2016 Seat Ateca engine

Operation
Information on the brakes New brake pads
F
or the fir
st 400 km (250 miles), new brake
pads have not yet reached their maximum
braking capacity, and need to be “run in”
first. However, you can compensate for the
slightly reduced braking effect by applying
more pressure on the brake pedal. Avoid
overloading the brakes while running them
in.
Wear
The rate of wear on the brake pads depends
a great deal on how you drive and the condi-
tions in which the vehicle is operated. This is
a particular problem in urban traffic and
short stretches, or with very sporty driving.
Depending on the speed, the braking force
and the environmental conditions (for exam-
ple, the temperature, air humidity, etc.)
noises may be produced on braking.
Wet roads or road salt
In certain situations (for example, on driving
through flooded areas, in severe downpours
or after washing the vehicle) the braking ac-
tion could be delayed if the discs and pads
are damp, or frozen in winter. In this case the
brakes should be “dried” by pressing the
brake pedal several times. At high speed and with the windscreen wip-
er
s

activated, the brake pads will briefly
touch the brake discs. This takes place, al-
though unnoticeable to the driver, at regular
intervals to improve the response time of the
brakes when they are wet.
The effectiveness of the brakes can also be
temporarily reduced if the vehicle is driven
for some distance without using the brakes
when there is a lot of salt on the road in win-
ter. The layer of salt that accumulates on the
discs and pads can be removed by gently ap-
plying the brakes a few times.
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for corrosion to
form on the discs and dirt to build up on the
brake pads if the vehicle is used infrequently
or the brakes are not used very often.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if
rust has formed on the disks, it is advisable
to clean off the pads and disks by braking
firmly a few times at a moderately high speed
››› .
F au

lt in the brake system
If the brake pedal travel should ever increase
suddenly, this may mean that one of the two
brake circuits has failed. Drive immediately
to the nearest specialised workshop and
have the fault repaired. Drive there slowly
and remember that you will have to apply more pressure on the brake pedal and allow
for lon

ger stopping distances.
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if
the brake fluid level is too low. The brake flu-
id level is monitored electronically.
Brake servo
The brake servo increases the pressure you
apply to the brake pedal. It works only when
the engine is running. WARNING
● Ap p

ly the brakes heavily to clean the brake
system only in a suitable traffic situation. Do
not put other road users in danger: there is
risk of causing an accident.
● Ensure the vehicle does not move while in
neutra
l, when the engine is stopped. Failure
to follow this instruction could result in an
accident.
● If the brake fluid loses its viscosity and is
sub
jected to heavy use, vapour bubbles can
form in the brake system. This reduces the ef-
ficiency of the brakes. CAUTION
● Nev er l

et the brakes “drag” by leaving your
foot on the pedal when it is not necessary to
brake. This overheats the brakes, resulting in
longer stopping distances and greater wear. 172

Driving
●
Bef
ore driving down a long, steep gradient,
it is advisable to reduce speed and select a
lower gear. This makes use of engine braking
and relieves the brakes. If you still have to
use the brakes, it is better to brake firmly at
intervals than to apply the brakes continu-
ously. Note
● If the br

ake servo is out of action, for exam-
ple when the car is being towed, you will
have to press the brake pedal considerably
harder than normal to make up for the lack of
servo assistance.
● If you wish to equip the vehicle with acces-
sories
such as a front spoiler or wheel covers,
it is important that the flow of air to the front
wheels is not obstructed, otherwise the
brakes can overheat. Front assist system
Electronic stability control (ESC)
The E
SC

helps to improve safety. It reduces
the tendency to skid and improves the stabil-
ity and roadholding of the vehicle. The ESC
detects critical handling situations, such as
vehicle understeer or oversteer, or wheelspin
on the driving wheels. It stabilises the vehi-
cle by braking individual wheels or by reduc-
ing the engine torque. The warning lamp will flash on the instrument panel when the ESC
is

intervening .
The ESC includes the anti-lock brake system
(ABS), the front assist system (HBA), the trac-
tion control system (ASR), electronic differen-
tial lock (EDS), electronic torque control
(XDS) and tractor-trailer sway mitigation*.
ESC also helps stabilise the vehicle by chang-
ing the torque.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
ABS prevents the wheels from locking up un-
der braking until the vehicle has reached a
virtual standstill. You can continue to steer
the vehicle even when the brakes are on full.
Keep your foot on the brake pedal and do not
pump the brakes. You will feel the brake ped-
al pulsate while the ABS is working.
Front assist system (HBA)
The brake assist system can reduce the re-
quired braking distance. The braking force is
automatically boosted if you press the brake
pedal quickly in an emergency. You must
keep pressing the brake pedal until the dan-
ger has passed.
Traction control system (ASR)
In the event of wheelspin, the traction control
system reduces the engine torque to match
the amount of grip available. This helps the car to start moving, accelerate or climb a gra-
dient.
El
ectronic differential lock (EDL)
When the EDL detects wheelspin, it brakes
the spinning wheel and directs the power to
the other driven wheel. This function is active
up to approximately 100 km/h (62 mph).
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel
from overheating, the EDL cuts out automati-
cally if subjected to excessive loads. The ve-
hicle can still be driven. The EDL will switch
on again automatically when the brake has
cooled down.
Tractor-trailer sway mitigation*
If the vehicle is pulling a trailer, it will control
the following: Tractor-trailers tend to sway.
When the swaying of the trailer is felt by the
vehicle and detected by the ESC, it will auto-
matically brake the towing vehicle within the
limits of the system and mitigate the sway.
Tractor-trailer sway mitigation is not available
in all countries.
Electronic torque management (XDS)
When taking a curve, the driveshaft differen-
tial mechanism allows the outer wheel to turn
at a higher speed than the inner wheel. In
this way, the wheel that is turning faster (out-
er wheel) receives less drive torque than the
inner wheel. This may mean that in certain »
173
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
situations the torque delivered to the inner
wheel i
s too high, causing the wheels to
spin. On the other hand, the outer wheel is
receiving a lower drive torque than it could
transmit. This causes an overall loss of lateral
grip on the front axle, resulting in understeer
or “lengthening” of the trajectory.
The XDS system can detect and correct this
effect via the sensors and signals of the ESC.
Via the ESC, the XDS will brake the inside
wheel and counter the excess driving torque
of that wheel. This means that the driver's
desired trajectory is much more precise.
The XDS system works in combination with
the ESC and is always active, even when ASR
traction control is disconnected, or the ESC in
Sport mode or disconnected.
Multi-collision brake
In an accident, the multi-collision brake can
help the driver by braking to avoid the risk of
skidding during the accident, which could
lead to further collisions.
The multi-collision brake works for front, side
or rear accidents, when the airbag control
unit records its activation level and the acci-
dent takes place at a speed of over 10 km/h
(6 mph). The ESC automatically brakes the
vehicle, as long as the accident has not dam-
aged the ESC, the brake hydraulics or the on-
board network The following actions control automatic brak-
ing durin
g the accident:
● When the driver presses the accelerator,
the autom
atic braking does not take place.
● When the braking pressure through press-
ing the br
ake pedal is greater than the sys-
tem’s braking pressure the vehicle will brake
automatically.
● Multi-collision braking will not be available
if E
SC is malfunctioning. WARNING
● The E SC, ABS, ASR, ED

S and the electronic
torque control system cannot exceed the lim-
its imposed by the laws of physics. Always
bear this in mind, especially on wet or slip-
pery roads. If you notice the systems cutting
in, you should reduce your speed immediate-
ly to suit the road and traffic conditions. Do
not be encouraged to take risks by the pres-
ence of more safety systems. If you do, an ac-
cident may occur.
● Please remember that the accident risk al-
wa
ys increases if you drive fast, especially in
corners or on a slippery road, or if you follow
too close behind the vehicle in front of you.
The ESC, ABS, brake assist, EDS and the elec-
tronic torque control system cannot prevent
accidents: risk of accidents!
● Accelerate with caution on slippery surfa-
ce
s (for example, icy or snow-covered). De-
spite the control systems, the driven wheels could spin, affecting the stability of the vehi-
c
l

e: risk of accident! Note
● The ABS and ASR w

ill only operate correctly
if the four wheels have identical tyres. Any
differences in the rolling radius of the tyres
can cause the system to reduce engine power
when this is not desired.
● The regulating processes of the systems
can m
ake noises when they intervene.
● If the warning lamp  lights
up, or  alter-
natively, there could be a fault ››› page 106. Switching on/off the ESC and ASR
The ESC is switched on automatically when
the en
gine i

s started, and only works when
the engine is running and includes the ABS,
EDS and ASR systems.
The ASR function should only be switched off
in situations in which traction is insufficient,
including:
● When driving in deep snow or on surfaces
that
are not very firm.
● To “free” the vehicle if it gets stuck.
Then swit
ch the ASR function back on.
174

Operation
Disable the ESC “Snow” mode
T urn the Driv
ing Experience button to select a
different driving mode ››› page 226. WARNING
The ESC Sport mode should be activated only
when tr affic

conditions and the ability of the
driver allow it. Danger of skidding!
● With ESC in Sport mode, the stabilising
fu

nction will be limited to allow for a sportier
drive. The driving wheels could spin and the
vehicle could skid. WARNING
You should only activate the Offroad Mode or
di s

able the ASR if the experience of the driver
and traffic conditions allow it. Danger of skid-
ding!
● With the Offroad mode activated, the stabi-
lis
ation function is limited. In particular, if
the road is too smooth and slippery, the driv-
ing wheels could spin and the vehicle could
skid. Note
If the ASR is disconnected or the ESC’s Sport
mode i s

selected, cruise control* will be
switched off. Manual gearbox
Ch an

ging gear Read the additional information carefully
› ›

›  page 40
In some countries the clutch pedal must be
fully pressed down for the engine to start.
Selecting reverse gear ● Engage reverse gear only when the vehicle
is

stopped.
Changing down gears
While driving, changing down a gear must al-
ways be done gradually, i.e. to the gear di-
rectly below and when the engine speed is
not too high ››› . Changing down while by-
p a

ssing one or various gears at high speeds
or at high engine speeds can damage the
clutch and the gearbox, even if the clutch
pedal remains depressed ››› .
WARNING
When the engine is running, the vehicle will
s t

art to move as soon as a gear is engaged
and the clutch released. This is also the case
with the electronic parking brake switched
on.
● Never engage reverse gear when the vehi-
cl

e is moving. WARNING
If the gear is changed down inappropriately
b y

selecting a gear that is too low, you may
lose control of the vehicle, causing an acci-
dent and serious injuries. CAUTION
When travelling at high speeds or at high en-
gine s peed

s, selecting a gear that is too low
can cause considerable damage to the clutch
and the gearbox. This can also occur if the
clutch pedal is pressed and held and it does
not engage. CAUTION
To prevent damage and avoid premature
w e

ar, please observe the following:
● Do not rest your hand on the gear lever
whil
e driving. The pressure applied by your
hand is transmitted to the gearbox selector
forks.
● Always ensure that the vehicle is complete-
ly s
topped before engaging the reverse gear.
● Always press the clutch to the floor when
ch
anging gears.
● Never hold the vehicle “on the clutch” on
hil
ls with the engine on. 176

Driving
Automatic gearbox/DSG auto-
m atic
gearbox*
Introduction Your vehicle is equipped with an electronical-
ly
c

ontrolled manual gearbox. Torque be-
tween the engine and the gearbox is trans-
mitted via two independent clutches. They re-
place the torque converter found on conven-
tional automatic gearboxes and allow for
smooth, uninterrupted acceleration of the ve-
hicle.
The tiptronic system allows the driver to
change gears manually if desired
››› page 179, Changing gears in tiptronic
mode*.
Selector lever positions Read the additional information carefully
› ›

›  page 41
The selector lever position engaged is high-
lighted on the display in the instrument clus-
ter. With the selector lever in the manual
gearbox positions G, D, E and S, the engaged
gear is also indicated on the display.
P – Parking lock
When the selector lever is in this position,
the driven wheels are locked mechanically. The parking lock must be engaged only when
the v

ehicle is stationary ››› .
The int erloc
k button (the button on the selec-
tor lever handle) must be pressed in and si-
multaneously the brake pedal must be de-
pressed before moving the selector lever ei-
ther in or out of position P.
R – Reverse gear
Reverse gear must be engaged only when the
vehicle is stationary and the engine is idling
››› .
T o mo

ve the selector lever to position R, the
interlock button must be pressed in and at
the same time the brake pedal must be de-
pressed. The reverse lights come on when
the selector lever is in the R position with the
ignition on.
N – Neutral (idling)
With the selector lever in this position, the
gear is in neutral.
D/S – Permanent drive (forward) position
The selector lever in the D/S position enables
the gears to be controlled in normal mode (D)
or Sport (S). To select Sport mode (S), move
the selector lever backwards. Moving the lev-
er again will select normal mode (D). The se-
lected driving mode is shown on the instru-
ment panel display. In normal mode
(D), the g
earbox automatical-
ly selects the best gear ratio. This depends
on the engine load, the road speed and the
dynamic gear control programme (DCP).
Sport mode (S) must be selected for a sporty
driving style. This setting makes use of the
engine's maximum power output. When ac-
celerating the gear shifts will be noticeable.
Press the brake pedal to move the selector
lever from N to D/S when the vehicle is sta-
tionary or at speeds below 3 km/h (2 mph)
››› .
Under c er

tain circumstances (e.g. when driv-
ing in mountains) it can be advantageous to
switch temporarily to tiptronic mode
››› page 179, in order to manually select gear
ratios to suit the driving conditions. WARNING
● Tak

e care not to accidentally press the ac-
celerator pedal when the vehicle is stopped.
The vehicle could otherwise start moving im-
mediately (in some cases even if the parking
brake is engaged) resulting in the risk of an
accident.
● Never move the selector lever to R or P
when drivin
g. Failure to follow this instruc-
tion could result in an accident.
● With selector lever in any position (except
P) the v
ehicle must always be held with the
foot brake when the engine is running. This is
because an automatic gearbox still transmits » 177
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
power even at idling speed, and the vehicle
t
end
s to “creep”. The accelerator pedal must
on no account be pressed inadvertently when
a gear is engaged with the vehicle stationary.
The vehicle could otherwise start moving im-
mediately (in some cases even if the parking
brake is engaged) resulting in the risk of an
accident.
● While you are selecting a gear and the vehi-
cl

e is stopped with the engine running, do
not accelerate. Failure to follow this instruc-
tion could result in an accident.
● As a driver you should never leave your ve-
hicl
e if the engine is running and a gear is en-
gaged. If you have to leave your vehicle while
the engine is running, you must apply the
handbrake and engage the parking lock (P).
● To avoid accidents, apply the handbrake
and put
the selector lever in position P before
opening the bonnet and working on the vehi-
cle with the engine running. Please always
observe the important safety warnings
››› page 282, Work in the engine compart-
ment. Note
● If the sel

ector lever is moved accidentally
to N when driving, release the accelerator and
let the engine speed drop to idling before se-
lecting gear range D or S again.
● Should the power supply to the selector
lev
er be interrupted in position P, the selector
lever will be locked. If this should happen the
manual release can be used ›››
 page 41. Selector lever lock
Fig. 166
Selector lever lock. The selector lever lock prevents gears from
bein g en

gaged inadvertently, so that the ve-
hicle is not set in motion unintentionally.
The selector lever lock is released as follows:
– Switch the ignition on.
– Press the brake pedal and
, at the same
time, hold the lock button in the direction
of the arrow ››› Fig. 166.
Automatic selector lever lock
With the ignition switched on, the selector
lever is locked in the positions P and N. The
brake pedal must be pressed to release the
lever while pressing the release button if the
selector lever is in the position P. As a re-
minder for the driver, with the lever in posi-
tions P or N the following message will be
shown on the display: When stationary, apply footbrake
while selecting a gear.
Lev

el lock only engages with the vehicle sta-
tionary and at speeds of up to 5 km/h
(3 mph). At speeds of over 5 km/h (3 mph)
the lever lock is automatically deactivated in
position N.
The selector lever lock is not engaged if the
selector lever is moved quickly through posi-
tion N (e.g. when shifting from R to D). This
makes it possible, for instance, to rock the
vehicle “backwards and forwards” if it is
stuck. The selector lever lock engages auto-
matically if the brake pedal is not depressed
and the lever is in position N for more than
about two seconds.
Interlock button
The interlock button on the selector lever
handle prevents the driver from inadvertently
engaging certain gears. Press the button in
to disengage the selector lever lock.
Safety interlock for ignition key
Once the ignition has been turned off, the
key may be removed only if the gear selector
is in position P. While the key is not in the ig-
nition, the selector lever is locked in position
P.
178

Operation
When accelerating, the gearbox automatical-
ly shif
ts up into the next gear shortly before
the maximum engine speed is reached.
If you select a lower gear, the automatic gear-
box will not shift down until there is no risk of
over-revving the engine.
When the kick-down feature is used, the
gearbox shifts down to a lower gear, depend-
ing on road speed and engine speed.
Driving tips The gearbox changes gear ratios automatical-
ly
a

s the vehicle moves.
The engine can only start with the selector
lever in position P or N. At low temperatures,
below -10°C (50°F), the engine can only start
with the selector lever in position P.
Starting the vehicle
– Press and hold the brake pedal.
– Press and hold the interlock button (the
butt

on on the selector lever handle), move
the selector lever to the desired position,
for instance D ›››
page 177, and release the
interlock button.
– Wait for the gearbox to engage the gear (a
slight

movement can be felt).
– Release the brake and press the accelerator
››
› . Stopping briefly
– Apply the foot brake to hold the vehicle
briefly when s

tationary (for instance at traf-
fic lights). Do not press the accelerator.
Stopping/Parking
If the driver door is opened and the selector
lever is not in position P, the vehicle could
move. The driver message will be:  Gear
change: selector lever in the
drive position! . Additionally, a buzzer
will sound.
– Press and hold the brake pedal ››
› .
– Apply the handbrake.
– Move the selector lever to position P.
Ho l

ding the car on a hill
– Always apply the brake pedal firmly to pre-
v
ent the vehicle from “moving backwards;
if necessary, apply the handbrake” ››› .
Do not tr y

to stop the vehicle “rolling back”
by increasing the engine speed when a
gear is engaged (pressing the accelerator)
››› .
St ar

ting off uphill
– Apply the handbrake.
– Once you have engaged a gear press the
acc

elerator carefully and disengage the
handbrake. Driving down hills: in some sit

uations (on
mountain roads or when towing a trailer or
caravan) it can be advantageous to switch
temporarily to the manual gearbox pro-
gramme so that the gear ratios can be selec-
ted manually to suit the driving conditions
››› .
On l ev

el ground it is sufficient to move the
selector lever to position P. On slopes, first
engage the parking brake and then put the
selection lever into the P position. This
avoids overloading the locking mechanism
and it will be easier to move the selector lev-
er from position P. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ››
› in Selector
l ev
er positions on page 177.
● Never allow the brake to rub and do not use
the brak
e pedal too often or for long periods.
Constant braking causes overheating in the
brakes. This could significantly reduce brak-
ing power, increase braking distance or even
result in the total failure of the brake system.
● To avoid rolling back on gradients always
hol
d the vehicle with the footbrake or hand-
brake if you have to stop. CAUTION
● If

you stop the vehicle on a gradient, do not
attempt to stop it from rolling by depressing
the accelerator when a gear has been selec-
ted. This could cause overheating and 180

Driving
damage the automatic gearbox. Apply the
h
andbr
ake firmly or press the brake pedal in
order to prevent the vehicle from rolling back.
● If you allow the car to roll with the selector
lev
er in position N with the engine switched
off, the automatic gearbox will be damaged
as it will not be lubricated.
● In certain driving situations or traffic condi-
tions, s
uch as frequently starting, prolonged
“creeping” of the vehicle or traffic jams with
continuous stoppages, the gearbox could
overheat causing damage! If the warning
lamp  lights up, stop the vehicle as soon as
possible and wait for the gearbox to cool
››› page 183. Kick-down feature
The kick-down feature allows maximum ac-
c
el

eration to be reached.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right
down past the point of resistance at full throt-
tle, the gearbox will shift down to a lower
gear, depending on road speed and engine
speed. The upshift to the next higher gear is
delayed until the engine reaches maximum
rpm. WARNING
Please note that if the road surface is slip-
per y

or wet, the kick-down feature could
cause the driving wheels to spin, which could
result in skidding. Launch control programme
3
Valid for vehicles: with Launch-Control/6-Speed
D
SG with diesel engines superior to 125 kW and pet-
rol engines superior to 140 kW.
The Launch control programme enables maxi-
mum acceleration.
Important: the engine must have reached op-
erating temperature and the steering wheel
must not be turned.
The engine speed for launch-control is differ-
ent on petrol and diesel engines. To use the
launch-control you must disconnect the anti-
slip regulation (ASR) through the Easy Con-
nect system menu ›››
page 108. The warning
lamp  will stay switched on or will flash
slowly depending on whether or not the vehi-
cle has a driver information system*.
On vehicles with the driver information sys-
tem, the ESC lamp lights up permanently and
the corresponding text message Stabilitycontrol deactivated
(tempor
ary) ap-
pears on the instrument panel to indicate the
deactivation status.
– When the engine is running, switch off the
traction c

ontrol (ASR) 1)
.
– Turn the selector lever to the position “S”
or tiptronic, or el

se select the sport driv-
ing mode from the SEAT Drive Profile*
››› page 225.
– Press the brake pedal firmly with your left
foot

and hold it down for at least one sec-
ond.
– With your right foot, press the accelerator
down t

o the full throttle or kick-down posi-
tion. The engine speed will stabilise at
about 3,200 rpm (petrol engine) or about
2,000 rpm (diesel engine).
– Take your left foot off the brake pedal. WARNING
● Alw

ays adapt your driving style to the traf-
fic conditions.
● Only use the launch control programme
when ro
ad and traffic conditions permit, and
make sure your manner of driving and accel-
erating the vehicle does not inconvenience or
endanger other road users. »1)
Vehicles without driver information system: the
w arnin

g lamp flashes slowly/Vehicles with driver in-
formation system: the warning lamp stays on. 181
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety