Checking and refilling levels
●
When working in the engine compartment,
always observe the safety warnings
››› page 166.
● When the en gine i
s warm or hot, the cool-
ing system is pressurised! Do not unscrew
the cap on the coolant expansion tank when
the engine is hot. This is a burn injury risk. CAUTION
● If you notice a change in the colour of the
liquid because it has been in use for a long
time, it is recommended to change it, as it
will have lost some of its properties and
could cause damage to the engine.
● If a lot of coolant fluid has been lost, wait
for the engine to cool. This avoids damaging
the engine. Large coolant losses are an indi-
cation of leaks in the cooling system. See a
specialised workshop immediately and have
the cooling system checked. Otherwise, there
is a risk of engine damage. Brake fluid
Checking the brake fluid level Read the additional information carefully
››› page 25
The position of the brake fluid reservoir is
shown in the corresponding engine compart- ment illustration
››› page 168 . The brake fluid
r e
servoir has a black and yellow cap.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the
vehicle is being used as the brake pads are
automatically adjusted as they wear.
However, if the level goes down noticeably in
a short time, or drops below the “MIN” mark,
there may be a leak in the brake system. A
display on the instrument panel will warn you
if the brake fluid level is too low ››› page 57. WARNING
Before opening the bonnet to check the brake
fluid level, read and observe the warnings
››› page 166. Changing the brake fluid
The Maintenance Programme indicates brake
fluid change intervals.
We recommend that you have the brake fluid
changed by a Technical Service.
Before opening the bonnet, please read and
follow the warnings
››› in Safety instruc-
tions on working in the engine compartment
on page 166 in section “Safety notes for
w ork
ing in the engine compartment”.
In the course of time, brake fluid becomes
hygroscopic and absorbs water from the am-
bient air. If the water content in the brake flu- id is too high, the brake system could cor-
rode. This also considerably reduces the boil-
ing point of the brake fluid. Heavy use of the
brakes may then cause a vapour lock which
could impair the braking effect.
Be sure to always use the correct brake fluid.
Only use brake fluid that expressly meets the
VW 501 14 standard.
You can buy VW 501 14 standard brake fluid
in a SEAT dealership or a SEAT Official Serv-
ice. If none is available, use only high-quality
brake fluid that meets DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
standards, or USA Standards FMVSS 116 DOT
4.
Using any other kind of brake fluid or one
that is not of a high quality may affect opera-
tion of the brake system and reduce its effec-
tiveness. Never use a brake fluid if the con-
tainer does not state that it complies with VW
501 14, DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards, or
USA standards FMVSS 116 DOT 4.
WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous. Old brake fluid im-
pairs the braking effect.
● Before opening the bonnet to check the
brake fluid level, read and observe the warn-
ings ››› page 166.
● Br ak
e fluid should be stored in the closed
original container in a safe place out of reach
of children. There is a toxic risk. » 173
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Checking and refilling levels
●
Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking are
prohibited. When handling cables and electri-
cal equipment, avoid causing sparks and
electrostatic charge. Never short the battery
terminals. High-energy sparks can cause in-
jury.
● A highly explosive mixture of gases is re-
leased when the battery is under charge. The
batteries should be charged in a well-ventila-
ted room only.
● Keep children away from acid and batteries.
● Before working on the electrical system,
you must switch off the engine, the ignition
and all electrical devices. The negative cable
on the battery must be disconnected. When a
light bulb is changed, you need only switch
off the light.
● Deactivate the anti-theft alarm by unlock-
ing the vehicle before you disconnect the bat-
tery! The alarm will otherwise be triggered.
● When disconnecting the battery from the
vehicle on-board network, disconnect first
the negative cable and then the positive ca-
ble.
● Switch off all electrical devices before re-
connecting the battery. Reconnect first the
positive cable and then the negative cable.
Never reverse the polarity of the connections.
This could cause an electrical fire.
● Never charge a frozen battery, or one which
has thawed. This could result in explosions
and chemical burns. Always replace a battery
which has frozen. A flat battery can also
freeze at temperatures close to 0 °C (+32 °F). ●
Ensure that the vent hose is always connec-
ted to the battery.
● Never use a defective battery. This could
cause an explosion. Replace a damaged bat-
tery immediately.
● For vehicles with the battery in the luggage
compartment: Check that the battery gas
ventilation hose is securely attached. CAUTION
● Never disconnect the battery if the ignition
is switched on or if the engine is running.
This could damage the electrical system or
electronic components.
● Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight
over a long period of time, as the intense ul-
traviolet radiation can damage the battery
housing.
● If the vehicle is left standing in cold condi-
tions for a long period, protect the battery
from “freezing”. If it freezes it will be dam-
aged. Checking the electrolyte level
The electrolyte level should be checked regu-
larly in high-mileage vehicles, in hot coun-
tries and in older batteries.
– Open the bonnet and open the battery cov-
er at the front ››› in Safety instructions
on working in the engine compartment on
page 166
›
›› in Warnings on handlingthe battery on page 174. For vehicles with
the battery under the spare wheel, open
the rear lid and lift the floor covering. The
battery is located next to the spare wheel.
– Check the colour display in the "magic eye"
on the top of the battery.
– If there are air bubbles in the window, tap
the window gently until they disperse.
The position of the battery is shown in the
corresponding engine compartment diagram
››› page 168 . The location of the battery in
the lug g
age compartment can be seen in
››› Fig. 152.
The “magic
eye” indicator, located on the top
of the battery changes colour, depending on
the charge state and electrolyte level of the
battery.
There are two different colours:
● Black: correct charge status.
● Transparent/clear yellow: the battery must
be replaced. Contact a specialised workshop.
Charging and changing the vehicle
battery The battery is maintenance-free and is
checked during the inspection service. All
work on the vehicle battery requires special-
ist knowledge.
»
175
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Wheels
Concealed damage
Damage to tyres and rims is often not readily
visible. If you notice unusual vibrations or the
vehicle pulling to one side, this may indicate
that one of the tyres is damaged. They
should be checked immediately by a Techni-
cal Service.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
An arrow on the tyre sidewall indicates the di-
rection of rotation on tyres with directional
tread. Always observe the direction of rota-
tion indicated when fitting the wheel. This
guarantees optimum grip and helps to avoid
aquaplaning, excessive noise and wear. WARNING
● New tyres do not have maximum grip dur-
ing the first 500 km. Drive particularly care-
fully to avoid possible accidents.
● Never drive with damaged tyres. This may
cause an accident.
● If you notice unusual vibrations or if the ve-
hicle pulls to one side when driving, stop the
vehicle immediately and check the tyres for
damage. Checking tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure can be seen on the
sticker on the inside of the fuel tank flap. 1. Read the required tyre inflation pressure
from the sticker. The values refer to Sum-
mer tyres.
2. The tyre pressures should only be checked when the tyres are cold. The slightly raised
pressures of warm tyres must not be re-
duced.
3. Adjust the tyre pressure to the load you are carrying.
Tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure is especially impor-
tant at high speeds. The pressure should
therefore be checked at least once a month
and before starting a journey. WARNING
A tyre can easily burst if the pressure is too
low, causing an accident!
● At continuously high speeds, a tyre with in-
sufficient pressure flexes more. In this way it
becomes too hot, and this can cause tread
separation and tyre blow-out. Always observe
the recommended tyre pressures.
● If the tyre pressure is too low or too high,
the tyres will wear prematurely and the vehi-
cle will not handle well. Risk of accident! For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel con-
sumption. Tyre useful life
Fig. 154
Tyre tread wear indicators. Fig. 155
Diagram for changing wheels The useful life of tyres is dependent on tyre
pressure, driving style and fitting.
Wear indicators
The original tyres on your vehicle have
1.6 mm high “tread wear indicators”
››› Fig. 154 , running across the tread.
»
177Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Advice
Tyres with directional tread pattern A directional tread pattern can be identified
by arrows on the sidewall that point in the di-
rection of rotation. Always note the direction
of rotation indicated when fitting the wheel.
This is important so that these tyres can give
maximum grip and avoid excessive noise,
tread wear and aquaplaning.
If, in an emergency, you have to mount the
spare wheel so it rotates in the wrong direc-
tion, you must drive extremely carefully. The
tyre will not give optimum performance. This
is particularly important when driving on wet
roads.
To benefit from the advantages of tyres with
this type of tread pattern, the defective tyre
should be replaced as soon as possible so
that all tyres again rotate in the correct direc-
tion.
Tyre repair TMS (Tyre Mobility System)* Read the additional information carefully
››› page 26
The Anti-puncture kit* (Tyre Mobility System)
will reliably seal punctures caused by the
penetration of a foreign body of up to about 4 mm in diameter. Do not remove foreign ob-
jects, e.g. screws or nails, from the tyre.
After inserting the sealant residue in the tyre,
you must again check the tyre pressure about
10 minutes after starting the engine.
You should only use the tire mobility set if
the vehicle is parked in a safe place, you are
familiar with the procedure and you have the
necessary tire mobility set! Otherwise, you
should seek professional assistance.
The tyre sealant must not be used in the
following cases:
● If the wheel rim has been damaged.
● In outside temperatures below -20 °C
(-4 °F).
● In the event of cuts or perforations in the
tyre greater than 4 mm.
● If you have been driving with very low pres-
sure or a completely flat tyre.
● If the sealant bottle has passed its use by
date. WARNING
Using the tyre mobility system can be dan-
gerous, especially when filling the tyre at the
roadside. Please observe the following rules
to minimise the risk of injury:
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
Park it at a safe distance from surrounding
traffic to fill the tyre. ●
Ensure the ground on which you park is flat
and solid.
● All passengers and particularly children
must keep a safe distance from the work area.
● Turn on the hazard warning lights to warn
other road users.
● Use the tyre mobility system only if you are
familiar with the necessary procedures. Oth-
erwise, you should seek professional assis-
tance.
● The tyre mobility set is intended for tempo-
rary emergency use only until you can reach
the nearest specialised workshop.
● Replace the repaired tyre with the tire mo-
bility set as soon as possible.
● The sealant is a health hazard and must be
cleaned immediately if it comes into contact
with the skin.
● Always keep the tire mobility set out of the
reach of small children.
● Never use an equivalent jack, even if it has
been approved for your vehicle.
● Always stop the engine, apply the hand-
brake lever firmly and engage gear if using a
manual gearbox, in order to reduce the risk of
vehicle involuntary movement. WARNING
A tyre filled with sealant does not have the
same performance properties as a conven-
tional tyre.
● Never drive faster than 80 km/h (50 mph). 186
Advice
Note
The vehicles must not touch each other, oth-
erwise electricity could flow as soon as the
positive terminals are connected. Towing or tow starting
Tow-starting* We recommend that you do
not tow-start your
v ehic
le. Jump-starting is preferable
››› page 188.
Ho w
ever, if your vehicle has to be tow-
started:
– Engage 2 nd
or 3 rd
gear.
– Keep the clutch pressed down.
– Switch the ignition on.
– Once both vehicles are moving, release the
clutch.
– As soon as the engine starts, press the
clutch and move the gear lever into neutral.
This helps to prevent driving into the tow-
ing vehicle. WARNING
The risk of accidents is high when tow-start-
ing. The vehicle being towed can easily col-
lide with the towing vehicle. CAUTION
When tow-starting, fuel could enter the cata-
lytic converter and damage it. Comments
Please observe the following points if you
use a tow rope:
Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
– Drive slowly at first until the tow rope is
taut. Then accelerate gradually.
– Begin and change gears cautiously. If you
are driving an automatic vehicle, accelerate
gently.
– Remember that the brake servo and power
steering are not working in the vehicle you
are towing. Brake sooner than normal and
pressing the pedal gently.
Notes for the driver of the towed vehicle
– Ensure that the tow rope remains taut at all
times when towing.
Tow rope or tow bar
It is easier and safer for the vehicle to be tow-
ed using a tow bar. You should only use a
tow-rope if you do not have a tow-bar.
A tow rope should be slightly elastic to re-
duce the loading on both vehicles. It is advis- able to use a tow rope made of synthetic fi-
bre or similarly elastic material.
Attach the tow rope or the tow bar only to the
towline anchorages provided or a towing
bracket.
Driving style
Towing requires some experience, especially
when using a tow rope. Both drivers should
be familiar with the technique required for
towing. Inexperienced drivers should not at-
tempt to tow.
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 al-
ways 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.
The brake servo only works when the engine
is running. When not running, you must ap-
ply considerably more pressure to the brake
pedal.
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.
190
Advice
Identifying fuses situated below the driver-
side dash panel by coloursColourAmp rating
Grey2
Purple3
Light brown5
Brown7.5
Red10
Blue15
Yellow20
White or trans- parent25
Green30
Orange40 CAUTION
● Always carefully remove the fuse box cov-
ers and refit them correctly to avoid problems
with your vehicle.
● Protect the fuse boxes when open to avoid
the entry of dust or humidity. Dirt and humid-
ity inside fuse boxes can cause damage to
the electrical system. Note
In the vehicle, there are more fuses than
those indicated in this chapter. These should
only be changed by a specialised workshop. Replacing a blown fuse
Fig. 173
Image of a blown fuse Preparation
● Switch off the ignition, lights and all elec-
trical equipment.
● Open the corresponding fuse box
››› page 195 .
Identif y
ing a blown fuse
A fuse is blown if its metal strip is ruptured
››› Fig. 173
.
Point a lamp at the fuse. This will make it
easier to see if the fuse is blown. To replace a fuse
● Remove the fuse.
● Replace the blown fuse by one with an
identical amperage rating (same colour and
mark
ings) and identical size ››› .
● Replace the cover again or close the fuse
box lid. CAUTION
If you replace a fuse with higher-rating fuse,
you could cause damage to another part of
the electrical system. Changing the bulbs
General notes Before changing any bulb, first turn off the
failed device.
Do not touch the glass part of the bulb with
your bare hands. The fingerprints left on the
glass will vaporise as a result of the heat gen-
erated by the bulb, reducing bulb life and
causing condensation on the reflector sur-
face, thus reducing effectiveness.
A bulb must only be replaced by one of the
same type. The type is indicated on the bulb,
either on the glass part or on the base.
Below, the light source used for all functions
is broken down.
196
Fuses and bulbs
Double headlights - H7 Long Life
- H7
- W5W Long Life - PY 21W
Single headlight - H4 Long Life
- W5W Long Life - PY 21W
Xenon 1)
/ adaptive headlights*
- D1S2)
- LED 3)
- LED 3)
- PY 21W
Dipped beam
Main beam
Position
Turn signal
Dipped/Main
Position
Turn signal
Dipped and full beam
Position
DRL (day light)
Turn signals Front fog light
- H11 WARNING
● Take particular care when working on com-
ponents in the engine compartment if the en-
gine is warm, there is a risk of burns.
● Bulbs are highly sensitive to pressure. The
glass can break when you touch the bulb,
causing injury.
● The high voltage element of gas discharge
bulbs* (xenon light) must be handled correct-
ly. Otherwise, there is a risk of death.
● When changing bulbs, please take care not
to injure yourself on sharp parts in the head-
light housing. Fog light/cornering CAUTION
● Remove the ignition key before working on
the electric system. Otherwise, a short circuit
could occur.
● Switch off the lights or parking lights be-
fore you change a bulb. For the sake of the environment
Please ask your specialist retailer how to dis-
pose of used bulbs in the proper manner. Note
● Depending on weather conditions (cold or
wet), the front lights, the fog lights, the tail
lights and the turn signals may be temporari-
ly misted. This has no influence on the useful
life of the lighting system. By switching on
the lights, the area through which the beam
of light is projected will quickly be demisted. »1)
With this type of headlight, the user can replace
the turn signal bulb. Replacement of the dip-
ped/main beam bulb must be done by Technical
Services, given that complex elements must be re-
moved from the vehicle and the automatic control
system that incorporates it must be reset.
2) The Xenon bulbs discharge 2.5 times the light flux
and have an average lifespan of 5 times more than
that of halogen bulbs, this means that, except due to
unusual circumstances, there is no need to change
the bulbs for the whole life of the vehicle.
3) In the event that there is a fault in the LEDs, the
complete headlight must be replaced. 197Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Advice
However, the edges may continue to be mis-
ted.
● Please check at regular intervals that all
lighting (especially the exterior lighting) on
your vehicle is functioning properly. This is
not only in the interest of your own safety,
but also that of all other road users.
● Before changing a bulb, make sure you
have the correct new bulb.
● Do not touch the glass part of the bulb with
your bare hands, use a cloth or paper towel
instead. The residue left by the fingerprints
would vaporise as a result of the heat gener- ated by the bulb, they will be deposited on
the reflector and will impair its surface. Single headlight bulb change
Single headlight bulbs Fig. 174
Single headlight. Side lights - Dipped beam/main beam.
Turn signal.
Turn signal bulb Fig. 175
Single turn signal lamp. –
Raise the bonnet.
– Turn bulb holder ››› Fig. 175 A to the left
and pull.
– Remove the bulb by pressing on the bulb
holder and turning it anti-clockwise at the
same time.
– Installation involves all of the above steps
in reverse sequence.
A B Dipped/main beam headlights
Fig. 176
Dipped beam/main beam of the sin-
gle headlight. Fig. 177
Dipped beam/main beam of the sin-
gle headlight. –
Raise the bonnet.
– Move the loop ››› Fig. 176 1 in the direc-
tion of the arrow and remove the cover.
– Remove connector ››› Fig. 177
2 from the
bulb.
198