2014 Seat Leon 5D tow

Advice
The retract function may not operate properly
in very dirty belts. Make sure that the inertia
reel seat belts are completely dry before al-
lowing them to retract. CAUTION
● Do not remove the seat belts from the vehi-
cle to clean them.
● Do not use chemical cleaning agents on the
seat belts, as this can damage the webbing.
Ensure that the seat belts do not come into
contact with corrosive fluids.
● If you find any damage to the belt webbing,
belt fittings, the belt retractor or the buckle,
the belt in question must be replaced by a
specialised workshop. Intelligent technology
Electro-mechanical steering Electro-mechanical power steering assists
the driver when steering.
Electro-mechanical power steering adapts
electronically to the speed of the car, torque
and t
urnin
g angle.
If the power steering should fail at any time
or the engine is switched off (for instance
when being towed), the car can still be
steered. However, more effort than normal
will be required to turn the steering wheel.
Driver warning lamps and messages  (in red) Faulty steering! To park the vehicle
If the warning lamp remains on and the driver
indication appears, the power steering could
be faulty.
Do not continue driving. Seek specialist as-
s

istance.
 (in yellow) Steering: System fault! You
may continue driving.
If the warning lamp comes on, the steering
could react with more difficultly or more sen-
sitivity than normal. In addition, when driving
in a straight line the steering wheel may be
off-centre. Drive slowly to a specialised workshop and
have the fault repaired.
 (in yellow) Steering lock: fault! Go to an
Official Service
The electronic steering lock is malfunction-
ing.
Go to a specialised workshop as soon as
possible and have the fault repaired. WARNING
Take it immediately to a specialised work-
shop and have the fault repaired: risk of acci-
dent! Note
If the lamp  (in red) or else  (in y
ellow)
lights up briefly, you may continue driving. Progressive steering
Depending on the vehicle equipment, the
progressive steering can adapt steering hard-
ness to the current driving situation. The
power steering only works when the engine
is running.
In
city traffic
y
ou do not need to turn so much
on p
arking, manoeuvring or in very tight
turns.
On the
road or on the motorway, progressive
steering transmits, for example, in bends, a
190

Emergencies
Snow chains will improve braking ability as
well as traction in winter conditions.
F or t
echnical reasons snow chains may only
be used with the following wheel rim/tyre
combination.
195/65 R15Chains with links of maximum 15 mm
205/55 R16Chains with links of maximum 15 mm
225/45 R17Chains with links of maximum 9 mm
225/40 R18Chains with links of maximum 9 mm Remove wheel covers and any
integral trim
ring before fitting snow chains.
R emo

ve the chains when roads are free of
snow
. Otherwise they will impair handling,
damage the tyres and wear out very quickly. Emergencies
Changing a wheel What to do first Read the additional information carefully
›››  page 34
– If you have a flat tyre or puncture, park the
car as far away from the flow of traffic as
possible in a safe place. If you have a punc-
ture, stop the vehicle on a horizontal sur-
face. If you are on a slope, take extra care.
– Apply the handbrake.
– Switch on the hazard warning lights.
– Manual gearbox: select the 1st gear.
– Automatic gearbox: move the selector lever
to P.
– When towing a trailer: unhitch the trailer
from your vehicle.
– Have the vehicle tool kit ›››
page 220 and
the spare wheel ready ›››
page 214.
– Observe the applicable legislation for each
country (reflective vest, warning triangles,
etc.).
– All vehicle occupants should leave the car.
They should wait in a safe area (for in-
stance behind the roadside crash barrier). WARNING
● Always observe the above steps and pro-
tect yourself and other road users.
● If you change the wheel on a slope, block
the wheel on the opposite side of the car with
a stone or similar to prevent the vehicle from
moving. Wheel covers*
Fig. 182
Remove the wheel cover. The wheel covers must be removed for access
to the wheel bolts.
Removing
– Remove the wheel cover using the wire
hook ›››
Fig. 182 .
– Hook thi

s into one of the cut-outs of the
wheel cover. »
217
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials

Advice
the wheel condition and hub mounting surfa-
ces. These surfaces must be clean before fit-
ting the wheel. CAUTION
When removing/fitting the wheel, the rim
may hit and damage the brake disc. For this
reason, please take care and get a second
person to assist you. Tyres with compulsory direction of
rotation
A directional tread pattern can be identified
by arrows on the sidewall that point in the di-
rection of rotation. Always observe the direc-
tion of rotation indicated when mounting the
wheel. This is important so that these tyres
can give maximum grip and avoid excessive
noise, tread wear and aquaplaning.
If, exceptionally, it is necessary to mount the
spare wheel* in the opposite direction of ro-
tation, please drive carefully, as in this case
the tyre does not have optimum conditions of
use. This is particularly important when driv-
ing 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. After changing a wheel –
On alloy wheels: replace the wheel bolt
caps.
– On plate wheels: replace the wheel hubcap
››› page 217.
– Put the tools and jack back in the luggage
compartment.
– If the replaced wheel does not fit in the
spare wheel housing, store it safely in the
luggage compartment ››› page 114.
– Check the tyre pressure of the newly moun-
ted tyre as soon as possible.
– In vehicles fitted with a tyre pressure indi-
cator, adjust the pressure and store the
reading in the radio/ Easy Connect system*
››› page 212.
– The wheel bolts should be tightened to 120
Nm. Check the torque as soon as possible
with a torque wrench. Meanwhile, drive
carefully.
– Have the flat tyre replaced as quickly as
possible. Tyre repair
Tools, anti-puncture kit* The tools and anti-puncture kit* are stored
under the floor panel in the luggage compart-
ment.
To access the vehicle tools:
– Lift up the floor surface by the plastic han-
dle until it is fastened to the tabs on both
sides.
Depending on the vehicle equipment, the
tyre repair kit* is located under the floor pan-
el in the luggage compartment.
The tool kit includes: ● Jack*
● Wire hook for pulling off the wheel cov-
er* /wheel bolt cap clip.
● Box spanner for wheel bolts*
● Towline anchorage
● Adapter for the anti-theft wheel bolts*
Some of the items listed are only provided in
certain model versions, or are optional ex-
tras. Note
The jack does not generally require any main-
tenance. If required, it should be greased us-
ing universal type grease. 220

Advice
8. Start the engine of the vehicle with the flat battery and wait 2 or 3 minutes until the
engine is “running”.
Removing the jump leads
9. Before you remove the jump leads, switch off the dipped beam headlights (if they
are switched on).
10.Turn on the heater blower and heated rear window in the vehicle with the flat battery.
This helps minimise voltage peaks which
are generated when the leads are discon-
nected.
11. When the engine is running, disconnect
the l e
ads in reverse order to the details
given above.
Connect the battery clamps so they have
good metal-to-metal contact with the battery
terminals.
If the engine fails to start, switch off the start-
er after about 10 seconds and try again after
about 1 minute. WARNING
● Please note the safety warnings referring to
working in the engine compartment
››› page 198.
● The b att

ery providing assistance must have
the same voltage as the flat battery (12V) and
approximately the same capacity (see imprint on battery). Failure to comply could result in
an explosion.
●
Never use jump leads when one of the bat-
teries is frozen. Danger of explosion! Even af-
ter the battery has thawed, battery acid could
leak and cause chemical burns. If a battery
freezes, it should be replaced.
● Keep sparks, flames and lighted cigarettes
away from batteries, danger of explosion.
Failure to comply could result in an explo-
sion.
● Observe the instructions provided by the
manufacturer of the jump leads.
● Do not connect the negative cable from the
other vehicle directly to the negative terminal
of the flat battery. The gas emitted from the
battery could be ignited by sparks. Danger of
explosion.
● Do not attach the negative cable from the
other vehicle to parts of the fuel system or to
the brake line.
● The non-insulated parts of the battery
clamps must not be allowed to touch. The
jump lead attached to the positive battery
terminal must not touch metal parts of the ve-
hicle, this can cause a short circuit.
● Position the leads in such a way that they
cannot come into contact with any moving
parts in the engine compartment.
● Do not lean on the batteries. This could re-
sult in chemical burns. Note
The vehicles must not touch each other, oth-
erwise electricity could flow as soon as the
positive terminals are connected. Towing and tow-starting the
vehicle
General information Read the additional information carefully
›››  page 35
Points to observe when tow-starting or tow-
ing away
If you use a tow rope:
Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
– The tow rope must be taut before you drive
off.
– Release the clutch very carefully when start-
ing the vehicle (manual gearbox), or accel-
erate gently (automatic gearbox).
Driving style
Towing requires some experience, especially
when using a tow rope
. Both drivers should
be f
amiliar with the technique required for
towing. Inexperienced drivers should not at-
tempt to tow.
224

Emergencies
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. WARNING
If the vehicle has no electrical power, the
brake lights, turn signals and all other lights
will no longer function. Do not have the vehi-
cle towed away. Failure to follow this instruc-
tion could result in an accident. CAUTION
If there is no oil in the gearbox or no lubricant
in the automatic transmission the car may
only be towed with the driven wheels lifted
clear of the road, or transported on a special
car transporter or trailer. Note
● Please observe related legal requirements.
● Switch on the hazard warning lights of both
vehicles. However, observe any regulations
to the contrary.
● The tow rope must not be twisted. Other-
wise the front towline anchorage could be
pulled off the vehicle. Towline anchorage at the front of the
vehicle
Fig. 191
Right side of the front bumper: tow-
line anchorage screwed in. The front towline anchorage is only mounted
if the vehicle has to be towed.
There is a cover with an opening into which
the towline anchorage is screwed on the right
part of the front bumper.
– To remove the bumper cover, just press the
upper left side inwards.
– Take the towline anchorage out of the vehi-
cle tool kit ››› page 220 .
– Sc r
ew the towline anchorage into the screw
connection as far as it will go ››› Fig. 191
and tighten with the wheel brace.
After use, unscrew the towline anchorage
and fit the cover back on the bumper. Put the
towline anchorage back in the vehicle tool kit. The towline anchorage should always be
kept in the vehicle.
Rear towline anchorage Fig. 192
Right side of the rear bumper: cover-
cap. Fig. 193
Right side of the rear bumper: tow-
line anchorage screwed in. The rear towline anchorage should only be
mounted if you wish to tow another vehicle.
»
225
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials

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