Driving
●
Vehic l
es with automatic gearbox: after
switching off the ignition, you can only re-
move the ignition key if the selector lever is
in position “P” (parking lock). Next, the se-
lector lever is locked. Switching off the engine with the key
Switching off the engine
– Stop the vehicle.
– Turn the ignition key to position 1›››
Fig. 186.
Eng agin
g the steering wheel lock
In vehicles with automatic gearbox, the igni-
tion key can only be removed when the selec-
tor lever is in position P.
– Remove the key from the ignition in posi-
tion 1
› ›
› Fig. 186
››› .
– Turn the steering wheel until you hear it en-
gag
e.
P
ossible vehicle theft is prevented with the
steering lock engaged. WARNING
● Never sw it
ch the engine off until the vehi-
cle is stationary. The brake servo and power
steering functions will not be completely cov-
ered under warranty. More force may also be
needed to turn the steering wheel or to brake. As you cannot steer and brake in the normal
manner
, ther
e is a greater risk of accidents
and serious injury.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehic
le is in motion. Otherwise, the steer-
ing could suddenly lock, making it impossible
to steer the vehicle: risk of accident!
● Always take the key with you when you
leav
e the vehicle. This is particularly impor-
tant if there are children in the vehicle, as
they might otherwise be able to start the en-
gine or use power-operated equipment (e.g.
the electric windows), which could cause in-
juries. CAUTION
If the engine has been running under high
loa d f
or a long time, there is a risk of heat
building up in the engine compartment after
it has been switched off; this could cause en-
gine damage. For this reason, you should idle
the engine for approximately 2 minutes be-
fore you switch it off. Note
● Aft er the en
gine is switched off the radiator
fan may run on for up to 10 minutes, even if
the ignition is switched off. It is also possible
that the fan turns itself on once more if the
coolant temperature increases due to the
heat accumulated in the engine compartment
or due to its prolonged exposure to solar ra-
diation. ●
If the v
ehicle is stopped and the Start-Stop
system* switches off the engine, the ignition
remains switched on. Make sure that the igni-
tion is switched off before leaving the vehi-
cle, otherwise the battery could discharge. Starter button*
Fig. 187
In the lower part of the centre con-
so l
e: s
tarter button. The vehicle engine can be started with a
s
t
ar
ter button (Press & Drive). To do so, there
must be a valid key inside the vehicle in the
area of the front or rear seats.
Opening the driver's door when exiting the
vehicle activates the electronic lock on the
steering column if the ignition is disabled.
Switching the ignition on/off manually
Briefly push the starter button without touch-
ing the brake or clutch pedal ››› .
»
169
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
● Use of
c
ompatible plastics in the same part
if its components are not easily separated.
● Use of recycled materials and/or materials
originating fr
om renewable sources.
● Reduction of volatile components, includ-
ing odour, in p
lastic materials.
● Use of CFC-free coolants.
Ban on heavy
metals, with the exceptions
dictated by law (Annex II of ELV Directive
2000/53/EC): cadmium, lead, mercury, hexa-
valent chromium.
Manufacturing methods
● Reduction of the quantity of thinner in the
protectiv
e wax for cavities.
● Use of plastic film as protection during ve-
hicle tr
ansport.
● Use of solvent-free adhesives.
● Use of CFC-free coolants in cooling sys-
tems.
● Recy
cling and energy recovery from resi-
dues (RDF).
● Impr
ovement in the quality of waste water.
● Use of systems for the recovery of residual
heat (therm
al recovery, enthalpy wheels,
etc.).
● The use of water-soluble paints. Economical and environmentally-
friendly drivin
g Fuel consumption, environmental pollution
and we
ar t
o the engine, brakes and tyres de-
pends largely on driving style. Fuel consump-
tion can be reduced by 10-15% with an eco-
nomical driving style and proper anticipation
of traffic conditions. The following section
gives you some tips on lessening the impact
on the environment and reducing your oper-
ating costs at the same time.
Active cylinder management (ACT ®
)*
››› table on page 2
Depending on vehicle equipment, the active
cylinder management (ACT ®
) may automati-
cally deactivate some of the engine cylinders
if the driving situation does not require too
much power. When it is switched off, no fuel
is injected into these cylinders, hence total
fuel consumption may be reduced. The num-
ber of active cylinders can be seen on the in-
strument panel display ›››
page 31.
Foresight when driving
Acceleration causes the vehicle to consume
more fuel. If you think ahead when driving,
you will need to brake less and thus acceler-
ate less. Wherever possible, let the car roll
slowly to a stop, with a gear engaged (for in-
stance when you can see that the next traffic lights are red). This takes advantage of the
engine br
ak
ing effect, reducing wear on the
brakes and tyres. Emissions and fuel con-
sumption will drop to zero due to the overrun
fuel cut-off.
Changing gear to save energy
An effective way of saving is to change in ad-
vance to a higher gear. Running the engine at
high rpm in the lower gears uses an unneces-
sary amount of fuel.
Manual gearbox : shift up from first to second
gear as soon as possible. In any case, we rec-
ommend that you change to a higher gear
upon reaching 2,000 rpm. Choosing the right
gear enables fuel savings. Select the highest
possible gear appropriate for the driving sit-
uation (the engine should continue function-
ing with cyclical regularity).
Automatic gearbox : accelerate gradually and
without reaching the “kick-down” position.
Avoid driving at high speed
Avoid travelling at top speed, whenever pos-
sible. Fuel consumption, emission of harmful
gases and noise pollution multiply dispropor-
tionately as speed is increased. Driving at
moderate speeds will help to save fuel.
Reduce idling time
In vehicles with the Start-Stop system idling
is automatically reduced. In vehicles without
188
Towing bracket device
permissible speed in an unfavourable road,
w e
ather or w
ind 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 in a low gear and high
engine speed, always monitor the coolant
temperature gauge ››› page 109.
Electronic stability control*
The ESC* system helps to stabilise the trailer
in case of skidding or rocking. Retrofitting a towing bracket*
Fig. 238
Attachment points for towing brack-
et . If a towing bracket is to be fitted after the ve-
hic
l
e i
s purchased, this must be completed
according to the instructions of the towing
bracket manufacturer. The attachment points for the towing bracket
A are on the lower part of the vehicle.
The di s
t
ance between the centre of the ball
coupling and the ground should never be
lower than the indicated value, even with a
fully loaded vehicle and including the maxi-
mum drawbar load.
Elevation values for securing the towing
bracket:
B65 mm (minimum)
C350 mm to 420 mm (fully laden vehicle)
D1040 mm
E317 mm
FLEON/LEON SCLEON ST
319 mm596 mm Fitting a towing bracket
●
Driving with a trailer involves an extra effort
f or the
v
ehicle. Therefore, before fitting a
towing bracket, please contact a Technical
Service to check whether your cooling system
needs modification.
● The legal requirements in your country
must
be observed (e.g. the fitting of a sepa-
rate control lamp).
● Certain vehicle components, e.g. the rear
bumper, mu
st be removed and reinstalled.
The towing bracket securing bolts must be »
243
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
Engine compartment Chec k
in
g levels Fig. 240
Diagram for the location of the various elements. From time to time, the levels of the different
fluid
s
in the
vehicle must be checked. Never
fill with incorrect fluids, otherwise serious
damage to the engine may be caused.
Coolant expansion tank
Engine oil dipstick
Engine oil filler cap
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery (underneath the cover)
Windscreen washer reservoir
The checking and refilling of service fluids
are carried out on the components men-
tioned above. These operations are descri-
bed in ››› page 262.
1 2
3
4
5
6 Overview
Y
ou w
i
ll find further explanations, instruc-
tions and restrictions on the technical speci-
fications as of ››› page 281.
Work in the engine compartment Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 12
Always be aware of the danger of injury and
scalding as well as the risk of accident or fire
when working in the engine compartment
(e.g. when checking and refilling fluids). Al-
ways observe the warnings listed below and
follow all general safety precautions. The en- gine compartment of the vehicle is a poten-
tia
l
ly hazardous area ››› .
WARNING
● Swit c
h the engine off, remove the key from
the ignition and apply the hand brake. If the
vehicle has a manual gearbox, place the lever
in neutral; if it has an automatic gearbox,
place the selector lever in position P. Wait for
the engine to cool down.
● Keep children away from the engine com-
partment
.
● Never spill liquids used for vehicle opera-
tion on the engine comp
artment, as these
may catch fire (e.g. the antifreeze in coolant). 262
Checking and refilling levels
●
Tak e c
are not to cause short circuits in the
electrical system, especially when working
on the battery.
● If working inside the engine compartment,
remember that, ev
en when the ignition is
switched off, the radiator fan may start up au-
tomatically, and therefore there is a risk of in-
jury.
● Never cover the engine with additional in-
sul
ating materials such as a blanket. Risk of
fire!
● Do not unscrew the cap on the coolant ex-
pans
ion tank when the engine is hot. The
cooling system is under pressure.
● Protect face, hands and arms by covering
the cap with a l
arge, thick rag to protect
against escaping coolant and steam.
● If it is necessary to work in the engine com-
partment
while the engine is running, the ro-
tating components (for example, poly-V belt,
alternator, radiator fan) and the high voltage
ignition system are an additional hazard.
● Observe the following additional warnings
if work
on the fuel system or the electrical
system is necessary:
– Always disconnect the battery from the
on-board network.
– Do not smoke.
– Never work near naked flames.
– Always keep an approved fire extinguish-
er immediately available. CAUTION
When topping up fluids make sure the correct
fluid is p
ut into the correct filler opening, oth-
erwise this can cause serious malfunctions or
engine damage. For the sake of the environment
Inspect the ground underneath your vehicle
re gu
larly so that any leaks are detected at an
early stage. If you find spots of oil or other
fluids in the area where it was parked, have
your vehicle inspected at the workshop. Note
In right-hand drive vehicles* some brake flu-
id re ser
voirs are on the other side of the en-
gine compartment ››› Fig. 240. Opening the bonnet
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 12
The bonnet is released from inside the vehi-
cle.
Check that the windscreen wiper arms are
not unfolded. Otherwise the paint may be
damaged.
The bonnet can only be unlocked when the
driver door is open. WARNING
Never open the bonnet if you see steam or
drips of
coolant being released from the en-
gine compartment. Failure to comply could
result in burns. Wait until no steam or coolant
can be seen before opening the bonnet. Closing the bonnet
–
Slightly lift the bonnet.
– Release the bonnet stay before pressing it
bac k
into its support.
– Carefully close the bonnet.
– Press the bonnet down until it locks into
plac
e.
– Make sure that the bonnet catches onto its
cla
sp. Do not press down too hard ››› .
WARNING
● For s af
ety reasons the bonnet must always
be completely closed when the vehicle is
moving. Therefore, after closing the bonnet,
always check that the locking element is
properly engaged. This is the case if the bon-
net is flush with the adjacent body panels.
● Should you notice that the bonnet is not
safely
secured when the vehicle is moving,
stop the vehicle immediately and close the
bonnet. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in an accident. 263
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
CAUTION
If the oil level is above the area A do not
st ar
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 .
Otherw i
se oil can be drawn in through the
crankcase breather and escape into the at-
mosphere via the exhaust system. Note
Before a long trip, we recommend finding an
engine oi l
that conforms to the correspond-
ing VW specifications and recommend keep-
ing it in the vehicle. This way, the correct en-
gine oil will always be available for a top-up if
needed. Changing engine oil
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 50.
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
hav e the s
pecialist knowledge required!
● Before opening the bonnet, read and ob-
serve the w
arnings ››› page 262.
● Wait for the engine to cool down. Hot oil
may
cause burn injuries.
● Wear eye protection to avoid injuries, such
as ac
id burns, caused by splashes of oil.
● When removing the oil drain plug with your
finger
s, keep your arm horizontal to help pre-
vent oil from running down your arm.
● Wash your skin thoroughly if it comes into
contact
with engine oil.
● Engine oil is poisonous! Used oil must be
stor
ed in a safe place out of the reach of chil-
dren. CAUTION
No additives should be used with engine oil.
This c
ould 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
● Bec au
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 down drains or into the
ground. ●
Use a s uit
able container when draining the
used oil. It must be large enough to hold all
the engine oil. Cooling system
Top pin
g up coolant Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 51
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-
pan s
ion tank. 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 car
efully unscrew it to the left
››› .
– Top up the coolant only if there is still cool-
ant in the e xp
ansion tank, otherwise you
266
Checking and refilling levels
could d amage the engine. If there is no
c oo
lant 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 to the upper mark.
– Top up with coolant until the level becomes
stab
le.
– Screw the cap back on correctly.
Any lo
ss 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 coo lin
g system 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 h
azard. 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, ev
en when the ignition is
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
tem, the engine may fail leading to se-
rious damage.
● Please make sure that the percentage of
additiv
e is 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 cool
ant 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. CAUTION
Do not top up the expansion tank with cool-
ant fluid if it
is 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 c oo
lants 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 b
ut is, for example, brown, this indicates that the G13 additive has been mixed with an
ina
dequat
e 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
en vir
onment. If any fluids are spilled, they
should be collected and correctly disposed
of, with respect to the environment. Brake fluid
Top
pin
g up brake fluid Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 52
Checking the brake fluid level
The brake fluid level must be between the
MIN and MAX markings.
However, if the brake fluid level goes down
noticeably in a short time, or drops below the
MIN mark, there may be a leak in the brake
system. Seek specialist assistance. A warn-
ing light on the instrument panel display
monitors the brake fluid level ››› page 109. »
267
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Index
Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
263
p anor
amic sliding sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Clutch (warning lamp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Coming Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Connectivity Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Control and warning lamps diesel particulate filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
emission control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Controls and displays general instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Controls on the steering wheel operating the audio system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
operating the telephone and audio system . . 113
Convenience closing panoramic sliding sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Convenience opening panoramic sliding sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Coolant checking level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Cooling system checking coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
coolant temperature gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
topping up coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Cornering lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Correct position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Correct sitting position front passenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
rear seat passengers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 195 operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Cruise control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 warning and indication lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 D
Danger
s in not using the seat belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Dash panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Data sticker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Deactivating the front passenger front airbag . . . 17
Deactivation of front airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Defective bulbs changing a bulb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Detachable ball assembling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236, 237
checking attachment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
placing in standby position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
removing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
standby position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Diesel diesel particulate filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
preheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Diesel particulate filter malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Digital clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Direction of rotation tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104, 105
Display of traffic signs on the instrument panel activate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
deactivate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Disposal seat belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Distance control see Adaptive cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Door cylinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Door handle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Door lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Door release lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Doors
chil dproof locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
opening and closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Downhill speed control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Downhill speed control function . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Drawer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Drink holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Driver see Correct sitting position . . . . . . . . . 66, 67, 68
Driver information system CD/radio indication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
engine oil temperature display . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
operation with the windscreen wiper lever . . . . 30
Driving driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
with a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234, 239, 241, 242
Driving abroad headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Driving data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 data summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Driving mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Driving profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Driving safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Driving through water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
DSG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Duplicate keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Dust and pollen filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Dynamic headlight range control . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
E E10 see Ethanol (fuel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Easy Connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27, 110
Economical driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
309