Operation
Do not use winter tyres all year round as they
increase fuel consumption by up to 10%.
Avoid unnecessary weight
Given that every kilo of extra weight will in-
c r
ease the fuel consumption, it is advisable
to always check the luggage compartment to
make sure that no unnecessary loads are be-
ing transported.
A roof rack is often left in place for the sake
of convenience, even when it is no longer
needed. At a speed of 100 km/h (62 mph)
and 120 km/h (75 mph) your vehicle will use
about 12% more fuel as a result of the extra
wind resistance caused by the roof rack even
when it is not in use.
Save electricity
The engine activates the alternator, which
produces electricity. With the need for elec-
tricity, fuel consumption also increases. Be-
cause of this, always turn off electrical devi-
ces when you do not need them. Examples of
devices that use a lot of electricity are: the
blower at high speeds, the rear window heat-
ing or the seat heaters*. Note
● If your vehicle has Start-Stop, it is not rec-
ommended th at
you switch this function off. ●
It is recommended that you close the win-
dows when driving at more than 60 km/h
(37 mph)
● Do not driv
e with your foot resting on the
clutch pedal
, as the pressure can make the
plate spin, more fuel will be used and it can
burn the clutch plate lining, causing a serious
fault.
● Do not hold the car on a hill with the clutch,
use the foot brake or hand brake, using the
latter to start. The fuel consumption will be
lower and you will prevent the clutch plate
from being damaged.
● On descents, use the engine brake, chang-
ing to the gear that is more suitable for the
slope. Fuel consumption will be “zero” and
the brakes will not suffer. Driving abroad
To drive abroad, the following must be taken
into consideration:
●
For vehicles fitted with a catalytic converter
ensure that unleaded petrol is available for
the journey. See the chapter “Refuelling”. Au-
tomobile organisations will have information
about service station networks selling unlea-
ded fuel.
● In some countries, it is possible that your
car model is not sold, and therefore some
spare parts are not available or the technical services may only be able to carry out limited
repairs.
SEAT importers and distributors will gladly
provide information about the technical prep-
aration that your vehicle requires and also
about necessary maintenance and repair
possibilities.
Adhesive strips for headlights
In countries where vehicles drive on the other
side of the road to your home country, the
asymmetric dipped beam may dazzle drivers
of oncoming vehicles.
To prevent dazzling, you must apply stickers
to certain parts of the headlight lenses. Fur-
ther information is available at any Technical
Service.
In vehicles with adaptive headlights, the ro-
tation system must previously be disconnec-
ted. To do this, please go to a specialised
workshop.
138
Driver assistance systems
Rear parking aid The parking aid system will use an audible
warning to indicate of the approach of any
object towards the rear of the vehicle.
Description
The acoustic parking aid system will measure
the distance between the rear of the vehicle
and any possible obstacle using four ultra-
sonic sensors located on the rear bumper.
The measuring range of the sensors starts
approximately and depending on the nature
of the obstacle
at a distance of:
● side of the rear bumper: 0.6 m
● middle of the rear bumper: 1.6 m
Activation
The system is activated by engagement of
the reverse gear. A brief audible warning con-
firms the activation and correct function of
the system.
Reverse gear
The distance warning will begin as soon as
an obstacle is detected by the system. The
frequency of the bleeps emitted by the sys-
tem will increase rapidly as the vehicle ap-
proaches the obstacle. After a distance lower
than approximately 30 cm, a continuous sig-
nal sounds (stop signal). The driver should
not reverse any further. Models with a factory-fitted towing bracket:
when the vehicle is less than 0.35 m away
the warning tone will sound continuously.
The driver should then not reverse any fur-
ther.
The warning tone volume decreases by 30%
3 seconds after it the system is triggered
if
the detected obstacle stays at a constant dis-
tance from the vehicle .
Provided that it is not in continuous mode,
the tone on the parking aid system stops
when it detects a wall parallel to the vehicle.
Trailer towing
For vehicles factory-fitted with a towing bar,
the parking aid system will not be activated
by the engagement of the reverse gear when
pulling a trailer, as the trailer's electric con-
nector will be plugged into the vehicle.
Possible faults
If a continuous beep sounds for some sec-
onds when the reverse gear is engaged, this
indicates that there is a fault in the parking
aid system. If the fault continues until the ig-
nition is turned off, the audible warning of
the fault will not be emitted every time the
system is reactivated (by engaging the re-
verse gear). Thus, the system ready indica-
tion will not sound either. Have the fault re-
paired by technical services as soon as possi-
ble. If there is no ready signal or no acoustic
warning signal, then the parking aid loud-
speaker is faulty and may not warn of obsta-
cles. To ensure that the system works proper-
ly, the sensors must be kept clean and free of
ice and snow.
CAUTION
● Please note that low obstacles detected by
the system may no longer be registered by
the sensors as the car moves closer, so the
system will not give any further warning. Cer-
tain kinds of obstacles, such as wire fences,
chains, thin posts or trailer draw bars, high
kerbs or painted railings, etc., may not al-
ways be detected by the system, so there is a
risk of damaging the vehicle in such cases.
● In some case, obstacles with edges and
bumps may not be detected immediately by
the system due to their geometry. Take spe-
cial care with this type of obstacle (corners,
rectangular objects, etc.), as they can cause
damage to the vehicle.
● Be especially careful when manoeuvring in-
to a corner between two perpendicular walls.
Pay special attention to the side distance
from the wall using the mirrors.
● The parking aid system does not replace
use of the mirrors for manoeuvres.
● External ultra-sonic sources (pneumatic
drills, construction machinery, other vehicles
with PDC) may interfere with the operation of
the system. » 147Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Driver assistance systems
The driver should then not reverse any fur-
ther.
The warning tone volume decreases by 30%
3 seconds after it is triggered if the detected
obstacle stays at a constant distance from
the vehicle.
Provided that it is not in continuous mode,
the tone on the parking aid system stops
when it detects a wall parallel to the vehicle.
Trailer towing
For vehicles factory-fitted with a towing bar,
the parking aid system will not be activated
by the engagement of the reverse gear when
pulling a trailer, as the trailer's electric con-
nector will be plugged into the vehicle.
Possible faults
If a continuous, sharp beep sounds for a few
seconds, there is a fault in the parking aid
system.
If the fault continues until the ignition is
turned off, the audible warning of the fault
will not be emitted every time the system is
reactivated (by engaging the reverse gear or
pressing the button). Thus, the system
ready indication will not sound either. Have
the fault repaired by technical services as
soon as possible.
If there is no ready signal or no acoustic
warning signal, then the parking aid loud- speaker is faulty and may not warn of obsta-
cles. To ensure that the system works proper-
ly, the sensors must be kept clean and free of
ice and snow.
CAUTION
● Please note that low obstacles detected by
the system may no longer be registered by
the sensors as the car moves closer, so the
system will not give any further warning. Cer-
tain kinds of obstacles, such as wire fences,
chains, thin posts or trailer draw bars, high
kerbs or painted railings, etc., may not al-
ways be detected by the system, so there is a
risk of damaging the vehicle in such cases.
● In some cases, obstacles with uniform
edges and bumps may not be detected imme-
diately by the system due to their geometry.
Take special care with this type of obstacle
(corners, rectangular objects, etc.), as they
can cause damage to the vehicle.
● Be especially careful when manoeuvring in-
to a corner between two perpendicular walls.
Pay special attention to the side distance
from the wall using the mirrors.
● The parking aid system does not replace
use of the mirrors for manoeuvres.
● External ultra-sonic sources (e.g. pneumat-
ic drills, construction machinery or other ve-
hicles equipped with PND) may interfere with
the operation of the system.
● Periodic cleaning of the sensors, take care
not to damage or scratch them. When clean-
ing with high pressure washers or steam cleaners, the sensors should be sprayed for
only a very short period and from a distance
of more than 10 cm.
●
If the licence plate (especially the front
one) is bent in such a way that it noticeably
juts out from the bumper, false alarms may
sound for the area in front of the vehicle. Front parking aid with navigator view
Fig. 146
Parking aid view on the navigation
screen. When the parking aid system has been acti-
vated, the navigation view screen is also si-
multaneously activated (if one of the doors or
the rear lid is open, it must be closed before
the on-screen information can be viewed).
The distance of separation from the obstacle
can be estimated
››› Fig. 146 with the help of
the segments around the vehicle. At the
front, the white segments indicate obstacles
located between 30 cm and 120 cm from the »
149Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Operation
Towing bracket device
Trailer towing What do you need to bear in mind
when towing a trailer? Your vehicle may be used to tow a trailer
when fitted with the correct equipment.
If the car is supplied with a
factory-fitted tow-
in g br
acket it will already have the necessary
technical modifications and meet the statuto-
ry requirements for towing a trailer. If you
wish to retrofit a towing bracket, consult
›
›› page 153.
Connect
ors
Your vehicle is fitted with a 12-pin connector
for the electrical connection between the
trailer and the vehicle.
If the trailer has a 7-pin plug you will need to
use an a
dapter cable. It is available at any
Technical Service.
Trailer weight/drawbar load
Never exceed the authorised trailer weight. If
you do not load the trailer up to the maxi-
mum permitted trailer weight, you can then
climb correspondingly steeper slopes.
The maximum trailer weights listed are only applicable for
altitudes up to 1000 m above sea level. With increasing altitude the engine
power and therefore the vehicle climbing
ability are impaired because of the reduced
air density. The maximum trailer weight has
to be reduced accordingly. The weight of the
vehicle and trailer combination must be re-
duced by 10% for every further 1000 m (or
part thereof). The gross combination weight
is the actual weight of the laden vehicle plus
the actual weight of the laden trailer. When
possible, operate the trailer with the maxi-
mum permitted drawbar load on the ball joint
of the t
owing bracket, but do not exceed the
specified limit.
The figures for trailer weights
and drawbar
loads that are given on the data plate of the
towing bracket are for certification purposes
only. The correct figures for your specific
model, which may be lower than these fig-
ures for the towing bracket, are given in the
vehicle documentation or in ››› chapter Tech-
nical Data .
Distributing the load
Distribute loads in the trailer so that heavy
objects are as near to the axle as possible.
Loads carried in the trailer must be secured
to prevent them moving.
Tyre pressure
Set tyre pressure to the maximum permissi-
ble pressure shown on the sticker on the in-
side of the fuel tank flap. Set the tyre pres- sure of the trailer tyres in accordance with the
trailer manufacturer's recommendations.
Exterior mirrors
Check whether you can see enough of the
road behind the trailer with the standard rear
vision mirrors. If this is not the case, you
should have additional exterior mirrors fitted.
Both exterior mirrors should be mounted on
hinged extension brackets. Adjust the mirrors
to give sufficient vision to the rear.
WARNING
Never transport people in a trailer. This could
result in fatal accidents. Note
● Towing a trailer places additional demands
on the vehicle. We recommend additional
services between the normal inspection inter-
vals if the vehicle is used frequently for tow-
ing a trailer.
● Find out whether special regulations apply
to towing a trailer in your country. Ball coupling of towing bracket*
The ball coupling is provided with instruc-
tions on fitting and removing the ball cou-
pling of the towing bracket.
152
Operation
The attachment points A for the towing
bracket are underneath the vehicle.
The distance between the centre of the ball
coupling and the ground should never be
lower than the indicated value, even with a
fully loaded vehicle and including the maxi-
mum drawbar load.Elevation values for securing the towing bracket:
IBIZAIBIZA SCIBIZA ST
B65 mm (minimum)
C350 mm to 420 mm (fully laden vehicle)
D959 mm
E438 mm379 mm
F209 mm386 mm Fitting a towing bracket
●
Driving with a trailer involves an extra effort
for the vehicle. Therefore, before fitting a
towing bracket, please contact a Technical
Service to check whether your cooling system
needs modification.
● The legal requirements in your country
must be observed (e.g. the fitting of a sepa-
rate control lamp).
● Certain vehicle components, for example
the rear bumper, must be removed and rein-
stalled. The towing bracket securing bolts
must be tightened using a torque wrench, and a power socket must be connected to the
vehicle electrical system. This requires speci-
alised knowledge and tools.
●
Figures in the illustration show the eleva-
tion value and the attachment points which
must be considered if you are retrofitting a
towing bracket. WARNING
The towing brackets should be fitted at a spe-
cialised workshop.
● If the towing bracket is incorrectly instal-
led, there is a serious danger of accident.
● For your own safety, please observe the tow
bracket manufacturer's instructions. CAUTION
● If the power socket is incorrectly installed,
this could cause damage to the vehicle elec-
trical system. Note
● SEAT recommends that the towing hooks
be fitted at a specialised workshop. In certain
versions this may entail fitting a heat insulat-
ing plate, which is why it is recommended
that you go to a SEAT Dealer. In the event that
the plate is not installed correctly, SEAT is ex-
empt from any liability.
● Due to the specific design of the exhaust,
the fitting of a conventional towing hook is not recommended for some sportier versions.
Please consult your Technical Service.
154
Care and maintenance
Advice
Care and maintenance
Accessories and modifications to the vehicle
Accessories, replacement of parts and
modifications Your vehicle is designed to offer a high
standard of active and passive safety.
Before purchasing accessories and parts,
and before making technical changes to your
vehicle, we recommend that you consult your
Technical Service.
SEAT dealerships will be happy to provide
you with the latest information about the
use, legal requirements and recommenda-
tions from the manufacturer regarding acces-
sories and spare parts.
We recommend you use only
SEAT Approved
Accessories ®
and SEAT Approved Spare
P ar
ts ®
. This way, SEAT can guarantee that
the product in question is suitable, reliable
and safe. SEAT Technical Services have the
necessary experience and facilities to ensure
that parts are correctly and professionally in-
stalled. Despite a continuous observation of the mar-
ket, SEAT is not able to assess the reliability,
safety and suitability of parts that
SEAT has
not approved . For this reason, SEAT cannot
assume responsibility for any non-genuine
parts used, even if these parts have been ap-
proved by an official testing agency or are
covered by an official approval certificate.
Any retro-fitted equipment which has a direct
impact
on the driver's control of the vehicle,
such as a cruise control system or electroni-
cally-controlled suspension, must be ap-
proved by SEAT for use in your vehicle and
bear the e mark (the European Union's au-
thori
sation symbol).
If any additional electrical devices are fitted
which do not serve to control the vehicle it-
self, such as refrigerator boxes, laptops or
ventilator fans, they must bear the CE mark
(European Union manufacturer conformity
declaration). WARNING
Accessories, for example telephone holders
or cup holders, should never be fitted on the
covers, or within the working range, of the
airbags. Otherwise, there is a danger of in-
jury if the airbag is triggered in an accident. Technical modifications
Modifications must always be carried out ac-
cording to our specifications. Unauthorised
modifications to the electronic components
or software in the vehicle may cause malfunc-
tions. Due to the way the electronic compo-
nents are linked together in networks, other
indirect systems may be affected by the
faults. This can seriously impair safety, lead
to excessive wear of components, and also
invalidate your vehicle registration docu-
ments.
SEAT Technical Services cannot be held liable
for any damage caused by modifications
and/or work incorrectly performed. For this
reason, we recommend having all work per-
formed by a SEAT Technical Service using
SEAT
®
Original Spare Parts. WARNING
Any type of work or modification performed
incorrectly on your vehicle can lead to mal-
functions and can cause accidents. Roof aerial*
The vehicle can be fitted with a foldable* and
anti-theft* roof aerial which can be folded
backwards, for example when going through
an automatic car wash.
»
155
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Advice
To fold
Unscrew the aerial rod, tilting it backwards
into a horizontal position and then screw in
again.
To return to working position
Continue in the reverse order to the previous
instruction. CAUTION
If an automatic car wash tunnel is used, be-
fore entering the tunnel, put the aerial down
parallel to the roof and do not tighten to
avoid damage. Mobile phones and two-way radios
SEAT has approved for your vehicle the use of
mobile telephones and two-way radios pro-
viding under the following conditions:
●
The external aerial should be correctly in-
stalled.
● The transmitting power should be a maxi-
mum 10 watts.
The optimal reach of the equipment is only
achieved with an external aerial.
First consult your Technical Service if you
wish to use a mobile telephone or a two-way
radio with a transmitting power output in ex-
cess of 10 watts. Here you will receive infor- mation concerning the technical possibilities
for retrofitting this equipment.
Mobile telephones and two-way radios
should be only fitted by a specialised work-
shop, for example a SEAT dealership.
WARNING
● Always concentrate primarily on driving. If
you are distracted while driving you could
have an accident.
● Never attach the telephone mountings to
the surfaces covering the airbag units or
within the range of the airbags. There is a
high danger of injury if the airbag is trig-
gered.
● Using your mobile telephones or two-way
radios in the vehicle without an external aer-
ial, electromagnetic radiation in the vehicle
could exceed authorised limits. This also may
occur to external aerials that have not been
correctly installed. CAUTION
Failure to consider the above-mentioned con-
ditions could cause the electronics to mal-
function. The most common causes of faults
are:
● no external aerial,
● external aerial incorrectly installed,
● transmitting power output in excess of 10
watts. Note
Please observe the operating instructions of
your mobile telephone/two-way radio. Care and cleaning
General notes Vehicle maintenance
Regular care and washing help to maintain
the value
of the vehicle. This may also be one
of the requirements for acknowledging war-
ranty claims in the event of bodywork corro-
sion or paint defects.
The best way to protect your vehicle against
the harmful effects of the environment is
through correct maintenance and frequent
washing. The longer substances such as in-
sect remains, bird droppings, resinous tree
sap, road dirt, industrial deposits, tar, soot or
road salt and other aggressive materials re-
main on the vehicle, the more damage they
do to the paintwork. High temperatures, for
instance in strong sunlight, further intensify
the corrosive effect.
After winter, a period when salt is put on the
roads, it is important to have the underside
of the vehicle washed thoroughly.
156
Care and maintenance
Products for vehicle maintenance
Car-care products are available in your Tech-
nical Services. Keep the product instructions
until you have used them up. WARNING
● Car-care products can be toxic. Because of
this, they must always be kept closed in their
original container. Keep them out of the reach
of children. Failure to comply could result in
poisoning.
● Always read and observe the instructions
and warnings on the package before using
car-care products. Improper use could cause
health problems or damage the vehicle. The
use of certain products may produce noxious
vapours; they should be used in well ventila-
ted areas.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail
varnish remover or other volatile fluids.
These are toxic and highly flammable. Risk of
fire and explosion.
● Before washing your vehicle, or carrying
out any maintenance, switch the engine off,
apply the handbrake firmly and remove the
key from the ignition. CAUTION
Never attempt to remove dirt, mud or dust if
the surface of the vehicle is dry. Never use a
dry cloth or sponge for cleaning purposes.
This could damage the paintwork or the win-
dows of your vehicle. Soak dirt, mud or dust
with plenty of water. For the sake of the environment
● When purchasing products for your vehicle
maintenance, select the ones which are not
harmful to the environment.
● The waste from car-care products should
not be disposed of with ordinary household
waste. Observe the disposal information on
the package. Care of the vehicle exterior
Automatic car washing tunnel The vehicle paintwork is so durable that the
vehicle can normally be washed without
problems in an automatic car wash tunnel.
However, the paintwork wear depends to a
large extent on the kind of the car wash tun-
nel, the brushes used, its water filtering and
the type of cleaning and preservative prod-
ucts.
Before going through a car wash, be sure to
take the usual precautions such as closing
the windows and sunroof. There is nothing to
note apart from that.
If the vehicle has special accessories such as
spoilers or a roof rack or two-way radio aerial,
etc., it is advisable to consult the car wash
tunnel operator first.After washing, the brakes could take some
time to respond as the brake discs and pads
could be wet, or even frozen in winter. “Dry”
the brakes by braking several times. WARNING
Water, ice and salt on the brake system can
reduce braking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. CAUTION
Before putting the vehicle through the car
wash, do not tighten the aerial if it is folded
because it can be damaged. Washing by hand
Vehicle washing
– First soften the dirt and rinse it off with wa-
ter.
– Clean your vehicle from top to bottom with
a soft sponge, a glove or a brush. Use very
light pressure.
– Rinse the sponge or glove often with clean
water.
– Special car shampoo should only be used
for very stubborn dirt.
– Leave the wheels, sill panels etc. until last,
using a different sponge or glove.
»
157Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials