page 80 or using the switch located in
the glove compartment* ⇒ Fig. 147.
When driving, the system self-calibrates the tyre pressure provided by the
driver and the wheels fitted. After a long journey with varied speeds the pro-
grammed values are collected and monitored.
With the wheels under very heavy loads, the tyre pressure must be in-
creased to the total recommended tyre pressure before the calibration
⇒ page 307.
Note
● The tyre monitoring indicator does not function when there is a fault in
the ESC or ABS ⇒ page 222.
● An erroneous indication may be given when snow chains are in use be-
cause the chains increase the tread of the wheel. 
Parking aid General information
Various systems are available to help you when parking or manoeuvring in
tight spaces, depending on the equipment fitted on your vehicle.
The rear parking aid is an audible assistant that warns about obstacles lo-
cated behind the vehicle ⇒ page 218. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications