2013 Seat Mii ignition

124Starting, changing gears, parking
Changing gear
Introduction
When reverse gear is engaged and the ignition is switched on the following
takes place:
● Reverse lights light up.
● The rear wiper blade performs one movement when the windscreen wip-
er is activated.
● If necessary, connect the parking distance warning system.
Additional information and warnings:
● Detail of the centre console ⇒ page 12
● Instruments ⇒ page 17
● Braking, stopping and parking ⇒  page 134
● Parking sensor system ⇒  page 149
● Electronic power control and exhaust gases purification system
⇒ page 237
● Emergency locking and unlocking ⇒ page 244
WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction and skidding, especially on
slippery ground. This could cause loss of control of the vehicle resulting
in an accident and considerable damage.
● Use rapid acceleration only when visibility, weather, road conditions
and traffic permit.
WARNING
Do not allow the brakes to “rub” for a prolonged period of time, or brake
frequently or for long periods of time. Continuous braking heats up the
brakes. This could significantly reduce braking power, increase braking
distance or even result in the total failure of the brake system.
CAUTION
● Never make the brakes slip by pressing the pedal gently, if it is not really
necessary to brake. This will increase wear.
● Reduce speed or reduce the gear when faced with steep and long
slopes. This allows you to use the engine braking effect and to reduce the
strain on the brake system. Otherwise, the brakes may overheat and fail.
Only use the brakes to reduce speed or to stop. 

125
Starting, changing gears, parking
Warning and control lamps
If lit upPossible causeSolution

(red)Fault in the automatic gear-
box.
 Do not drive on!
Seek professional advice. Fail-
ure to do so could result in
considerable damage to the
transmission ⇒ page 132.

(yellow)
In the automatic gearbox
the gears can engage incor-
rectly.
Switch the ignition on and off.
When the control lamp does
not light up, find the nearest
specialised workshop and
have the automatic gearbox
checked.
The automatic gearbox
overheats temporarily.
Let the transmission cool with
the gearbox lever in the posi-
tion . When the control lamp
does not light up, find the
nearest specialised workshop
and have the automatic gear-
box checked.
If lit upPossible causeSolution

Place the automatic gear-
box lever in the position 
and do not press the brake
pedal.Press the brake pedal to select
a gear range.
Together with the yellow
control lamp for the temper-
ature of the transmission
: the automatic gearbox
overheats.
Press brake pedal and let the
transmission cool. Avoid
pressing the accelerator.
When the control lamp does
not light up, find the nearest
specialised workshop and
have the automatic gearbox
checked.
Together with the turn sig-
nal display in the instru-
ment panel display: the au-
tomatic gearbox lever is not
in the position , indication
to start the engine.
Move the gearbox lever to the
position  and start the en-
gine. 
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126Starting, changing gears, parking
If
flash- ingPossible causeSolution

An automatic gearbox in the
vehicle does not guarantee
that the vehicle will not roll
away.
Apply the handbrake.

In the instrument panel dis-
play, in addition to the control
lamp requesting the brake
pedal to be pressed : Indica-
tion to start the engine.
Move the gearbox lever to the po-
sition  and start the engine.
On the instrument panel dis-
play: Whilst driving in a for-
ward direction, try to move the
automatic gearbox lever to the
position .Stop the vehicle and move the
gearbox lever to the position  in
order to subsequently change to
the position .
On the instrument panel dis-
play: The automatic gearbox
lever was placed in the posi-
tion  or , but the brake pedal
was not pressed.Press the brake pedal, move the
gearbox lever to the position ,
and subsequently to the required
position  or .
When switching on the ignition some warning and control lamps light up for
a short time to check the operations. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds. 

129
Starting, changing gears, parking
● When changing gear, always make sure the clutch pedal is pushed right
to the floor.
● Never hold the vehicle on the clutch on hills. 
Automatic gearbox: engaging a gear
Fig. 90 Automatic gear-
box selector lever
Fig. 91 Automatic gear-
box diagram of gears
To move the gear selector lever from the position N to D or to R, first press
and hold the brake pedal.
In the instrument panel display, with the ignition switched on, the selected
gear range or the gear engaged in the gearbox is shown.
Selector lever positionsDenominationMeaning ⇒ 
Reverse gearReverse gear is selected. Engage only
when the vehicle is stopped.
NeutralThe gear box is in neutral. No movement
is transmitted to the wheels and the en-
gine does not act as a brake. 
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134Starting, changing gears, parking
Braking, stopping and parking
Introduction
The assisted braking systems are the electronic distribution of the brake
force (EBV), the anti-lock brake system (ABS), the brake assist system (BAS),
the electronic differential lock (EDL), the traction control (TC), the traction
control system (ASR) and the electronic stability control (ESC*).
Additional information and warnings:
● Wheels and tyres ⇒ page 210
● Accessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 222
WARNING
Driving with worn brake pads or a faulty brake system may lead to seri-
ous accident.
● If you believe the brake pads to be worn or the brake system to be
faulty, immediately refer to a specialised workshop to check the brake
pads and replace the worn brake pads.
WARNING
Careless parking can cause serious injury.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if the vehicle is in motion. The
steering lock may engage and locked the steering wheel making the vehi-
cle impossible to control.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of the exhaust system can
come in contact with flammable materials (such as wood, leaves, spilled
fuel, dried grass, etc).
WARNING (Continued)
● Always apply the handbrake when you leave your vehicle and when
you park.
● Never leave children or disabled people alone in the vehicle. They
could release the electronic parking brake, activate the selector lever or
gear stick and start the vehicle moving. This could result in a serious ac-
cident.
● Always take all the keys with you whenever you leave the vehicle. The
engine could accidentally be started and electrical equipment such as
the windows could accidentally be operated resulting in serious injury.
● Never leave children or disabled people alone in the car. They could
be trapped in the car in an emergency and will not be able to get them-
selves to safety. For example, depending on the time of the year, temper-
atures inside a locked and closed vehicle can be extremely high or ex-
tremely low resulting in serious injuries and illness or even death, partic-
ularly for young children.
CAUTION
● Special care should be taken when parking in areas with high kerbs or
fixed barriers. Objects protruding from the ground may damage the bumper
or other parts of the vehicle during manoeuvres. To avoid damage, stop be-
fore the wheels touched the barrier or kerb.
● Special attention is required when driving through entrances, over
ramps, kerbs or other objects. The vehicle underbody, bumpers, mudguards
and running gear, and the engine and exhaust system could be damaged as
you drive over these objects. 

135
Starting, changing gears, parking
Warning and control lamps
lights upPossible cause ⇒ Solution
Handbrake applied.⇒ page 136.

Fault in the brake system Do not drive on!
Seek professional advice
⇒ page 138.
Brake fluid level inadequate. Do not drive on!
Check brake fluid level
⇒ page 142.
Together with the ABS control
lamp : ABS and EBV do not
function. Do not drive on!
Seek professional advice
⇒ page 138.

ESC* disconnected by system.Switching the ignition on and off
If necessary, drive for a short dis-
tance.
Fault in ESC*.Contact a specialised workshop.
Together with the ABS control
lamp : Fault in ABS.Contact a specialised workshop.
The vehicle can be braked with-
out ABS.
The battery has been recon-
nected.⇒ page 193.
Traction Control faulty or
switched off by the system.Contact a specialised workshop.

Together with the ESC* control
lamp  : Fault in ABS.Contact a specialised workshop.
The vehicle can be braked with-
out ABS.
Together with the warning
lamp : ABS and EBV do not
function. Do not drive on!
Seek professional advice
⇒ page 138.
flash- esPossible causeSolution
ESC* or ASR regulating.Take your foot off the accelerator.
Adjust your driving style to the
road conditions.
Traction Control regulator oper-
ating.Take your foot off the accelerator.
Adjust your driving style to the
road conditions.
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.
WARNING
Driving with brakes in bad condition could result in a serious accident.
● If the brake warning lamp  does not go out, or if it lights up when
driving, the brake fluid level in the reservoir is too low or there is a fault
in the brake system. Obtain professional assistance immediately
⇒ page 141, Brake fluid.
● If the brake warning lamp  lights up together with the ABS warning
lamp , the regulation function of the ABS could be malfunctioning. As a
result, the rear wheels can lock relatively easily when braking. If the rear
wheels lock this could result in loss of vehicle control! If possible, reduce 
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136Starting, changing gears, parking
WARNING (Continued)
your speed and drive carefully to a specialised workshop close by to
check the brake system. During the following journey, avoid sudden brak-
ing and manoeuvres.
● If the ABS warning lamp  does not go out or if it lights while driv-
ing, the ABS is malfunctioning. The vehicle can only be stopped using
normal braking without ABS. The protection provided by the ABS is not
available. Visit a specialised workshop as soon as possible.
CAUTION
Failure to heed the warning lamps when they appear may result in faults in
the vehicle. 
Handbrake
Fig. 93 Between the
front seats: Handbrake Using the handbrake
●
Pull firmly in an upwards direction on the handbrake lever while press-
ing the button.
● The handbrake is applied when the control lamp  lights up on the in-
strument panel ⇒ page 135 when the ignition is switched on.
Releasing the handbrake
● Pull gently in an upwards direction on the handbrake lever and press the
lock button ⇒ Fig. 93 (arrow).
● Move the handbrake lever downwards keeping the lock button pressed.
WARNING
The incorrect use of the handbrake may result in a serious accident.
● Never use the handbrake to brake the vehicle except in an emergency.
The braking distance is considerably longer, because braking is only ap-
plied to the rear wheels. Always use the foot brake.
● Never drive with the handbrake gently applied. This can overheat the
brake, affecting the brakes system. This also causes premature wear on
the rear brake pads.
● Never accelerate from the engine compartment with the engine run-
ning and a gear engaged. The vehicle could move, even if the handbrake
is applied.
Note
If the vehicle moves at a speed superior to 6 km/h (4 mph) with the hand-
brake applied, an audible warning is sounded. 
Parking
When parking your vehicle, all legal requirements should be observed. 

137
Starting, changing gears, parking
To park the vehicle
Complete operations only in the sequence given.
● Park the vehicle on a suitable surface ⇒ 
.
● Press and hold the brake pedal until the vehicle comes to a standstill.
● Apply the handbrake firmly ⇒ page 136.
● For an automatic gearbox, move the selector lever to position P.
● Switch off the engine and release the brake pedal.
● Remove the key from the ignition.
● If necessary, turn the steering wheel slightly to lock the steering.
● With a manual gearbox, engage the 1st gear on flat ground and slopes,
or even the reverse gear on hills, and release the clutch pedal.
● Ensure that all passengers leave the vehicle, especially children.
● When leaving the vehicle, take all keys with you.
● Lock the vehicle.
Additional information for steep slopes and hills
Before switching off the engine, rotate the steering wheel so that if the vehi-
cle should move then it will be held by the kerb.
● On slopes, turn the front wheels so that they are against the edge of the
kerb.
● Uphill, turn the wheels towards the centre of the road.
WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach very high temperatures.
This could cause a fire and considerable damage.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of the exhaust system can
come in contact with flammable materials (such as wood, leaves, spilled
fuel, dried grass, etc).
CAUTION
● Special care should be taken when parking in areas with high kerbs or
fixed barriers. Objects protruding from the ground may damage the bumper
or other parts of the vehicle during manoeuvres. To avoid damage, stop be-
fore the wheels touched the barrier or kerb.
● Special attention is required when driving through entrances, over
ramps, kerbs or other objects. The vehicle underbody, bumpers, mudguards
and running gear, and the engine and exhaust system could be damaged as
you drive over these objects. 
Information about the brakes
For the first 200 to 300 km (120 to 190 mph), the new brake pads have not
yet reached their maximum braking capacity, and need to be “run in” first
⇒ 
. The slightly reduced braking effect can be compensated for by in-
creasing pressure on the brake pedal. While running in, the full braking dis-
tance or emergency braking distance is larger then when the brake pads
have been run in. While running in, avoid full power braking or situations
requiring braking performance. For example, in heavy traffic.
The rate of wear of the brake pads depends to a great extent on the condi-
tions in which the vehicle is used and the way the vehicle is driven. If the
vehicle is used frequently in city traffic or for short trips or driven sport style,
visit a specialised workshop regularly, more frequently than advised in the
Maintenance Programme, to have the bake pads checked.
If you drive with wet brakes, for example, after crossing areas of water, in
heavy rainfall or even after washing the car, the effect of the brakes is less-
ened as the brake discs are wet or even frozen (in winter). At higher speed,
dry the brakes as quickly as possible by braking gently several times. Only
do this without endangering vehicles behind you or any other road users
⇒ 
. 
Vehicle diagramPrior to a journey...While drivingCare, cleaning and mainte-
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