2013 Seat Mii ESP

147
Starting, changing gears, parking
Steering Introduction
The power steering* is not hydraulic but electromechanical. The advantage
of this steering system is that it disposes of hydraulic tubes, hydraulic oil,
the pump, filter and other components. The electromechanical system
saves fuel. While a hydraulic system requires oil pressure to be maintained,
electromechanical steering only requires energy when the steering wheel is
turned.
With the power steering system, the assisted steering function automatical-
ly adjusts according to the vehicle speed, the steering torque and the wheel
turning angle. The power steering only works when the engine is running.
Additional information and warnings:
● Start and stop the engine ⇒ page 119
● Vehicle battery ⇒ page 193
● Tow starting and towing away ⇒ page 278
WARNING
If the power steering is not working then the steering wheel is much
more difficult to turn and the vehicle more difficult to control.
● The power steering only works when the engine is running.
● Never allow the vehicle to move when the engine is switched off.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if the vehicle is in motion. The
steering may lock and it will not be possible to turn the steering wheel.
 Control and warning lamps
lights upPossible causeSolution

(red)Power steering faulty.The steering system should be
checked by a specialised
workshop as soon as possible.

(yellow)Power steering operation
reduced.
The steering system should be
checked by a specialised
workshop as soon as possible.
If, after restarting the engine
and driving for a short dis-
tance, the yellow warning
lamp no longer comes on, it
will not be necessary to take
the vehicle to a specialised
workshop.
flashesPossible causeSolution

(red)Fault in the steering column
electronic lock. Do not drive on!
Seek professional advice.

(yellow)
Steering column deviation.Gently turn the steering wheel
to and fro.
Steering wheel not un-
locked or locked.
Remove the key from the igni-
tion and then switch the igni-
tion back on. If necessary,
check the messages displayed
on the instrument panel dis-
play.
Do not drive on, if the steering
column remains locked after
the ignition has been switched
on. Seek specialist assistance. 
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155
Driver assistance systems
Safety Assist* (City Safety Assist function) Introduction
The City Safety Assist function covers driving situations at a distance of
about 10 metres in front of the vehicle, in a speed range of approximately
5-30 km/h (3-19 mph).
When the system detects a possible collision with a vehicle in front, the ve-
hicle prepares for a possible emergency braking ⇒ 
.
If the driver does not react to an imminent collision, the system can auto-
matically brake the vehicle in order to reduce speed faced with a possible
collision. The system can help to reduce the consequences of an accident.
If the City Safety Assist function determines that the driver braked insuffi-
ciently faced with an imminent collision, the system can increase the brake
force in order to reduce speed. The system can help to reduce the conse-
quences of an accident.
Additional information and warnings:
● Exterior detail ⇒ page 6
● Centre console, lower section ⇒ page 12
● Instrument panel ⇒ page 15
● Accessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 222
WARNING
The intelligent technology in the City Safety Assist system cannot change
the limits imposed by the laws of physics and by the system itself. The
increased comfort offered by the City Safety Assist system should never
prompt you to take risks. The driver always assumes the responsibility of
braking in time.
● The City Safety Assist function can not individually prevent accidents,
nor serious injury.
● The City Safety Assist system may carry out unwanted brake interven-
tions in complex driving situations e.g. when a vehicle crosses at a short
distance.
WARNING
Including the role of the City Safety Assist system in driving conduct may
cause accidents and serious injury. The system is not a replacement for
driver awareness.
● Always adapt your speed and the distance to the vehicles ahead in
line with visibility, weather conditions, the condition of the road and the
traffic situation.
● The City Safety Assist function does not react to people, animals or
vehicles that cross or move in the opposite direction in the same lane.
● If after switching on the City Safety Assist function the vehicle begins
to move, slow the vehicle with the foot brake.
CAUTION
If you suspect that the laser sensor of the City Safety Assist function is dam-
aged, switch off the City Safety Assist function. This will avoid additional
damage.
● Any reparation of the laser sensor requires specialist knowledge. SEAT
recommends visiting a Technical Service. 
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156Driver assistance systems
Note
If the City Safety Assist function activates a brake, the brake pedal range is
reduced. This makes the brake pedal seem “harder”.
Note
Automatic brake intervention by the City Safety Assist function can be can-
celled by pressing the clutch pedal, the accelerator pedal or by a corrective
intervention.
Note
During the automatic braking by the City Safety Assist function you may
hear unusual noises. This is normal and is produced in the brakes system. 
Warning and control lamps
The City Safety Assist function is switched on every time the ignition is
switched on. No special indication is produced.
If the City Safety Assist function is switched off, functions or there is an error
in the system, this will be shown by a control lamp on the instrument panel
display.
lights upPossible cause ⇒ Solution
 
The City Safety Assist func-
tion has been switched on
manually using the button  
⇒ Fig. 101.
The control lamp turns off after
about 5 seconds.
flashesPossible cause ⇒ Solution

fast: The City Safety Assist
system function brakes auto-
matically or has braked auto-
matically.Control lamp turns off automati-
cally.
slow: City Safety Assist func-
tion is not currently available.
If the vehicle is stopped, switch
off the engine and switch it on
again. If necessary, inspect the
laser sensor (dirt, frozen) ⇒ 
in Laser sensor on page 157. If
it still does not function, refer to
a Specialised workshop to have
the system inspected.


within the operating area of
5-30– km/h (3-19 mph): The
City Safety Assist function
has been switched off man-
ually using the button  
⇒ 
Fig. 101.
Switch on the City Safety Assist
function manually using the but-
ton  
⇒ Fig. 101.
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. 

159
Driver assistance systems
Special driving situations
Fig. 102 A: Vehicle on a bend. B: Motorcyclist driving
ahead out of range of the laser sensor
Fig. 103 Other vehicles
changing lanes
The City Safety Assist function has physical limits, and has limits deter-
mined by the system itself. In certain circumstances, this may produce reac-
tions from the City Safety Assist system, that are late or unexpected by the
driver. For this reason, always pay due attention and if necessary, intervene. For example, the following driving situations require special attention:
Driving through a bend
When entering or leaving a “long” bend, the vehicle may decelerate when
the laser sensor detects a vehicle travelling in the opposite lane
⇒ Fig. 102
A. To interrupt the deceleration you can accelerate, turn the steering wheel
or press the clutch.
Narrow vehicles in front
The laser sensor will only detect narrow vehicles in front if they are in the
sensor detection zone ⇒ Fig. 102 B. This applies especially to narrow vehi-
cles such as motorbikes.
Other vehicles changing lanes
Vehicles changing lane in close proximity can cause an unexpected brake
from the City Safety Assist system ⇒ Fig. 103. To interrupt the deceleration
you can accelerate, turn the steering wheel or press the clutch. 
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161
Driver assistance systems
flashesPossible causeSolution
The Start-Stop system is not
available.Contact a specialised
workshop.
Some warning and control lamps will light up briefly when the ignition is
switched on to check certain functions. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds.
WARNING
If the warning lamps are ignored when they light up, the vehicle may
stall in traffic and cause accidents and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps.
● Stop the vehicle at the next opportunity.
CAUTION
Failure to heed the control lamps when they light up may result in damage
to the vehicle. Start-Stop system
Fig. 104 At the top of
the centre console: Start-
Stop system button
With the Start-Stop system enabled, the engine is automatically stopped
when the vehicle is at a standstill. It will start again automatically as re-
quired.
This function remains enabled while the ignition is switched on. The instru-
ment panel display shows information on the current status ⇒ page 160.
Disconnect the Start-Stop system by hand whenever crossing water.
Vehicles with a manual gearbox
● When the vehicle is stopped, put it into neutral and release the clutch
pedal. The engine will stop.
● To restart, simply engage the clutch. 
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162Driver assistance systems
Vehicles with an automatic gearbox
● When the vehicle is at a standstill, depress the brake or keep it pressed
down. The engine switches off.
● The engine will start again as soon as you release the brake pedal.
● With the selector lever set to position P, the engine will not start until a
range of gears is selected or the accelerator pedal is depressed.
Important conditions for the engine to stop automatically
● The driver's seat belt must be fastened.
● The driver door must be closed.
● The bonnet must be closed.
● The engine must have reached a minimum temperature.
● The vehicle must have moved since the last time the engine was stop-
ped.
● The vehicle's battery must be sufficiently charged.
● The battery temperature must not be too low or too high.
● The vehicle must not be on a very steep slope.
Conditions for the engine to restart automatically
The engine can be automatically restarted in the following cases:
● If the vehicle starts to moves.
● If the battery voltage drops.
Conditions requiring engine start-up using the key
The engine must be started by hand using the vehicle's key in the following
cases:
● If the driver unbuckles his/her seat belt.
● If the driver door is opened.
● If the bonnet is opened. Switching the Start-Stop system on and off
●
Press the button  situated in the centre console ⇒ Fig. 104.
● The button will light up when the Start-Stop system is switched off.
The engine will start immediately if the vehicle is in Stop mode when the
system is switched off by hand.
WARNING
The brake servo and the electromechanical steering do not work when
the engine is switched off.
● The vehicle must never be allowed to move with the engine switched
off.
● Disconnect the Start-Stop system before working in the engine com-
partment.
CAUTION
The vehicle's battery could be damaged if the vehicle is used for long peri-
ods at very high outside temperatures.
Note
In some cases, it may be necessary to start the engine by hand using the
key. Refer to the corresponding control lamp on the instrument panel. 
Hill driving assistant*
This function is only included in vehicles with ESC. The hill driving assistant helps the driver to move off and upwards on a hill
when the vehicle is stationary. 

173
At the filling station
lights upGauge position
⇒ Fig. 108Possible cause ⇒ Solution
 a)Red mark (ar-
row)The fuel tank is almost
empty.
The reserve tank is being
used ⇒ page 288.Refuel as soon as
possible ⇒ .
–The vehicle is running in
natural gas operating
mode.–
a)This only applies to vehicles with the fuel gauge on the instrument panel ⇒ Fig. 108.
flashes
for about 10 sec- ondsState of the barsPossible cause ⇒ Solution
 and
the seg-
ments re-
maining a)Reserve zone
(four small seg- ments)The fuel tank is almost
empty.
The reserve tank is being
used ⇒ page 288.Refuel as soon as
possible ⇒ .
–The vehicle is running in
natural gas operating
mode.–
a)This only applies to vehicles with the fuel gauge on the instrument panel display.
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.
In natural gas engines
The warning lamp  lights up when both fuel types (petrol and natural gas)
have reached reserve level.
The warning lamp  lights up when the vehicle is running in natural gas op-
erating mode. The warning lamp 
switches off when the natural gas is exhausted. The
engine changes to operate with petrol.
Problem: If the vehicle is left parked for a long time immediately after refuel-
ling, the gas level indicator does not accurately indicate the same level
shown after refuelling when the vehicle is started up again. This is not due
to a leak in the system, but to a drop in pressure in the gas tank for techni-
cal reasons after a cooling phase immediately after refuelling.
WARNING
Driving with insufficient fuel reserve could result in the vehicle breaking
down in traffic and a serious accident.
● If the fuel level is too low then the fuel supply to the engine can be-
come irregular especially on slopes.
● If the engine “is choked” or stalls due to lack of or irregularity of the
fuel supply, the power steering as well as all of the driver assistance sys-
tems including braking assistance will stop working.
● Always refuel when there is only one quarter of the fuel tank left to
avoid running out of fuel.
CAUTION
● Always pay attention to any lit control lamps and to the corresponding
descriptions and instructions to avoid damage to the vehicle.
● Never run the fuel tank completely dry. An irregular fuel supply may lead
to ignition faults and unburnt fuel could enter the exhaust system. This
could damage the catalytic converter.
Note
The arrow next to the fuel pump symbol on the instrument panel ⇒ Fig. 108
indicates the side of the vehicle on which the tank flap is located. 
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180In the engine compartment
Care, cleaning and maintenance
In the engine compartment
Working in the engine compartmentIntroduction
Before working in the engine compartment, make sure that the vehicle is
parked on horizontal and firm ground.
The engine compartment of the vehicle is a hazardous area. Never work on
the engine or in the engine compartment if you are not familiar with the op-
erations to be carried out, the applicable safety standards and especially if
you do not have the instruments, liquids and tools necessary ⇒ 
! In such
a case, have any work carried out by a Specialised workshop. Negligent
work can cause serious injury.
Additional information and warnings:
● Exterior detail ⇒ page 6
● Windscreen wash system ⇒ page 89
● Start and stop the engine ⇒ page 119
● Brake fluid ⇒ page 134
● Checks when filling up ⇒ page 171
● Engine oil ⇒ page 185
● Engine coolant ⇒ page 189
● Vehicle battery ⇒ page 193
● Accessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 222
WARNING
If the vehicle moves unexpectedly, this could cause serious injury.
● Never work underneath the vehicle if it is not secured against moving.
If you must work underneath the vehicle with the wheels in contact with
the ground then it should be parked on flat ground, the wheels should be
prevented from moving and the key must be removed from the ignition.
● If you have to work underneath the vehicle, you must use suitable
stands additionally to support the vehicle, there is a risk of accident!.
The jack is not intended for this kind of work and its failure could lead to
severe injuries.
● Disconnect the Start-Stop system.
WARNING
The engine compartment is a dangerous area capable of causing serious
injury.
● For all type of work, always take the utmost precautions, work care-
fully and note the general safety standards in force. Never take personal
risks.
● Never work on the engine or in the engine compartment if you are not
familiar with the necessary operations. If you are not sure about proce-
dures then visit a specialised workshop to carry out the necessary work.
Incorrect work can cause serious injuries. 