Operation
Air conditioning
Heating, ventilation and air
conditioning system Introduction Dust and pollen filter
The dust and pollen filter with its activated
charcoal cartridge serves as a barrier against
impurities in the interior ambient air.
For the air conditioner to work with maximum
efficiency, the dust and pollen filter must be
replaced at the intervals specified in the
Maintenance Programme.
If the filter loses efficiency prematurely due
to use in areas with very high levels of air
pollution, the filter must be changed more
frequently than stated in the Service Sched-
ule.
WARNING
Reduced visibility through the windows in-
creases the risk of serious accidents. ●
Ensure that all windows are free of ice and
snow and that they are not fogged up pre-
venting a clear view of everything outside.
● The maximum heat output required to de-
frost windows as quickly as possible is only
available when the engine has reached its
normal running temperature. Only drive when
you have good visibility.
● Always ensure that you use the heating
system, ventilation, air conditioner and the
heated rear window to maintain good visibili-
ty.
● Never leave the air recirculation on for a
long period of time. If the cooling system is
switched off and air recirculation mode
switched on, the windows can mist over very
quickly, considerably limiting visibility.
● Switch air recirculation mode off when it is
not required. WARNING
Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and re-
duce driver concentration possibly resulting
in a serious accident.
● Never leave the fresh air fan turned off or
use the air recirculation for long periods of
time; the air in the vehicle interior will not be
refreshed. CAUTION
● Switch the air conditioner off if you think it
may be broken. This will avoid additional
damage. Have the air conditioner checked by
a specialised workshop.
● Repairs to the air conditioner require spe-
cialist knowledge and special tools. SEAT rec-
ommends taking your car in for technical
service. Note
● When the cooling system is turned off, air
coming from the outside will not be dried. To
avoid fogging up the windows, SEAT recom-
mends leaving the cooler (compressor) on. To
do this, press the A/C button. The button
lamp should light up.
● The maximum heat output required to de-
frost windows as quickly as possible is only
available when the engine has reached its
normal running temperature.
● Keep the air intake slots in front of the
windscreen free of snow, ice and leaves to en-
sure heating and cooling are not impaired,
and to prevent the windows from misting
over. 80
OperationControl buttonAdditional information. Heating and ventilation system
››› Fig. 76 and air conditioning system ››› Fig. 77.
Air distribution towards the windscreen and the footwell.
Air conditioner: press the button to turn off/on the cooling system
››› page 82.
4 Air conditioner: sliding control for air recirculation ››› page 84.
Switching offTurn the air fan switch 2 to position 0.Heated rear window
The heated rear window button
is located
on the centre console. The heated rear win-
dow only works when the engine is running
and switches off automatically after a maxi-
mum of 10 minutes. WARNING
Never turn off the air fan for a long time or the
air in the vehicle interior will not be refresh-
ed.
● Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and
reduce driver and passenger concentration
possibly resulting in a serious accident. Heating and ventilation system user
instructions
Temperature
The desired temperature for the interior can-
not be lower than that of the exterior air tem- perature, as the heating and fresh air system
cannot cool or dehumidify the air.
Setting for conditions of optimal visibility
● Set the fan ››› Fig. 76 2 to setting 1 or 2.
● Turn the temperature control ››› Fig. 76 1 to the centre position.
●
Open and direct the air outlets in the dash
panel ››› page 83.
● Turn the air di
stribution control
››› Fig. 76 3 to the required position.
User instructions for the air
conditioner* The interior cooling system only works when
the engine is running and the fan is switched
on.
The air conditioning operates most effective-
ly with the windows closed. However, if the
vehicle has heated up after standing in thesun for some time, the air inside can be
cooled more quickly by opening the windows
briefly.
Setting for conditions of optimal visibility
When the air conditioning is switched on, the
temperature and the air humidity in the vehi-
cle interior drop. In this way, when the out-
side air humidity is high, the windows do not
mist over and comfort for the vehicle occu-
pants is improved.
● Disable air recirculation mode
››› page 84.
● Set the f
an to the required setting.
● Turn the temperature control to the centre
position.
● Open and direct the air outlets in the dash
panel ››› page 83.
● Turn the air di
stribution control to the de-
frost position.
82
Air conditioning
● Press the A/C button to switch it on. The in-
dicator on the button will light up.
The cooling system does not switch on
If the air conditioning system cannot be
switched on, this may be caused by the fol-
lowing:
● The engine is not running.
● The fan is switched off.
● The air conditioner fuse has blown. ●
The outside temperature is lower than ap-
proximately +2 °C (+36 °F).
● The air conditioner compressor has been
temporarily switched off because the engine
coolant temperature is too high.
● Another fault in the vehicle. Have the air
conditioner checked by a specialised work-
shop.
Things to note
If the humidity and temperature outside the
vehicle are high, condensation
can drip off the ev aporator in the cooling system and
form a pool underneath the vehicle. This is
normal and does not indicate a leak! Note
After starting it, any residual humidity in the
air conditioner could mist over the wind-
screen. Switch on the defrost function as
soon as possible to clear the windscreen of
condensation. Air vents
Fig. 78
Dash panel: Air vents Air vents
Never close the air vents
››› Fig. 78 A com-
pletely to ensure heating, cooling and venti-
lation inside the vehicle. ●
To open the air vents press the recess with
one slat.
● Change the air direction by turning the
slats.
● To close the air vents, fold the slats. There are additional air vents in the centre of
the dash panel and in the footwell area.
»
83
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Operation
CAUTION
Never place food, medicines or other heat-
sensitive objects close to the air vents. Being
heat-sensitive, they may be damaged or
made unsuitable for use by the air coming
from the air vents. Air recirculation
Important
Air recirculation mode prevents the ambient
air from entering the interior.
When the outside temperature is very high or
very low, selecting manual air recirculation
mode for a short period refreshes or heats
the interior more quickly.
● Switch off air recirculation mode by turning
the air distribution control to the ››› po-
sition.
Switching the air recirculation mode on and
off
Switching on: Move the sliding control
› ›
› Fig. 77 4 to the right to maximum.
Switching off: Move the sliding control
› ›
› Fig. 77 4 to the left to maximum. WARNING
Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and re-
duce driver concentration possibly resulting
in a serious accident.
● Never use recirculation mode for long peri-
ods as it does not refresh the air inside the
vehicle.
● If the cooling system is switched off and air
recirculation mode switched on, the windows
can mist over very quickly, considerably limit-
ing visibility.
● Switch air recirculation mode off when it is
not required. CAUTION
Do not smoke when the air recirculation is ac-
tivated. The smoke taken in could lie on the
cooling system vaporiser and on the dust and
pollen filter, leading to a permanently un-
pleasant smell. Driving
Steering Introduction The power steering* is not hydraulic but elec-
tromechanical. The advantage of this steer-
ing system is that it disposes of hydraulic
tubes, hydraulic oil, the pump, filter and oth-
er components. The electromechanical sys-
tem saves fuel. While a hydraulic system re-
quires oil pressure to be maintained, electro-
mechanical steering only requires energy
when the steering wheel is turned.
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
steering only works when the engine is run-
ning.
WARNING
If the power steering is not working then the
steering wheel is much more difficult to turn
and the vehicle more difficult to control.
● The power steering only works when the
engine is running.
● Never allow the vehicle to move when the
engine is switched off.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehicle is in motion. The steering may 84
Driving
Environmental friendliness Environmental protection is a top priority in
the design, choice of materials and manufac-
ture of your new SEAT.
Constructive measures to encourage
recycling
● Joints and connections designed for easy
dismantling
● Modular construction to facilitate disman-
tling
● Increased use of single-grade materials.
● Plastic parts and elastomers are marked in
accordance with ISO 1043, ISO 11469 and
ISO 1629.
Choice of materials
● Use of recycled materials.
● Use of compatible plastics in the same part
if its components are not easily separated.
● Use of recycled materials and/or materials
originating from renewable sources.
● Reduction of volatile components, includ-
ing odour, in plastic materials.
● Use of CFC-free coolants.
Ban on heavy metals, with the exceptions
dictated by law (Annex II of ELV Directive
2000/53/EC): cadmium, lead, mercury, hexa-
v al
ent chromium. Manufacturing methods
●
Reduction of the quantity of thinner in the
protective wax for cavities.
● Use of plastic film as protection during ve-
hicle transport.
● Use of solvent-free adhesives.
● Use of CFC-free coolants in cooling sys-
tems.
● Recycling and energy recovery from resi-
dues (RDF).
● Improvement in the quality of waste water.
● Use of systems for the recovery of residual
heat (thermal recovery, enthalpy wheels,
etc.).
● The use of water-soluble paints. Correct economical and ecological
driving Fig. 84
Fuel consumption in litres per 100 km
at 2 different outside temperatures Fuel consumption, environmental impact and
engine, brake and tyre wear depend largely
on three factors:
●
Personal driving style.
● Conditions of use (weather, road surface).
● Technical requirements.
Savings of up to 25% in fuel consumption
are possible with an appropriate driving style
and the adoption of certain simple tips.
Changing gear early
General instructions: The highest gear is al-
ways the most economical. As a guide, for
most vehicles at a speed of 30 km/h
(19 mph), drive in third gear, at 40 km/h »
99
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Operation
(25 mph) in fourth gear and at 50 km/h
(31 mph) in fifth gear.
In addition, “skipping” gears when shifting
up helps to save fuel, weather and traffic
conditions permitting.
Do not wait until the last moment before
changing gear. Only use first gear when you
move off and change to second gear quickly.
Avoid the kick-down function in vehicles with
automatic gearbox.
Vehicles with a gear display help to achieve
an economical driving style as the display in-
dicates the best moment to change gear.
Let the vehicle roll
If you take your foot off the accelerator, the
fuel supply is stopped and consumption is
reduced.
Allow the vehicle to roll without accelerating,
for example when approaching a red traffic
light. However, if the vehicle is rolling too
slowly or the distance is too long, the clutch
pedal should be pressed to declutch. The en-
gine will then operate at idle speed.
If the vehicle is going to be at a standstill for
a period of time, switch off the engine; for ex-
ample, while waiting at a level crossing.
Think ahead and “flow” with the traffic
Frequent acceleration and braking considera-
bly increase fuel consumption. If you think ahead as you drive and keep a safe distance
from the vehicle in front, it is possible to slow
down by simply lifting your foot off the accel-
erator. This eliminates the need for constant
braking and acceleration.
Calm and steady driving
Constancy is more important than speed: The
more you drive at a constant speed, the lower
the fuel consumption.
When driving on the motorway, it is more effi-
cient to drive at a constant and more moder-
ate speed than to be continuously accelerat-
ing and braking. As a general rule, you will
reach your destination just as quickly when
you drive at a constant speed.
The cruise control function helps you to ach-
ieve a constant style of driving.
Moderate use of additional devices
It is important to travel in comfort, but con-
venience systems should be used ecological-
ly.
Some equipment, when connected, increase
fuel consumption considerably, for example:
●
Air conditioning cooling system: If the air
conditioning system is required to cool to
significantly lower temperatures than the true
outside temperature, it will require a large
amount of energy from the engine. Therefore,
we recommend that the selected temperature for the vehicle is not too different to the out-
side temperature. It is a good idea to air the
vehicle before starting your journey and to
drive a short distance with the windows
open. Then you can close the windows and
switch on the air conditioning. Keep windows
closed when travelling at high speeds. Driv-
ing with the windows open increases fuel
consumption.
●
Switch off the seat heating when the seats
have warmed up.
● Switch off the heated rear window when it
is not moist or covered in ice.
Avoid short journeys
Fuel consumption is much higher when the
engine is cold, immediately after it has been
started. It takes a few kilometres of driving
for the engine to warm up and to normalise
consumption.
The engine and catalytic converter need to
reach their proper working temperature in or-
der t o minimi
se fuel consumption and emis-
sions. The ambient temperature has a deci-
sive influence.
Fig. 84
shows the difference in consumption
for the same journey at +20 °C (+68 °F) and
at -10 °C (+14 °F).
Therefore, unnecessary short journeys
should be avoided. Try to combine trips.
100
Care and maintenance
consumables should be changed at a speci-
alised workshop. Technical services are per-
manently informed of any modifications. WARNING
The incorrect use or handling of fluids or con-
sumables may result in accident, serious in-
jury, burns or intoxication.
● Therefore, fluids must always be stored
closed in their original container.
● Never store fluids in empty food containers
or bottles as other people may accidentally
drink the fluid.
● Keep all fluids and consumables out of
reach of children.
● Read and observe the information and
warnings given on the fluid containers.
● Only work in the open air or in well-ventila-
ted zones, when using products which give
off harmful vapours.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, ace-
tone or any other volatile liquid in the main-
tenance of the vehicle. These are toxic and
highly flammable. They could lead to fire or
explosions! CAUTION
● Only use appropriate fluids. Do not confuse
fluids as this can cause serious malfunctions
or engine damage.
● Accessories and other components moun-
ted in front of the air inlet reduce the cooling effect of the coolant. If the engine is running
under great strain in high outside tempera-
tures, it could overheat.
For the sake of the environment
Leaking fluids could pollute the environment.
Collect any spilt fluids in suitable containers
and dispose of them in accordance with legis-
lation and with respect for the environment. Repairs and technical changes
When performing repairs and technical mod-
ifications, SEAT's directives must be ob-
served!
›
›› Unauthorised modifications to the electronic
components or software in the vehicle may
cause malfunctions. Due to the way the elec-
tronic components are linked together in net-
works, other indirect systems may be affec-
ted by the faults. This may significantly affect
the vehicle's performance, increase compo-
nent wear and could mean that the vehicle
registration documents are no longer valid.
Your SEAT Official Service cannot be held lia-
ble for any damage caused by technical mod-
ifications or repairs performed incorrectly.
The SEAT Official Service does not accept lia-
bility for damage resulting from technical
modifications or repairs performed incorrect-ly; neither is the SEAT warranty valid in these
cases.
SEAT recommends you have any technical
modifications or repairs performed at a SEAT
Official Service and that you use
genuine
SEAT spare parts ®
.
Vehicles with special accessories and
equipment
The manufacturers of additional equipment
guarantee that the equipment complies with
applicable laws and regulations with respect
to the environment, in particular Directives
2000/53/CE and 2003/11/CE. The first direc-
tive governs the disposal of end-of-life vehi-
cles while the second refers to the restric-
tions on the marketing and use of certain
dangerous substances and preparations.
The vehicle owner should keep the documen-
tation for the additional equipment safely
and hand it over to the scrap yard at the end
of the vehicle's service life. This ensures that
any additional equipment mounted in end-of-
life vehicles is correctly disposed of with re-
spect for the environment. WARNING
Repairs or modifications which are not per-
formed correctly may result in damage or er-
rors in the vehicle operation, affecting the ef-
fectiveness of the driver assist systems. This
could result in serious accident. » 119Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Advice
metal additives. Using them may damage the
engine!
● Only use fuel with an octane rating that is
in line with the norm EN 228, otherwise sig-
nificant damage could be caused to the en-
gine and fuel system. Furthermore, it could
lead to a loss of performance with the conse-
quent engine fault.
● The use of unsuitable petrol additives could
seriously damage the engine and the catalyt-
ic converter.
● If, in exceptional circumstances, petrol with
a lower octane rating to that recommended is
used, only use moderate engine speeds and a
light throttle. Avoid using full throttle and
overloading the engine. Otherwise engine
damage may occur. Fill up with fuel of a suita-
ble octane rating as soon as possible.
● Just filling one full tank of leaded fuel or
with other metal additives would seriously
impair the efficiency of the catalytic convert-
er and could damage it. Natural gas
Natural gas, in addition to others, can be in
liquid form.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the result of
heavy cooling of natural gas. Therefore its
volume is considerably reduced compared
with compressed natural gas (CNG). In vehi-
cles with a natural gas engine, liquefied nat-
ural gas cannot be directly refilled, as the gas would expand excessively in the vehicle gas
tank.
Therefore, vehicles with a natural gas engine
must only be refuelled using compressed
natural gas
››› .
Natural gas quality and consumption
Natural gas is divided into the groups H and
L depending on its quality.
Gas type H has a superior heating power and
inferior nitrogen and carbon dioxide content
than type L. The higher the heating power of
the natural gas, the lower the consumption
will be.
However, the heating power and the propor-
tion of nitrogen and carbon dioxide can fluc-
tuate within the quality groups. Therefore, ve-
hicle consumption can also vary when using
one type of gas only.
The engine management automatically
adapts to the natural gas used according to
its quality. Therefore, different quality gases
can be mixed in the tank, without the need
for comprehensive draining before applying a
different quality gas.
Natural gas and safety
If you can smell gas or suspect that there is a
leak ››› :
● Stop the vehicle immediately. ●
Switch the ignition off.
● Open the doors to appropriately ventilate
the vehicle.
● Immediately extinguish cigarettes.
● Move away from the vehicle or switch off
objects that may cause sparks or a fire.
● If you continue to smell gas, do not contin-
ue driving!
● Seek specialist assistance. Have the fault
repaired. WARNING
Failure to act when you can smell gas in the
vehicle or when refuelling can cause serious
injuries.
● Carry out the necessary operations.
● Leave the danger zone.
● If necessary, warn the emergency services. 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 natural gas system must be subject to
regular inspections at a specialised work-
shop in accordance with the Maintenance
Programme. 138