2015 Seat Altea XL steering

Operation
– Lightly press the selector lever forward
››› Fig. 128 + to change up to a higher
gear.
– Lightly press the selector lever backward
››› Fig. 128 - to change down to a lower
gear.
Changing gear with the steering wheel
paddle levers* – Press the right paddle lever + towards the
steering wheel to change up ››› Fig. 129 .
– Pr e
ss the left paddle – towards the steer-
ing wheel to change down ››› Fig. 129 .
U s

ing the paddle levers on the steering
wheel, you can access manual driving mode
regardless of the pre-selected driving mode.
General information about driving in
tiptronic mode
When accelerating, the automatic gearbox /
DSG automatic gearbox goes into a higher
gear a little before the engine reaches its
maximum permitted revolutions.
If a lower gear is selected, the automatic
gearbox / DSG automatic gearbox will only
change down when the engine cannot go
over its maximum permitted revolutions.
If “tiptronic” is selected whilst the vehicle is
in motion and the automatic gearbox / DSG
automatic gearbox is in third gear and selec- tor lever position D, “tiptronic” mode will
then also be in third gear.
Changing gears in the normal or sport
programme using the steering wheel paddle
levers
If the paddle levers
››› Fig. 129 are used in
the normal

or sport programme, the system
switches temporarily to “tiptronic” mode. To
exit “Tiptronic” mode again, press the right
paddle shifter +OFF toward the steering
wheel for approximately one second. You will
also leave “Tiptronic” mode if the paddle lev-
ers are not moved for a certain time. Note
● The gearbox controls on the steering wheel
can operate with the selector lever in any po-
sition and with the vehicle in motion. Kick-down feature
This feature allows maximum acceleration.
If you press the accelerator down thoroughly,
the gearbox automatically changes down, de-
pending on speed and engine speed, into a
lower gear to take full advantage of give the
vehicle maximum acceleration.
The gearbox does not change gear until the
engine reaches the maximum determined en-
gine speed for the gear. WARNING
You could lose control of the vehicle if you ac-
celerate on slippery road surfaces. Risk of se-
rious injury.
● Be particularly careful when using the kick-
down features on slippery road surfaces. With
a fast acceleration, the vehicle could lose
traction and skid.
● You should use the kick-down feature only
when traffic and weather conditions allow it
to be used safely. Run-in and economical driving
Running in a new engine The engine needs to be run in over the first
1,500 km.
Up to 1,000 kilometres
– Do not drive at speeds of more than 2/3
the maximum speed.
– Do not accelerate hard.
– Avoid high engine revolutions.
– Do not tow a trailer.
130

Driver assistance systems
The ESC system is always active and cannot
be switched off. The ESC switch only switches
the ASR off.
The ASR can be deactivated when wheel spin
is desirable.
For example:
● When driving with snow chains.
● When driving in deep snow or on loose sur-
faces.
● When the vehicle is stuck, to rock it back-
wards and forwards.
Press the button to switch the ASR back on
when you no longer need wheel spin.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)*
The ESC reduces the risk of skidding by brak-
ing the wheels individually.
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.
The forces acting on the braked wheel bring
the vehicle back to a stable condition. If the
vehicle tends to oversteer (the rear end
slides out), the system will act on the front
wheel on the outside of the turn. Steering manoeuvre recommendations
This is a complementary safety function in-
cluded in the ESC. This function aids the driv-
er to better stabilize the vehicle in a critical
situation. For example, in case of sudden
braking on a surface with varied adherence,
the vehicle will tend to destabilise its trajec-
tory to the right or to the left. In this case, the
ESC recognises the situation and assists the
driver with a counter steering manoeuvre
from the power steering.
This function simply provides the driver with
a recommended manoeuvre in critical situa-
tions.
The vehicle does not steer itself with this
function, the driver has full control of the ve-
hicle at all times.
WARNING
● Remember that not even the ESC can defy
the laws of physics. This should be kept in
mind, particularly on slippery and wet roads
and when towing a trailer.
● Always adapt your driving style to suit the
condition of the roads and the traffic situa-
tion. The greater safety provided by the ESC
should not encourage you to run any risks. CAUTION
● To ensure that the ESC works correctly, all
four wheels must be fitted with the same
tyres. Any differences in the rolling radius of the tyres can cause the system to reduce en-
gine power when this is not desired.
● Any modifications made to the vehicle (for
example, to the engine, brake system, run-
ning gear or to the combination of wheels
and tyres) may affect the operation of the
ABS, EDL, ESC and ASR. Electronic differential lock (EDL)*
EDL helps the vehicle to start moving, accel-
erate and climb a gradient in slippery condi-
tions where this may otherwise be difficult or
even impossible.
It uses the ABS sensors to monitor the speed
of the driven wheels. In case of an EDL fault,
the warning light for ABS lights up
››› page 41 .
At s
peeds of up to approximately 80 km/h
(50 mph), it is able to balance out differences
in the speed of the driven wheels of approxi-
mately 100 rpm/min caused by a partially
slippery road surface. It does this by braking
the wheel which has lost traction and distrib-
uting more driving force to the other driven
wheel via the differential.
To prevent the disc brake of the braking
wheel from overheating, the EDL cuts out au-
tomatically if subjected to excessive loads.
The vehicle will continue to function normally »
135
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Operation
The XDS system can detect and correct this
effect via the sensors and signals of the ESC.
Via the ESC, the XDS will brake the inside
wheel and counter the excess driving torque
of that wheel. This means that the driver's
desired trajectory is much more precise,
The XDS system works in combination with
the ESC and is always active, even when ASR
traction control is disconnected.
Brake servo The brake servo increases the pressure you
apply to the brake pedal. It works
only when
the engine is running .
If the brake servo is not functioning, e.g. due
to a malfunction, or if the vehicle is being
towed, you will have to press the brake pedal
considerably harder to make up for the lack
of servo assistance. WARNING
The braking distance can also be affected by
external factors.
● Never let the vehicle coast with the engine
switched off. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in an accident. The braking dis-
tance is increased considerably when the
brake servo is not active.
● If the brake servo is not working, for exam-
ple when the vehicle is being towed, you will have to press the brake pedal considerably
harder than normal.
Start-Stop System*
Description and operation The Start-Stop function stops the engine
when the vehicle is stopped and starts it au-
tomatically when required.
– When the vehicle is stopped, put it in neu-
tral and release the clutch pedal. The en-
gine will stop.
– When the clutch pedal is pressed, the en-
gine starts again.
– The instrument panel display shows infor-
mation about the status of the Start-Stop
function ››› Fig. 133 .
St ar
t-Stop function conditions
● The driver seat belt must be buckled.
● The bonnet must be closed.
● The engine must be at operating tempera-
ture.
● The steering wheel must be straight.
● The vehicle must not be on a steep gradi-
ent.
● The vehicle must not be in reverse.
● A trailer must not be connected. ●
The temperature of the passenger compart-
ment must be within comfort limits (button A/C
11
››› Fig. 120 should be selected).
● The w ind

screen de-mist function must be
off.
● If not
, it requires an increase in airflow 10 ›››
Fig. 120 for more than three presses.
● The t emper
ature must not be set to HI or
LO.
● The driver door must be closed.
● The diesel particulate filter must not be in
regeneration mode, for diesel engines.
● The battery charge must not be low for the
next start.
● Battery temperature must be between -1 °C
(+30 °F) and +55 °C (+131 °F).
● The Parking aid system (Park Assist*) must
not be activated.
Start-Stop function interruption
In the following situations, the Start-Stop
function will be interrupted and the engine
will automatically start:
● The vehicle starts moving.
● The brake pedal is pressed several times in
a row.
● The battery has been discharged excessive-
ly.
● The Start-Stop System is manually deacti-
vated.
138

Driver assistance systems
● The windscreen de-mist function is turned
on.
● The temperature of the passenger compart-
ment exceeds comfort limits (button A/C
11 ›››
Fig. 120 should be selected).
● If in an inc
rease in airflow 10
››› Fig. 120 is
r equir

ed for more than three presses.
● Temperature setting HI or LO is selected.
● The engine coolant temperature is insuffi-
cient.
● The alternator is faulty, for example the V-
belt has ruptured.
● If any of the conditions described in the
previous section are not fulfilled. WARNING
Never allow the vehicle to move with the en-
gine off for any reason. You could lose control
of your vehicle. This could cause an accident
and serious injury.
● Power steering does not work when the en-
gine is not running. That is why it is much
more difficult to turn the steering wheel.
● Turn off the Start-Stop system when driving
through water (fording streams, etc.). Note
● For vehicles with the Start-Stop function
and a manual gearbox, when the engine is
started, the clutch must be pressed. ●
When the conditions for the Start-Stop
function are not fulfilled, the instrument pan-
el displays the Start-Stop indicator dimmed.
● If the steering wheel is turned more than
270°, Stop will not function; however, the an-
gle of steering wheel turn does not affect
starting the vehicle. Activating and deactivating the Start-
Stop function
Fig. 132
The Start-Stop function button. Every time the ignition is switched on, the
Start-Stop function is automatically activa-
ted.
Manually deactivating the Start-Stop
function
– Press the A
››› Fig. 132 located in the cen-
tre console. When the Start-Stop function is deactivated, the pushbutton indicator
lights.
– If the Start-Stop function is operating then
the engine starts immediately.
Switching the Start-Stop function on
manually – Press the A
››› Fig. 132 located in the cen-
tre console. The indicator on the button will
go out.
Driver messages Fig. 133
Display on the instrument panel dur-
ing Start-Stop function operation. When the engine is turned off by the Start-
Stop function, this is displayed on the instru-
ment panel.
»
139Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Wheels
Tyre useful life Fig. 152
Tyre tread wear indicators. Fig. 153
Diagram for changing wheels The useful life of tyres is dependent on tyre
pressure, driving style and fitting.
Wear indicators
The original tyres on your vehicle have
1.6 mm high “tread wear indicators”
››› Fig. 152 , running across the tread. De- pendin
g on the m ake, there will be 6 to 8 of
them evenly spaced around the tyre. Mark-
ings on the tyre sidewall (for instance the let-
ters “TWI” or other symbols) indicate the po-
sitions of the tread wear indicators. The mini-
mum tread depth required by law is 1.6 mm
(measured in the tread grooves next to the
tread wear indicators). Worn tyres must be re-
placed. Different figures may apply in export
countries ››› .
Tyre pressure
Incorrect tyre pressure causes premature
wear and could cause tyre blow-out. For this
reason, the tyre pressure should be checked
at least once per month ››› page 175.
Driving style
Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard
braking all increase tyre wear.
Changing wheels around
If the front tyres are worn considerably more
than the rear ones it is advisable to change
them around as shown ››› Fig. 153 . The use-
f u

l life of all the tyres will then be about the
same time.
Wheel balance
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced.
However, various factors encountered in nor-
mal driving can cause them to become unbal-
anced, which results in steering vibration. Unbalanced wheels should be rebalanced, as
they otherwise cause excessive wear on
steering, suspension and tyres. A wheel must
also be rebalanced when a new tyre is fitted.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment causes excessive
tyre wear, impairing the safety of the vehicle.
If tyres show excessive wear, you should
have the wheel alignment checked by a Tech-
nical Service.
WARNING
There is a serious danger of accidents if a tyre
bursts during driving!
● The tyres must be replaced at the latest
when the tread wear indicators are worn
››› page 177. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in an accident. Worn tyres do not
grip well at high speeds on wet roads. There
is also a greater risk of “aquaplaning”.
● At continuously high speeds, a tyre with in-
sufficient pressure flexes more. This causes it
to overheat. This can cause tread separation
and tyre blow-out. Risk of accident. Always
observe the recommended tyre pressures.
● If tyres show excessive wear, you should
have the running gear checked by a Technical
Service.
● Keep chemicals such as oil, fuel and brake
fluid away from tyres.
● Damaged wheels and tyres must be re-
placed immediately! » 177
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Emergencies
after the battery has thawed, battery acid
could leak and cause chemical burns. If a bat-
tery freezes, it should be replaced.
●
Keep sparks, flames and lighted cigarettes
away from batteries, danger of explosion.
Failure to comply could result in an explo-
sion.
● Observe the instructions provided by the
manufacturer of the jump leads.
● Do not connect the negative cable from the
other vehicle directly to the negative terminal
of the flat battery. The gas emitted from the
battery could be ignited by sparks. Danger of
explosion.
● Do not attach the negative cable from the
other vehicle to parts of the fuel system or to
the brake line.
● The non-insulated parts of the battery
clamps must not be allowed to touch. The
jump lead attached to the positive battery
terminal must not touch metal parts of the ve-
hicle, this can cause a short circuit.
● Position the leads in such a way that they
cannot come into contact with any moving
parts in the engine compartment.
● Do not lean on the batteries. This could re-
sult in chemical burns. Note
The vehicles must not touch each other, oth-
erwise electricity could flow as soon as the
positive terminals are connected. Towing and tow-starting
Tow-starting We recommend that you do
not tow-start your
v ehic
le. Jump-starting is preferable
››› page 189.
How

ever, if your vehicle has to be tow-
started:
– Engage 2 nd
or 3 rd
gear.
– Keep the clutch pressed down.
– Switch the ignition on.
– Once both vehicles are moving, release the
clutch.
– As soon as the engine starts, press the
clutch and move the gear lever into neutral.
This helps to prevent driving into the tow-
ing vehicle. WARNING
The risk of accidents is high when tow-start-
ing. The vehicle being towed can easily col-
lide with the towing vehicle. CAUTION
When tow-starting, fuel could enter the cata-
lytic converter and damage it. General notes
Please observe the following points if you
use a tow rope:
Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
– Drive slowly at first until the tow rope is
taut. Then accelerate gradually.
– Begin and change gears cautiously. If you
are driving an automatic vehicle, accelerate
gently.
– Remember that the brake servo and power
steering are not working in the vehicle you
are towing. Brake sooner than normal and
pressing the pedal gently.
Notes for the driver of the towed vehicle
– Ensure that the tow rope remains taut at all
times when towing.
Tow rope or tow bar
It is easier and safer for the vehicle to be tow-
ed using a tow bar. You should only use a
tow-rope if you do not have a tow-bar.
A tow rope should be slightly elastic to re-
duce the loading on both vehicles. It is advis-
able to use a tow rope made of synthetic fi-
bre or similarly elastic material.
Attach the tow rope or the tow bar only to the
towline anchorages provided or a towing
bracket. »
191Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
Driving style
Towing requires some experience, especially
when using a tow rope. Both drivers should
be familiar with the technique required for
towing. Inexperienced drivers should not at-
tempt to tow.
Do not pull too hard with the towing vehicle
and take care to avoid jerking the tow rope.
When towing on an unpaved road, there is al-
ways a risk of overloading and damaging the
anchorage points.
The ignition of the vehicle being towed must
be switched on to prevent the steering wheel
from locking and also to allow the use of the
turn signals, horn, windscreen wipers and
washers.
The brake servo only works when the engine
is running. When not running, you must ap-
ply considerably more pressure to the brake
pedal.
As the power assisted steering does not work
if the engine is not running, you will need
more strength to steer than you normally
would.
● The vehicle must not be towed faster than
50 km/h (31 mph).
Towing vehicles with an automatic gearbox
● Put the selector lever into position “N”.
● Do not drive faster than 50 km/h (31 mph). ●
Do not tow further than 50 km.
● If a breakdown vehicle is used, the vehicle
must be towed with the front wheels raised. Note
● Observe legal requirements when towing or
tow-starting.
● Switch on the hazard warning lights of both
vehicles. However, observe any regulations
to the contrary.
● For technical reasons, vehicles with an au-
tomatic gearbox must not be tow-started.
● If there is no lubricant in the gearbox as the
result of a fault, you must raise the driven
wheels while the vehicle is being towed.
● If the vehicle has to be towed more than
50 km, the front wheels should be raised dur-
ing towing, and towing should be carried out
by a qualified person.
● The steering wheel is locked when the vehi-
cle has no electrical power. The vehicle must
then be towed with the front wheels raised.
Towing should be carried out by a qualified
person.
● The towline anchorage should always be
kept in the vehicle. Please refer to the notes
on ››› page 191, Tow-starting. Towline anchorages
Fig. 165
Fitting the front towline anchorage
to the front right section of the vehicle. Fig. 166
Fitting the towline anchorage to the
rear of the vehicle. Front towline anchorage
– Take the towline anchorage from the on-
board tool set.
– Remove the cover by pressing down on its
left-hand side.
192

Index
Digital clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Dipped beam headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Display (without warning or information texts) . . 47
Disposal Seat belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Door lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Door lock cylinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Door lock handle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Door release lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Doors Childproof locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Drawer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Driver see Correct sitting position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 8
Driv e
shaft differential
XDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Drive wheel traction control system (ASR) . . . . . 137
Driving Economically/with Respect for the Environ-ment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
journeys abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
steering lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
With a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Driving abroad Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Driving Economically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Driving programmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Driving safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Driving with automatic gearbox/DSG automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Driving with Respect for the Environment . . . . . 132
Duplicate keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Dust filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Dynamic headlight range control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 E
EDL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Electric power steering Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Electronic differential lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Electronic immobiliser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46, 121
Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Emergency braking warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 81, 136
Emergency manual locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Emergency opening Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Emission control system control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Engine Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Working in the engine compartment . . . . . . . . 163
Engine coolant G 12 plus-plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
G 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Engine coolant fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Engine fault Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Engine management control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Checking engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Oil properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Topping up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Engine oil dipstick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Engine oil pressure
control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44, 49
Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Environmental friendliness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Environmental tip Avoiding pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
ESC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45, 134 see also Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . 134
Examp

le of menu use
Open the Configuration menu with the steer- ing wheel controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Program a speed limit warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
To activate and deactivate the speed limit warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Example of the use of the menus Open the Configuration menu with the MFIlever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Examples of menu use Open the main menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Open the winter tyres menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
To close the winter tyres menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Exhaust gas emission control system . . . . . . . . . 131
F Fastening rings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Filling the tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Fire extinguisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
First-aid kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Flexible service interval display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Floor mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Fog lights with cornering function . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Folding table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Folding the seat backrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
225