Lights and visibility
Rear interior lights and reading
lights* Fig. 66
Interior roof trim: rear interior lights
and reading lights. The switch
››› Fig. 66 C is used to select the
following positions:
Interior light switched off 0
In switch position ››› Fig. 66 1 , the interior
and reading lights are switched off.
Switching on the reading light
Turn the switch to position 2 (left reading
light) or to position 4 (right reading light).
Courtesy light position
Turn the control to position 3 . The interior
lighting is automatically switched on when
the vehicle is unlocked or the key removed
from the ignition. The light goes out approxi-
mately 20 seconds after the doors are closed. The interior lights are switched off
when the vehicle is locked or when the igni-
tion is switched on.
Interior lights or both reading lights
switched on
T urn the c
ontrol to position 5 .
Note
If not all the vehicle doors are closed, the in-
terior lights will be switched off after approx.
10 minutes, providing the ignition key has
been removed and the courtesy light position
selected. This prevents the battery from dis-
charging. Visibility
Sun visors Fig. 67
Sun visor on the driver side. The sun visors for the driver and the front
passenger can be pulled out of their mount-
ings in the centre of the vehicle and turned
towards the doors
››› Fig. 67 1 .
The vanity mirrors in the sun visors have cov-
ers. When you open the cover 2 , a lamp in
the roof lights up.
The light* in the roof lining will go out when
the vanity mirror cover is pushed back or the
sun visor is pushed back up. Note
The roof lighting will go out approximately
ten minutes after the ignition key has been
removed. This prevents the battery from dis-
charging. Sun blind*
3 Applies to the model: ALTEA XL/ALTEA FREETRACK
Fig. 68
Rear door blind.
» 83
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Lights and visibility
WARNING
● Worn and dirty wiper blades reduce visibili-
ty and safety levels while driving.
● In cold conditions, you should not use the
wash/wipe system unless you have warmed
the windscreen with the heating and ventila-
tion system. The windscreen washer fluid
could otherwise freeze on the windscreen and
obscure your view of the road.
● The rain sensor may not detect enough rain
to switch on the wipers. If necessary, switch
on the wipers manually when water on the
windscreen impedes visibility.
● Always note the corresponding warnings
››› page 194. CAUTION
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper
blades are not frozen to the glass before us-
ing the wipers for the first time. If you switch
on the windscreen wipers when the wiper
blades are frozen to the windscreen, you
could damage both the wiper blades and the
wiper motor. Note
● The windscreen wipers will only work when
the ignition is switched on.
● In certain versions of vehicles with alarms,
the windscreen wiper will only work when the
ignition is on and the bonnet closed. ●
When in use, the wipers do not go as far as
the rest position. When the lever is moved to
position 0, they are totally hidden.
● If the vehicle stops when wiper speed 2 ›››
Fig. 69 or 3 is selected, the next speed
down will be selected automatically. The set
speed will be resumed when the vehicle pulls
away.
● The windscreen will be wiped again after
approximately five seconds once the “auto-
matic wash/wipe system” has been activa-
ted, provided the vehicle is moving (drip func-
tion). If you activate the wipers less than 3
seconds after the drip function, a new wash
sequence will begin without performing the
last wipe. For the “drip” function to work
again, you have to turn the ignition off and
then on again.
● When the “interval wipe function” is on,
the intervals are directly proportional to the
speed. This way, the higher the vehicle speed
the shorter the intervals.
● The wiper will try to wipe away any obsta-
cles that are on the windscreen. The wiper
will stop moving if the obstacle continues to
block its path. Remove the obstacle and
switch the wiper back on again.
● Before removing any objects that may be
trapped in the side areas of the windscreen,
always move the wiper arms to the service
position (horizontal).
● The heat output of the heated jets is con-
trolled automatically when the ignition is
switched on, depending upon the outside
temperature. ●
Do not put stickers on the windscreen in
front of the rain sensor*. This may cause sen-
sor disruption or faults. Rear window wiper
Fig. 71
Windscreen wiper lever: rear window
wiper. Switching on the interval wipe
– Press the lever forward to position 6 ›››
Fig. 71 . The wiper will wipe the window
ap pr
oximately every 6 seconds.
Switching off the interval wipe function
– Pull the lever back from position 6 toward
the steering wheel. The wiper will continue
to function for a short period if you switch
off whilst the wipers are in motion. »
85
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Lights and visibility
Switching off the anti-dazzle function
– Press button A
››› Fig. 72. Control lamp Bgoes off.
Switching on the anti-dazzle function
– Press button A
››› Fig. 72. The control
lamp lights up.
Anti-dazzle function
The anti-dazzle function is activated every
time the ignition is switched on. The green
warning lamp lights up in the rear vision mir-
ror housing.
When the anti-dazzle function is enabled, the
interior rear vision mirror will darken auto-
matically according to the amount of light it
r ec
eives. The anti-dazzle function is cancel-
led if reverse gear is engaged. Note
● The automatic anti-dazzle function will only
work properly if the sun blind* for the rear
window is retracted and there are no other
objects preventing light from reaching the in-
terior rear vision mirror.
● If you have to stick any type of sticker on
the windscreen, do not do so in front of the
sensors. Doing so could prevent the anti-daz-
zle function from working well or even from
working at all. Exterior mirrors
Fig. 73
Exterior mirror controls. The exterior mirrors can be adjusted using
the rotary knob in the centre console.
Basic setting of exterior mirrors
1. Turn knob
››› Fig. 73 to position L (left ex-
t erior mirr
or).
2. Turn the rotary knob to position the exteri- or mirror so that you have a good view to
the rear of the vehicle.
3. Turn the knob to position R (right exterior mirror
).
4. Swivel the rotary knob to position the ex- terior mirror so that you have a good view
to the rear of the vehicle ››› .
Heating the exterior mirrors* – Turn the knob forward ››› Fig. 73 so that the
he at
ed rear vision mirrors warm up and the heated windscreen* in the wiper blade rest
area is activated
››› page 84.
– Exterior mirror heating is not activated in
temperatures above approximately +20 °C
(+68 °F).
Folding in exterior mirrors*
– Turn the control ››› Fig. 73 to position to
fold in the exterior mirrors. You should al-
ways fold in the exterior mirrors if you are
driving through an automatic car wash.
This will help prevent damage.
Folding exterior mirrors with convenience
closing* – The exterior mirror will fold back automati-
cally with convenience closing (with the re-
mote or the key).
– To unfold it again, open the door and
switch on the ignition.
Folding exterior mirrors back out to the
extended position* – Turn the knob to another position to fold
the exterior mirrors back out ››› .
Synchronised mirror adjustment
1. Turn the control to the position L (
left ex-
t
erior mirror).
2. Turn the rotary knob to position the exteri- or mirror so that you have a good view to »
87
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Seats and head restraints
●
Never transport more than the permitted
amount of people in your vehicle.
● Every vehicle occupant must properly fas-
ten and wear the seat belt belonging to his or
her seat. Children must be protected with an
appropriate child restraint system ››› page 24,
Transporting children safety.
● The front seats and all head restraints must
always be adjusted to body size and the seat
belt must always be properly adjusted to pro-
vide you and your passengers with optimum
protection.
● Always keep your feet on the footwell when
the vehicle is moving; never rest them on the
dash panel, out of the window or on the seat.
This is also applied to passengers. An incor-
rect sitting position exposes you to an in-
creased risk of injury in case of a sudden
braking or an accident. If the airbag is trig-
gered, you could sustain severe injuries due
to an incorrect sitting position.
● It is important for the driver and front pas-
senger to keep a distance of at least 25 cm
from the steering wheel and dash panel. Fail-
ure to respect the minimum distance means
that the airbag will not protect you. Risk of
fatal injury. The distance between the driver
and the steering wheel or between the front
passenger and the dash panel should always
be as great as possible.
● Adjust the driver or front passenger seat
only when the vehicle is stationary. This also
applies to the forwards/backwards adjust-
ment of the rear seats. Otherwise, your seat
could move unexpectedly while the vehicle is moving. This could increase the risk of an ac-
cident and therefore, injury. In addition,
while adjusting your seat, you will assume an
incorrect sitting position. Risk of fatal acci-
dents.
●
Special guidelines apply to installing a
child seat on the front passenger seat. When
installing a child seat, please observe the
warnings described in ››› page 24, Transport-
ing children safety. Adjustment of the front seats
Fig. 74
Front left seat controls The control elements in
››› Fig. 74 are mir-
r or
ed for the front right-hand seat.
1 Adjusting the seat forwards and
backwards
– Pull up the grip and move the seat forwards
or backwards. –
Then release the grip 1 and move the seat
further until the catch engages.
2 Adjusting the seat height*
– Pull the lever up or push down (several
times if necessary) from its home position.
This adjusts the seat height in stages.
3 Adjusting the backrest angle
– Take your weight off the backrest and turn
the hand wheel.
4 Adjusting the lumbar support*
– Take your weight off the backrest and turn
the hand wheel to adjust the lumbar sup-
port.
As you make the adjustments, the curvature
of the cushioned area of the lumbar region
becomes more or less acute. In this way, it
adapts to the natural curvature of the spine. WARNING
● Never adjust the driver or front passenger
seat while the vehicle is in motion. While ad-
justing your seat, you will assume an incor-
rect sitting position. Risk of fatal accidents.
Adjust the driver or front passenger seat only
when the vehicle is stationary.
● To reduce the risk of injury to the driver and
front passenger in case of a sudden braking
or an accident, never drive with the backrest
tilted towards the rear. The maximum » 89
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Seats and head restraints
Angle adjustment (front seats) – Press the head restraint forward or back to
the required position.
Removing the head restraint – Push the head restraint up as far as it will
go.
– Press the button ››› Fig. 76 (arrow).
– Pull head restraint out of fitting without re-
leasing the button.
Fitting the head restraint
– Insert the head restraint into the guides on
the backrest.
– Push head restraint down.
– Adjust the head restraint to suit body size
››› page 10 and
›
›› page 9. WARNING
● Never drive if the head restraints have been
removed. Risk of injury.
● Never drive if the head restraints are in an
unsuitable position, there is a risk of serious
injury.
● After refitting the head restraint, you must
always adjust it properly for height to achieve
optimal protection.
● Please observe the safety warnings in
››› page 90, Correct adjustment of head re-
straints. Seat functions
Heated seats* Fig. 77
Thumb wheel for front seat heating. Fig. 78
Front seat heating with Climatronic. The front seat cushions and backrests can be
heated electrically.Front seat heating for vehicles without
Climatronic
– Turn the appropriate thumb wheel
››› Fig. 77 to switch on the seat heating. The
se at
heating is switched off in the 0 posi-
tion.
Front seat heating for vehicles with
Climatronic – Press the button to switch on seat heating.
– Press once to set seat heating at maximum
level (level 3).
– Press twice to set seat heating at medium
level (level 2).
– Press three times to set seat heating at
minimum level (level 1).
– When the button is pressed four times, the
heating goes off and the LED goes out (lev-
el 0).
The seat heating only works when the igni-
tion is switched on. The left thumb wheel
controls the left seat and the right thumb
wheel the right seat. CAUTION
To avoid damaging the heating elements,
please do not kneel on the seat or apply
sharp pressure at a single point to the seat
cushion and backrest. 91
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Transport and practical equipment
Converting the table to a seat – Pull the loop on the side of the seat
››› Fig. 82 2 in the direction of the arrow
and lift the seat backrest until it is in place.
When folding and lifting the backrest, make
sure to place the side seat belts in the trim
clip ››› Fig. 81 to prevent them from being
d am
aged by becoming trapped in the back-
rest lock. WARNING
● You should check that the backrest has en-
gaged properly in position after the loop is
released.
● For safety reasons the locking system loops
on the seats may not be used to secure any
items.
● After locking the seat backrest into position
ensure that the seat belts protrude from the
seat. Transport and practical
equipment
Compartments Storage compartment on the front
passenger side Fig. 83
Passenger side: storage compartment The compartment can be opened by pulling
the lever
››› Fig. 83 . WARNING
Always keep the storage compartment cover
closed while the vehicle is in motion in order
to reduce the risk of injury caused by a sud-
den braking or by an accident. Front centre armrest with storage
compartment
Fig. 84
Front armrest with storage compart-
ment. There is a storage compartment in the arm-
rest.
– To open the storage compartment, lift the
armrest up in the direction of the arrow
››› Fig. 84 and then lift the cover.
– To ac
cess the CD changer* or the lower
storage compartment, pull on the armrest
cover without pressing on the button.
– To close the storage compartment, push
the armrest down. WARNING
Always keep the storage compartment closed
while the vehicle is in motion to reduce the » 93
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Transport and practical equipment
There are four storage compartments in the
roof.
– Press the button on the cover to open these
compartments ››› Fig. 87 . The cover will
then open.
– To c
lose the cover, press it up until it en-
gages. WARNING
Always keep the storage compartment cover
closed while the vehicle is in motion to re-
duce the risk of injury during a sudden brak-
ing manoeuvre or in the event of an accident
and to prevent any items from being thrown
through the vehicle interior. Front drinks holders
Fig. 88
Front drink holders. In the centre console, in front of the gear lev-
er, there are two drink holders
››› Fig. 88 . WARNING
● Never place hot drinks in the drink holders.
During sudden or normal driving manoeuvres,
when braking suddenly or in case of an acci-
dent, the hot drink could spill. Risk of scald-
ing.
● Never use rigid cup materials (for example,
glass or ceramic), since they could cause in-
jury in the case of an accident. Rear cup holder*/armrests*
Fig. 89
Opening the rear cup holder. Fig. 90
Rear cup holder in the armrest. Opening and closing the armrest*/drink
holder*
– To open, pull the loop in the direction of
the arrow ››› Fig. 89 1 .
– To close, lift the cup holder*/armrest* in
the direction of the arrow ››› Fig. 90 2 .
WARNING
Ensure that the load in the luggage compart-
ment is correctly secured with the net* when
travelling with the armrest down
››› page 104. Other storage compartments
Other storage compartments can be found:
● in the centre console,
● in the door trims (front and rear), »
95
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
Transport and practical equipment
The tables have two positions for use and
cannot be interchanged. WARNING
● The mobile stowage compartment supports
a maximum load of 5 kg. Do not overload.
● Do not drive when the cover of the mobile
storage compartment is open.
● Do not drive when the tables are set up for
use.
● When the vehicle is moving and when the
tables are not in use, keep them stored inside
the mobile storage compartment with the
cover closed.
● Never place hot drinks in the cup holders.
The drink may spill and cause burns when the
vehicle is moving.
● Do not leave cans in the cup holders when
the vehicle is in motion, there is a danger
that the can may be flung around the vehicle
and cause injury.
● Make sure that the mounting plate is prop-
erly fixed onto the cushion frame.
● When the plate is not in use, store inside
the storage compartment.
● When the mobile storage compartment is
not in use, it should always be properly fas-
tened using the storage net in the boot. Note
● Check that the mobile storage compart-
ment is fitted correctly, pulling it forward by the front storage compartment and checking
that both safety clips are securely fastened to
both rings.
Mounting and removal
Fig. 93
Mobile storage compartment. Mount-
ing. Fig. 94
Mobile storage compartment mount-
ing plate. Mounting the mobile storage compartment
– Fold down the small section of the rear seat
backrest in order to access the back of the
large backrest.
– Fit the mobile storage compartment mount-
ing plate H
››› Fig. 94 from the inside of
the v
ehicle, through the rear part of the
seat. It should be fitted between the back-
rest and the seat, in the central seat area.
– Push the plate until it clips the cushion
frame. The rings of the mobile storage com-
partment mounting plate appear at the
front of the seat.
– If it is difficult to make the plate clip, tilt the
rear backrest of the large section forwards
slightly and then lean the backrest back-
wards to make the fitting of the mobile
storage compartment onto the mounting
plate easier.
– Place the mobile storage compartment on-
to the foam of the central seat.
– Set both mounting pieces together E ›››
Fig. 93 , with both mounting rings G ›››
Fig. 94 and press hard until both the
c lip
s completely connect with the rings.
Removing the mobile storage compartment – Pull each of the buttons ›››
Fig. 93 F on
the clips (red buttons) forwards, until they
snap out of place. »
97
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety