2015 Seat Mii maintenance

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

Care and maintenance
observe interference in the reception of AM
st
ation
s. Notes on SEAT repairs
Following payment, information about au-
thorised
S

EAT services and authorised SEAT
repairs in the following locations can be re-
quested:
Clients in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Cen-
tral America and South America
Contact a technical service or specialised
workshop, or request the corresponding doc-
umentation at www.erwin.volkswagen.de. WARNING
Repairs or modifications which are not per-
formed c orr

ectly may result in damage or er-
rors in the vehicle operation, affecting the ef-
fectiveness of the driver assist and airbag
systems. This could result in serious acci-
dent.
● Have any repairs or modifications carried
out at a s
pecialised workshop. Conformity certification
The respective manufacturer hereby declares
th
at
the pr

oducts indicated below comply
with basic requirements and the following provisions and important legislation on the
date of

manufacture of the vehicle, among
others FCC Part 15.19, FCC Part 15.21 and
RSS-Gen Issue 1:
Radio frequency equipment
● Electronic gearbox lock.
● Vehicle key
Electrica
l equipment
● 12 volt power socket
Collection and scrapping of end-of-life
vehicl
es Collection of end-of-life vehicles
S
EA
T i

s already prepared for the moment
when you wish to scrap your vehicle and of-
fers you an environmentally-friendly solution.
An extensive network of used car reception
centres already exists in much of Europe. Af-
ter the vehicle has been delivered, you will
receive a certificate of destruction describing
the environmentally friendly scrapping of the
vehicle in accordance with applicable legisla-
tion.
We will collect the used vehicle free of
charge, provided it complies with all national
legislation. Please see your technical service for further
information about

the collection and scrap-
ping of end-of-life vehicles.
Scrapping
The relevant safety requirements must be ob-
served when the vehicle or components of
the airbag or belt tensioner systems are
scrapped. These requirements are known to
specialised workshops. 177
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Checking and refilling levels
metal additives. Using them may damage the
engine!
● On ly
use fuel with an octane rating that is
in line with the norm EN 228, otherw
ise sig-
nificant damage could be caused to the en-
gine and fuel system. Furthermore, it could
lead to a loss of performance with the conse-
quent engine fault.
● The use of unsuitable petrol additives could
seriously
damage the engine and the catalyt-
ic converter.
● If, in exceptional circumstances, petrol with
a lower oct
ane rating to that recommended is
used, only use moderate engine speeds and a
light throttle. Avoid using full throttle and
overloading the engine. Otherwise engine
damage may occur. Fill up with fuel of a suita-
ble octane rating as soon as possible.
● Just filling one full tank of leaded fuel or
with other meta
l additives would seriously
impair the efficiency of the catalytic convert-
er and could damage it. Natural gas
Natural gas, in addition to others, can be in
li
quid f
orm.
Li

quefied natural gas (LNG) is the result of
heavy cooling of natural gas. Therefore its
volume is considerably reduced compared
with compressed natural gas (CNG). In vehi-
cles with a natural gas engine, liquefied nat-
ural gas cannot be directly refilled, as the gas would expand excessively in the vehicle gas
tank.
Theref

ore, vehicles with a natural gas engine
must only be refuelled using compressed
natural gas ››› .
Nat ur
a

l gas quality and consumption
Natural gas is divided into the groups H and
L depending on its quality.
Gas type H has a superior heating power and
inferior nitrogen and carbon dioxide content
than type L. The higher the heating power of
the natural gas, the lower the consumption
will be.
However, the heating power and the propor-
tion of nitrogen and carbon dioxide can fluc-
tuate within the quality groups. Therefore, ve-
hicle consumption can also vary when using
one type of gas only.
The engine management automatically
adapts to the natural gas used according to
its quality. Therefore, different quality gases
can be mixed in the tank, without the need
for comprehensive draining before applying a
different quality gas.
Natural gas and safety
If you can smell gas or suspect that there is a
leak ››› :
● Stop the vehicle immediately. ●
Sw it
c

h the ignition off.
● Open the doors to appropriately ventilate
the vehic
le.
● Immediately extinguish cigarettes.
● Move away from the vehicle or switch off
obj
ects that may cause sparks or a fire.
● If you continue to smell gas, do not contin-
ue driving!
● Seek

specialist assistance. Have the fault
repair
ed. WARNING
Failure to act when you can smell gas in the
vehic l

e or when refuelling can cause serious
injuries.
● Carry out the necessary operations.
● Leave the danger zone.
● If necessary, warn the emergency services. WARNING
The vehicle is not prepared to use liquefied
nat ur

al gas (LNG) and this fuel must not be
added under any circumstances. Liquefied
natural gas can cause the natural gas tank to
explode, resulting in serious injury. Note
The natural gas system must be subject to
re gu

lar inspections at a specialised work-
shop in accordance with the Maintenance
Programme. 179
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Preparations
● Park the vehicle on flat ground so that the
en gine oi
l
reading is correct.
● The engine must be hot to be able to check
the engine oil
level. Stop the engine and wait
a few minutes for the oil to drain back into
the sump.
● Open the bonnet  ›››
page 184.
● The engine oil filler neck can be recognised
by the symbo
l  on the cap ››› Fig. 168 and
the dipstick by its coloured handle.
Check the engine oil level
● Pull out the dipstick and wipe it on a clean
cloth.
● Rep

lace the dipstick, pushing it in as far as
it wi
ll go. If the dipstick to measure engine oil
has a mark, when you reintroduce it this
mark should slot into the corresponding
groove located on the upper end of the tube.
● Remove the oil dipstick again and check
the engine oil
level.
● After reading the oil level, replace the dip-
stick
in the tube completely. WARNING
Oil could catch fire if it comes into contact
with hot en

gine components. This could lead
to a fire, explosion and severe injuries.
● Always ensure that after topping of oil, the
engine oil
filler cap is correctly tightened. This will avoid engine oil spilling onto hot en-
gine par
t

s when the engine is running. CAUTION
● If the en gine oi

l level is above the area
››› Fig. 167 A do not start the engine. Seek
spec i
alist assistance. Otherwise catalytic
converter and engine damage may occur.
● When refilling or changing service liquids,
ensur
e that you put the liquids into the right
tank. Making a mistake when refilling could
cause serious malfunctions and damage the
engine! For the sake of the environment
The oil level must never be above area A .
Otherw i

se oil can be drawn in through the
crankcase breather and escape into the at-
mosphere via the exhaust system. Engine oil consumption
The consumption of engine oil can be differ-
ent
fr
om one en

gine to another and can vary
during the useful life of the engine.
Depending on how you drive and the condi-
tions in which the vehicle is used, oil con-
sumption can be up to 1 ltr./2000 km. In the
case of new vehicles, the consumption can
exceed this figure over 5,000 kilometres. For
this reason the engine oil level must be checked at regular intervals, preferably when
fillin

g the tank and before a journey.
When the engine is working hard, for in-
stance during sustained high-speed motor-
way cruising in summer or when climbing
mountain passes, the oil level should pref-
erably be kept within area ››› Fig. 167 A .
Topping up engine oil Read the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 30.
The engine oil must be changed regularly ac-
cording to the specifications of the Mainte-
nance Programme.
Due to the problems linked with disposing of
used oil and the need for suitable tools and
special knowledge, always visit a specialised
workshop to have the engine oil and filter
changed. SEAT recommends taking your car
in for technical service.
Detailed information on the service intervals
is shown in the Maintenance Programme.
Engine oil additives make new oil darker after
the engine has been running for a short peri-
od. This is normal and does not mean more
frequent oil changes are required.
188

Advice
Ensuring that the brake system is always
f u
nctionin
g correctly is essential for your own
safety and the safety of other road users
››› .
Br ak
e fluid s

pecifications
SEAT have developed a special brake fluid
optimised for the brake systems of their vehi-
cles. To ensure the optimum working of the
brake system, SEAT recommends the use of
brake fluid in accordance with the VW 501 14
standard. If this brake fluid is not available or
another brake fluid is used for different rea-
sons, use a brake fluid that complies with the
United States standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 or
the German standard DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
››› .
Br ak
e fluid

s conforming to the standard
VW 501 14, fulfil the American requirements
of the FMVSS 116 DOT 4 standard and the
German DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standard.
However, fluids that comply with the Ameri-
can FMVSS 116 DOT 4 standard or the Ger-
man DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standard do not
necessarily comply with the VW 501 14
standard. Always check the information on
the brake fluid container and ensure that you
are using suitable brake fluid.
A suitable brake fluid can be obtained from
SEAT dealerships. Brake fluid level
The level

of the brake fluid should always be
between the MIN and MAX marks, or above
the MIN mark ››› .
It i
s

not always possible to check the level of
the brake fluid, as in some models the en-
gine components make it difficult to see the
brake fluid reservoir. If you cannot read the
exact brake fluid level, consult a specialist.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the
vehicle is being used due to wear of the
brake pads and the automatic readjustment
of the brake.
Changing the brake fluid
The brake fluid should be changed in accord-
ance with the instructions given in the Main-
tenance Programme. Have the brake fluid
changed by a specialised workshop. SEAT
recommends taking your car in for technical
service. This means that only brake fluid
complying with the required specifications
will be used. WARNING
If the brake fluid level is low or unsuita-
bl e/o

ld brake fluid is used, the brake system
may fail or braking power may be reduced.
● Check the brake system and the brake fluid
level
regularly! ●
The brak e fluid shou

ld be changed regular-
ly in accordance with the instructions given
in the Maintenance Programme.
● Always ensure that you use suitable brake
fluid. Only u
sed brake fluid that conforms to
the VW 501 14 standard, FMVSS 116 DOT 4
standard or even the DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
standard. Other types of brake fluid could af-
fect brake operation and reduce braking pow-
er. Do not use a brake fluid if the container
does not specify compliance with the
VW 501 14, FMVSS 116 DOT 4 or
DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards.
● The replacement brake fluid must be new.
● Brake fluid should be stored in the closed
original
container in a safe place out of reach
of children. Risk of poisoning!
● If the brake fluid is left in the system for
too long and the br
akes are subjected to
heavy use, vapour bubbles may form in the
brake system. This would seriously affect the
efficiency of the brakes and the safety of the
vehicle. This may cause an accident. CAUTION
Brake fluid damages the vehicle paintwork.
Wipe off an

y brake fluid from the paintwork
immediately. For the sake of the environment
Brake fluid is an environmental pollutant.
Co l

lect any spilt service fluids and allow a
professional to dispose of them. 192

AdviceSymbolMeaning

A highly explosive mixture of gases is re-
leased when the battery is under charge.

Keep children away from acid and batter-
ies!
WARNING
Working on the vehicle battery and the elec-
trica l

system can cause corrosion, fire and
electric shocks. Always read and take into ac-
count the following warnings and safety
standards before carrying out any work:
● Before working on the battery, switch off
the engine, the ignition and al
l electrical de-
vices then disconnect the negative connec-
tion on the battery.
● Keep children away from acid and the bat-
tery
itself!
● Wear eye protection.
● Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. It
can burn sk
in and cause blindness. When
handling the battery, protect yourself from
splashes of acids, above all your hands, arms
and face.
● Do not smoke and never work close to pla-
ces
exposed to flames or sparks.
● Avoid sparks and electrostatic discharges
when workin
g with cables and electrical devi-
ces.
● Never short the battery terminals. ●
Never u se a d

amaged battery. It can ex-
plode. Replace a damaged battery immedi-
ately.
● Replaced damaged or frozen batteries as
soon as po
ssible. A flat battery can also
freeze at temperatures close to 0 °C (+32 °F). CAUTION
● Nev er di s

connect the battery if the ignition
is switched on or if the engine is running.
This could damage the electrical system or
electronic components.
● Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight
over a lon
g period of time, as the intense ul-
traviolet radiation can damage the battery
housing.
● If the car is left standing for long periods,
protect
the battery from extreme cold temper-
ature so that it does not “freeze up” and be-
come damaged. Warning lamp

It lights up
Faulty generator.
Contact a specialised workshop.
Have the electrical system checked.
Disconnect any unnecessary elec-
trical devices. The generator does
not charge the battery while the ve-
hicle is in motion. Several warning and indication lamps light
up f
or a f
ew sec

onds when the ignition is
switched on, signalling that the function is
being verified. They will switch off after a few
seconds. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in On the
ins trument
panel on page 27. Checking the electrolyte level of the
vehic
l

e battery Fig. 171
In the engine compartment: Remove
the c o
v

er from the vehicle's battery. The battery's electrolyte level should be
c
hec
k

ed regularly in high-mileage vehicles,
in hot countries and in older batteries. Other
batteries do not require maintenance.
Vehicles fitted with the Start-Stop system are
equipped with special batteries. For technical
194

Checking and refilling levels
reasons, the electrolyte level cannot be
c hec
k
ed in these batteries.
Preparations
● Prepare the vehicle for work in the engine
compar
tment ››› page 184
● Open the bonnet  ›››
page 184.
● Press on the tabs ›››
Fig. 171 (arrows) in the
direction of the arrows and lift the battery
cover up.
Checking the battery electrolyte level
● Make sure there is sufficient lighting to
cle
arly recognise the colours. Never use
flames or shiny objects as a light source.
● Depending on the level of acid, the Magic
eye on the top of
the battery will change col-
our.
Colour in-
dicatorNecessary operations
Light yellow
or colourlessThe electrolyte level of the vehicle's bat-
tery is too low. Have the battery checked
and, where applicable, replaced by a
specialised workshop.
BlackThe electrolyte level of the vehicle's bat-
tery is correct. WARNING
Working with the vehicle battery involves a
risk of

corrosion, explosions and electric
shock.
● Never tilt the vehicle battery. Battery acid
coul
d spill out of the openings for the release
of gases and cause corrosion damage.
● Never open the vehicle battery.
● If battery acid splashes on you, immediate-
ly rinse
your eyes and skin abundantly with
water for several minutes. Then seek medical
care immediately.
● If acid is swallowed by mistake, consult a
doctor immediat
ely. Charging, replacing and connecting or
di
s
c

onnecting the battery Charging the battery
The
v
ehic

le battery should be charged by a
specialised workshop only, as batteries us-
ing special technology have been installed
and they must be charged in a controlled en-
vironment ››› . SEAT recommends taking
y our c
ar in f

or technical service.
Replacing a vehicle battery
The battery has been developed to suit the
conditions of its location and has special
safety features. If the battery must be re-
placed, consult a technical service for infor- mation on electromagnetic compatibility, the
size and m

aintenance, performance and
safety requirements of the new battery in
your vehicle before you purchase one. SEAT
recommends you have the battery replaced
by a technical service.
Use only maintenance-free genuine batteries
conforming to TL 825 06 and VW 7 50 73
Standards. These standards must be dated
April 2008 or later.
Vehicles fitted with the Start-Stop system are
equipped with a special battery. Therefore,
this battery must only be replaced by another
with the same specifications.
Disconnecting the vehicle's battery
If you must disconnect the battery from the
electrical system, please note the following:
● Switch off the ignition and all electrical
equipment.
● The v

ehicle must be unlocked before dis-
connecting the b
attery, otherwise the alarm
will be triggered.
● First disconnect the negative cable and
then the positiv
e ››› .
C onnectin
g the
vehicle's battery
● Before reconnecting the battery, switch off
the engine and all
electrical devices.
● First reconnect the positive cable and then
the negativ
e ››› .
»
195
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Different control lamps may light up after
c onnectin
g the b
attery and switching the ig-
nition on. They will be turned off after a short
trip at a speed of between 15-20 km/h
(10-12 mph). If the warning indicators remain
lit, please visit a specialised workshop to
have the vehicle checked.
If the battery has been disconnected for a
long time, it is possible that the next service
date is not displayed or calculated correctly
››› page 86. Respect the maximum service in-
tervals permitted ››› Booklet Maintenance
Programme.
Automatic device disconnection
The intelligent vehicle electrical system auto-
matically implements a range of measures to
prevent the battery from discharging when
high demands are made on it:
● The idling speed is increased so that the al-
ternat
or provides more electricity.
● Where necessary, the power to the most
power
ful devices is reduced or even com-
pletely disconnected.
● On starting the engine, the power supply
from the 12-v
olt power sockets and the ciga-
rette lighter may be interrupted for a short
time.
The on-board management program cannot
always prevent the battery from running flat.
For example, if the ignition is left on for a long period with the engine off or if the side
lights or park

ing lights are left on while the
vehicle is stationary.
Why the battery runs flat:
● When stationary for a long time without
star
ting the engine, particularly if the ignition
is switched on.
● Use of electrical devices with the engine
switc
hed off. WARNING
Incorrectly securing the battery or using the
wron g b

attery can cause short-circuits, fire
and serious injuries.
● Always use only maintenance-free batter-
ies, prot
ected to prevent a leak, and whose
properties, specifications and size corre-
spond to the standard battery. WARNING
A highly explosive mixture of gases is re-
le a

sed when the battery is under charge.
● The batteries should be charged in a well-
ventil
ated room only.
● Never charge a frozen or recently thawed
batter
y. A flat battery can also freeze at tem-
peratures close to 0 °C (+32 °F).
● Always replace a battery which has frozen.
● Battery cables not correctly connected may
cause a shor
t circuit. Reconnect first the posi-
tive cable and then the negative cable. CAUTION
● Never di s

connect the battery if the ignition
is switched on or if the engine is running.
This could damage the electrical system or
electronic components.
● Never plug accessories that supply current,
such a
s solar panels or a battery charger, to
the 12-volt power socket or the cigarette
lighter. This could damage the vehicle's elec-
trical system. For the sake of the environment
Dispose of the battery in an environment-
friendly m anner

. Batteries contain toxic sub-
stances such as sulphuric acid and lead. For the sake of the environment
Battery acid can contaminate the environ-
ment. C o

llect any spilt service fluids and dis-
pose of them correctly. 196