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.
142Starting, changing gears, parking
recommends the use of brake fluid in accordance with the VW 501 14
standard. If this brake fluid is not available or another brake fluid is used for
different reasons, use a brake fluid that complies with the United States
standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 or the German standard DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
⇒
.
Brake fluids conforming to the standard VW 501 14, fulfil the American re-
quirements of the FMVSS 116 DOT 4 standard and the German
DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standard. However, fluids that comply with the Amer-
ican FMVSS 116 DOT 4 standard or the German DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
standard do not necessarily comply with the VW 501 14 standard. Always
check the information on the brake fluid container and ensure that you are
using suitable brake fluid.
A suitable brake fluid can be obtained from SEAT dealerships.
Brake fluid level
The level of the brake fluid should always be between the MIN and MAX
marks, or above the MIN mark ⇒
.
It is not always possible to check the level of the brake fluid, as in some
models the engine components make it difficult to see the brake fluid reser-
voir. If you cannot read the exact brake fluid level, consult a specialist.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the vehicle is being used due to
wear of the brake pads and the automatic readjustment of the brake.
Changing the brake fluid
The brake fluid should be changed in accordance with the instructions giv-
en in the Maintenance Programme. Have the brake fluid changed by a spe-
cialised workshop. SEAT recommends visiting a Technical Service. This
means that only brake fluid complying with the required specifications will
be used.
WARNING
If the brake fluid level is low or unsuitable/old brake fluid is used, the
brake system may fail or braking power will be reduced.
● Check the brake system and the brake fluid level regularly!
● The brake fluid should be changed regularly in accordance with the
instructions given in the Maintenance Programme.
● When the brake fluid is used and brakes are subjected to extreme
braking forces, bubbles of vapour form in the brake system. These bub-
bles of water vapour can significantly reduce braking power, notably in-
creasing braking distance, and could even result in the total failure of the
brake system.
● Always ensure that you use suitable brake fluid. Only used brake fluid
that conforms to the VW 501 14 standard, FMVSS 116 DOT 4 standard or
even the DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standard. Other types of brake fluid
could affect brake operation and reduce braking power. Do not use a
brake fluid if the container does not specify compliance with the
VW 501 14, FMVSS 116 DOT 4 or DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards.
● The replacement brake fluid must be new.
WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous.
● To reduce the risk of poisoning, do not keep brake fluid in drinks bot-
tles/containers or similar. Other people could drink from these recipients
even if the contents are clearly marked.
● Always keep brake fluid in the original container; keep it correctly
sealed and out of reach of children.
CAUTION
Brake fluid damages the vehicle paintwork. Wipe off any brake fluid from
the paintwork immediately.
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.
Vehicle diagramPrior to a journey...While drivingCare, cleaning and mainte-
nanceIf and whenTechnical specifications
Vehicle battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Work in the engine compartment . . . . . . . 182
Preparations before each journey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Checking the engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . 186
Topping up the engine oil level . . . . . . . . . 186
Principles of physics regarding a frontal colli- sion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Protection of the undercarriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Protection of vehicle undercarriage . . . . . . . . 203
Pushing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
R Radio reception Aerial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Operating faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117, 234
Raising the vehicle Check list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Raising vehicle Lifting platform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
With a lifting platform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Reading light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Reading the Fault memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Rear backrest Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Lifting up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Rear head restraints
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
removing and fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Rear lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Driving with the rear lid open . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Emergency locking and unlocking . . . . . . 245
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
see rear lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
See "Rear lid" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
unlocking and locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Rear Lid Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Rear seat bench . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Rear vision mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Rear vision mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Recommended gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Recycling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Refilling precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Refuelling At the filling station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Fuel gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Mistakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Natural gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Remote control key see vehicle key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Removing ice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Removing snow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Removing wax deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222, 224
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Lifting platform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Replacement of parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222, 223
Reprogramming control units . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Reservoir capacity Windscreen washer water reservoir . . . . . . 92
Retaining hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Retro-fitting Two-way radios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Vehicle telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Rev counter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Roof carrier system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Rubber seals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Running-in Brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
First trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Running-in brake pads Please also see "Brakes" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Running in Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Wheels and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
S Safe driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Safety Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Safety equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
297
Index