2015 Seat Altea brake pads

Operation
There is a fault in the ABS if:
● The warning lamp 
does not light up
when the ignition i
s switched on.
● The control lamp does not go out again af-
ter a few seconds.
● The control lamp lights up when the vehicle
is moving.
The vehicle can still be braked in the normal
way, without the ABS function. Take the vehi-
cle to a specialised workshop as soon as
possible. For further information on the ABS
see the ››› page 136
.
If a fault occurs in the ABS, the ESC* control
lamp will also light up.
Brake system fault
If the ABS warning lamp  lights up together
with the brake warning lamp , there is a
fault in the ABS function and in the brake
system ››› .
WARNING
● Before opening the bonnet, read and ob-
serve the warnings ››› page 163, Working in
the engine compartment.
● If the br

ake system warning lamp  should
light up together with the ABS warning lamp
, stop the vehicle immediately and check the brake fluid level in the reservoir
››› page 172, Brake fluid. If the brake fluid
l ev

el has dropped below the “MIN” mark you
must not drive on. Risk of accident. Obtain
technical assistance.
● If the brake fluid level is correct, the fault in
the brake system may have been caused by a
failure of the ABS system. This could cause
the rear wheels to lock quickly when you
brake. This could cause the rear to break
away. Risk of skidding. Stop the vehicle and
seek technical assistance. Washer fluid* 
This warning lamp lights up to indicate that
the windscreen washer level is very low.
This serves as a reminder to fill up the reser-
voir at the earliest opportunity
››› page 171.
The following message is shown on the in-
strument panel display* 1)
: REFILL WIND-
SCREEN WASHER FLUID .
Alternator  This warning lamp signals a fault in the alter-
nator.The warning lamp

lights up when the igni-
tion i

s switched on. It should go out when the
engine has started running.
If the warning lamp 
lights up while driv-
ing, the alternator is no longer charging the
battery. You should immediately drive to the
nearest specialised workshop.
You should avoid using electrical equipment
that is not absolutely necessary because this
will drain the battery.
Worn brake pads  If the
 symbol lights up, have the front
brake pads (and, for safety reasons, the rear
pads as well) inspected by a specialised
workshop. 1)
Depending on the version of the model.
42

Driving
engine compartment or due to its prolonged
exposure to solar radiation. WARNING
● Never switch the engine off until the vehi-
cle is completely stationary.
● The brake servo works only when the en-
gine is running. With the engine switched off,
more strength is needed to brake. As normal
brake operation cannot be performed, risk of
accidents and serious injury may exist.
● The steering lock can be immediately
blocked once the key is removed from the ig-
nition. The vehicle cannot be steered. Risk of
accident. CAUTION
When the engine has been running under a
heavy load for a long period, heat can accu-
mulate in the engine compartment and cause
engine damage. For this reason, idle the en-
gine for approximately 2 minutes before
switching it off. Braking and parking
Braking capacity and distance The following factors impair braking capacity: New brake pads
New brake pads do not provide optimal per-
formance during the first 400 km; first they
must be “run in”. However, the reduced brak-
ing capacity may be compensated by press-
ing on the brake pedal a little harder. Avoid
overloading the brakes during run-in.
Wear
The rate of wear on the
brake pads depends
a great deal on how you drive and the condi-
tions in which the vehicle is operated. Nega-
tive factors are, for instance, city traffic, fre-
quent short trips or hard driving with abrupt
starts and stops.
Wet roads or road salt
In certain conditions, such as in heavy rain,
or after washing the vehicle or driving
through water, the full braking effect can be
delayed by moisture (or in winter by ice) on
the discs and brake pads. In this case the
brakes should be “dried” by pressing the
brake pedal several times.
The effectiveness of the brakes can also be
temporarily reduced if the vehicle is driven
for some distance without using the brakes
when there is a lot of salt on the road in win-
ter. In this case, the layer of salt on the brake
discs and pads has to wear off before brak-
ing. Corrosion
There may be a tendency for corrosion to
form on the discs and dirt to build up on the
brake pads if the vehicle is used infrequently
or the brakes are not used very often.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if
rust has formed on the disks, it is advisable
to clean off the pads and disks by braking
firmly a few times at a moderately high speed
››› .
Faults in the brake system
If the brake pedal travel should ever increase
suddenly , this may mean that one of the two
br ak
e circuits has failed. Drive immediately
to the nearest specialised workshop and
have the fault repaired. Drive there slowly
and remember that you will have to apply
more pressure on the brake pedal and allow
for longer stopping distances.
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if
the brake fluid level is too low. The brake flu-
id level is monitored electronically.
Brake servo
The brake servo increases the pressure you
apply to the brake pedal. It works only when
the engine is running. »
123
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Driving
●
If the handbrake is only partially released,
this will cause the rear brakes to overheat,
which can impair the function of the brake
system and could lead to an accident. This al-
so causes premature wear on the rear brake
pads. CAUTION
Always apply the handbrake before you leave
the vehicle. Put it in 1st gear as well. Parking
The handbrake should always be firmly ap-
plied when the vehicle is parked.
Always note the following points when park-
ing the vehicle:
– Use the brake pedal to stop the vehicle.
– Apply the handbrake.
– Put it in 1st gear.
– Switch the engine off and remove the key
from the ignition. Turn the steering wheel
slightly to engage the steering lock.
– Always take you keys with you when you
leave the vehicle ››› .Additional notes on parking the vehicle on
gradients:
Turn the steering wheel so that the vehicle
rolls against the kerb if it started to roll.
●
If the vehicle is parked facing downhill,
turn the front wheels so that they point to-
wards the kerb .
● If the vehicle is parked facing uphill, turn
the fr ont
wheels so that they point away from
the kerb
.
● Secure the vehicle as usual by applying the
handbrake firmly and putting it in 1st gear. WARNING
● Take measures to reduce the risk of injury
when you leave your vehicle unattended.
● Never park where the hot exhaust system
could ignite inflammable materials, such as
dry grass, low bushes, spilt fuel etc.
● Never allow vehicle occupants to remain in
the vehicle when it is locked. They would be
unable to open the vehicle from the inside,
and could become trapped in the vehicle in
an emergency. In the event of an emergency,
locked doors will delay assistance to vehicle
occupants.
● Never leave children alone in the vehicle.
They could set the vehicle in motion, for ex-
ample, by releasing the handbrake or the
gearbox lever. ●
Depending on weather conditions, it may
become extremely hot or cold inside the vehi-
cle. This can be fatal. Hill driving assistant*
This function is only included in vehicles with
ESC.
The hill driving assistant helps the driver to
move off and upward on a hill without rolling
backward.
The system maintains brake pressure for ap-
proximately 2 seconds after the driver takes
his foot off the brake pedal to prevent the ve-
hicle from rolling backward when starting off.
During these 2 seconds, the driver has
enough time to release the clutch pedal and
accelerate without the vehicle moving and
without having to use the handbrake, making
starting off easier, more comfortable and saf-
er.
These are the basic operation conditions:
● being on a ramp or hill/slope,
● closed doors,
● vehicle completely stationary,
● engine running and foot on the brake,
● besides having a gear engaged or being in
neutral for manual gear change and with the
selector lever at position S,
D
or R for an au-
tomatic gearbox. »
125
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Care and maintenance
For the sake of the environment
● When purchasing products for your vehicle
maintenance, select the ones which are not
harmful to the environment.
● The waste from car-care products should
not be disposed of with ordinary household
waste. Observe the disposal information on
the package. Care of the vehicle exterior
Automatic car wash tunnel The vehicle paintwork is so durable that the
vehicle can normally be washed without
problems in an automatic car wash tunnel.
However, the paintwork wear depends to a
large extent on the kind of the car wash tun-
nel, the brushes used, its water filtering and
the type of cleaning and preservative prod-
ucts.
Before going through a vehicle wash, be sure
to take the usual precautions such as closing
the windows and sunroof.
If the vehicle has special accessories such as
spoilers or a roof rack or two-way radio aerial,
etc., it is advisable to consult the car wash
tunnel operator.
After washing,
the brakes
could take some
time t
o respond as the brake discs and pads could be wet, or even frozen in winter. “Dry”
the brakes by braking several times. WARNING
Water, ice and salt on the brake system can
reduce braking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. CAUTION
Before putting the vehicle through the car
wash, do not tighten the aerial if it is folded
because it can be damaged. Washing by hand
Vehicle washing
– First soften the dirt and rinse it off with wa-
ter.
– Clean your vehicle from top to bottom with
a soft sponge, a glove or a brush. Use very
light pressure.
– Rinse the sponge or glove often with clean
water.
– Special car shampoo should only be used
for very stubborn dirt.
– Leave the wheels, sill panels etc. until last,
using a different sponge or glove.
– Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with water. –
Dry the vehicle surface gently with a cha-
mois leather.
– In cold temperature
, dry the rubber seals
and their s

urfaces to prevent them from
freezing. Apply silicone spray to the rubber
seals.
After washing the vehicle – After washing, avoid sudden and sharp
braking. “Dry” the brakes by braking sever-
al times ››› page 123, Braking capacity and
distance. WARNING
● Wash your vehicle with the ignition switch-
ed off.
● Protect your hands and arms from cuts on
sharp metal edges when cleaning the under-
body, the inside of the wheel housings etc.
Risk of injury.
● Water, ice and salt on the brake system can
reduce braking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. CAUTION
● Never remove dirt, mud or dust if the vehi-
cle surface is dry. Never use a dry cloth or
sponge for cleaning purposes. This could
scratch the paintwork or glass on your vehi-
cle. » 149
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
Brake fluid Checking the brake fluid level Fig. 151
Engine compartment: brake fluid
reservoir cap –
Read off the fluid level at the transparent
brake fluid reservoir. It should always be
between the “MIN” and “MAX” marks.
The position of the brake fluid reservoir is
shown in the corresponding engine compart-
ment illustration ››› page 166. The brake fluid
reservoir has a black and yellow cap.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the
vehicle is being used as the brake pads are
automatically adjusted as they wear.
However, if the level goes down noticeably in
a short time, or drops below the “MIN” mark,
there may be a leak in the brake system. A
display on the instrument panel will warn you
if the brake fluid level is too low ››› page 35. WARNING
Before opening the bonnet to check the brake
fluid level, read and observe the warnings
››› page 163. Changing the brake fluid
The Maintenance Programme indicates brake
fluid change intervals.
We recommend that you have the brake fluid
changed by a Technical Service.
Before opening the bonnet, please read and
follow the warnings
››› in Safety instruc-
tions on working in the engine compartment
on page 163 in section “Safety notes for
w ork
ing in the engine compartment”.
In the course of time, brake fluid becomes
hygroscopic and absorbs water from the am-
bient air. If the water content in the brake flu-
id is too high, the brake system could cor-
rode. This also considerably reduces the boil-
ing point of the brake fluid. Heavy use of the
brakes may then cause a vapour lock which
could impair the braking effect.
Be sure to always use the correct brake fluid.
Only use brake fluid that expressly meets the
VW 501 14 standard.
You can buy VW 501 14 standard brake fluid
at a SEAT dealership or a SEAT Official Serv-
ice. If none is available, use only high-quality brake fluid that meets DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
standards, or USA Standards FMVSS 116 DOT
4.
Using any other kind of brake fluid or one
that is not of a high quality may affect opera-
tion of the brake system and reduce its effec-
tiveness. Never use a brake fluid if the con-
tainer does not state that it complies with VW
501 14, DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards, or
USA standards FMVSS 116 DOT 4.
WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous. Old brake fluid im-
pairs the braking effect.
● Before opening the bonnet to check the
brake fluid level, read and observe the warn-
ings ››› page 163.
● Br ak
e fluid should be stored in the closed
original container in a safe place out of reach
of children. There is a toxic risk.
● Perform the brake fluid change according to
the Maintenance Programme. Heavy use of
the brakes may cause a vapour lock if the
brake fluid is left in the brake system for too
long. This would seriously affect the effec-
tiveness of the brakes and the safety of the
vehicle. This may cause an accident. CAUTION
Brake fluid damages the vehicle paintwork.
Wipe off any brake fluid from the paintwork
immediately. 172

Checking and refilling levels
For the sake of the environment
The brake pads and brake fluid must be col-
lected and disposed of according the applica-
ble regulations. The SEAT Technical Service
network has the necessary equipment and
qualified personnel for collecting and dispos-
ing of this waste material. Vehicle battery
Warnings on handling the battery Wear eye protection

Battery acid is extremely corrosive. Wear pro-
tective gloves and eye protection!

Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking are
prohibited!

A highly explosive mixture of gases is released
when the battery is under charge.

Keep children away from acid and batteries!
WARNING
Always be aware of the danger of injury and
chemical burns as well as the risk of accident
or fire when working on the battery and the
electrical system:
● Wear eye protection. Protect your eyes,
skin and clothing from acid and particles con-
taining lead. ●
Battery acid is extremely corrosive. Wear
protective gloves and eye protection. Do not
tilt the batteries. This could spill acid through
the vents. Rinse battery acid from eyes imme-
diately for several minutes with clear water.
Then seek medical care immediately. Neutral-
ise any acid splashes on the skin or clothing
with a soapy solution, and rinse off with plen-
ty of water. If acid is swallowed by mistake,
consult a doctor immediately.
● Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking are
prohibited. When handling cables and electri-
cal equipment, avoid causing sparks and
electrostatic charge. Never short the battery
terminals. High-energy sparks can cause in-
jury.
● A highly explosive mixture of gases is re-
leased when the battery is under charge. The
batteries should be charged in a well-ventila-
ted room only.
● Keep children away from acid and batteries.
● Before working on the electrical system,
you must switch off the engine, the ignition
and all electrical devices. The negative cable
on the battery must be disconnected. When a
light bulb is changed, you need only switch
off the light.
● Deactivate the anti-theft alarm by unlock-
ing the vehicle before you disconnect the bat-
tery! The alarm will otherwise be triggered.
● When disconnecting the battery from the
vehicle on-board network, disconnect first
the negative cable and then the positive ca-
ble. ●
Switch off all electrical devices before re-
connecting the battery. Reconnect first the
positive cable and then the negative cable.
Never reverse the polarity of the connections.
This could cause an electrical fire.
● Never charge a frozen battery, or one which
has thawed. This could result in explosions
and chemical burns. Always replace a battery
which has frozen. A flat battery can also
freeze at temperatures close to 0 °C (+32 °F).
● Ensure that the vent hose is always connec-
ted to the battery.
● Never use a defective battery. This could
cause an explosion. Replace a damaged bat-
tery immediately. CAUTION
● Never disconnect the battery if the ignition
is switched on or if the engine is running.
This could damage the electrical system or
electronic components.
● Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight
over a long period of time, as the intense ul-
traviolet radiation can damage the battery
housing.
● If the vehicle is left standing in cold condi-
tions for a long period, protect the battery
from “freezing”. If it freezes it will be dam-
aged. 173
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Index
Index
A
ABS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Acoustic warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Adaptive headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Adjusting the seat belt height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
AFS (cornering lights) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Airbag covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Airbags description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 20 activation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
functioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
head-protection airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Air conditioner 2C-Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Air conditioner automatic mode 2C-Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Air conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Air recirculation mode 2C-Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Manual air conditioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Alarm system Switching off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Alcantara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
All-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Alternator Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Anti-lock brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Anti-theft alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Interior monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Switching off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Tow-away protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Anti-theft wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Antifreeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Aquaplaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Aspects to note before setting off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
ASR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Audible warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Automatic anti-dazzle interior rear vision mirror Activating the anti-dazzle function . . . . . . . . . . 86
Deactivating the anti-dazzle function . . . . . . . . 86
Automatic car wash tunnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Automatic gearbox Kick-down feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Automatic gearbox/DSG automatic gearbox . . . 127
Automatic lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Automatic windscreen wiping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Automatic wipe with rain sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Auxiliary audio input: AUX-IN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
B Ball coupling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Winter conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Before setting off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Belt tightening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Biodiesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Biodiesel fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Boot hatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Emergency opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Boot lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Emergency opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Brake pedal Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Worn brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Brake servo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123, 138
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Brake servo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Bulb defect Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Buzzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77, 120
C
Car care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Car care products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
CCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
CD changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Central lock button Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Automatic locking system for involuntary un-locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Automatic speed-dependent locking and un- locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
223