2014 Seat Leon SC engine overheat

Operation
Engine cold
If only the diodes in the lower part of the
scale light up, this indicates that the engine
has not yet reached operating temperature.
Avoid high revs and heavy acceleration and
do not make the engine work hard.
Normal temperature
If in normal operations, the diodes light up
until the central zone, it means that the en-
gine has reached operating temperature. At
high outside temperatures and when making
the engine work hard, the diodes may contin-
ue lighting up and reach the upper zone. This
is no cause for concern, provided the control
lamp  does not light up on the instrument
panel digital display.
Heat range
When the diodes light up in the upper area of
the display and the control lamp appears 
on the instrument panel display, the coolant
temperature is excessive ››› page 203. CAUTION
● To ensure a long useful life for the engine,
avoid high revs, driving at high speed and
making the engine work hard for approxi-
mately the first 15 minutes when the engine
is cold. The phase until the engine is warm al-
so depends on the outside temperature. If
necessary, use the engine oil temperature*
››› page 77 as a guide. ●
Additional lights and other accessories in
front of the air inlet reduce the cooling effect
of the coolant. At high outside temperatures
and high engine loads, there is a risk of the
engine overheating.
● The front spoiler also ensures proper distri-
bution of the cooling air when the vehicle is
moving. If the spoiler is damaged this can re-
duce the cooling effect, which could cause
the engine to overheat. Seek specialist assis-
tance. Fuel level - Gas
Fig. 85
Fuel gauge. Displays
2 and
6
››› Fig. 82 only work 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 yellow control lamp 
lights up when the
reserve level has been reached.
The green warning lamp 
lights up when the
vehicle is running in natural gas operating
mode.
The green warning lamp 
switches off when
the natural gas is exhausted. The engine
changes to operate with petrol.
Problem:
If the vehicle is left parked for a
long time immediately after refuelling, the
natural gas level indicator may not accurately
indicate the same level shown after refuelling
when the vehicle is started up again. This is
not due to a leak in the system, but to a drop
in pressure in the gas tank for technical rea-
sons after a cooling phase just after refuel-
ling.
Fuel level - Petrol/Diesel Fig. 86
Fuel gauge.70

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

Driving
remains switched on. Make sure that the igni-
tion is switched off before leaving the
vehicle, otherwise the battery could dis-
charge.
Braking and parking
Using the handbrake Fig. 142
Handbrake between the front seats. The handbrake should be applied firmly to
prevent the vehicle from accidentally rolling
away.
Always apply the handbrake when you leave
your vehicle and when you park.
Applying the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up firmly
››› Fig. 142 . R
el easing the handbrake
– Pull the lever up slightly and press the re-
lease knob in the direction of the arrow
››› Fig. 142 and guide the handbrake lever
down f

ully ››› .
Always pull the handbrake all the way up, so
there is less risk of driving off with it still en-
gaged ››› .
The handbrake warning lamp  lights up
when the handbrake is applied and the igni-
tion switched on. The warning lamp turns off
when the handbrake is released.
If you drive faster than 6 km/h (4 mph) with
the handbrake on, the following message*
will appear on the instrument panel display: HANDBRAKE ON. You will also hear an audible
warning. WARNING
● Never use the handbrake to stop the vehi-
cle when it is in motion. The braking distance
is considerably longer, because braking is
only applied to the rear wheels. Risk of acci-
dent!
● If the handbrake is only partially released,
this will cause the rear brakes to overheat,
which can impair the function of the brake
system and could lead to an accident. This al-
so causes premature wear on the rear brake
pads. CAUTION
Always apply the handbrake before you leave
the vehicle. Put it in 1st gear as well. Parking
The handbrake should always be firmly ap-
plied when the vehicle is parked.
Always note the following points when park-
ing the vehicle:
– Use the brake pedal to stop the vehicle.
– Apply the handbrake.
– Put it in 1st gear.
– Switch the engine off and remove the key
from the ignition. Turn the steering wheel
slightly to engage the steering lock.
– Never leave a vehicle key in the vehicle.
Additional notes on parking the vehicle on
gradients:
Turn the steering wheel so that the vehicle
rolls against the kerb if it started to roll. ● If the vehicle is parked facing downhill,
turn the front wheels so that they point to-
wards the kerb .
● If the vehicle is parked facing uphill
, turn
the fr ont

wheels so that they point away from
the kerb
. »
131
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials

Operation
When accelerating, the gearbox automatical-
ly shifts up into the next gear shortly before
the maximum engine speed is reached.
If you select a lower gear, the automatic gear-
box will not shift down until there is no risk of
overrevving the engine.
When the kick-down feature is used, the
gearbox shifts down to a lower gear, depend-
ing on road speed and engine speed.
Driving tips The gearbox changes gear ratios automatical-
ly as the vehicle moves.
The engine can only start with the selector
lever in the position P or N. At low tempera-
tures, below -10°C (50°F), the engine can on-
ly start with the selector lever in the position
P.
Starting the vehicle
– Press and hold the brake pedal.
– Press and hold the interlock button (the
button on the selector lever handle), move
the selector lever to the desired position,
for instance D
› ››
page 133, and release the
interlock button.
– Wait for the gearbox to engage the gear (a
slight movement can be felt). –
Release the brake and press the accelerator
››› .
Stopping briefly – Apply the foot brake to hold the vehicle
briefly when stationary (for instance at traf-
fic lights). Do not press the accelerator.
Stopping/Parking
If the driver door is opened and the selector
lever is not in position P, the vehicle could
move. The driver message will be:  Gear
change: selector lever in the drive position!. Additionally, a buzzer will sound.
– Press and hold the brake pedal ››› .
– Apply the handbrake.
– Move the selector lever to position P.
Holding the car on a hill – Always apply the brake pedal firmly to pre-
v ent

the vehicle from “moving backwards;
if necessary, apply the handbrake” ››› .
Do not
try to stop the vehicle “rolling back”
b

y increasing the engine speed when a
gear is engaged (pressing the accelerator)
››› .
Moving off uphill in vehicles without Hill
start assistant* – Apply the handbrake. –
Once you have engaged a gear press the
accelerator carefully and disengage the
handbrake.
Moving off uphill in vehicles with Hill start
assistant* – Once you have engaged a gear, release the
footbrake and press the accelerator
››› page 147, Hill driving assistant*.
Driving down hills: in some situations (on
mountain roads or when towing a trailer or
caravan) it can be advantageous to switch
temporarily to the manual gearbox pro-
gramme so that the gear ratios can be selec-
ted manually to suit the driving conditions
››› .
On level ground it is sufficient to move the
selector lever to position P. On slopes, first
engage the parking brake and then put the
selection lever into the P position. This
avoids overloading the locking mechanism
and it will be easier to move the selector lev-
er from position P. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ››› in Selector
lever positions on page 133.
● Never allow the brake to rub and do not use
the brake pedal too often or for long periods.
Constant braking causes overheating in the 136

Driving
brakes. This could significantly reduce brak-
ing power, increase braking distance or even
result in the total failure of the brake system.
●
To avoid rolling back on gradients always
hold the vehicle with the footbrake or hand-
brake if you have to stop. CAUTION
● If you stop the vehicle on a gradient, do not
attempt to stop it from rolling by depressing
the accelerator when a gear has been selec-
ted. This could cause overheating and dam-
age the automatic gearbox. Apply the hand-
brake firmly or press the brake pedal in order
to prevent the vehicle from rolling back.
● If you allow the car to roll with the selector
lever in position N with the engine switched
off, the automatic gearbox will be damaged
as it will not be lubricated.
● In certain driving situations or traffic condi-
tions, such as frequently starting, prolonged
“creeping” of the vehicle or traffic jams with
continuous stoppages, the gearbox could
overheat causing damage! If the warning
lamp  lights up, stop the vehicle as soon as
possible and wait for the gearbox to cool
››› page 139
. Kick-down feature
The kick-down feature allows maximum ac-
celeration to be reached.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right
down past the point of resistance at full throt-
tle, the gearbox will shift down to a lower
gear, depending on road speed and engine
speed. The upshift to the next higher gear is
delayed until the engine reaches maximum
rpm.
WARNING
Please note that if the road surface is slip-
pery or wet, the kick-down feature could
cause the driving wheels to spin, which could
result in skidding. Launch Control Programme
3 Valid for vehicles: with Launch-Control/6-Speed
DSG with diesel engines superior to 125 kW and
petrol engines superior to 140 kW.
The Launch control programme enables maxi-
mum acceleration.
Important: the engine must have reached op-
erating temperature and the steering wheel
must not be turned. The engine speed for launch-control is differ-
ent on petrol and diesel engines. To use the
launch-control you must disconnect the anti-
slip regulation (ASR) through the Easy Con-
nect system menu
››› page 81. The warning
lamp  will stay switched on or will flash
s
lowly depending on whether or not the vehi-
cle has a driver information system*.
On vehicles with the driver information sys-
tem, the ESC lamp lights up permanently and
the corresponding text message Stability con-
trol deactivated (temporary) appears on the
instrument panel to indicate the deactivation
status.
– When the engine is running, switch off the
traction control (ASR) 1)
.
– Turn the selector lever to the position “S”
or tiptronic, or else select the sport driving
mode from the SEAT Drive Profile*
››› page 169.
– Pre

ss the brake pedal firmly with your left
foot and hold it down for at least one sec-
ond.
– With your right foot, press the accelerator
down to the full throttle or kick-down posi-
tion. The engine speed will stabilise at
about 3,200 rpm (petrol engine) or about
2,000 rpm (diesel engine). »1)
Vehicles without driver information system: the
warning lamp flashes slowly/Vehicles with driver in-
formation system: the warning lamp stays on. 137
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials

Driving
Applying both the inertia mode (= prolonged
section w ith l
ess energy) and the switching
off using inertia (= shorter section without
the need for fuel) facilitates improved fuel
consumption and emission balance. WARNING
● If the inertia mode has been switched on,
take into account, when approaching an ob-
stacle and releasing the accelerator pedal,
that the vehicle will not decelerate in the usu-
al manner: risk of accident!
● When using inertia mode while travelling
down hills, the vehicle can increase speed:
risk of accident!
● If other users drive your vehicle, warn them
about inertia mode. Note
● Inertia mode is only available in eco (SEAT
Drive Profile*) driving mode.
● The driver message Inertia is only displayed
w ith the c

urrent consumption. In inertia
mode the gear will no longer be displayed
(for example “E” will appear instead of “E7”).
● On downhill sections with gradients above
15 %, the inertia mode will automatically be
switched off temporarily. Backup programme
A backup programme is in place if a fault
should occur in the control system.
If all the positions of the selector lever are
shown over a light background on the instru-
ment panel display, there is a system fault
and the automatic gearbox will operate in
with the backup programme. When the back-
up programme is activated, it is possible to
drive the vehicle, however, at low speeds and
within a selected range of gears. In some ca-
ses
driving in reverse gear may not be possi-
ble . CAUTION
If the gearbox operates with the backup pro-
gramme, take the vehicle to a specialised
workshop and have the fault repaired without
delay. Clutch

Clutch overheating! Please stop!
The clutch has overheated and could be dam-
aged. Stop the vehicle and wait for the gear-
box to cool with the engine at idling speed
and the selector lever in position P. When the
warning lamp and the driver message switch
off, have the fault corrected by a specialised
workshop without delay. If the warning lamp
and the driver message do not switch off, do not continue driving. Seek specialist assis-
tance.
Faults in the gearbox 
Gearbox: Fault! Stop the vehicle and place
the lever in the position P.
There is a fault in the gearbox. Stop the vehi-
cle in a safe place and do not continue driv-
ing. Seek specialist assistance.  Gearbox: System fault! You may continue
driving.
Have the fault corrected by a specialised
workshop without delay.  Gearbox: System fault! You can continue
driving with restrictions. Reverse gear disa-
bled
Take the vehicle to a specialised workshop
and have the fault repaired without delay.  Gearbox: System fault! You can continue
driving in D until switching off the engine
Stop the vehicle in a safe place well away
from moving traffic. Seek specialist assis-
tance.  Gearbox: too hot. Adapt your driving ac-
cordingly
Continue driving at moderate speeds. When
the warning lamp switches off, you can con-
tinue driving in a normal manner. »
139
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
Brake assist system
The brake assist system can reduce the re-
quired braking distance. The braking force is
automatically boosted if you press the brake
pedal quickly in an emergency. You must
keep pressing the brake pedal until the dan-
ger has passed.
Traction control system (ASR)
In the event of wheelspin, the traction control
system reduces the engine torque to match
the amount of grip available. This helps the
car to start moving, accelerate or climb a gra-
dient.
Electronic differential lock (EDL)
When the EDL detects wheelspin, it brakes
the spinning wheel and directs the power to
the other driven wheel. This function is active
up to approximately 100 km/h.
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel
from overheating, the EDL cuts out automati-
cally if subjected to excessive loads. The ve-
hicle can still be driven. The EDL will switch
on again automatically when the brake has
cooled down.
Tractor-trailer sway mitigation*
If the vehicle is pulling a trailer, it will control
the following: Tractor-trailers tend to sway.
When the swaying of the trailer is felt by the
vehicle and detected by the ESC, it will auto- matically brake the towing vehicle within the
limits of the system and mitigate the sway.
Tractor-trailer sway mitigation is not available
in all countries.
Electronic self-locking*/Selective torque
control*
When driving around bends, an electronic
self-locking intervenes. The front wheel on
the inside of the curve, or the two inside
wheels, respectively, are selectively braked
as required. This minimises the traction of
the front wheels, allowing you to take bends
with greater precision and neutrality. In cer-
tain circumstances, where roads are wet or
snow-covered, the respective system may not
intervene.
Multi-collision brake
In an accident, the multi-collision brake can
help the driver by braking to avoid the risk of
skidding during the accident, which could
lead to further collisions.
The multi-collision brake works for front, side
or rear accidents, when the airbag control
unit records its activation level and the acci-
dent takes place at a speed of over 10 km/h
(6 mph). The ESC automatically brakes the
vehicle, as long as the accident has not dam-
aged the ESC, the brake hydraulics or the on-
board network.
The following actions control automatic brak-
ing during the accident:
●
When the driver presses the accelerator,
the automatic braking does not take place.
● When the braking pressure through press-
ing the brake pedal is greater than the sys-
tem’s braking pressure the vehicle will brake
automatically.
● Multi-collision braking will not be available
if ESC is malfunctioning. WARNING
● The ESC, ABS, ASR, EDL, electronic self-
locking differential or selective torque control
systems cannot exceed the limits imposed by
the laws of physics. Always bear this in mind,
especially on wet or slippery roads. If you no-
tice the systems cutting in, you should re-
duce your speed immediately to suit the road
and traffic conditions. Do not be encouraged
to take risks by the presence of more safety
systems. If you do, an accident may occur.
● Please remember that the accident risk al-
ways increases if you drive fast, especially in
corners or on a slippery road, or if you follow
too close behind the vehicle in front of you.
The ESC, ABS, brake assist, EDL, electronic
self-locking and selective torque control sys-
tems cannot prevent accidents: risk of acci-
dents! 144