
169
Driving the vehicle with a trailer
Assembling the ball-headed bar
Fig. 117 Placing the ball-headed bar/locking and removing the key
Fig. 118 Placing the key
slot cover
– Remove the cap from the clamp-type bulb holder 4
⇒ Fig. 114
by pulling downwards.
– Place the ball-headed bar in service position ⇒ page 168.
– Hold the ball-headed bar from underneath ⇒ Fig. 117 and place
it in the clamping bush as far as possible until you hear it click
into place ⇒
. The manual regulator
A
automatically turns in the opposite direc-
tion, adjusting to the ball-headed bar ⇒ .
– Switch off the manual regulator lock with key B
by turning the
key fully to the right in the direction of arrow 1 – the arrow in
the key represents the “locked” symbol.
– Remove the key in the direction of arrow 2
.
– Place cover C
over the manual regulator lock in the direction of
arrow 3 ⇒ Fig. 118.
– Verify the correct placement of the ball-headed bar
⇒ page 170.
WARNING
● Do not hold the manual regulator with your hand when fitting the
ball-headed bar since you could sustain injuries to your fingers.
● When mounting the ball-headed bar, always lock it with a key and re-
move the key from the slot.
● The ball-headed bar must not be in service position with the key in
the key slot.
● If the ball-headed bar is not placed in service position you will not be
able to place it in the clamping bush.
CAUTION
When removing the key, always place the cover over the key slot of the man-
ual regulator to prevent dirt from entering.
Note
Once removed, place the clamping bush cap in an appropriate location in
the luggage compartment.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

170Driving the vehicle with a trailer
Verification of correct placement
Fig. 119 Correct place-
ment of the ball-headed
bar
Before using the ball-headed bar, ensure it is correctly fitted.
Ensure that:
● The ball-headed bar does not come out of the clamping bush with a
strong “shake”.
● The red mark A
⇒ Fig. 119 on the manual regulator signals towards the
white mark on the ball-headed bar.
● The manual regulator is adjusted to the ball-headed bar, with no space
between them.
● The regulator is locked and the key has been removed.
● Cover B
has been placed over the manual regulator lock.
WARNING
Only use the towing bracket device when the ball-headed bar is properly
fitted!
Disassembly of the ball-headed bar
Fig. 120 Remove the key slot cover/unlock
Fig. 121 Unblock the
ball-headed bar
– Remove cover A
from over the regulator key slot in the direc-
tion of arrow 1 ⇒ Fig. 120.
– Insert key B
in the key slot.
– Open the manual regulator lock by turning key B
fully to the
left in the direction of arrow 2. The arrow on the key points to
the “unlocked” symbol.

172Care of the vehicle and cleaning
Care of the vehicle and cleaning
Care of the vehicle
Introduction
Regular and suitable care helps to maintain the useful life of your vehicle.
This may also be one of the requirements for upholding any warranty claims
in the event of corrosion or paint defects.
We recommend you use cleaning products from the SEAT Original Accesso-
ries programme available in SEAT dealers. Please follow the instructions for
use on the packaging.
WARNING
● Cleaning products and other materials used for car care can damage
the health if misused.
● Always keep car care materials in a safe place out of the reach of chil-
dren. Risk of poisoning!
● When washing the car during the winter season: Moisture and ice on
the brakes may affect braking efficiency. Risk of accident!
● The ignition must always be switched off when the car is washed.
Risk of accident!
● Do not clean the underside of the car or inside the wheel arches with-
out protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp metal
parts!
● Perfumes and air fresheners inside the vehicle may be harmful to
health at high temperatures in the interior.
CAUTION
● Check the colour stability of your clothing to avoid damaging or visibly
staining the fabric (leather), upholstery and fabric trim.
● Cleaning products containing solvents may damage the material being
cleaned.
● Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. Risk of damage to paintwork.
● If washing the vehicle with a hose in winter, do not direct the jet of water
directly at the locks or at the door seals or bonnet. Risk of freezing.
● Do not use insect sponges or abrasive household sponges, etc. on pain-
ted surfaces. Risk of damage to the painted surface.
● Do not put stickers on the inner side of the window in areas where heat-
ing elements or the aerial is located. This could cause damage and, in the
case of the aerial, radio and navigation system reception faults.
● Do not clean the inner side of the window with sharp objects or corro-
sive or acidic cleaning products. Risk of damaging the heating elements or
the aerial.
● Do not attach any fragrance or air freshener to the dash panel. Risk of
damage to the dash panel.
● To avoid damaging the parking aid system sensors, spray them only
briefly at a minimum distance of 10 cm when cleaning the vehicle with a
high-pressure or steam cleaner.
● Do not clean the roof panel with a brush. Risk of damage to the panel
surface!
For the sake of the environment
● The packaging of the product used to care for your vehicle is hazardous
waste. It must be disposed of according to current local law.
● Only wash the car in special wash bays.

175
Care of the vehicle and cleaning
Plastic parts
Exterior plastic parts will come clean using a damp cloth. If this is not suffi-
cient, plastic parts can also be treated with special solvent-free plastic
cleaning detergents.
Do not use paint cleaners, polishes or wax on plastic parts.
Windows and exterior mirrors
Remove snow and ice from windows and rear vision mirrors with a plastic
scraper only. To avoid damaging the surface of the glass, the scraper should
only be pushed in one direction and not moved to and fro.
The windows should also be cleaned on the inside at regular intervals.
Use a separate cloth or chamois to dry the windows and rear vision mirrors.
Do not use the chamois used to polish the bodywork to dry the windows.
Waxing and polishing residues could cause smears on the glass and hinder
visibility.
CAUTION
● Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from the windows
and mirrors. Risk of cracking glass!
● Make sure you do not damage the paintwork on the vehicle on removing
snow and ice from the windows and rear vision mirrors.
● Do not remove the snow or ice from windows and mirrors that are dirty
with thick particles, e.g. gravel, sand or road salt. Risk of damage to surface
of glass and windows. Radio reception and aerial
In vehicles factory-fitted with an audio and navigation system, the aerial
may be installed in different places:
●
Inside the rear window next to the heating elements
● on the roof of the vehicle.
Headlights
Use soap and clean, hot water to clean the front headlights.
CAUTION
● Never rub the headlights dry and do not use sharp objects to clean the
plastic glass material. These could damage the protective paint and cause
the headlights to crack.
● Do not use aggressive cleaning products or chemical solvents to clean
the glass. This could damage the headlights.
Care of rubber seals
The weatherstrips on doors and windows will remain pliable and last longer
if they are occasionally treated with a suitable rubber care product. This will
prevent premature ageing and leaks. If they are correctly cared for, the seals
will be less likely to freeze up in the winter.
Door lock cylinder
Special products must be used to defrost lock cylinders.
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

176Care of the vehicle and cleaning
Note
● Make sure, when washing the vehicle, that the least amount of water
possible enters the lock cylinders.
● We recommend the use of products from the selection of SEAT Original
Accessories to care for the door lock cylinder.
Wheels
Wheel trims
If you wash the vehicle regularly, you must also thoroughly wash the wheel
trims. Regularly remove any brake abrasion residue and road salt from the
wheels, otherwise the wheel material could be damaged. Repair any dam-
age to the wheel paintwork immediately.
Alloy wheels
After thorough washing, treat the wheels with a protective product for alloy
wheels. Do not use abrasive products to care for the wheels.
WARNING
Moisture, ice and road salt may affect braking efficiency. Risk of acci-
dent!
CAUTION
Heavy dirt on the wheels could lead to their misalignment. This could result
in vibrations being transmitted to the steering wheel that under certain con-
ditions may cause premature steering wear. This dirt must be removed.
Note
We recommend you leave paint damage repairs to a SEAT Authorised Serv-
ice. Underbody sealant
The underside of the vehicle is coated to permanently protect it from chemi-
cal and mechanical agents.
Given that damage to the
protective coating during driving cannot be com-
pletely ruled out, we recommend you check the condition of the protective
coating on the underbody and suspension at regular intervals, preferably
before the start and end of the coldest season of the year.
Authorised SEAT dealers have suitable special products and the necessary
facilities and are aware of the techniques required for their application. We
therefore recommend all touch-up work or additional anti-corrosion meas-
ures be performed by an authorised SEAT dealer.
WARNING
Do not apply underseal or anti-corrosion coatings to the exhaust pipes,
catalytic converter, particulate filter or heat shields on the exhaust sys-
tem. Once the engine has reached operating temperature, these substan-
ces could catch fire. Risk of fire!
Cavity waxing
All cavities on the vehicle exposed to corrosion are permanently factory-pro-
tected by a wax solution .
This wax solution does not need to be checked or touched up. Should wax
run out of the cavities at high ambient temperatures, remove it using a plas-
tic scraper and clean away any stains using lighter fluid.

178Care of the vehicle and cleaning
CAUTION
● Avoid exposing leather to direct sunlight for long periods so that it does
not lose its colour. If the car is left for a prolonged period outdoors, cover
the leather so that it does not lose its colour.
● Sharp-edged objects on clothing, such as zips, rivets or belts can leave
permanent scratches and rough marks on the surface of the leather.
● Use of the mechanical steering wheel lock can damage the leather sur-
face of the steering wheel.
Note
● Use a suitable impregnating cream with ultra-violet protection at regular
intervals and after cleaning. The cream will nourish and moisturise the
leather, keep it supple and able to breathe. In addition, it will also help to
protect the surface of the leather.
● Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months and remove fresh dirt as necessa-
ry.
● Preserve the colour of the leather. A special coloured cream for leather
will renew the colour of more heavily worn areas as required.
● Leather is a natural material with specific properties. During vehicle use,
parts of the leather covers may change in appearance, such as folds or wrin-
kles, as a result of their use.
Seat belts
Keep the seat belts clean!
Wash soiled seat belts with mild, soapy water, removing any heavier dirt
with a soft brush.
Check the condition of all seat belts at regular intervals.
Very soiled belts may not retract properly.
WARNING
● The seat belts should never be removed from the vehicle for cleaning.
● Never clean using chemical products, as chemical detergents destroy
the fabric. Ensure that the seat belts do not come into contact with corro-
sive fluids such as acids, etc.
● If you find any damage to the belt webbing, belt fittings, the belt re-
tractor or the buckle, the belt in question must be replaced by an Official
Service.
● Make sure that the inertia reel seat belts are completely dry before
allowing them to retract.

179
Checking and refilling levels
Checking and refilling levels Fuel
Introduction
The correct type of fuel for your vehicle is indicated on a sticker on the in-
side of the fuel tank flap, along with the tyre size and pressure ⇒ Fig. 122
.
WARNING
Observe all relevant statutory regulations on transporting spare fuel can-
isters. For safety reasons, we do not recommend carrying a spare canister
in the vehicle. The canister could be damaged in an accident and fuel
may leak. Risk of fire!
CAUTION
● Never completely empty the tank! If there is an irregular fuel supply, mis-
firing can occur that can cause damage to many of the engine parts and the
exhaust system.
● If any fuel is spilt onto the paintwork of the vehicle, it should be re-
moved immediately. Risk of damage to paintwork! Refuelling
Fig. 122 Vehicle as seen from the rear right: Fuel tank flap/fuel tank flap with tank un-
screwed cap attached
Opening the tank cap
– Press the flap in the direction of the arrow 1
⇒ Fig. 122.
– Open the cover in the direction indicated by the arrow 2
.
– Hold onto the fuel tank cap with one hand and unlock it using
the ignition key, turning it anti-clockwise.
– Unscrew the tank cap anti-clockwise and place it on top of the
tank flap ⇒ Fig. 122 .
Closing the tank cap
– Screw the tank cap clockwise until it clicks into place.
– Hold onto the fuel tank cap with one hand and lock it using the
ignition key, turning it clockwise
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

190Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
If the fluid level has dropped below the MIN mark, do not drive on.
Risk of accident! Seek professional help.
Changing the brake fluid
Brake fluid absorbs moisture. Therefore, it gradually absorbs moisture from
the atmosphere. If the water content in the brake fluid is too high, the brake
system could corrode. The water content also reduces the boiling point of
the brake fluid.
The brake fluid must comply with one of the following standards or specifi-
cations:
● VW 50114
● FMVSS 116 DOT4
WARNING
Heavy use of the brakes may cause a vapour lock if the brake fluid is left
in the brake system for too long. This would seriously affect the efficien-
cy of the brakes and the safety of the vehicle.
CAUTION
Brake fluid damages the vehicle paintwork. Windscreen washer
Fig. 128 Engine com-
partment: Windscreen
washer container
The container for the windscreen washer contains the cleaning fluid for the
windscreen or rear window and the headlight washer system. The container
is located in the engine compartment.
The container capacity is approx. 3.5 litres and, in vehicles with windscreen
washer system, approx. 5.4 litres 1)
.
Plain water on its own is not enough to clean the glass and the headlights
properly. We therefore recommend using clean water with a glass cleaning
product to eliminate any stubborn dirt (with an anti-freeze additive in win-
ter).
Although your vehicle has heated windscreen washer jets, anti-freeze
should always be added to the water in winter.
Ethanol can be used where glass cleaner with anti-freeze is unavailable. The
concentration of ethanol must be no greater than 15 %. However, remember
that anti-freeze in this proportion only protects down to -5 °C (23 °F).
1)
Valid only for certain countries. 5.4 litres for both versions.