Opening and closing
Programming the central locking sys-
t em You can use Easy Connect* to select which
doors
ar
e unlocked with the central locking
system. Using the radio or the Easy Connect*
system, you can select whether the vehicle
automatically closes with the “Auto Lock”
programme at speeds of more than 15 km/h
(10 mph).
Programming the unlocking of the doors (ve-
hicles with Easy Connect)
– Select: control button Systems or Vehi-
cle systems > Vehicle settings >
Central locking > Unlocking doors .
Progr ammin
g the Auto Lock (vehicles with
radio)
– Select: SETUP button > control button
Central locking > Locking while
driving .
Pr ogr
ammin
g the Auto Lock (vehicles with
Easy Connect)
– Select: control button Systems or Vehi-
cle systems > Vehicle settings >
Locking while driving .
Unlocking doors You can c
hoose to un-
lock all the doors or only the driver door
when you unlock the vehicle. In all the op-
tions, the fuel tank flap is also unlocked. With the Driver
setting, when y
ou press the
button on the remote control key only the
door on the driv er's
s
ide is unlocked. If that
button is pressed twice, the rest of the doors
and the rear lid will be unlocked.
In vehicles with a conventional key, turn the
key in the door lock, in the direction of open-
ing, twice within 2 seconds.
If the button is pressed, all the vehicle
door s
ar
e locked. At the same time, a confir-
mation signal* is heard.
Auto Lock /Locking while driving . If
you select on, all the vehicle doors are
locked at speeds above 15 km/h (10 mph).
Central locking switch Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 11
Please note the following when using the
central locking switch to lock your vehicle:
● It is not possible to open the doors or the
rear lid fr
om the outside (for safety reasons,
e.g. when stopped at traffic lights).
● The LED in the central locking switch lights
up when all the door
s are closed and locked.
● You can open the doors individually from
the inside b
y pulling the inside door handle. ●
In the event of
an accident in which the air-
bags inflate, doors locked from the inside will
be automatically unlocked to facilitate access
and assistance. WARNING
● The centr a
l locking switch also operates
when the ignition is switched off and auto-
matically locks all the vehicle doors when the
button is pressed.
● The central locking switch does not operate
if the v
ehicle is locked from the outside and
the anti-theft security system is switched on.
● Locked doors could delay assistance in an
emergency
, potentially putting lives at risk.
Do not leave anyone, especially children, in
the vehicle. Note
The doors and the tailgate are locked auto-
matic a
lly when the vehicle reaches a speed of
about 15 km/h (Auto Lock) ››› page 116. You
can unlock the vehicle again using button on the central locking switch.
Anti-theft security system (Safelock)*
The following message is displayed on the in-
s
trument
p
anel to remind the driver that
when the vehicle is closed from the outside,
the anti-theft security system is switched on. Do not forget the Safelock. »
119
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Opening and closing
Synchronising the vehicle key If the button
is pressed frequently outside
of the v
ehicle range, it is possible that the ve-
hicle can no longer be locked or unlocked us-
ing the key. In this case, the key must be re-
synchronised as described below:
● Unfold the vehicle key shaft ›››
page 117.
● If necessary, remove the cover from the
driver door lev
er ›››
page 11.
● Press the button on the vehicle key. For
this, it mu
st remain with the vehicle.
● Open the vehicle within one minute using
the key shif
t. The key has been synchronised.
● If necessary, fit the cap.
Childproof lock 3
App lies to vehicles with 5 doors: Fig. 135
Childproof lock on the left hand side
door . The childproof lock prevents the rear doors
fr
om bein
g opened fr
om the inside. This sys-
tem prevents minors from opening a door ac-
cidentally while the vehicle is running.
This function is independent of the vehicle
electronic opening and locking systems. It
only affects rear doors. It can only be activa-
ted and deactivated manually, as described
below:
Activating the childproof lock
– Unlock the vehicle and open the door in
which y
ou wish to activate the childproof
lock.
– With the door open, rotate the groove in
the door usin
g the ignition key, clockwise
for the left hand side doors ››› Fig. 135 and
anti-clockwise for the right hand side
doors.
Deactivating the childproof lock – Unlock the vehicle and open the door
whose chi
ldproof lock you want to deacti-
vate.
– With the door open, rotate the groove in
the door usin
g the ignition key, anti-clock-
wise for the left hand side doors ››› Fig. 135
and clockwise for the right hand side
doors.
Once the childproof lock is activated, the
door can only be opened from the outside. The childproof lock can be activated or deac-
tivated b
y inserting the key in the groove
when the door is open, as described above.
Anti-theft alarm system* Des
cription The anti-theft alarm makes it more difficult to
bre
ak
into the vehicle or steal it.
The anti-theft alarm is automatically turned
on when the vehicle is locked with the key.
● The turn signal light will flash twice on
opening and de activ
ating the alarm.
● The turn signal light will flash once on clos-
ing and activatin
g the alarm.
When does the system trigger an alarm?
The anti-theft alarm siren will be triggered for
about 30 seconds accompanied by sound
and optical (flashing) warning signals and
will be repeated about ten times when the
vehicle is locked and the following unauthor-
ised actions are attempted:
● Opening a door that is mechanically un-
locked u
sing the vehicle key without switch-
ing on the ignition in the next 15 seconds (in
certain markets, such as the Netherlands,
there is no 15 second waiting time and the »
121
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Seats and head restraints
Adjusting the front head restraints Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 15
Adjust the head restraint ›››
page 15 so
that as far as possible the top of the head re-
straint is level with the top of your head.
When this is not possible, try to get as close
as possible to this position.
Adjusting the rear head restraints Fig. 146
Rear centre head restraint: release
point . When transporting people in the back seat,
p
l
ac
e the head restraints of the occupied
seats at a minimum of the next socket up
››› . Adjusting the head restraints
– To set the head restraint higher, grasp the
side
s
with both hands and move it up-
wards, until you see it engage.
– To set the head restraint lower down, press
the 1
› ››
Fig. 146
b
utton and move it
downwards.
Removing the head restraint
To remove the head restraint, the correspond-
ing backrest must be partially folded forward. – Unlock the backrest ›››
page 144.
– Move the head restraint upwards until it ar-
rives
to the top.
– Press the button 1
› ›
› Fig. 146
, while
pressing simultaneously on the security
hole 2
› ›
› Fig. 146
with a flat screwdriver a
maximum of 5 mm wide and remove the
head restraint.
– Move the backrest until it engages properly
›››
.
Fittin g the he
a
d restraint
To mount the external head restraints, the
corresponding backrest must be partially fol-
ded forward.
– Unlock the backrest ›››
page 144.
– Insert the head restraint bars into the
guides u
ntil they perceptibly engage. It should not be possible to remove the head
res
traint from the backrest.
– Move the backrest until it engages properly
›››
.
WARNING
● Ple a
se observe the general notes
››› page 70.
● Remove the rear head restraints only when
it is
necessary for the placement of a child
seat ››› page 83. After removing a child seat,
remount the head restraint immediately.
Travelling with the head restraints removed
or improperly adjusted increases the risk of
severe injuries. Seat functions
Intr oduction WARNING
Inappropriate use of the seat functions can
cau se sev
ere injuries.
● Assume the proper sitting position before
your trip and rem
ain in it throughout. This al-
so applies to the other occupants.
● Always keep hands, fingers, feet and other
part
s of the body away from the operating ra-
dius and the adjustment of seats. 141
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
compartment will not fly forward through the
interior durin
g s
udden braking.CAUTION
● With the b ac
krest inclined there is a danger
of damaging the rear head restraints when
adjusting the front seats backwards.
● When folding the backrest forwards, make
sure t
o place the side seat belts in the trim
clip to prevent them from being damaged by
becoming trapped in the backrest lock. Folding down and lifting the rear seat
b
ac
k
rest 3 App
lies to the model: LEON ST Fig. 151
On the rear seat backrest: release
c at
c
h 1 ; red mark
2 . Fig. 152
In the luggage compartment: levers
for r emot
e release of the left part 1 and right
par t
2 of the rear seat backrest.
The rear seat backrest is split and each part
be lo
w
er
ed separately to extend the luggage
compartment.
When the rear seat backrest is lowered no-
body else can travel in the corresponding
seats (not even a child).
Lowering the rear seat backrest with the un-
lock button
● Lower the head restraint properly.
● Push the unlock button ›››
Fig. 151 1 for-
w ar
d
s and at the same time lift the backrest.
● The rear seat backrest is not engaged when
the red mark
ing of the button 2 is visible.
L o
w
ering the rear seat backrest with the re-
mote release lever
● Lower the head restraint properly. ●
Open the rear lid.
● P
ull the remote release lever of the left part
›››
Fig. 152 1 or right part
2 of the backrest
in the dir ection of
the arr
ow. The released
part of the rear seat backrest is folded auto-
matically down and forwards.
● If this occurs, close the rear lid.
The rear se
at backrest is not engaged when
the red marking of the button ››› Fig. 151 2 is visible.
F
o
l
ding up the rear seat backrest
● Lift the backrest and press it firmly into the
lock u
ntil it engages ››› .
● It should not be possible to see the red
m ark
of
the unlock button 2 .
● The backrest must be properly engaged. WARNING
Serious injuries can be caused if the rear seat
bac k
rest is lowered or lifted without due care
and attention.
● Never lower or lift the rear seat backrest
while driv
ing.
● Do no trap or damage the seat belt when
rais
ing the rear seat backrest.
● When lowering or lifting the rear seat back-
res
t, keep your hands, fingers, feet and other
body parts out of its path. 144
Transport and practical equipment
●
For the r e
ar seat seat belts to offer the nec-
essary protection all the parts of the rear
backrest must be properly engaged. This is
particularly important in the case of the cen-
tre rear seat. If someone is seated in a seat
whose backrest is not properly engaged they
will fly forward, along with the backrest, dur-
ing an accident or a sudden driving or braking
manoeuvre.
● A red signal on the button 2 warns that
the bac k
rest is not engaged. Always check
that the red marking is not visible when the
backrest is in the upright position.
● When the rear seat backrest is lowered or is
not properly
engaged nobody else can travel
in the corresponding seats (not even a child). CAUTION
Serious damage can be caused to the vehicle
and other ob j
ects if the rear seat backrest is
lowered or lifted without due care and atten-
tion.
● Before lowering the rear seat backrest, al-
way
s adjust the front seats so that neither
the head restraints nor the cushions of the
rear backrest can hit them. Transport and practical
equipment
St or
ag
e compartments
Storage areas under the front seats* Fig. 153
Storage compartment under the
fr ont
se
ats. There is a storage compartment with a cover
u
nder e
ac
h front seat.
The drawer* is opened by pulling on the cov-
er ››› Fig. 153.
To close the drawer, press the cover until it
locks into position. WARNING
● The dra w
ers will hold a maximum weight of
1.5 kg. ●
Do not driv e w
ith the drawer cover open.
There is an injury risk for passengers if the
cargo is released in case of sudden braking or
an accident. Folding table*
3 Applies to the model: LEON ST
Fig. 154
Left-hand front seat: folding table. –
To open the tray, open it up in the direction
of the arr
o
w ››› Fig. 154. WARNING
● The fo l
ding trays may not be folded down
whilst the vehicle is in motion and anyone is
seated on the second row of seats. There is a
risk of injury during a sudden braking ma-
noeuvre! The tray must therefore be closed
and properly secured whilst the vehicle is in
motion. » 145
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
Storing objects Lo
a
ding the luggage compartment
›› ›
table on page 2
All luggage and other loose objects must be
safely secured in the luggage compartment.
Unsecured objects which shift back and forth
could impair the driving safety or driving
characteristics of the vehicle by shifting the
centre of gravity. – Distribute the load evenly in the luggage
comp ar
tment.
– Place heavy objects as far forward as possi-
ble in the lug
gage compartment.
– Place the heavy objects first.
– Secure heavy objects to the fitted fastening
rings
›››
page 153. WARNING
● Loo se lug
gage and other objects in the lug-
gage compartment could cause serious inju-
ries.
● Always stow objects in the luggage com-
partment
and secure them on the fastening
rings.
● Use suitable straps to secure heavy ob-
jects.
● D
uring sudden manoeuvres or accidents,
loose ob
jects can be thrown forward, injuring vehicle occupants or passers-by. This in-
cr
e
ased risk of injury will be further increased
if a loose object is struck by an inflating air-
bag. If this happens, objects may shoot out-
ward like a missile. Risk of fatal injury.
● Please note that the centre of gravity may
shift when tr
ansporting heavy objects; this
may affect vehicle handling and lead to an ac-
cident. Therefore, it is essential to adjust
your speed and driving style accordingly, to
avoid accidents.
● Never exceed the allowed axle weights or
allo
wed maximum weight. If said weights are
exceeded, the driving characteristics of the
vehicle may change, leading to accidents, in-
juries and damage to the vehicle.
● Never leave your vehicle unattended, espe-
cia
lly when the rear lid is open. Children
could climb into the luggage compartment,
closing the door behind them; they will be
trapped and run the risk of death.
● Never allow children to play in or around
the vehic
le. Close and lock all the doors and
rear lid when you leave the vehicle. Before
you lock the vehicle, make sure that there are
no adults or children in the vehicle. Note
● Air cir c
ulation in the vehicle helps reduce
fogging of the windows. Used air escapes
through ventilation slits in the side trim of
the luggage compartment. Ensure that the
ventilation slots are never covered. ●
Strap s
for securing the load to the fasten-
ing rings are commercially available. Luggage compartment cover
3 Applies to the model: LEON/LEON SC
Fig. 159
Rear lid open with the luggage com-
p ar
tment
cover. The luggage compartment cover blocks the
v
iew int
o the lug
gage compartment.
Removing – Remove the straps A and unfasten the
c o
v
er of the support B by pressing up-
w ar
d
s in the direction of arrow 1 .
Fittin g
– Inser
t the cover horizontally so that it coin-
cides
with the “plate” on the axis of the
supports B and press down until it engag-
e s.
148
Driving
WARNING
● Never ru n the en
gine in confined spaces, as
the exhaust gases are poisonous. CAUTION
Avoid high engine speeds, full throttle and
extr eme lo
ad conditions until the engine has
reached its normal operating temperature,
otherwise this can damage the engine. For the sake of the environment
Do not warm up the engine by idling it. You
shoul d driv
e off as soon as you start the en-
gine. This will help avoid unnecessary ex-
haust emissions. Note
● If it i
s difficult to turn the ignition key to
the position 1 , turn the steering wheel to
both side s
to release the steering lock.
● When starting from cold, the engine may be
a little noisy
for the first few seconds until oil
pressure has built up in the hydraulic valve
lifters. This is quite normal, and no cause for
concern.
● If the vehicle battery is disconnected and
reconnect
ed, the key must remain in the posi-
tion 1 for around 5 seconds before starting
up.
● Vehic
les with automatic gearbox: after
switc
hing off the ignition, you can only re-
move the ignition key if the selector lever is in position “P” (parking lock). Next, the se-
lect
or l
ever is locked. Switching off the engine with the key
Switching off the engine
– Stop the vehicle.
– Turn the ignition key to position 1 ›››
Fig. 185.
Eng agin
g the steering wheel lock
In vehicles with automatic gearbox, the igni-
tion key can only be removed when the selec-
tor lever is in position P.
– Remove the key from the ignition in posi-
tion 1
› ›
› Fig. 185
››› .
– Turn the steering wheel until you hear it en-
gag
e.
P
ossible vehicle theft is prevented with the
steering lock engaged. WARNING
● Never sw it
ch the engine off until the vehi-
cle is stationary. The brake servo and power
steering functions will not be completely cov-
ered under warranty. More force may also be
needed to turn the steering wheel or to brake.
As you cannot steer and brake in the normal
manner, there is a greater risk of accidents
and serious injury. ●
Never r emo
ve the key from the ignition if
the vehicle is in motion. Otherwise, the steer-
ing could suddenly lock, making it impossible
to steer the vehicle: risk of accident!
● Always take the key with you when you
leav
e the vehicle. This is particularly impor-
tant if there are children in the vehicle, as
they might otherwise be able to start the en-
gine or use power-operated equipment (e.g.
the electric windows), which could cause in-
juries. CAUTION
If the engine has been running under high
loa d f
or a long time, there is a risk of heat
building up in the engine compartment after
it has been switched off; this could cause en-
gine damage. For this reason, you should idle
the engine for approximately 2 minutes be-
fore you switch it off. Note
● Aft er the en
gine is switched off the radiator
fan may run on for up to 10 minutes, even if
the ignition is switched off. It is also possible
that the fan turns itself on once more if the
coolant temperature increases due to the
heat accumulated in the engine compartment
or due to its prolonged exposure to solar ra-
diation.
● If the vehicle is stopped and the Start-Stop
syst
em* switches off the engine, the ignition » 165
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
● Sec ur
e the
vehicle as usual by applying the
handbrake firmly and putting it in 1st gear. WARNING
● Tak e me
asures to reduce the risk of injury
when you leave your vehicle unattended.
● Never park where the hot exhaust system
coul
d ignite inflammable materials, such as
dry grass, low bushes, spilt fuel etc.
● Never allow vehicle occupants to remain in
the vehic
le 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 cou
ld set the vehicle in motion, for ex-
ample, by releasing the handbrake or the
gearbox lever.
● Depending on weather conditions, it may
become extr
emely hot or cold inside the vehi-
cle. This can be fatal. Manual gearbox
Ch angin
g gearRead the additional information carefully
› › ›
page 43
In some countries the clutch pedal must be
fully pressed down for the engine to start. Selecting reverse gear
● Engage reverse gear only when the vehicle
is s
topped.
Changing down gears
While driving, changing down a gear must al-
ways be done gradually, i.e. to the gear di-
rectly below and when the engine speed is
not too high ››› . Changing down while by-
p a
s
sing one or various gears at high speeds
or at high engine speeds can damage the
clutch and the gearbox, even if the clutch
pedal remains depressed ››› .
WARNING
When the engine is running, the vehicle will
st ar
t to move as soon as a gear is engaged
and the clutch released. This is also the case
with the electro-mechanical parking brake
switched on.
● Never engage reverse gear when the vehi-
cle i
s moving. WARNING
If the gear is changed down inappropriately
by sel
ecting a gear that is too low, you may
lose control of the vehicle, causing an acci-
dent and serious injuries. CAUTION
When travelling at high speeds or at high en-
gine speed s, sel
ecting a gear that is too low can cause considerable damage to the clutch
and the ge
arbo
x. This can also occur if the
clutch pedal is pressed and held and it does
not engage. CAUTION
To prevent damage and avoid premature
w ear
, please observe the following:
● Do not rest your hand on the gear lever
while driv
ing. The pressure applied by your
hand is transmitted to the gearbox selector
forks.
● Always ensure that the vehicle is complete-
ly st
opped before engaging the reverse gear.
● Always press the clutch to the floor when
chan
ging gears.
● Never hold the vehicle “on the clutch” on
hill
s with the engine on. Automatic gearbox/DSG auto-
m
atic
g
earbox*
Introduction
›› ›
table on page 2
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronical-
ly controlled manual gearbox. Torque be-
tween the engine and the gearbox is trans-
mitted via two independent clutches. They re-
place the torque converter found on »
167
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety