Driving
lock and it will not be possible to turn the
steering wheel.
Control and warning lampsIt lights
upPossible causeSolution
(red)Power steering
faulty.
The steering system
should be checked
by a specialised
workshop as soon as
possible.
(yellow)Power steering op-
eration reduced.
The steering system
should be checked
by a specialised
workshop as soon as
possible.
If, after restarting the
engine and driving
for a short distance,
the yellow warning
lamp no longer
comes on, it will
not
be necessary to take
the vehicle to a spe-
cialised workshop.
FlashesPossible causeSolution
(red)
Fault in the steer-
ing column elec-
tronic lock. Do not drive on!
Seek professional
advice.
FlashesPossible causeSolution
(yellow)
Steering column
deviation.Gently turn the steer-
ing wheel to and fro.
Steering wheel not
unlocked or
locked.
Remove the key from
the ignition and then
switch the ignition
back on. If necessa-
ry, check the mes-
sages displayed on
the instrument panel
display.
Do not drive on, if
the steering column
remains locked after
the ignition has
been switched on.
Seek specialist as-
sistance. Several warning and control lamps light up
for a few seconds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds.
WARNING
If the warning lamps are ignored, the vehicle
may stall in traffic, or may cause accidents
and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible. CAUTION
Failure to heed the warning lamps when they
appear may result in faults in the vehicle. Information on the steering
To prevent theft, we recommend you lock the
steering before leaving the vehicle.
Mechanical steering lock
Lock the steering column by removing the
key from the ignition when the vehicle is
stopped.
Please engage steer-
ing lockUnlocking the steering
Parking the vehicle
››› page 89.Insert the key in the igni-
tion lock.
Remove the key from the
ignition.Turn the steering wheel
slightly to release the
steering lock.
Turn the steering wheel
slightly until you hear the
steering lock.Hold the steering wheel in
this position and switch
on the ignition. Electromechanical power steering
With the power steering system, the assisted
steering function automatically adjusts ac-
cording to the vehicle speed, the steering tor-
que and the wheel turning angle. The power
»
85
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Operation
steering only works when the engine is run-
ning.
You should remember that you will need con-
siderably more power than normal to steer
the vehicle if the power steering is not work-
ing correctly or not at all.
Stopping and starting the
engine
Introduction Immobiliser display
When an invalid key is used or in the event of
a system fault, is displayed on the instru-
ment panel. The engine cannot be started.
Pushing or towing
For technical reasons, the vehicle must
not
be push- or tow-started. Jump starting is pref-
erable. WARNING
Switching off the engine while driving makes
stopping the vehicle difficult. As a conse-
quence you may lose control of the vehicle
and there is a risk of serious accident.
● The assisted braking and steering systems,
the airbag system, seat belts and certain safety equipment are only active while the
engine is running.
●
The engine should only be switched off
when the vehicle is at a standstill. WARNING
While the engine is running or starting it
could help reduce the risk of serious injury.
● Never start or leave the engine running in
poorly ventilated or closed spaces. Exhaust
gas contains carbon monoxide, a toxic, col-
ourless and odourless gas. Carbon monoxide
can cause people to lose consciousness. It
can also cause death.
● Never leave the vehicle unattended if the
engine is running. The vehicle could move off
suddenly or something unexpected could
happen resulting in damage and serious in-
jury.
● Never use start boosters. Cold start sprays
could explode or increase the engine speed
unexpectedly. WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
very high temperatures. This could cause a
fire and considerable damage.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhaust system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as wood, leaves,
spilled fuel, dried grass, etc). ●
Never apply additional underseal or anti-
corrosion coatings to the exhaust pipes, cata-
lytic converter or the heat shields on the ex-
haust system. Ignition lock
Fig. 79
Vehicle key positions Car keys ››› Fig. 79
No key in the ignition lock: The steering lock may
be activated.
0Ignition switched off. Key can be removed from
the vehicle.
1Ignition is switched on. The steering lock can be
unlocked.
2Switch on the engine. Release the key when the
engine has started. When it is released, the key
returns to position 1
.86
Driving
Key not authorised for the vehicle
If a key which is not authorised for this vehi-
cle is inserted in the ignition lock, it can be
removed as follows:
● Automatic gearbox : the key cannot be re-
moved from the ignition lock. Press and re-
lease the selector lever locking button. Key
can be removed from the vehicle.
● Manual gearbox : Remove the key from the
ignition. WARNING
Unsuitable or careless use of the vehicle key
could result in serious injury.
● Always take all the keys with you whenever
you leave the vehicle. If not, the engine could
accidentally be started and electrical equip-
ment such as the windows could accidentally
be operated resulting in serious injury.
● Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the car. Passengers could be trapped
in the car in an emergency and not be able to
get themselves to safety. For example, de-
pending on the time of the year, tempera-
tures 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.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehicle is in motion. The steering may
lock and it will not be possible to turn the
steering wheel. Note
● If the key is left in the ignition lock with the
engine off for long periods, the vehicle bat-
tery will run flat.
● For automatic gearbox vehicles the key can
only be removed from the ignition lock if the
gear selector lever is in position P. In this
case, press and release the selector lever
locking button. Starting the engineComplete operations only in the sequence giv-
en.
1.Press the brake pedal and keep pressed until
step 5 has been completed.
1 a.In vehicles with a manual gearbox: Press the
clutch pedal all the way and keep pressed un- til the engine starts.
2.Put the gearbox lever in neutral or the selector lever in position N.
3.Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
››› Fig. 79 2; do not press the accelerator.
4.When the engine has started, release the key
in the ignition lock.
5.If the engine does not start, stop the processand try again after one minute.
6.Release the handbrake when you want to be- gin driving ››› page 89. WARNING
Never leave the vehicle unattended if the en-
gine is running. The vehicle could move off
suddenly, especially if it is in gear, resulting
in an accident and serious injury. WARNING
Cold start sprays could explode or cause a
sudden increase in the engine speed.
● Never use start boosters. CAUTION
● An attempt to start the engine while driving
or starting the engine immediately after turn-
ing it off can cause damage to the engine or
starter motor.
● When the engine is cold, avoid high revs
and heavy acceleration and do not make the
engine work hard.
● Do not push or tow start the engine. Un-
burnt fuel could damage the catalytic con-
verter. For the sake of the environment
Do not warm the engine at idle speed; start
driving immediately if the visibility is OK.
This helps the engine reach operating tem-
perature faster and reduces emissions. » 87
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Operation
Note
● Electrical devices with a high power con-
sumption are switched off temporarily when
the engine starts.
● When the engine is started cold, there may
be strong vibrations for a few moments for
technical reasons. This is quite normal, and
no cause for concern.
● Natural gas engines always start up with
petrol, as a certain operating temperature is
required for running with gas. Once the re-
quired operating temperature is reached, the
engine will change to operate with natural
gas. Stopping the engineComplete operations only in the sequence giv-
en.
1.Stopping the vehicle completely
››› .
2.Press the brake pedal and keep pressed until
step 4 has been completed.
3.In automatic gearboxes, put the selector lever in position D or R.
4.Apply the handbrake firmly ››› page 89.
5.Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
››› Fig. 79 0.
6.With a manual gearbox, put the vehicle in first
or reverse gear. WARNING
Never switch off the engine while the vehicle
is moving. You may lose control of the vehicle
and there is a risk of serious accident.
● The airbags and belt tensioners do not
work when the ignition is switched off.
● The brake servo does not work with the en-
gine off. To stop, the brake pedal must be
pressed with more force.
● As the power steering does not work if the
engine is not running, you will need more
strength to steer than normally.
● If the key is removed from the ignition, the
steering may lock and it will not be possible
to steer the vehicle. CAUTION
If the engine has been driven at high speed
for a prolonged period of time, it may over-
heat when turned off. To avoid engine dam-
age, allow the engine to run for approximate-
ly 2 minutes in neutral before switching it off. Note
After stopping the engine, the engine com-
partment fan may continue running for a few
minutes, even when the ignition has been
switched off or the key removed. The radiator
fan is automatically switched off. Electronic immobiliser
The gear lock prevents the engine from being
started with an unauthorised key and the ve-
hicle being moved.
The vehicle key has a built-in chip. It auto-
matically deactivates the electronic immobil-
iser when the key is inserted into the ignition
lock.
The electronic immobilizer will be activated
again automatically as soon as you remove
the key from the ignition lock.
For this reason, the vehicle can only be used
with a genuine SEAT key with the correct
code. Coded keys can be obtained from SEAT
dealerships
›››
page 43 .
If an u
nauthorised key is used, the signal
appears on the instrument panel display. The
vehicle cannot be started in this case Note
The correct operation of the vehicle is only
guaranteed when original SEAT keys are
used. 88
Driving
Braking and parking Introduction The assisted braking systems
are the elec-
tr
onic distribution of the brake force (EBV),
the anti-lock brake system (ABS), the brake
assist system (BAS), the electronic differen-
tial lock (EDL), the traction control (TC), the
traction control system (ASR) and the elec-
tronic stability control (ESC*). WARNING
Driving with worn brake pads or a faulty
brake system may lead to serious accident.
● If you believe the brake pads to be worn or
the brake system to be faulty, immediately
refer to a specialised workshop to check the
brake pads and replace the worn ones. WARNING
Careless parking can cause serious injury.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehicle is in motion. The steering lock
may engage and lock the steering wheel mak-
ing the vehicle impossible to control.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhaust system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as wood, leaves,
dried grass, spilled fuel, etc.).
● Always apply the handbrake when you
leave your vehicle and when you park. ●
Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the vehicle. They could release the
electronic parking brake, activate the selec-
tor lever or gear stick and start the vehicle
moving. This could result in a serious acci-
dent.
● Always take all the keys with you whenever
you leave the vehicle. The engine could acci-
dentally be started and electrical equipment
such as the windows could accidentally be
operated resulting in serious injury.
● 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. For example, de-
pending on the time of the year, tempera-
tures 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. CAUTION
● Special care should be taken when parking
in areas with high kerbs or fixed barriers. Ob-
jects protruding from the ground may dam-
age the bumper or other parts of the vehicle
during manoeuvres. To avoid damage, stop
before the wheels touch the barrier or kerb.
● Special attention is required when driving
through entrances, over ramps, kerbs or oth-
er objects. The vehicle underbody, bumpers,
mudguards and running gear, and the engine
and exhaust system could be damaged as
you drive over these objects. Warning and control lamps
It lights
upPossible cause
››› Solution
Handbrake ap-
plied.›››
page 90.
Fault in the brake
system Do not drive on!
Seek professional
advice ››› page 92.
Brake fluid level
inadequate. Do not drive on!
Check brake fluid
level ››› page 153.
Together with the
ABS control lamp
: ABS and EBV
do not function.
Do not drive on!
Seek professional
advice ››› page 92.
ESC* disconnec-
ted by system.Switching the igni-
tion on and off If
necessary, drive for a
short distance.
Fault in ESC*.Contact a special-
ised workshop.
Together with the
ABS control lamp
: Fault in the
ABS.
Contact a special-
ised workshop. The
vehicle can be
braked without ABS.
The battery has
been reconnected.››› page 154.
Traction Control
faulty or switched
off by the system.Contact a special-
ised workshop.»
89
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Operation
(yellow)It lights up
The automatic
gearbox over-
heats temporari-
ly.Let the transmission cool with the
gearbox lever in the position .
When the control lamp does not
light up, find the nearest special-
ised workshop and have the auto-
matic gearbox checked.
It lights up
Place the automatic
gearbox lever in the
position
and do not
press the brake pedal.
Press the brake pedal to select
a gear range.
Together with the yel-
low control lamp for
the temperature of the
transmission
: the
automatic gearbox
overheats.
Press brake pedal and let the
transmission cool. Avoid
pressing the accelerator. When
the control lamp does not light
up, find the nearest special-
ised workshop and have the
automatic gearbox checked.
Together with the turn
signal display in the
instrument panel dis-
play: the automatic
gearbox lever is not in
the position
, indica-
tion to start the en-
gine.
Move the gearbox lever to the
position and start the en-
gine.
Flashes
An automatic gearbox
in the vehicle does
not guarantee that the
vehicle will not roll
away.Apply the handbrake.
Flashes
In the instrument pan-
el display, in addition
to the control lamp re-
questing the brake
pedal to be pressed
: indicated for start-
ing the engine.
Move the gearbox lever to the
position and start the en-
gine.
On the instrument
panel display: Whilst
driving in a forward di-
rection, try to move
the automatic gearbox
lever to the position
.
Stop the vehicle and move the
gearbox lever to the position in order to subsequently
change to the position .
On the instrument
panel display: The au-
tomatic gearbox lever
was placed in the po-
sition
or , but the
brake pedal was not
pressed.
Press the brake pedal, move
the gearbox lever to the posi-
tion
, and subsequently to
the required position or . When switching on the ignition some warn-
ing and control lamps light up for a short
time to check the operations. They will switch
off after a few seconds.Manual gearbox: engaging gears
Fig. 81
Gear shift pattern of a 5-speed man-
ual gearbox The position of each of the gears is shown on
the gear stick
››› Fig. 81 .
● Keep the c
lutch pedal pushed all the way
down.
● Move the gearbox lever to the required po-
sition ››› .
● Release the clutch pedal to engage clutch.
In some countries, it is necessary to press the
clutch pedal to the floor to start the engine.
Selecting reverse gear
● Engage reverse gear only when the vehicle
is stopped.
● Keep the clutch pedal pushed all the way
down ››› .
94
Driving
● Place the gearbox lever into neutral and
push the lever downwards.
● Slide the gearbox lever to the right, and
then backward as shown on the lever.
● Release the clutch pedal to engage clutch.
Shifting down a gear
Shifting down a gear while driving must be
carried out gear by gear, i.e. to the gear im-
mediately preceding the current gear and at
an engine speed that is not excessive ››› .
At high speeds, or high engine speeds, skip-
ping one or various gears when shifting
down a gear can cause damage to the clutch
and the gearbox, even if the clutch is not en-
gaged during the process ››› .
WARNING
When the engine is running, the vehicle will
start to move as soon as a gear is engaged
and the clutch released.
● Never engage the reverse gear when a vehi-
cle is moving forward. WARNING
As a consequence of shifting down a gear in-
correctly, you may lose control of the vehicle
and cause an accident with serious conse-
quences. CAUTION
If, at high speeds or high engine speeds, the
gear lever is shifted down to a gear that is too
low, serious damage can be caused to the
clutch and gearbox. This may also happen if
you press the clutch pedal and it does not en-
gage. CAUTION
To prevent damage and avoid premature
wear, please observe the following:
● While driving, do not leave your hand rest-
ing on the gear stick. The pressure applied by
your hand is transmitted to the gearbox se-
lector forks.
● Always ensure that the vehicle is complete-
ly stopped before engaging the reverse gear.
● When changing gear, always make sure the
clutch pedal is pushed right to the floor.
● Never hold the vehicle “on the clutch” on
hills with the engine on. Automatic gearbox: engaging a gear
Fig. 82
Automatic gearbox diagram of gears To move the gear selector lever from the posi-
tion
N
to D or to R, first press and hold the
brake pedal.
In the instrument panel display, with the igni-
tion switched on, the selected gear range or
the gear engaged in the gearbox is shown.
Posi-
tionsDenomi- nationMeaning ›››
Reverse
gearReverse gear is selected. En-
gage only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Neutral
The gear box is in neutral. No
movement is transmitted to
the wheels and the engine
does not act as a brake.
»
95
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Driving
Driving down hills
The steeper the gradient, the lower the gear
you will need to select. The lowest gears in-
crease the engine braking work. Never go
down hills with the selector lever in neutral
N .
● You shou
ld reduce speed accordingly.
● Place the lever in the position D to the left
on the Tiptronic shift gate M
››› page 96.
● Gently pull the selector lever back – to
change down a gear.
Starting when going up a slope
The steeper the gradient, the lower the gear
you will need.
When stopping on a slope with a gear range
engaged, the vehicle must be prevented from
rolling backwards by always pressing the
brake pedal or pulling the handbrake lever
up. When starting, release the brake pedal or
the handbrake ››› .
Kick-down
The kickdown system provides maximum ac-
celeration when the gear selector lever is in
the position D
, or in the Tiptronic position M
.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right
down, the automatic gearbox will shift down
to a lower gear, depending on road speed
and engine speed. This takes advantage of the maximum acceleration of the vehicle
››› .
When the accelerator is pressed to the floor,
the automatic gearbox shifts to the next gear
only after the engine reaches the specified
maximum engine speed. WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction
and skidding, especially on slippery ground.
This could cause loss of control of the vehicle
resulting in an accident and serious injury.
● Always adapt your driving style to suit the
flow of traffic.
● Only use the kick-down function or rapid
acceleration if visibility, weather, road and
traffic conditions so permit.
● Never put other road users in danger by ac-
celerating or with your driving style. CAUTION
If you stop on a hill with a gear range engag-
ed, do not try to prevent the vehicle from roll-
ing back by pressing on the accelerator. Oth-
erwise, the automatic gearbox may overheat
causing damage. Automatic gearbox malfunction
Back-up programme
When automatic gearbox warning and control
lamps light up on the instrument panel, there
may be a system malfunction
››› page 93. In
the event of some faults the automatic gear-
box functions using a backup programme.
When the programme is activated, it is possi-
ble to drive the vehicle, however, at low
speeds and within a selected range of gears.
With the manual gearbox, in some cases it is
not possible to drive with all the gears .
In all cases the automatic gearbox must be
checked at a specialised workshop.
Automatic gearbox overheating
The automatic gearbox can overheat with a
prolonged start up, or when stopping and
starting continuously. This overheating is dis-
played with a warning lamp in the instru-
ment panel. Additionally, an audible warning
can be heard. Stop and let the gearbox cool
››› .
The vehicle moves forward or back despite
having selected a gear range
When the vehicle does not move in the re-
quired direction, the system may not have
the gear range correctly engaged. Press the
brake pedal and engage the gear range
again. If the vehicle still does not move in the »
97
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety