154Driver assistance systems
● If the system detects a fault that could affect the working order of the
CCS.
● If you increase the stored speed by pressing the accelerator pedal for a
certain time.
● if the brake or clutch pedal is depressed.
● If the gear is changed with the manual gearbox.
● If the airbag is triggered.
208Vehicle care and maintenance
Cleaning storage compartments and drinks holders
● Use a clean, damp, lint-free cloth to clean parts.
● If this does not provide satisfactory results, we recommend using a spe-
cial solvent-free plastic cleaning product.
Cleaning the ashtray
● Extract the ashtray and empty it.
● Clean the ashtray with a dishcloth.
Use a toothpick or similar to remove ash from the area where cigarettes are
stubbed out ⇒ Fig. 122.
Care and cleaning of plastic parts, wooden trim and the
instrument panel
● Use a clean, damp, lint-free cloth to clean parts.
● Clean plastic parts (inside and outside the vehicle) and the dash panel
with a special solvent-free product for the care and cleaning of plastic, ap-
proved by SEAT ⇒
.
● Wash wooden trims with a mild soap and water solution.
● Clean the Portable Navigation System housing (Supplied by SEAT) with a
dry cloth only.
WARNING
Solvents cause the surfaces of the airbag modules to become porous. If
an airbag is accidentally triggered, the detachment of plastic parts could
cause serious injury.
● Never clean the dash panel and the surfaces of the airbag modules
with cleaners containing solvents.
CAUTION
When cleaning the instrument panel, be careful not to dampen the Portable
Navigation System connections as this can damage the electrical installa-
tion.
Cleaning seat belts
If the seat belt is very dirty, the belt retractor may not work correctly thus
preventing the seat belt from operating correctly.
The seat belts should never be removed from the vehicle for cleaning.
● Use a soft brush to remove the worst dirt ⇒
.
● Pull the seat belt right out and leave it out.
● Clean dirty seat belts with a gentle soap and water solution.
● Wait until they are completely dry.
● Only allow the seat belt to retract when it is completely dry.
WARNING
Check the condition of all the seat belts at regular intervals. If the web-
bing or other parts of the seat belt are damaged, the vehicle should be
taken to a Specialised workshop immediately and the belts should be re-
placed. It is extremely dangerous to drive using damaged seat belts and
could result in serious injury or loss of life.
● Seat belts and their components must never be cleaned with chemi-
cal products, nor should they be allowed to come into contact with corro-
sive liquids, solvents or sharp objects. This could affect the strength of
the seat belt webbing.
222Vehicle care and maintenance
Accessories, replacements, repairs and
modifications
Introduction
Additional information and warnings:
● Seat belts ⇒ page 56
● Airbag system ⇒ page 65
● Roof carrier ⇒ page 104
● Ashtray and cigarette lighter ⇒ page 115
● Power socket ⇒ page 117
● Braking, stopping and parking ⇒ page 134
● Parking sensor system ⇒ page 149
● Cruise control system (CCS) ⇒ page 152
● Working in the engine compartment ⇒ page 180
● Engine oil ⇒ page 185
● Engine coolant ⇒ page 189
● Vehicle battery ⇒ page 193
● Caring for and cleaning the vehicle exterior ⇒ page 197
● Care and cleaning of the vehicle interior ⇒ page 205
● Notes for the user ⇒ page 233
● ⇒ Booklet Radio
● Instruction Manual for the Portable Navigation System (supplied by
SEAT) in the equipment.
WARNING
The use of spare parts and accessories, or incorrectly performed modifi-
cations or repairs may result in damage to the vehicle, accidents and se-
rious injury.
● SEAT strongly recommends you to only use SEAT approved accesso-
ries and SEAT ®
original spare parts. These parts and accessories have
been specially tested by SEAT for suitability, reliability and safety.
● Have any repairs or modifications carried out at a specialised work-
shop. Specialised workshops have the necessary tools, diagnostics
equipment, repair information and qualified personnel.
● Only mount parts with the same specifications as the parts fitted at
factory.
● Never mount, fasten or fit objects such as drink holders or telephone
cradles over the covers of the airbag modules or within their deployment
zones.
● Only use wheels and tyre combinations which have been approved by
SEAT for your vehicle type.
223
Vehicle care and maintenance
Running-in
Please observe the instructions for running-in new components.
Running-in the engine
The engine needs to be run in over the first 1500 km (1000 miles). During
its first few hours of running, the internal friction in the engine is greater
than later on when all the moving parts have bedded down.
How the vehicle is driven for the first 1500 km (1000 miles) influences the
future engine performance. Throughout the life of the vehicle, it should be
driven at a moderate speed, especially when the engine is cold, as this will
reduce engine wear and increase its useful life. Never drive at extremely low
engine speeds. Change down to a lower gear when the engine no longer
runs “smoothly”. Up to 1000 kilometres the following instructions apply:
● Do not use full throttle.
● Do not force the engine above two thirds of its maximum speed.
Between 1000 and 1500 kilometres (600 to 1000 miles), gradually in-
crease power until reaching the maximum speed and high engine speeds.
Running in new tyres and brake pads
● Replacement of new tyres and wheel rims ⇒ page 210
● Notes on the brakes ⇒ page 134
For the sake of the environment
If the engine is run in gently, the life of the engine will be increased and the
engine oil consumption reduced.
Accessories and spare parts
SEAT recommends you consult an Official Service before purchasing acces-
sories and spare parts or consumables. For example, when fitting accesso- ries at a later date, or when replacing a component. A SEAT Official Service
will advise you as to the legal requirements and manufacturer's recommen-
dations regarding accessories, spare parts and other components.
SEAT recommend you use only approved
SEAT accessories and genuine
SEAT spare parts ®
. These parts and accessories have been specially tested
by SEAT for suitability, reliability and safety. In addition the SEAT Technical
Service will guarantee that the assembly is carried out professionally.
Although we continually monitor the market, SEAT cannot guarantee that
products not approved by SEAT are reliable, safe and suitable for the vehi-
cle. Therefore, SEAT cannot accept liability, even in those cases authorised
by an officially recognised technical inspection office or other official body.
Any retro-fitted equipment which has a direct effect on vehicle control must
be approved by SEAT for use in your vehicle and bear the e mark (the Euro-
pean Union's authorisation symbol). This includes cruise control systems or
electronically controlled suspension.
If any additional electrical components are fitted which do not serve to con-
trol the vehicle itself, these must bear the mark (European Union manu-
facturer conformity declaration). This includes refrigerator boxes, laptops or
ventilator fans.
WARNING
Unprofessional repairs or modifications to the vehicle may affect the per-
formance of the airbags, resulting in operating faults or fatal accident.
● Never mount, fasten or fit objects such as drink holders or telephone
cradles over or next to the covers of the airbag modules or within their
deployment zones.
● Objects placed over the airbag covers, or within their deployment
zones, could lead to serious injury or loss of life if the airbags are trig-
gered.
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225
Vehicle care and maintenance
The vehicle owner should keep the documentation for the additional equip-
ment safely and hand it over to the scrap yard at the end of the vehicle's
service life. This ensures that any additional equipment mounted in end-of-
life vehicles is correctly disposed of with respect for the environment.
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 systems. This could result in serious accident.
● All repairs and modifications to the vehicle should only be performed
by a specialised workshop.
Repair and faults in the airbag system
When performing repairs and technical modifications, SEAT's directives
must be observed! ⇒
Modifications and repairs to the front bumper, doors, front seats, and re-
pairs to the roof or chassis should only be carried out in a specialised work-
shop. These components may contain parts or sensors belonging to the air-
bag system.
If work is carried out on the airbag system or parts have to be removed and
fitted on the system when performing other repair work, parts of the airbag
system may be damaged. The consequence may be that, in the event of an
accident, the airbag inflates incorrectly or does not inflate at all.
So that the effectiveness of the airbag is not reduced and that removed
parts do not cause any injuries or environmental pollution, regulations must
be observed. These requirements are known to specialised workshops.
Modifications to the vehicle suspension may affect the operation of the air-
bag system in the event of collision. For example, if wheel and tyre combi-
nations not approved by SEAT are used, or if the vehicle height is lowered, the suspension is stiffened or the suspension springs, telescopic arms,
dampers, etc., are modified, the results received by the airbag sensors and
sent to the control unit may not be accurate. For example, some modifica-
tions to the suspension could increase the force measured by the sensors
and result in the triggering of the airbag systems in collisions. Under normal
conditions, the measured values would be lower and the airbag would not
have been triggered. Other modifications may reduce the forces measured
by the sensors and therefore the airbags are not triggered in situations
when they should have triggered.
WARNING
Repairs or modifications which are not performed correctly may result in
damage or errors in the vehicle operation, affecting the effectiveness of
the airbag systems. This could result in serious or fatal accident.
● All repairs and modifications to the vehicle should only be performed
by a specialised workshop.
● Airbag modules must never be repaired: if damaged, they must be re-
placed.
● Never fit recycled or reused airbag components in your vehicle.
WARNING
Modifications to the vehicle suspension, including the use of unauthor-
ised wheel and tyre combinations, may affect the performance of the air-
bags and increase the risk of serious or fatal injury in the event of acci-
dent.
● Never fit suspension components which are not identical to the origi-
nal parts mounted in the vehicle.
● Never use wheel and tyre combinations not approved by SEAT.
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226Vehicle care and maintenance
Retro-fitting of two-way radios
An exterior aerial is required for the use of two-way radios in the vehicle.
The retro-fitting of electrical or electronic appliances in the vehicle is sub-
ject to their approval for use in your vehicle. Under certain circumstances,
this could mean that your vehicle registration documents are no longer val-
id.
SEAT has approved your vehicle for use with two-way radios providing the
following conditions are observed:
●The exterior aerial must be mounted professionally.
● The maximum transmitting power is 10 watts.
The optimal reach of the equipment is only achieved with an external aerial.
Check first with a specialised workshop if you wish to use a two-way radio
with a transmitting power of over 10 watts. The specialised workshops are
familiar with the technical options for installation. SEAT recommends visit-
ing a Technical Service.
All legal requirements, together with the instructions for the use of two-way
radios must be observed.
WARNING
If the two-way radio is not securely fastened in position, it could be sent
flying around the vehicle in the event of sharp braking, sudden manoeu-
vres or accident, causing injury.
● While driving, two-way radios must be securely fastened in position,
outside the airbags deployment zones, or safely stowed away.
WARNING
When using a two-way radio without a connection to an exterior aerial,
the maximum permitted levels of electromagnetic radiation may be ex-
ceeded. This is also the case if the aerial has not been correctly installed.
● You should only use a two-way radio inside the vehicle if it has first
been correctly connected to an exterior aerial.
Information stored by the control units
Your vehicle is fitted at the factory with a series of electronic control units
responsible for the engine and gearbox management. In addition, the con-
trol units supervise the performance of the exhaust gas system and the air-
bag systems.
Therefore, while the vehicle is being driven, these electronic control units
are continuously analysing the vehicle data. In the event of faults or devia-
tions from the theoretical values, only this data is stored. Normally, the
warning lamps on the instrument panel light up in the event of faults.
This data can only be read and analysed using special equipment.
The storing of the data allows specialised workshops to detect and repair
faults. Stored data may include:
● Data relating to the engine or the gearbox
● Speed
● Direction of travel
● Braking force
● Detection of seat belt
The vehicle control units never record conversations held by passengers in
the vehicle.
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-
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228Vehicle care and maintenance
plate. The mobile will be secure on the instrument panel and always within
reach of the driver only by following these procedures. Mobile telephone
connection with an external aerial is carried out subject to the hands-free
device, via the telephone support or by the Bluetooth ®
connections present
in the mobile telephone and the vehicle.
If the mobile phone is connected to an aerial incorporated into the vehicle
or an exterior aerial connected to the vehicle, this will help to reduce the
electromagnetic radiation transmitted and the risk to human health. It will
also improve the quality of the connection.
If the phone is used inside the vehicle without the hands-free system, it will
not be securely fastened and will not be connected to the exterior aerial of
the vehicle telephone. Nor will the telephone charge if it is not on the sup-
port. In addition, some calls may break off and the quality of the connection
will be affected.
Mobile telephones should only be used inside the vehicle if they are con-
nected to a hands-free system. SEAT recommends using an external aerial
should you wish to use a mobile telephone inside the vehicle.
Bluetooth ®
is a registered trademark of Bluetooth ®
SIG, Inc.
WARNING
If the mobile phone is not securely fastened in position, it could be sent
flying around the vehicle in the event of sharp braking, sudden manoeu-
vres or accident, causing injury.
● While driving, the mobile telephone, other equipment including tele-
phone accessories such as telephone supports, notepads and navigators
must be correctly secured, away from the airbags deployment zones, or
stored in a safe place.
WARNING
When using a mobile telephone or two-way radio without connecting an
external aerial, the maximum permitted levels of electromagnetic radia-
tion in the vehicle may be exceeded, thus putting the driver and the rest
of the vehicle occupants in danger. This is also the case if the aerial has
not been correctly installed.
● A minimum of 20 centimetres should be kept between mobile phone
aerials and artificial pacemakers, as mobile telephones may affect the
working of pacemakers.
● Do not keep mobile phones in breast pockets directly above pacemak-
ers.
● Immediately switch off the mobile telephone if you suspect any inter-
ference with pacemakers or other types of medical equipment.