2015 Seat Ibiza ST service

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

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

Advice
WARNING
● Never w a
sh tyres with a cylindrical jet. Even
at large spraying distances and short clean-
ing times, damage can occur to the tyres.
This may cause an accident.
● Water, ice and salt on the brake system can
reduce br
aking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. Directly after washing, avoid sudden
and sharp braking. “Dry” the brakes by brak-
ing several times ››› page 156, Braking ca-
pacity and braking distance .Alloy wheel rims
Every two weeks
– Wash salt and brake dust from alloy
wheel s.
– Use an ac

id free detergent to clean the
wheel rims.
Ev

ery 3 months
– Apply a hard wax compound to the wheels.
Allo
y wheels require regular attention to pre-
serve their appearance. If road salt and brake
dust are not often removed, the aluminium
finish will be impaired.
Always use an acid-free detergent for alloy
wheel rims.
Car polish or other abrasive agents should
not be used for maintaining the rims. If the protective coating is damaged, e.g. by flying
stone

s, the damaged area should be re-
paired immediately. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Steel
wheel rims on p
age 196. Vehicle underbody protection
The vehicle underbody is coated to protect it
from c
hemic

al and mechanical damage.
The protective coating can be damaged when
driving. We recommend that you check the
protective coating under the body and on the
running gear, and retouch it if necessary, be-
fore and after the winter season.
We recommend that you go to your Technical
Service to carry out repair work and addition-
al anti-corrosion work. WARNING
Do not apply underseal or anti-corrosion
co atin

gs to the exhaust pipes, catalytic con-
verter or the heat shields on the exhaust sys-
tem. The heat of the exhaust system or the
engine could cause them to ignite. Risk of
fire. Cleaning engine compartment
Take special care when cleaning the engine
comp
ar

tment.
Anti-corrosion treatment
The engine compartment and the surface of
the power unit are given anti-corrosion treat-
ment at the factory.
Good corrosion protection is particularly im-
portant in winter when the vehicle is fre-
quently driven on salted roads. To prevent
the salt corroding the vehicle, the entire en-
gine compartment should be thoroughly
cleaned before and after winter.
Technical Services have the proper products
for cleaning and preservation as well as the
necessary workshop equipment. For this rea-
son, we recommend having this work per-
formed by them.
The anti-corrosion protection is usually re-
moved if the engine compartment is cleaned
with grease removing solutions, or if you
have the engine cleaned. On commissioning
this work, ensure that all surfaces, seams,
joints and components in the engine com-
partment are given anti-corrosion treatment. WARNING
● When work in

g in the engine compartment,
always observe the safety warnings
››› page 201.196

Advice
– Do not l
et
the water soak through the leath-
er or soak into the seams.
– Then wipe off with a soft, dry cloth.
Leather m
aintenance
– The leather should be treated twice a year
with a spec

ial leather-care product, availa-
ble at Technical Services.
– Apply these products very sparingly.
– Then wipe off with a soft, dry cloth.
SEAT doe
s everything possible to preserve
the genuine qualities of this natural product.
Due to the natural properties of the specially
selected hides employed, the finished leath-
er has a certain sensitivity to grease and dirt,
etc. so a degree of care is required in every-
day use and when looking after the leather.
Dust and grit in the pores and seams can
scratch and damage the surface. If the vehi-
cle is under solar radiation for long periods,
the leather should be protected to prevent it
from fading. However, slight colour variations
in high-quality natural leather are normal. CAUTION
● Do not u se so

lvents, wax polish, shoe
cream, spot removers or similar products on
leather.
● To avoid damage, stubborn stains should
be remov
ed by a specialised workshop. Seat belt cleaning
A dirty belt may not work properly. Check all
seat
belts

regularly and keep them clean.
Seat belts cleaning
– Pull the dirty seat belt right out and unroll
it.
– Cl

ean dirty seat belts with a gentle so
ap
solution.
– Allow it to dry.
– Do not roll the seat belt up until it is dry.
If l ar

ge stains form on the belts, the automat-
ic belt retractor will not work correctly. WARNING
● Do not u se c

hemical cleaning agents on the
seat belts, as this can impair the strength of
the webbing. Ensure that seat belts do not
come into contact with corrosive fluids.
● Check the condition of the seat belts at reg-
ular int
ervals. If you notice that the belt web-
bing, fittings, retractor mechanism or buckle
of any of the belts is damaged, the belt must
be replaced by a specialised workshop.
● Do not attempt to repair a damaged seat
belt y
ourself. The seat belts must not be re-
moved or modified in any way. CAUTION
After cleaning, allow seat belts to dry com-
pl et

ely before rolling them up. Otherwise, the
belt retractors could become damaged. 198

Advice
Petrol P etr
o
l types The correct petrol types are listed on a sticker
ins
ide the f

uel tank flap.
Only unleaded petrol conforming to standard
DIN EN 228 may be used for vehicles with
catalytic converters (EN = “European Stand-
ard”).
Types of petrol differ from each other accord-
ing to the octane rating, for example: 91, 95,
98 RON (RON = “Research Octane Number”,
unit for determining the knock resistance of
petrol). You may use petrol with a higher oc-
tane number than the one recommended for
your engine. However, this has no advantage
in terms of fuel consumption and engine
power. CAUTION
● Ev en one t

ankful of leaded fuel would per-
manently impair the efficiency of the catalyt-
ic converter.
● High engine speed and full throttle can
damag
e the engine when using petrol with an
octane rating lower than the correct grade for
the engine. For the sake of the environment
Just one full tank of leaded fuel would seri-
ous ly

impair the efficiency of the catalytic
converter. Additives for petrol
The quality of the fuel influences the behav-
iour, po
w

er and service life of the engine.
This is why the petrol you use should carry
suitable additives already included by the
petrol industry, free of metals. These addi-
tives will help to prevent corrosion, keep the
fuel system clean and prevent deposits from
building up in the engine.
If good-quality petrol with metal-free addi-
tives is not available or engine problems
arise, the necessary additives must be added
when refuelling.
Not all petrol additives have been shown to
be effective. The use of unsuitable petrol ad-
ditives may cause significant damage to the
engine and the catalytic converter. Metal ad-
ditives should never be used. Metal additives
may also be contained in petrol additives for
improving anti-detonation ratings or octane
ratings. SEAT recommends “genuine Volkswagen
Group f
uel

additives for petrol engines”.
These additives can be bought at SEAT deal-
ers, where information on how to use them
can also be obtained. CAUTION
Do not refuel if the filler indicates that the
fuel c

ontains metal. LRP (lead replacement
petrol) fuels contain high concentrations of
metal additives. Using them may damage the
engine! Diesel
Die sel Diesel fuel
mus
t
conform to DIN EN 590 (EN =
“European Standard”). It must have a cetane
number (CN) of at least 51. The cetane num-
ber indicates the ignition quality of the diesel
fuel.
Notes on refuelling ›››
page 199.
Water in the fuel filter 1)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine and is
equipped with a fuel filter with a water sepa-
rator, the instrument panel may display the
following warning: 1)
Depending on the market.
200

Checking and refilling levels
 Water in the fuel filter.
If thi s
is the case, take the vehicle to a speci-
alised workshop so that they can drain the
fuel filter.
Biodiesel* CAUTION
● Your v

ehicle is not designed to use biodie-
sel fuel. Never, under any circumstances re-
fuel with biodiesel. The use of biodiesel fuel
could damage the engine and the fuel sys-
tem. The addition of biodiesel to diesel fuel
by the diesel manufacturer in accordance
with standard EN 590 or DIN 51628 is author-
ised and will not cause damage to the engine
or the fuel system.
● The diesel engine has been designed to be
used ex
clusively with diesel fuel conforming
to standard EN 590. Never refuel or use pet-
rol, kerosene, fuel oil or any other type of
fuel. If you accidentally fill up the vehicle
with the wrong type of fuel, do not start the
engine. Seek assistance from specialised per-
sonnel. The composition of these fuels may
severely damage the fuel system and the en-
gine. Winter operation
Winter-grade diesel
When us
in

g “summer-grade diesel fuel”, dif-
ficulties may be experienced at temperatures
below 0°C (+32°F) because the fuel thickens
due to wax separation. For this reason, “win-
ter-grade diesel fuel” is available in some
countries during the cold months. It can be
used at temperatures as low as -22°C (-8°F).
In countries with different climatic conditions
the diesel fuel generally sold has different
temperature characteristics. Check with the
Technical Services or filling stations in the
country concerned regarding the type of die-
sel fuels available.
Filter pre-heater
Your vehicle is fitted with a fuel filter glow
plug system, making it well equipped for op-
eration in winter. This ensures that the fuel
system remains operational to approx. -24°C
(-11°F), provided you use winter-grade diesel
which is safe to -15°C (+5°F).
However, if the fuel has waxed to such an ex-
tent that the engine will not start at tempera-
tures of under -24°C (-11°F), simply place the
vehicle in a warm place for a while. CAUTION
Do not mix fuel additives, the so-called “thin-
ners”, or s imi

lar additives with diesel fuel. Working in the engine compart-
ment
saf
ety

notes for work in the engine
compartment Read the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 10
Before starting any work on the engine or in
the engine compartment:
1. Switch off the engine and remove the key from the ignition.
2. Ap

ply the handbrake.
3. Move the gear lever to neutral or the selec- tor lev
er to position P.
4. Wait for the engine to cool down.
5. Keep children away from the vehicle.
6. Raise the bonnet ›››

page 203.
You should not do any work in the engine
compartment unless you know exactly how to
carry out the jobs and have the correct tools!
Have the work carried out by a specialised
workshop if you are uncertain.
All service fluids and consumables, e.g. cool-
ant, engine oil, spark plugs and batteries,
are under constant development. SEAT pro-
vides a constant flow of information to Tech-
nical Services concerning modifications. For
this reason, we recommend you have service »
201
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
fluids and consumables replaced by a Techni-
c al

Service. Please observe the relevant in-
structions ››› page 190. The engine compart-
ment of the vehicle is a hazardous area ››› .
WARNING
All work on the engine or in the engine com-
par tment, e.

g. checking and refilling fluids,
involves the danger of injury and burns, acci-
dents and even fire.
● Never open the bonnet if you see steam,
smoke or coo
lant escaping from the engine
compartment. Otherwise, there is a risk of
sustaining burns. Wait until no more steam or
coolant is emitted, then allow the engine to
cool before carefully opening the bonnet.
● Switch off the engine and remove the key
from the ignition.
● App

ly the handbrake and move the gear
lever t
o neutral or selector lever to position P.
● Keep children away from the vehicle.
● Never touch hot engine parts. There is a
risk of
burns.
● Never spill liquids on a hot engine or on a
hot exh
aust gas system. This is a fire hazard.
● Avoid causing short-circuits in the electri-
cal
system, particularly at the points where
the jump leads are attached ›››
 page 52.
The battery could explode.
● Never touch the radiator fan. It is tempera-
ture c
ontrolled and could start automatically,
even when the engine has been switched off
and the key removed from the ignition! ●
Never c o

ver the engine with additional in-
sulating materials such as a blanket. Risk of
fire!
● Do not unscrew the cap on the coolant ex-
pans
ion tank when the engine is hot. If the
coolant is hot, the cooling system will be
pressurised!
● Protect face, hands and arms by covering
the cap with a l
arge, thick cloth to protect
against escaping coolant and steam.
● Always make sure you have not left any ob-
jects, s
uch as cleaning cloths or tools, in the
engine compartment.
● If you have to work underneath the vehicle,
you mus
t use suitable stands additionally to
support the vehicle, there is a risk of acci-
dent!. A hydraulic jack is insufficient for se-
curing the vehicle and there is a risk of injury.
● If any work has to be performed when the
engine is
started or with the engine running,
there is an additional, potentially fatal, safety
risk from the rotating parts, such as the drive
belts, alternator, radiator fan, etc., and from
the high-voltage ignition system. You should
also observe the following:
– Never touch the electrical wiring of the
ignition system.
– Ensure that jewellery, loose clothing and
long hair do not get trapped in rotating
engine parts. Danger of death. Before
starting any work remove jewellery, tie
back and cover hair, and wear tight-fit-
ting clothes. –
Never ac c

elerate with a gear engaged
without taking the necessary precau-
tions. The vehicle could move, even if the
handbrake is applied. Danger of death.
● If work has to be carried out on the fuel
syst
em or on electrical components, you
must observe the following safety notes in
addition to the above warnings:
– Always disconnect the battery from the
on-board network. The vehicle must be
unlocked when this is done, otherwise
the alarm will be triggered.
– Do not smoke.
– Never work near naked flames.
– Always have a fire extinguisher on hand. WARNING
If the bonnet is not correctly closed, it could
sud den

ly open while driving leaving the driv-
er without visibility. This could result in a se-
rious accident.
● After closing the bonnet, always check that
it is
properly secured by the locking mecha-
nism in the lock carrier piece. The bonnet
must be flush with the surrounding body pan-
els.
● While driving, if you notice that the bonnet
is not
correctly closed then stop immediately
and close it correctly.
● Only open and close the bonnet when there
is no
body within its range.202