184In the engine compartment
Opening the bonnet
● Before opening the bonnet, make sure that the windscreen wiper arms
are in place against the windscreen ⇒
.
● Pull the release lever 1 in the direction of the arrow
⇒ Fig. 112 A. The
bonnet is released from the lock carrier by a spring mechanism ⇒ .
● Lift the bonnet up slightly while pressing the release lever 2 B in the
direction of the arrow to completely open the bonnet.
● Take out the bonnet support rod from its clip in the direction of the ar-
row 3
C and place it in the corresponding open position 4 D (arrow).
Closing the bonnet
● Slightly lift the bonnet ⇒
.
● Take out the bonnet support rod from the opening catch 4 D and insert
it into its clip 3 C in the opening catch.
● Let the bonnet fall from a height of 30 cm into its clip; Do not apply pres-
sure!
If the bonnet is not correctly closed, open it once again and close it correct-
ly.
The bonnet is correctly closed when it is flush with the corresponding parts
on the bodywork.
WARNING
If the bonnet is not correctly closed, it could suddenly open while driving
leaving the driver without visibility. This could result in a serious acci-
dent.
● After closing the bonnet, always check that it is properly secured by
the locking mechanism in the lock carrier piece. The bonnet must be
flush with the surrounding body panels.
● While driving, if you notice that the bonnet is not correctly closed
then stop immediately and close it correctly.
● Only open and close the bonnet when there is nobody within its
range.
CAUTION
● To avoid damage to the bonnet and to the windscreen wiper arms, only
open the bonnet when the windscreen wipers are in place against the wind-
screen.
● Before driving, always lower the wiper arms.
187
In the engine compartment
● Open the bonnet ⇒ page 180.
● The engine oil filler neck can be recognised by the symbol on the
cap ⇒ Fig. 115 and the dipstick by its coloured handle.
Check the engine oil level
● Pull out the dipstick and wipe it on a clean cloth.
● Replace the dipstick, pushing it in as far as it will go. If the dipstick to
measure engine oil has a mark, when you reintroduce it this mark should
slot into the corresponding groove located on the upper end of the tube.
● Remove the dipstick again and check the engine oil level ⇒ table on
page 187.
● After reading the oil level, replace the dipstick in the tube completely.
Engine oil topping up ranges
Fig. 114Operations required depending on the engine oil topping
up level:
Area ADo not top up oil
⇒ .Area BYou can add oil, but keep the level in this zone.
Area COil
must be added. After topping up the oil level should be
in area B.
Adding oil after checking the level
Only add engine oil in small quantities and in steps.
●
Unscrew the cap from engine oil filler neck on the cylinder head
⇒ Fig. 115. If you are not sure where the cap is, request help from a special-
ist.
● Only refill using approved SEAT engine oil in small quantities (no more
than 0.5 ltr) ⇒ page 185.
● To avoid adding too much oil, each time you add a quantity, wait until
the oil has flowed into the crankcase so that it can be measured with the
dipstick.
● Check the oil level before adding any more oil. Do not top up with too
much engine oil ⇒
. ●
When the oil level is in at least the ⇒ Fig. 114 B
zone, insert the dip-
stick into the tube fully to avoid engine oil escaping when the engine is run-
ning.
● After topping up the oil, ensure that the cap is screwed on to the filler
neck correctly.
WARNING
Oil could catch fire if it comes into contact with hot engine components.
This could lead to a fire, explosion and severe injuries.
● Always ensure that after topping of oil, the engine oil filler cap is cor-
rectly tightened. This will avoid engine oil spilling onto hot engine parts
when the engine is running.
CAUTION
● If the engine oil level is above the area A do not start the engine. Seek
specialist assistance. Otherwise catalytic converter and engine damage may
occur.
● When refilling or changing service liquids, ensure that you put the liq-
uids into the right tank. Making a mistake when refilling could cause seri-
ous malfunctions and damage the engine!
For the sake of the environment
The oil level must never be above area A. Otherwise oil can be drawn in
through the crankcase breather and escape into the atmosphere via the ex-
haust system.
Engine oil consumption
The consumption of engine oil can be different from one engine to another
and can vary during the useful life of the engine.
Vehicle diagramPrior to a journey...While drivingCare, cleaning and mainte-
nanceIf and whenTechnical specifications
191
In the engine compartment
Checking the engine coolant level and refilling
Fig. 116 In the engine
compartment: Marking
on coolant expansion
tank
Fig. 117 In the engine
compartment: Coolant
expansion tank cap
If the coolant level is low, the coolant warning indicator will light. Preparations
●
Park the vehicle on even, flat and firm ground.
● Allow the engine to cool ⇒
.
● Open the bonnet ⇒ page 180.
● The coolant expansion tank is easily recognisable because of the sym-
bol on the cap ⇒ Fig. 117.
Checking the engine coolant level
● When the engine is cold, check the coolant level using the side marking
on the expansion tank ⇒ Fig. 116.
● If the level is below the “MIN” mark, top up with coolant. When the en-
gine is hot it may be slightly above the marked area.
Topping up the engine coolant level
● Always protect your face, hands and arms from hot coolant and steam
using a large, thick cloth over the coolant expansion tank cap.
● Remove the cap very carefully ⇒
.
● Only refill using new engine coolant according to SEAT specifications
(⇒ page 190) ⇒
.
● The engine coolant level should be between the marks on the coolant
expansion tank ⇒ Fig. 116. Do not exceed the top level of the marked area
⇒
.
● Screw on the cap tightly.
● If, the event of an emergency, you have no coolant that is compliant to
the required specifications ( ⇒ page 190), never use another type of addi-
tive. Instead, first top up with distilled water ⇒
only. Then re-establish
the correct proportion of the mixture with the correct additive as soon as
possible ⇒ page 190.
Vehicle diagramPrior to a journey...While drivingCare, cleaning and mainte-
nanceIf and whenTechnical specifications
192In the engine compartment
WARNING
Hot vapours and coolant can cause serious burns.
● Never open the coolant expansion tank if steam or coolant is coming
from the engine compartment. Wait until you cannot see or hear any
steam or coolant escaping.
● Always wait until the engine has completely cooled before very care-
fully opening the expansion tank cap. Contact with hot elements of the
engine can cause skin burns.
● Once the engine has cooled, follow the instructions below before
opening the bonnet:
–Engage the handbrake and place the gear selector lever in P or the
gear stick in neutral.
– Remove the key from the ignition.
– Keep children away from the engine compartment and never leave
them unsupervised.
● When the engine is warm or hot, the cooling system is pressurised.
Do not unscrew the cap on the expansion tank when the engine is hot.
Otherwise, coolant may spray out under pressure causing burns and seri-
ous injury.
–Carefully and slowly unscrew the cap anticlockwise, gently press-
ing down on it.
– Always protect your face, hands and arms from hot coolant and
steam using a large, thick cloth.
● When refilling liquids, avoid spilling them on parts of the engine and
the exhaust system. Spilled liquids could cause a fire. Under specific cir-
cumstances, the ethylene glycol can catch fire.CAUTION
● Top up with distilled water only. Any other type of water may lead to con-
siderable rusting in the engine due to its chemical components. This could
consequently damage the engine. If you have not used distilled water but
another type of water to top up the coolant, a specialised workshop must
immediately replace all of the fluid in the engine cooling system.
● Only top up coolant to the top level of the marked area ⇒ Fig. 116. Oth-
erwise the excess coolant will be forced out of the cooling system when the
engine is hot, causing damage.
● If a lot of liquid coolant has been lost, wait for the engine to cool down
completely before adding coolant. Extensive coolant loss is an indication of
leaks in the engine cooling system. Have the engine cooling system inspec-
ted immediately by a specialised workshop. Otherwise engine damage may
occur.
● When refilling or changing service liquids, ensure that you put the liq-
uids into the right tank. Making a mistake when refilling could cause seri-
ous malfunctions and damage the engine!
194In the engine compartment
Warning lamp
lights
upPossible causeSolution
Faulty generator.
Contact a specialised workshop.
Have the electrical system
checked.
Disconnect any unnecessary
electrical consumers. The gener-
ator does not charge the battery
while the vehicle is in motion.
Several warning and control lamps should light up for a few seconds when
the ignition is switched on, signalling that the function is being verified.
They will switch off after a few seconds.
WARNING
If the warning lamps are ignored, the vehicle may stall in traffic, or may
cause accidents and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
CAUTION
Failure to heed the warning lamps when they appear may result in faults in
the vehicle. Checking the electrolyte level of the vehicle battery
Fig. 118 In the engine
compartment: Remove
the cover from the vehi-
cle's battery
The battery's electrolyte level should be checked regularly in high-mileage
vehicles, in hot countries and in older batteries. Other batteries do not re-
quire maintenance.
Vehicles fitted with the Start-Stop system are equipped with special batter-
ies. For technical reasons, the electrolyte level cannot be checked in these
batteries.
Preparations
● Prepare the vehicle for work in the engine compartment
⇒ page 180
● Open the bonnet
⇒ page 180.
● Press on the tabs
⇒ Fig. 118 (arrows) in the direction of the arrows and
lift the battery cover up.
Checking the battery electrolyte level
● Make sure there is sufficient lighting to clearly recognise the colours.
Never use open flames or sparklers as a light source.
● Depending on the level of acid, the Magic eye on the top of the battery
will change colour.
199
Vehicle care and maintenance
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the vehicle, please observe the following before en-
tering an automatic car wash :
● Compare the distance between the vehicle wheels and the distance be-
tween the guide-rails of the car wash to prevent damage to the wheels and
tyres!
● Switch off the rain sensor before taking the vehicle to an automatic car
wash.
● Compare the height and width of your vehicle with the available height
and width when entering and driving through the car wash.
● Fold in exterior mirrors Electrically retractable exterior mirrors must not
be folded in or out by hand. Always use the electrical power control.
● To avoid damaging the bonnet paintwork, rest the windscreen wipers on
the windscreen after drying the wiper blades. Do not let them fall!
● Lock the rear lid to prevent it from opening unexpectedly while inside
the car wash.
Washing the vehicle with high pressure cleaning apparatus
When cleaning the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, always follow the
operating instructions for the equipment. Pay special attention to the re-
quired pressure of the jet and the distance between the jet and the vehicle
⇒
.
Keep a suitable distance from soft materials, such as rubber hoses or insu-
lating material, and from the parking distance warning system sensors. The
sensors of the parking distance warning system are situated on the rear
bumper ⇒
.
Do not use a nozzle that sprays the water out in a direct stream or one that
has a rotating jet for forcing off dirt ⇒
.
WARNING
The incorrect use of high pressure cleaning equipment could result in
permanent damage, visible or invisible, to the tyres or other materials.
This could result in a serious accident.
● Ensure there is a suitable distance between the nozzle and the tyres.
● Never wash tyres with a concentrated jet or so-called “dirt blasters”.
Even at large spraying distances and short cleaning times, you may dam-
age the tyres.
WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the braking effect will be reduced
(and the braking distance increased) due to moisture (and ice in winter)
on the brakes.
● Dry the brakes and remove ice by braking carefully. Ensure that you
are not endangering other road-users or breaking traffic regulations in
the process.
CAUTION
● The temperature of the water must not be above +60 °C (+140 °F).
● To avoid damage to the paintwork, do not wash the vehicle in full sun.
● To ensure that the system functions well, the sensors located on the
bumper must be kept clean and free from ice. When cleaning with pressure
hoses and steam cleaners, the sensors should be sprayed only briefly. A
distance of 10 cm between the sensors and the steam / hose nozzle must
be observed.
● Do not use a high pressure cleaner to remove ice or snow from windows
● Washing the vehicle in low temperatures: When washing the vehicle
with a hose, do not direct water into the lock cylinders or the gaps around
the doors, rear lid, or sunroof. Locks and seals could freeze!
Vehicle diagramPrior to a journey...While drivingCare, cleaning and mainte-
nanceIf and whenTechnical specifications
227
Vehicle care and maintenance
In vehicles equipped with an emergency call function via the mobile phone
or other appliances connected in the vehicle, it is possible to send the vehi-
cle position. If the control unit records an accident with airbag activation,
the system may automatically send a signal. This will depend on the net-
work operator. Normally, transmission is only possible in areas with good
coverage.
Event Data Recorder
The vehicle is not fitted with an event data recorder.
An event data recorder temporarily stores the vehicle information. There-
fore, in the event of accident, it is possible to obtain detailed information
about how the accident occurred. For example, in vehicles with airbag sys-
tems, data relating to speed of impact, seat belt status, seat positions and
airbag activation times may be stored. The volume of data depends on the
manufacturer.
Event data recorders can only be mounted with authorisation from the vehi-
cle owner and, in some countries, they are governed by local legislation.
Reprogramming control units
On the whole, all the data required for the component management is stor-
ed in the control units. The programming of certain convenience functions,
such as the convenience turn signals, individual door opening and instruc-
tions on the display can be modified using special equipment at the work-
shop. If the comfort functions are reprogrammed, the information and In-
struction Manual descriptions will not coincide with the modified functions.
Therefore, SEAT recommends that any modifications are recorded in the sec-
tion “Other workshop notes” in the Maintenance Programme.
The SEAT Official Service must have a record of any modification to the pro-
gramming.
Reading the vehicle fault memory
There is a diagnostics connector in the vehicle interior for reading the vehi-
cle fault memory. The fault memory documents errors and deviations from
the theoretical values of the electronic control units. The diagnostics connector is in the driver side footwell area, next to the lev-
er for opening the bonnet, below a cover.
The fault memory should only be read and reset by a specialised workshop.
Using a mobile telephone in a vehicle without connection
to an exterior aerial
Mobile telephones transmit and receive radio waves also called high-fre-
quency energy, both when in use and when on stand-by. Scientific studies
state that radio waves exceeding certain values may be harmful to the hu-
man body. International committees and authorities have established limits
and directives in order to ensure electromagnetic radiation from mobile
phones remains within certain limits that do not endanger human health.
Nevertheless, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that wireless tele-
phones are totally safe.
That is why some experts recommend moderate use of the mobile tele-
phone, and the appliance of measures to reduce radiation on the human
body.
When a mobile phone not connected to an exterior aerial is used inside the
vehicle, the electromagnetic radiation may be greater than if the mobile
phone were connected to a built-in aerial or to another exterior aerial.
If the vehicle is fitted with a suitable hands-free device that allows the em-
ployment of numerous additional mobile telephone functions with compati-
ble Bluetooth technology ®
, it will comply with the legislation in many coun-
tries which only permits the use of mobile phones inside vehicles using a
hands-free device.
The hands-free system of the Portable Navigation System (supplied by
SEAT) has been designed for use with conventional mobile phones and
phones with Bluetooth technology ®
⇒ page 229. Mobile telephones must
be placed in a suitable telephone support or stored safely in the vehicle. If a
support is used for the telephone, it must be securely fastened to the base
Vehicle diagramPrior to a journey...While drivingCare, cleaning and mainte-
nanceIf and whenTechnical specifications
234Vehicle care and maintenance
Warning of high voltage label
There is a label close to the bonnet lock which warns of high voltage in the
vehicle electrical installation.
Warning relating to the City Safety Assist system laser sensor
There are some warning and information signs on the City Safety Assist sys-
tem laser sensor ⇒ Fig. 132.
Using your vehicle in other countries and continents
The vehicle is manufactured at the factory for use in a particular country in
accordance with the national legislation in force at the time of manufacture.
If the vehicle is sold in another country or used in another country for an ex-
tended period of time, the applicable legislation of that country should be
observed.
It may be necessary to fit or remove certain pieces of equipment or to deac-
tivate certain functions. Service work may also be affected. This is particu-
larly true if the vehicle is used in a different climate for an extended period
of time.
As there are different types of frequency bands around the world, you may
find that the radio system or the Portable Navigation System (supplied by
SEAT) supplied at the factory does not work in another country.
CAUTION
● SEAT does not accept liability for any damage to the vehicle due to the
use of a lower quality fuel, an inadequate service or the non-availability of
genuine spare parts.
● SEAT does not accept liability if the vehicle does not comply in part or in
full with the legal requirements of other countries or continents. Radio reception and the aerial
For factory-fitted radio equipment, the aerial for radio reception is fitted to
the roof of the vehicle.
Note
If electrical equipment such as mobile telephones, is used near a roof aer-
ial, you may observe interference in the reception of AM stations.
Notes on SEAT repairs
Information about authorised SEAT services and authorised SEAT repairs
can be requested by payment at the following addresses:
Clients in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Central America and South
America
Contact a Technical Service or specialised workshop, or request the corre-
sponding documentation at www.erwin.volkswagen.de.
WARNING
Repairs or modifications which are not performed correctly may result in
damage or errors in the vehicle operation, affecting the effectiveness of
the driver assist and airbag systems. This could result in serious acci-
dent.
● Have any repairs or modifications carried out at a specialised work-
shop.