Driving
Avoid short journeys
T o r
educ e the c
onsumption and emission of
polluting exhaust gases, the engine and the
exhaust gas filtration systems should reach
the optimum operating temperature.
With the engine cold, fuel consumption is
proportionally higher. The engine does not
warm up and fuel consumption does not nor-
malise until having driven approximately four
kilometres (2.5 miles). This is why we recom-
mend avoiding short trips whenever possi-
ble.
Maintain the correct tyre pressures
Bear in mind that keeping the tyres at an ad-
equate pressure saves fuel. If the tyre pres-
sure is just one bar (14.5 psi/100 kPa) too
low, fuel consumption can increase by as
much as 5%. Due to the greater rolling resist-
ance, under-inflation also increases tyre wear
wear and impairs handling.
The tyre pressures should always be checked
when the tyres are cold.
Do not use winter tyres all year round as they
increase fuel consumption by up to 10%.
Avoid unnecessary weight
Given that every kilo of extra weight will in-
crease the fuel consumption, it is advisable
to always check the luggage compartment to
make sure that no unnecessary loads are be-
ing transported. A roof rack is often left in place for the sake
of conv
enience, even when it is no longer
needed. At a speed of 100 km/h (62 mph)
and 120 km/h (75 mph) your vehicle will use
about 12% more fuel as a result of the extra
wind resistance caused by the roof rack even
when it is not in use.
Save electricity
The engine activates the alternator, which
produces electricity. With the need for elec-
tricity, fuel consumption also increases. Be-
cause of this, always turn off electrical devi-
ces when you do not need them. Examples of
devices that use a lot of electricity are: the
blower at high speeds, the rear window heat-
ing or the seat heaters*. Note
● If y our
vehicle has Start-Stop, it is not rec-
ommended that you switch this function off.
● It is recommended that you close the win-
do
ws when driving at more than 60 km/h
(37 mph)
● Do not drive with your foot resting on the
clutch pe
dal, as the pressure can make the
plate spin, more fuel will be used and it can
burn the clutch plate lining, causing a serious
fault.
● Do not hold the car on a hill with the clutch,
use the foot br
ake or hand brake, using the
latter to start. The fuel consumption will be lower and you will prevent the clutch plate
from being d
am
aged.
● On descents, use the engine brake, chang-
ing to the ge
ar that is more suitable for the
slope. Fuel consumption will be “zero” and
the brakes will not suffer. Engine management and ex-
haus
t
gas purification system
Introduction WARNING
● Becau se of
the high temperatures which
can occur in the exhaust purification system
(catalytic converter or diesel particulate fil-
ter), do not park the vehicle where the ex-
haust can come into contact with flammable
materials under the car (e.g. on grass or at
the forest edge). Fire hazard!
● Do not apply wax underneath the vehicle
around the are
a of the exhaust system: Fire
hazard! Note
While the control lamps , , or re-
main lit, ther e m
ay be engine problems, fuel
consumption may increase and the engine
may lose power. 169
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Towing bracket device and trailer
Tyre pressure
Set ty
re pr
essure to the maximum permissi-
ble pressure shown on the sticker on the in-
side of the fuel tank flap. Set the tyre pres-
sure of the trailer tyres in accordance with the
trailer manufacturer's recommendations.
Exterior mirrors
Check whether you can see enough of the
road behind the trailer with the standard rear
vision mirrors. If this is not the case, you
should have additional exterior mirrors fitted.
Both exterior mirrors should be mounted on
hinged extension brackets. Adjust the mirrors
to give sufficient vision to the rear. WARNING
Never transport people in a trailer. This could
res u
lt in fatal accidents. Note
● Tow in
g a trailer places additional demands
on the vehicle. We recommend additional
services between the normal inspection inter-
vals if the vehicle is used frequently for tow-
ing a trailer.
● Find out whether special regulations apply
to tow
ing a trailer in your country. Ball coupling of towing bracket*
The ball coupling is provided with instruc-
tions on fittin
g and r
emoving the ball cou-
pling of the towing bracket. WARNING
The towing bracket ball coupling must be
stor ed sec
urely in the luggage compartment
to prevent them being flung through the vehi-
cle and causing injury. Note
● By l a
w, the ball coupling must be removed
if a trailer is not being towed if it obscures
the number plate. Driving tips
Driving with a trailer always requires extra
c
ar
e.
W eight
distribution
The weight distribution of a loaded trailer
with an unladen vehicle is very unfavourable.
However, if this cannot be avoided, drive ex-
tra slowly to allow for the unbalanced weight
distribution. Speed
The stabi
lity of the vehicle and trailer is re-
duced with increasing speed. For this reason,
it is advisable not to drive at the maximum
permissible speed in an unfavourable road,
weather or wind conditions. This applies es-
pecially when driving downhill.
You should always reduce speed immediately
if the trailer shows the slightest sign of snak-
ing. Never try to stop the “snaking” by in-
creasing speed.
Always brake in due course. If the trailer has
an overrun brake, apply the brakes gently at
first and then, firmly. This will prevent the
jerking that can be caused by locking of trail-
er wheels. Select a low gear in due course
before going down a steep downhill. This en-
ables you to use the engine braking to slow
down the vehicle.
Reheating
At very high temperatures and during pro-
longed slopes, driving with a low gear and
high engine speed; always monitor whether
the excessive coolant temperature gauge is
activated ››› page 207.
187
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
Products for vehicle maintenance
C ar
-car
e products are available in your Tech-
nical Services. Keep the product instructions
until you have used them up. WARNING
● Car-c ar
e products can be toxic. Because of
this, they must always be kept closed in their
original container. Keep them out of the reach
of children. Failure to comply could result in
poisoning.
● Always read and observe the instructions
and warnings
on the package before using
car-care products. Improper use could cause
health problems or damage the vehicle. The
use of certain products may produce noxious
vapours; they should be used in well ventila-
ted areas.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail
varnish remo
ver or other volatile fluids.
These are toxic and highly flammable. Risk of
fire and explosion.
● Before washing your vehicle, or carrying
out any m
aintenance, switch the engine off,
apply the handbrake firmly and remove the
key from the ignition. CAUTION
Never attempt to remove dirt, mud or dust if
the surf ac
e of the vehicle is dry. Never use a
dry cloth or sponge for cleaning purposes.
This could damage the paintwork or the win-
dows of your vehicle. Soak dirt, mud or dust
with plenty of water. For the sake of the environment
● When purc h
asing car care products, try to
select ones that are not harmful to the envi-
ronment.
● The waste from car-care products should
not be dispo
sed of with ordinary household
waste. Observe the disposal information on
the package. Care of the vehicle exterior
Automatic c
ar wash tunnel The vehicle paintwork is so durable that the
v
ehic
le c
an normally be washed without
problems in an automatic car wash tunnel.
However, the paintwork wear depends to a
large extent on the kind of the car wash tun-
nel, the brushes used, its water filtering and
the type of cleaning and preservative prod-
ucts.
Before going through a car wash, be sure to
take the usual precautions such as closing
the windows and sunroof. There is nothing to
note apart from that.
If the vehicle has special accessories such as
spoilers or a roof rack or two-way radio aerial,
etc., it is advisable to consult the car wash
tunnel operator first. After washing, the brakes
could take some
time to respond as the brake discs and pads
could be wet, or even frozen in winter. “Dry”
the brakes by braking several times. WARNING
Water, ice and salt on the brake system can
reduce br ak
ing effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. CAUTION
Before putting the vehicle through the car
wash, do not tight
en the aerial if it is folded
because it can be damaged. Hand-washing
Vehicle washing
– First soften the dirt and rinse it off with wa-
ter
.
– Cl
ean your vehicle from top to bottom with
a soft spon
ge, a glove or a brush. Use very
light pressure.
– Rinse the sponge or glove often with clean
water.
– S
pecial car shampoo should only be used
for ver
y stubborn dirt.
– Leave the wheels, sill panels etc. until last,
using a diff
erent sponge or glove.
192
Wheels
Wheels
Wheel s
and ty r
es
General notes Avoiding damage
– If you have to drive over a kerb or similar
obs t
acle, drive very slowly and at a right
angle.
– Keep grease, oil and fuel off the tyres.
– Inspect the tyres regularly for damage
(cuts, cr ac
ks or blisters, etc.). Remove any
foreign objects embedded in the treads.
Storing tyres
– When you remove the tyres, mark them in
order to maint
ain the same direction of ro-
tation when they are installed again.
– When removed, the wheels and/or tyres
should be st
ored in a cool, dry and prefera-
bly dark location.
– Store tyres in a vertical position, if they are
not fitted on wheel rims.
New ty
res
New tyres must be run in ›››
page 167.
The tread depth of new tyres may vary, ac-
cording to the type and make of tyre and the
tread pattern. Concealed damage
Damage to ty
res and rims is often not readily
visible. If you notice unusual vibrations or the
vehicle pulling to one side, this may indicate
that one of the tyres is damaged. They
should be checked immediately by a Techni-
cal Service.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
An arrow on the tyre sidewall indicates the di-
rection of rotation on tyres with directional
tread. Always observe the direction of rota-
tion indicated when fitting the wheel. This
guarantees optimum grip and helps to avoid
aquaplaning, excessive noise and wear. WARNING
● New tyre s
do not have maximum grip dur-
ing the first 500 km. Drive particularly care-
fully to avoid possible accidents.
● Never drive with damaged tyres. This may
cause an acc
ident.
● If you notice unusual vibrations or if the ve-
hicle pu
lls to one side when driving, stop the
vehicle immediately and check the tyres for
damage. Tyre pressure monitoring system
Fig. 188
Location of the tyre pressure sticker. The correct tyre pressure can be seen on the
s
tic
ker on the in
side of the fuel tank flap
››› Fig. 188.
1. Read the required tyre inflation pressure from the stick
er. The values refer to Sum-
mer tyres.
2. The tyre pressures should only be checked when the tyres
are cold. The slightly raised
pressures of warm tyres must not be re-
duced.
3. Adjust the tyre pressure to the load you are carry
ing. »
213
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
Tyre pressure
The c orr
ect ty
re pressure is especially impor-
tant at high speeds. The pressure should
therefore be checked at least once a month
and before starting a journey.
Depending on the vehicle, tyre pressure can
be adjusted to medium load to improve driv-
ing comfort (“comfort” tyre pressure). When
driving with comfort tyre pressure fuel con-
sumption may increase slightly. WARNING
A tyre can easily burst if the pressure is too
low, c au
sing an accident!
● At continuously high speeds, a tyre with in-
sufficient pr
essure flexes more. In this way it
becomes too hot, and this can cause tread
separation and tyre blow-out. Always observe
the recommended tyre pressures.
● If the tyre pressure is too low or too high,
the tyres
will wear prematurely and the vehi-
cle will not handle well. Risk of accident! For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel con-
sumption. Tyre useful life
Fig. 189
Tyre tread wear indicators. Fig. 190
Diagram for changing wheels The useful life of tyres is dependent on tyre
pr
e
ss
ure, driving style and fitting.
Wear indicators
The original tyres on your vehicle have
1.6 mm high “tread wear indicators”
››› Fig. 189, running across the tread. De- pending on the make, there will be 6 to 8 of
them evenly s
paced around the tyre. Mark-
ings on the tyre sidewall (for instance the let-
ters “TWI” or other symbols) indicate the po-
sitions of the tread wear indicators. The mini-
mum tread depth required by law is 1.6 mm
(measured in the tread grooves next to the
tread wear indicators). Worn tyres must be re-
placed. Different figures may apply in export
countries ››› .
T y
re pr
essure
Incorrect tyre pressure causes premature
wear and could cause tyre blow-out. For this
reason, the tyre pressure should be checked
at least once per month ››› page 213.
Driving style
Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard
braking all increase tyre wear.
Changing wheels around
If the front tyres are worn considerably more
than the rear ones it is advisable to change
them around as shown ››› Fig. 190. The use-
ful life of all the tyres will then be about the
same time.
Wheel balance
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced.
However, various factors encountered in nor-
mal driving can cause them to become unbal-
anced, which results in steering vibration.
214
Wheels
Unbalanced wheels should be rebalanced, as
they other
wi
se cause excessive wear on
steering, suspension and tyres. A wheel must
also be rebalanced when a new tyre is fitted.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect running gear alignment causes ex-
cessive tyre wear, impairing the safety of the
vehicle. If tyres show excessive wear, you
should have the wheel alignment checked by
a Technical Service. WARNING
There is a serious danger of accidents if a tyre
burs t
s during driving!
● The tyres must be replaced at the latest
when the tread w
ear indicators are worn
››› page 214. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in an accident. Worn tyres do not
grip well at high speeds on wet roads. There
is also a greater risk of “aquaplaning”.
● At continuously high speeds, a tyre with in-
sufficient pr
essure flexes more. This causes it
to overheat. This can cause tread separation
and tyre blow-out. Risk of accident. Always
observe the recommended tyre pressures.
● If tyres show excessive wear, you should
have the runnin
g gear checked by a Technical
Service.
● Keep chemicals such as oil, fuel and brake
fluid away
from tyres.
● Damaged wheels and tyres must be re-
placed immedi
ately! For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel con-
sumption. New tyres and wheels
New tyres and wheels have to be run in.
The tyre
s
and wheel rims are an essential
part of the vehicle's design. Those approved
by SEAT are specially matched to the charac-
teristics of the vehicle and make a major con-
tribution to good road-holding and safe han-
dling ››› .
T y
re
s should be replaced at least in pairs and
not individually (i.e. both front tyres or both
rear tyres together). A knowledge of tyre des-
ignations makes it easier to choose the cor-
rect tyres. Radial tyres have the tyre designa-
tions marked on the sidewall, for example:
195/65 R15 91T
This contains the following information:
Tyre width in mm
Height/width ratio in %
Tyre construction: Radial
Rim diameter in inches
Load rating code
Speed rating
195
65
R
15
91
T The tyres could also have the following infor-
mation:
● A direction of r
otation symbol
● “Reinforced” denotes heavy-duty tyres.
The manufacturin
g date is also indicated on
the tyre sidewall (possibly only on the inner
side of the wheel).
“DOT ... 1103 ...” means, for example, that
the tyre was produced in the 11th week of
2003.
We recommend that work on tyres and
wheels be carried out by a Technical Service.
They are familiar with the procedure and
have the necessary special tools and spare
parts as well as the proper facilities for dis-
posing of the old tyres.
Any technical service has full information on
the technical requirements when installing or
changing tyres, wheels or wheel trims. WARNING
● We rec ommend th
at you use only wheels
and tyres which have been approved by SEAT
for your model. Failure to do so could impair
vehicle handling. Risk of accident.
● Avoid running the vehicle on tyres that are
more than 6 y
ears old. If you have no alterna-
tive, you should drive slowly and with extra
care at all times. » 215
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Wheels
● The wheel s
of one ax
le are under more
pressure (for example, driving with a trailer or
on steep slopes).
● The vehicle is fitted with snow chains.
● The temporary spare wheel is fitted.
● The wheel on one axle is changed.
Tyre pr
essure adjustment
On adjusting tyre pressure or changing one
or more wheels, the ››› Fig. 191 button must
be kept pressed down, with the ignition on,
until an acoustic signal is heard.
Store the new tyre pressure in the Easy Con-
nect system with the button and the func-
tion b utt
on Set
up
› ›
›
p
age 24.
If
the wheels are under excessive load (for ex-
ample, driving with a trailer or heavy load),
the tyre pressure must be increased to the
recommended value for a full load (see the
sticker on the inside of the fuel flap). If the
tyre monitor system button is pressed down,
the new tyre pressures are confirmed.
The tyre pressure control lamp lights up
If the tyre pressure of a wheel is much lower
than the value set by the driver, then the tyre
pressure control lamp ››› will light up.
WARNING
● When the tyre pr e
ssure control lamp lights
up, reduce speed immediately and avoid any sudden turning or braking manoeuvre. Stop
when poss
ib
le, and check the tyre pressure
and status.
● The driver is responsible for maintaining
correct ty
re pressures. For this reason, tyre
pressure must be regularly checked.
● Under certain circumstances (e.g. when
driving in a spor
ty manner, in winter condi-
tions or on a dirt track) the tyre control lamp
may light up belatedly or may function incor-
rectly. Note
If the battery is disconnected, the yellow
warning l amp
lights up after turning the
ignition on. This should turn off after a brief
journey. Winter service
W int
er ty r
es In winter conditions winter tyres will consid-
er
ab
ly impr
ove the vehicle's handling. The
design of summer tyres (width, rubber com-
pound, tread pattern) gives less grip on ice
and snow.
Winter tyres must be inflated to a pressure of
0.2 bar (2.9 psi/20 kPa) higher than the pres-
sures specified for summer tyres (see sticker
on fuel tank flap). Winter tyres must be fitted on all four wheels.
Information on permitted
winter tyre sizes
can be found in the vehicle's registration
documentation. Use only radial winter tyres.
All tyre sizes listed in the vehicle documenta-
tion also apply to winter tyres.
Winter tyres lose their effectiveness when the
tread is worn down to a depth of 4 mm.
The speed rating code ››› page 215, New
tyres and wheels determines the following
speed limits for winter tyres: ››› max. 160 km/h (99 mph)
m
ax. 180 km/h (112 mph)
m ax. 190 km/h (118 mph)
m ax. 210 km/h (130 mph)
In some c
ountries, vehicles which can exceed
the speed rating of the fitted tyre must have
an appropriate sticker in the driver's field of
view. These stickers are available from your
technical service. The legal requirements of
each country must be followed.
Do not have winter tyres fitted for unnecessa-
rily long periods. Vehicles with summer tyres
handle better when the roads are free of
snow and ice.
If you have a flat tyre, please refer to the
notes on the spare wheel ››› page 215, New
tyres and wheels . »
Q
S
T
H
217
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Technical specifications
Drawbar loads
The maximum permitt ed dr
awb
ar load on the
ball joint of the towing bracket must not ex-
ceed 75 kg.
In the interest of road safety, we recommend
that you always tow approaching the maxi-
mum drawbar load. The response of the trail-
er on the road will be poor, if the drawbar
load is too small.
If the maximum permissible drawbar load
cannot be met (e.g. with small, empty and
light-weight single axle trailers or tandem
axle trailers with a wheelbase of less than 1
metre), a minimum of 4% of the actual trailer
weight is legally required for the drawbar
load. WARNING
● For saf ety
reasons, you should not drive at
speeds above 80 km/h (50 mph) when towing
a trailer. This also applies in countries where
higher speeds are permitted.
● Never exceed the maximum trailer weights
or the drawbar lo
ad. If the permissible axle
load or the permissible total weight is excee-
ded, the driving characteristics of the vehicle
may change, leading to accidents, injuries
and damage to the vehicle. Wheels
Ty
re pr
essure, snow chains, wheel
bolts Tyre pressures
The stick
er w
ith the tyre pressure values can
be found on the inside of the fuel tank flap.
The tyre pressure values given there are for
cold tyres. Do not reduce the slightly raised
pressures of warm tyres ››› .
The pres s
ure for winter tyres is 0.2 bar higher
than that of summer tyres (2.9 psi / 20 kPa).
Snow chains
Snow chains may be fitted only to the front
wheels, and only for the following tyres:
175/70R14
185/60R15Chains with links not exceeding 15 mm
(including the chain closure)
215/45R16Chains with links not exceeding 9 mm
(including the chain closure)
215/40R17Chains with links not exceeding 7 mm
(including the chain closure) Wheel bolts
Af
t
er the wheel s
have been changed, the
tightening torque of the wheel bolts should
be checked as soon as possible with a torque
wrench ››› . The tightening torque for steel
and al lo
y wheel
s is 120 Nm. WARNING
● Check the ty r
e pressure at least once per
month. Checking the tyre pressure is very im-
portant. If the tyre pressure is too high or too
low, there is an increased danger of accidents
- particularly at high speeds.
● If the tightening torque of the wheel bolts
is too lo
w, they could loosen while the vehi-
cle is in motion. Risk of accident! If the tight-
ening torque is too high, the wheel bolts and
threads can be damaged. Note
We recommend that you ask your Technical
Servic e f
or information about appropriate
wheel, tyre and snow chain size. 221
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety