2014 Seat Altea tow

291
If and when
Do not pull too hard with the towing vehicle and take care to avoid jerking
the tow rope. When towing on an unpaved road, there is always a risk of
overloading and damaging the anchorage points.
The ignition of the vehicle being towed must be switched on to prevent the
steering wheel from locking and also to allow the use of the turn signals,
horn, windscreen wipers and washers.
As the brake servo does not work if the engine is not running, you must ap-
ply considerably more pressure to the brake pedal than you normally would.
As the power assisted steering does not work if the engine is not running,
you will need more strength to steer than you normally would.
● The vehicle must not be towed faster than 50 km/h (31 mph).
Towing vehicles with an automatic gearbox
● Put the selector lever into position “N”.
● Do not drive faster than 50 km/h (31 mph).
● Do not tow further than 50 km.
● If a breakdown vehicle is used, the vehicle must be towed with the front
wheels raised.
Note
● Observe legal requirements when towing or tow-starting.
● Switch on the hazard warning lights of both vehicles. However, observe
any regulations to the contrary.
● For technical reasons, vehicles with an automatic gearbox must not be
tow-started.
● If damage to your vehicle means that there is no lubricant in the gear-
box, you must raise the driven wheels while the vehicle is being towed.
● If the vehicle has to be towed more than 50 km (30 miles), the front
wheels should be raised during towing, and towing should be carried out by
a qualified person. ●
The steering wheel is locked when the vehicle has no electrical power.
The vehicle must then be towed with the front wheels raised. Towing should
be carried out by a qualified person.
● The towline anchorage should always be kept in the vehicle. Please refer
to the notes on ⇒ page 290, Tow-starting. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

292If and when
Towline anchorages
Fig. 216 The front right
section of the vehicle:
Fitting the front towline
anchorage
Fig. 217 Fitting the tow-
line anchorage to the rear
of the vehicle
Front towing eye
– Take the towline anchorage from the on-board tool set.
– Remove the cover by pressing down on its left-hand side. –
Bolt the anchorage to its limit to the left, in the direction of the
arrow ⇒ Fig. 216.
Rear towline anchorage
– Take the towline anchorage from the on-board tool set.
– Remove the cover by pressing down on its right-hand side.
– Bolt the anchorage to its limit to the left, in the direction of the
arrow ⇒ Fig. 217.
After use, unscrew the towline anchorage and put it back in the vehicle tool
kit. Replace the cover on the bumper. The towline anchorage should always
be kept in the vehicle. 

295
Description of specifications
The fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions do not depend only on the per-
formance of the vehicle, they can also differ from the established values de-
pending on other factors such as driving style, road conditions, traffic con-
ditions, environmental conditions, load and number of passengers.
Calculation of fuel consumption
The consumption values have been calculated based on measurements per-
formed or supervised by certified CE laboratories according to the latest ver-
sion of directives 715/2007/EC and 80/1268/CEE (for more information
consult the European Union Publications Office at EUR-Lex: © European Un-
ion, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm) and are valid for the kerb
weight indicated for the vehicle.
Note
In practice, and considering all the factors mentioned here, consumption
values can differ from those calculated in the current European regulations. 
Weights
Kerb weight refers to the basic model with a fuel tank filled to 90% capacity
and without optional extras. The figure quoted includes 75 kg to allow for
the weight of the driver.
For special versions and optional equipment fittings or for the addition of
accessories, the weight of the vehicle will increase ⇒ 
.
WARNING
● Please note that the centre of gravity may shift when transporting
heavy objects; this may affect vehicle handling and lead to an accident.
Always adjust your speed and driving style to suit road conditions and re-
quirements.
● Never exceed the gross axle weight rating or the gross vehicle weight
rating. If the allowed axle load or the allowed total weight is exceeded,
the driving characteristics of the vehicle may change, leading to acci-
dents, injuries and damage to the vehicle.

Towing a trailer Trailer weights
Trailer weight
The trailer weights and drawbar loads approved are selected in intensive tri-
als according to precisely defined criteria. The approved trailer weights are
valid for vehicles in the EU for maximum speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph) (in
certain circumstances up to 100 km/h (62 mph)). The figures may be differ-
ent in other countries. All data in the official vehicle documentation takes
precedence over these data at all times ⇒ 
.
Drawbar loads
The maximum permitted drawbar load on the ball joint of the towing bracket
must not exceed 75 kg.
In the interest of road safety, we recommend that you always tow approach-
ing the maximum drawbar load. The response of the trailer on the road will
be poor if the drawbar load is too small.
If the maximum permissible drawbar load cannot be met (e.g. with small,
empty and light-weight single axle trailers or tandem axle trailers with a 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

296Description of specifications
wheelbase of less than 1 metre), a minimum of 4% of the actual trailer
weight is legally required for the drawbar load.
WARNING
● For safety reasons, you should not drive at speeds above 80 km/h (50
mph) when towing a trailer. This also applies to countries where higher
speeds are permitted.
● Never exceed the maximum trailer weights or the drawbar load. If the
permissible axle load or the permissible total weight is exceeded, the
driving characteristics of the vehicle may change, leading to accidents,
injuries and damage to the vehicle.

Wheels
Tyre pressure, snow chains, wheel bolts
Tyre pressures
The sticker with the tyre pressure values can be found on the inside of the
fuel tank flap. The tyre pressure values given there are for cold tyres. Do not
reduce the slightly raised pressures of warm tyres ⇒ 
.
Snow chains
Snow chains may be fitted only to the front wheels.
Consult the section “wheels” of this manual.
Wheel bolts
After the wheels have been changed, the tightening torque of the wheel
bolts should be checked as soon as possible with a torque wrench ⇒ 
.
The tightening torque for steel and alloy wheels is 120 Nm.
WARNING
● Check the tyre pressure at least once per month. Checking the tyre
pressure is very important. If the tyre pressure is too high or too low,
there is an increased danger of accidents, particularly at high speeds.
● If the tightening torque of the wheel bolts is too low, they could loos-
en while the vehicle is in motion. Risk of accident! If the tightening tor-
que is too high, the wheel bolts and threads can be damaged.
Note
We recommend that you ask your Technical Service for information about
appropriate wheel, tyre and snow chain size. 

Steering wheel audio controlsAudio version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Audio + telephone version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Steering wheel height adjustment . . . . . . . . . 171
Storage compartment Centre armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Front passenger side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Other storage compartments . . . . . . . . . . 145
Storage in the luggage compartment . . . . . . . 144
Sun blind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Sun visor Sliding/tilting sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Sun visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Switch Hazard warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Light switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Switches electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Switching off the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
T Tank Fuel level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Reserve indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Tank capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Technical modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
The danger of not using the seat belt . . . . . . . . 22
Tightening torque of wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . 296
Tilting sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Top Tether system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Tow-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Towing bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Towing bracket, fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Towline anchorage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Towline anchorages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Tow starting
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Traction control system (ASR) control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Trailer Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Trailer turn signals control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Trailer weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Turn signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82, 122
Tyre-Mobility-System (Tyre repair kit) . . . . . . . 269
Tyre Mobility-System (Tyre repair kit) . . . . . . . 263
Tyre pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Tyre pressure control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Tyre pressure monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Tyre repair kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263, 269
Tyres and wheels Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Tyres tread depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256 Tyres useful life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Tyres with directional tread pattern . . . . . . . . 253
U Underbody protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Unlocking and locking Personalisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Upholstery Treating your upholstery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
V
Vehicle battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Vehicle care Treating your upholstery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Vehicle data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Vehicle identification data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Vehicle identification number . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Vehicle maintenance electrically adjustable seats . . . . . . . . . . . 222
heated seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
natural leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
non-electrically adjustable seats . . . . . . . 222
seats with airbag components . . . . . . . . . 222
seats without airbag components . . . . . . 222
synthetic leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
trim fabrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
unheated seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Vehicle modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
316 Index