Instruments and warning lamps
Brake system›››
page
33
Fasten your seat belt›››
page
34
Alternator›››
page
34
Door open›››
page
34
Engine oil (red or yellow colour)›››
page
34
Coolant temperature/level (red or
blue colour)›››
page
35
Power steering›››
page
35
Electronic stability control (ESC)›››
page
35
Traction control system (ASR)›››
page
35
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)›››
page
36
Rear fog light›››
page
36
Bulb fault›››
page
36
Emission control system›››
page
36
Glow plug system (diesel en-
gines)›››
page
36
Engine electronics control (petrol
engines)›››
page
36
Particulate filter (diesel engines)›››
page
37
Fuel reserve›››
page
37
Airbag system›››
page
37
Tyre pressure›››
page
38
Liquid level in the window washer
system›››
page
38
Turn signals (left/right)››› page
38
Fog lights›››
page
38
Cruise speed›››
page
38
Selector lever lock›››
page
38
Main beams›››
page
38 WARNING
● Failure to observe control lamps and warn-
ing messages can result in serious personal
injuries or damage to your vehicle.
● The engine compartment is a dangerous
area. Carrying out work in the engine com- partment, i.e. checking and filling service liq-
uids, can lead to injury, scalding, burns and
fires. Therefore the corresponding warnings
must always be observed
››› page 132, En-
gine compartment. Handbrake
If the
warning lamp lights up, the hand-
br ak
e is applied. Additionally, driving the ve-
hicle at speeds exceeding 6 km/h (4 mph) for
at least 3 seconds produces an audible warn-
ing.
The informative display indicates:
Release the handbrake!
Brake system The warning lamp
illuminates if the brake
fluid level is too low or if there is a fault in the
ABS system.
The informative display indicates:
Brake fluid Instruction Manual!
Stop the vehicle, switch off the engine and
check the level of the brake fluid
››› page 139
»
33
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
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
Driving
The tyre pressures should always be checked
when the tyres are cold.
Do not u
se winter tyres all year round as they
increase fuel consumption by up to 10%.
Avoid unnecessary weight
Given that every kilo of extra weight
will in-
crease the fuel consumption, it is advisable
to always check the luggage compartment to
make sure that no unnecessary loads are be-
ing transported.
A roof rack is often left in place for the sake
of convenience, even when it is no longer
needed. At a speed of 100 km/h (62 mph)
and 120 km/h (75 mph) your vehicle will use
about 12% more fuel as a result of the extra
wind resistance caused by the roof rack even
when it is not in use.
Save electricity
The engine activates the alternator, which
produces electricity. With the need for elec-
tricity, fuel consumption also increases. Be-
cause of this, always turn off electrical devi-
ces when you do not need them. Examples of
devices that use a lot of electricity are: the
fan at high speeds, the rear window heating
and the seat heaters*. Note
● If you vehicle has Start-Stop, it is not rec-
ommended t o sw
itch this function off. ●
It is recommended to close the windows
when driving at more than 60 km/h (40 mph)
● Do not drive with your foot resting on the
clutch pedal, as the pressure can make the
p l
ate spin, more fuel will be used and it can
burn the clutch plate lining, causing a serious
fault.
● Do not hold the vehicle on a hill with the
clutch, use the foot brake or hand brake, us-
ing the latter to start. The fuel consumption
will be lower and you will prevent the clutch
plate from being damaged.
● On descents, use the engine brake, chang-
ing to the gear that is more suitable for the
slope. Fuel consumption will be “zero” and
the brakes will not suffer. Wading and driving off-road
Driving through water Fig. 94
Driving through water. To prevent the vehicle from being damaged
when driving through water (i.e. flooded
roads), please observe the following:
● Determine the depth of the water before
entering. Water can reach a maximum height
of below the door sill ››› Fig. 94 .
● Driv e at
a maximum pace of walking speed.
Driving at a higher speed can cause a wave
in front of the vehicle, which can cause water
to enter the engine air intake system or other
parts of the vehicle.
● Never stop in the water, never reverse and
never stop the engine.
● Before driving through water deactivate the
Start-Stop system ››› page 112. WARNING
● Driving through water, dirt and mud can re-
duce braking capability and prolong the brak-
ing distance – Risk of accident!
● Do not carry out any sudden or strong brak-
ing manoeuvres after driving through water.
● Clean and dry the brakes as soon as possi-
ble after driving through water by breaking
intermittently. Carry out braking in order to
dry the brakes and clean the brake discs only
if traffic so permits. Do not put other drivers
at risk. » 107Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
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
Wheels and tyres
indicators is given on the tyre sidewalls by
the letters “TWI”, triangular symbols or other
symbols.
The useful life of the tyres depends primarily
on the following factors:
Tyre pressure values
Under-inflation or over-inflation will consider-
ably reduce the useful life of the tyres and
impair the vehicle's handling. Therefore,
check the tyre pressure, including the spare
wheel, at least once a month and before any
long journey.
Inflation pressures for summer tyres are lis-
ted on a sticker inside the fuel tank flap. The
pressures for winter tyres are 0.2 bar (2.9
psi/20 kPa) above the summer values.
Always check the pressure when the tyre is
cold. Do not reduce over-pressure in warm
tyres. The tyre pressures must be altered to
suit notable changes in the load being car-
ried.
Driving style
Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard
braking all increase tyre wear.
Wheel balancing
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced.
Various factors encountered when driving
can cause them to become unbalanced, which results in vibration of the steering
wheel.
The wheel must be rebalanced if a new tyre is
fitted or if a tyre is repaired.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect front or rear wheel alignment cau-
ses excessive tyre wear, frequently on one
side, and also impairs vehicle safety. If tyre
wear is very irregular, contact an Official
Service.
Tyre damage
To avoid damage to tyres and wheels, only
drive over kerbs or similar obstacles slowly
and at a right angle if possible.
Check tyres and wheels regularly for damage
(punctures, cracks, blisters, deformities,
etc.). Remove any foreign objects embedded
in outside of the treads.
Unusual vibration or the car pulling to one
side may indicate that one of the tyres is
damaged.
Reduce speed immediately and
s t
op if you suspect that damage may have
occurred! Check the tyres for damage (blis-
ter
s, cracks, etc.). If no external damage is
visible, drive slowly and carefully to the near-
est Official Service and have the vehicle in-
spected. Interchanging tyres
Fig. 118
Interchanging tyres. Changing wheels around
If the wear is visibly greater on the front tyres,
they should be exchanged for the rear tyres
as shown in the diagram
››› Fig. 118 . All the
ty r
es will then last for about the same time.
To ensure that the wear is equal on all tyres
and maintain their optimum useful life, they
should be changed around every 10 000 km.
Storing tyres
When you remove the tyres, mark them in or-
der to maintain the same direction of rotation
when they are installed again.
When removed, the wheels and/or tyres
should be stored in a cool, dry and preferably
dark location. Store tyres in a vertical posi-
tion, if they are not fitted on wheel rims.
145
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Wheels and tyres
The tyre pressure of the spare wheel must be
checked (preferably whenever the tyre pres-
sure is checked – see sticker on fuel tank flap
››› page 144 ) to ensure the spare wheel re-
m ain
s ready for use.
If the spare wheel is not the same size or de-
sign as the tyres that are mounted on the car
(for example if the car has winter tyres or
tyres with direction tread), only use the spare
tyre for a short period of time in the event of
breakdown and drive with the corresponding
care ››› .
It must be replaced as soon as possible for a
wheel with a normal size and finish.
Temporary spare wheel
If the vehicle is equipped with a temporary
spare wheel, there will be a warning sign on
the rim of the wheel.
Follow the instructions below when driving
with this wheel fitted.
● After fitting the wheel, the warning sign
must not be covered.
● Do not drive faster than 80 km/h (50 mph)
with the spare wheel and take great care
while driving. Avoid heavy acceleration, hard
braking and fast cornering.
● The tyre pressure is the same as that of the
standard tyres. ●
Only use this spare wheel to reach the
nearest Official Service, as it is not designed
for permanent use. WARNING
● Under no circumstances must damaged
spare wheels be used.
● If the spare wheel is different in size or de-
sign to the tyres currently fitted, never drive
faster than 80 km/h (50 mph). Avoid heavy
acceleration, hard braking and fast cornering. CAUTION
Follow the instructions given on the tempora-
ry spare wheel label. Note
The tyre pressure of the spare wheel must al-
ways correspond to the highest pressure pre-
scribed for the model of vehicle in question. Tyre control systems
Tyre pressure* Fig. 120
Tyre pressure adjustment switch. The tyre pressure monitoring system uses
ABS sensors to compare the revolutions and
the circumference of each wheel. Should the
circumference of any wheel change, the
warning lamp on the general dash panel
››› page 38 will light up and an audible warn-
in g w
ill be heard.
Tyre circumference may change if:
● Tyre pressure is too low
● Tyre structure is damaged
● Vehicle load not evenly distributed
● wheels on one axle are subjected to greater
load, (e.g. driving with trailer, uphill, down-
hill);
● Snow chains are fitted »
147
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Advice
● The temporary spare wheel is fitted
● One wheel on the axle has been changed
Basic system settings
Should the tyre pressure change or if one or
more wheels are changed or the position of
the wheel on the vehicle is changed, e.g.
changing round the front and rear wheels, or
where a warning lamp lights up when driv-
ing, the system must be adjusted as follows:
● Inflate all tyres to the prescribed pressures
››› page 144 .
● Sw it
ch the ignition on.
● Hold the
››› Fig. 120 button down for
at least 2 seconds. The warning lamp will
light up when the button is pressed . The
system memory is also deleted and a new
calibration process will begin, which is indi-
cated by an audible warning and the warning
lamp switching off.
● If the warning lamp remains lit and does
not switch off, not even once the basic set-
ting process is complete, this indicates a
fault in the system. Contact an Official Serv-
ice.
The warning lamp lights up
If the pressure on at least one tyre is signifi-
cantly lower than the pressure set by the driv-
er, the warning lamp ››› will light up.The warning lamp flashes
If the warning lamp flashes, there is a fault in
the system. Contact a specialised service to
have it fixed.
WARNING
● If the warning lamp lights up, slow down
immediately and avoid any severe braking or
steering manoeuvres. Stop and check the
tyres and their pressure as soon as possible.
● Under certain conditions (e.g. sporty driv-
ing style, driving on loose surfaces or in win-
ter) the warning lamp may take a while to
light up or m
ay remain switched off.
● Despite the tyre pressure monitoring sys-
tem, the driver remains responsible for main-
taining the correct tyre pressure. You must
therefore check the tyre pressure often. Note
● The tyre pressure monitoring system is not
a replacement for regularly checking the tyre
pressure, as it is unable to recognise an even
drop in pressure.
● The tyre pressure monitoring system is un-
able to warn of a sudden drop in tyre pres-
sure, e.g. a puncture. In this case, try to stop
the vehicle carefully with no severe braking
or steering manoeuvres.
● To ensure the tyre pressure monitoring sys-
tem works correctly, the basic setting must
be performed every 10 000 km (6000 miles)
or once a year. Winter service
Winter tyres Winter tyres will significantly improve han-
dling of the vehicle in winter road conditions.
The design of summer tyres (width, rubber
compound, tread pattern) gives less grip at
temperatures below +7 °C (45 °F), on ice and
snow. This applies particularly to vehicles
equipped with wide section tyres or high
s
peed ty
res (code letters H or V on the side-
wall).
In order to preserve the performance of the
vehicle as much as possible, winter tyres
must be fitted on all four wheels, the mini-
mum depth of the tread must be 4 mm and
the maximum age must be 4 years.
You can use winter tyres of a lower speed rat-
ing if the maximum speed limit of these tyres
will not be exceeded, even if the maximum
speed limit for the vehicle is higher. For the sake of the environment
Summer tyres should be fitted again in time,
as they give better handling on roads free of
snow and ice and at temperatures over +7 °C
(45 °F). Summer tyres have a shorter braking
distance, produce less rolling noise and do
not wear as quickly. They also reduce fuel
consumption. 148
Emergencies
Check after 10 minutes of driving Check the tyre pressure after 10 minutes of
driving!
If the tyre pressure is less than 1.3 bar
(18.8 psi/130 kPa):
– Do not drive on! The tyr e cannot be suffi-
ciently filled using the tyre repair kit.
– See professional assistance.
If the tyre pressure is greater than 1.3 bar
(18.8 psi/130 kPa): – Correct the tyre pressure again to the cor-
rect value (see inside of the fuel tank flap).
– Carefully drive to the nearest specialised
workshop at a maximum speed of 80 km/h
(50 mph).
Jump-starting Introduction If the engine fails to start because of a dis-
charged battery, the battery can be connec-
ted to the battery of another vehicle to start
the engine. Suitable jump leads are required.
Both batteries need to have nominal voltage
of 12 V. The
capacity (Ah) of the back-up bat- t
er
y should not be notably less than the
drained battery.
Jump leads
The jump leads must be heavy enough to car-
ry the starter current and must be fitted with
insulated battery clamps. Refer to the instruc-
tions given by the manufacturer.
Positive cable – usually red
Neg
ative cable
– usually black WARNING
● A flat battery can also freeze at tempera-
tures slightly below to 0 °C (32 °F). Do not at-
tempt to start the vehicle with a frozen bat-
tery. Risk of explosion!
● Please note the safety warnings referring to
working in the engine compartment
››› page 132.
● The non-in s
ulated parts of the battery
clamps must not be allowed to touch. Addi-
tionally, the jump lead attached to the posi-
tive battery terminal must not touch metal
parts of the vehicle. Risk of short circuit!
● Do not connect the negative lead to the
negative terminal of the discharged battery.
In the event of sparks when starting the en-
gine, the explosive gas given off by the bat-
tery could catch fire.
● Position the jump leads in such a way that
they cannot come into contact with any mov-
ing parts in the engine compartment. ●
Do not bend over the battery. Risk of acid
burns!
● The screw plugs on the battery cells must
be screwed in firmly.
● Keep sources of fire (flames, lit cigarettes,
etc.) away from the battery. - Risk of explo-
sion!
● Never use the jump leads on batteries in
which the electrolyte level is too low. Risk of
explosion and acid burns. Note
● The vehicles must not touch each other, as
electricity could flow as soon as the positive
terminals are connected.
● The discharged battery must be properly
connected to the vehicle electrical system.
● The jump leads should be checked in a spe-
cialist vehicle battery shop. 157
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety