2015 Seat Mii power steering

The essentials
CAUTION
● Remo v
e the snow chains to drive on roads
without snow. Otherwise they will impair
vehicle handling, damage the tyres and wear
out very quickly.
● Wheel rims may be damaged or scratched if
the chain
s come into direct contact with
them. SEAT recommends the use of covered
snow chains. Note
Snow chains are available in different sizes
acc or

ding to the vehicle type. Emergency towing of the vehi-
c
l
e
T

owing Fig. 58
Right side of the front bumper: tow-
line anc hor
ag

e screwed in. Towline anchorages
Att
ac
h the b

ar or rope to the towline ancho-
rages.
It is located with the vehicle's tools
›››  page 69.
Screw the front towline anchorage into the
screw connection ››› Fig. 58 and tighten it
with the wheel brace.
Tow rope or tow bar
When towing, the tow bar is the safest and
vehicle friendly way. You should only use a
tow rope if you do not have a tow bar. A tow rope should be slightly elastic to avoid
damag

e to both vehicles. It is advisable to
use a tow rope made of synthetic fibre or sim-
ilarly elastic material.
● Only secure the tow rope or tow bar to the
towline anc
horage or specially designed fit-
ting.
Notes for the driver of the towed vehicle
● Keep the ignition running to prevent the
steerin
g wheel from locking and also to allow
the use of the turn signals, horn, windscreen
wipers and washers.
● As the power assisted steering does not
work if
the engine is not running, you will
need more strength to steer than normally.
● The brake must be depressed much harder
as the br
ake servo does not operate. Avoid
hitting the towing vehicle.
● Note the instructions and information con-
tained in the Ins
truction Manual for the vehi-
cle to be towed.
Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
● Accelerate gently and carefully. Avoid sud-
den manoeuvr
es.
● Brake well in advance than usual and brake
gently.
● Not

e the instructions and information con-
tained in the In s

truction Manual for the vehi-
cle to be towed. » 41

The essentials
Driving style
T o
w
ing requires some experience, especially
when using a tow rope. Both drivers should
realise how difficult it is to tow a vehicle. In-
experienced drivers should not attempt to
tow.
Do not pull too hard with the towing vehicle
and take care to avoid jerking the tow rope.
When towing on an unpaved road, there is al-
ways a risk of overloading and damaging the
anchorage points.
Switch on the ignition so that the turn sig-
nals, windscreen wipers and windscreen
washer can work. Ensure that the steering
wheel is unlocked and moves freely.
Place the gear lever in neutral on vehicles
with a manual gearbox. With an automatic
gearbox, place the lever in N.
To brake, press the brake pedal firmly. The
brake servo does not work when the engine
is switched off.
The power steering only works when the igni-
tion is switched on and the vehicle is moving,
provided that the battery is sufficiently charg-
ed. Otherwise, it will need more force.
Ensure that the tow rope remains taut at all
times. ››› in Instructions for tow-starting on
page 75
››› page 74 Tow-starting
In general, the vehicle should not be started
by
t

owing. Jump-starting is much more pref-
erable ››› page 42.
For technical reasons, the following vehicles
can not be tow started:
● Vehicles with an automatic gearbox.
● If the vehicle battery is flat, it is possible
that the en

gine control unit does not operate
correctly.
However, if your vehicle must absolutely be
tow-started (manual gearbox):
● Put it into second or third gear.
● Keep the clutch pressed down.
● Switch on the ignition and the hazard warn-
ing lights.
● Rel

ease the clutch when both vehicles are
movin
g.
● As soon as the engine starts, press the
clutc
h and move the gear lever into neutral.
This helps to prevent a collision with the tow-
ing vehicle. How to jump start
Jump lea
ds If the engine fails to start because of a dis-
ch
ar

ged battery, the battery of another vehi-
cle can be used to start the engine. Before
starting, check the magic eye on the battery
›››  page 193.
For starting assistance, jump lead cables con-
forming to the standard DIN 72553 are re-
quired (see the cable manufacturer instruc-
tions). The cable section in vehicles with pet-
rol engine must be at least 25 mm 2
. WARNING
Incorrect use of jump leads and incorrectly
jump st ar

ting could cause the battery to ex-
plode resulting in serious injury. Please ob-
serve the following rules to minimise the risk
of a battery explosion:
● The battery providing current must have
the same v
oltage (12V) and approximately
the same capacity (see markings on battery)
as the flat battery.
● Never charge a frozen or recently thawed
batter
y. A flat battery can also freeze at tem-
peratures close to 0 °C (+32 °F).
● If a battery is frozen and/or has been frozen
then it mus
t be replaced.
● A highly explosive mixture of gases is re-
lea
sed when the battery is being charged. Al-
ways keep lit cigarettes, flames, sparks and 42

Self-help
● Sw it
c
h on the ignition and the hazard warn-
ing lights.
● Release the clutch when both vehicles are
movin
g.
● As soon as the engine starts, press the
clutc
h and move the gear lever into neutral.
This helps to prevent a collision with the tow-
ing vehicle. WARNING
A vehicle with a flat battery should never be
to w

ed.
● Never remove the key from the ignition
lock. Otherw
ise, the steering wheel lock
could suddenly lock. The vehicle would not
be controlled and a serious accident could
ensue. WARNING
When towing the vehicle, the handling and
brak in

g efficiency change considerably.
Please observe the following instructions to
minimise the risk of serious accidents and in-
jury:
● As the driver of the vehicle being towed:
– The brake mu

st be depressed must hard-
er as the brake servo does not operate.
Always remain aware to avoid collision
with the towing vehicle.
– More strength is required at the steering
wheel as the power steering does not op-
erate when the engine is switched off. ●
As the driv er of

the towing vehicle:
– Accelerate gently and carefully.
– Avoid sudden braking and manoeuvres.
– Brake well in advance than usual and
brake gently. CAUTION
● When t ow-

starting, fuel could enter the cat-
alytic converter and damage it.
● Carefully fit and remove the towline anchor-
age and its
cover to avoid damage to the ve-
hicle (e.g. paintwork).
● When towing, fuel could enter the catalytic
conv
erter and cause damage! Note
Fitting a towline anchorage to the rear bump-
er is not

possible. The vehicle is not suitable
for towing other vehicles. Advice for towing the vehicle
Towing vehicles with an automatic gearbox
Not
e the f
o

llowing for a towed vehicle:
● Make sure the gear selector lever is in the N
position.
● Do not

drive faster than 50 km/h (30 mph)
when tow
ing a vehicle.
● Do not tow further than 50 km (30 miles). ●
If a bre
akdown truck is used, the vehicle
must be towed with the front wheels raised.
Situations in which the vehicle should not be
towed
In the following cases, the vehicle should not
be towed but transported on a trailer or spe-
cial vehicle:
● If the vehicle gearbox does not contain lu-
bricant due t
o a fault.
● If the battery is flat and the steering cannot
be unloc
ked as a result, the electronic steer-
ing lock and electronic parking brake cannot
be disengaged.
● If the vehicle to be towed has an automatic
gearbo
x and the distance to be covered is
greater than 50 km (30 miles). Note
The vehicle can only be towed if the steering
lock el

ectronic gearbox lock is deactivated. If
the vehicle has no power supply or there is
an electric system fault, the engine must be
started using jump leads to deactivate the
steering column electronic gearbox lock. 75
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

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

Driving
lock and it will not be possible to turn the
st
eerin
g wheel. Warning and indication lamps

It lights up red
Power steer-
ing faulty.The steering system should be checked
by a specialised workshop as soon as
possible.

It lights up yellow
Power steer-
ing opera-
tion re-
duced.
The steering system should be checked
by a specialised workshop as soon as
possible.
If, after restarting the engine and driv-
ing for a short distance, the yellow
warning lamp no longer comes on, it will
not be necessary to take the vehicle to a
specialised workshop. 
Flashes red
Fault in the
steering col-
umn elec-
tronic lock.
 Do not drive on!
Seek professional advice. 
It flashes yellow
Steering col-
umn devia-
tion.Gently turn the steering wheel to and
fro. 
It flashes yellow
Steering
wheel not
unlocked or
locked.
Remove the key from the ignition and
then switch the ignition back on. If nec-
essary, check the messages displayed
on the instrument panel display.
Do not drive on, if
the steering column
remains locked after the ignition has
been switched on. Seek specialist assis-
tance. Several warning and indication lamps light
up for 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
If the warning lamps are ignored, the vehicle
ma y

stall in traffic, or may cause accidents
and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible. CAUTION
Failure to heed the warning lamps when they
appe ar m

ay result in faults in the vehicle. Information on the steering
To prevent theft, we recommend you lock the
s
t
eerin

g before leaving the vehicle. Steering column mechanical lock
Lock

the steering column by removing the
key from the ignition when the vehicle is
stopped.
Please engage steer-
ing lockUnlocking the steering
Parking the vehicle
››› page 132.Insert the key in the igni-
tion lock.
Remove the key from the
ignition.Turn the steering wheel
slightly to release the
steering lock.
Turn the steering wheel
slightly until you hear the
steering lock.Hold the steering wheel in
this position and switch
on the ignition. Electromechanical power steering
W
ith the po
w

er 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.
You should remember that you will need con-
siderably more power than normal to steer
the vehicle if the power steering is not work-
ing correctly or not at all.
129
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Driving
in the car in an emergency and not be able to
get
themselv
es 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.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehic
le is in motion. The steering may
lock and it will not be possible to turn the
steering wheel. CAUTION
● An attempt t

o start the engine while driving
or starting the engine immediately after turn-
ing it off can cause damage to the engine or
starter motor.
● When the engine is cold, avoid high revs
and heavy ac
celeration and do not make the
engine work hard.
● Do not push or tow start the engine. Un-
burnt f
uel could damage the catalytic con-
verter. For the sake of the environment
Do not warm the engine at idle speed; start
drivin g immedi

ately if the visibility is OK.
This helps the engine reach operating tem-
perature faster and reduces emissions. Note
● If the k ey

is left in the ignition lock with the
engine off for long periods, the vehicle bat-
tery will run flat.
● For automatic gearbox vehicles, the key can
only be r
emoved from the ignition lock if the
gear selector lever is in position P. In this
case, press and release the selector lever
locking button.
● Electrical devices with a high power con-
sumption are sw
itched off temporarily when
the engine starts.
● When the engine is started cold, there may
be stron
g vibrations for a few moments for
technical reasons. This is quite normal, and
no cause for concern.
● Natural gas engines always start up with
petrol, a
s a certain operating temperature is
required for running with gas. Once the re-
quired operating temperature is reached, the
engine will change to operate with natural
gas. Stopping the engine
Switching off the engine
– Stop the vehicle ››
›
.
– Turn the ignition key to position 1 ›››
Fig. 142. Engaging the steering wheel lock
In
v
ehic

les 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. 142
›
›› .
– Turn the steering wheel until you hear it en-
gag
e.
P

ossible vehicle theft is prevented with the
steering lock engaged. WARNING
Never switch off the engine while the vehicle
is mo

ving. You may lose control of the vehicle
and there is a risk of serious accident.
● The airbags and belt tensioners do not
work when the ignition i
s switched off.
● The brake servo does not work with the en-
gine off. T
o stop, the brake pedal must be
pressed with more force.
● As the power steering does not work if the
engine is
not running, you will need more
strength to steer than normally.
● If the key is removed from the ignition, the
steerin
g may lock and it will not be possible
to steer the vehicle. » 131
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Driving
● When l e
av
ing the vehicle, take all keys with
you.
● Lock the vehicle.
Additiona
l information for steep slopes and
hills
Before switching off the engine, rotate the
steering wheel so that if the vehicle should
move, it will be held by the kerb.
● On slopes, turn the front wheels so that
they are ag
ainst the edge of the kerb.
● Uphill, turn the wheels towards the centre
of the ro
ad. WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
ver 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,dried grass, or spilled fuel). CAUTION
● Spec i

al care should be taken when parking
in areas with high kerbs or fixed barriers. Ob-
jects protruding from the ground may dam-
age the bumper or other parts of the vehicle
during manoeuvres. To avoid damage, stop
before the wheels touch the barrier or kerb. ●
Spec i

al attention is required when driving
through entrances, over ramps, kerbs or oth-
er objects. The vehicle underbody, bumpers,
mudguards and running gear, and the engine
and exhaust system could be damaged as
you drive over these objects. Information on the brakes
For the first 200 to 300 km, the new brak
e
p
ads have not yet reached their maximum
braking capacity, and need to be “run in”
first ››› . The slightly reduced braking effect
c an be c
ompen

sated for by increasing pres-
sure on the brake pedal. While running in,
the full braking distance or emergency brak-
ing distance is larger then when the brake
pads have been run in. While running in,
avoid full power braking or situations requir-
ing braking performance. For example, in
heavy traffic.
The rate of wear of the brake pads depends
to a great extent on the conditions in which
the vehicle is used and the way the vehicle is
driven. If the vehicle is used frequently in city
traffic or for short trips or driven sport style,
visit a specialised workshop regularly, more
frequently than advised in the Maintenance
Programme, to have the brake pads checked.
If you drive with wet brakes, for example, af-
ter crossing areas of water, in heavy rainfall
or even after washing the car, the effect of the brakes is lessened as the brake discs are
wet or ev

en frozen (in winter). At higher
speed, “dry” the brakes as quickly as possi-
ble by braking gently several times. Only do
this without endangering vehicles behind
you or any other road users ››› .
A l a
y

er of salt on the discs and brake pads
will reduce the effectiveness of the brakes
and increase braking distance. If you drive for
a prolonged period on salted roads without
braking then brake carefully several times to
eliminate the layer of salt on the brakes ››› .
If the
v

ehicle remains parked for considera-
ble lengths of time, is used little, or if the
brakes are not used, there may be corrosion
on the brake discs and a build up of dirt on
the brake pads. If the brakes are not used fre-
quently, or if rust has formed on the discs,
SEAT recommends cleaning the pads and
discs by braking firmly a few times at a mod-
erately high speed. Only do this without en-
dangering vehicles behind you or any other
road users ››› .
F au
lt

s in the brake system
During braking, if you notice that the vehicle
does not react as usual (that the braking dis-
tance has increased suddenly) it may be pos-
sible that there is a fault in the braking sys-
tem. This is indicated by the warning lamp
. Take the vehicle to a specialised work-
shop immediately and have the fault re-
paired. Drive at a moderate speed and be »
135
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

AdviceFlashes for about 10
secondsState of the barsPossible cause ››› Solution
and the segments
remaining a)Reserve zone (four small segments)The fuel tank is almost empty.
The reserve tank is being used
››› page 30.Refuel as soon as possible ››› .
–The vehicle is running in natural gas operating mode.–
a)
This only applies to vehicles with the fuel gauge on the dash panel display.
Several warning and indication lamps light
up for a few seconds when the ignition is
switched on, signalling that the function is
being verified. They will switch off after a few
seconds.
In natural gas engines
The warning lamp  lights up when both fuel
types (petrol and natural gas) have reached
reserve level.
The warning lamp  lights up when the vehi-
cle is running in natural gas operating mode.
The warning lamp  switches off when the
natural gas is exhausted. The engine
changes to operate with petrol.
Problem: if the vehicle is left parked for a
long time just after refuelling, the gas level
indicator does not accurately indicate the
same level shown after refuelling when the
vehicle is started up again. This is not due to
a leak in the system, but to a drop in pres-
sure in the gas tank for technical reasons af- ter a cooling phase immediately after refuel-
ling. WARNING
Driving with insufficient fuel reserve could re-
su lt

in the vehicle breaking down in traffic
and a serious accident.
● If the fuel level is too low then the fuel sup-
ply t
o the engine can become irregular espe-
cially on slopes.
● If the engine “is choked” or stalls due to
lack
of or irregularity of the fuel supply, the
power steering as well as all of the driver as-
sistance systems including braking assis-
tance will stop working.
● Always refuel when there is only one quar-
ter of the f
uel tank left to avoid running out of
fuel. CAUTION
● Alw a

ys pay attention to any lit control
lamps and to the corresponding descriptions and instructions to avoid damage to the vehi-
cl
e.
● Nev

er run the fuel tank completely dry. An
irregu
lar fuel supply may lead to ignition
faults and unburnt fuel could enter the ex-
haust system. This could damage the catalyt-
ic converter. Note
The arrow next to the fuel pump symbol on
the ins trument

panel ››› Fig. 163 indicates the
side of the vehicle on which the fuel tank flap
is located. 182