Operation
●
Refuelling just once with leaded petrol dis-
ables the exhaust system! Economical and environmentally
friendly driving
Fuel consumption, environmental pollution
and wear to the engine, brakes and tyres de-
pends in large part on your driving style. By
adopting an economical driving style and an-
ticipating the traffic situation ahead, you can
easily reduce fuel consumption by 10-15%.
Some tips on how to help you reduce pollu-
tion while saving money are listed below.
Drive anticipating the traffic situation
A vehicle uses most fuel when accelerating.
When you anticipate situations, you have to
brake less often and, thus, accelerate less. If
it is possible, let the vehicle roll with a
gear
engaged , for example, if you see a red light
ahe a
d. The braking effect achieved in this
way helps to reduce the wear of brakes and
tyres; emissions and fuel consumption are
reduced to zero (disconnection due to iner-
tia).
Change gear early to save energy
An effective way of saving fuel is to change
up
quickly through the gears. Running the
engine at high rpm in the lower gears uses
an unnecessary amount of fuel. Manual gearbox:
shift up from first to second
gear as soon as possible. We recommend
that, whenever possible, you change to a
higher gear upon reaching 2000 rpm. Follow
the “recommended gear” indication that ap-
pears on the instrument panel ››› page 32,
Recommended gear display.
Avoid driving at high speed
We advise you not to drive at the top speed
permitted by the vehicle. Fuel consumption,
exhaust emissions and noise levels all in-
crease very rapidly at higher speeds. Driving
at moderate speeds will help to save fuel.
Avoid idling
It is worthwhile switching off the engine
when waiting in a traffic jam, at level cross-
ings or at traffic lights with a long red phase.
The fuel saved after only 30 - 40 seconds is
greater than the amount of fuel needed to re-
start the engine.
The engine takes a long time to warm up
when it is idling. Mechanical wear and pollu-
tant emissions are also especially high dur-
ing this initial warm-up phase. It is therefore
best to drive off immediately after starting
the engine. Avoid running the engine at high
speed. Periodic maintenance
Periodic maintenance work guarantees that,
before beginning a journey, you will not con-
sume more than the required amount of fuel.
A well-serviced engine gives you the benefit
of
improved fuel efficiency as well as maxi-
mum reliability and an enhanced resale val-
ue.
A badly serviced engine can consume up to
10% more fuel than necessary.
Avoid short journeys
To reduce the consumption and emission of
polluting exhaust gases, the engine and the
exhaust gas filtration systems should reach
the optimum operating temperature.
With the en
gine cold, fuel consumption is
proportionally higher. The engine does not
warm up and fuel consumption does not nor-
malise until having driven approximately four
kilometres (2.5 miles). This is why we recom-
mend avoiding short trips whenever possi-
ble.
Maintain the correct tyre pressures
Bear in mind that keeping the tyres at an ad-
equate pressure saves fuel. If the tyre pres-
sure is just one bar (14.5 psi/100 kPa) too
low, fuel consumption can increase by as
much as 5%. Due to the greater rolling resist-
ance, under-inflation also increases tyre wear
wear and impairs handling.
106
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
Operation
CAUTION
Switch off the Start-Stop system ››› page 107
before driving through a pool of water on the
road. Note
● The battery temperature may reflect
changes in outside temperature after several
hours. If the vehicle has been stopped out-
side at temperatures below zero or in direct
sunlight, for example, the battery tempera-
ture may take several hours to reach the val-
ues required for the correct operating of the
Start-Stop system.
● If the Climatronic system is operating auto-
matically, this could impair automatic engine
shut down under certain conditions. Towing bracket device
Driving the vehicle with a
trailer Technical requirements If your vehicle has a factory-fitted towing
bracket or is equipped with a selection of
SEAT Original Accessories, it meets all the rel-
evant technical and legal requirements.
In vehicles with a towing bracket it is possi-
ble to remove the ball joint, situated (togeth-
er with the special assembly instructions) in
the housing for the spare wheel in the vehi-
cle luggage compartment
›››
page 150, Vehi-
cle tool kit* .
Y our
vehicle is fitted with a 13-pole power
socket for the electrical connection between
the trailer and the vehicle. If the trailer you
are going to use has a 7-pin connector, the
corresponding adaptor, acquired from the
SEAT Original Accessories Catalogue, can be
used.
If a towing bracket is to be retro-fitted to the
car, it must be done according to the instruc-
tions of the towing bracket manufacturer. Note
Any queries that may arise can be directed to
an authorised SEAT dealer. Trailer weight
Trailer weight
The combined vehicle and trailer must be
balanced. To do so use the maximum permit-
ted towing bracket load. An insufficient
weight exerted by the trailer drawbar on the
ball joint of the towing bracket will have a
negative impact upon the response of the ve-
hicle-trailer assembly on the road.
Weight distribution
Distribute loads in the trailer so that heavy
objects are as near to the axle as possible.
Ensure that the objects do not move.
If the towing vehicle is empty and the trailer
loaded then the load distribution is incorrect.
However, if these conditions cannot be avoi-
ded, drive very slowly.
Tyre pressure values
Correct the tyre pressure in your vehicle to
“total load”
›››
page 144, Life cycle of tyres .
Trailer weight
Never exceed the authorised trailer weight
under any circumstances ›››
page 174, Tech-
nical specifications .
The trailer weights listed are only applicable
for altitudes up to 1000 m above sea level.
D
ue to lower air density, engine power de-
creases depending on the increase in
114
Operation
Please observe the following indications
››› page 35, Coolant level and temperature
.
The coolant temperature can be reduced by
switching on the heating. WARNING
● Adjust your speed to suit the road and traf-
fic conditions.
● An electrical installation that is connected
incorrectly or by non-specialised personnel
can prevent the connection of the current to
the trailer and cause faults in the operation of
the electrical system throughout the entire
vehicle, leading to accidents and serious in-
jury.
● All electrical work must be carried out only
by specialised services.
● Never directly connect the trailer electrical
device to the electrical sockets of the reverse
driving lights or other sources of electrical
current. CAUTION
● Avoid corners, and sudden and sharp brak-
ing.
● Once the trailing arm has been removed,
place the corresponding cover on the hole of
the fastening point. This prevents dirt from
entering the hole – see the trailer system as-
sembly manual. Note
● In the event of frequent journeys with a
trailer, we recommend also having the vehi-
cle inspected in between the service inter-
vals.
● When connecting and disconnecting the
trailer, the handbrake must be applied.
● For technical reasons, trailers with LED re-
verse lights cannot be incorporated into the
vehicle anti-theft alarm system. Towing bracket device
Introduction If the vehicle is equipped with a towing
bracket device from the factory or is a genu-
ine SEAT accessory, it meets all national tech-
nical and legal requirements for towing.
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin power
socket for the electrical connection between
the trailer and the vehicle. If the towing
bracket is equipped with a
7-pin connector,
y ou c
an use the corresponding available
adaptor that is a genuine SEAT accessory.
The towing device has a maximum vertical
load of 50 kg
. WARNING
● Before driving with the ball-headed bar fit-
ted, verify its correct assembly and place-
ment in the clamping bush.
● Do not use the ball-headed bar if it is not
correctly placed and fixed in the clamping
bush.
● Do not use the towing device for towing if it
is damaged or has missing parts.
● Do not modify or adapt the towing device
connection.
● Never disengage the ball-headed bar with
the trailer still hitched. CAUTION
Be careful not to damage the paint on the
bumper when handling the ball-headed bar. 116
Advice
Advice
Care and maintenance
Accessories and modifications to the vehicle
Accessories, replacement parts and
repairs If you wish to retrofit accessories in the vehi-
cle, or if a part of the vehicle has been re-
placed by a new part or technical modifica-
tions are required, the following instructions
must be taken into account:
● Before purchasing accessories or spare
p ar
ts and before making technical modifica-
tions, always request advice from an Author-
ised SEAT dealer ››› .
● In the event that technical modifications
are carried out on the vehicle, the instruc-
tions and regulations specified by the com-
pany, SEAT, must be observed.
No damage will be caused to the vehicle if
the established procedures are respected,
which guarantees safe driving and operation.
After the modifications are carried out, the
vehicle will comply with the restrictions and
regulations of the highway code. More infor-
mation can be obtained at an Authorised SEAT dealer, where all jobs required can be
carried out appropriately.
Vehicle improvements and modifications
The owner must keep the technical documen-
tation regarding the modifications carried out
on the vehicle so it can be handed over to
those responsible for processing end-of-life
vehicles. This ensures end-of-life processing
of the vehicle, while protecting the environ-
ment.
Work done on the electrical components and
software can cause disruption in operations.
Due to the interconnection of electronic com-
ponents, their malfunction can also impair
systems that are not directly affected. This
can adversely affect reliability of the vehicle,
and can produce excessive wear of the parts.
Damage caused by technical modifications
that are not made with the consent of SEAT
will be excluded from the warranty – see war-
ranty certificate.
WARNING
● Jobs or modifications unduly carried out on
your vehicle can cause disruption to opera-
tions - Risk of accident!
● We recommend that you use only expressly
authorised SEAT Accessories and SEAT Origi-
nal Spare Parts for your vehicle. The reliabili-
ty, safety and compatibility with your vehicle of SEAT original spare parts and accessories
has been verified.
●
Despite the continuous observation of the
market, we cannot judge nor guarantee the
suitability of other products for your vehicle,
be they authorised products or products ap-
proved by a state testing facility. Note
SEAT original spare parts and accessories can
be purchased at authorised SEAT dealers
where the purchased parts can also be fitted. Modifications and effects of the
airbag system
In the adjustment and modification, respect
the SEAT directive.
Modifications and corrections of the front
bumper, doors, front seats, roof or bodywork
must be carried out at authorised SEAT work-
shops. Components of the airbag system can
be found in these parts of the vehicle.
WARNING
● Airbag modules must never be repaired.
They must be replaced.
● Never fit components of the airbag system
removed from old vehicles or those originat-
ing from a recycling process in the vehicle. 122
Advice
serious damage to the engine! Contact an au-
thorised SEAT dealer to clean the engine fuel
system.
● Water allowed to collect in the fuel filter
can cause engine faults.
● Your vehicle is not prepared for use of bio-
fuel (RME) and, therefore, this fuel must not
be used for refuelling or driving. The use of
biofuel (RME) could cause serious damage to
the engine or the fuel system. Engine compartment
Introduction Always be aware of the danger of injury and
scalding as well as the risk of accident or fire
when working in the engine compartment,
e.g. when checking and refilling fluids.
Therefore, always observe the warnings and
follow all general safety precautions. The en-
gine compartment is a dangerous area
.WARNING
● Never open the bonnet if you see steam,
smoke or coolant escaping from the engine
compartment. Risk of scalding! Wait until no
steam or coolant can be seen before opening
the bonnet.
● Switch off the engine and remove the key
from the ignition. ●
Engage neutral in vehicles with manual
gearbox and move the selector lever to posi-
tion P in vehicles with automatic gearbox.
● Apply the handbrake firmly.
● Wait for the engine to cool down.
● For safety reasons, the bonnet must always
be closed when the vehicle is moving. There-
fore, after closing the bonnet always check
that it is properly secured.
● Should you notice that the bonnet is not
safely secured when the vehicle is moving,
stop the vehicle immediately and close the
bonnet properly. Risk of accident!
● Keep children away from the engine com-
partment.
● Do not touch hot engine parts. Risk of
burns!
● Never spill fluids on hot engine compart-
ments. These fluids can cause a fire (e.g. anti-
freeze in coolant)!
● Take care not to cause short circuits in the
electrical system, especially when working
on the battery.
● Never touch the radiator fan when the en-
gine is hot. The fan may start running sud-
denly!
● Never cover the engine with additional in-
sulating materials such as a blanket. Risk of
fire!
● Do not unscrew the cap on the coolant ex-
pansion tank when the engine is hot. The
cooling system is under pressure! ●
Protect face, hands and arms from any hot
steam or hot coolant released by covering the
cap with a large, thick rag when opening the
expansion tank.
● Do not leave any objects, such as cloths or
tools, in the engine compartment.
● When working underneath the vehicle, se-
cure it so that it cannot roll away and support
it safely on suitable supports. The hydraulic
jack is not sufficient for this purpose. Risk of
injuries!
● If any tests have to be performed with the
engine running, there is an extra safety risk
from rotating parts, such as the drive belt, al-
ternator and radiator fan, etc., and from the
high-voltage ignition system. You should also
note the following:
– Never touch the electrical wiring of the
ignition system.
– Keep away from moving engine parts
when wearing jewellery, loose clothing or
long hair. Risk of fatal injuries! All jewel- lery must be removed, hair tied back and
close-fitting clothing worn.
● Observe the following additional warnings
if work on the fuel system or the electrical
system is necessary.
–Always disconnect the battery from the
on-board network.
– Do not smoke.
– Never work near naked flames.
– Always keep an approved fire extinguish-
er immediately available. 132
Advice
● Avoid mixing this oil with other engine oils.
● Only in exceptional circumstances, if the
engine oil level is too low ››› page 136 and
you cannot obtain the oil specified for your
vehicle, you can use a small quantity of oil
(once) conforming to the VW 506 00,
VW 506 01, VW 505 00, VW 505 01 or
ACEA B3/ACEA B4 specification. (up to 0.5 l).
Oil propertiesEngine typeSpecification
Petrol without flexible
service intervalVW 502 00/VW 504 00
Petrol with flexible serv-
ice interval (LongLife)VW 504 00
Diesel. Engines without
Particulate filter (DPF)VW 505 01/VW 506 01/VW
507 00
Diesel. Particulate Filter
Engines (DPF).
With or without flexible
service interval (with
and without LongLife) a)VW 507 00
a)
Only use recommended oils, otherwise you may damage the
engine.
Engine oil additives
No type of additive should be mixed with the
engine oil. The deterioration caused by these
additives is not covered by the warranty. Note
Before a long trip, we recommend finding an
engine oil that conforms to the correspond-
ing VW specifications and recommend keep-
ing it in the vehicle. This way, the correct en-
gine oil will always be available for a top-up if
needed. Checking the engine oil level
Fig. 111
Engine oil dipsticks. The dipstick shows the engine oil level.
››› Fig. 111 .
Chec k
ing oil level
– Park the vehicle on a level surface and en-
sure the engine is at operating tempera-
ture.
– Switch the ignition off.
– Open the bonnet. –
Wait a few minutes for the engine oil to
flow back to the sump and remove the dip-
stick.
– Wipe the dipstick with a clean cloth and in-
sert it again as far as it will go.
– Then pull the dipstick out again and check
the oil level.
Oil level in area A –
Do not
t
op up oil.
Oi
l level in area B –
Oil can be topped up. After topping up the
oi l
level could be in area A .
Oil level in area C –
Oil must be topped up. After topping up,
the oil level should be in area B .
It is normal for the engine to consume a cer-
tain amount of oil. Depending on how you
drive and the conditions in which the vehicle
is used, oil consumption can be up to 0.5 li-
tres per 1,000 km. Oil consumption can also
be higher for the first 5,000 km (3000 miles).
You should therefore check the oil level at
regular intervals, ideally every time you fill
the tank or before setting off on a long trip.
When the engine is working hard, for in-
stance during sustained motorway cruising in
summer, when towing a trailer or caravan or
136
Checking and refilling levels
climbing on mountain passes, the oil level
should preferably be kept within area A ,
but
no higher .
A w
arning lamp will appear on the instrument
panel ››› page 34, Engine oil if the oil lev-
el is too low. In this case, check the oil level
as soon as possible. Top up with the required
amount of oil. CAUTION
● The oil level must never exceed area A›››
Fig. 111. Risk of damage to the exhaust
sy s
tem!
● If the engine oil cannot be topped up under
the given conditions, do not drive on! Stop the engine and seek
the professional assis-
tance of an Official Service, as this could
cause serious damage to the engine. Topping up engine oil
–
Check the engine oil level ›››
page 136,
Checking the engine oil level .
– Unscrew the cap from the filler opening.
– Put in the specified grade of oil 0.5 litres at
a time ›››
page 135 .
– Chec k
the oil level ›››
page 136.
– Replace the oil filler cap carefully and push
the dipstick all the way in. Changing engine oil Engine oil must be changed with the frequen-
cy indicated in the Maintenance Programme
or according to the service interval indicator
››› page 45. CAUTION
Do not mix engine oil with additives. Risk of
damage to the engine! Damage caused by
these products is not covered by the warran-
ty. Note
Wash your skin thoroughly if it comes into
contact with engine oil. Coolant
General notes The cooling system is factory-filled with an
anti-freeze product.
Coolant consists of a mixture of water and
40% anti-freeze additive. This mixture gives
the required anti-freeze protection at temper-
atures down to -25 °C (-13 °F) and protects
the cooling and heating system against cor-
rosion. It also prevents scaling and raises the
boiling point of the coolant considerably.The coolant concentration must not be re-
duced by adding water, even in warmer sea-
sons or in warm countries.
The concentration
of the anti-freeze additive in the coolant
must be at least 40 %.
If greater anti-freeze protection is required in
very cold climates, the proportion of the anti-
freeze additive can be increased, but only up
to 60% (anti-freeze protection down to ap-
proximately -40 °C (-40 °F)). Exceeding this
proportion reduces anti-freeze protection and
the cooling effect.
Coolant fluid with protection down to -35 °C
(-31 °F) is added at the factory in vehicles
destined for countries with a cold climate. In
these countries, the concentration of coolant
should always be kept above 50%.
The type of anti-freeze to be used for topping
up is indicated on the coolant tank cover
››› Fig. 112 . CAUTION
● Anti-freeze that does not correspond to the
correct specification may particularly affect
corrosion protection considerably.
● Faults caused by corrosion may lead to
coolant leaks. Risk of serious engine faults! 137
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety