Operation
Ambient lighting
The ambient lighting guides located in the in-
terior front door panels of the Leon FR and
the Leon Cupra change colour from white to
red depending on the driving mode selected.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) 1)
According to the active driving profile, the ac-
celeration gradient of the adaptive cruise
control varies.
Electronic self-locking differential 1)
The self-locking differential adapts its behav-
iour depending on the driving profile chosen.
Normal mode or Cupra mode can be selected
to prioritise improved traction in sport driv-
ing. Setting driving mode Fig. 165
Centre console: MODE button. You can select from
Normal
, Sport
, Eco
and In-
dividual .
You can select the required mode either by
repeatedly pressing the button MODE
››› Fig. 165 , or on the touch screen, in the
menu th at
opens when the above button is
pressed.
An icon on the Easy Connect system display
informs about the active mode.
The MODE
button light remains lit up yellow
when the active mode is different to Normal
.
Driving
profileCharacteristics
NormalOffers a balanced driving experience, suit-
able for everyday use.
SportProvides a complete dynamic performance
in the vehicle, enabling the user a more
sporty driving style.
Eco
Places the vehicle in a particularly low
state of consumption, facilitating a fuel-
saving driving style that is respectful to
the environment.
Individual
Enables some configurations to be modi-
fied by pressing the Profile settings but-
ton. The functions that can be adjusted
depend on the equipment fitted in the ve-
hicle.
Conven- ience a)It permits more relaxed and comfortable
driving, for example for long motorway
journeys. Its main characteristic is the soft
suspension setting (DCC).
a)
Only for FR and X-PERIENCE models equipped with dynamic
chassis control and Navi System Plus. WARNING
When operating SEAT Drive Profile, pay atten-
tion to all traffic: doing otherwise could cause
an accident. 1)
Applies to the Leon Cupra model.
170
Operation
You should always reduce speed immediately
if the trailer shows the slightest sign of snak-
ing . Never try to stop the “snaking” by in-
c r
easing speed.
Always brake in due course. If the trailer has
an overrun brake, apply the brakes gen
tly at
first and then, firmly. This will prevent the
jerking that can be caused by locking of trail-
er wheels. Select a low gear in due course
before going down a steep downhill. This en-
ables you to use the engine braking to slow
down the vehicle.
Reheating
At very high temperatures and during pro-
longed slopes, driving in a low gear and high
engine speed, always monitor the coolant
temperature gauge ››› page 71.
Electronic stability control*
The ESC* system helps to stabilise the trailer
in case of skidding or rocking. Retrofitting a towing bracket*
Fig. 172
Attachment points for towing brack-
et. If a towing bracket is to be fitted after the ve-
hicle is purchased, this must be completed
according to the instructions of the towing
bracket manufacturer.The attachment points for the towing bracket
A are on the lower part of 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:
B65 mm (minimum)
C350 mm to 420 mm (fully laden vehicle)
D1040 mm
E317 mm
FLEON/LEON SCLEON ST
319 mm596 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, e.g. the rear
bumper, must be removed and reinstalled.
The towing bracket securing bolts must be
180
Advice
Automatic car washes
Before going through a car wash, be sure to
take the usual precautions such as closing
the windows and roof. If the vehicle has spe-
cial accessories such as spoilers or a roof
rack or two-way radio aerial, etc., it is advisa-
ble to consult the car wash tunnel operator.
It is best to use a car wash without revolving
bristles if possible.
Washing the vehicle with a high pressure
cleaner
When washing the vehicle with a high-pres-
sure cleaner, always follow the operating in-
structions for the equipment. This applies
particularly to the operating pressure and the
spraying distance . Do not hold the nozzle too
c lo
se to soft materials such as rubber hoses
or seals. The same applies to the parking aid
sensors*, which are located in the rear bump-
er.
Do not use a nozzle that sprays the water out
in a
direct stream or one that has a rotating
jet for forcing off dirt.
Washing the car by hand
When washing the car by hand, use plenty of
water to soften the dirt first, and rinse off as
well as possible.
Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge,
glove
or brush using only slight pressure.
You should start on the roof and work down. Special car
soap
should only be used for very
persistent dirt.
Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and of-
ten.
Wheels, sills and similar should be cleaned
last. Use a second sponge for this. WARNING
● The vehicle should only be washed with the
ignition switched off. Failure to follow this in-
struction could result in an accident.
● Do not clean the underside of chassis, the
inside of wheel arches or wheel trims without
protecting your hands and arms. You may cut
yourself on sharp-edged metal parts. Other-
wise, there is a risk of sustaining cuts.
● When washing the car during the winter
season: water and ice in the brake system
can reduce braking effectiveness: risk of acci-
dent! CAUTION
● Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight –
otherwise the paint can be damaged.
● Do not use sponges, abrasive household
sponges or similar to clean insect remains.
This could damage the surface.
● Clean off stubborn dirt (insects, etc.) from
the headlights at regular intervals, for in-
stance when filling the fuel tank. The head-
lights should only be washed with water, do not wipe them with a dry cloth or sponge. It
is best to use soapy water.
● Never wash tyres with a jet that sprays the
water out in a direct stream. This could dam-
age the tyres even if the spray is kept at a
distance and only used for a very short time.
● Before washing the vehicle in an automatic
car wash, please make sure to retract the ex-
terior mirrors to prevent them from being
damaged. Electrically retractable exterior
mirrors must not be folded in or out by hand,
always use the electrical power control. CAUTION
● Before washing the vehicle in an automatic
car wash, please proceed as follows to lock
the wiper arms so that they are not moved to-
wards the top of the windscreen:
–the bonnet must be closed.
– switch the ignition on and off.
– press the windscreen wiper lever forward
briefly (windscreen washer function).
This will lock the wiper arms. For the sake of the environment
The car should only be washed in special
wash bays. These areas are prepared to pre-
vent oily water from getting into the public
drains. In some places, washing vehicles out-
side the areas intended for this purpose is
prohibited. 184
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
Intelligent technology
sportier, more direct and noticeably more dy-
namic driving sensation.
Four-wheel drive 3
Valid for vehicles: with four-wheel drive
On all-wheel drive models, the engine power
is distributed to all four wheels
General notes
On four-wheel drive vehicles, the engine
power is distributed to all four wheels. The
distribution of power is controlled automati-
cally according to your driving style and the
road conditions. Also see ›››
page 143, Brak-
ing and stability systems .
The all-wheel drive is specially designed to
complement the superior engine power. This
combination gives the vehicle exceptional
handling and performance capabilities, both
on normal roads and in more difficult condi-
tions, such as snow and ice. Even so (or per-
haps especially for this reason), it is impor-
tant to observe certain safety points ››› .
Winter tyres
Thanks to all-wheel drive, your vehicle will
have plenty of traction in winter conditions,
even with the standard tyres. Nevertheless,
we still recommend that winter tyres or all-
season tyres be fitted on all four wheels to
giv e ev
en better braking response. Snow chains
On roads where snow chains are mandatory,
this also applies to cars with four-wheel drive
››› page 216.
Chan
ging tyres
On vehicles with four-wheel drive, all four
tyres must have the same rolling circumfer-
ence. Also avoid using tyres with varying
tread depths ››› page 210.
Off
-roader?
Your SEAT is not an off-road vehicle: it does
not have enough ground clearance to be
used as such. It is therefore best to avoid
rough tracks and uneven terrain as much as
possible. WARNING
● Even with all-wheel drive, you should al-
ways adjust your speed to suit the condi-
tions. Do not let the extra safety features
tempt you into taking any risks when driving.
Risk of accident!
● The braking capability of your vehicle is
limited by the tyres' grip. It is therefore no
different from a car without four-wheel drive.
So do not be tempted to drive too fast on firm
or slippery roads just because the vehicle
still has good acceleration in these condi-
tions. Risk of accident!
● On wet roads bear in mind that the front
wheels may start to “aquaplane” and lose contact with the road if the car is driven too
fast. If this should happen, there will be no
sudden increase in engine speed to warn the
driver, as occurs with a front-wheel drive car.
For this reason you should always choose a
driving speed suitable for the road condi-
tions. Risk of accident!
Power Management
This system helps to ensure reliable
starting The power management controls the distribu-
tion of electrical energy and thus helps to en-
sure that there is always enough power avail-
able to start the engine.
If a vehicle with a conventional electrical sys-
tem is left parked for a long time, the battery
will gradually lose its charge because certain
electrical devices, such as the electronic
gearbox lock continues to draw current even
when the ignition is off. In some cases there
may not be enough power available to start
the engine.
Your vehicle is equipped with an intelligent
power management system to control the
distribution of electrical energy. This signifi-
cantly improves reliability when starting the
engine, and also prolongs the useful life of
the battery.
»
191
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Advice
least 30 seconds before starting the engine.
When you then start the engine it may take
longer than normal (up to one minute) to
start firing. This is because air needs to be
bled from the fuel system while starting.
For the sake of the environment
Do not overfill the fuel tank, it may cause the
fuel to overflow if it becomes warm. Note
Diesel vehicles are fitted with a protective de-
vice that prevents the insertion of the wrong
fuel hose 1)
. It is only possible to refuel with
Diesel nozzles.
● If the pump nozzle is worn, damaged, or if
it is very small, it is possible that it will not
be able to open the protective device. Before
trying to insert the pump nozzle by turning it,
try a different pump or request specialist
help.
● If you fill the tank from a reserve fuel canis-
ter, the protective device will not open. One
way to resolve this is to pour the fuel in very
slowly. Refuelling with natural gas
Fig. 173
Tank flap open: gas filler mouth 1 ,
filler mouth retainer 2 Before refuelling, the engine and the igni-
tion, mobile telephone and heating must be
switched off separately
››› .
Read the instructions on how to use the natu-
ral gas pump carefully.
The vehicle is not prepared for refuelling with
liquefied natural gas (LNG) ››› . Before refu-
elling with natural gas, make sure you add
the appropriate type of fuel ››› page 195.
Opening the fuel tank cap
The natural gas filler mouth is behind the fuel
tank cap, next to the petrol filler mouth. ●
Unlock the vehicle with the key or with the
central locking button situated on the driv-
er door ››› page 82 .
● Pr e
ss on the rear area of the flap and open
it.
Refuelling
Things to note: if the ambient temperature is
very high, the natural gas pump protection
against overheating disconnects this auto-
matically.
● Remove the plug from the gas filler mouth
››› Fig. 173 1 .
● Connect the pump filling nozzle to the gas
filler mouth.
● The fuel tank will be full when the pump
c ompr
essor automatically cuts the supply.
● If you wish to finish refuelling in advance,
press the button on the pump to stop the
flow.
Closing the fuel tank cap
● Check that the gas filler mouth retainer 2 is not trapped with the filler nozzle. If neces-
sary, place it in the filler mouth again.
●
Insert the plug in the filler mouth.
● Close the tank flap. Make sure you hear it
click into place. 1)
Depending on country
194
Checking and refilling levels
●
Take care not to cause short circuits in the
electrical system, especially when working
on the battery.
● If working inside the engine compartment,
remember that, even when the ignition is
switched off, the radiator fan may start up au-
tomatically, and therefore there is a risk of in-
jury.
● Never cover the engine with additional in-
sulating materials such as a blanket. Risk of
fire!
● Do not unscrew the cap on the coolant ex-
pansion tank when the engine is hot. The
cooling system is under pressure.
● Protect face, hands and arms by covering
the cap with a large, thick rag to protect
against escaping coolant and steam.
● If it is necessary to work in the engine com-
partment while the engine is running, the ro-
tating components (for example, poly-V belt,
alternator, radiator fan) and the high voltage
ignition system are an additional hazard.
● Observe the following additional warnings
if work on the fuel system or the electrical
system is necessary:
– Always disconnect the battery from the
on-board network.
– Do not smoke.
– Never work near naked flames.
– Always keep an approved fire extinguish-
er immediately available. CAUTION
When topping up fluids make sure the correct
fluid is put into the correct filler opening, oth-
erwise this can cause serious malfunctions or
engine damage. For the sake of the environment
Inspect the ground underneath your vehicle
regularly so that any leaks are detected at an
early stage. If you find spots of oil or other
fluids in the area where it was parked, have
your vehicle inspected at the workshop. Note
On right-hand drive vehicles* some of the
containers/reservoirs mentioned below are
located on the other side of the engine com-
partment. Opening the bonnet
Read the additional information carefully
››› page 10
The bonnet is released from inside the vehi-
cle.
Check that the windscreen wiper arms are
not unfolded. Otherwise the paint may be
damaged.
The bonnet can only be unlocked when the
driver door is open. WARNING
Never open the bonnet if you see steam or
drips of coolant being released from the en-
gine compartment. Failure to comply could
result in burns. Wait until no steam or coolant
can be seen before opening the bonnet. Closing the bonnet
–
Slightly lift the bonnet.
– Release the bonnet stay before pressing it
back into its support.
– Carefully close the bonnet.
– Press the bonnet down until it locks into
place.
– Make sure that the bonnet catches onto its
clasp. Do not press down too hard › › › .
WARNING
● For safety reasons the bonnet must always
be completely closed when the vehicle is
moving. Therefore, after closing the bonnet,
always check that the locking element is
properly engaged. This is the case if the bon-
net is flush with the adjacent body panels.
● Should you notice that the bonnet is not
safely secured when the vehicle is moving,
stop the vehicle immediately and close the
bonnet. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in an accident. 199
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Checking and refilling levels
Check the water level in the windscreen
washer reservoir regularly and top up as re-
quired.
The container for the windscreen washer con-
tains the cleaning fluid for the windscreen,
the rear window and the headlight washer
system*.
● Open the bonnet ››› page 198.
● The windscreen washer reservoir is marked
with the symbol on the cap.
● Chec k
there is enough windscreen water in
the reservoir.
Recommended windscreen wipers
● For the hottest seasons we recommend
summer G 052 184 A1 for clear glass. Propor-
tions of the mixture in the washer fluid tank:
1:100 (1 part concentrate per 100 parts wa-
ter).
● All year round, G 052 164 A2 for clear
glass. Approximate proportion of the winter
mixture, up to -18°C (0°F): 1:2 (1 part con-
centrate per 2 parts water); otherwise, a 1:4
proportion of mixture in the washer fluid
tank.
Top-up quantities
The reservoir holds approximately 3 litres in
versions without headlight washer and 5 li-
tres in versions with headlight washer. WARNING
If the water from the windscreen washer does
not contain enough anti-freeze, it may freeze
on the windscreen and rear window, reducing
forward and rear visibility.
● In winter, ensure the windscreen washer
contains enough anti-freeze.
● In cold conditions, you should not use the
windscreen washer system unless you have
warmed the windscreen with the ventilation
system. The antifreeze could freeze on the
windscreen and reduce visibility. WARNING
Never mix an unsuitable antifreeze or other
similar additives with the windscreen washer
water. A greasy layer may be formed on the
windscreen which will impair visibility.
● Use clean water with a window cleaner rec-
ommended by SEAT.
● If necessary, add a suitable antifreeze to
the water in the reservoir. CAUTION
● Do not mix cleaning products recommen-
ded by SEAT with other products. This could
lead to flocculation and may block the wind-
screen washer jets.
● When topping up service fluids, make abso-
lutely certain that you fill the fluids into the
correct reservoirs. Using the wrong fluids could cause serious malfunctions and engine
damage!
● Not having windscreen wiper fluid reduces
visibility through the windscreen, and leads
to loss of visibility in headlights in models
with headlight washer. Battery
General information The battery is located in the engine compart-
ment and is almost
maintenance-free. It is
checked as part of the Inspection Service.
Nevertheless, check the terminals are clean
and have the correct tightening torque, espe-
cially in summer and winter.
Disconnecting the battery
The battery should only be disconnected in
exceptional cases. When the battery is dis-
connected, some of the vehicle's functions
are “lost” ( ››› table on page 206). These
functions will require resetting after the bat-
tery is reconnected.
Deactivate the anti-theft alarm* before you
disconnect the battery Otherwise the alarm
will be triggered. »
205
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials