2016 Seat Ibiza ST maintenance

Operation
Catalytic converter To maintain the useful life of the catalytic
conv
er
ter
– Use only unleaded petrol with petrol en-
gines, as l

ead damages the catalytic con-
verter.
– Do not let the fuel get too low in the tank.
– For engine oil changes, do not replenish
with too much en

gine oil ››› page 206, Top-
ping up engine oil.
– Never tow the vehicle to start it, use jump
lea d

s if necessary ›››
 page 52.
If you notice misfiring, uneven running or
loss of power when the vehicle is moving, re-
duce speed immediately and have the vehi-
cle inspected at the nearest specialised
workshop. In general, the exhaust warning
lamp will light up when any of the described
symptoms occur ›››
page 100. If this hap-
pens, unburnt fuel can enter the exhaust sys-
tem and escape into the environment. The
catalytic converter can also be damaged by
overheating. CAUTION
Never run the fuel tank completely dry be-
cause the irr e

gularity of the fuel supply may
cause ignition problems. This allows unburnt
fuel to enter the exhaust system, which could
cause overheating and damage the catalytic
converter. For the sake of the environment
Even when the emission control system is
workin g per

fectly, there may be a smell of
sulphur from the exhaust gas under some
conditions. This depends on the sulphur con-
tent of the fuel used. Quite often the problem
can be solved by changing to another brand
of fuel. Diesel engine particulate filter*
Fig. 173
Vehicle data sticker on back cover of
the M aint
enanc

e Programme. Your vehicle is fitted with a DPF (Diesel Partic-
u
l
at e Fi

lter) if the vehicle data sticker (back
cover of the “Maintenance Programme”) lists
the code PR 7GG ››› Fig. 173.
The diesel engine particulate filter eliminates
most of the soot from the exhaust gas sys-
tem. Under normal driving conditions, the fil-
ter cleans itself. If this is not possible (for ex- ample, multiple short trips) the filter will be
obstruct

ed by soot and  the diesel engine
particulate filter warning lamp will light up.
This does not represent a fault, it is a warning
that indicates that the filter has not been
able to regenerate automatically and that you
must perform a cleaning cycle, as indicated
below.
Accumulation of soot in the diesel engine
particulate filter* 
If the control lamp  lights up you should
help the filter clean itself by driving in the ap-
propriate manner.
To do this, drive about 15 minutes in fourth
or fifth gear (automatic gearbox: S gear
range) at a minimum speed of 60 km/h
(37 mph), with the engine running at approxi-
mately 2,000 rpm. In this way, the soot build
up in the filter is burned. When cleaning is
successful, the control lamp turns off.
If the lamp  does not turn off, or the three
lamps turn on (particulate filter , fault in
the emission control system  and glow
plugs ), drive the vehicle to a specialised
workshop and have the fault repaired at the
earliest opportunity. WARNING
Always drive according to the road weather
conditions, the t err

ain and traffic. Driving rec-
ommendations should never lead to illegal
manoeuvres in surrounding traffic. 170

Driving
CAUTION
● Your v ehic
le is not designed to use biodie-
sel fuel. Never, under any circumstances re-
fuel with biodiesel. The use of biodiesel fuel
could damage the engine and the fuel sys-
tem. The addition of biodiesel to diesel by
the diesel producer in accordance with stand-
ard EN 590 is authorised and will not cause
damage to the engine or the fuel system.
● Using diesel fuel with a high sulphur con-
tent ma
y significantly reduce the useful life of
the diesel particulate filter. Your Technical
Service will be able to tell you which coun-
tries have diesel with a high sulphur content. Engine management* 
This warning lamp monitors the engine man-
ag
ement
sys

tem for petrol engines.
The warning lamp  (Electronic Power Con-
trol) lights up when the ignition is switched
on while system operation is being verified. It
should go out once the engine is started.
If there is a fault in the electronic engine
management system while you are driving,
this warning lamp will light up. Take the vehi-
cle to a specialised workshop as soon as
possible and have the engine checked. Emission control system*  Control lamp
 flashes:
When ther
e is misfiring that can damage the
catalytic converter. Reduce speed and drive
carefully to the nearest specialised workshop
to have the engine checked.
The control lamp  lights up:
If a fault has developed during driving which
has reduced the quality of the exhaust gas
(e.g. lambda probe fault). Reduce speed and
drive carefully to the nearest specialised
workshop to have the engine checked.
Engine pre-heating/fault system*  The warning lamp lights up to show that the
glo
w p
lugs

are preheating the diesel engine.
The control lamp  lights up
If the control lamp  lights up when the en-
gine is started it means that the glow plugs
are preheating. The engine can be started
straight away when the lamp switches off.
Control lamp  flashes
If a fault develops in the engine management
system while you are driving, the glow plug
system lamp will flash . Take the vehicle to
a specialised workshop as soon as possible
and have the engine checked. Driving tips
Driving abro
ad To drive abroad, the following must be taken
into con
s

ideration:
● For vehicles fitted with a catalytic converter
ensure th
at unleaded petrol is available for
the journey. See the chapter “Refuelling”. Au-
tomobile organisations will have information
about service station networks selling unlea-
ded fuel.
● In some countries, it is possible that your
car model i s

not sold, and therefore some
spare parts are not available or the technical
services may only be able to carry out limited
repairs.
SEAT importers and distributors will gladly
provide information about the technical prep-
aration that your vehicle requires and also
about necessary maintenance and repair
possibilities.
Adhesive strips for headlights
In countries where vehicles drive on the other
side of the road to your home country, the
asymmetric dipped beam may dazzle drivers
of oncoming vehicles. »
171
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Care and maintenance
To fold
Un s
cr
ew the aerial rod, tilting it backwards
into a horizontal position and then screw in
again.
To return to working position
Continue in the reverse order to the previous
instruction. CAUTION
If an automatic car wash tunnel is used, be-
fore ent erin

g the tunnel, put the aerial down
parallel to the roof and do not tighten to
avoid damage. Mobile phones and two-way radios
SEAT has approved for your vehicle the use of
mo
b
il

e telephones and two-way radios pro-
viding under the following conditions:
● The external aerial should be correctly in-
stall
ed.
● The transmitting power should be a maxi-
mum 10 watts.
The optimal r

each of the equipment is only
achieved with an external aerial.
First consult your Technical Service if you
wish to use a mobile telephone or a two-way
radio with a transmitting power output in ex-
cess of 10 watts. Here you will receive infor- mation concerning the technical possibilities
for retrofittin

g this equipment.
Mobile telephones and two-way radios
should be only fitted by a specialised work-
shop, for example a SEAT dealership. WARNING
● Alwa y

s concentrate primarily on driving. If
you are distracted while driving you could
have an accident.
● Never attach the telephone mountings to
the surfac
es covering the airbag units or
within the range of the airbags. There is a
high danger of injury if the airbag is trig-
gered.
● Using your mobile telephones or two-way
radios
in the vehicle without an external aer-
ial, electromagnetic radiation in the vehicle
could exceed authorised limits. This also may
occur to external aerials that have not been
correctly installed. CAUTION
Failure to consider the above-mentioned con-
ditions c ou

ld cause the electronics to mal-
function. The most common causes of faults
are:
● no external aerial,
● external aerial incorrectly installed,
● transmitting power output in excess of 10
watts. Note
Please observe the operating instructions of
your mob i

le telephone/two-way radio. Care and cleaning
General not

es Vehicle maintenance
Regu
l

ar care and washing help to maintain
the value of the vehicle. This may also be one
of the requirements for acknowledging war-
ranty claims in the event of bodywork corro-
sion or paint defects.
The best way to protect your vehicle against
the harmful effects of the environment is
through correct maintenance and frequent
washing. The longer substances such as in-
sect remains, bird droppings, resinous tree
sap, road dirt, industrial deposits, tar, soot or
road salt and other aggressive materials re-
main on the vehicle, the more damage they
do to the paintwork. High temperatures, for
instance in strong sunlight, further intensify
the corrosive effect.
After winter, a period when salt is put on the
roads, it is important to have the underside
of the vehicle washed thoroughly. »
191
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

Care and maintenance
– Rin se the
vehic
le thoroughly with water.
– Dry the vehicle surface gently with a cha-
mois le

ather.
– In cold temperature, dry the rubber seals
and their surf

aces to prevent them from
freezing. Apply silicone spray to the rubber
seals.
After washing the vehicle – After washing, avoid sudden and sharp
braking. “Dr

y” the brakes by braking sever-
al times. WARNING
● Wash y

our vehicle with the ignition switch-
ed off.
● Protect your hands and arms from cuts on
sharp metal
edges when cleaning the under-
body, the inside of the wheel housings etc.
Risk of injury.
● Water, ice and salt on the brake system can
reduce brak
ing effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. CAUTION
● Never remo v

e dirt, mud or dust if the vehi-
cle surface is dry. Never use a dry cloth or
sponge for cleaning purposes. This could
scratch the paintwork or glass on your vehi-
cle. ●
Washin g the

vehicle in low temperatures:
when washing the vehicle with a hose, do not
direct water into the lock cylinders or the
gaps around the doors, rear lid, or sunroof.
Risk of freezing. For the sake of the environment
To protect the environment, the vehicle
shou ld be w a

shed only in specially provided
wash bays, to prevent toxic, oil-laden waste
water from entering the sewer system. In
some places, washing vehicles outside wash
bays is prohibited. Note
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. Washing the vehicle with a high pres-
s
ur
e c l

eaner Be particularly careful when using a high
pr
e
ss

ure cleaner!
– Always observe the instructions for the
high-press

ure cleaner, particularly those
concerning the pressure and the spraying
distance.
– Increase the spraying distance for soft ma-
terials

and painted bumpers. –
Do not use a high pre
ssure cleaner to re-
move ice or snow from windows
››› page 194.
– Never use concentrated jet nozzles (“rotat-
ing jets”) ››

› .
– After washing, avoid sudden and sharp
br ak
ing. “Dr

y” the brakes by braking sever-
al times ››› page 152. WARNING
● Never wa sh ty

res with a concentrated jet
(“rotating nozzle”). Even at large spraying
distances and short cleaning times, damage
can occur to the tyres. This may cause an ac-
cident.
● Water, ice and salt on the brake system can
reduce brak
ing effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. CAUTION
● Do not use w at

er hotter than +60 °C
(+140 °F). This could damage the vehicle.
● To avoid damage to the vehicle, keep a suf-
ficient dis
tance from sensitive materials such
as flexible hoses, plastic, soundproofing ma-
terial, etc. This also applies to bumpers pain-
ted in the colour of the bodywork. The closer
the nozzle is to the surface, the greater the
wear on the material. 193
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Sensors and camera lenses ●
Use a small brush to remove snow and a
de-icer spr a
y to remove ice.
● Clean the sensors with a solvent-free prod-
uct and a soft, dry
cloth.
● Moisten the camera lens using a standard
alcohol-ba
sed glass cleaning agent and
clean the lens with a dry cloth. CAUTION
● When you c l

ean the vehicle with a pressure
washer:
–Stay a suitable distance from the sensors
on the front and rear bumpers.
– Do not clean the camera lenses or sur-
rounding area with the pressure washer.
● Never use warm or hot water to remove
snow and ice fr
om the reverse camera lens,
as it could crack the lens.
● Never use abrasive cleaning agents on the
lens. Vehicle paint maintenance
Regular waxing protects the paintwork.
Y
ou need t
o app

ly wax to your vehicle if water
does not form small drops and run off the
paintwork when it is clean.
Good quality hard wax products are available
at your Technical Service. Regular wax applications help to protect the
paintwork fr

om environmental contaminants
››› page 191. It is also effective in protecting
against minor scratches.
Even if a wax solution is used regularly in the
vehicle washing tunnel, it is advisable to pro-
tect the paint with a hard wax coating at least
twice a year.
Polishing the paintwork Polishing is only necessary if the paint has
lo
s
t its

shine, and the gloss cannot be
brought back by applying wax. Polishing
products can be purchased in your Technical
Service.
The vehicle must be waxed after polishing if
the polish used does not contain wax com-
pounds to seal the paint ››› page 194, Vehicle
paint maintenance . CAUTION
To prevent damage to the paintwork:
● Do not use polishes and hard wax on pain-
ted par t

s with a matt finish or on plastic
parts.
● Do not polish your vehicle in a sandy or
dusty en
vironment. Caring for plastic parts
If normal washing fails to clean plastic parts,
cle
an them w

ith approved solvent-free plas-
tic cleaning and care products. CAUTION
● The use of li quid air fr

eshener directly over
the air vents of the vehicle may damage the
plastic parts if the liquid is accidentally spil-
led.
● Cleaning products which contain solvents
will
damage the material. Cleaning of windows and mirrors
Cleaning windows
– Moisten the windows with commercially
av ai
lab

le, alcohol based glass cleaner.
– Dry the windows with a clean chamois
leather or a lint-fr

ee cloth.
Removing snow – Use a small brush to remove snow from the
windows

and mirrors.
Removing ice
– Use a de-icer spray.
Use a cle
an cloth or chamois leather to dry
the windows. The chamois leathers used on
194

Care and maintenance
painted surfaces are not suitable to clean
w indo
ws
because they are soiled with wax
deposits which could smear the windows.
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.
Use window cleaner or a silicone remover to
clean rubber, oil, grease and silicone depos-
its off.
Wax deposits can only be removed with a
special cleaner available at your Technical
Service. Wax deposits on the windscreen
could cause the wiper blades to judder. Add-
ing a window cleaner that dissolves wax to
the windscreen washer fluid prevents wiper
blades from juddering, but wax deposits are
not removed. CAUTION
● Never use w arm or hot

water to remove
snow and ice from windows and mirrors. This
could cause the glass to crack!
● The heating element for the rear window is
located on the inner side of
the window. To
prevent damage, do not put stickers over the
heating elements on the inside of the win-
dow. Cleaning windscreen wiper blades
Clean wiper blades improve visibility. 1. Use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt
from the w
inds

creen wiper blades.
2. Use window cleaner to clean the wind- screen w
iper blades. Use a sponge or a
cloth to remove stubborn dirt.
Care of rubber seals If rubber seals are well looked after, they will
not freez
e so quic

kly.
1. Use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt from the rubber seal s.
2.

Apply a specialist care product to the rub-
ber seals.
The rubber strip

s on the doors, windows, etc.
will remain pliable and last longer if they are
treated with a suitable rubber care product
from time to time (for example silicone
spray).
Caring for rubber seals will also prevent pre-
mature ageing and leaks. The doors will be
easier to open. If rubber seals are well looked
after, they will not freeze so quickly in winter.
Door lock cylinder The door lock cylinders can freeze up in win-
t
er
. T
o de-ic
e the lock cylinders you should only
use spra
y with lubricating and anti-corrosive
properties.
Cleaning chrome parts 1. Clean chrome parts with a damp cloth.
2. Polish chrome parts with a soft, dry cloth.
If this
doe

s not provide satisfying results, use
a specialist chrome cleaning product.
Chrome cleaning products will remove stains
from the surface. CAUTION
To prevent scratching chrome surfaces:
● Never use an abrasive cleaning product on
chrome.
● Do not c

lean or polish chrome parts in a
sandy or dus
ty environment. Steel wheel rims
–
Clean steel wheel rims regularly using a
sep ar
at e s

ponge.
Use an industrial cleaner to remove brake
dust. Any damage to the paint on steel wheel
rims should be repaired before starting to
rust. »
195
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Care and maintenance
●
Befor e openin
g the bonnet, switch the en-
gine off, apply the handbrake firmly and al-
ways remove the key from the ignition.
● Allow the engine to cool before you clean
the engine compar
tment.
● Do not clean, for example, the vehicle un-
derbody, wheel arc
hes or wheel trims without
protecting your hands and arms. You may cut
yourself on sharp-edged metal parts. Failure
to comply could result in injury.
● Moisture, ice and salt on the brake system
may aff
ect braking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. Directly after washing, avoid sudden
and sharp braking.
● Never touch the radiator fan. It is tempera-
ture-contr
olled and could start automatically,
even when the key is removed from the igni-
tion! For the sake of the environment
Fuel, grease and oil deposits can be removed
when the engine is w

ashed. The polluted wa-
ter must be cleaned in an oil separator. For
this reason, engine washing should be car-
ried out only by a specialised workshop or a
petrol station. Caring for the vehicle interior
C l
e anin

g plastic parts and the dash
panel –
Use a clean, damp cloth to clean plastic
parts and the d

ash panel.
– If this does not provide satisfactory results,
use a speci

al solvent-free plastic cleaning
product. WARNING
Never clean the dash panel and the airbag
module s ur

face with cleaners containing sol-
vents. Solvents cause the surface to become
porous. If the airbag triggered, plastic parts
could become detached and cause injuries. CAUTION
Cleaning products which contain solvents will
damag e the m

aterial. Cleaning wooden trim*
–
Clean the wooden trim with a water-mois-
tened c
le

an cloth.
– If this does not provide satisfactory results,
use a gentle

soap solution. CAUTION
Cleaning products which contain solvents will
damag e the m

aterial. Cleaning upholstery and fabric trim
Cloth seat covers and fabric trim on the
doors, hea
dlinin

g etc. can be cleaned with a
special interior cleaner or with dry foam and
a soft brush.
Cleaning the radio and climate con-
trol s To clean the radio and/or climate controls,
u
se a sof
t d

amp cloth. For more resistant dirt,
a neutral soap solution may be used.
Cleaning leather* Normal cleaning
–
Moisten a cotton or woollen cloth with wa-
ter and w
ipe ov

er the leather surfaces.
Cleaning stubborn stains – More stubborn dirt can be removed using a
mild soap so

lution (pure liquid soap; two
tablespoons diluted in one litre of water)
and a cloth. »
197
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety