2015 Seat Ibiza SC maintenance

Operation
the engine. Avoid running the engine at high
s peed.
P eriodic
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 engine 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.
The tyre pressures should always be checked
when the tyres are cold.
Do not use 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
blower at high speeds, the rear window heat-
ing or the seat heaters*. Note
● If y

our vehicle has Start-Stop, it is not rec-
ommended that you switch this function off.
● It is recommended that you close
the win-
dows when driving at more than 60 km/h
(37 mph)
● Do not drive with your foot resting on the
clutc
h pedal,, as the pressure can make the
plate spin, more fuel will be used and it can
burn the clutch plate lining, causing a serious
fault.
● Do not hold the car on a hill with the clutch,
use the foot
brake or hand brake, using 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 g
ear that is more suitable for the
slope. Fuel consumption will be “zero” and
the brakes will not suffer. Driving abroad
To drive abroad, the following must be taken
int
o c
on

sideration:
● For vehicles fitted with a catalytic converter
ensur
e that unleaded petrol is available for
the journey. See the chapter “Refuelling”. Au-
tomobile organisations will have information
about service station networks selling unlea-
ded fuel.
168

Driver assistance systems
● In some c ou
ntrie
s, it is possible that your
car model is not sold, and therefore some
spare parts are not available or the technical
services may only be able to carry out limited
repairs.
SEAT importers and distributors will gladly
provide information about the technical prep-
aration that your vehicle requires and also
about necessary maintenance and repair
possibilities.
Adhesive strips for headlights
In countries where vehicles drive on the other
side of the road to your home country, the
asymmetric dipped beam may dazzle drivers
of oncoming vehicles.
To prevent dazzling, you must apply stickers
to certain parts of the headlight lenses. Fur-
ther information is available at any Technical
Service.
In vehicles with adaptive headlights, the ro-
tation system must previously be disconnec-
ted. To do this, please go to a specialised
workshop. Driver assistance systems
Br ak
in
g and stability systems
Connecting/disconnecting ESC and
ASR The ESC is switched on automatically when
the engine i
s

started, and only works when
the engine is running and includes the ABS,
EDS and ASR systems.
The ASR and ESC function should only be
switched off in situations in which traction is
insufficient, among others:
● When driving in deep snow or on surfaces
that ar

e not very firm.
● To “free” the vehicle if it gets stuck.
Then switc
h the ASR and ESC function back
on.
Depending on finishes and versions, it is
possible either to disconnect only the ASR or
else activate ESC Sport mode.
ESC in “Sport” mode
Sport mode can be connected via the Easy
Connect ›››
page 107 system menu. The abili-
ty of the ESC to stabilise the vehicle is limi-
ted; the traction control system (ASR) be-
comes disabled ››› .The control lamp
 lights up
. F
or vehicles
with a driver information system*, the driver
will be shown the electronic stability
control (ESC) option: sport.
Warning! Limited stability.
Disable ESC “Sport” mode
Through the Easy Connect system menu
››› page 107. The warning lamp  will switch
off. For vehicles with a driver information sys-
tem*, the driver will be shown the elec-
tronic stability control (ESC)
option: on.
Disable ASR
The Easy Connect system is used to switch off
the ASR ››› page 107. The traction control sys-
tem will be disabled.
The control lamp  lights up. For vehicles
with a driver information system* the driver
will be informed that ASR is disabled.
Activate ASR
The Easy Connect system ››› page 107 is used
to switch on the ASR. The traction control sys-
tem will be enabled.
The control lamp  switches off. For vehicles
with a driver information system* the driver
will be informed that ASR is enabled.
● Activate or deactivate the ASR or ESC func-
tion in the Ea sy

Connect system by means of »
169
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Care and maintenance
To fold
Un s
c
rew the aerial rod, tilting it backwards
into a horizontal position and then screw in
again.
To return to working position
Continue in the reverse order to the previous
instruction. CAUTION
If an automatic car wash tunnel is used, be-
for e ent

ering the tunnel, put the aerial down
parallel to the roof and do not tighten to
avoid damage. Mobile phones and two-way radios
SEAT has approved for your vehicle the use of
mo
b
i

le telephones and two-way radios pro-
viding under the following conditions:
● The external aerial should be correctly in-
stal
led.
● The transmitting power should be a maxi-
mum 10 watts.
The optimal

reach of the equipment is only
achieved with an external aerial.
First consult your Technical Service if you
wish to use a mobile telephone or a two-way
radio with a transmitting power output in ex-
cess of 10 watts. Here you will receive infor- mation concerning the technical possibilities
for retr

ofitting this equipment.
Mobile telephones and two-way radios
should be only fitted by a specialised work-
shop, for example a SEAT dealership. WARNING
● Alw a

ys concentrate primarily on driving. If
you are distracted while driving you could
have an accident.
● Never attach the telephone mountings to
the surf
aces covering the airbag units or
within the range of the airbags. There is a
high danger of injury if the airbag is trig-
gered.
● Using your mobile telephones or two-way
radio
s in the vehicle without an external aer-
ial, electromagnetic radiation in the vehicle
could exceed authorised limits. This also may
occur to external aerials that have not been
correctly installed. CAUTION
Failure to consider the above-mentioned con-
ditions c

ould cause the electronics to mal-
function. The most common causes of faults
are:
● no external aerial,
● external aerial incorrectly installed,
● transmitting power output in excess of 10
watts. Note
Please observe the operating instructions of
your mo b

ile telephone/two-way radio. Care and cleaning
Genera l

notes Vehicle maintenance
Re
gu

lar care and washing help to maintain
the value of the vehicle. This may also be one
of the requirements for acknowledging war-
ranty claims in the event of bodywork corro-
sion or paint defects.
The best way to protect your vehicle against
the harmful effects of the environment is
through correct maintenance and frequent
washing. The longer substances such as in-
sect remains, bird droppings, resinous tree
sap, road dirt, industrial deposits, tar, soot or
road salt and other aggressive materials re-
main on the vehicle, the more damage they
do to the paintwork. High temperatures, for
instance in strong sunlight, further intensify
the corrosive effect.
After winter, a period when salt is put on the
roads, it is important to have the underside
of the vehicle washed thoroughly. »
191
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Products for vehicle maintenance
C ar
-c
are products are available in your Tech-
nical Services. Keep the product instructions
until you have used them up. WARNING
● Car -c

are products can be toxic. Because of
this, they must always be kept closed in their
original container. Keep them out of the reach
of children. Failure to comply could result in
poisoning.
● Always read and observe the instructions
and warning
s on the package before using
car-care products. Improper use could cause
health problems or damage the vehicle. The
use of certain products may produce noxious
vapours; they should be used in well ventila-
ted areas.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail
varnish r
emover or other volatile fluids.
These are toxic and highly flammable. Risk of
fire and explosion.
● Before washing your vehicle, or carrying
out any
maintenance, switch the engine off,
apply the handbrake firmly and remove the
key from the ignition. CAUTION
Never attempt to remove dirt, mud or dust if
the sur f

ace of the vehicle is dry. Never use a
dry cloth or sponge for cleaning purposes.
This could damage the paintwork or the win-
dows of your vehicle. Soak dirt, mud or dust
with plenty of water. For the sake of the environment
● When pur c

hasing car care products, try to
select ones that are not harmful to the envi-
ronment.
● The waste from car-care products should
not be dis
posed of with ordinary household
waste. Observe the disposal information on
the package. Care of the vehicle exterior
Autom atic

car wash tunnel The vehicle paintwork is so durable that the
v
ehic
l

e 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 car wash, be sure to
take the usual precautions such as closing
the windows and sunroof. There is nothing to
note apart from that.
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 first. After washing, the brake

s could take some
time to 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
reduc e br

aking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. CAUTION
Before putting the vehicle through the car
wa sh, do not

tighten the aerial if it is folded
because it can be damaged. Hand-washing
Vehicle washing
– First soften the dirt and rinse it off with wa-
ter
.
– C

lean your vehicle from top to bottom with
a soft s
ponge, 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 v

ery stubborn dirt.
– Leave the wheels, sill panels etc. until last,
usin

g a different sponge or glove.
192

Care and maintenance
– Rin se the
v
ehicle thoroughly with water.
– Dry the vehicle surface gently with a cha-
mois l

eather.
– In cold temperature, dry the rubber seals
and their sur

faces to prevent them from
freezing. Apply silicone spray to the rubber
seals.
After washing the vehicle – After washing, avoid sudden and sharp
brakin

g. “Dry” the brakes by braking sever-
al times. WARNING
● Wa sh

your vehicle with the ignition switch-
ed off.
● Protect your hands and arms from cuts on
sharp meta
l 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 br
aking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. CAUTION
● Never r emo

ve 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. ●
Wa shin

g the vehicle in low temperatures:
when washing the vehicle with a hose, do not
direct water into the lock cylinders or the
gaps around the doors, rear lid, or sunroof.
Risk of freezing. For the sake of the environment
To protect the environment, the vehicle
shou ld be w

ashed only in specially provided
wash bays, to prevent toxic, oil-laden waste
water from entering the sewer system. In
some places, washing vehicles outside wash
bays is prohibited. Note
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. Washing the vehicle with a high pres-
s
ur
e c

leaner Be particularly careful when using a high
pr
e
s

sure cleaner!
– Always observe the instructions for the
high-pres

sure cleaner, particularly those
concerning the pressure and the spraying
distance.
– Increase the spraying distance for soft ma-
terial

s and painted bumpers. –
Do not use a high pr
essure cleaner to re-
move ice or snow from windows
››› page 194.
– Never use concentrated jet nozzles (“rotat-
ing jets”) ›

›› .
– After washing, avoid sudden and sharp
br ak
in

g. “Dry” the brakes by braking sever-
al times ››› page 156. WARNING
● Never w a

sh tyres with a concentrated jet
(“rotating nozzle”). Even at large spraying
distances and short cleaning times, damage
can occur to the tyres. This may cause an ac-
cident.
● Water, ice and salt on the brake system can
reduce br
aking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. CAUTION
● Do not u se w

ater hotter than +60°C
(+140°F). This could damage the vehicle.
● To avoid damage to the vehicle, keep a suf-
ficient di
stance from sensitive materials such
as flexible hoses, plastic, soundproofing ma-
terial, etc. This also applies to bumpers pain-
ted in the colour of the bodywork. The closer
the nozzle is to the surface, the greater the
wear on the material. 193
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Sensors and camera lenses ●
Use a small brush to remove snow and a
de-icer s pr
ay to remove ice.
● Clean the sensors with a solvent-free prod-
uct and a soft, dr
y cloth.
● Moisten the camera lens using a standard
alcohol-b
ased glass cleaning agent and
clean the lens with a dry cloth. CAUTION
● When y ou c

lean the vehicle with a pressure
washer:
–Stay a suitable distance from the sensors
on the front and rear bumpers.
– Do not clean the camera lenses or sur-
rounding area with the pressure washer.
● Never use warm or hot water to remove
snow and ic
e from the reverse camera lens,
as it could crack the lens.
● Never use abrasive cleaning agents on the
lens. Vehicle paint maintenance
Regular waxing protects the paintwork.
Y
ou need t
o ap

ply wax to your vehicle if water
does not form small drops and run off the
paintwork when it is clean.
Good quality hard wax products are available
at your Technical Service. Regular wax applications help to protect the
paintwork

from environmental contaminants
››› page 191. It is also effective in protecting
against minor scratches.
Even if a wax solution is used regularly in the
vehicle washing tunnel, it is advisable to pro-
tect the paint with a hard wax coating at least
twice a year.
Polishing the paintwork Polishing is only necessary if the paint has
lo
s
t

its shine, and the gloss cannot be
brought back by applying wax. Polishing
products can be purchased in your Technical
Service.
The vehicle must be waxed after polishing if
the polish used does not contain wax com-
pounds to seal the paint ››› page 194, Vehicle
paint maintenance . CAUTION
To prevent damage to the paintwork:
● Do not use polishes and hard wax on pain-
ted p ar

ts with a matt finish or on plastic
parts.
● Do not polish your vehicle in a sandy or
dusty
environment. Caring for plastic parts
If normal washing fails to clean plastic parts,
cl
e

an them with approved solvent-free plas-
tic cleaning and care products. CAUTION
● The use of li

quid air freshener directly over
the air vents of the vehicle may damage the
plastic parts if the liquid is accidentally spil-
led.
● Cleaning products which contain solvents
wil
l damage the material. Cleaning of windows and mirrors
Cleaning windows
– Moisten the windows with commercially
av ai
l

able, alcohol based glass cleaner.
– Dry the windows with a clean chamois
leather or a lint

-free cloth.
Removing snow – Use a small brush to remove snow from the
window

s and mirrors.
Removing ice
– Use a de-icer spray.
Use a cl
ean cloth or chamois leather to dry
the windows. The chamois leathers used on
194

Care and maintenance
painted surfaces are not suitable to clean
w indo
w
s because they are soiled with wax
deposits which could smear the windows.
If possible, use a de-icing spray to remove
ice. If you use an ice scraper, push it in one
direction only without swinging it.
Use window cleaner or a silicone remover to
clean rubber, oil, grease and silicone depos-
its off.
Wax deposits can only be removed with a
special cleaner available at your Technical
Service. Wax deposits on the windscreen
could cause the wiper blades to judder. Add-
ing a window cleaner that dissolves wax to
the windscreen washer fluid prevents wiper
blades from juddering, but wax deposits are
not removed. CAUTION
● Never u se w

arm or hot water to remove
snow and ice from windows and mirrors. This
could cause the glass to crack!
● The heating element for the rear window is
located on the inner s
ide of the window. To
prevent damage, do not put stickers over the
heating elements on the inside of the win-
dow. Cleaning windscreen wiper blades
Clean wiper blades improve visibility. 1. Use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt
from the w
ind

screen wiper blades.
2. Use window cleaner to clean the wind- scr
een wiper blades. Use a sponge or a
cloth to remove stubborn dirt.
Care of rubber seals If rubber seals are well looked after, they will
not fr
eez

e so quickly.
1. Use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt from the rubber se al

s.
2. Apply a specialist care product to the rub- ber seals.
The rubber s

trips on the doors, windows, etc.
will remain pliable and last longer if they are
treated with a suitable rubber care product
from time to time (for example silicone
spray).
Caring for rubber seals will also prevent pre-
mature ageing and leaks. The doors will be
easier to open. If rubber seals are well looked
after, they will not freeze so quickly in winter.
Door lock cylinder The door lock cylinders can freeze up in win-
t
er
. T

o de-ice the lock cylinders you should only
use spr
ay with lubricating and anti-corrosive
properties.
Cleaning chrome parts 1. Clean chrome parts with a damp cloth.
2. Polish chrome parts with a soft, dry cloth.
If thi
s

does not provide satisfying results, use
a specialist chrome cleaning product.
Chrome cleaning products will remove stains
from the surface. CAUTION
To prevent scratching chrome surfaces:
● Never use an abrasive cleaning product on
chr ome.
● Do not

clean or polish chrome parts in a
sandy or du
sty environment. Steel wheel rims
–
Clean steel wheel rims regularly using a
sep ar
at

e sponge.
Use an industrial cleaner to remove brake
dust. Any damage to the paint on steel wheel
rims should be repaired before starting to
rust. »
195
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Care and maintenance
●
Bef or
e opening the bonnet, switch the en-
gine off, apply the handbrake firmly and al-
ways remove the key from the ignition.
● Allow the engine to cool before you clean
the engine comp
artment.
● Do not clean, for example, the vehicle un-
derbody, wheel ar
ches or wheel trims without
protecting your hands and arms. You may cut
yourself on sharp-edged metal parts. Failure
to comply could result in injury.
● Moisture, ice and salt on the brake system
may
affect braking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. Directly after washing, avoid sudden
and sharp braking.
● Never touch the radiator fan. It is tempera-
ture-c
ontrolled and could start automatically,
even when the key is removed from the igni-
tion! For the sake of the environment
Fuel, grease and oil deposits can be removed
when the engine i s

washed. The polluted wa-
ter must be cleaned in an oil separator. For
this reason, engine washing should be car-
ried out only by a specialised workshop or a
petrol station. Caring for the vehicle interior
C l
e

aning plastic parts and the dash
panel –
Use a clean, damp cloth to clean plastic
par ts

and the dash panel.
– If this does not provide satisfactory results,
use a spec

ial solvent-free plastic cleaning
product. WARNING
Never clean the dash panel and the airbag
modul e s

urface with cleaners containing sol-
vents. Solvents cause the surface to become
porous. If the airbag triggered, plastic parts
could become detached and cause injuries. CAUTION
Cleaning products which contain solvents will
dam ag

e the material. Cleaning wooden trim*
–
Clean the wooden trim with a water-mois-
tened c
l

ean cloth.
– If this does not provide satisfactory results,
use a gen

tle soap solution. CAUTION
Cleaning products which contain solvents will
dam ag

e the material. Cleaning upholstery and fabric trim
Cloth seat covers and fabric trim on the
doors, he
a

dlining etc. can be cleaned with a
special interior cleaner or with dry foam and
a soft brush.
Cleaning the radio and climate con-
tro l

s To clean the radio and/or climate controls,
u
se a sof
t

damp cloth. For more resistant dirt,
a neutral soap solution may be used.
Cleaning leather* Normal cleaning
–
Moisten a cotton or woollen cloth with wa-
ter and w
ipe o

ver the leather surfaces.
Cleaning stubborn stains – More stubborn dirt can be removed using a
mild so

ap solution (pure liquid soap; two
tablespoons diluted in one litre of water)
and a cloth. »
197
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety