2015 Seat Leon 5D warning

Operation
Thus adjusted, the detachable ball is ready
f or in
s
tallation. CAUTION
The key cannot be removed or turned in the
st andb

y position. Assembling the detachable ball -
Step 1
Fig. 223
Fitting the detachable ball / Release
bo lt
in the dep

loyed position Fitting the detachable ball
●
Remove the hook housing cap 4›››
Fig. 219 down w
ards.
● Set the detachable ball to its standby posi-
tion ›››

page 221.
● Grip the detachable ball from below
›

›› Fig. 223 and insert it into the hook hous- ing following the direction of arrow
1 until it
en g
ag

es audibly ››› .
L ev
er A turns
automatically in the direction
of arr

ow 2 upwards, and the release bolt
B moves outwards (the red and green part will
be
v
i

sible) ››› .
If l
ev
er A does not turn automatically or the
r el
e

ase bolt B does not come out, the de-
t ac
h
able ball should be removed by turning
the lever as far as possible downwards from
the housing cavity, and the detachable ball's
support surfaces and the cavity should then
be cleaned. WARNING
● When attac hin

g the detachable ball, keep
your hands well away from the reach of the
lever's rotation. There is a risk of injuring
your fingers!
● Never try to pull the lever upwards by force
to turn the k
ey. The detachable ball would not
be secured properly! Assembling the detachable ball -
St
ep 2 Fig. 224
Locking the lock Fig. 225
Placing the cover over the lock. Do not omit this first step
››
›
page 222, As-
sembling the detachable ball - Step 1 !
● Turn key A in the direction of arrow
1 un-
ti l the p

art of the key with the holes reaches
the bottom position ››› Fig. 224.
222

Towing bracket device
● Remo
v
e the key in the direction of arrow
2 .
● Place cover B in the lock in the direction
of arr
o

w 3
› ››
Fig. 225
››› .
● Check that the detachable ball is secure
› ›
›

page 223. CAUTION
● Aft er r

emoving the key, always place the
cover over the lever's lock. If the lock be-
comes soiled it will be impossible to insert
the key.
● Keep the towing bracket device's housing
cavity
clean at all times. Dirtiness can pre-
vent the detachable ball from being properly
secured!
● If the detachable ball is removed, always
plac
e the cap on the hook's housing. Checking proper attachment
Fig. 226
Detachable ball properly attached Whenever you go to use the detachable ball,
m
ak
e s

ure that it is properly attached first.
Detachable ball properly attached
● The detachable ball will not fall out of the
housin
g cavity after a major “knock or jerk”.
● Lever A
› ›
› Fig. 226
is fully raised.
● The release bolt B
› ›
› Fig. 226
is sticking
fully out (the red and green part is visible).
● The key has been removed.
● Cover C
› ›
› Fig. 226
is placed over the lock. WARNING
The towing bracket device should only be
used if the det

achable ball has been properly
locked! Removing the detachable ball - Step 1
Fig. 227
Removing the lock cover Fig. 228
Releasing the lock ●
Remove cover A from the lock in the direc-
tion of arr
o

w 1
› ›
› Fig. 227 .
● Insert key B into the lock in the direction
of arr
o

w 2
› ›
› Fig. 228 .
● Turn the key in the direction of arrow 3 un-
ti l
the p

art of the key with the holes is facing
upwards. »
223
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
WARNING
Never remove the detachable ball joint when
the trai l
er is hitched. Note
Before you remove the detachable ball, you
are a dv

ised to place the protective cover on
the ball coupling. Removing the detachable ball - Step 2
Fig. 229
Releasing the detachable ball Do not omit this first step
››
›

page 223, Re-
moving the detachable ball - Step 1 !
Releasing the detachable ball ● Grip the detachable ball from below.
● Press the release bolt A in the direction of
arr o
w 1 as far as it will go, and at the same time press lever
B in the direction of arrow
2 as far as it will go.
In thi s
po

sition, the detachable ball is loose
and will fall/drop freely downwards. If this
does not occur when you release it, press it
with the other hand from above.
The detachable ball locks into the standby
position at the same time and is therefore
ready to be reinserted into the hook housing
››› .
● Fit the cap 4
› ››
Fig. 219
ont
o its housing. WARNING
Never leave the detachable ball loose in the
lugg ag

e compartment. It could cause damage
in the luggage compartment in the case of
abrupt braking, and even jeopardise passen-
ger safety! CAUTION
● If y

ou hold the lever and do not press down
on it as far as you can, after you remove the
detachable ball, the latter will continue up-
wards and will not lock into the standby posi-
tion. The detachable ball should be placed in
this position before the next assembly.
● Keep the detachable ball in the standby po-
sition, with the k
ey inserted into the box
while you place it facing downwards with the
side opposite to the one where the key is in-
serted. The key could get damaged! ●
When operatin g the l

ever, do not apply too
much pressure (for example, do not stand on
it)! Note
Remove any dirt from the detachable ball be-
f or e

you put it away with the vehicle tools. Operation and care
Put the cover on the housing cavity so that
dir
t
c

annot get in.
Before hooking up a trailer, always check the
ball coupling and apply suitable grease if
necessary.
Use the protective cover when putting the de-
tachable ball away to keep the luggage com-
partment clean.
Remove any dirt from the housing cavity sur-
faces and use a suitable cleaning product. CAUTION
The top part of the hook housing is greased.
Mak e s

ure that the grease has not been re-
moved. 224

Towing bracket device
Trailer towing Wh at
do
you need to bear in mind
when towing a trailer? Your vehicle may be used to tow a trailer
when fitted w
ith the c

orrect equipment.
If you wish to retrofit a towing bracket, con-
sult ››› page 228.
Connectors
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin connector
for the electrical connection between the
trailer and the vehicle.
If the trailer has a 7-pin plug you will need to
use an adapter cable. It is available at any
Technical Service.
Trailer weight/drawbar load
Never exceed the authorised trailer weight. If
you do not load the trailer up to the maxi-
mum permitted trailer weight, you can then
climb correspondingly steeper slopes.
The maximum trailer weights listed are only
applicable for altitudes up to 1000 m above
sea level. With increasing altitude the engine
power and therefore the vehicle climbing
ability are impaired because of the reduced
air density. The maximum trailer weight has
to be reduced accordingly. The weight of the
vehicle and trailer combination must be re- duced by 10% for every further 1000 m (or
par
t

thereof). The gross combination weight
is the actual weight of the laden vehicle plus
the actual weight of the laden trailer. When
possible, operate the trailer with the maxi-
mum permitted drawbar load on the ball joint
of the towing bracket, but do not exceed the
specified limit.
The figures for trailer weights and drawbar
loads that are given on the data plate of the
towing bracket are for certification purposes
only. The correct figures for your specific
model, which may be lower than these fig-
ures for the towing bracket, are given in the
vehicle documentation or in ››› chapter Tech-
nical Data .
Distributing the load
Distribute loads in the trailer so that heavy
objects are as near to the axle as possible.
Loads carried in the trailer must be secured
to prevent them moving.
Tyre pressure
Set tyre pressure to the maximum permissi-
ble pressure shown on the sticker on the in-
side of the fuel tank flap. Set the tyre pres-
sure of the trailer tyres in accordance with the
trailer manufacturer's recommendations. Exterior mirrors
Check whether
you can see enough of the
road behind the trailer with the standard rear
vision mirrors. If this is not the case, you
should have additional exterior mirrors fitted.
Both exterior mirrors should be mounted on
hinged extension brackets. Adjust the mirrors
to give sufficient vision to the rear.
Tow rope
Always use a cable between the vehicle and
the trailer ››› page 226.
Trailer rear lights
The trailer's rear lights should comply with
the statutory safety regulations ››› page 226. WARNING
Never transport people in a trailer. This could
re s

ult in fatal accidents. Note
● To w

ing a trailer places additional demands
on the vehicle. We recommend additional
services between the normal inspection inter-
vals if the vehicle is used frequently for tow-
ing a trailer.
● Find out whether special regulations apply
to to
wing a trailer in your country. 225
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Towing bracket device
WARNING
The towing bracket ball coupling must be
st or
ed securely in the luggage compartment
to prevent them being flung through the vehi-
cle and causing injury. Note
● By l

aw, the ball coupling must be removed
if a trailer is not being towed if it obscures
the number plate. Driving with a trailer
Fig. 231
Turn the 13-pin connector Before driving
● Grip the 13-pin connector at area A and
r emo
v

e it in the direction of the arrow
››› Fig. 231.
● Remove the protective cover 5
› ››
Fig. 219
up w

ards.
After driving
● Grip the 13-pin connector at area A and
in ser
t

it in the opposite direction to the arrow
››› Fig. 231.
● Fit the protective cover 5
› ›
› Fig. 219
on
the ball coupling.
Safety lug
The safety lug B
› ›
› Fig. 231
is used to hook
up the trailer's retainer cable.
On hooking it up to the safety lug, the retain-
er cable should have slack in all the trailer
positions with respect to the vehicle (sharp
bends, reverse gear, etc.).
Headlights
The front part of the vehicle may be raised
when the trailer is connected and the light
may dazzle the rest of the traffic.
Adapt the height of the headlights using the
headlight range rotary adjuster 1)
. WARNING
● Never u se the s

afety lug to tow!
● Adjust your speed to suit the road and traf-
fic condition
s.
● All work on the electrical system must be
carried out on
ly by specialised workshops.
● Never connect the trailer's electric system
to the electric
al connections of the rear lights
or any other power sources.
● After hooking up the trailer and connecting
the socket, c
heck that all the trailer's rear
lights are working properly. Note
● If ther e i

s any fault in the trailer's lighting,
check the fuses in the instrument panel fuse
box ›››
 page 55.
● The contact between the retainer cable and
the safety
lug may give rise to mechanical
wear in the lug's surface protection. This
wear will not prevent the safety lug from op-
erating properly or cause any fault and is ex-
cluded from the warranty.
● When connecting and disconnecting the
trail
er, the towing vehicle's handbrake
should be applied. 1)
This does not apply for vehicles with bi-xenon
hea dlights.
227
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Towing bracket device
If a towing bracket is to be fitted after the ve-
hic l
e i
s purchased, this must be completed
according to the instructions of the towing
bracket manufacturer.
The attachment points for the towing bracket A are on the lower part of the vehicle.
The di s
t

ance between the centre of the ball
coupling and the ground should never be
lower than the indicated value, even with a
fully loaded vehicle and including the maxi-
mum drawbar load.
Elevation values for securing the towing
bracket:
B65 mm (minimum)
C350 mm to 420 mm (fully laden vehicle)
D1040 mm
E317 mm
FLEON/LEON SCLEON ST
319 mm596 mm Fitting a towing bracket
●
Driving with a trailer involves an extra effort
f or the
v

ehicle. Therefore, before fitting a
towing bracket, please contact a Technical
Service to check whether your cooling system
needs modification. ●
The leg
al requirements in your country
must be observed (e.g. the fitting of a sepa-
rate control lamp).
● Certain vehicle components, e.g. the rear
bumper, mu
st be removed and reinstalled.
The towing bracket securing bolts must be
tightened using a torque wrench, and a pow-
er socket must be connected to the vehicle
electrical system. This requires specialised
knowledge and tools.
● Figures in the illustration show the eleva-
tion value and the att
achment points which
must be considered if you are retrofitting a
towing bracket. WARNING
The towing brackets should be fitted at a spe-
ci a

lised workshop.
● If the towing bracket is incorrectly instal-
led, there i
s a serious danger of accident.
● For your own safety, please observe the tow
brack
et manufacturer's instructions. CAUTION
● If the po w

er socket is incorrectly installed,
this could cause damage to the vehicle elec-
trical system. Note
● SEA T r

ecommends that the towing hooks
be fitted at a specialised workshop. Consult your SEAT dealer in case additional modifica-
tions
t

o your vehicle are necessary.
● Due to the specific design of the exhaust,
the fitting of a c
onventional towing hook is
not recommended for some sportier versions.
Please consult your Technical Service. 229
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Advice
C ar
e and m
aintenance
Accessories and modifications to the vehicle
Accessories, replacement parts and
repair work Always ask your dealer or specialist retailer
f
or a
dv

ice before purchasing accessories and
replacement parts.
Your vehicle is designed to offer a high
standard of active and passive safety. For this
reason, we recommend that you ask a SEAT
Official Service for advice before fitting ac-
cessories or replacement parts. Your SEAT Of-
ficial Service has the latest information from
the manufacturer and can recommend acces-
sories and replacement parts which are suita-
ble for your requirements. They can also an-
swer any questions you might have regarding
official regulations.
We recommend you to use only SEAT acces-
sories and Genuine SEAT parts ®
. SEAT has
tested these parts and accessories for suita-
bility, reliability and safety. SEAT Official
Services have the necessary experience and
facilities to ensure that the parts are installed
correctly and professionally. Any
retro-fitted equipment which has a direct
effect
on the vehicle and/or the way it is driv-
en, such as a cruise control system or elec-
tronically-controlled suspension, must be
approved for use in your vehicle and bear the
e mark (the European Union's authorisation
symbol).
If any additional electrical devices are fitted
which do not serve to control the vehicle it-
self (for instance a refrigerator box, laptop or
ventilator fan, etc.), they must bear the 
sign (manufacturer conformity declaration in
the European Union). WARNING
Accessories, for example telephone holders
or cup ho l

ders, should never be fitted on the
covers, or within the working range of the air-
bags. Otherwise, there is a danger of injury if
the airbag is triggered in an accident. Modifications
Modifications must always be carried out ac-
c
or
din

g to our specifications.
Unauthorised modifications to the electronic
components, software, wiring or data transfer
in the vehicle may cause malfunctioning. Due
to the way the electronic components are
linked together in networks, other indirect
systems may be affected by the faults. This
can seriously impair safety, lead to excessive wear of components, and also invalidate your
vehicl

e registration documents.
You will appreciate that your SEAT dealership
cannot be held liable for any damage caused
by modifications and/or work performed in-
correctly.
We therefore recommend that all work should
be performed by a SEAT Official Service using
genuine SEAT parts ®
. WARNING
Incorrectly performed modifications or other
work on

your vehicle can lead to malfunctions
and cause accidents. Radio transmitters and office equip-
ment
Radio transmitters (fixed installation)
An
y
r

etrofit installations of radio transmitters
in the vehicle require prior approval. SEAT
generally authorises in-vehicle installations
of approved types of radio transmitters provi-
ded that:
● The aerial is installed correctly.
● The aerial is installed on the exterior of the
vehicl
e (and shielded cables are used togeth-
er with non-reflective aerial trimming).
● The effective transmitting power does not
exc
eed 10 Watts at the aerial base.
230

Care and maintenance
A SEAT Official Service and specialised work-
shop w i
l
l be able to inform you about options
for installing and operating radio transmitters
with a higher transmitting power.
Mobile radio transmitters
Commercial mobile telephones or radio
equipment might interfere with the electron-
ics of your vehicle and cause malfunctions.
This may be due to:
● No external aerial.
● External aerial incorrectly installed.
● Transmitting power more than 10 W.
You mus
t, therefore, do not operate portable
mobile telephones or radio equipment inside
the vehicle without a properly installed exter-
nal aerial ››› .
Pl e
a

se note also that the maximum range of
the equipment can only be achieved with an
external aerial.
Business equipment
Retrofit installation of business or private
equipment in the vehicle is permitted, provi-
ded the equipment cannot interfere with the
driver's immediate control of the vehicle and
that any such equipment carries the  mark.
Any retrofit equipment that could influence
the driver's control of the vehicle must have a
type approval for your vehicle and must carry
the e mark. WARNING
Mobile telephones or radio equipment which
is oper

ated inside the vehicle without a prop-
erly installed external aerial can create exces-
sive magnetic fields that could cause a health
hazard. Note
● The pos t

erior fitting of electric and elec-
tronic equipment in this vehicle affects its li-
cence and could lead to the withdrawal of the
vehicle registration document under certain
circumstances.
● Please use the mobile telephone/radio op-
erating in
structions. Care and cleaning
Gener a
l

information Regular and careful care helps to
maint
ain
the
value of the vehicle. This may also be one
of the requirements for upholding any war-
ranty claims in the event of corrosion or paint
defects.
SEAT Official Services and specialist retailers
carry stocks of suitable car care materials.
Please follow the instructions for use on the
packaging. WARNING
● Cle

aning products and other materials used
for car care can be damaging to your health if
misused.
● Always keep care products in a safe place,
out of the r
each of children. Failure to comply
could result in poisoning. For the sake of the environment
● If po s

sible, use environmentally friendly
products.
● The remains of car care products should not
be dispo
sed of with ordinary household
waste. Vehicle exterior care
W a
shin

g the vehicle The longer substances such as insects, bird
dr
op
pin

gs, resinous tree sap, road dirt, in-
dustrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt and
other aggressive materials remain on the ve-
hicle, the more damage they do to the paint-
work. High temperatures (for instance due to
strong sunlight) further intensify the corro-
sive effect.
After the period when salt is put on the roads
it is important to have the underside of the
vehicle washed thoroughly. »
231
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety