Advice
Vehicles with towline anchorage
On the right of the rear bumper there is a cov-
er which covers a threaded hole. – Take the towline anchorage out of the vehi-
cle tool set ››› page 220 .
– To r
emove the bumper cover, just press the
upper side of the cover inwards (arrow) and
remo
ve the cover by levering on the lower
››› Fig. 192 side.
– Scr
ew the towline anchorage into the screw
connection as far as it will go ››› Fig. 193
and tighten with the wheel brace.
After use, unscrew the towline anchorage
and put it back in the vehicle tool kit. Replace
the cover on the bumper. The towline anchor-
age should always be kept in the vehicle. WARNING
● If the towline anchorage is not screwed in
as far as the stop, there is a risk of the screw
connection shearing off during towing (acci-
dent risk).
● If your car has a towing bracket, only use
special towing ropes. Risk of accident! CAUTION
In vehicles fitted with a towing bracket, only
use special tow bars to prevent damage to
the ball joint. These tow bars have been spe-
cially approved for use with towing brackets. Tow-starting
As a general rule, tow-starting is not recom-
mended.
– Engage 2nd or 3rd gear before moving off.
– Press the clutch and hold the pedal down.
– Switch the ignition on.
– Once both vehicles are moving, release the
clutch.
– As soon as the engine has started, press
the clutch and move the gear lever to neu-
tral.
If the engine will not start, it is best to try
starting it using the battery of another vehi-
cle ›››
page 223 before attempting to tow
s t
art. You should only try to tow-start the en-
gine if jump starting is not successful. Tow-
starting is an attempt to start the engine via
the movement of the wheels.
When tow-starting a vehicle with a petrol en-
gine
, do not tow it more than a short dis-
tance, otherwise unburned fuel can enter the
catalytic converter. WARNING
The risk of accidents is high when tow-start-
ing, for example, the towed vehicle can easily
be driven into the towing vehicle. CAUTION
Do not tow vehicles for more than 50 km. Risk
of damage to the catalytic converter. Towing vehicles with a manual
gearbox
Towing is relatively straightforward.
Please observe the relevant instructions
››› page 224.
The v
ehicle can be towed using a tow bar or
tow rope in the normal way, with all four
wheels on the road; it can also be towed with
either the front or rear wheels lifted off the
road. The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h
(30 mph).
To
wing a vehicle equipped with
automatic gearbox Certain restrictions must be observed when
towing your vehicle.
Please observe the relevant instructions
››› page 224 .
The v
ehicle can be towed with a tow bar or
tow rope in the normal way, with all four
wheels on the ground. When doing so,
please note the following points:
226
Emergencies
● Make sure the selector lever is in the N
po-
s ition.
● The
vehicle must not be towed faster than
50 km/h (30 mph).
● The v
ehicle must not be towed further than
50 km (30 miles)
. Reason: when the engine
is not running, the gearbox oil pump does
not work and the gearbox is not adequately
lubricated for higher speeds or longer distan-
ces.
If the vehicle has to be towed with a break-
down truck
, it must only be suspended at the
front wheels. Reason: the drive shafts are lo-
cated on the front wheels. If the car is towed
with the rear wheels lifted off the road (I.e.
travelling backwards), the drive shafts also
turn backwards. The planetary gears in the
aut
omatic gearbox then turn at such high
speeds that the gearbox will be severely
damaged in a short time. Note
● If it is not possible to tow the vehicle in the
normal way, or if it has to be towed further
than 50 km (30 miles), it must be transported
on a special car transporter or trailer.
● Should the power supply to the selector
lever be interrupted in position P, the selector
lever will be locked. Before the vehicle can be
recovered/manoeuvred you must manually
release the selector lever ››› page 229. Emergency locking and
unlocking
Introduction The doors, rear lid and panoramic tilting sun-
roof can be locked manually and partially
opened, for example if the key or the central
locking is damaged.
WARNING
Opening and closing doors carelessly can
cause serious injury.
● If the vehicle is locked from outside, the
doors and windows cannot be opened from
the inside.
● 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 themselves to safety.
● Depending on the time of the year, temper-
atures inside a locked and closed vehicle can
be extremely high or extremely low resulting
in serious injuries and illness or even death,
particularly for young children. WARNING
Getting in the way of the doors and the rear
lid is dangerous and can lead to serious in-
jury.
● Open and close the doors and the rear lid
only when there is nobody in the way. CAUTION
When opening and closing in an emergency,
carefully disassemble components and then
reassemble them carefully to avoid damage
to the vehicle. Locking or unlocking the driver door
Fig. 194
Driver door lever: hidden lock cylin-
der. If the central locking system should fail to op-
erate, the driver door can still be locked and
unlocked by turning the key in the lock.
As a general rule, when the driver door is
locked all other doors are locked. When the
vehicle is unlocked manually, only the driver
door opens. Please observe the instructions
relating to the anti-theft alarm system
››› page 82 .
● Unf o
ld the vehicle key shaft ››› page 83.
»
227
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Emergencies
Manual release of the rear lid 3 Applies to the model: LEON ST
Fig. 197
Luggage compartment: access to
manual release. The rear lid can be unlocked manually from
inside in the event of an emergency.
– Remove the lid through the groove with a
screwdriver ››› Fig. 197
A.
– Insert the key into the opening and turn it
in the direction of the arrow until the latch
››› Fig. 197 B
has been released. Manual release of the selector lever
Fig. 198
Selector lever: manual release from
position P. The selector lever can be released manually if
the electrical power supply should fail.
The manual release mechanism is located
under the selector lever console on the right
side. Releasing the selector lever requires a
certain degree of practical skill. We therefore
advise you to obtain professional assistance.
A screwdriver will be needed to carry out the
manual release. Use the flat part of the
screwdriver blade
››› page 220.
Removing the cover from the selector lever
– Apply the handbrake ››› to ensure that
the car does not move.
– Carefully pull the corners of the selector
lever boot and fold up the selector lever
boot (inside out) by hand. Releasing the selector lever
– Using a screwdriver, press and hold the yel-
low unlocking tab sideways ››› Fig. 198 .
– No w pr
ess the interlock button on the se-
lector lever A and move the selector lever
to position N.
– After carrying out the manual release, at-
tach the selector lever boot on the gearbox
console again.
If the power supply should ever fail (dis-
charged battery, etc.) and the vehicle has to
be pushed or towed, the selector lever must
first be moved to position N. This is possible
after operating the manual release mecha-
nism. WARNING
The selector lever may be moved out of posi-
tion P only when the handbrake is firmly ap-
plied. If this does not work, secure the vehi-
cle with the brake pedal. On a slope the vehi-
cle could otherwise start to move inadver-
tently after shifting the selector lever out of
position P - accident risk! 229
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Fuses and bulbs
Cleaning windscreen wiper blades
● Raising the wiper arms.
● Use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt
from the windscreen wiper blades.
● If the blades are very dirty, a sponge or
damp cloth may be used ››› .
Changing the windscreen wiper blades
● Raising/lowering wiper arms
● Hold down the release button
››› Fig. 200 1 while gently pulling the blade
in the direction of the arrow.
● Fit a new wiper blade of the same length
and design on to the wiper arm and hook it
int o p
lace.
● Rest the wiper arms back onto the wind-
screen.
Changing the rear wiper blade
● Raising/lowering the wiper arm.
● Turn the blade slightly ››› Fig. 201 (arrow
A ).
● Hold down the release button 1 while
gently pulling the blade in the direction of
the arrow B .
● Insert a new blade of the same length and
type in the rear wiper arm in the opposite di-
r ection t
o the arrow B and hook into place
button 1 .
● Replace the wiper arm on the rear window. WARNING
Worn or dirty wiper blades reduce visibility
and increase the risk of accident and serious
injury.
● Always replace damaged or worn blades or
blades which do not clean the windscreen
correctly. CAUTION
● Damaged or dirty windscreen wipers could
scratch the glass.
● If products containing solvents, rough
sponges or sharp objects are used to clean
the blades, the graphite layer will be dam-
aged.
● Never use fuel, nail varnish remover, paint
thinner or similar products to clean the win-
dows.
● In icy conditions, always check that the
wiper blades are not frozen to the glass be-
fore using the wipers. In cold weather, it may
help to leave the vehicle parked with the wip-
ers in service position ››› page 230. Fuses and bulbs
Fuses Introduction Due to the constant updating of vehicles,
fuse assignments based on equipment and
the use of the same fuse for various electrical
components, it is not possible to provide an
up-to-date summary of the fuse positions for
the electrical components at the time this
manual was printed. For detailed information
about the fuse positions, please consult a
technical service.
In general, a fuse can be assigned to various
electrical components. Likewise, an electrical
component can be protected by several
fuses.
Only replace fuses when the cause of the
problem has been solved. If a newly inserted
fuse blows after a short time, you must have
the electrical system checked by a special-
ised workshop as soon as possible.
WARNING
The high voltages in the electrical system can
give serious electrical shocks, causing burns
and even death!
● Never touch the electrical wiring of the igni-
tion system. » 231
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Advice
●
Take care not to cause short circuits in the
electrical system. WARNING
Using unsuitable fuses, repairing fuses or
bridging a current circuit without fuses can
cause a fire and serious injury.
● Never use a fuse with a higher value. Only
replace fuses with a fuse of the same amper-
age (same colour and markings) and size.
● Never repair a fuse.
● Never replace a fuse by a metal strip, staple
or similar. CAUTION
● To prevent damage to the vehicle's electric
system, before replacing a fuse always turn
off the ignition, the lights and all electrical
elements and remove the key from the igni-
tion.
● If you replace a fuse with higher-rating
fuse, you could cause damage to another part
of the electrical system.
● Protect the fuse boxes when open to pre-
vent the entry of dust or humidity as they can
damage the electrical system. Note
● One component may have more than one
fuse. ●
Several components may run on a single
fuse. Vehicle fuses
Fig. 202
On the driver-side dash panel: fuse
box cover Fig. 203
In the engine compartment: fuse box
cover Read the additional information carefully
››› page 33 Only replace fuses with a fuse of the same
amperage (same colour and markings) and
size.
Identifying fuses situated below the driver-
side dash panel by coloursColourAmp rating
Black1
Purple3
Light brown5
Brown7.5
Red10
Blue15
Yellow20
White or trans-
parent25
Green30
Orange40 Opening and closing the fuse box situated
below the dash panel
●
Opening: fold the cover down ›
›
›
Fig. 202.
● Closing:
push back the cover it in until it
clicks into place.
To open the engine compartment fuse box
● Open the bonnet ››› page 198.
232
Advice
Full-LED headlight system*
Full-LED headlights handle all light functions
(daylight, side light, turn signal, dipped
beam and route light) with light emitting di-
odes (LEDs) as a light source.
Full-LED headlights are designed to last the
lifetime of the car and light bulbs cannot be
replaced. In case of headlight failure, go to
an authorised workshop to have it replaced.
Bulbs (12 V)Halogen headlightsType
Daytime driving light/side lightP21W SLL
Dipped beam headlightsH7 LL
Main beam headlightsH7 LL
Turn signalPY21W LL
Full-LED main headlightsType
No bulbs may be replaced. All
functions are with LEDs
Front fog lightType
Fog/cornering lights*H8
Rear bulb lightType
Brake light/tail lightP21W LL
Side lights2x W5W LL
Rear bulb lightType
Turn signalPY21W LL
Retro fog lightH21W
Reverse lightsP21W LL
LED rear lightType
Turn signalPY21W LL
Retro fog lightH21W
Reverse lightsP21W LL
The remaining functions work
with LEDs WARNING
● Take particular care when working on com-
ponents in the engine compartment if the en-
gine is warm. Risk of burns.
● Bulbs are highly sensitive to pressure. The
glass can break when you touch the bulb,
causing injury.
● When changing bulbs, please take care not
to injure yourself on sharp edges, in particu-
lar on the headlight housing. CAUTION
● Remove the ignition key before working on
the electric system. Otherwise, a short circuit
could occur. ●
Switch off the lights and the parking light
before changing a bulb.
● Take good care to avoid damaging any com-
ponents. For the sake of the environment
Please ask your specialist retailer how to dis-
pose of used bulbs in the proper manner. Note
● 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, since the fingerprints left on the
glass will vaporise as a result of the heat gen-
erated by the bulb, they will be deposited on
the reflector and will impair its surface. 234
Technical specifications
Note
In practice, and considering all the factors
mentioned here, consumption values can dif-
fer from those calculated in the current Euro-
pean 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.
Special versions, optional equipment fittings
or retro-fitting accessories will increase the
weight of the vehicle
››› .
WARNING
● Please note that the centre of gravity may
shift when transporting heavy objects; this
may affect vehicle handling and lead to an ac-
cident. Always adjust your speed and driving
style to suit road conditions and require-
ments.
● Never exceed the gross axle weight rating
or the gross vehicle weight rating. If the per-
missible axle load or the permissible total
weight is exceeded, the driving characteris-
tics of the vehicle may change, which could
lead to accidents, injuries and damage to the
vehicle. Towing a trailer
Trailer weights Trailer weight
The trailer weights and drawbar loads ap-
proved are selected in intensive trials accord-
ing to precisely defined criteria. The ap-
proved trailer weights apply to vehicles in the
EU and generally for maximum speeds of 80
km/h (100 km/h in c
er
tain circumstances).
The figures may be different in other coun-
tries. All data in the official vehicle documen-
tation takes precedence over these data at all
times ››› .
Drawbar loads
The maximum
permitted drawbar load on the
b
all joint of the towing bracket must not ex-
ceed
80 kg.
In the interest of road safety, we recommend
that you always tow approaching the maxi-
mum drawbar load. The response of the trail-
er 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 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, do not exceed the 80
km/h (50 mph) limit. This is also valid in
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 excee-
ded, 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. The slightly raised pressures of
w arm ty
res must not be reduced. ››› Snow chains
Snow chains may be fitted only to the front
wheels, and only for the following tyres:
»
243
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Technical specifications195/65 R15Chains with links of maximum 15 mm
205/55 R16Chains with links of maximum 15 mm
205/50 R17Chains with links of maximum 15 mm
225/45 R17Chains with links of maximum 9 mm
225/40 R18Chains with links of maximum 9 mm
225/35 R19Chains with links of maximum 7 mm
205/55 R17Snow chains are not permitted
225/45 R18Snow chains are not permitted
Wheel bolts
After the wheels have been changed, the
tightening torque
of the wheel bolts should
be c hec
ked 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 im-
portant. 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 loosen while the vehi-
cle is in motion. Risk of accident! If the tight-
ening torque 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. 244