Operation
Windscreen wiper functionsWindscreen wiper performance in different sit-
uations
If the vehicle is at a
standstillThe activated position provision-
ally changes to the previous posi-
tion.
During automatic
wipe
The air conditioner comes on for
approximately 30 seconds in air
recirculation mode to prevent the
smell of the windscreen washer
fluid entering the inside the vehi-
cle.
For the interval wipe
Intervals between wipes depend
on the vehicle's speed. The high-
er the vehicle speed the shorter
the intervals. Heated windscreen washer jets
The he
atin
g on
ly thaws the frozen jets, it
does not thaw the water in the washer hoses.
When the ignition is switched on the heated
windscreen washer jets automatically adjust
the heat depending on the ambient tempera-
ture.
Headlight wash/wipe system
The headlight washers/wipers clean the
headlight lenses.
After the ignition is switched on, the first and
every fifth time the windscreen washer is
switched on, the headlights are also washed. Therefore, the windscreen wiper lever should
be pul
led towards the steering wheel when
the dipped beam or main beam are on. Any
incrusted dirt (such as insects) should be
cleaned regularly (e.g. when refuelling).
To ensure the headlight washers work cor-
rectly in winter, any snow which has got into
the bumper jet supports should be cleaned
away. If necessary, remove snow with an anti-
icing spray. Note
The wiper will try to wipe away any obstacles
that ar
e on the windscreen. The wiper will
stop moving if the obstacle blocks its path.
Remove the obstacle and switch the wiper
back on again. Rain sensor*
Fig. 143
Windscreen wiper lever: adjusting
the r ain sen
sor A Fig. 144
Rain sensor sensitive surface The rain sensor controls the frequency of the
w
ind
s
creen wiper intervals, depending on
the amount of rain ››› . The sensitivity of the
r ain sen
sor c
an be adjusted manually. Man-
ual wipe ››› page 139.
Move the lever to the required position
››› Fig. 143:
Rain sensor off.
Rain sensor on; automatic wipe if neces-
sary.
Setting sensitivity level of rain sensor
– Set control to the right: highly sensi-
tive.
– Set control to the left: less sensitive.
When the ignition is switched off and then
back on, the rain sensor stays on and starts
operating again when the windscreen wipers
are in position 1 and the vehicle is travel-
lin g at
mor
e than 16 km/h (10 mph).
0 1
A
140
Air conditioning
Distributing a load
Di s
trib
ute loads uniformly and secure them
correctly ››› .
Chec k
att
achments
Once the cross bars and roof carrier system
have been installed, check the bolted con-
nections and attachments after a short jour-
ney and subsequently with a certain frequen-
cy. WARNING
Exceeding the maximum authorised roof load
can r e
sult in accidents and considerable vehi-
cle damage.
● Never exceed the maximum authorised
load on the r
oof and on the axles or the vehi-
cle's maximum authorised weight.
● Never exceed the load capacity of the cross
bars
and the roof carrier system, even if the
maximum authorised roof load has not been
reached.
● Secure heavy items as far forward as possi-
ble and di
stribute the vehicle load uniformly. WARNING
If the load is loose or not secured, it could fall
from the r oof
carrier system or cause acci-
dents and injuries.
● Always use belts or retaining straps that
are suit
able and in a good condition.
● Secure the load properly. Air conditioning
He atin
g,
ventilation and cool-
ing
Introduction Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 45
Viewing Climatronic information
On the screen of Climatronic control unit and
on the screen of the factory-fitted Easy Con-
nect system, the theoretical values of the
temperature zones are shown.
The unit of temperature measurement can be
changed in the Easy Connect system.
Dust and pollen filter
The dust and pollen filter with its activated
charcoal cartridge serves as a barrier against
impurities in the air taken into the vehicle in-
terior.
The dust and pollen filter must be changed
regularly so that air conditioner performance
is not adversely affected.
If the filter loses efficiency prematurely due
to use in areas with very high levels of air
pollution, the filter must be changed more
frequently than stated in the Service Sched-
ule. WARNING
Reduced visibility through the windows in-
cr e
ases the risk of serious accidents.
● Always ensure that all windows are free of
ice and sno
w, and that they are not fogged,
so as to maintain good visibility of everything
outside.
● The maximum heat output required to de-
fros
t windows as quickly as possible is only
available when the engine has reached its
normal running temperature. Only drive when
you have good visibility.
● Always ensure that you use the heating
syst
em, fresh air system, air conditioner and
the heated rear window to maintain good visi-
bility to the outside.
● Never leave the air recirculation on for a
long period of time. If
the cooling system is
switched off and air recirculation mode
switched on, the windows can mist over very
quickly, considerably limiting visibility.
● Switch air recirculation mode off when it is
not requir
ed. WARNING
Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and re-
duce driv er c
oncentration possibly resulting
in a serious accident.
● Never leave the fresh air fan turned off or
use the air rec
irculation for long periods of
time; the air in the vehicle interior will not be
refreshed. » 163
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Air conditioning
and for that of passenger. Temperatures up
t o +22 °C
(+72 °F) ar
e shown with blue ar-
rows, and temperatures over +22 °C (+72 °F)
with red arrows.
To switch a function on or off, or to select a
submenu, you must press the corresponding
function button.
Function buttonFunction
Air condi-
tioning pro- fileAdjust the fan level in AUTO mode. You
can choose between low, medium and
high.
OFFClimatronic is switched off.
ONClimatronic is switched on.
SETUP
The air conditioning settings submenu
is opened. It is possible to make the fol-
lowing adjustments:
Function button Air conditioning profile
: to
adjust the level of the fan in AUTO
mode. You can choose between low, me-
dium and high.
Function button Automatic air recirculation
to switch on and off automatic air recir-
culation
››› page 166.
BACK
function button to close the
submenu.
Function
buttonFunction
Automatic
supplemen-
tary heating
Activate/deactivate the automatic acti-
vation of the supplementary heating for
colder countries (only for engines with
supplementary heating). With the option
deactivated, depending on the outside
temperature the heating may need more
time than normal to reach a comfortable
temperature. Air conditioning user instructions
The interior cooling system only works when
the en
gine i
s
running and fan is switched on.
The air conditioner operates most effectively
with the windows and the panoramic sliding
sunroof closed. However, if the vehicle has
heated up after standing in the sun for some
time, the air inside can be cooled more quick-
ly by opening the windows and the panoram-
ic sliding sunroof briefly.
Climatronic: change the temperature unit on
the screen of the radio or on the factory-fit-
ted navigation system
Changing the temperature display from Cel-
sius to Fahrenheit on radio or on the factory-
fitted navigation system is done using the
menu on the instrument panel
››› page 30. The cooling system cannot be activated
If the air conditionin
g system cannot be
switched on, this may be caused by the fol-
lowing:
● The engine is not running.
● The fan is switched off.
● The air conditioner fuse has blown.
● The outside temperature is lower than ap-
prox
imately +3°C (+38°F).
● The air conditioner compressor has been
temporari
ly switched off because the engine
coolant temperature is too high.
● Another fault in the vehicle. Have the air
conditioner chec
ked by a specialised work-
shop.
Special Characteristics
If the humidity and temperature outside the
vehicle are high, condensation can drip off
the evaporator in the cooling system and
form a pool underneath the vehicle. This is
normal and does not indicate a leak! Note
After starting the engine, any residual humid-
ity in the air c onditioner c
ould mist over the
windscreen. Switch on the defrost function as
soon as possible to clear the windscreen of
condensation. 165
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
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
Operation
WARNING
If the gear is changed down inappropriately
by sel
ecting a gear that is too low, you may
lose control of the vehicle, causing an acci-
dent and serious injuries. CAUTION
When travelling at high speeds or at high en-
gine speed s, sel
ecting a gear that is too low
can cause considerable damage to the clutch
and the gearbox. This can also occur if the
clutch pedal is pressed and held and it does
not engage. CAUTION
To prevent damage and avoid premature
we ar
, please observe the following:
● Do not rest your hand on the gear lever
while driv
ing. The pressure applied by your
hand is transmitted to the gearbox selector
forks.
● Always ensure that the vehicle is complete-
ly st
opped before engaging the reverse gear.
● Always press the clutch to the floor when
chan
ging gears.
● Never hold the vehicle “on the clutch” on
hill
s with the engine on. Automatic gearbox/DSG auto-
m
atic
g
earbox*
Introduction
›› ›
table on page 2
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronical-
ly controlled manual gearbox. Torque be-
tween the engine and the gearbox is trans-
mitted via two independent clutches. They re-
place the torque converter found on conven-
tional automatic gearboxes and allow for
smooth, uninterrupted acceleration of the ve-
hicle.
The tiptronic system allows the driver to
change gears manually if desired
››› page 182, Changing gears in tiptronic
mode*.
Selector lever positions Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 43
The selector lever position engaged is high-
lighted on the display in the instrument clus-
ter. With the selector lever in the manual
gearbox positions G, D, E and S, the engaged
gear is also indicated on the display. P – Parking lock
When the selector l
ever is in this position,
the driven wheels are locked mechanically.
The parking lock must be engaged only when
the vehicle is stationary ››› .
The int erloc
k
button (the button on the selec-
tor lever handle) must be pressed in and si-
multaneously the brake pedal must be de-
pressed before moving the selector lever ei-
ther in or out of position P.
R – Reverse gear
Reverse gear must be engaged only when the
vehicle is stationary and the engine is idling
››› .
T o mo
v
e the selector lever to position R, the
interlock button must be pressed in and at
the same time the brake pedal must be de-
pressed. The reverse lights come on when
the selector lever is in the R position with the
ignition on.
N – Neutral (idling)
With the selector lever in this position, the
gear is in neutral.
D/S – Permanent drive (forward) position
The selector lever in the D/S position enables
the gears to be controlled in normal mode (D)
or Sport mode (S). To select Sport mode (S),
move the selector lever backwards. Moving
the lever again will select normal mode (D).
180
Driving
Changing gear manually with the selector
l ev
er
It
is possible to change to tiptronic mode,
both when the vehicle is stopped and while
driving.
– To switch to tiptronic mode, move the se-
lector l
ever from position D/S to the right.
As soon as the change is made the selector
level will be shown in the position M on the
instrument panel display (for example M4
means that the fourth gear is engaged).
– Move the selector lever forwards + to se-
l ect
a higher g
ear ››› Fig. 192.
– Move the selector lever backwards – to
sel ect
a lo
wer gear.
Changing gear manually with the gearshift
paddles*
The gearshift paddles can be used when the
selector lever is in the position D/S or M.
– Press the gearshift paddle + to select a
higher g e
ar ›
›› Fig. 193.
– Press the gearshift paddle – to select a
lo w
er g
ear.
– With the selector lever in position D/S, if no
pad
dle is operated during a short period of
time, the gearbox control system switches
back to automatic mode. To switch to per-
manent manual gear change using the
gearshift paddles, move the selector lever
from position D/S to the right. When accelerating, the gearbox automatical-
ly shifts
up into the next gear shortly before
the maximum engine speed is reached.
If you select a lower gear, the automatic gear-
box will not shift down until there is no risk of
over-revving the engine.
When the kick-down feature is used, the
gearbox shifts down to a lower gear, depend-
ing on road speed and engine speed.
Driving tips The gearbox changes gear ratios automatical-
ly
a
s
the vehicle moves.
The engine can only start with the selector
lever in the position P or N. At low tempera-
tures, below -10°C (50°F), the engine can on-
ly start with the selector lever in the position
P.
Starting the vehicle
– Press and hold the brake pedal.
– Press and hold the interlock button (the
button on the sel
ector lever handle), move
the selector lever to the desired position,
for instance D ›››
page 180, and release the
interlock button.
– Wait for the gearbox to engage the gear (a
slight mo
vement can be felt). –
Rele
ase the brake and press the accelerator
››› .
St op
pin
g briefly
– Apply the foot brake to hold the vehicle
briefly when st
ationary (for instance at traf-
fic lights). Do not press the accelerator.
Stopping/Parking
If the driver door is opened and the selector
lever is not in position P, the vehicle could
move. The driver message will be: Gear
change: selector lever in the
drive position! . Additionally, a buzzer
will sound.
– Press and hold the brake pedal ›››
.
– Apply the handbrake.
– Move the selector lever to position P.
Ho l
din
g the car on a hill
– Always apply the brake pedal firmly to pre-
vent
the vehicle from “moving backwards;
if necessary, apply the handbrake” ››› .
Do not tr y
t
o stop the vehicle “rolling back”
by increasing the engine speed when a
gear is engaged (pressing the accelerator)
››› .
Mo v
in
g off uphill in vehicles without Hill
start assistant*
– Apply the handbrake. »
183
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
Driver assistance systems
If the vehicle is equipped with automatic
g e
arbo
x, the ACC can brake the vehicle until
it stops completely if a vehicle in front of it
stops.
Driver intervention prompt
During driving, the ACC is subject to certain
limitations inherent in the system. In other
words, in certain circumstances the driver will
have to adjust speed him or herself, as well
as the distance from other vehicles.
In this case, the instrument panel screen will
warn you to intervene by applying the brake
and a warning tone will be heard
››› page 198. WARNING
The intelligent technology in the ACC cannot
ov er
come the system's inherent limitations
or change the laws of physics. If used negli-
gently or involuntarily, it may cause serious
accidents and injuries. The system is not a re-
placement for driver awareness.
● Adapt your speed and safe distance to the
vehicl
e in front of you at all times to suit visi-
bility, weather, road and traffic conditions.
● Do not use the ACC when visibility is bad,
on steep r
oads, with several bends or in slip-
pery circumstances such as snow, ice, rain or
loose gravel, or on flooded roads.
● Never use the ACC when driving off-road or
on unpav
ed roads. The ACC has been de-
signed for use on paved roads only. ●
The AC C
does not react on approaching a
fixed obstacle, such as the tail of a traffic
jam, a damaged vehicle or a vehicle stopped
at the traffic lights.
● The ACC only reacts to people if a pedes-
trian monitorin
g system is available. In addi-
tion, the system does not react to animals or
vehicles crossing your path or approaching
head-on down the same lane.
● If the ACC does not reduce speed sufficient-
ly, brak
e the vehicle immediately by applying
the pedal.
● If you are driving using the spare wheel,
the ACC
system could automatically switch
off during the journey. Switch off the system
when starting off.
● If the vehicle continues to move involuntar-
ily af
ter a driver intervention prompt, brake
the vehicle by applying the pedal.
● If the dash panel displays a driv
er interven-
tion prompt, adjust the distance yourself.
● The driver should be ready to accelerate or
brake b
y him/herself at all times. CAUTION
If you have the sensation that the radar sen-
sor is d
amaged, disconnect the ACC. This will
avoid possible damage. If this occurs have it
adjusted.
● Repairs to the radar sensor require special-
ist
knowledge and special tools. SEAT recom-
mends visiting a SEAT dealership for this pur-
pose. Note
● If the A C
C system does not work as descri-
bed in this chapter, do not use it until it has
been checked by a specialised workshop.
SEAT recommends visiting a SEAT dealership
for this purpose.
● Maximum speed with the ACC activated is
limited to 210 km/h (150 mph).
● When the A
CC is switched on, strange
noises
may be heard during automatic brak-
ing cause by the braking system. 197
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety