Transport and practical equipment
●
In exceptional circumstances, if you must
drive with the rear lid open, observe the fol-
lowing to reduce the entry of toxic gases
inside the vehicle:
–Close all windows.
– Disable air recirculation mode.
– Open all of the air outlets on the instru-
ment panel.
– Switch on the blower to maximum. CAUTION
An open boot hatch changes the length and
height of the vehicle. Driving a loaded vehicle
For the best handling when driving a loaded
vehicle, note the following:
● Secure all objects ››› page 66 .
● Ac
celerate gently and carefully.
● Avoid sudden braking and manoeuvres.
● Brake early.
● If necessary, read the instructions for driv-
ing with a roof carrier system ››› page 77. WARNING
A sliding load could considerably affect the
stability and safety of the vehicle resulting in
an accident with serious consequences. ●
Secure loads correctly so they do not move.
● When transporting heavy objects, use suit-
able ropes or straps.
● Lock the seat backs in vertical position. Practical equipment
Introduction Storage compartments must only be used to
store light or small objects.
WARNING
In the event of sudden braking movements or
turns, loose objects may be thrown around
the vehicle interior. This could cause serious
injuries to passengers and cause the driver to
lose control of the vehicle.
● Do not transport animals or place hard,
heavy or sharp objects inside the vehicle in:
open storage compartments, dash panel, rear
shelf, items of clothing or bags.
● While driving, always keep object compart-
ments closed. WARNING
Objects falling into the driver's footwell could
prevent use of the pedals. This could lead the
driver to lose control of the vehicle, increas-
ing the risk of a serious accident. ●
Make sure the pedals can be used at all
times, with no objects rolling underneath
them.
● The floor mat should always be secured to
the floor.
● Never place other mats or rugs on top of
the original mat supplied by the factory.
● Make sure that no objects can fall into the
driver's footwell while the vehicle is in mo-
tion. CAUTION
● Objects on the shelf could chafe against
the wires of the heating element in the heat-
ed rear window and cause damage.
● Do not keep temperature-sensitive objects,
food or medicines inside the vehicle. Heat
and cold could damage them or render them
useless.
● Light-transparent objects placed inside the
vehicle, such as lenses, magnifying glasses
or transparent suction caps on the windows,
may concentrate the sun's rays and cause
damage to the vehicle. Note
The ventilating slits between the heated rear
window and the rear shelf must not be cov-
ered so that used air can escape from the ve-
hicle. 67
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Operation
The rate of wear of the brake pads
depend
s
t
o a great extent on the conditions in which
the vehicle is used and the way the vehicle is
driven. If the vehicle is used frequently in city
traffic or for short trips or driven sport style,
visit a specialised workshop regularly, more
frequently than advised in the Maintenance
Programme, to have the brake pads checked.
If you drive with wet brakes, for example, af-
ter crossing areas of water, in heavy rainfall
or even after washing the car, the effect of
the brakes is lessened as the brake discs are
wet or even frozen (in winter). At higher
speed, “dry” the brakes as quickly as possi-
ble by braking gently several times. Only do
this without endangering vehicles behind
you or any other road users ››› .
A layer of salt on the discs and brake pads
w i
ll reduce the effectiveness of the brakes
and increase braking distance. If you drive for
a prolonged period on salted roads without
braking then brake carefully several times to
eliminate the layer of salt on the brakes ››› .
If the vehicle remains parked for considera-
ble lengths of time, is used little, or if the
brakes are not used, there may be corrosion
on the brake discs and a build up of dirt on
the brake pads. If the brakes are not used fre-
quently, or if rust has formed on the discs,
SEAT recommends cleaning the pads and
discs by braking firmly a few times at a mod-
erately high speed. Only do this without en- dangering vehicles behind you or any other
road users
››› .
Faults in the brake system
During braking, if you notice that the vehicle
does not react as usual (that the braking dis-
tance has increased suddenly) it may be pos-
sible that there is a fault in the braking sys-
tem. This is indicated by the warning lamp
. Take the vehicle to a specialised work-
shop immedi at
ely and have the fault re-
paired. Drive at a moderate speed and be
prepared to use more pressure on the brake
pedal, and allow for longer stopping distan-
ces.
Brake servo
The brake servo only operates when the en-
gine is running and the pressure applied by
the driver on the brake pedal increases.
If the brake servo does not operate or the ve-
hicle must be towed, then the brake pedal
will have to be pressed with more force given
that the braking distance will be increased
when the brake servo does not operate ››› .
WARNING
New brake pads do not brake to full efficien-
cy.
● For the first 320 km, new brake pads have
not yet reached their maximum braking ca-
pacity, and need to be “run in” first. For this, to compensate for reduced braking efficiency
the brake pedal will have to be pressed with
more force.
●
To avoid losing control of the vehicle and
causing serious accidents, always take great
care when driving with new brake pads.
● When running in new brake pads, always
respect the safety distances between you and
other vehicles and do not cause situations re-
quiring extreme braking performance. WARNING
When brakes overheat, braking is less effi-
cient and braking distances increase.
● When driving on slopes, brakes can be
overloaded and overheat quickly.
● Reduce speed or change down a gear when
faced with steep and long slopes. This allows
you to use the engine braking effect and to
reduce the strain on the brake system.
● Non-standard or damaged front spoilers
could restrict the airflow to the brakes and
cause them to overheat. WARNING
Wet, frozen or salt-covered brakes take lon-
ger to engage and this increases braking dis-
tances.
● Test the brakes carefully.
● Dry the brakes, free them of ice and salt by
braking gently several times, when visibility, 92
Advice
Tyres that are over 6 years old
Tyres are subject to an ageing process as a
result of physical and chemical processes.
This may affect their performance. Tyres
which are stored for long periods of time
without being used, harden and become
more fragile than tyres which are in constant
use.
SEAT recommends that tyres over six years
old are replaced with new tyres. This also ap-
plies to tyres (including the spare wheel)
which appear to be in perfect condition on
the outside and which have a tread depth
within the values stipulated by the Law ››› .
The date of manufacture, part of the tyre
identification number (TIN), indicates the age
of the tyre ( ) ››› page 167 .
St orin
g tyres
Mark tyres when you remove them to indicate
the direction of rotation (left, right, forwards,
backwards). This ensures you will be able to
mount them correctly when you replace
them. When removed, the wheels and/or
tyres should be stored in a cool, dry and pref-
erably dark location. Do not place tyres
mount
ed on the wheel in a vertical position.
Protect tyres not mounted on wheels from
dirt by storing them in suitable bags and
standing them on the ground on their tread. WARNING
Aggressive fluids or substances could result
in visible or invisible damage with the conse-
quent risks.
● Always ensure that tyres do not come into
contact with chemical products, oil, grease,
fuel, brake fluid or other aggressive substan-
ces. WARNING
Old tyres, even if they have never been used,
may lose air or burst unexpectedly while driv-
ing, resulting in serious accident or damage.
● If tyres are over six years old, they should
only be used in an emergency and with ex-
treme caution. For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of by qualified
personnel according to the laws in the coun-
try concerned. Wheel rims
The design of wheel bolts is matched to the
rims. If different rims are fitted, the correct
wheel bolts with the right length and correct-
ly shaped bolt heads must be used. This en-
sures that wheels are fitted securely and that
the brake system functions correctly
››› page 174 . F
or t
echnical reasons, it is not generally pos-
sible to use the wheels from other vehicles.
In some cases, this may also be true for the
same model of wheel.
The tyres and rims approved by SEAT are spe-
cially matched to the characteristics of the
vehicle and are critical to good road holding
and safe handling.
Note for Italy:
A SEAT Service Centre should
be consulted whether different sized wheels
or tyres to those originally fitted by SEAT may
be fitted, as well as the combinations al-
lowed between the front axle (axle 1) and
back axle (axle 2).
Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must be tightened to the correct
torque ››› page 174
.
Beadlock wheel rims
Beadlock wheel rims have various compo-
nents. These are joined together by special
bolts using a special procedure. This ensures
good performance, a better seal, improved
safety and wheel run out. Therefore, worn
rims should always be replaced and must on-
ly be repaired in a specialised workshop.
SEAT recommends visiting a technical service
››› .
160
Advice
If the wheel bolt is very tight, you may be
able to loosen it by pushing down on the end
of the wheel brace carefully with your foot.
Hold on to the vehicle for support and take
care not to slip.
Loosening wheel bolts
● Fit the wheel brace as far as it will go over
the wheel bolt ››› Fig. 127 .
● Ho l
d the wheel brace at the end and rotate
the bolt approximately one turn anticlockwise
››
› .
Loosening anti-theft wheel bolts
For wheels with full hubcap, the anti-theft
wheel lock must be threaded into position
››› Fig. 128 2 before mounting the hubcap.
Otherwise it will not be possible to mount the
entire hubcap.
● Take the adapter for anti-theft wheel bolts
out of the vehicle tool kit.
● Insert the adapter onto the wheel bolt
››› Fig. 128 . Push it on as far as it will go.
● Fit the wheel
brace onto the adapter as far
as possible.
● Hold the wheel brace at the end and rotate
the bolt approximately one turn anticlockwise
››
› . Important information about wheel bolts
The wheel rims and bolts have been de-
signed to be fitted to factory options. If differ-
ent rims are fitted, the correct wheel bolts
with the right length and correctly shaped
bolt heads must be used. This ensures that
wheels are fitted securely and that the brake
system functions correctly.
In some circumstances, wheel bolts from the
same model vehicle should not be used.
Wheel bolt tightening torque
The prescribed tightening torque for wheel
bolts for steel and alloy wheels is
110 Nm
.
Hav e the tight
ening torque of the wheel bolts
checked as soon as possible with a reliable
torque wrench.
If wheel bolts are rusty and it is difficult to
tighten them, the threads should be replaced
and cleaned before checking the tightening
tor
que.
Never grease or lubricate wheel bolts or the
wheel hub threads. Although they have been
tightened to the prescribed torque, they
could come loose while driving. WARNING
If the wheel bolts are not fitted correctly they
could be released while driving leading to
loss of vehicle control and serious damage. ●
Only use wheel bolts which correspond to
the wheel rims in question.
● Never use different wheel bolts.
● The bolts and threads should be clean, free
of oil and grease and easy to thread.
● To loosen and tighten the wheel bolts, al-
ways use the wheel brace supplied with the
vehicle.
● Loosen the wheel bolts only about one turn
before raising the vehicle with the jack.
● Never grease or lubricate wheel bolts or the
wheel hub threads. Although they have been
tightened to the prescribed torque, they
could come loose while driving.
● Never loosen the bolted joints of wheel
rims with bolted ring trims.
● If the wheel bolts are not tightened to the
correct torque, they may come loose while
driving, and the bolts and rims may come
out. If the tightening torque is too high, the
wheel bolts and threads can be damaged. 176
Advice
Changing the windscreen wiper
blades Changing windscreen wiper blades Fig. 141
Changing the front wiper blades Fig. 142
Changing the rear wiper blade The windscreen wiper blades are supplied as
standard with a layer of graphite. This layer is
responsible for ensuring that the wipe is si-
lent. If the graphite layer is damaged, the noise of the water as it is wiped across the
windscreen will be louder.
Check the condition of the wiper blades regu-
larly.
If the wipers scrape across the glass
they shou
ld be changed if they are damaged,
or cleaned if they are dirty ››› .
Damaged wiper blades should be replaced
immediately. These are available from quali-
fied workshops.
Lifting and unfolding the wiper arms
The wiper arm may only be lifted at the point
wher e it
is fastened to the blade.
For windscreen wipers, please note: the wip-
er should be in service position before un-
folding it ››› page 60.
Cl
eaning windscreen wiper blades
● Lifting and unfolding the wiper arms.
● Use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt
from the windscreen wiper blades.
● If the blades are very dirty, a sponge or
damp cloth may be used ››› .
Changing the windscreen wiper blades
● Lifting and unfolding the wiper arms.
● Hold down the release button
››› Fig. 141 1 while gently pulling the blade
in the direction of the arrow. ●
Fit a new wiper blade of the same length
and design on to the wiper arm and hook it
int o p
lace.
● Rest the wiper arms back onto the wind-
screen.
Changing the rear wiper blade
● Lift the windscreen wiper arm and fold it at
an angle of approximately 60° ››› Fig. 142.
● Pre
ss and hold the release button 1 .
● Fold the wiper blade towards the wind-
screen wiper arm ››› Fig. 142 (arrow A ) while
simultaneously pulling in the direction of ar-
row B . This may require some strength.
● Insert a new blade of the same length and
type in the windscreen wiper arm in the op-
po s
ite direction to the arrow B and hook in-
to place. This feature is operational when the
knob is in position (arrow A ).
● Return the windscreen wiper arm to the
windscreen. Do not let it simply drop down! WARNING
Worn or dirty wiper blades reduce visibility
and increase the risk of accident and serious
injury.
● Always replace damaged or worn blades or
blades which do not clean the windscreen
correctly. 188