2016 Seat Ibiza ST Owner's manual

Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
Oil is highly inflammable! Ensure that no oil
comes int
o contact with hot engine compo-
nents when topping up. CAUTION
If the oil level is above the area A do not
star t

the engine. This could result in damage
to the engine and catalytic converter. Contact
a specialised workshop. For the sake of the environment
The oil level must never be above area A .
Otherwi se oi

l can be drawn in through the
crankcase breather and escape into the at-
mosphere via the exhaust system. Changing engine oil
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
 p

age 41
The engine oil must be changed at the inter-
vals given in the service schedule.
We recommend that you have the engine oil
changed by a Technical Service.
The oil change intervals are shown in the
Maintenance Programme. WARNING
Only change the engine oil yourself if you
have the s pec

ialist knowledge required!
● Before opening the bonnet, read and ob-
serve the warnin
gs ››› page 201, safety notes
for work in the engine compartment .
● Wait for the engine to cool down. Hot oil
may c
ause burn injuries.
● Wear eye protection to avoid injuries, such
as acid b
urns, caused by splashes of oil.
● When removing the oil drain plug with your
fingers, k
eep your arm horizontal to help pre-
vent oil from running down your arm.
● Wash your skin thoroughly if it comes into
contact w
ith engine oil.
● Engine oil is poisonous! Used oil must be
stored in a s
afe place out of the reach of chil-
dren. CAUTION
No additives should be used with engine oil.
This c ou

ld result in engine damage. Any dam-
age caused by the use of such additives
would not be covered by the factory warranty. For the sake of the environment
● Becau se of

disposal problems and the spe-
cial tools and specialist knowledge required,
we recommend that you have the engine oil
and filter changed by a Technical Service. ●
Never pour oil do

wn drains or into the
ground.
● Use a suitable container when draining the
used oil. It
must be large enough to hold all
the engine oil. Cooling system
Contro l

lamp There is a fault if:
● The  l amp does not go out again after a
f ew sec ond

s.
● The  lamp lights up or flashes while the
vehicl
e is running, and three acoustic warn-
ing signals are emitted ››› .
Thi s
me an

s that either the coolant level is too
low or the coolant temperature is too high.
Coolant temperature too high
If the  lamp lights up, stop the vehicle,
turn off the engine and wait for it to cool
down. Check the coolant level.
If the coolant level is correct, the overheating
may be caused by a malfunction of the radia-
tor fan. Check the radiator fan fuse and have
it replaced if necessary ››› page 81.
If the control lamp lights up again after driv-
ing on for a short distance, stop the vehicle»
207
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
and switch the engine off. C ont
act a
Techni-
cal Service or a specialised workshop.
Coolant level too low
If the  lamp lights up, stop the vehicle,
turn off the engine and wait for it to cool
down. First check the coolant level. If the lev-
el of the coolant is below the “MIN” mark,
top up with coolant liquid ››› .
WARNING
● If y our

vehicle is immobilised for technical
reasons, move it to a safe distance from traf-
fic. Turn the engine off, turn the hazard lights
on and place the warning triangle.
● Never open the bonnet if you can see or
hear ste
am or coolant escaping from the en-
gine compartment. Risk of scalding. Wait un-
til you can no longer see or hear escaping
steam or coolant.
● The engine compartment is a dangerous
area. Bef
ore carrying out any work in the en-
gine compartment, switch off the engine and
allow it to cool down. Always note the corre-
sponding warnings ››› page 201. Topping up coolant
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
 p

age 42
Top up coolant when the level is below the
MIN (minimum) mark. Checking coolant level
– Park the vehicle in a horizontal position.
– Switch the ignition off.
– Read off the coolant level on coolant ex-
pansion t

ank. When the engine is cold, the
coolant level should be between the marks.
When the engine is hot, it may be slightly
above the upper mark.
Topping up coolant – Wait for the engine to cool down.
– Cover the coolant expansion tank cap with
a cloth and caref

ully unscrew it to the left
››› .
– Top up the coolant only if there is still cool-
ant in the e
xpan

sion tank, otherwise you
could damage the engine. If there is no
coolant in the expansion tank, do not con-
tinue driving. You should obtain professio- nal assistance ››› .
– If there is still some coolant in the expan-
sion t
ank, t op up t

o the upper mark.
– Top up with coolant until the level becomes
stabl

e.
– Screw the cap back on correctly.
Any los
s of coolant fluid normally indicates a
leak in the cooling system. Take the vehicle
straight to a specialised workshop to have
the cooling system examined. If there are no leaks in the engine cooling system, a loss of
coolant

can only occur if the coolant boils
and is forced out of the system as a result of
overheating. WARNING
● The coolin g sy

stem is under pressure. Do
not unscrew the cap on the coolant expan-
sion tank when the engine is hot: risk of
burns!
● The antifreeze and coolant fluid can be a
health haz
ard. Therefore, the antifreeze
should be stored in the original container in a
safe place out of reach of children. Failure to
comply could result in poisoning.
● If working inside the engine compartment,
remember that, even when the ignition i
s
switched off, the radiator fan may start up au-
tomatically, and therefore there is a risk of in-
jury. WARNING
If there is not enough anti-freeze in the cool-
ant sys t

em, the engine may fail leading to se-
rious damage.
● Please make sure that the percentage of
additive i
s correct with respect to the lowest
expected ambient temperature in the zone in
which the vehicle is to be used.
● When the outside temperature is very low,
the coolant
could freeze and the vehicle
would be immobilised. In this case, the heat-
ing would not work either and inadequately
dressed passengers could die of cold. 208

Checking and refilling levels
CAUTION
Do not top up the expansion tank with cool-
ant fluid if it i
s empty! Air could enter the
cooling system. In this case, stop driving.
Seek specialist assistance. Otherwise, there
is a risk of engine damage. CAUTION
The original additives should never be mixed
with coo l

ants which are not approved by
SEAT. Otherwise, you run the risk of causing
severe damage to the engine and the engine
cooling system.
● If the fluid in the expansion tank is not pur-
ple but
is, for example, brown, this indicates
that the G13 additive has been mixed with an
inadequate coolant. The coolant must be
changed as soon as possible if this is the
case! This could result in serious faults and
engine damage. For the sake of the environment
Coolants and additives can contaminate the
envir onment

. If any fluids are spilled, they
should be collected and correctly disposed
of, with respect to the environment. Brake fluid
Chec k
in g the br

ake fluid level Read the additional information carefully
›››
 p

age 43
The position of the brake fluid reservoir is
shown in the corresponding engine compart-
ment illustration ››› page 204. The brake fluid
reservoir has a black and yellow cap.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the
vehicle is being used as the brake pads are
automatically adjusted as they wear.
However, if the level goes down noticeably in
a short time, or drops below the “MIN” mark,
there may be a leak in the brake system. A
display on the instrument panel will warn you
if the brake fluid level is too low ›››
page 100. WARNING
Before opening the bonnet to check the brake
fluid level, r e

ad and observe the warnings
››› page 201. Changing the brake fluid
The Maintenance Programme indicates brake
fluid c
h
an g

e intervals.
We recommend that you have the brake fluid
changed by a Technical Service. Before opening the bonnet, please read and
follo

w the warnings ››› in safety notes for
w ork
in the en gine c
ompartment on
page 201 in section “Safety notes for work-
ing in the engine compartment”.
In the course of time, brake fluid becomes
hygroscopic and absorbs water from the am-
bient air. If the water content in the brake flu-
id is too high, the brake system could cor-
rode. This also considerably reduces the boil-
ing point of the brake fluid. Heavy use of the
brakes may then cause a vapour lock which
could impair the braking effect.
Be sure to always use the correct brake fluid.
Only use brake fluid that expressly meets the
VW 501 14 standard.
You can buy VW 501 14 standard brake fluid
in a SEAT dealership or a SEAT Official Serv-
ice. If none is available, use only high-quality
brake fluid that meets DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
standards, or USA Standards FMVSS 116 DOT
4.
Using any other kind of brake fluid or one
that is not of a high quality may affect opera-
tion of the brake system and reduce its effec-
tiveness. Never use a brake fluid if the con-
tainer does not state that it complies with VW
501 14, DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards, or
USA standards FMVSS 116 DOT 4. »
209
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous. Old brake fluid im-
pairs the br
aking effect.
● Before opening the bonnet to check the
brake fluid lev
el, read and observe the warn-
ings ››› page 201.
● Brake fluid should be stored in the closed
original c
ontainer in a safe place out of reach
of children. There is a toxic risk.
● Perform the brake fluid change according to
the Maintenanc
e Programme. Heavy use of
the brakes may cause a vapour lock if the
brake fluid is left in the brake system for too
long. This would seriously affect the effec-
tiveness of the brakes and the safety of the
vehicle. This may cause an accident. CAUTION
Brake fluid damages the vehicle paintwork.
Wipe off an y

brake fluid from the paintwork
immediately. For the sake of the environment
The brake pads and brake fluid must be col-
lected and di s

posed of according the applica-
ble regulations. The SEAT Technical Service
network has the necessary equipment and
qualified personnel for collecting and dispos-
ing of this waste material. Windscreen washer reservoir
Top
pin g up the w

indscreen washer
reservoir water Read the additional information carefully
›››
 p

age 43
The windscreen washer and the headlight
washers are supplied with fluid from the
windscreen washer fluid container in the en-
gine compartment. The container holds ap-
prox. 3 litres; in vehicles with headlight
washers* it holds approx. 4.5 litres.
The tank is in the engine compartment.
Plain water is not enough to clean the wind-
screen and headlights. We recommend that
you always add a product to the windscreen
washer fluid. Approved windscreen cleaning
products exist on the market with high deter-
gent and anti-freeze properties, these may be
added all-year-round. Please follow the dilu-
tion instructions on the packaging. WARNING
Any work carried out in the engine compart-
ment or on the engine mu s

t be carried out
cautiously.
● When working in the engine compartment,
alway
s observe the safety warnings
››› page 201. CAUTION
● Never put r

adiator anti-freeze or other addi-
tives into the windscreen washer fluid.
● Always use approved windscreen cleansing
products di
luted as per instructions. If you
use other washer fluids or soap solutions,
the tiny holes in the fan-shaped nozzles
could become blocked. Vehicle battery
Symbol s

and warnings on handling
the battery Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
 p

age 43 
Wear eye protection

Battery acid is extremely corrosive. Wear protec-
tive gloves and eye protection!

Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking are pro-
hibited!

A highly explosive mixture of gases is released
when the battery is under charge.

Keep children away from acid and batteries!
210

Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
Always be aware of the danger of injury and
chemica l
burns as well as the risk of accident
or fire when working on the battery and the
electrical system:
● Wear eye protection. Protect your eyes,
skin and clothing fr
om acid and particles con-
taining lead.
● Battery acid is extremely corrosive. Wear
protective glo
ves and eye protection. Do not
tilt the batteries. This could spill acid through
the vents.
● Rinse battery acid from eyes immediately
for severa
l minutes with clear water. Then
seek medical care immediately. Neutralise
any acid splashes on the skin or clothing
with a soapy solution, and rinse off with plen-
ty of water. If acid is swallowed by mistake,
consult a doctor immediately.
● Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking are
prohibited.
When handling cables and electri-
cal equipment, avoid causing sparks and
electrostatic charge. Never short the battery
terminals. High-energy sparks can cause in-
jury.
● A highly explosive mixture of gases is re-
leased when the b
attery is under charge. The
batteries should be charged in a well-ventila-
ted room only.
● Keep children away from acid and batteries.
● Before working on the electrical system,
you must
switch off the engine, the ignition
and all electrical devices. The negative cable on the battery must be disconnected. When a
light bu
l

b is changed, you need only switch
off the light.
● Deactivate the anti-theft alarm by unlock-
ing the vehic
le before you disconnect the bat-
tery! The alarm will otherwise be triggered.
● When disconnecting the battery from the
vehicle on-bo
ard network, disconnect first
the negative cable and then the positive ca-
ble.
● Switch off all electrical devices before re-
connecting the batt
ery. Reconnect first the
positive cable and then the negative cable.
Never reverse the polarity of the connections.
This could cause an electrical fire.
● Never charge a frozen battery, or one which
has th
awed. This could result in explosions
and chemical burns. Always replace a battery
which has frozen. A flat battery can also
freeze at temperatures close to 0 °C (+32 °F).
● Ensure that the vent hose is always connec-
ted to the batt
ery.
● Never use a defective battery. This could
cause an exp
losion. Replace a damaged bat-
tery immediately.
● For vehicles with the battery in the luggage
compartment: Chec
k that the battery gas
ventilation hose is securely attached. CAUTION
● Never dis c

onnect the battery if the ignition
is switched on or if the engine is running. This could damage the electrical system or
electronic
c

omponents.
● Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight
over a long period of
time, as the intense ul-
traviolet radiation can damage the battery
housing.
● If the vehicle is left standing in cold condi-
tions for a lon
g period, protect the battery
from “freezing”. If it freezes it will be dam-
aged. Warning lamp

It lights up
Alternator fault.
The control lamp
 lights up when the igni-
tion i s sw

itched on. It should go out when the
engine has started running.
If the control lamp  lights up while driving,
the alternator is no longer charging the bat-
tery. You should immediately drive to the
nearest specialised workshop.
You should avoid using electrical equipment
that is not absolutely necessary because this
will drain the battery.
211
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Checking the battery electrolyte level The electrolyte level should be checked regu-
larly in high-mi
l
eage vehicles, in hot coun-
tries and in older batteries.
– Open the bonnet and open the battery cov-
er at the front ›

›› in safety notes for work
in the engine comp ar
tment on page 202
››› in Symbols and warnings on handling
the batter y on p

age 211. For vehicles with
the battery under the spare wheel, open
the rear lid and lift the floor covering. The
battery is located next to the spare wheel.
– Check the colour display in the "magic eye"
on the top of the b att

ery.
– If there are air bubbles in the window, tap
the window gently

until they disperse.
The position of the battery is shown in the
corresponding engine compartment diagram
››› page 204. The location of the battery in
the luggage compartment can be seen in
››› Fig. 186.
The “magic eye” indicator, located on the top
of the battery changes colour, depending on
the charge state and electrolyte level of the
battery.
There are two different colours:
● Black: correct charge status.
● Transparent/clear yellow: the battery must
be replac
ed. Contact a specialised workshop. Charging or changing the battery The battery is maintenance-free and is
check
ed durin

g the inspection service. All
work on the vehicle battery requires special-
ist knowledge.
If you often drive short distances or if the ve-
hicle is not driven for long periods, the bat-
tery should be checked by a specialised
workshop between the scheduled services.
If the battery has discharged and you have
problems starting the vehicle, the battery
might be damaged. If this happens, we rec-
ommend you have the vehicle battery
checked by a Technical Service where it will
be re-charged or replaced.
Charging the battery
The vehicle battery should be charged by a
specialised workshop only, as batteries us-
ing special technology have been installed
and they must be charged in a controlled en-
vironment.
Replacing a vehicle battery
The battery has been developed to suit the
conditions of its location and has special
safety features.
Genuine SEAT batteries meet the mainte-
nance, performance and safety specifications
of your vehicle. WARNING
● We rec ommend
you use only maintenance-
free or cycle free leak-proof batteries which
comply with standards T 825 06 and
VW 7 50 73. This standard applies as of
2001.
● Before starting any work on the batteries,
you must
read and observe the warnings
››› in Symbols and warnings on handling
the batter y on p

age 211. For the sake of the environment
Batteries contain toxic substances such as
sulphuric ac

id and lead. They must be dis-
posed of appropriately and must not be dis-
posed of with ordinary household waste. 212

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