Advice
SEAT recommends the use of car washes
w ithout
bru
shes.
To remove traces of wax on windows and to
prevent wiper blades from scratching, please
observe the following ››› page 169, Cleaning
windows and exterior mirrors .
Washing the car by hand
When washing the car by hand, use plenty of
water to soften the dirt first, and rinse off as
well as possible.
Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge,
glove or brush using only slight pressure.
Start at the roof and work downwards. Spe-
cial car shampoo should only be used for
very persistent dirt.
Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and of-
ten.
Wheels, sills and similar should be cleaned
last. Use a second sponge for this. WARNING
Sharp components on the vehicle may cause
injury .
● Pr
otect arms and hands from sharp edges
when cle
aning the vehicle undercarriage or
the interior of the wheel hubs. WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the brak-
ing eff ect
will be reduced (and the braking
distance increased) due to moisture (and ice
in winter) on the brakes.
● “Dry the brakes and remove ice” by braking
caref
ully. Ensure that you are not endanger-
ing other road-users or breaking traffic regu-
lations in the process. CAUTION
● The wat er t
emperature should not exceed
+60 °C (+140 °F).
● To avoid damage to the paintwork, do not
wash the
vehicle in full sun.
● Do not use rough sponges or similar which
coul
d damage the surface to clean away the
traces of insects.
● Never wipe the headlights with a dry cloth
or spong
e, always moisten first. It is best to
use soapy water.
● Washing the vehicle in low temperatures:
When washin
g the vehicle with a hose, do
not direct water into the lock cylinders or the
gaps around the doors or roof. Locks and
seals could freeze! CAUTION
To avoid any risk of damage to the vehicle,
pl e
ase check the following points before us-
ing an automatic car wash: ●
Comp ar
e the distance between the vehicle
wheels and the distance between the guide-
rails of the car wash to prevent damage to the
wheels and tyres!
● Switch off the rain sensor before taking the
vehicl
e to an automatic car wash.
● Compare the height and width of your vehi-
cle w
ith the available height and width when
entering and driving through the car wash.
● Fold in exterior mirrors Electrically retracta-
ble e
xterior mirrors must not be folded in or
out by hand. Always use the electrical power
control.
● To avoid damaging the bonnet paintwork,
res
t the windscreen wipers on the windscreen
after drying the wiper blades. Do not let them
fall!
● Lock the rear lid to prevent it from opening
unexpect
edly while inside the car wash. Washing the vehicle with a high pres-
s
ur
e c
leaner When cleaning the vehicle with a high-pres-
s
ur
e c
leaner, always follow the operating in-
structions for the equipment. Pay special at-
tention to the required pressure of the jet
and the distance between the jet and the ve-
hicle ››› .
K eep a s uit
able distance from soft materials,
such as rubber hoses or insulating material,
168
Care and maintenance
and from the parking distance warning sys-
t em sen
sor
s. The sensors of the parking dis-
tance warning system are situated on the rear
bumper ››› .
Do not u
se a no
zzle that sprays the water out
in a direct stream or one that has a rotating
jet for forcing off dirt ››› .
WARNING
The incorrect use of high pressure cleaning
equipment c ou
ld result in permanent dam-
age, visible or invisible, to the tyres or other
materials. This could result in a serious acci-
dent.
● Ensure there is a suitable distance between
the nozzl
e and the tyres.
● Never wash tyres with a concentrated jet or
so-cal
led “dirt blasters”. Even at large spray-
ing distances and short cleaning times, you
may damage the tyres. WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the brak-
ing eff ect
will be reduced (and the braking
distance increased) due to moisture (and ice
in winter) on the brakes.
● “Dry the brakes and remove ice” by braking
caref
ully. Ensure that you are not endanger-
ing other road-users or breaking traffic regu-
lations in the process. CAUTION
● The wat er t
emperature should not exceed
+60 °C (+140 °F).
● To avoid damage to the paintwork, do not
wash the
vehicle in full sun.
● To ensure that the system functions well,
the sensors
located on the bumper must be
kept clean and free from ice. When cleaning
with pressure hoses and steam cleaners, the
sensors should be sprayed only briefly. A dis-
tance of 10 cm between the sensors and the
steam / hose nozzle must be observed.
● Do not use a high pressure cleaner to re-
move ic
e or snow from windows
● Washing the vehicle in low temperatures:
When washin
g the vehicle with a hose, do
not direct water into the lock cylinders or the
gaps around the doors or roof. Locks and
seals could freeze! Cleaning windows and exterior mir-
r
or
s Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors
S
pr
a
y windows and exterior windows with a
standard window cleaner containing alcohol.
Dry the windows with a clean chamois leath-
er or a lint-free cloth. The chamois leathers
used on painted surfaces are not suitable for
cleaning windows because they are soiled with wax deposits which could smear the
window
s.
Use window cleaner or a silicone remover to
clean rubber, oil, grease and silicone depos-
its off ››› .
R emo
v
ing wax residue
Automatic car washes and certain car care
products may leave wax deposits on the win-
dows. These deposits can only be removed
with a special product or cleaning cloths. If
wax deposits are left on the windscreen and
the rear window, the blades can scratch the
glass. SEAT recommends you wipe the wax
deposits off the windscreen and the rear win-
dow with a soft cloth each time after you
have washed the vehicle.
A window cleaning detergent which helps to
dissolve the wax may be added to the wind-
screen washer fluid to prevent the wiper
blades from scratching the windscreen.
Please ensure you add the cleaning product
in the correct proportions. Products for re-
moving grease do not eliminate the wax de-
posits ››› .
S pec
i
al cleaning products or window cloths
are available at any technical service. To re-
move wax deposits, SEAT recommends the
following products: »
169
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
● For the hott
e
st time of the year: the window
cleaner for summer use G 052 184 A1. Pro-
portion 1:100 (1 part detergent, 100 parts
water) in the windscreen washer reservoir.
● All year round: the window clean-
er G 052 164 A2; proportion 1:2 in w
ind-
screen washer bottle (1 part concentrate, 2
parts water) in winter, up to -18 ℃ (-0.4 ºF),
or 1:4, during the rest of the year.
● Window cloths G 052 522 A1 for all win-
dows
and exterior mirrors.
Removing snow
Use a small brush to remove snow from the
windows and exterior mirrors.
Removing ice
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. If you pull
the scraper backwards, the dirt may scratch
the window. WARNING
Dirty or misted windows reduce visibility in
al l
directions and increase the risk of acci-
dent and serious injury.
● Do not drive unless you have good visibility
through al
l windows!
● Remove ice and snow from the windows
and demist
inside and out. CAUTION
● Never mi x
our cleaning products with other
products not recommended by SEAT in the
windscreen washer reservoir. This could lead
to flocculation and may block the windscreen
washer jets.
● Do not use hot or warm water to remove ice
or snow fr
om the windows and exterior mir-
rors. The glass could crack!
● The heating element for the rear window is
located on the inner s
ide of the window. Do
not stick adhesive labels over the heating el-
ements and never clean the inside of the rear
window with corrosive or acid products or
other similar chemical cleaning products. Caring for and polishing the vehicle
p
aintw
ork Waxing
R
e
gu
lar waxing protects the paintwork. It is
time to apply a good coat of wax when water
no longer forms droplets and rolls off the
clean paintwork.
Even if a wax solution is used regularly in the
automatic car wash, SEAT recommends pro-
tecting the paint with a hard wax coating at
least twice a year. Polishing
Poli
shing is only necessary if the paint has
lost its shine, and the gloss cannot be
brought back by applying wax.
If the polish does not contain wax, a wax
product should be applied after polishing. CAUTION
● To pr ev
ent damage, car polish or hard wax
should not be used on components painted in
matt paint, plastic components and the glass
headlamp and tail light covers.
● Do not polish your vehicle in a sandy or
dusty
environment. Care and cleaning of chrome and alu-
minium wheel
rims ●
Use a clean, damp, lint-free, smooth cloth
t o c
l
ean anodized surfaces.
● If there is a lot of dirt, use a special clean-
ing product
which does not contain solvents.
● Then, polish the chrome and aluminium
wheel trims w
ith a smooth dry cloth. CAUTION
In order to prevent damage to the aluminium
and chr ome wheel
trims:
● Do not clean or polish them in direct sun-
light. 170
Care and maintenance
●
Do not c l
ean or polish them in sandy or
dusty environments.
● Do not use abrasive cleaning agents such
as home c
ream cleaners.
● Do not use insect sponges, scouring pads,
or simil
ar products to clean insect deposits.
● Do not polish dirty surfaces.
● Do not use products containing solvents.
● Do not use hard wax. CAUTION
Chrome hub caps or wheel covers may have
been p ainted a
dditionally. Do not treat them
with aluminium or chrome wax products, nor
chrome or aluminium polish. Instead, use
commercial paint wax or polish. Cleaning wheels
Cleaning steel wheels
U
se an indu
s
trial cleaner to remove brake
dust. Therefore, clean wheels regularly with a
separate sponge.
Any damage to the paint on steel wheels
should be touched up before the metal starts
to rust.
Caring for and cleaning alloy wheels
Remove road salt and brake dust by washing
the wheels approximately once a fortnight.Use an acid free detergent to clean the wheel
rims. SEA
T recommends treating the wheel
rims thoroughly with a hard wax about once
every three months.
It is important to remove road salt and brake
dust by washing the wheels at regular inter-
vals, otherwise the 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 on the paint has
been damaged (for example, hit by a stone),
it should be repaired immediately.
Caring for rubber seals The rubber seals on doors, windows, etc., re-
m
ain fl
e
xible, provide a better seal and last
longer if they are regularly treated with a
product specifically designed for use on rub-
ber.
Before applying the product, use a soft cloth
to remove dust and dirt from the rubber
seals. De-icing the door lock cylinder To de-ice the lock cylinders, SEAT recommend
the use of
g
enuine SEAT spray with lubricat-
ing and anti-corrosive properties. CAUTION
The use of products containing degreasing
agent s
to de-ice the locks may rust the lock
cylinder. Protection of vehicle undercarriage
The vehicle underbody is coated to protect it
fr
om c
hemic
al and mechanical damage. The
protective coat on the undercarriage may
wear from use while driving. Therefore, SEAT
recommends that the protective coating on
the undercarriage and on the running gear
should be regularly checked, and repaired if
necessary. WARNING
Additional underseal or anti-corrosion prod-
ucts c
ould catch fire due to the high tempera-
tures reached by the exhaust gas system and
other engine components.
● Do not apply additional underseal or anti-
corro
sion products to the exhaust pipes, cat-
alytic converters, heat shields or other parts
of the vehicle which reach high temperatures. 171
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
Cleaning the engine compartment The engine compartment of any motor vehi-
cl
e i
s a potentially hazardous area
››› page 184.
The engine compartment should only be
cleaned by qualified personnel. If it is not
correctly cleaned, the anti-corrosion coating
and consequently electrical components may
be damaged. Moreover, water may filter di-
rectly into the vehicle interior through the wa-
ter chamber ››› .
If the en gine c
ompartment is very dirty, al-
ways take the vehicle to a specialised work-
shop for professional cleaning. SEAT recom-
mends taking your car in for technical serv-
ice.
Water box
The water box is in the engine compartment,
between the windscreen and the engine, and
beneath a perforated cover. Air is taken in
through the water box from outside to the ve-
hicle interior via the heating and air condi-
tioner.
Leaves and other loose objects should be
regularly cleaned away from the water box ei-
ther by hand or with a vacuum. WARNING
When working on the engine or in the engine
comp ar
tment, there is a risk of injury, burns,
accident or fire.
● Before starting work, please ensure you are
famili
ar with the required procedure and the
safety precautions ››› page 184.
● SEAT recommends getting a specialised
workshop t
o do these jobs. CAUTION
If water is manually poured into the water box
(e.g. u s
ing a high pressure cleaning appli-
ance), this could cause significant damage to
the vehicle. For the sake of the environment
Only wash the engine compartment in areas
al loc
ated for this purpose, to prevent dirty
water which may be contaminated by oil,
grease or fuel, from entering the drains. In
some places, even washing this compartment
outside planned areas for this purpose is
banned. Caring for and cleaning the ve-
hic
l
e int
erior
Introduction The dye from many items of modern clothing
(e.g. d
ark
jeans) is not always colour-fast.
Seat upholstery (material and leather), espe-
cially when light-coloured, may visibly discol-
our if the dye comes out of clothing (even
when used correctly). This is not an uphols-
tery defect but indicates that the dye in the
item of clothing is not sufficiently colour-fast. WARNING
Car-care products may be toxic and hazard-
ous. If c
ar care products are not suitable or
are used inappropriately, this could result in
accident, serious injury, burns or intoxica-
tion.
● Car care products must always be stored in
the original
container which should be kept
closed.
● Observe information provided by the manu-
factur
er.
● To prevent confusion, never store car care
products
in empty food cans, bottles or other
containers.
● Keep all care products out of reach of chil-
dren. 172
Care and maintenance
●
Harmfu l
vapours may be produced when us-
ing car care products. Therefore, care prod-
ucts should only be used in well-ventilated
spaces or in the open air.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, ace-
tone or any
other volatile liquid to wash,
clean or care for the vehicle. These are toxic
and highly flammable. WARNING
Inappropriate care and cleaning of vehicle
c omponent s
may effect the vehicle safety
equipment, increasing the risk of severe in-
jury.
● Vehicle components should only be
cle
aned and maintained in accordance with
the manufacturer's instructions.
● Only use approved or recommended care
products. CAUTION
● Cle
aning products which contain solvents
will damage the material.
● To avoid damage, stubborn stains should
be remov
ed by a specialised workshop. Note
Suitable vehicle care products are available
from y
our technical service. How to care for the upholstery
To treat and maintain your seat upholstery,
keep the f
o
llowing in mind ››› :
● Before entering the vehicle, close any Vel-
cr o f
asteners that might snag on the uphols-
tery or trim fabric. Any open Velcro fasteners
may damage the trim or upholstery fabrics.
● To prevent damage, avoid direct contact
between sharp dec
orative objects and the
upholstery and trim fabrics. Decorative ob-
jects include zips, rivets and rhinestones on
clothing and belts.
● From time to time, clean the dust that gath-
ers in the per
forations, folds and seams so
that the surfaces of the seats are not dam-
aged by its abrasive effect.
● Make sure clothes are colour-fast to avoid
them running and s
taining the upholstery.
This is especially important if the upholstery
is light in colour. CAUTION
If the instructions for upholstery and trim
car e ar
e not followed, they may deteriorate
and discolour. Note
SEAT recommends you take the vehicle to a
Spec i
alised workshop to treat any stains on
the upholstery caused by the discolouration
of clothing. Cleaning padding and textile covers
Normal cleaning
● Before applying cleaning products, please
re a
d the instructions for handling and the
warnings shown on the container.
● The upholstery, textile covers, and carpet
should be r
egularly vacuumed (with vacuum
brush).
● We recommend that you use a soft sponge
or lint-free, mic
ro-fibre cloth for normal clean-
ing ››› .
Gener al
s
uperficial dirt on upholstery and
textile covers can be cleaned with a normal
foam cleaning product.
If the upholstery and the material trims are
very dirty, we recommend you have them
cleaned by a specialist cleaning form.
Cleaning stains
It may be necessary to clean the whole sur-
face and not only the stain itself. Especially if
the surface has been dirtied through normal
use. Otherwise, the stained area may be-
come lighter than the rest of the surface after
treatment. »
173
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Care and maintenance
WARNING
Solvents cause the surfaces of the airbag
modul e
s to become porous. If an airbag is ac-
cidentally triggered, the detachment of plas-
tic parts could cause serious injury.
● Never clean the dash panel and the surfa-
ces
of the airbag modules with cleaners con-
taining solvents. CAUTION
When cleaning the instrument panel, be care-
fu l
not to dampen the Portable Navigation
System connections as this can damage the
electrical installation. Cleaning seatbelts
If the seat belt is very dirty, the belt retractor
m
a
y
not work correctly thus preventing the
seat belt from operating correctly.
The seat belts should never be removed from
the vehicle for cleaning.
● Use a soft brush to remove the worst dirt
›››
.
● Pull the seat belt right out and leave it out.
● Clean dirty seat belts with a gentle
so
ap
and water solution.
● Wait until they are completely dry.
● Only allow the seat belt to retract when it is
compl
etely dry. WARNING
Check the condition of all the seat belts at
re gu
lar intervals. If the webbing or other
parts of the seat belt are damaged, the vehi-
cle should be taken to a Specialised work-
shop immediately and the belts should be re-
placed. It is extremely dangerous to drive us-
ing damaged seat belts and could result in
serious injury or loss of life.
● Seat belts and their components must nev-
er be cle
aned with chemical products, nor
should they be allowed to come into contact
with corrosive liquids, solvents or sharp ob-
jects. This could affect the strength of the
seat belt webbing.
● Seat belts should be completely dry before
retractin
g. Dampness could damage the belt
retractor so that it does not operate correctly.
● Do not allow liquids or foreign bodies to en-
ter the buc
kle fastenings. This could damage
the buckles and seat belts.
● Never attempt to repair, modify or remove a
seat belt
yourself.
● Always have damaged seatbelts replaced
immediately
by seat belts approved for the
vehicle in question by SEAT. Seat belts which
have been worn in an accident and stretched
must be replaced by a specialised workshop.
Renewal may be necessary even if there is no
apparent damage. The belt anchorage should
also be checked. Notes for the user
Intr oduction WARNING
Failure to treat the vehicle with the correct
car e inc
reases the risk of accident and injury.
● Observe legal requirements.
● Observe the Instruction Manual. CAUTION
If the vehicle is not properly cared for, dam-
age m a
y occur.
● Observe legal requirements.
● Carry out regular maintenance of the vehi-
cle, ac
cording to specifications in the Mainte-
nance Programme.
● Observe the Instruction Manual. 175
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
Labels and plates Fig. 162
Warnings relating to handling the
C ity
Safety Assist system radar sensor func-
tion Some parts in the engine compartment come
fr
om the f
act
ory with certificates of safety, la-
bels or plates containing important informa-
tion regarding the operation of the vehicle,
for example, on the fuel tank flap, on the pas-
senger's sun visor, on the driver door strut, or
on the floor of the boot.
● Never remove these certificates of safety,
labels
or plates, and ensure they are kept in
good condition and are legible.
● If a vehicle part, bearing a certificate of
safety
, label or plate, is replaced, the special-
ised workshop should attach the information
back in the same place. Certificate of safety
A certific
ate of safety on the door strut states
that all the safety standards and regulations
established by the national traffic authorities
responsible for road safety were met at the
time of manufacture. It may also give the
month and year of manufacture, together
with the chassis number.
Warning of high voltage label
There is a label close to the bonnet lock
which warns of high voltage in the vehicle's
electrical system.
Warning relating to the City Safety Assist
system laser sensor
There are some warning and information
signs on the City Safety Assist system laser
sensor ››› Fig. 162.
Using your vehicle in other countries
and continents The vehicle is manufactured at the factory for
u
se in a p
ar
ticular country in accordance with
the national legislation in force at the time of
manufacture.
If the vehicle is sold in another country or
used in another country for an extended peri-
od of time, the applicable legislation of that
country should be observed. It may be necessary to fit or remove certain
pieces
of equipment or to deactivate certain
functions. Service work may also be affected.
This is particularly true if the vehicle is used
in a different climate for an extended period
of time.
As there are different types of frequency
bands around the world, you may find that
the radio system or the Portable Navigation
System (supplied by SEAT) supplied at the
factory does not work in another country. CAUTION
● SEA T doe
s not accept liability for any dam-
age to the vehicle due to the use of a lower
quality fuel, an inadequate service or the
non-availability of genuine spare parts.
● SEAT does not accept liability if the vehicle
does not
comply in part or in full with the le-
gal requirements of other countries or conti-
nents. Radio and antenna reception
For factory-fitted radio equipment, the aerial
f
or r
a
dio reception is fitted to the roof of the
vehicle. Note
If electrical equipment such as mobile tele-
phones, i s
used near a roof aerial, you may176