2014 Seat Leon SC catalytic converter

Instruments and warning/control lamps
The display 6
››› Fig. 82 only works when
the ignition i s
switched on. When the display
reaches the reserve mark, the lower diode
lights up in red and the control lamp 
ap-
pears ››› page 66. When the fuel level is very
low
, the lower diode flashes in red.
The distance to empty fuel level is displayed
on the instrument panel 3
››› Fig. 82 .
The c ap

acity of the fuel tank of your vehicle is
given in the Technical data section
››› page 268. CAUTION
Never run the fuel tank completely dry. An ir-
regular fuel supply could cause misfiring. In
this way the unburned fuel can reach the ex-
haust system, which could cause the catalytic
converter to overheat resulting in damage. Control lamps
Control and warning lamps Read the additional information carefully
›››  page 22
.
The c ontr

ol and warning lamps are indicators
of warnings, ››› , faults
››› or certain func-
tions. Some control and warning lamps come
on when the ignition is switched on, and
switch off when the engine starts running, or
while driving. Depending on the model, additional text
messages may be viewed on the instrument
panel display. These may be purely informa-
tive or they may be advising of the need for
action
››› page 66, Instruments .
D ependin

g upon the equipment fitted in the
vehicle, instead of a warning lamp, some-
times a symbol may be displayed on the in-
strument panel.
When certain control and warning lamps are
lit, an audible warning is also heard. WARNING
If the warning lamps and messages are ignor-
ed, the vehicle may stall in traffic, or may
cause accidents and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps or text
messages.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
● Park the vehicle away from traffic and en-
sure that there are no highly flammable ma-
terials under the vehicle that could come into
contact with the exhaust system (e.g. dry
grass, fuel).
● A faulty vehicle represents a risk of acci-
dent for the driver and for other road users. If
necessary, switch on the hazard warning
lamps and put out the warning triangle to ad-
vise other drivers.
● Before opening the bonnet, switch off the
engine and allow it to cool. ●
In any vehicle, the engine compartment is a
hazardous area and could cause severe inju-
ries ››› page 198. CAUTION
Failure to heed the control lamps and text
messages when they appear may result in
faults in the vehicle. Engine management* 
This warning lamp monitors the engine man-
agement system for petrol engines.
The warning lamp  (Electronic Power Con-
trol) lights up when the ignition is switched
on while system operation is being verified. It
should go out once the engine is started.
If there is a fault in the electronic engine
management system while you are driving,
this warning lamp will light up. Stop the vehi-
cle and seek technical assistance.
Glow plug system/Engine fault*  The warning lamp lights up to show that the
glow plugs are preheating the diesel engine.
The control lamp
 lights up
If the control lamp  lights up when the en-
gine is started it means that the glow plugs »
71Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials

Lights and visibility
Hazard warning lights Fig. 99
Dash panel: switch for hazard warn-
ing lights. Read the additional information carefully
›››  page 15
The hazard warning lights are used to draw
the attention of other road users to your vehi-
cle in emergencies.
If your vehicle breaks down:
1. Park your vehicle at a safe distance from moving traffic.
2. Press the button to switch on the hazard warning lights ››› .
3. Switch the ignition off.
4. Apply the handbrake.
5. For a manual gearbox, engage 1st gear; for an automatic gearbox, move the gear
lever to P
. 6. Use the warning triangle to draw the atten-
tion of other road users to your vehicle.
7. Always take the vehicle key with you when you leave the vehicle.
All turn signals flash simultaneously when
the hazard warning lights are switched on.
The two turn signal turn signal lamps  
and the t

urn signal lamp in the switch  will
flash at the same time. The hazard warning
lights also work when the ignition is switch-
ed off.
Emergency braking warning
If the vehicle is braked suddenly and continu-
ously at a speed of more than 80 km/h (50
mph), the brake light flashes several times
per second to warn vehicles driving behind. If
you continue braking, the hazard warning
lights will come on automatically when the
vehicle comes to a standstill. They switch off
automatically when the vehicle starts to
move again. WARNING
● The risk of an accident increases if your ve-
hicle breaks down. Always use the hazard
warning lights and a warning triangle to draw
the attention of other road users to your sta-
tionary vehicle.
● Never park where the catalytic converter
could come into contact with inflammable materials under the vehicle, for example dry
grass or spilt petrol. This could start a fire!
Note
● The battery will run down if the hazard
warning lights are left on for a long time,
even if the ignition is switched off.
● The use of the hazard warning lights de-
scribed here is subject to the relevant statu-
tory requirements. Parking light
When the parking light is switched on, (right
or left turn signal), the front side light and
the rear light on the corresponding side of
the vehicle stay lit. The parking lights can on-
ly be activated with the ignition switched off
and the turn signal and main beam lever in
the central position, before being triggered.
Parking light on both sides With the ignition switched off and the light
switch in position 
, when locking the vehi-
cle from the outside, the parking lights on
both sides of the vehicle light up. In doing
so, only the side lights of both headlights
light up, and additionally the tail lights will
do so partially.
99
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials

Driving
Exhaust gas filtration system Catalytic converter
Applies to vehicles with petrol engine:
the
vehicle must only be used with unleaded pet-
rol, otherwise the catalytic converter will be
irreparably damaged.
Never drive until the tank is empty; an irregu-
lar supply of fuel can cause faulty combus-
tion. In these cases, unburned fuel reaches
the exhaust system, which can overheat and
damage the catalytic converter.
Diesel particulate filter
Applies to vehicles with diesel engine: the
diesel engine particulate filter eliminates
most of the soot from the exhaust gas sys-
tem. Under normal driving conditions, the fil-
ter cleans itself. The diesel particulate filter is
cleaned automatically without need for indi-
cation by the warning lamp . This may be
noticed because the engine idle speed in-
creases and an odour may be detected.
If automatic filter purification cannot be car-
ried out (because only short trips are taken,
for example), soot will accumulate on the fil-
ter and the Diesel particulate filter warning
lamp will  switch on.
Facilitate the automatic filter cleaning proc-
ess by driving in the following manner: drive
for approximately 15 minutes at a minimum
speed of 60 km/h in 4th or 5th gear (auto- matic gearbox: gear S). Maintain the engine
speed at approximately 2,000 rpm. The rise
in temperature causes the soot on the filter
to burn. On completion of the cleaning the
warning lamp will switch off. If the warning
lamp does not switch off, go immediately to a
specialised workshop to rectify the problem.
WARNING
● Because of the high temperatures which
can occur in the exhaust gas control system
(catalytic converter or diesel particulate fil-
ter), do not park the vehicle where the ex-
haust can come into contact with flammable
materials under the car (e.g. on grass or at
the forest edge). Fire hazard!
● Do not apply wax underneath the vehicle
around the area of the exhaust system: Fire
hazard! Driving through flooded roads
To prevent damage to the vehicle when driv-
ing through water, for example, along a floo-
ded road, please observe the following:
● The water should never come above the
lower edge of the bodywork.
● Drive at pedestrian speed. WARNING
After driving through water, mud, sludge,
etc., the braking effect can be delayed slight-
ly due to moisture build-up on the discs and
brake pads. Applying the brakes carefully
several times will remove the moisture and
restore the full braking effect. CAUTION
● Driving through flooded areas may severely
damage vehicle components such as the en-
gine, transmission, running gear or electrical
system.
● Whenever driving through water, the Start-
Stop system* must be switched off
››› page 148. Note
● Check the depth of the water before enter-
ing the flooded zone.
● Do not stop in the water, drive in reverse, or
stop the engine in any situation.
● Note that vehicles travelling in the opposite
direction may splash water that could exceed
the maximum permitted water height for your
vehicle.
● Avoid driving through salt water (corro-
sion). 141Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials

Operation
Economical and environmentally
friendly driving Fuel consumption, environmental pollution
and wear to the engine, brakes and tyres de-
pends largely on driving style. Fuel consump-
tion can be reduced by 10-15% with an eco-
nomical driving style and proper anticipation
of traffic conditions. The following section
gives you some tips on lessening the impact
on the environment and reducing your oper-
ating costs at the same time.
Active cylinder management (ACT
®
)*
Depending on vehicle equipment, the active
cylinder management (ACT ®
) may automati-
cally deactivate some of the engine cylinders
if the driving situation does not require too
much power. When it is switched off, no fuel
is injected into these cylinders, hence total
fuel consumption may be reduced. The num-
ber of active cylinders can be seen on the in-
strument panel display ›››
page 74.
Foresight when driving
Acceleration causes the vehicle to consume
more fuel. If you think ahead when driving,
you will need to brake less and thus acceler-
ate less. Wherever possible, let the car roll
slowly to a stop, with a gear engaged (for in-
stance when you can see that the next traffic
lights are red). This takes advantage of the
engine braking effect, reducing wear on the brakes and tyres. Emissions and fuel con-
sumption will drop to zero due to the overrun
fuel cut-off.
Changing gear to save energy
An effective way of saving is to change
in ad-
vance to a higher gear. Running the engine at
high rpm in the lo w
er gears uses an unneces-
sary amount of fuel.
Manual gearbox : shift up from first to second
gear as soon as possible. In any case, we rec-
ommend that you change to a higher gear
upon reaching 2,000 rpm. Choosing the right
gear enables fuel savings. Select the highest
possible gear appropriate for the driving sit-
uation (the engine should continue function-
ing with cyclical regularity).
Automatic gearbox : accelerate gradually and
without reaching the “kick-down” position.
Avoid driving at high speed
Avoid travelling at top speed, whenever pos-
sible. Fuel consumption, emission of harmful
gases and noise pollution multiply dispropor-
tionately as speed is increased. Driving at
moderate speeds will help to save fuel.
Reduce idling time
In vehicles with the Start-Stop system idling
is automatically reduced. In vehicles without
the Start-Stop system it is worth switching off
the engine, for example, at level crossings and at traffic lights that remain red for long
periods of time. When an engine has reached
operating temperature, and depending on
the cylinder capacity, keeping it switched off
for a minimum of about 5 seconds already
saves more than the amount of fuel necessa-
ry for restarting.
The engine takes a long time to warm up
when it is idling. Mechanical wear and pollu-
tant emissions are also especially high dur-
ing this initial warm-up phase. It is therefore
best to drive off immediately after starting
the engine. Avoid running the engine at high
speed.
Regular maintenance
Regular servicing helps in saving fuel even
before the engine is started. A well-serviced
engine gives you the benefit of
improved fuel
efficiency as well as maximum reliability and
an enhanc
ed resale value. A badly serviced
engine can consume up to 10% more fuel
than necessary.
Avoid short journeys
The engine and catalytic converter need to
reach their optimal operating temperature in
order to minimise fuel consumption and
emissions.
A cold engine consumes a disproportionate
amount of fuel. The engine reaches its work-
ing temperature after about four kilometres
142

Checking and refilling levels
especially if the battery is not fully charged
initially.
To restore the necessary energy balance, the
system will then temporarily shut off the elec-
trical devices that are using a lot of power, or
reduce the current they are consuming. Heat-
ing systems in particular use a large amount
of electrical power. If you notice, for instance,
that the seat heating* or the rear window
heater is not working, they may have been
temporarily switched off or regulated to a
lower heat output. These systems will be
available again as soon as sufficient electri-
cal power is available.
You may also notice that the engine runs at a
slightly faster idling speed when necessary.
This is quite normal, and no cause for con-
cern. The increased idling speed allows the
alternator to meet the greater power require-
ment and charge the battery at the same
time. Checking and refilling levels
Refuelling Filling the tank Read the additional information carefully
›››  page 31
If the automatic filler nozzle is operated cor-
rectly, it will switch itself off as soon as the
fuel tank is “full”. Do not try to put in more
fuel after the nozzle cuts out, as this will fill
the expansion chamber in the fuel tank.
The correct fuel grade for your vehicle is giv-
en on a sticker on the inside of the fuel tank
flap. Further notes on fuel can be found at
››› page 195 .
The c ap
acity of the fuel tank is listed in the
vehicle
technical specifications ›››
page 268. WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable and can cause seri-
ous burns and other injuries.
● Do not smoke when filling the fuel tank or a
canister. Naked flames are forbidden in the
vicinity due to the risk of explosion.
● Observe legislation governing the use,
storage and carrying of a spare fuel canister
in the vehicle.
● For safety reasons we do not recommend
carrying a spare fuel canister in the vehicle. In an accident the canister could be damaged
and could leak.
●
If, in exceptional circumstances, you have
to carry a spare fuel canister, please observe
the following points:
– Never fill fuel into the spare fuel canister
if it is inside or on top of the vehicle. An
electrostatic charge could build up during
filling, causing the fuel vapour to ignite.
Danger of explosion. Always place the
canister on the ground to fill it.
– Insert the filling nozzle as far as possible
into the spare fuel canister.
– If the spare fuel canister is made of met-
al, the filling nozzle must be in contact
with the canister during filling. This
helps prevent an electrostatic charge
building up.
– Never spill fuel in the vehicle or in the
luggage compartment. Fuel vapour is ex-
plosive. Risk of fatal accident! CAUTION
● If any fuel is spilt onto the vehicle, it
should be removed immediately. It could oth-
erwise damage the paintwork.
● Never run the tank completely dry. An irreg-
ular fuel supply could cause misfiring. As a
result, unburnt fuel could enter the exhaust
system and damage the catalytic converter.
● When filling the fuel tank after having run it
completely dry on a vehicle with a diesel en-
gine, the ignition must be switched on for at » 193
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials

Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
Natural gas is a highly explosive, easily flam-
mable substance. Incorrect handling of the
natural gas can cause accidents serious
burns and other injuries.
● Before refuelling with natural gas, engage
the filling mouth correctly. If you can smell
gas, stop refuelling immediately. WARNING
The vehicle is not prepared to use liquefied
natural gas (LNG), and this fuel must not be
added under any circumstances. Liquefied
natural gas can cause the natural gas tank to
explode, resulting in serious injury. Note
● The filling nozzles of natural gas pumps
can differ in the way they are operated. If you
do not know, ask a qualified employee at the
petrol station to do the refuelling.
● Noises heard when refuelling are normal
and do not indicate the presence of a fault in
the system.
● The vehicle natural gas system is prepared
both for refuelling with a small compressor
(slow refuel) and a large compressor (fast re-
fuel) in natural gas service stations. Fuel
Types of petrol The correct grade of petrol is listed inside the
fuel tank flap.
The vehicle is equipped with a catalytic con-
verter and must only be run on
unleaded pet-
rol. The petrol must comply with European
St and
ard EN 228 or German standard DIN
51626-1 and must be unleaded. You can re-
fuel with a maximum ethanol proportion of
10 % (E10). The types of petrol are differenti-
ated by their octane rating (RON).
The f o

llowing titles appear on the corre-
sponding adhesive on the fuel tank flap:
Super unleaded 95 octane or normal 91
octane unleaded petrol
We recommend you use super 95 octane pet-
rol. If this is not available: normal 91 octane
petrol, with a slight decrease in power.
Super unleaded petrol with a minimum of 95
octanes
You should use super petrol with a minimum
of 95 octanes.
If super is not available, in an emergency you
may refuel with normal 91 octane petrol. In
this case only use moderate engine speeds
and a light throttle. Refuel with super as soon
as possible. Super unleaded 98 octane or super 95
octane unleaded petrol
We recommend you use super plus 98 octane
petrol. If this is not available: super 95 oc-
tane petrol, with a slight decrease in power.
If super is not available,
in an emergency you
may refuel with normal 91 octane petrol. In
this case only use moderate engine speeds
and a light throttle. Refuel with super as soon
as possible.
Petrol additives
The quality of the fuel influences the behav-
iour, power and service life of the engine.
This is why the petrol you use should carry
suitable additives already included by the
petrol industry, free of metals. These addi-
tives will help to prevent corrosion, keep the
fuel system clean and prevent deposits from
building up in the engine.
If good-quality petrol with metal-free addi-
tives is not available or engine problems
arise, the necessary additives must be added
when refuelling ››› .
Not all petrol additives have been shown to
be effective. The use of unsuitable petrol ad-
ditives may cause significant damage to the
engine and the catalytic converter. Metal ad-
ditives should never be used. Metal additives
may also be contained in petrol additives for
improving anti-detonation ratings or octane
ratings ››› .
»
195
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials

Advice
SEAT recommends “genuine Volkswagen
Group Fuel Additives for petrol engines”.
These additives can be bought at SEAT deal-
ers, where information on how to use them
can also be obtained. CAUTION
● Do not refuel if the filler indicates that the
fuel contains metal. LRP ( lead replacement
petrol) fuels contain high concentrations of
met a
l additives. Using them may damage the
engine!
● Never refuel with fuels containing a large
proportion of ethanol (for example, E50, E85).
This could damage the fuel system.
● Just filling one full tank of leaded fuel or
fuel containing other metal additives would
seriously impair the efficiency of the catalytic
converter.
● Only use fuel additives that have been ap-
proved by SEAT. Octane boosting or anti-
knock additives may contain metal additives
that could seriously damage the engine or
the catalytic converter. These additives must
not be used.
● High engine speed and full throttle can
damage the engine when using petrol with an
octane rating lower than the correct grade for
the engine. Note
● You may use petrol with a high octane num-
ber than the one recommended for your en-
gine.
● In those countries where unleaded petrol is
not available, you may refuel with a fuel with
a low lead content. Diesel Fuel
Please note the information on the inside of
the fuel tank flap.
We recommend the use of
diesel fuel which
c omp

lies to European standard EN 590. If
diesel fuel which meets European standard
EN 590 is not available, the Cetane number
(CZ) must, at minimum, be 51. If the engine
is equipped with a particulate filter, the sul-
phur content of the fuel must be below 50
parts per million.
Winter-grade diesel
Summer fuel becomes thicker in winter and it
is more difficult to start the engine. For this
reason, petrol stations in some countries al-
so offer winter diesel with improved fluidity
when cold (winter-grade diesel). Water in the fuel filter
1)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine and is
equipped with a
fuel filter with a water sepa-
rator, the instrument panel may display the
following warning:  Water in the fuel filter.
If thi

s is the case, take the vehicle to a speci-
alised workshop so that they can drain the
fuel filter. CAUTION
● The vehicle is not designed for the use of
FAME fuel (biodiesel). The fuel system would
be damaged if you used biodiesel.
● Do not mix fuel additives, the so-called
“thinners”, petrol or similar additives with
diesel fuel.
● If poor-quality diesel fuel is used, it may be
necessary to drain the fuel filter more fre-
quently than is specified in the Maintenance
Programme. We recommend having this done
by a specialised workshop. If water is allowed
to collect in the filter, this can cause engine
performance problems. Natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas can be compressed or in liquid
form, addition to others.
1)
Valid for the market: Algeria.
196

Checking and refilling levels
Oil propertiesEngine typeSpecification
Petrol without flexible
service intervalVW 502 00/VW 504 00
Petrol with flexible serv-
ice interval (LongLife)VW 504 00
Diesel. Engines without
Particulate filter (DPF)VW 505 01/VW 506 01/VW
507 00
Diesel. Particulate Filter
Engines (DPF).
With or without flexible
service interval (with
and without LongLife) a)VW 507 00
Natural gas enginesVW 502 00
a)
Only use recommended oils, otherwise you may damage the
engine.
Engine oil additives
No type of additive should be mixed with the
engine oil. The deterioration caused by these
additives is not covered by the warranty. Note
Before a long trip, we recommend finding an
engine oil that conforms to the correspond-
ing VW specifications and recommend keep-
ing it in the vehicle. This way, the correct en-
gine oil will always be available for a top-up if
needed. Checking engine oil level
Fig. 175
Engine oil dipstick. Read the additional information carefully
›››  page 31
The engine oil dipstick indicates the level of
the oil.
Checking oil level
– Park the vehicle in a horizontal position.
– Briefly run the engine at idle speed until
the operating temperature is reached and
then stop.
– Wait for about two minutes.
– Pull out the dipstick. Wipe the dipstick with
a clean cloth and insert it again, pushing it
in as far as it will go.
– Then pull it out once more and check the oil
level ››› Fig. 175 . Top up with engine oil if
nec e

ssary. Depending on how you drive and the condi-
tions in which the vehicle is used, oil con-
sumption can be up to 0.5 l/1000 km. Oil
consumption is likely to be higher for the first
5,000 km. For this reason the engine oil level
must be checked at regular intervals, prefera-
bly when filling the tank and before a jour-
ney.
WARNING
Any work carried out in the engine compart-
ment or on the engine must be carried out
cautiously.
● When working in the engine compartment,
always observe the safety warnings
››› page 198. CAUTION
If the oil level is above the area A do not
start the engine. This could result in damage
to the engine and catalytic converter. Contact
a Technical Service. 201
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials