Transport and practical equipment
WARNING
Never put flammable materials in the ashtray.
Risk of fire! CAUTION
Never hold onto the ashtray by the lid when
removing it. Risk of breaking the lid. 12 Volt power socket
Fig. 71
Centre console: 12 V power socket. The 12 V power socket is located at the front
of the centre console
›››
Fig. 71 .
U s
ing the power socket
– Open the cover or remove the cigarette
lighter concealing the socket.
– Insert the plug of the electrical appliance
into the socket. Additional information
››› page 122, Acces-
sories and modifications to the vehicle . WARNING
● Improper use of the sockets or electrical
appliances can cause a fire and lead to burns
and other serious injuries.
● Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. The 12 V power socket is also func-
tional when the ignition is switched off and
the key is removed.
● Should the connected appliance overheat,
immediately switch it off and disconnect it
from the socket. CAUTION
● The 12 V power socket can only be used to
power appliances with a power rating of up to
120 watts.
● Never exceed the maximum permitted pow-
er, as this could cause damage to the vehicle
electrical installation.
● With the engine switched off, however, the
vehicle battery will drain. Risk of discharging
the battery!
● Only use suitable plugs so as not to dam-
age the power socket.
● Only use appliances that have been tested
for electromagnetic compatibility in compli-
ance with current regulations.
● Before switching the ignition on or off, un-
plug the appliances from the power socket to protect them from any damage caused by
fluctuations in voltage.
● Follow the instructions for use of connected
appliances! Multimedia compartment
Fig. 72
Front centre console: multimedia
compartment. The multimedia compartment is in the stor-
age compartment of the front centre console
››› Fig. 72 .
The c omp
artment can be used to hold mobile
phones, mp3 players or similar devices. WARNING
Never use the multimedia compartment as an
ashtray or to store flammable materials. Risk
of fire! 79
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Heating and air conditioning
Heating and air conditioning Heating and air conditioning General notes The power of the heating depends on the
temperature of the coolant. Therefore, maxi-
mum power is only obtained when the en-
gine has reached operating temperature.
The temperature and humidity of the air in-
side the vehicle decrease when the cooling
system is turned on. This therefore increases
the comfort of all vehicle occupants when
outside temperatures and humidity are high.
It also helps prevent the windows from mist-
ing over during cold periods of the year.
The air recirculation system can be switched
on temporarily to increase the cooling effect.
Keep the air intake slots in front of the wind-
screen clear of ice, snow or leaves to ensure
unimpaired heating and cooling.
When the air conditioning is on,
condensa-
tion can drip from the evaporator in the air
c oo
ling system and form a pool underneath
the vehicle. This is normal and does not indi-
cate a leak! WARNING
● All windows must be clear of ice, snow and
condensation for driving safety. Therefore, make sure you familiarise yourself with the
correct use of heating and ventilation, win-
dow demisting and defrosting and cooling.
●
Never use the air recirculation system for
too long, as it prevents fresh air from enter-
ing the vehicle and used air can cause tired-
ness, reduce your attention span and cause
the windows to mist over. This increases the
risk of an accident. Switch off the air recircu-
lation system as soon as the windows begin
to mist over. Note
● Used air escapes through ventilation slots
in the rear of the luggage compartment.
● Smoking is not recommended while the air
recirculation system is in use, as the smoke
drawn from the interior of the vehicle settles
in the evaporator of the air conditioning sys-
tem. This causes a persistent, unpleasant
smell while the system is running that is
time-consuming and expensive (evaporator
replacement) to eliminate.
● To ensure proper functioning, never cover
the air outlets. Economic use of the air conditioning
system
When the air conditioning is switched on, the
compressor consumes engine power and has
influence on fuel consumption.If the vehicle interior has overheated due to
excessive solar radiation, it is best to open
the windows or doors to allow the hot air to
escape.
While in motion, the air conditioning should
not be switched on if the windows are open.
If the interior temperature can be reached
without switching on the air conditioning, the
fresh air mode should be used.
For the sake of the environment
Saving fuel reduces emissions. Faults
If the air conditioning does not work at out-
side temperatures above +5 °C (+41 °F) then
the system is faulty. This may be due to one
of the following reasons:
● One of the fuses has blown. Check the fuse
and replace if necessary ›››
page 163.
● The air conditioning compressor has
switched off temporarily because of in-
creased engine coolant temperature
››› page 31 .
If
you cannot repair the fault yourself or
where cooling power continues to drop,
switch off the system. Contact a specialised
service.
87
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Operation
Note
● Controls A
››› Fig. 86 ››› page 88, B ,
C and button
1 .
● Air vents 4 ››› page 88.
● We r
ecommend you leave the air vents 3
››› page 88 in the open position. Air recirculation
Air recirculation prevents unpleasant smells,
e.g. when passing through a tunnel or in
queuing traffic, from entering the interior.
Switching on air recirculation mode
– Press button
1
›››
Fig. 86 ›
›
›
page 88
and the lamp in the button will illuminate.
Switching off air recirculation mode
– Press button
1
›››
Fig. 86 ›
›
›
page 88
again and the lamp in the button will
switch off.
If air vent C
›››
Fig. 86 ›
›
›
page 88 is in posi-
tion , air recirculation mode switches off
automatically. Press the button to switch
air recirculation mode back on in this posi-
tion. WARNING
Read and observe the safety warnings ››› in
General notes on page 87. Air conditioning (manual)*
General notes The air cooling system only works if
A/C but-
ton 2
›››
Fig. 87 ›
›
›
page 90 is pressed and
under following conditions:
● The engine is running,
● The outside temperature is above +2 °C
(+36 °F),
● The blower control is in position 1–4.
When the cooling system is on and under cer-
tain conditions, air can be blown from the
vents at a temperature of approximately
+5 °C (+41 °F). In the event of prolonged, ir-
regular distribution of the air flow from the
outlets and significant differences in temper-
ature, e.g. on leaving the vehicle, sensitive
people may catch cold. Note
A visit to the specialised service once a year
is recommended to clean the air conditioning
system. Operation
Fig. 87
Air conditioning: controls. Temperature selection
– Turn rotary control A
››› Fig. 87 clockwise
t o inc
rease the temperature.
– Turn rotary control A anti-clockwise to re-
duce the temperature.
Blower selection
– Turn rotary control B
››› Fig. 87 to position
1 t o 4 t
o switch the blower on.
– Turn rotary control B to position 0 to
switch the blower off.
– Press button
1
››› page 92, Air recir-
culation to close the fresh air vent.
90
Heating and air conditioning
Switching on air recirculation mode
– Press button
1
››› Fig. 87
›
›› page 90
and the lamp in the button will illuminate.
Switching off air recirculation mode
– Press button
1
››› Fig. 87
›
›› p
age 90
again and the lamp in the button will
switch off.
If air distribution control C
››› Fig. 87
››› page 90 is in position
, air r
ec
irculation
mode switches off automatically Press the button to switch air recirculation mode
back on in this position. WARNING
Read and observe the safety warnings ››› in
General notes on page 87. Climatronic* (automatic air
conditioning)
General notes Climatronic automatically maintains a com-
fortable temperature. To do so, it automati- cally regulates the supplied air temperature
and the blower and air distribution levels.
The system also allows for the effect of sun-
light, so there is no need for manual adjust-
ment.
Automatic operations
›
›
› page 94
guarantee maximum comfort any time of
year.
Climatronic description
Cooling only works if the following conditions
are met:
● The engine is running
● the outside temperature is above +2 °C
(+36 °F);
● A/C
18
››› Fig. 88
›
›› p
age 94 switched
on.
In order to ensure engines subject to heavy
loads are cooled, the air conditioning com-
pressor is switched off in the event of high
coolant temperatures.
Recommended setting for all seasons of the
year
● Set the required temperature. We recom-
mend +22 °C (72 °F). ●
Press the AUTO button
12
››› Fig. 88
››› page 94 .
● Adju s
t vents 3 ››› p
age 88 and 4 so that the
air flow is directed slightly upwards.
Change between degrees Centigrade and
degrees Fahrenheit
Keep the AUTO and
A/C
››› Fig. 88
››› page 94 buttons pressed down at the
s ame time.
The data is displayed on the
screen in the units required. Note
A visit to the specialised service once a year
is recommended to clean the Climatronic sys-
tem. 93
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Operation
Driving Starting and stopping the
engine Introduction WARNING
● Never adjust the steering wheel while the
vehicle is moving!
● For safety reasons, the steering wheel ad-
justment lever must always be pushed se-
curely against the steering column to prevent
the steering wheel from accidentally chang-
ing position while driving. Risk of accident!
● If the steering wheel is adjusted closer to
your face, the protective effect of the driver
airbag will be decreased in the event of an ac-
cident. Check that the steering wheel is
pointing towards the upper part of your body.
● When driving, always hold the steering
wheel with both hands on the outside part at
the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. Never
hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock po-
sition, or in any other manner (e.g. in the cen-
tre of the steering wheel). In such cases, if
the airbag is triggered, you may sustain inju-
ries to the arms, hands and head.
● When moving with the engine switched off,
the ignition key must always remain in posi-
tion 2
››› Fig. 89 ››› page 97 (ignition on).
The contr
ol lamps will light up in this posi- tion. Otherwise, the steering lock could en-
gage suddenly. Risk of accident!
●
Do not remove the key from the ignition un-
til the vehicle has come to a standstill and is
secure (e.g. the handbrake is engaged). Oth-
erwise, the steering lock could suddenly en-
gage. Risk of accident!
● Always take the ignition key with you when
you leave the vehicle. This is particularly im-
portant if you leave children in the vehicle.
Children could, for example, start the engine
with the subsequent risk of accident.
● Never leave the engine running in unventi-
lated or closed rooms. The exhaust gases
contain carbon monoxide, an odourless and
colourless poisonous gas. Risk of fatal acci-
dents! Carbon monoxide can cause people to
lose consciousness and can cause death.
● Never leave the vehicle unattended if the
engine is running.
● Never switch the engine off until the vehi-
cle has come to a complete stop. Risk of acci-
dent! CAUTION
● Turning the steering wheel fully in either
direction when the vehicle is stationary and
the engine is in gear puts the power steering
under great stress. This could lead to noise.
Never leave the steering wheel turned fully in
either direction for more than 15 seconds.
Risk of damage to the power steering system! ●
The starter motor may only be used (key
position 3
››› Fig. 89 ››› p
age 97 in the igni-
tion) if the engine is off. Using the starter mo-
tor when the engine is running could damage
it.
● Immediately release the ignition key when
the engine starts, otherwise damage could be
caused to the starter motor.
● When the engine is cold, you should avoid
high engine speeds, driving at full throttle
and over-loading the engine before it reaches
operating temperature. Risk of engine dam-
age!
● Do not tow-start the engine. Risk of engine
damage! In vehicles with a catalytic convert-
er, fuel that has not been burned could reach
the catalytic converter and catch fire in it.
This would lead to a fault in the catalytic con-
verter. You may use the battery from another
vehicle to help you start your engine
››› page 157, Jump-starting.
● After prolonged and demanding operation
of the engine, when the journey has ended,
do not stop the engine immediately. Let the
engine run at idle for about one more minute.
This will stop the engine from overheating. For the sake of the environment
Do not warm up the engine when the vehicle
is stationary. If possible, move off immediate-
ly after starting the engine. This will help the
engine reach operating temperature more
quickly, reducing the quantity of emissions. 96
Driving
Note
● The engine can only be started with the
original SEAT key.
● Loud running noises may be heard briefly
after cold-starting the engine. This is normal
and is no cause for concern.
● After the engine has been stopped and the
ignition switched off, the radiator fan may
continue running for around 10 minutes.
● If the engine still does not start after a sec-
ond attempt, the fuel pump fuse might have
blown. Check it and replace if necessary
››› page 163 or contact your Specialised
Ser v
ice.
● You should always engage the steering lock
when you exit the vehicle. This will hinder
any attempts at theft. Power steering
The power steering allows you to turn the
steering wheel more easily.
If the power steering fails or the engine is off
(towing), it is still possible to turn the vehi-
cle's steering wheel fully. However, you need
more strength to steer the vehicle. Start-up lock security system
(immobiliser) There is an electronic chip in the key. The
electronic immobiliser is deactivated when
the key is inserted into the ignition. The elec-
tronic immobiliser is automatically activated
when the key is removed from the ignition.
The engine will not start if an unauthorised
key is used.
The informative display indicates:
Immobiliser active!
Ignition lock Fig. 89
Ignition key positions. Petrol engines
1 – Ignition switched off, engine stopped,
steering can be locked
2 – Ignition switched on3 – Starting
Diesel engines 1 – Fuel supply stopped, ignition switched
off, engine stopped, steering can be locked
2 – Engine pre-heating, ignition switched
on
3 – Starting
To engage the Steering lock without the key
in the ignition, t urn the s
teering wheel slight-
ly until you hear it engage.
If the steering lock is engaged and it is diffi-
cult or impossible to turn the key to position 2 , release the lock by turning the steering
wheel slightly in both directions.
Starting the engine Vehicles with a
diesel engine are equipped
with a glow plug system. When you switch on
the ignition, the glow plug warning lamp
will light up. The engine can be started
straight away when the lamp switches off.
Do not connect electrical appliances during
preheating so as not the drain the vehicle
battery unnecessarily. »
97
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
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
●
On long, steep gradients, reduce your
speed and change to a lower gear (manual
gearbox) or move the selector lever to a lower
gear position (automatic gearbox). This uses
the force of the engine and the brakes do not
suffer as much. If you still have to brake, do
so intermittently, pressing down repeatedly
on the brake pedal.
● Vehicle modifications (e.g. to the engine,
brakes, frame or a combination of wheels and
tyres) could impair the brake assist systems
››› page 122, Accessories and modifications
to the vehicle .
● In the event of a fault in the ABS system,
the ESC, TCS and EDL are switched off auto-
matically. A fault in the ABS is indicated by
the ››› page 36 warning lamp. Brakes
Wear
The rate of wear of the brake pads depends
on the driving style and on the way in which
the vehicle is used. The brake pads will wear
more quickly if you use your vehicle frequent-
ly in urban traffic and short trips or drive in a
sporty style. Under these
demanding condi-
tions , visit your specialised service, even be-
f or
e the scheduled service date, so that the
thickness of the brake pads can be meas-
ured. Wet roads or road salt
If brakes are wet or frozen, or if you are driv-
ing on roads which have been gritted with
salt, braking power may set in later than nor-
mal. Dry the brakes as soon as possible by
braking repeatedly.
Corrosion
Long periods of inactivity and little use can
lead to rust on the brake discs and dirt on the
brake pads. Where the brake system is sub-
jected to light stress or in the case of corro-
sion, clean the brake discs by braking fully
several times at a high speed.
Brake system fault
If you notice that the braking distance sud-
denly increases and the brake pedal can be
pressed down more fully, there may be a fault
in the brake system. Visit a specialised serv-
ice immediately and adjust your driving style
to the extent of the damage and to limit the
effect of the brakes.
Low brake fluid level
Insufficient brake fluid could cause faults in
the brake system. The brake fluid level is con-
trolled electronically
››› page 33, Brake sys-
tem . Brake servo
The brake servo supplements the pressure
you exert on the brake pedal. The brake servo
only works when the engine is running.
Handbrake Fig. 90
Centre console: handbrake. Applying the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up all the way.
Releasing the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and
press the unlock button at the same time
››› Fig. 90 .
– Keep the b
utton pressed down and push
the lever all the way down.
The warning lamp lights up when the hand-
brake is applied with the ignition on .
99
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety