2016 Seat Leon 5D handbrake

The essentials
● Pr e
s
s the clutch pedal and keep your foot
right down.
● Move the gearbox lever to the required po-
sition.
● Rel

ease the clutch.
Selecting r
everse gear
● Press the clutch pedal and keep your foot
right down.
● W

ith the gearbox lever in neutral, push it
upwar
ds, move it to the left as far as it will go
and then forwards to select reverse ››› Fig. 52
R .
● Release the clutch.

››› in Changing gear on page 179
››› page 179 Automatic gearbox*
Fig. 53
Automatic gearbox: selector lever po-
s ition
s. Parking lock
R
ev
er

se gear
Neutral (idling)
Drive (forward)
Tiptronic mode: pull the lever forwards
(+) to go up a gear or backwards ( –) to
go down a gear.

››› in Selector lever positions on
page 181
››› page 180
››› page 43 P
R
N
D/S
+/–
Manual release of the selector lever Fig. 54
Selector lever: manual release from
po s
ition P

. Should the power supply be interrupted,
ther
e i
s

a manual unlocking device located
under the console of the selector lever, on
the right. Releasing the selector lever re-
quires a certain degree of practical skill.
● Unlocking: use the flat part of a screwdriver
bla
de.
Removing the cover from the selector lever
● Apply the handbrake  ›››
to ensure that
the c ar doe
s
not move.
● Carefully pull the corners of the selector
lever boot
and twist it upwards above the lev-
er handle. » 43

The essentials
● Rep
l
ace the cover again or close the fuse
box lid.
Bulbs Bul
bs (12 V)
Light source used for each function
Halogen headlightsType
Daytime running light/side
lightP21W SLL
Dipped beam headlightsH7 LL
Main beam headlightsH7 LL
Turn signalPY21W LL
Full-LED main headlightsType
No bulbs may be replaced. All functions are with LEDs
Front fog lightType
Fog/cornering lights*H8
Rear lightsType
Brake light/tail lightP21W LL
Side lights2x W5W LL
Turn signalPY21W LL
Rear lightsType
Retro fog lightH21W
Reverse lightsP21W LL
LED rear lightsType
Turn signalPY21W LL
Retro fog lightH21W
Reverse lightsP21W LL
The remaining functions work with LEDs 
›››
page 93 Action in the event of a punc-
t
ur e
Wh

at to do first ●
Park the vehicle on a horizontal surface
and in a s afe p

lace as far away from traffic as
possible.
● Apply the handbrake.
● Switch on the hazard warning lights.
● Manual gearbox: select the 1s
t gear.
● Automatic gearbox: Move the sel
ector lever
to position P. ●
If y
ou are towing a trailer, unhitch it from
your vehicle.
● Have the vehicle tool kit ›››

 page 85
and the spare wheel* ready
›››  page 278.
● Observe the applicable legislation for each
countr
y (reflective vest, warning triangles,
etc.).
● All occupants should leave the vehicle and
wait in a s
afe place (for instance behind the
roadside crash barrier). WARNING
● Alw a

ys observe the above steps and pro-
tect yourself and other road users.
● If you change the wheel on a slope, block
the wheel on the oppo
site side of the car with
a stone or similar to prevent the vehicle from
moving. 55

Emergencies
Vehicle fuses Fig. 100
On the driver-side dash panel: fuse
bo x
c
over Fig. 101
In the engine compartment: fuse box
c o
v

er Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 54
Only replace fuses with a fuse of the same
amperage (same colour and markings) and
size. Opening and closing the fuse box situated
below the da

sh panel
● Opening: fold the cover down ››
› Fig. 100.
● Closing: push back the cover it in until it
clic
ks into place.
To open the engine compartment fuse box
● Open the bonnet  ›››
page 262.
● Press the locking tabs to release the fuse
box c
over ››› Fig. 101.
● Then lift the cover out.
● To fit the cover, place it on the fuse box.
Pu
sh the locking tabs down until they click
audibly into place.
Fuses in the vehicle interior
No.Consumers/Amps
4Taxis3
5Gateway5
6Automatic gearbox lever5
7Air conditioning and heating control
panel, heating the back window.10
8Diagnosis, handbrake switch, light
switch, reverse light, interior lighting10
9Steering column5
10Radio display5
12Radio20
No.Consumers/Amps
13Driving mode.15
14Air conditioner fan40
15KESSY10
16Connectivity Box7.5
17Instrument panel5
18Rear camera7.5
19KESSY7.5
214x4 Haldex Control Unit15
22Trailer15
23Right lights40
24Electric sunroof30
25Left door30
26Heated seats20
28Trailer25
31Left lights40
32Control unit for parking aid, front cam-
era and radar7.5
33Airbag5
34Reverse switch, clima sensor, electro-
chromic mirror7.5
35Diagnosis, headlight control unit,
headlight adjuster10 92

Lights and visibility
● Activ
at
ed for any position of the rotary light
switch.
● When the car door is opened, the “Coming
Home” lighting come
s on. The headlights are
turned off 60 seconds after the vehicle door
is opened.
Deactivation
● If no door has been closed, they go out au-
tomatic
ally after 60 seconds.
● After the last door has been closed, the
headlights
will be switched off after the
“Coming Home” delay (as established in the
radio menu) has elapsed.
● On turning the light switch to position 
›››
 page 24.
● When the ignition is switched on (when
star
ting the engine).
Function “Leaving Home” The “Leaving Home” function is only availa-
b
l
e f

or vehicles with a light and rain sensor
(rotary light switch in position ).
This function may be connected/disconnec-
ted through the radio menu. The “Leaving
Home” function switch-off delay may also be
set (default: 30 sec).
Vehicle with
halogen
headlightsIn the “Leaving Home” function, the day-
time running lights (DRL), the rear side
lights and the licence plate lights are
switched on.
Vehicle with
full-LED
headlightsIn the “Leaving Home” function, the dip-
ped beams, the daytime running lights
(DRL), the rear side lights and the li-
cence plate lights are switched on. Activation
● When the vehicle is unlocked using the re-
mote c ontr

ol.
● The “Leaving Home” function is only activa-
ted when the r ot

ary light switch is in position
 and the light sensor detects darkness.
Deactivation
● When the “Leaving Home” delay period
ends (def
ault: 30 sec).
● When the vehicle is locked using the re-
mote contr
ol.
● When the light control is switched into a
position other th
an .
● With the ignition is switched on. Hazard warning lights
 Fig. 139
Dash panel: switch for hazard warn-
in g lights. Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 25
The hazard warning lights are used to draw
the attention of other road users to your vehi-
cle in emergencies.
If your vehicle breaks down:
1. Park your vehicle at a safe distance from movin
g traffic.
2. Press the button to switch on the hazard warning lights
››› .
3. Switch the ignition off.
4. Apply the handbrake.
5. For a manual gearbox, engage 1st gear; for an aut
om

atic gearbox, move the gear
lever to P. »
135
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

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

Driving
The selected driving mode is shown on the
in s
trument
panel display.
In normal mode (D), the gearbox automatical-
ly selects the best gear ratio. This depends
on the engine load, the road speed and the
dynamic gear control programme (DCP).
Sport mode (S) must be selected for a sporty
driving style. This setting makes use of the
engine's maximum power output. When ac-
celerating the gear shifts will be noticeable.
Press the brake pedal to move the selector
lever from N to D/S when the vehicle is sta-
tionary or at speeds below 3 km/h (2 mph)
››› .
Under c er
t

ain circumstances (e.g. when driv-
ing in mountains) it can be advantageous to
switch temporarily to tiptronic mode
››› page 182, in order to manually select gear
ratios to suit the driving conditions. WARNING
● Tak e c

are not to accidentally press the ac-
celerator pedal when the vehicle is stopped.
The vehicle could otherwise start moving im-
mediately (in some cases even if the parking
brake is engaged) resulting in the risk of an
accident.
● Never move the selector lever to R or P
when driving. F
ailure to follow this instruc-
tion could result in an accident.
● With selector lever in any position (except
P) the vehic
le must always be held with the foot brake when the engine is running. This is
becau
se an aut

omatic gearbox still transmits
power even at idling speed, and the vehicle
tends to “creep”. The accelerator pedal must
on no account be pressed inadvertently when
a gear is engaged with the vehicle stationary.
The vehicle could otherwise start moving im-
mediately (in some cases even if the parking
brake is engaged) resulting in the risk of an
accident.
● While you are selecting a gear and the vehi-
cle i
s stopped with the engine running, do
not accelerate. Failure to follow this instruc-
tion could result in an accident.
● As a driver you should never leave your ve-
hicle if
the engine is running and a gear is en-
gaged. If you have to leave your vehicle while
the engine is running, you must apply the
handbrake and engage the parking lock (P).
● To avoid accidents, apply the handbrake
and put the sel
ector lever in position P before
opening the bonnet and working on the vehi-
cle with the engine running. Please always
observe the important safety warnings
››› page 262, Work in the engine compart-
ment. Note
● If the sel ect

or lever is moved accidentally
to N when driving, release the accelerator and
let the engine speed drop to idling before se-
lecting gear range D or S again.
● Should the power supply to the selector
lever be int
errupted in position P, the selector lever will be locked. If this should happen the
manua
l

release can be used ›››
 page 43. Selector lever lock
Fig. 191
Selector lever lock. The selector lever lock prevents gears from
bein g en
g

aged inadvertently, so that the ve-
hicle is not set in motion unintentionally.
The selector lever lock is released as follows:
– Switch the ignition on.
– Press the brake pedal and at
the same time
press in the interlock button.
Automatic selector lever lock
With the ignition switched on, the selector
lever is locked in the positions P and N. The
brake pedal must be pressed to release the
lever while pressing the release button if the
selector lever is in the position P. As a »
181
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety