Operation
Air vents
Nev er c
lo
se the air vents ››› Fig. 141 A com-
p l
et
ely to ensure heating, cooling and venti-
lation inside the vehicle.
● To open the air vents press the recess with
one slat
.
● Change the air direction by turning the
slats.
● T
o close the air vents, fold the slats.
There are a
dditional air vents in the centre of
the dash panel and in the footwell area. CAUTION
Never place food, medicines or other heat-
sens itiv
e objects close to the air vents. Being
heat-sensitive, they may be damaged or
made unsuitable for use by the air coming
from the air vents. Air recirculation mode
Important
Air r
ec
ir
culation mode prevents the ambient
air from entering the interior.
When the outside temperature is very high or
very low, selecting manual air recirculation
mode for a short period refreshes or heats
the interior more quickly. ●
Switc
h off air recirculation mode by turning
the air distribution control to the ››› po-
s ition.
Sw it
ching the air recirculation mode on and
off
Switching on: Move the sliding control
››› Fig. 140 4 to the right to maximum.
S wit
c
hing off: Move the sliding control
››› Fig. 140 4 to the left to maximum.
WARNING
Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and re-
duce driv er c
oncentration possibly resulting
in a serious accident.
● Never use recirculation mode for long peri-
ods a
s it does not refresh the air inside the
vehicle.
● If the cooling system is switched off and air
recir
culation mode switched on, the windows
can mist over very quickly, considerably limit-
ing visibility.
● Switch air recirculation mode off when it is
not requir
ed. CAUTION
Do not smoke when the air recirculation is ac-
tivat ed.
The smoke taken in could lie on the
cooling system vaporiser and on the dust and
pollen filter, leading to a permanently un-
pleasant smell. Driving
St eerin
g
Intr
oduction The power steering* is not hydraulic but elec-
tromec
h
anical. The advantage of this steer-
ing system is that it disposes of hydraulic
tubes, hydraulic oil, the pump, filter and oth-
er components. The electromechanical sys-
tem saves fuel. While a hydraulic system re-
quires oil pressure to be maintained, electro-
mechanical steering only requires energy
when the steering wheel is turned.
With the power steering system, the assisted
steering function automatically adjusts ac-
cording to the vehicle speed, the steering tor-
que and the wheel turning angle. The power
steering only works when the engine is run-
ning. WARNING
If the power steering is not working then the
st eerin
g wheel is much more difficult to turn
and the vehicle more difficult to control.
● The power steering only works when the
engine is
running.
● Never allow the vehicle to move when the
engine is
switched off.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehic
le is in motion. The steering may128
Operation
Stopping and starting the en-
gine Sw it
c
hing on the ignition and starting
the engine Fig. 142
Vehicle key positions Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 20
Immobiliser display
When an invalid key is used or in the event of
a system fault, is displayed on the instru-
ment panel. The engine cannot be started.
Pushing or towing
For technical reasons, the vehicle must not
be push- or tow-started. Jump starting is pref-
erable. Key not authorised for the vehicle
If a key
which is not authorised for this vehi-
cle is inserted in the ignition lock, it can be
removed as follows:
● Automatic gearbox : the key c
annot be re-
moved from the ignition lock. Press and re-
lease the selector lever locking button. Key
can be removed from the vehicle.
● Manual gearbox: Remov
e the key from the
ignition. WARNING
Switching off the engine while driving makes
st op
ping the vehicle difficult. As a conse-
quence you may lose control of the vehicle
and there is a risk of serious accident.
● The assisted braking and steering systems,
the airbag sys
tem, seat belts and certain
safety equipment are only active while the
engine is running.
● The engine should only be switched off
when the vehic
le is at a standstill. WARNING
While the engine is running or starting it
cou l
d help reduce the risk of serious injury.
● Never start or leave the engine running in
poorly v
entilated or closed spaces. Exhaust
gas contains carbon monoxide, a toxic, col-
ourless and odourless gas. Carbon monoxide
can cause people to lose consciousness. It
can also cause death. ●
Never l e
ave the vehicle unattended if the
engine is running. The vehicle could move off
suddenly or something unexpected could
happen resulting in damage and serious in-
jury.
● Never use start boosters. Cold start sprays
coul
d explode or increase the engine speed
unexpectedly. WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
v er y
high temperatures. This could cause a
fire and considerable damage.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhau
st system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as wood, leaves,
spilled fuel, dried grass, etc).
● Never apply additional underseal or anti-
corro
sion coatings to the exhaust pipes, cata-
lytic converter or the heat shields on the ex-
haust system. WARNING
Unsuitable or careless use of the vehicle key
cou l
d result in serious injury.
● Always take all the keys with you whenever
you le
ave the vehicle. If not, the engine could
accidentally be started and electrical equip-
ment such as the windows could accidentally
be operated resulting in serious injury.
● Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the car
. Passengers could be trapped130
Operation
CAUTION
If the engine has been driven at high speed
for a pr o
longed period of time, it may over-
heat when turned off. To avoid engine dam-
age, allow the engine to run for approximate-
ly 2 minutes in neutral before switching it off. Note
After stopping the engine, the engine com-
par tment
fan may continue running for a few
minutes, even when the ignition has been
switched off or the key removed. The radiator
fan is automatically switched off. Electronic immobiliser
The gear lock prevents the engine from being
s
t
ar
ted with an unauthorised key and the ve-
hicle being moved.
The vehicle key has a built-in chip. It auto-
matically deactivates the electronic immobil-
iser when the key is inserted into the ignition
lock.
The electronic immobilizer will be activated
again automatically as soon as you remove
the key from the ignition lock.
For this reason, the vehicle can only be used
with a genuine SEAT key with the correct
code. Coded keys can be obtained from SEAT
dealerships ›››
page 90. If an unauthorised key is used, the signal
appe
ars on the instrument panel display. The
vehicle cannot be started in this case Note
The correct operation of the vehicle is only
guarant eed when origin
al SEAT keys are
used. Braking and parking
Introduction The a
ssisted brake systems are the electron-
ic di
stribution of braking force (EBV), the an-
ti-lock brake system (ABS), the brake assist
system (BAS), the electronic differential lock
(EDL), traction control (TC)*, the traction con-
trol system (ASR) and the electronic stability
control (ESC*). WARNING
Driving with worn brake pads or a faulty
brak e sy
stem may lead to serious accident.
● If you believe the brake pads to be worn or
the brake sy
stem to be faulty, immediately
refer to a specialised workshop to check the
brake pads and replace the worn ones. WARNING
Careless parking can cause serious injury. ●
Never r emo
ve the key from the ignition if
the vehicle is in motion. The steering lock
may engage and lock the steering wheel mak-
ing the vehicle impossible to control.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhau
st system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as wood, leaves,
dried grass, spilled fuel, etc.).
● Always apply the handbrake when you
leav
e your vehicle and when you park.
● Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the v
ehicle. They could release the
electronic parking brake, activate the selec-
tor lever or gear stick and start the vehicle
moving. This could result in a serious acci-
dent.
● Always take all the keys with you whenever
you le
ave the vehicle. The engine could acci-
dentally be started and electrical equipment
such as the windows could accidentally be
operated resulting in serious injury.
● Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the car
. They could be trapped in the
car in an emergency and will not be able to
get themselves to safety. For example, de-
pending on the time of the year, tempera-
tures inside a locked and closed vehicle can
be extremely high or extremely low resulting
in serious injuries and illness or even death,
particularly for young children. 132
Operation
for the vehicle is not too different to the out-
s ide t
emper
ature. It is a good idea to air the
vehicle before starting your journey and to
drive a short distance with the windows
open. Then you can close the windows and
switch on the air conditioning. Keep windows
closed when travelling at high speeds. Driv-
ing with the windows open increases fuel
consumption.
● Switch off the seat heating when the seats
have w
armed up.
● Switch off the heated rear window when it
is not
moist or covered in ice.
Avoid short journeys
Fuel consumption is much higher when the
engine is cold, immediately after it has been
started. It takes a few kilometres of driving
for the engine to warm up and to normalise
consumption.
The engine and catalytic converter need to
reach their proper working temperature in or-
der to minimise fuel consumption and emis-
sions. The ambient temperature has a deci-
sive influence.
Fig. 147 shows the difference in consump-
tion for the same journey at +20 °C (+68 °F)
and at -10 °C (+14 °F).
Therefore, unnecessary short journeys
should be avoided. Try to combine trips. The vehicle uses more fuel in winter than in
summer, ev
en when other conditions are the
same.
The engine takes a long time to warm up
when it is idling. In addition, mechanical
wear and pollutant emissions are also espe-
cially high during this initial warm-up phase.
It is therefore best to drive off immediately af-
ter starting the engine. Doing this avoids run-
ning the engine at a high speed.
Adjusting type pressures.
Having the correct pressure in your tyres
helps to reduce rolling resistance and, as a
result reduces fuel consumption. Increasing
the tyre pressure slightly (+0.2
bar/+3 psi/+200 kPa) can help to save fuel.
When you buy new tyres, make sure they are
optimised for minimum rolling resistance.
Use low friction engine oil
The use of low viscosity totally synthetic oils,
known as low friction engine oil, helps to re-
duce fuel consumption. These oils reduce the
resistance caused by friction in the engine,
they flow around the engine more quickly
and efficiently, particularly in cold starts. The
effect is particularly noticeable in vehicles
frequently used for short journeys.
Always check the engine oil level and ob-
serve service intervals (engine oil change in-
tervals). When purchasing engine oil, always observe
leg
al requirements and ensure that the oil is
approved by SEAT.
Avoid carrying unnecessary loads
The lighter the vehicle, the more economical
and ecological the driving style. For example,
an additional weight of 100 kg will increase
fuel consumption up to 0.3 l/100 km.
Remove any unnecessary objects or loads
from the vehicle.
Remove optional equipment and unnecessa-
ry accessories
The more aerodynamic the vehicle, the lower
the fuel consumption. Optional equipment
and accessories (such as roof racks or bike
carriers) reduce the aerodynamic benefits of
the vehicle.
Therefore, we recommend you remove all op-
tional and unnecessary equipment and racks,
especially if you intend to drive at high
speeds.
Other factors which increase fuel consump-
tion (examples):
● Fault in engine management.
● Driving on hills.
144
Care and maintenance
also be one of the requirements for acknowl-
edgin g w
arr
anty claims in the event of body-
work corrosion or paint defects.
Products suitable for the care of your vehicle
are available at any technical service. 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.
● Harmfu
l vapours may be produced when us-
ing car c
are 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
component 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
Cleaning products which contain solvents will
dam ag
e the material. For the sake of the environment
Only wash the vehicle in areas allocated for
this p
urpose, to prevent dirty water which
may be contaminated by oil, grease or fuel,
from entering the drains. In some places,
even washing it outside the planned areas is
banned. For the sake of the environment
Where possible, always use products which
re s
pect the environment. For the sake of the environment
The remains of car care products should not
be dis po
sed of with ordinary household waste. Observe information provided by the
manuf
act
urer. Washing the vehicle
The longer substances such as insects, bird
drop
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. The vehicle undercarriage should
also be thoroughly washed at regular inter-
vals.
Automatic car washes
Always observe the instructions provided at
the automatic car wash. The standard pre-
cautionary measures prior to entering the car
wash should be taken to avoid damage to
the vehicle (close all windows, fold in exterior
mirrors). If the vehicle is fitted with additional
components (spoiler, roof-rack, aerial, etc.),
check with the car wash supervisor whether
these can enter the car wash ››› .
The v
ehic
le paintwork is so durable that the
vehicle can normally be washed without
problems in an automatic car wash tunnel.
However, wear and damage to the paintwork
will depend on the type of car wash used. »
167
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
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