2016 Seat Leon 5D Owner's manual

Care and maintenance
Automatic car washes
B ef
or
e going through a car wash, be sure to
take the usual precautions such as closing
the windows and roof. If the vehicle has spe-
cial accessories such as spoilers or a roof
rack or two-way radio aerial, etc., it is advisa-
ble to consult the car wash tunnel operator.
It is best to use a car wash without revolving
bristles if possible.
Washing the vehicle with a high pressure
cleaner
When washing the vehicle with a high-pres-
sure cleaner, always follow the operating in-
structions for the equipment. This applies
particularly to the operating pressure and the
spraying distance. Do not hold the nozzle too
close to soft materials such as rubber hoses
or seals. The same applies to the parking aid
sensors*, which are located in the rear bump-
er.
Do not use a nozzle that sprays the water out
in a direct stream or one that has a rotating
jet for forcing off dirt.
Stickers attached by the factory
Follow these directions to avoid damaging
the stickers:
● Do not use high pressure cleaners.
● To remove ice or snow from the stickers do
not use w
indow scrapers or ice scrapers. ●
Do not poli
sh the stickers.
● Do not use dirty cloths or sponges.
● Preferably wash using a soft sponge and
soft neutr
al soap.
Washing the car by hand
When washing the car by hand, use plenty of
water to soften the dirt first, and rinse off as
well as possible.
Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge,
glove or brush using only slight pressure.
You should start on the roof and work down.
Special car soap should only be used for very
persistent dirt.
Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and of-
ten.
Wheels, sills and similar should be cleaned
last. Use a second sponge for this. WARNING
● The v ehic

le should only be washed with the
ignition switched off. Failure to follow this in-
struction could result in an accident.
● Do not clean the underside of chassis, the
inside of
wheel arches or wheel trims without
protecting your hands and arms. You may cut
yourself on sharp-edged metal parts. Other-
wise, there is a risk of sustaining cuts.
● When washing the car during the winter
season: w
ater and ice in the brake system
can reduce braking effectiveness: risk of acci-
dent! CAUTION
● Do not w a

sh the vehicle in direct sunlight –
otherwise the paint can be damaged.
● Do not use sponges, abrasive household
spong
es or similar to clean insect remains.
This could damage the surface.
● Clean off stubborn dirt (insects, etc.) from
the headlight
s at regular intervals, for in-
stance when filling the fuel tank. The head-
lights should only be washed with water, do
not wipe them with a dry cloth or sponge. It
is best to use soapy water.
● Never wash tyres with a jet that sprays the
water out
in a direct stream. This could dam-
age the tyres even if the spray is kept at a
distance and only used for a very short time.
● Before washing the vehicle in an automatic
car wa
sh, please make sure to retract the ex-
terior mirrors to prevent them from being
damaged. Electrically retractable exterior
mirrors must not be folded in or out by hand,
always use the electrical power control. CAUTION
● Bef or

e washing the vehicle in an automatic
car wash, please proceed as follows to lock
the wiper arms so that they are not moved to-
wards the top of the windscreen:
–the bonnet must be closed.
– switch the ignition on and off.
– press the windscreen wiper lever forward
briefly (windscreen washer function).
This will lock the wiper arms. » 247
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
For the sake of the environment
The car should only be washed in special
wa sh b
ays. These areas are prepared to pre-
vent oily water from getting into the public
drains. In some places, washing vehicles out-
side the areas intended for this purpose is
prohibited. Camera sensors and lenses
●
Use a small brush to remove snow and a
de-icer s pr

ay to remove ice.
● Clean the sensors with a solvent-free prod-
uct and a sof t, dr

y cloth.
● Moisten the camera lens using a standard
alcohol-b
ased glass cleaning agent and
clean the lens with a dry cloth. In the active
lane assist*, the area in front of the lens is
normally cleaned with the windscreen wash-
er. CAUTION
● When y ou c

lean 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 ic
e from the reverse camera lens,
as it could crack the lens. ●
Never u se abr

asive cleaning agents on the
lens. Waxing and polishing
Care
Wax
in

g protects the paintwork. It is time to
apply a coat of good wax when water no lon-
ger forms droplets and rolls off the clean
paintwork.
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.
In the summer, you will find it is much easier
to remove dead insects (which accumulate
on the bumper and the front of the bonnet) if
the car has been treated with care products
recently.
Polishing
Polishing is only necessary if the paint has
lost its shine, and the gloss cannot be
brought back by putting on wax.
If the polish does not contain wax, a wax
product should be applied after polishing. CAUTION
● Do not u se po

lishes and hard wax on pain-
ted parts with a matt finish or on plastic
parts.
● Do not apply paint polishes to the side trim
that ru
ns around the panoramic roof and ends
on the windscreen. However, it can be treated
with hard wax. Trims
In respect for the environment, the silver-
p
l
at

ed trims on the body are made of pure
aluminium (they do not contain chrome).
Dirt or marks on the trim mouldings should
be removed with a cleaning product with a
neutral PH (do not use a chrome cleaner).
Body polish is also unsuitable for use on trim
mouldings. The intensive cleaning fluids of-
ten used before the car goes into a car wash
may contain alkaline substances, which can
cause dull or milky patches when they dry
out.
SEAT Official Services carry stocks of cleaning
products which have been tested for use on
your vehicle and are not harmful to the envi-
ronment.
248

Care and maintenance
Plastic parts Plastic parts are cleaned with a power wash-
er. If
thi
s is not sufficient, plastic parts
should only be treated with a special solvent-
free plastic cleaning agent . Do not use paint-
work cleaners, polishes or wax on plastic
parts.
Carbon parts The carbon parts on your vehicle have a pain-
t
ed s
ur

face. They do not need any special
care and are cleaned just like any other pain-
ted part ›››
page 246.
Paint damage Minor damage to the paint, such as scratches
or s
t
one c

hips, should be touched up without
delay before the metal starts to corrode. Suit-
able touch-up brushes or sprays for your car
can be obtained from a SEAT Official Service.
The number of the original paint finish on the
vehicle is given on the data sticker
››› page 281.
If corrosion is already visible it must be thor-
oughly removed by a specialised workshop. Windows Clear vision is an essential safety factor.
The wind
s

creen must not be cleaned with in-
sect remover or wax, otherwise the wind-
screen wipers will not function properly (jud-
dering).
Traces of rubber, oil, grease or silicone can
be removed with a window cleaning solution
or a silicone remover. Wax residue can only
be removed with a special cleaner. Your SEAT
Official Service will be able to provide you
with more detailed information.
The windows should also be cleaned on the
inside at regular intervals.
Use a separate cloth or chamois to dry the
windows. Cloths used for waxing and polish-
ing contain residues that will cause smears
on the glass. WARNING
Do not use water-repellent coatings on the
wind s

creen. In bad visibility conditions (e.g.
in the rain, dark or with a low sun), these
coatings may cause dazzle: risk of accident!
Such coatings can also cause the windscreen
wiper blades to make noise. CAUTION
● Remo v

e snow and ice from windows and ex-
terior mirrors with a plastic scraper only. To avoid scratches caused by dirt on the glass,
the sc
r

aper should only be pushed in one di-
rection and not moved to and fro.
● The heating element for the rear window is
located on the inner s
ide of the window. To
avoid damaging them, do not apply stickers
to these heating elements.
● Never use warm or hot water to remove
snow and ic
e from windows and mirrors. This
could cause the glass to crack! Wheels
The wheels require regular attention to pre-
ser
v
e their ap

pearance. It is important to re-
move road salt and brake dust by washing
the wheels at regular intervals, otherwise the
finish will be impaired.
After washing, the wheels should only be
cleaned with an "acid-free" cleaning agent
for alloy wheels. This is available from SEAT
Official Services and specialist retailers. Nev-
er leave the cleaning agent on the rims for
any longer than specified in the instructions
before rinsing it off. If the wheel cleaner fluid
contains acid it can attack the surfaces of the
wheel bolts.
Car polish or other abrasive agents should
not be used for maintaining the rims. If the
protective coating is damaged, e.g. by flying
stones, the damaged area should be re-
paired immediately. »
249
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
WARNING
Please note when cleaning the wheels that
wat er
, ice and road salt can impair the effec-
tiveness of the brakes; this can cause an acci-
dent. Exhaust tail pipe
It is important to remove road salt and brake
dus
t

by washing the wheels at regular inter-
vals, otherwise the exhaust tail pipe material
could be damaged. To remove impurities, do
not use rim, paint or chrome cleaners or oth-
er abrasive products. Clean the exhaust tail
pipes with cleaning products that are suita-
ble for stainless steel.
SEAT Official Services carry stocks of cleaning
products that have been tested and ap-
proved for use on your vehicle.
Caring for the vehicle interior Ra dio di

splay/Easy Connect* and con-
trol panel* The display can be cleaned with a soft cloth
and a pr
of
e

ssionally available “LCD cleaner”.
Moisten the cloth with a small amount of the
cleaning fluid. The Easy Connect control panel* should first
be cle

aned with a brush so that no dirt goes
into the device or between the keys and
housing. Next, we recommend cleaning the
Easy Connect control panel* using a cloth
dampened with water and washing-up liquid. CAUTION
● To av oid s

cratching the screen, do not wipe
the display with a dry cloth.
● To avoid damage, ensure that no liquid
goes
into the Easy Connect control panel*. Plastic and leatherette parts
Plastic parts and leatherette can be cleaned
w
ith a d
amp c

loth. If this is not sufficient,
plastic parts and leatherette should only be
treated with a special solvent-free plastic
cleaner.
Textile covers and trim parts Textile covers and trim parts (e.g. seats, door
trim) shou
l
d be c

leaned regularly with a vac-
uum cleaner. This will remove surface dirt
which could otherwise be rubbed into the
textile material during use. Do not use steam
cleaners, as the steam could carry the dirt
deeper into the textile material. Normal cleaning
We rec

ommend that you use a soft sponge or
a commercially available lint-free, micro-fibre
cloth for normal cleaning. Only use brushes
on floor coverings and mats, as other textile
surfaces could become damaged.
In the case of normal surface dirt you can use
a foam cleaner. Use a sponge to spread the
foam on the textile surface and to work it into
the material lightly. However, make sure that
the textile material does not become soaking
wet. Then dab off the foam with a dry and ab-
sorbent cloth (e.g. a micro-fibre cloth) and
vacuum off any residue once the surface is
completely dry.
Cleaning stains
Treat drink stains (such as coffee or fruit
juice, etc.) with a cleaning solution for deli-
cate fabrics. This solution should be applied
with a sponge. If the stains are difficult to re-
move, a washing paste can be applied direct-
ly onto the stain and worked into the fabric.
The surface will then have to be wiped with
clear water to remove any residue left by the
paste. To do so, use a damp cloth or sponge
and then dab the stain with an absorbent
cloth.
Remove chocolate or make-up stains with a
cleaning paste (for e.g., soft soap). Then re-
move the soap with water (wet sponge).
250

Care and maintenance
A spirit-based cleaner can be used to remove
gr e
a
se, oil, lipstick or ball point pen. Then
dab the dissolved grease or colour particles
off with an absorbent cloth or similar. You
may also have to treat the stain once more
using washing paste and water.
If the covers or textile trim panels are badly
soiled we recommend that you have them
cleaned by a professional cleaning company
with a shampoo and spray. Note
Open Velcro fasteners on clothes can damage
the seat upho

lstery. Make sure they are
closed. Natural leather
General information
Our r
an
g

e of leathers is large. The main type
used is particularly nappa in various forms,
that is, leather with a smooth surface in dif-
ferent colours.
The amount of dye used determines the ap-
pearance and properties of leather. If the
leather is left in a more natural state, it re-
tains its typical natural napped appearance
and confers excellent all-weather properties
to the seats. Fine veins, healed scars, insect
bites, wrinkles and a subtle variation in shad- ing remain visible; these are the characteris-
tic fe

atures of genuine natural leather.
Natural napped leather does not have a pro-
tective surface coating of dye. It is therefore
somewhat more prone to damage. This
should be borne in mind if children or pets
often travel in the car, or if there are other
factors that could lead to damage.
Types of leather with a coloured surface coat-
ing are likely to be more resistant to damage.
This has a great advantage for day-to-day
use. However, this means that the typical
natural characteristics of the surface are less
apparent, though this does not affect quality.
Cleaning and care
Due to the natural properties of the specially
selected hides employed, the finished leath-
er has a certain sensitivity to grease and dirt,
etc. so a degree of care is required in every-
day use and when looking after the leather.
Dark clothing (especially if damp or incorrect-
ly dyed) may stain leather upholstery on the
seats. Dust and grit in the pores and seams
can scratch and damage the surface. There-
fore leather should be cleaned at regular in-
tervals, depending on the actual amount of
use. When they have been in use for a certain
time, your car seats will acquire a typical and
unmistakable patina. This is characteristic for
leather as a natural product and is a sign of
genuine quality. To maintain the value of natural leather you
should not
e the following points: CAUTION
● Av oid e

xposing leather to direct sunlight
for long periods, otherwise it may tend to
lose some of its colour. If the car is left for a
prolonged period in the bright sun, it is best
to cover the leather.
● Sharp-edged objects on clothing, such as
belts, z
ip fasteners, rivets or similar, can also
leave permanent scratches and rough marks
on the surface of the leather. Note
● Use a s uit

able impregnating cream with ul-
tra-violet protection at regular intervals and
after cleaning. The cream nourishes and
moisturises the leather, keeps it supple and
able to breathe. A protective film will also
form.
● Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months and
remov
e fresh dirt as soon as possible.
● Remove stains from fresh ball-pen and oth-
er inks, lips
tick, shoe cream and similar
stains as soon as possible.
● Preserve the colour of the leather. A special
colour
ed cream will renew the colour of the
leather when required and will eliminate dif-
ferences in colour. 251
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Cleaning and care of leather uphols-
t er
y Natural leather requires an extra degree of at-
tention and c
ar
e.
Normal cleaning
– Moisten a cotton or woollen cloth with wa-
ter and wipe o

ver the leather surfaces.
More stubborn dirt
– More stubborn dirt can be removed using a
mil d so

ap solution (pure liquid soap: two
tablespoons dissolved in one litre of wa-
ter).
– Do not let the water soak through the leath-
er or penetrate int

o the seams.
– Then wipe off with a soft, dry cloth.
Remov
al of stains
– Remove fresh water
-based stains such as
coffee, tea, juices, blood etc. with an ab-
sorbent cloth or kitchen roll, or use the
cleaning agent from the care set for dried-
on stains.
– Remove fresh grea
se-based stains that
have not penetrated the surface such as
butter, mayonnaise, chocolate, etc. with an
absorbent cloth or kitchen roll or with the
cleaning agent from the care set. –
Tre
at fat-based, dried-in stains with grease-
dissolving spray.
– Treat less common stains on le
ather, such
as ball-pen and other inks, felt-tip pens,
nail polish, dispersion paint, shoe cream
etc. with a special leather stain remover.
Leather maintenance
– The leather should be treated regularly
(about twic

e a year) with a special leather-
care product.
– Apply these products very sparingly.
– Then wipe off with a soft cloth.
Should
you have questions regarding the
care and cleaning of the leather upholstery in
your vehicle, we recommend that you contact
your SEAT Official Service. Our representa-
tives will be happy to advise you and tell you
about the product range for leather conserva-
tion, for example:
● Cleaning and care set.
● Coloured leather-care cream.
● Stain remover for ball-pen inks, shoe cream
etc.
● Gr

ease dissolving spray.
● New products and further developments CAUTION
On no account use solvents (such as petrol,
turpentine), w ax

polish, shoe cream or simi-
lar materials. Cleaning Alcantara upholstery
Removing dust and dirt
– Moisten a cloth just a lit
tle and wipe down
the seat covers.
Removing stains – Moisten a cloth with lukewarm water or di-
luted whit

e spirits.
– Dab at the stain. Start at the outside and
work in

wards.
– Dry the clean area with a soft cloth.
Do not use l
eather cleaning products on Al-
cantara seat covers.
You may use a suitable soap on dust and dirt.
Dust and grit in the pores and seams can
scratch and damage the surface. If the car is
left standing in the sun for long periods, Al-
cantara leather should be protected against
direct sunlight to prevent it from fading. How-
ever, slight colour variations will arise in nor-
mal use.
252

Intelligent technology
CAUTION
● Do not u se so
lvents, wax polish, shoe
cream, stain removers, leather cleaning prod-
ucts or any similar products on Alcantara.
● To avoid damage, stubborn stains should
be remov
ed by a specialised workshop.
● On no account use brushes, hard sponges
or simil
ar utensils. Seat belts
–
Keep the seat belts clean.
– For cleaning, use a mild solution of soap
and w at
er

.
– Check the condition of the seat belts at reg-
ular int

ervals.
The retract function may not operate properly
in very dirty belts. Make sure that the inertia
reel seat belts are completely dry before al-
lowing them to retract. CAUTION
● Do not r emo

ve the seat belts from the vehi-
cle to clean them.
● Do not use chemical cleaning agents on the
seat belt
s, as this can damage the webbing.
Ensure that the seat belts do not come into
contact with corrosive fluids.
● If you find any damage to the belt webbing,
belt fitting
s, the belt retractor or the buckle, the belt in question must be replaced by a
spec
i

alised workshop. Intelligent technology
El ectr
omec
hanical steering Electro-mechanical power steering assists
the driver when s
t

eering.
Electro-mechanical power steering adapts
electronically to the speed of the car, torque
and turning angle.
If the power steering should fail at any time
or the engine is switched off (for instance
when being towed), the car can still be
steered. However, more effort than normal
will be required to turn the steering wheel.
Driver warning lamps and messages  (in red) Faulty steering! To
park the vehicle
If the warning lamp remains on and the driver
indication appears, the power steering could
be faulty.
Do not continue driving. Seek specialist as-
sistance.  (in yellow) Steering: System
fault! You may continue driving.
If the warning lamp comes on, the steering
could react with more difficultly or more sen-
sitivity than normal. In addition, when driving
in a straight line the steering wheel may be
off-centre. »
253Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Drive slowly to a specialised workshop and
h av
e the f
ault repaired.
 (in yellow) Steering lock:
fault! Go to an Official Service
The electronic steering lock is malfunction-
ing.
Go to a specialised workshop as soon as
possible and have the fault repaired. WARNING
Take it immediately to a specialised work-
shop and hav e the f

ault repaired: risk of acci-
dent! Note
If the lamp  (in red) or el se
 (in yellow)
lights up briefly, you may continue driving. Progressive steering
Depending on the vehicle equipment, the
pr
ogr
e

ssive steering can adapt steering hard-
ness to the current driving situation. The
power steering only works when the engine
is running.
In city traffic you do not need to turn so much
on parking, manoeuvring or in very tight
turns.
On the road or on the motorway, progressive
steering transmits, for example, in bends, a sportier, more direct and noticeably more dy-
namic driv

ing sensation.
Four-wheel drive 3 Valid for vehicles: with four-wheel drive


› ›

› table on page 2
On four-wheel drive models, the engine pow-
er is distributed to all four wheels
General notes
On four-wheel drive vehicles, the engine
power is distributed to all four wheels. The
distribution of power is controlled automati-
cally according to your driving style and the
road conditions. Also see ›››
page 176, Brak-
ing and stability systems .
The four-wheel drive is specially designed to
complement the superior engine power. This
combination gives the vehicle exceptional
handling and performance capabilities, both
on normal roads and in more difficult condi-
tions, such as snow and ice. Even so (or per-
haps especially for this reason), it is impor-
tant to observe certain safety points ››› .
W int
er ty

res
Thanks to four-wheel drive, your vehicle will
have plenty of traction in winter conditions,
even with the standard tyres. Nevertheless,
we still recommend that winter tyres or all- season tyres be fitted on all
four wheels t
o
give even better braking response.
Snow chains
On roads where snow chains are mandatory,
this also applies to cars with four-wheel drive
›››  page 60.
Changing tyres
On vehicles with four-wheel drive, all four
tyres must have the same rolling circumfer-
ence. Also avoid using tyres with varying
tread depths ››› page 273.
Off-roader?
Your SEAT is not an off-road vehicle: it does
not have enough ground clearance to be
used as such. It is therefore best to avoid
rough tracks and uneven terrain as much as
possible. WARNING
● Ev en w

ith four-wheel drive, you should al-
ways adjust your speed to suit the condi-
tions. Do not let the extra safety features
tempt you into taking any risks when driving.
Risk of accident!
● The braking capability of your vehicle is
limited by
the tyres' grip. It is therefore no
different from a car without four-wheel drive.
So do not be tempted to drive too fast on firm
or slippery roads just because the vehicle 254