2016 Seat Leon 5D warning

Operation
WARNING
Never switch off the engine while the vehicle
is mo
ving. This could cause loss of control of
the vehicle, accidents and serious injury.
● The airbags and belt tensioners do not
work when the ignition i
s switched off.
● The brake servo does not work with the en-
gine off. Ther
efore, you need to press the
break pedal harder to brake the vehicle.
● Power steering does not work when the en-
gine is not
running. You need more strength
to steer when the engine is switched off.
● If the ignition is switched off, the steering
column c
ould be locked, making it impossible
to control the vehicle. CAUTION
If the engine is made to work hard for a long
time, it m a

y overheat after being switched
off. To prevent damage to the engine before
switching it off, leave it idle for approx. 2 mi-
nutes in neutral. Note
After switching off the engine, the cooling fan
ma y

continue to operate in the engine com-
partment for a few more minutes, even with
the ignition off. The radiator fan is automati-
cally switched off. “My Beat” Function
For vehicles with a convenience key there is
the “My
B

eat” function. This feature provides
an additional indication of the vehicle igni-
tion system.
When accessing the vehicle, e.g. by opening
the doors with the remote control, the START ENGINE STOP button flashes, drawing at-
tention t o the r

elevant starter system button.
Upon switching the ignition on/off, the light
of the START ENGINE STOP button flashes. With
the en gine sw
it

ched off, after a few seconds,
the STOP ENGINE START button stops flashing
and g oe
s

out.
With the engine running, the START ENGINE STOP button light stays on, indi-
c atin
g th

at the engine is running. Upon
switching the ignition off with the START ENGINE STOP button, it starts flashing
ag ain.
In v

ehicles with the Start-Stop system , the
“My Beat” function also offers additional in-
formation:
● When the engine stops during the Stop
phase, the light
of the START ENGINE STOP but-
t on s
t
ays on, since, even though the engine
is off, the Start-Stop system is active.
● When the engine cannot be stated again
with the St
art-Stop system, ›››
page 191, and
needs to be started manually, the START ENGINE STOP button flashes to indicate
thi s
f

act.
Braking and parking Electronic
parking brake* Fig. 188
In the lower part of the centre con-
so l
e: el

ectronic parking brake button. The electronic parking brake replaces the
h
andbr
ak

e.
Activating the electronic parking brake
The electronic parking brake can be activated
whenever the vehicle is at a standstill, even
when the ignition is switched off. Activate it
whenever you leave or park the vehicle.
● Pull and hold the  ›››
Fig. 188 button.
● The parking brake is activated when the
contro
l light of the ››› Fig. 188 button (arrow)
172

Driving
and the r ed  control light of the display in
the d a
sh panel are on.
● Release the button.
Rele
asing the electronic parking brake
● Switch the ignition on.
● Press the button  ›››
Fig. 188. At the same
time step hard on the brake pedal or, if the
engine is running, press the accelerator ped-
al slightly.
● The control light of the ›››
Fig. 188 button
(arrow) and the red  control light of the dis-
play in the dash panel go out.
Automatic release of the electronic parking
brake on starting the engine
The electronic parking brake is automatically
switched off when starting if, after the driv-
er's door is closed and the driver's seat belt
fastened, any of the following situations take
place:
● On vehicles with an automatic gearbox: A
gear r
ange is engaged or the vehicle is
switched to another one and the accelerator
pedal is lightly pressed.
● In vehicles with a manual gearbox: The
clutc
h pedal is pressed fully before starting
off and the accelerator is pedal lightly press-
ed.
● To facilitate certain manoeuvres there are
exc
eptions that allow the automatic parking brake to be released without the driver's seat
belt being f

astened.
The parking brake can be prevented from be-
ing automatically released by continuously
pulling up the  ››› Fig. 188 switch when
starting off.
The electronic parking brake is not discon-
nected until the  button is released. This
can facilitate starting off when a heavy load
is towed ››› page 234.
Automatic activation of the electronic park-
ing brake when exiting the vehicle incorrect-
ly
In vehicles with automatic transmission, the
electronic parking brake is activated auto-
matically when exiting the vehicle incorrectly
if: ● The selector lever is in the D/S or R posi-
tion or in the
Tiptronic selection track.
● AND: the vehicle is stationary.
● AND: the driv

er door is
open.
Emergency braking function
Only use the emergency brake function if you
are unable to stop the vehicle with the foot
brake ››› .
● Pull and hold the  › ›
›
Fig. 188 button in
this position to forcefully stop the vehicle. At the same time, an acoustic warning can be
heard.
●
T

o stop the braking process, release the
button or pr
ess the accelerator. WARNING
The improper use of the electronic parking
brak e c

an cause accidents and serious injury.
● Never use the electronic parking brake to
stop the
vehicle, unless it is an emergency.
The braking distance can be much longer. Al-
ways use the foot brake.
● Never accelerate from the engine when a
gear r
ange or a gear is engaged and the en-
gine is running. The vehicle could move, even
if the electronic parking brake is activated. CAUTION
To prevent the vehicle from unintentionally
mov in

g when parking it, first apply the elec-
tronic parking brake and then remove your
foot from the brake pedal. Note
● In v ehic

les with a manual gearbox, releas-
ing the clutch and accelerating at the same
time automatically disconnects the electronic
parking brake.
● If the vehicle battery is flat, it will not be
poss
ible to disconnect the electronic parking
brake. Use the jump-start ›››
 page 61. » 173
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
●
When the electr onic
parking brake is ap-
plied or released, noises may be heard.
● The system performs automatic and audi-
ble t
ests sporadically in the parked vehicle if
some time elapses without the electronic
parking brake being used. Using the handbrake
Fig. 189
Handbrake between the front seats. The handbrake should be applied firmly to
pr
ev
ent

the vehicle from accidentally rolling
away.
Always apply the handbrake when you leave
your vehicle and when you park.
Applying the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up firmly
›››
Fig. 189. Releasing the handbrake
– Pull the lever up slightly and press the re-
lea

se knob in the direction of the arrow
››› Fig. 189 and guide the handbrake lever
down fully ››› .
A lw
a

ys pull the handbrake all the way up, so
there is less risk of driving off with it still en-
gaged ››› .
The h andbr
ak

e warning lamp  lights up
when the handbrake is applied and the igni-
tion switched on. The warning lamp turns off
when the handbrake is released.
If you drive faster than 6 km/h (4 mph) with
the handbrake on, the following message*
will appear on the instrument panel: HAND-
BRAKE ON. You will also hear an audible
warning. WARNING
● Never u se the h

andbrake to stop the vehi-
cle when it is in motion. The braking distance
is considerably longer, because braking is
only applied to the rear wheels. Risk of acci-
dent!
● If the handbrake is only partially released,
this w
ill cause the rear brakes to overheat,
which can impair the function of the brake
system and could lead to an accident. This al-
so causes premature wear on the rear brake
pads. CAUTION
Always apply the handbrake before you leave
the v ehic

le. Put it in 1st gear as well. Parking
The handbrake should always be firmly ap-
plied when the
v

ehicle is parked.
Always note the following points when park-
ing the vehicle: – Use the brake pedal to stop the vehicle.
– Apply the handbrake.
– Put it in 1st gear.
– Switch the engine off and remove the key
from the ignition. T

urn the steering wheel
slightly to engage the steering lock.
– Never leave a vehicle key in the vehicle.
Additiona
l notes on parking the vehicle on
gradients:
Turn the steering wheel so that the vehicle
rolls against the kerb if it started to roll.
● If the vehicle is parked facing downhil
l,
turn the front wheels so that they point to-
wards the kerb .
● If the vehicle is parked facing uphill
, turn
the front wheels so that they point away from
the kerb.
174

Driving
● Sec ur
e the
vehicle as usual by applying the
handbrake firmly and putting it in 1st gear. WARNING
● Tak e me

asures to reduce the risk of injury
when you leave your vehicle unattended.
● Never park where the hot exhaust system
coul
d ignite inflammable materials, such as
dry grass, low bushes, spilt fuel etc.
● Never allow vehicle occupants to remain in
the vehic
le when it is locked. They would be
unable to open the vehicle from the inside,
and could become trapped in the vehicle in
an emergency. In the event of an emergency,
locked doors will delay assistance to vehicle
occupants.
● Never leave children alone in the vehicle.
They cou
ld set the vehicle in motion, for ex-
ample, by releasing the handbrake or the
gearbox lever.
● Depending on weather conditions, it may
become extr
emely hot or cold inside the vehi-
cle. This can be fatal. Brakes
New brake pads
F
or the fir
s

t 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
overlo

ading 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-
ers 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 longer 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. »
175
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
Brake servo
The br ak
e ser
vo increases the pressure you
apply to the brake pedal. It works only when
the engine is running. WARNING
● App 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
neutral, when the en
gine is stopped. Failure
to follow this instruction could result in an
accident.
● If the brake fluid loses its viscosity and is
subj
ected to heavy use, vapour bubbles can
form in the brake system. This reduces the ef-
ficiency of the brakes. CAUTION
● Never 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.
● Before 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 ak

e 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 s
uch 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. Braking and stability systems
El ectr
onic

Stability Control (ESC) The ESC helps to improve safety. It reduces
the t
endency
t

o 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 .
ESC includes the Anti-lock brake system
(ABS), the brake assist system, the traction
control system (ASR), electronic differential
lock (EDL), electronic self-locking*, selective
torque control* and tractor-trailer sway miti- gation*. ESC also helps stabilise the vehicle
by c

hanging 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.
Brake assist system
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.
Electronic 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).
176

Driving
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel
fr om o
v
erheating, 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
situations the torque delivered to the inner
wheel is 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 cou
nter 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 during the accident:
● When the driver presses the accelerator,
the automatic
braking does not take place.
● When the braking pressure through press-
ing the brak
e pedal is greater than the sys-
tem’s braking pressure the vehicle will brake
automatically. ●
Multi-c
ollision braking will not be available
if ESC is malfunctioning. WARNING
● The ESC, ABS, ASR, EDL, el ectr

onic self-
locking differential or selective torque control
systems cannot exceed the limits imposed by
the laws of physics. Always bear this in mind,
especially on wet or slippery roads. If you no-
tice the systems cutting in, you should re-
duce your speed immediately to suit the road
and traffic conditions. Do not be encouraged
to take risks by the presence of more safety
systems. If you do, an accident may occur.
● Please remember that the accident risk al-
way
s 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, EDL, electronic
self-locking and selective torque control sys-
tems cannot prevent accidents: risk of acci-
dents!
● Accelerate with caution on slippery surfa-
ces
(for example, icy or snow-covered). De-
spite the control systems, the driven wheels
could spin, affecting the stability of the vehi-
cle: risk of accident! Note
● The ABS and ASR w i

ll 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. » 177
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
●
The re gu
lating processes of the systems
can make noises when they intervene.
● If the warning lamp  lights up
, or  alter-
natively, there could be a fault ››› page 109. Switching on/off the ESC and ASR
Fig. 190
Centre console: Button for switching
on/off the E
SC

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 and ESC function should only be
switched off in situations in which traction is
insufficient, among others:
● When driving in deep snow or on surfaces
that ar
e not very firm.
● To “free” the vehicle if it gets stuck. Then switch the ASR and ESC function back
on.
Depending on fini

shes and versions, it is
possible either to disconnect only the ASR or
else activate ESC Sport mode.
ESC in “Sport” mode
Sport mode can be connected via the Easy
Connect ››› page 110 system menu. The ac-
tion of the ESC and the ASR is limited ››› .
The c ontr
o

l lamp  lights up. For vehicles
with a driver information system*, the driver
will be shown the electronic stability
control (ESC) option: sport.
Warning! Limited stability.
Disable ESC “Sport” mode
Through the Easy Connect system menu
››› page 110. The warning lamp  will switch
off. For vehicles with a driver information sys-
tem*, the driver will be shown the elec-
tronic stability control (ESC)
option: on.
Disable ASR
The Easy Connect system menu is used to
switch off the ASR ››› page 110. The traction
control system will be disabled.
The control lamp  lights up. For vehicles
with a driver information system* the driver
will be informed that ASR is disabled.Activate ASR
The Easy

Connect system menu ››› page 110
is used to switch on the ASR. The traction
control system will be enabled.
The control lamp  switches off. For vehicles
with a driver information system* the driver
will be informed that ASR is enabled.
Disconnection of the ESC
In some versions of the model, besides the
traction control system (ASR), the electronic
stability programme (ESC) can also be
switched off.
● Press the button  ›››
Fig. 190 for approxi-
mately 1 second to switch off the ASR func-
tion.
● Press the button  ›››
Fig. 190 for approxi-
mately 3 seconds to switch off the Electronic
Stability programme (ESC), including the ASR
function.
● The ASR and ESC function are reconnected
by pr
essing the button  ››› Fig. 190.
● OR: activate or deactivate the ASR or ESC
fu
nction in the Easy Connect system by
means of the button  and the function
b utt
on

s SETUP and
E
SC
System .
WARNING
You should switch on the ESC Sport mode on-
ly if the tr

affic conditions and your driving178

Driving
ability allow you to do so safely: risk of
skid
din
g!
● With ESC in Sport mode, the stabilising
function w
ill be limited to allow for a sportier
drive. The driving wheels could spin and the
vehicle could “skid”.
● If the ESC/ASR is deactivated, the vehicle
stab
ilisation function is not available. Note
If the ASR is disconnected or the ESC’s Sport
mode i s sel

ected, cruise control* will be
switched off. Hill driving assistant
The hill driving assistant helps the driver to
mo
v
e off

and upward on a hill when the vehi-
cle is stationary.
The system maintains brake pressure for ap-
proximately two seconds after the driver
takes his foot off the brake pedal to prevent
the vehicle from lurching backward when it is
started. During these 2 seconds, the driver
has enough time to release the clutch pedal
and accelerate without the vehicle moving
and without having to use the handbrake,
making start-up easier, more comfortable
and safer.
These are the basic operation conditions: ●
being on a ramp or hi
ll/slope,
● doors closed,
● vehicle completely stationary,
● engine running and foot on the brake,
● besides having a gear engaged or being in
neutral f
or manual gear change and with the
selector lever at position S, D or R for an au-
tomatic gearbox.
This system is also active when reversing up-
hill. WARNING
● If y

ou do not start the vehicle immediately
after taking your foot off the brake pedal, the
vehicle may start to roll back under certain
conditions. Depress the brake pedal or use
the hand brake immediately.
● If the engine stalls, depress the brake ped-
al or u
se the hand brake immediately.
● When following a line of traffic uphill, if you
want t
o prevent the vehicle from rolling back
accidentally when starting off, hold the brake
pedal down for a few seconds before starting
off. Note
The Official Service or a specialist workshop
can t el

l you if your vehicle is equipped with
this system. Manual gearbox
Ch an
gin

g gear Read the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 42
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 s
topped.
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
s

sing 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
st ar

t 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-
cle i
s moving. » 179
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety