
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

Operation
Switching on automatic wipe – Press the lever fully forwards to position 7›››
Fig. 71 . The rear wash function will start
immedi at
ely and the wiper will start a few
seconds later. The rear window wash sys-
tem will function as long as you hold the
lever in this position.
– Release the lever. The wiper then wipes for
approximately 4 seconds, and then in inter-
vals again.
– Release the lever. The washer system stops
and the wipers function. WARNING
● Worn and dirty wiper blades reduce visibili-
ty and safety levels while driving.
● Always note the corresponding warnings
on ››› page 194. CAUTION
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper
blade is not frozen to the glass before using
the wiper for the first time. If you switch on
the wiper when the wiper blade is frozen to
the glass, this could damage both the wiper
blade and the wiper motor. Note
● The windscreen wiper will only function
when the ignition is switched on and the rear
lid is closed. ●
In reverse gear, with the windscreen wipers
switched on, the rear windscreen wiper will
make one wipe. Headlight washer*
The headlight washers clean the headlight
lenses.
The headlight washers are activated auto-
matically when the windscreen washer is
used and the window wiper lever is pulled to-
wards the steering wheel for at least 1.5 sec-
onds – provided the dipped beam headlights
or main beams are switched on. Clean off
stubborn dirt (insects, etc.) from the head-
lights at regular intervals, for instance, when
filling the fuel tank.
Note
● To ensure that the headlight washers work
properly in winter, keep the nozzle holders in
the bumper free of snow and remove any ice
with a de-icer spray.
● To remove water, the windscreen wipers
will be activated from time to time, the head-
light washers will be activated every three cy-
cles. Rear vision mirrors
Interior rear vision mirror It is dangerous to drive if you cannot see
clearly through the rear window.
Manual anti-dazzle function for interior rear
vision mirror
In the basic mirror position, the lever at the
bottom edge of the rear vision mirror should
be at the front. Pull the lever to the back to
select the anti-dazzle function.
Automatic anti-dazzle interior rear
vision mirror* Fig. 72
Automatic anti-dazzle interior rear vi-
sion mirror. 86

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

Operation
the rear of the vehicle. The right exterior
mirror will be adjusted at the same time
(sy nc
hronised). WARNING
● Convex or spherical mirrors increase the
field of vision however the objects appear
smaller and further away. If you use these
mirrors to estimate the distance to vehicles
behind you when changing lane, you could
make a mistake. Risk of accident.
● If possible, use the rear vision mirror to es-
timate distances to vehicles behind you.
● Make sure that you do not get your finger
trapped between the mirror and the mirror
base when folding back the mirrors. Risk of
injury! For the sake of the environment
The exterior mirror heating should be switch-
ed off when it is no longer needed. Other-
wise, it is an unnecessary fuel waste. Note
● If the electrical adjustment ever fails to op-
erate, the mirrors can be adjusted by hand by
lightly pressing the edge of the mirror glass.
● In vehicles with electric exterior mirrors,
the following points should be observed: if, due to an external force (e.g. being knocked
while manoeuvring), the adjustment of the
mirror housing is altered, the mirror will have
to be fully folded electrically. Do not readjust the rear vision mirror housing by hand, as
this will interfere with the mirror adjuster
function.
● The rear vision mirrors can be adjusted sep-
arately or simultaneously, as described
above.
● The folding function on the exterior mirrors
is not active at speeds over 40 km/h
(25 mph). Seats and head restraints
Adjusting the seat and head
restraints
The importance of correct seat
adjustment Proper seat adjustment optimises the level of
protection offered by seat belts and airbags.
Your vehicle has
five
seats, two in the front
and thr ee in the r
ear. Each seat is equipped
with a three-point seat belt.
The driver seat and the front passenger seat
can be adjusted in many ways to suit the
physical requirements of the vehicle occu-
pants. The correct seat position is very impor-
tant for:
● a fast and easy operation of all controls on
the instrument panel,
● a relaxed posture which does not cause
drowsiness,
● a safe driving ›››
page 5,
● ensuring that the seat belts and airbag sys-
tem provide maximum protection ›››
page 11. WARNING
● If the driver and passengers assume im-
proper sitting positions, they may sustain
critical injuries. 88

Operation
● in the side trims of the luggage compart-
ment,
● in the spare wheel recess in the luggage
compartment (only on vehicles with an op-
tional anti-puncture kit*.
The clothes hooks are located on the rear
roof handles. WARNING
● Do not store loose objects on the dash pan-
el. These objects could be flung through the
passenger compartment when the vehicle is
moving (e.g. while accelerating, braking or
cornering) and distract the driver.
● Ensure that no objects can fall from the
centre console or other storage compart-
ments into the driver footwell while the vehi-
cle is moving. In the event of a sudden brak-
ing manoeuvre, you will not be able to use
the brake, clutch or accelerator. Risk of acci-
dent.
● Clothing hung on the coat hooks must not
restrict the driver's view. Risk of accident.
The coat hooks are intended only for use with
light articles of clothing. Do not leave any
hard, sharp or heavy objects in hanging arti-
cles of clothing. During sudden braking ma-
noeuvres or accidents, especially those in-
volving airbag deployment, these objects
could injure the vehicle occupants. Multi-purpose mobile storage
compartment*
General information Fig. 91
Mobile storage compartment. Open-
ing. Fig. 92
Mobile storage compartment. Func-
tions. This storage compartment may only be
placed in the central area of the rear seat.
Opening
– Lift the cover B , in area
A
››› Fig. 91 .
C lo
sing
– Push the cover down, until it clips into
place.
Uses of the mobile storage compartment
● The front open glove compartment may be
used to store small objects that will not dam-
age passengers in the event that the objects
are flung around the interior of the vehicle.
● The cup holders are used for holding drink
cans or cups.
● The elastic belt on the side may be used for
keeping papers and magazines.
● The tables may be used as a support for
writing.
To use the table C
››› Fig. 92 , it must be re-
mo v
ed from its compartment in the side of
the mobile storage compartment and fitted
into slot D
››› Fig. 92 on the front section of
the mo b
ile storage compartment.
The table in the right-hand compartment is
fitted into the left-hand slot of the front of the
mobile storage compartment and the table in
the left-hand compartment is fitted in the
right-hand slot.
96

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

Operation
– Fold the larger seat down and remove the
mobile storage compartment mounting
plate.
Ashtray*, cigarette lighter* and
power sockets Front ashtray* Fig. 95
Ashtray located in the front cup hold-
er. Opening and closing the ashtray
– To open the ashtray, lift the cover ››› Fig. 95 .
– To c
lose, push the cover down.
Emptying the ashtray – Extract the ashtray and empty it. WARNING
Never put paper in the ashtray. Hot ash could
ignite the paper in the ashtray and cause a
fire. Cigarette lighter*
Fig. 96
The cigarette lighter is located in the
power socket of the front centre console. –
Press on the cigarette lighter ››› Fig. 96 to
activ at
e it ››› .
– Wait for the lighter to spring out.
– Pull out the cigarette lighter and light the
cigarette on the glowing coil. WARNING
● Improper use of the cigarette lighter can
lead to serious injuries or start a fire. ●
Using the lighter carefully. Carelessness or
negligence when using the cigarette lighter
can cause burns and serious injuries.
● The lighter only works when the ignition is
turned on or the engine is running. To avoid
the risk of fire, never leave children alone in-
side the vehicle. 98

Operation
Removing the shelf
– Unhook the loops ››› Fig. 103 B from
housings A .
– Extract the shelf from its slot, in its rest po-
sition and pull outwards. The storage com-
partment should remain closed.
To remove the storage compartment
– Pull outwards until the compartment is
freed from the pivot point ››› Fig. 104 . WARNING
Do not place heavy or hard objects on the
rear shelf, because they will endanger the ve-
hicle occupants in case of sudden braking. CAUTION
● Before closing the rear lid, ensure that the
rear shelf is correctly fitted.
● An overloaded luggage compartment could
mean that the rear shelf is not correctly seat-
ed and it may be bent or damaged.
● If the luggage compartment is overloaded,
remove the tray. Note
● Ensure that, when placing items of clothing
on the luggage compartment cover, rear visi-
bility is not reduced. ●
If the vehicle is fitted with a storage com-
partment*, it should only be used to store the
emergency triangles* and light objects. Retractable rear shelf
3 Applies to the model: ALTEA XL/ALTEA FREETRACK
Fig. 105
Operating the storage compartment
shelf. Fig. 106
Removing the storage compartment
shelf. Using the rear shelf
– Use the handle A to pull the shelf back
until you hear a “click” ››› Fig. 105 .
– Pr e
ss the area marked “PRESS”, and the
cover is retrieved automatically.
To remove the rear shelf
– Press the side pin in the direction of the ar-
row, lift the cover and remove it ››› Fig. 106.
– Installation is done in the reverse order. WARNING
Do not place heavy or hard objects on the
rear shelf, because they will endanger the ve-
hicle occupants in case of sudden braking. CAUTION
● Before closing the rear lid, ensure that the
rear shelf is correctly fitted.
● An overloaded luggage compartment could
mean that the rear shelf is not correctly seat-
ed and it may be bent or damaged.
● If the luggage compartment is overloaded,
remove the tray. Note
● Ensure that, when placing items of clothing
on the luggage compartment cover, rear visi-
bility is not reduced. 102