Operation
Starting the engine
● Move the gearbox lever into neutral or
move the selector lever to position P
or N and
pull firmly on the handbrake.
● Press the clutch pedal all the way down 2›››
Fig. 89
›
›› p
age 97 and start the engine 3 ,
without pressing the accelerator. Keep the
clutch pedal pressed down until the engine
starts.
● Release the ignition key as soon as the en-
gine starts. The key returns to position 2 .
● If the engine does not start after 10 sec-
onds, turn the key back to position 1 . Re-
peat the action after 30 seconds.
● Release the handbrake before moving off.
Switching off the engine Stop the engine by turning the ignition key to
position
1
›››
Fig. 89 ›
›
›
page 97. Brakes and brake servo
systems
Introduction WARNING
● The brake servo only works when the en-
gine is running. Braking when the engine is
switched off requires applying more strength
to the brake pedal. Risk of accident!
● Press down on the clutch pedal when stop-
ping and braking with a manual gearbox, pet-
rol engine vehicle at low speed. Otherwise,
the brake servo might not work properly. Risk
of accident!
● In the event of damage to the standard
front spoiler or where a different front spoil-
er, wheel trims, etc. are subsequently fitted,
make sure the air vent to the brakes on the
front wheels is not blocked. Otherwise, brak-
ing operations may be impaired. Risk of acci-
dent!
● Always fully release the handbrake. If it is
only partially released, this will cause over-
heating of the rear brakes, which can impair
the function of the brake system. Risk of acci-
dent!
● Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. They could release the handbrake or
move the gear lever. The vehicle could start
moving. Risk of accident! ●
Insufficient fuel can cause the engine to run
irregularly or to switch off. Brake assist sys-
tems could be impaired. Risk of accident!
● Always adjust your driving style to suit visi-
bility, the weather and road and traffic condi-
tions. The best vehicle safety offered by
brake assist systems must never encourage
you to run greater risks. Risk of accident! CAUTION
● Observe the information concerning new
brake pads ››› page 104
.
● Wher e br
aking is not necessary, do not
wear down the brake pads by pressing down
gently on the brake pedal. This causes the
brakes to overheat, increasing their wear and
increasing braking distances.
● To ensure the brake assist systems work
properly, all wheels must be fitted with tyres
approved by the manufacturer. Note
● If you brake suddenly and the brake system
control unit regards the situation as hazard-
ous for the drivers behind you, the brake
lights will begin to flash automatically. After
reducing speed to approximately 10 km/h (6
mph) or stopping the vehicle, the brake lights
will stop flashing and the hazard warning
lights will switch on. The hazard warning
lights are automatically switched off when
you accelerate or restart the vehicle. 98
Driving
For the sake of the environment
Do not drive at unnecessarily high engine
speeds; changing to a higher gear sooner
contributes to saving fuel, reduces operating
noise and protects the environment. 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.
Catalytic converter An exhaust gas emission control system (cat-
alytic converter) that functions perfectly is vi-
tally important for vehicle operation that re-
spects the environment.Please observe the following indications:
● Refuel only using unleaded petrol in petrol
engine vehicles ››› page 130, Unleaded pet-
rol .
● Do not a
dd too much oil to the engine
››› page 136, Checking the engine oil level .
● Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
If you are required to drive in a country where
unleaded fuel is not available, when return-
ing to a country where using a catalytic con-
verter is obligatory, the catalytic converter
must be replaced. WARNING
● Due to the high temperatures that the cata-
lytic converter can reach, the vehicle must be
stopped so that the catalytic converter does
not come into contact with easily flammable
material underneath the vehicle. Risk of fire!
● Never use substances for additional under-
body protection or anti-corrosives for the ex-
haust pipes, the catalytic converter or the
heat-resistant screens. Risk of fire! CAUTION
● Never completely empty the tank! An irreg-
ular fuel supply can cause ignition faults,
which can result in damage to a substantial
amount of engine parts and the exhaust sys-
tem. » 105
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Operation
CAUTION
● In the event of driving through water, parts
of the vehicle can be seriously damaged,
such as the engine, gearbox, catalytic con-
verter, suspension or the electrical system.
● Oncoming vehicles that drive through wa-
ter can cause waves that exceed your vehi-
cle's permitted level for driving through wa-
ter.
● There may be pot-holes mud or rocks under
the water that can hinder or prevent driving
through water.
● Do not drive through salt water. The salt
can cause rust. All components that are ex-
posed to salt water must be rinsed immedi-
ately with fresh water. Note
After driving through water we recommend
that you contact a specialised service for an
inspection. Preventing damage to the vehicle
In order to prevent damage to the vehicle,
take special care:
● on roads that are in poor condition,
● when mounting kerbs,
● when approaching very steep ramps, etc., ●
with the parts of the vehicle situated on the
lower part of the vehicle, i.e. the spoiler, the
exhaust pipe.
This applies especially to vehicles with a very
low suspension (sport) and when the vehicle
is fully loaded. Driver assistance systems
Braking and stability systems Stability system (ESC) Fig. 95
ESC system: TCS switch. The ESC system increases control of the vehi-
cle in emergency situations, e.g. during a
sudden change in direction. Depending on
the driving conditions, it reduces the risk of
skidding and increases driving stability.
The system uses the steering wheel angle
and road speed to calculate the changes of
direction desired by the driver, and constant-
ly compares them with the actual behaviour
of the vehicle. When irregularities occur, for
example, if the vehicle begins to skid, the
ESC brakes the appropriate wheel automati-
cally.
108
Advice
Note
● Remove stains from fresh ball-pen and oth-
er inks, lipstick, shoe cream and similar
stains on the fabric (leather), upholstery and
fabric trim as soon as possible.
● We recommend that you visit an authorised
SEAT dealer to clean and care for the interior
of your vehicle, due to the problems that may
arise when cleaning and caring for the interi-
or of your vehicle and to the utensils and
knowledge required. Washing the vehicle
The best protection of the vehicle from the
harmful influences of the environment in-
volves
frequent washing and waxing. The fre-
quency w
ith which the vehicle is washed de-
pends on many different factors, such as:
● Frequency of use
● Type of parking (garage, underneath trees,
etc.)
● Time of year
● Weather conditions
● Environmental conditions
The longer substances such as insects, bird
droppings, resinous tree sap, road dirt, in-
dustrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt and
other aggressive materials remain on the
paintwork, the more damage they do. High temperatures (for instance in strong sunlight)
further intensify the corrosive effect.
After the winter season, it is important to
have the underside of the vehicle
wa
shed
thoroughly.
Automatic car washes Your vehicle can be washed in an automatic
car wash.
Before going through an automatic car wash,
be sure to take the usual precautions such as
closing the windows, etc.
If the vehicle has special accessories such as
spoilers or a roof rack or two-way radio aerial,
etc., it is advisable to consult the car wash
operator beforehand.
The windscreen wiper rubbers must be de-
greased after going after the car wash and
waxing.
Washing by hand When washing the car by hand, use plenty of
water to soften the dirt first and rinse off as
well as possible.
Then clean the vehicle with a
sponge, glove
or brush
. Start on the roof and work down.
U
se only slight pressure when cleaning the
painted surfaces of the vehicle. A car sham-poo should only be used for very persistent
dirt.
Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and of-
ten.
Wheels, sills and underside should be
cleaned last. Use a second sponge for this.
After washing, rinse the vehicle thoroughly
and then dry with a chamois.
Washing with high-pressure cleaners When cleaning the vehicle with a high-pres-
sure cleaner, always follow the operating in-
structions for the equipment. This particular-
ly applies to the
operating pressure and the
distance of the spray from the surface of the
v ehic
le. Do not hold the spray nozzle too
close to the parking aid system sensors and
soft materials, such as rubber hoses or insu-
lating material. WARNING
Do no use a nozzle that sprays the water out
in a direct stream or one that has a “rotating
jet”! CAUTION
Do not use water hotter than +60 °C (140 °F).
Risk of damage to the vehicle! 124
Care and maintenance
Waxing and polishing of the vehicle
paintwork Care
To a great extent, good waxing protects the
vehicle surface from the harmful effects of
the environment.
The vehicle must be treated with a high qual-
ity, hard wax when water no longer forms
droplets on clean paintwork.
A new coat of high quality, hard wax can be
applied to the clean, painted surface only
when it has fully dried. Even if a wax solution
is used regularly in the car wash, it is advisa-
ble to protect the paint with a coat of wax at
least twice a year.
Polishing
Polishing is only necessary if the paint has
lost its shine, and the gloss cannot be
brought back by applying wax.
The vehicle must be waxed after polishing if
the polish used does not contain wax com-
pounds to seal the paint.
CAUTION
● Never wax the windows.
● Do not use polishes and hard wax on pain-
ted parts with a matt finish or on plastic
parts. ●
Do not polish your vehicle in a sandy or
dusty environment. Cleaning chrome
Clean the chrome first with a clean cloth and
then buff up with a soft, dry cloth. If this does
not clean the chrome properly, use a special
chrome cleaner.
CAUTION
Do not polish the chrome in a dusty environ-
ment or it could be scratched. Paint damage
Minor damage to the paint, such as scratches
or stone chips, should be touched up without
delay using paint.
Suitable
touch-up brushes or sprays for the
c o
lour of your vehicle can be purchased from
authorised SEAT dealers. Note
We recommend you leave paint damage re-
pairs to a SEAT Authorised Service. Plastic parts
Exterior plastic parts will come clean using a
damp cloth. If this is not sufficient, plastic
parts can also be treated with special sol-
vent-free plastic cleaning detergents
.
Do not u
se paint cleaners, polishes or wax on
plastic parts.
Windows and exterior mirrors Remove snow and ice from windows and rear
vision mirrors with a plastic scraper only. To
avoid damaging the surface of the glass, the
scraper should only be pushed in one direc-
tion and not moved to and fro.
The windows should also be cleaned on the
inside at regular intervals.
Use a separate cloth or chamois to dry the
windows and rear vision mirrors.
Do not use the chamois used to polish the
bodywork to dry the windows. Waxing and
polishing residues could cause smears on
the glass and hinder visibility.
CAUTION
● Never use hot or boiling water to remove
snow and ice from the windows. Risk of crack-
ing glass! » 125
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Advice
Removing stains
Remove fresh water-based
stains such as cof-
f
ee, tea, juices, blood, etc. with an absorbent
cloth or kitchen roll. Use the special deter-
gent to clean dried-on stains.
Remove fresh
fat-based stains such as but-
ter
, mayonnaise, chocolate, etc. with an ab-
sorbent cloth or paper towel or use the spe-
cial detergent if the stain has not yet soaked
through the surface.
Use a grease-dissolving product to treat
dried-in, fat-based stains.
Treat less common stains such as ball-pen
and other inks, felt-tip pens, nail polish,
emulsion paint, shoe cream etc. with a spe-
cial leather stain remover.
Leather care
The leather should be treated regularly
(about twice a year) with a leather-care prod-
uct.
Apply the protective product very sparingly.
Dry the leather with a soft, dry cloth. CAUTION
● Avoid exposing leather to direct sunlight
for long periods so that it does not lose its
colour. If the car is left for a prolonged period
outdoors, cover the leather so that it does
not lose its colour. ●
Sharp-edged objects on clothing, such as
zips, rivets or belts can leave permanent
scratches and rough marks on the surface of
the leather.
● Use of a mechanical steering wheel lock
can damage the leather surface of the steer-
ing wheel. Note
● Use a suitable impregnating cream with ul-
tra-violet protection at regular intervals and
after cleaning. The cream will nourish and
moisturise the leather, keep it supple and
able to breathe. In addition, it will also help
to protect the surface of the leather.
● Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months and
remove fresh dirt as necessary.
● Preserve the colour of the leather. A special
coloured cream for leather will renew the col-
our of more heavily worn areas as required.
● Leather is a natural material with specific
properties. During vehicle use, the appear-
ance of parts of the leather covers may
change; folds or wrinkles may appear as a re-
sult of their use. Seat belts
Keep the seat belts clean!
Wash soiled seat belts with mild, soapy wa-
ter, removing any heavier dirt with a soft
brush.Check the condition of all seat belts at regu-
lar intervals.
Very soiled belts may not retract properly.
WARNING
● The seat belts should never be removed
from the vehicle for cleaning.
● Never clean using chemical products, as
chemical detergents destroy the fabric. En-
sure that the seat belts do not come into con-
tact with corrosive fluids such as acids, etc.
● If you find any damage to the belt webbing,
belt fittings, the belt retractor or the buckle,
the belt in question must be replaced by an
Official Service.
● Make sure that the inertia reel seat belts
are completely dry before allowing them to
retract. 128
Advice
away from the glass. Otherwise the paint-
work may be damaged.
– Pull the release catch in the direction of the
arrow 2
››› Fig. 108 and the bonnet will be
r el
eased.
– Hold and lift the bonnet.
– Remove the support strut 3
››› Fig. 109
from its fastening in the direction of the ar- row and secure the raised bonnet so that
the end of the strut hooks onto the opening
in the bonnet
4 .
Closing the bonnet – Lift the bonnet slightly and unhook the
support strut keeping the bonnet open and
insert it into its fastening 3 .
–
Let the bonnet drop from a height of
around 20 cm into the catch Do not press
down afterwards!
– Check that the bonnet is correctly closed.
Checking fluid levels Fig. 110
Diagram for the location of the various elements. From time to time, the levels of the different
fluids in the vehicle must be checked. Never
fill with incorrect fluids, otherwise serious
damage to the engine may be caused.
Coolant expansion tank . . . . . . . . . . .138
Window washer water tank . . . . . . . .139
Engine oil filler cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
1 2
3 Engine oil level dipstick
. . . . . . . . . . .136
Brake fluid reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
The checking and replenishment of the serv-
ice fluids are carried out on the components
mentioned above. These operations are de-
scribed in the ››› page 132 .
4 5
6 Overview
You will find further explanations, instruc-
tions and restrictions on the technical speci-
fications as of
››› page 174 . Note
The layout of the engine compartment is very
similar to all petrol and diesel engines. 134
Checking and refilling levels
Radiator fan The radiator is driven by an electric motor
and controlled according to the temperature
of the coolant.
After the engine has been stopped and the
ignition switched off, the radiator fan may
continue running for around 10 minutes.
Engine oil
General notes The engine comes with a special, multi-grade
oil that can be used all year round.
Because the use of high-quality oil is essen-
tial for the correct operation of the engine
and its long useful life, when topping up or
changing oil, use only those oils that comply
with VW standards.
The specifications (VW standards) set out in
the following page should appear on the con-
tainer of the service oil; when the container
displays the specific standards for petrol and
diesel engines together, it means that the oil
can be used for both types of engines.
We recommend that the oil change indicated
in the Maintenance Programme, be per-
formed by a technical service or specialised
workshop. The correct oil specifications for your engine
are listed in the
››› page 136, Oil properties .
Service intervals
Service intervals can be flexible (LongLife
service) or fixed (dependent on time/dis-
tance travelled).
If the PR code that appears on the back of the
Maintenance Programme booklet is QG1, this
means that your vehicle has the LongLife
service programmed. If it has the codes QG0
or QG2, the service interval is dependent on
time/distance travelled.
Flexible service intervals (LongLife service
intervals*)
Special oils and processes have been devel-
oped which, depending on the characteris-
tics and individual driving profiles, enable
the extension of the oil change service (Long-
Life service intervals).
Because this oil is essential for extending the
service intervals, it must only be used ob-
serving the following indications:
● Avoid mixing it with oil for fixed service in-
tervals.
● Only in exceptional circumstances, if the
engine oil level is too low ›››
page 136 and
LongLife oil is not available, it is permitted to
top up (once) with oil for fixed service inter-vals
››› page 136 (up to a maximum of 0.5 li-
tr e
s).
Fixed service intervals*
If your vehicle does not have the “LongLife
service interval” or it has been disabled (by
request), you may use oils for fixed service
intervals
, which also appear in ››› page 136,
Oil properties . In this case, your vehicle must
be serviced after a fixed interval of 1
year/15,000 km (10,000 miles)(whatever
comes first) ››› Booklet Maintenance Pro-
gramme.
● In ex
ceptional circumstances, if the engine
oil level is too low ››› page 136 and you can-
not o
btain the oil specified for your vehicle,
you can add a small quantity of oil conform-
ing to the specification ACEA A2 or ACEA A3
(petrol engines) or ACEA B3 or ACEA B4 (die-
sel engines) (up to 0.5 l).
Vehicles with diesel particulate filter*
The Maintenance Programme states whether
your vehicle is fitted with a diesel particulate
filter.
Only VW 507 00 engine oil, with reduced ash
formation, may be used in diesel engines
equipped with particulate filter. Using other
types of oil will cause a higher soot concen-
tration and reduce the life of the DPF. There-
fore: »
135
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety