2015 Seat Leon 5D trailer

Operation
Towing bracket device
T o
w
ing bracket device*
Introduction The towing bracket device fitted to your vehi-
cl
e, be it

factory-fitted or a genuine SEAT ac-
cessory, meets all the national technical and
legal requirements for towing.
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin connector
for the electrical connection between the
trailer and the vehicle. If the trailer is equip-
ped with a 7-pin connector you can use the
corresponding available adaptor that is a
genuine SEAT accessory.
The maximum authorised towing load is
80 kg. WARNING
● Bef or

e each journey, make sure that the de-
tachable ball joint is properly fitted and se-
cured in its housing.
● If the detachable ball joint is not properly
fitted and secur
ed, do not use it.
● Do not use the towing bracket device for
tow
ing if it is damaged or has missing parts.
● Do not modify or adapt the towing device
connection.
● Never u

nhook the detachable ball joint
when the trail
er is hitched. CAUTION
Handle the detachable ball joint with care in
order t o av

oid damaging the bumper paint-
work. Note
Towing the vehicle with the detachable ball
joint ›

›› page 90. Description
Fig. 219
Towing bracket device support / de-
t ac h

able ball joint / key Depending on the country or version, the
t
o
w

ing bracket device's detachable ball joint
is located:
● underneath the floor panel of the luggage
compar
tment.
● or else on the surf
ace of the floor panel of
the luggage compartment in a bag secured
to the fastening rings.
The ball joint is fitted and removed by hand.
The towing device bracket is supplied with a
key.
Key to ››› Fig. 219
13-pin connector
Safety lug
Hook housing
Hook housing cap
Ball protective cover
Detachable ball
Locking lever
Lock cover
Release bolt
Lock
Locking balls
Key
1 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
220

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

Operation
Hitching and connecting the trailer Fig. 230
Schematic diagram: assignment of
the pins of the trailer's electrical socket.
Key of the Schematic diagram ››› Fig. 230:
PinMeaning
1Left turn signal
2Rear fog light
3Earth, pins 1, 2, 4 to 8
4Right turn signal
5Rear light, right
6Brake lights
7Rear light, left
8Reverse lights
9Permanent live
10Cable without positive charge
11Earth, pin 10
Key of the Schematic diagram ››› Fig. 230:
PinMeaning
12Unassigned
13Earth, pin 9 Electrical socket for trailer
The v
ehic

le is fitted with a 13-pole power
socket for the electrical connection between
the trailer and the vehicle. If the system de-
tects that a trailer has been connected elec-
trically, the electrical equipment on the trailer
will receive voltage through this connection.
Pin 9 has a permanent live. This powers, for
example, the trailer's interior lighting. Pin 10
is only powered when the engine is running.
The charge wire (pin 10) charges, for exam-
ple, a caravan battery.
Pin 9 and 10 should not be connected to
each other to avoid discharging or damaging
the vehicle's battery.
The earth wires, pin 3, pin 11 and pin 13,
should never be connected to each other to
avoid overloading the electrical system.
If the trailer has a 7-contact connector , you
will need to use an adapter cable. In this case
the function corresponding to pin 10 will not
be available. Trailer maximum electricity consumption
Brake lights (total)84 Watts
Turn signal, on each side42 Watts
Side lights (total)100 Watts
Rear lights (total)42 Watts
Rear fog light42 Watts
Never exceed the values indicated!
Note
● If the r e

ar lights of the trailer are not cor-
rectly connected, the vehicle electronics may
be damaged.
● If the trailer absorbs excessive electric cur-
rent, the v
ehicle electronics may be dam-
aged.
● Never connect the trailer's electric system
directly t
o the electrical connections of the
tail lights or any other power sources. Only
use the connections intended for providing
electric current to the trailer. Ball coupling of towing bracket de-
v
ic
e* The ball coupling is provided with instruc-
tion
s
on fittin

g and removing the ball cou-
pling of the towing bracket.
226

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

Operation
Anti-theft alarm system When the vehicle is locked, the alarm is trig-
ger
ed when the el
ectrical connection be-
tween vehicle and trailer is interrupted.
Always turn off the anti-theft alarm system
before connecting or disconnecting a trailer
››› page 121.
Conditions for the integration of a trailer in
the anti-theft alarm system.
● The vehicle is factory-equipped with an an-
ti-theft al

arm system and a towing bracket
device.
● The trailer is connected electrically to the
tow
ing vehicle by the trailer connector.
● The electrical system of the vehicle and the
trail
er are prepared for operation.
● The vehicle is locked with the ignition key
and the anti-theft al
arm system is activated.CAUTION
For technical reasons, trailers fitted with rear
LED lights ar

e not integrated in the anti-theft
alarm system. Driving tips
Driving with a trailer always requires extra
c
ar e. W

eight distribution
The weight di
stribution of a loaded trailer
with an unladen vehicle is very unfavourable.
However, if this cannot be avoided, drive ex-
tra slowly to allow for the unbalanced weight
distribution.
Speed
The stability of the vehicle and trailer is re-
duced with increasing speed. For this reason,
it is advisable not to drive at the maximum
permissible speed in an unfavourable road,
weather or wind conditions. This applies es-
pecially when driving downhill.
You should always reduce speed immediately
if the trailer shows the slightest sign of snak-
ing. Never try to stop the “snaking” by in-
creasing speed.
Always brake in due course. If the trailer has
an overrun brake, apply the brakes gently at
first and then, firmly. This will prevent the
jerking that can be caused by locking of trail-
er wheels. Select a low gear in due course
before going down a steep downhill. This en-
ables you to use the engine braking to slow
down the vehicle.
Reheating
At very high temperatures and during pro-
longed slopes, driving in a low gear and high
engine speed, always monitor the coolant
temperature gauge ››› page 108. Electronic stability control*
The ESC* sys
tem helps to stabilise the trailer
in case of skidding or rocking.
Retrofitting a towing bracket* Fig. 232
Attachment points for towing brack-
et . 228

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

Technical specifications
Note
In practice, and considering all the factors
mentioned here, c on
sumption values can dif-
fer from those calculated in the current Euro-
pean regulations. Weights
Kerb weight refers to the basic model with a
fuel
t

ank filled to 90% capacity and without
optional extras. The figure quoted includes
75 kg to allow for the weight of the driver.
Special versions, optional equipment fittings
or retro-fitting accessories will increase the
weight of the vehicle ››› .
WARNING
● Ple a

se note that the centre of gravity may
shift when transporting heavy objects; this
may affect vehicle handling and lead to an ac-
cident. Always adjust your speed and driving
style to suit road conditions and require-
ments.
● Never exceed the gross axle weight rating
or the gros
s vehicle weight rating. If the per-
missible axle load or the permissible total
weight is exceeded, the driving characteris-
tics of the vehicle may change, which could
lead to accidents, injuries and damage to the
vehicle. Driving with a trailer
Tr
ai

ler weights Trailer weight
The trai
l

er weights and drawbar loads ap-
proved are selected in intensive trials accord-
ing to precisely defined criteria. The ap-
proved trailer weights apply to vehicles in the
EU and generally for maximum speeds of 80
km/h (100 km/h in certain circumstances).
The figures may be different in other coun-
tries. All data in the official vehicle documen-
tation takes precedence over these data at all
times ››› .
Dr a
wb

ar loads
The maximum permitted drawbar load on the
ball joint of the towing bracket must not ex-
ceed 80 kg.
In the interest of road safety, we recommend
that you always tow approaching the maxi-
mum drawbar load. The response of the trail-
er on the road will be poor, if the drawbar
load is too small.
If the maximum permissible drawbar load
cannot be met (e.g. with small, empty and
light-weight single axle trailers or tandem
axle trailers with a wheelbase of less than 1
metre), a minimum of 4% of the actual trailer
weight is legally required for the drawbar
load. WARNING
● For s af

ety reasons, do not exceed the 80
km/h (50 mph) limit. This is also valid in
countries where higher speeds are permitted.
● Never exceed the maximum trailer weights
or the drawb
ar load. If the permissible axle
load or the permissible total weight is excee-
ded, the driving characteristics of the vehicle
may change, leading to accidents, injuries
and damage to the vehicle. Wheels
Ty
r

e pressure, snow chains, wheel
bolts Tyre pressures
The s
tic
k

er with the tyre pressure values can
be found on the inside of the fuel tank flap.
The tyre pressure values given there are for
cold tyres. The slightly raised pressures of
warm tyres must not be reduced. ››› The pressure for win
t
er
tyres is 0.2 bar
(2.9 psi / 20 kPa) higher than that of summer
tyres.
Snow chains
Snow chains may be fitted only to the front
wheels, and only for the following tyres: »
267
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety