2016 Seat Ateca lights

Towing bracket device*
If the system detects that the trailer is sway-
in g, it
intervenes automatically with the driv-
er steering recommendation to reduce the
swaying of the trailer.
Requirements for the stabilisation of the
towing vehicle and trailer
● The vehicle is factory-equipped with a tow-
ing br
acket or has been retro-fitted with a
compatible towing bracket.
● The ESC and ASR are active. The control
lamp
 or  is not lit up on the instrument
panel.
● The trailer is electrically connected to the
to
wing vehicle through the trailer power
socket.
● The vehicle is travelling at over 60 km/h
(appr
ox. 37 mph).
● The maximum vertical load technically per-
mis
sible is being utilised on the coupling de-
vice.
● The trailer has a rigid draw bar.
● If the trailer has brakes, it must be equip-
ped with a mec
hanical overrun brake. WARNING
The enhanced security provided by the elec-
tric s

tability control of the towing vehicle and
trailer should not lead you to take any risks
that could compromise your safety. ●
Ad apt

your speed and driving style at all
times to suit visibility, weather, road and traf-
fic conditions.
● Accelerate with caution when the road is
slip
pery.
● When adjusting any settings, stop acceler-
ating. WARNING
The electric stability control for the towing
v ehic

le and trailer may not correctly detect all
driving conditions.
● When the ESC is switched off, the stabilisa-
tion of the t
owing vehicle and trailer is also
switched off.
● The stability system does not always detect
light and u
nstable trailers, so it may not sta-
bilise these correctly.
● When driving on slippery surfaces with
poor grip, the tr
ailer can even interfere with
the stability system.
● Trailers with a high centre of gravity can tip
even w
ithout having previously swayed.
● If a trailer is not attached, but the trailer
pow
er socket is connected (e.g. installation
of a bicycle rack with lights), repeated auto-
matic braking may occur in extreme driving
conditions. Retrofitting a towing bracket
Fig. 219
Limits and attachment points for ret-
r ofittin

g a towing bracket. » 263
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
SEAT recommends that towing brackets be
r etr
ofitted at a specialised workshop. For ex-
ample, it may very well be necessary to ad-
just the cooling system or mount thermal pro-
tection plates. SEAT recommends visiting a
SEAT dealership for this.
If a towing bracket is retrofitted, the distance
specifications should always be kept in
mind. The distance between the centre of the
spherical head and the road ››› Fig. 219 D must never be less than that indicated. This
al
so ap

plies when the vehicle is fully loaded,
including the technically permissible maxi-
mum vertical load on the coupling device.
Distance specifications ››› Fig. 219:
Attachment points
932.5 mm
65 mm min.
350-420 mm
220 mm
615.5 mm
1,043 mm WARNING
If the cables are improperly or incorrectly
c onnect

ed, this may lead to malfunctions in
the entire vehicle electronic system, as well
as to accidents and serious injuries.
● Never connect the trailer's electric system
to the el
ectrical connections of the tail lights A
B
C
D
E
F
G or any other unsuitable power sources. Only
u
se s

uitable connectors to connect the trail-
er.
● The towing bracket should be retrofitted
only
at a specialised workshop. WARNING
If the towing bracket is badly fitted or unsuit-
ab l

e, the trailer may separate from the vehi-
cle while driving. This could cause serious ac-
cidents and fatal injuries. Note
Only use towing brackets that have been ap-
pr o

ved by SEAT for the model in question.264

Care and maintenance
Automatic car washes
B ef
ore going through a car wash, be sure to
take the usual precautions such as closing
the windows and roof. If the vehicle has spe-
cial accessories such as spoilers or a roof
rack or two-way radio aerial, etc., it is advisa-
ble to consult the car wash tunnel operator.
It is best to use a car wash without revolving
bristles if possible.
Washing the vehicle with a high pressure
cleaner
When washing the vehicle with a high-pres-
sure cleaner, always follow the operating in-
structions for the equipment. This applies
particularly to the operating pressure and the
spraying distance. Do not hold the nozzle too
close to soft materials such as rubber hoses
or seals. The same applies to the parking aid
sensors*, which are located in the rear bump-
er.
Do not use a nozzle that sprays the water out
in a direct stream or one that has a rotating
jet for forcing off dirt.
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.
You should start on the roof and work down. Special car
soap 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
● The v

ehicle should only be washed with the
ignition switched off. Failure to follow this in-
struction could result in an accident.
● Do not clean the underside of chassis, the
ins
ide of wheel arches or wheel trims without
protecting your hands and arms. You may cut
yourself on sharp-edged metal parts. Other-
wise, there is a risk of sustaining cuts.
● When washing the car during the winter
sea
son: water and ice in the brake system
can reduce braking effectiveness: risk of acci-
dent! CAUTION
● Do not w

ash the vehicle in direct sunlight –
otherwise the paint can be damaged.
● Do not use sponges, abrasive household
spon
ges or similar to clean insect remains.
This could damage the surface.
● Clean off stubborn dirt (insects, etc.) from
the hea
dlights at regular intervals, for in-
stance when filling the fuel tank. The head-
lights should only be washed with water, do not wipe them with a dry cloth or sponge. It
i
s

best to use soapy water.
● Never wash tyres with a jet that sprays the
wat
er out in a direct stream. This could dam-
age the tyres even if the spray is kept at a
distance and only used for a very short time.
● Before washing the vehicle in an automatic
car w
ash, please make sure to retract the ex-
terior mirrors to prevent them from being
damaged. Electrically retractable exterior
mirrors must not be folded in or out by hand,
always use the electrical power control. CAUTION
● Bef

ore washing the vehicle in an automatic
car wash, please proceed as follows to lock
the wiper arms so that they are not moved to-
wards the top of the windscreen:
–the bonnet must be closed.
– switch the ignition on and off.
– press the windscreen wiper lever forward
briefly (windscreen washer function).
This will lock the wiper arms. For the sake of the environment
The car should only be washed in special
w a

sh bays. These areas are prepared to pre-
vent oily water from getting into the public
drains. In some places, washing vehicles out-
side the areas intended for this purpose is
prohibited. 267
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Intelligent technology
The retract function may not operate properly
in v
ery dirty belts. Make sure that the inertia
reel seat belts are completely dry before al-
lowing them to retract. CAUTION
● Do not r

emove the seat belts from the vehi-
cle to clean them.
● Do not use chemical cleaning agents on the
seat
belts, as this can damage the webbing.
Ensure that the seat belts do not come into
contact with corrosive fluids.
● If you find any damage to the belt webbing,
belt fittin
gs, the belt retractor or the buckle,
the belt in question must be replaced by a
specialised workshop. Intelligent technology
El ectr

omechanical steering Electro-mechanical power steering assists
the driv
er when s

teering.
Electro-mechanical power steering adapts
electronically to the speed of the car, torque
and turning angle.
If the power steering should fail at any time
or the engine is switched off (for instance
when being towed), the car can still be
steered. However, more effort than normal
will be required to turn the steering wheel.
Driver warning lamps and messages  (in red) Faulty steering! To
park the vehicle
If the warning lamp remains on and the driver
indication appears, the power steering could
be faulty.
Do not continue driving. Seek specialist as-
sistance.  (in yellow) Steering: System
fault! You may continue driving.
If the warning lamp comes on, the steering
could react with more difficultly or more sen-
sitivity than normal. In addition, when driving
in a straight line the steering wheel may be
off-centre. Drive slowly to a specialised workshop and
h
av

e the fault repaired.
 (in yellow) Steering lock:
fault! Go to an Official Service
The electronic steering lock is malfunction-
ing.
Go to a specialised workshop as soon as
possible and have the fault repaired. WARNING
Take it immediately to a specialised work-
shop and h av

e the fault repaired: risk of acci-
dent! Note
If the lamp  (in red) or el
se  (in yellow)
lights up briefly, you may continue driving. Four-wheel drive
3
V
alid for vehicles: with four-wheel drive
On four-wheel drive models, the engine pow-
er is distributed to all four wheels
General notes
On four-wheel drive vehicles, the engine
power is distributed to all four wheels. The
distribution of power is controlled automati-
cally according to your driving style and the
road conditions. Also see ›››
page 173. »
273
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Checking and refilling levels
CAUTION
● The v
ehicle is not designed for the use of
FAME fuel (biodiesel). The fuel system would
be damaged if you used biodiesel.
● Do not mix fuel additives, the so-called
“thinners”, petr
ol or similar additives with
diesel fuel.
● If poor-quality diesel fuel is used, it may be
nece
ssary to drain the fuel filter more fre-
quently than is specified in the Maintenance
Programme. We recommend having this done
by a specialised workshop. If water is allowed
to collect in the filter, this can cause engine
performance problems. Exhaust purification system for
v
ehic

les with diesel engines
(AdBlue ®
)
Introduction To reduce emissions, SCR (Selective Catalytic
R
eduction) c

an be used in vehicles with die-
sel engines. Through the special urea solu-
tion AdBlue ®
, SCR transforms nitrogen ox-
ides into nitrogen and water.
AdBlue ®
is stored in a separate tank in the
vehicle ›››
page 280. WARNING
If the level of AdBlue ®
is
too low and the igni-
tion is switched off, it will no longer be possi-
ble to re-start the engine. Not even by jump-
starting the car!
● Insert enough AdBlue ®
when the dis
tance
to empty is approx. 1000 km, at the latest.
● Never run the AdBlue ®
tank
completely dry. WARNING
AdBlue ®
is an irritant, corrosive liquid that
c
an cause injuries if it comes into contact
with the skin, eyes or respiratory organs.
● Before opening an AdBlue ®
rec
ipient, al-
ways take the manufacturer's instructions for
use into account. If the instructions are fol-
lowed correctly, it is not likely that the user
will come into contact with AdBlue ®
.
● If AdBlue ®
come
s into contact with your
eyes, rinse it immediately with plenty of wa-
ter for at least 15 minutes before seeking
medical attention.
● If AdBlue ®
come
s into contact with your
skin, rinse with water for at least 15 minutes
and, in case of skin irritation, seek medical
attention immediately.
● If you accidentally swallow AdBlue ®
, rinse
y

our mouth with plenty of water for at least
15 minutes. Do not induce vomiting unless
advised to by a doctor. Seek immediate medi-
cal attention. CAUTION
AdBlue ®
m ay damage the vehicle's painted
s
urfaces, plastic, upholstery and carpet,
among other things. In case of a spill, clean it
as soon as possible with a damp cloth and
plenty of cold water.
● Remove the AdBlue ®
that
has crystallised
with hot water and a sponge. Warning and control lamps

It lights up red
Unable to start
the engine! The
level of AdBlue is
too low.Park the vehicle on level ground,
taking the appropriate and neces-
sary safety precautions and fill the
tank with the necessary minimum
amount of AdBlue ®
››› page 280. 
It lights up yellow
AdBlue
®
level is
low.
Fill tank with AdBlue ®
before the
indicated number of kilometres
››› page 280. SEAT recommends
contacting a specialised work-
shop.
» 279
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
together with

It lights up red
Unable to start
the engine! There
is a fault in the
AdBlue ®
system.Visit a specialised workshop with-
out switching the ignition off and
on, and have the system checked. 
together with

It lights up yellow
The AdBlue
®
system
is malfunctioning or
has been filled with
AdBlue ®
that does
not meet the prescri-
bed standard.
Immediately consult a special-
ised workshop and have the
system checked. Some warning and control lamps will light up
briefly
when the ignition i

s switched on to
check certain functions. They will switch off
after a few seconds. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ››
› in Warning
and c ontr
ol lamps on page 107. Information on AdBlue
®The consumption of AdBlue
®
depend s

on
your personal driving style, the temperature of the system and on the outdoor tempera-
tur

e when the vehicle is used.
AdBlue ®
freezes at temperatures of -11°C
(+13°F). The system has heating elements
that guarantee its operation even at low tem-
peratures.
The AdBlue ®
tank level capacity is approxi-
mately 12 litres.
The minimum amount to be poured in (as-
suming the tank is empty) is indicated on the
AdBlue ®
sticker located on the floor of the
luggage compartment.
The AdBlue ®
tank should never be empty.
When the distance to empty drops below
2400 km, a warning to refill the AdBlue ®
tank
will appear on the dash panel display
››› page 280. If this information is ignored, it
will later no longer be possible to re-start the
engine ››› in Introduction on page 279. If
thi s

warning does not appear, it is not neces-
sary to refill the AdBlue ®
tank.
AdBlue ®
is a registered brand of the German
Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA)
and is also known as AUS32 or DEF (Diesel
Exhaust Fluid). CAUTION
Filling the AdBlue ®
tank
excessively can
cause damage to the tank.
● SEAT recommends refilling the AdBlue ®
tank
at a specialised workshop. Refilling AdBlue
® Fig. 220
AdBlue tank cap. Operations prior to refilling
P
ark

the vehicle on a flat surface. If the vehi-
cle is not parked on a flat surface, but, for ex-
ample, on a slope or on the side of a curb,
the level indicator may not detect the load
properly.
If a warning message about AdBlue ®
levels
appears on the dash panel display, fill at
least the minimum amount required (approx.
5.7 litres). Only after adding this amount will
the system detect that AdBlue ®
has been
added and you will be able to start the en-
gine again. The maximum amount that can
be refilled is 12 litres.
Switch the ignition off. If the ignition is
switched off during refilling, the warning to
refill may continue to appear on the instru-
ment panel display.
280

Checking and refilling levels
CAUTION
● Do not mi
x cleaning products recommen-
ded by SEAT with other products. This could
lead to flocculation and may block the wind-
screen washer jets.
● When topping up service fluids, make abso-
lutely
certain that you fill the fluids into the
correct reservoirs. Using the wrong fluids
could cause serious malfunctions and engine
damage!
● Not having windscreen wiper fluid reduces
vi

sibility through the windscreen, and leads
to loss of visibility in headlights in models
with headlight washer. Battery
Gener a

l information Read the additional information carefully
› ›

›  page 50.
The battery is located in the engine compart-
ment and is almost maintenance-free. It is
checked as part of the Inspection Service.
Nevertheless, check the terminals are clean
and have the correct tightening torque, espe-
cially in summer and winter.
Disconnecting the battery
The battery should only be disconnected in
exceptional cases. When the battery is dis- connected, some of the vehicle's functions
are “lo

st” (››› table on page 289). These
functions will require resetting after the bat-
tery is reconnected.
Deactivate the anti-theft alarm* before you
disconnect the battery Otherwise the alarm
will be triggered.
FunctionReprogramming
One-touch function of
the electric windows››› page 128, One-touch
opening and closing.
Remote control key
If the vehicle does not re-
spond to the key, they
should be synchronised
››› page 120.
Digital clock››› page 104.
ESC warning lampAfter driving for a few me-
tres, the warning lamp goes
out again. If the vehicle is not used for long periods
The
v

ehicle has a system for monitoring the
current consumption when the engine is left
unused for long periods of time ››› page 274.
Some functions, such as the interior lights, or
the remote door opening, may be temporarily
disabled to prevent the battery from running
flat. These functions will come back on as
soon as the ignition is switched on and the
engine started. Winter conditions
Durin

g the winter, the starting power may be
reduced, and if necessary, the battery should
be charged ››› in Important safety warn-
in g

s for handling a vehicle battery on
page 290
Important safety warnings for han-
dling a
vehicle battery All work on batteries requires specialist
kno
wl

edge. Please refer to a SEAT Official
Service or a workshop specialising in batter-
ies: risk of burns or exploding battery!
The battery must not be opened. Never try to
change the fluid level of the battery. Other-
wise explosive gas is released from the bat-
tery that could cause an explosion. 
Wear eye protection.

Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. Wear
protective gloves and eye protection. In the event
of electrolyte splashes, rinse off with plenty of
water.

Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking are pro-
hibited.

The battery should only be charged in a well-ven-
tilated zone. Risk of explosion!

Keep children away from acid and batteries!»
289
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Tyre monitoring indicator If a light appears
The pressure in one or more tyres has
clearly reduced in comparison to the
tyre pressure set by the driver or the
tyre has structural damage.
Additionally, an audible warning can be heard and a text
message can be seen on the instrument panel display.
Stop! Reduce speed immediately! Stop the vehicle
safely as soon as possible. Avoid sudden manoeuvres
and braking! Check all tyres and pressures. Replace any
damaged tyres. If flashing

System malfunction
The control lamp flashes for approximately one minute
and then lights up permanently.
If tyre pressure is correct, switch the ignition off and on
again. If the control lamp remains lit up, the tyre moni-
toring indicator can be calibrated. Have the system
checked by a specialised workshop.
Several warning and control lamps light up
f
or a f

ew seconds when the ignition is switch-
ed on while the function is verified. They will
switch off after a few seconds. WARNING
When the tyres are inflated at different pres-
s ur

es or at a pressure that is too low then a
tyre may be damaged resulting in a loss of control of the vehicle and a serious or fatal
ac
c

ident.
● If the warning lamp  lights
up, stop im-
mediately and check the tyres.
● If the tyres are inflated at different pres-
sur
es or if a tyre pressure is too low, this will
increase tyre wear, negatively affecting vehi-
cle stability and increasing braking distan-
ces.
● If tyres are inflated at different pressures or
a tyr
e pressure is too low, a tyre may be dam-
aged and burst resulting in a loss of control
of the vehicle.
● The driver is responsible for ensuring that
al

l of the vehicle tyres are correctly inflated
to the right pressure. The recommended tyre
pressure is indicated on the label
››› page 303.
● The tyre monitoring system can only oper-
ate c
orrectly if all of the tyres are inflated to
the correct pressure when cold.
● Driving with tyres at the wrong pressure
can d
amage them and result in an accident.
Ensure that the tyre pressures of all the tyres
correspond to the vehicle load.
● Before starting a journey, always inflate
tyr
es to the correct pressure.
● Tyres with insufficient pressure are subjec-
ted t
o more flexing. Due to this, the tyre
could become excessively hot, causing tread
separation and also tyre blow-out.
● With an overloaded vehicle at high speed,
the tyr
es can overheat and burst resulting in
a loss of vehicle control. ●
Ty

re pressures which are too high or too
low reduce the useful life of the tyre, affect-
ing vehicle performance.
● If a tyre has not been punctured and it does
not h
ave to be changed immediately, drive to
the nearest specialised workshop at a moder-
ate speed and have the tyre checked and in-
flated to the correct pressure. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›
›
› in Warning
and c ontr
ol lamps on page 107. Note
● If e

xcessively low tyre pressure is detected
with the ignition on, an audible warning will
sound. In the event that there is a fault in the
system, an audible warning will sound.
● Driving on dirt tracks for a long period of
time or drivin
g in a sporty style can tempora-
rily deactivate the TPMS. The control lamp
shows a fault, but disappears when road con-
ditions or the driving style change. 296