The essentials
Repairing a tyre with the anti-punc-
t ur
e k
it Fig. 67
Standard representation: contents of
the anti-p u
nct
ure kit. The anti-puncture kit is located under the
floor p
anel
in the lug
gage compartment.
Sealing the tyre
● Unscrew the tyre valve cap and insert. Use
the ›››
Fig. 67 1 tool to remove the insert.
Pl ac
e it
on a clean surface.
● Shake the tyre sealant bottle vigorously
›››
Fig. 67 10 .
● Screw the inflator tube ››
›
Fig. 67 3 into
the se al
ant
bottle. The bottle's seal will break
automatically. ●
Remov
e the lid from the filling tube
››› Fig. 67 3 and screw the open end of the
t ube int
o the ty
re valve.
● With the tyre sealant bottle upside down,
fill
the tyre with the contents of the sealant
bottle.
● Remove the bottle from the valve.
● Place the insert back into the tyre valve us-
ing the too
l ››› Fig. 67 1 .
Infl atin
g the ty
re
● Screw the compressor tyre inflator tube
›››
Fig. 67 5 into the tyre valve.
● Check that the air bleed screw is closed
› ›
›
Fig. 67 7 .
● Start the engine and leave it running.
● Insert the connector ››
›
Fig. 67 9 into the
v ehic
l
e's 12-volt socket ›››
page 150.
● Turn the air compressor on with the ON/OFF
switc
h ››› Fig. 67 8 .
● Keep the air compressor running until it
r e
ac
hes 2.0 to 2.5 bar
(29-36 psi/200-250 kPa). A maximum of 8
minutes.
● Disconnect the air compressor.
● If it does not reach the pressure indicated,
uns
crew the tyre inflator tube from the valve.
● Move the vehicle 10m so that the sealant is
dis trib
uted throughout the tyre. ●
Scr ew the c
ompressor tyre inflator into the
valve.
● Repeat the inflation process.
● If the indicated pressure still cannot be
reac
hed, the tyre is too badly damaged. Stop
and request assistance from an authorised
technician.
● Disconnect the air compressor. Unscrew
the tyre infl
ator tube from the tyre valve.
● When the tyre pressure is between 2.5 and
2.0 bars, c
ontinue driving without exceeding
80 km/h (50 mph).
● Check the pressure again after 10 minutes
›››
page 87.
››› in TMS (Tyre Mobility System)* on
page 85
››› page 85 56
The essentials
Jump leads must comply with standard DIN
72553 (see c ab
l
e manufacturer's instruc-
tions). The wire cross section must be at least
25 mm 2
for petrol engines and at least
35 mm 2
for diesel engines. Note
● The v ehic
les must not touch each other,
otherwise electricity could flow as soon as
the positive terminals are connected.
● The discharged battery must be properly
connected t
o the on-board network. How to jump start: description
Fig. 77
Diagram of connections for vehicles
w ithout
Start Stop system Fig. 78
Diagram of connections for vehicles
with St
art Stop system Jump lead terminal connections
1. Switch off the ignition of both vehicles
››
›
.
2. Connect one end of the re
d
jump lead to
the positive + terminal of the vehicle
w ith the fl
at
battery A
› ›
› Fig. 77 .
3. Connect the other end of the red
jump
lead to the positive terminal + in the ve-
hic l
e pr
oviding assistance B .
4. For vehicles without Start-Stop system:
connect
one end of
the black jump lead to
the negative terminal – of the vehicle
pr o
v
iding the current B
› ›
› Fig. 77 .
– For vehicles with Start-Stop system: con-
nect one end of
the black jump lead X to a
s uit
ab
le ground terminal, to a solid piece of
metal in the engine block, or to the engine
block itself ››› Fig. 78. 5. Connect the other end of the
black
jump
lead X to a solid metal component bolted
t o the en
gine b
lock or to the engine block
itself of the vehicle with the flat battery.
Do not connect it to a point near the bat-
tery A .
6. Position the leads in such a way that they cannot
c
ome into contact with any moving
parts in the engine compartment.
Starting
7. Start the engine of the vehicle with the boostin
g battery and let it run at idling
speed.
8. Start the engine of the vehicle with the flat batter
y and wait for 2 or 3 minutes until
the engine is running.
Removing the jump leads
9. Before you remove the jump leads, switch off the dipped be
am headlights if they are
switched on.
10.
Turn on the heater blower and heated rear
window in the vehicle with the flat battery.
This helps minimise voltage peaks which
are generated when the leads are discon-
nected.
11.When the engine is running, disconnect the lea
ds in reverse order to the details
given above. 62
Opening and closing
●
If the v
ehicle battery is run down or flat
then the anti-theft alarm will not operate cor-
rectly.
● Vehicle monitoring remains active even if
the batter
y is disconnected or not working for
any reason.
● The alarm is triggered immediately if one of
the batter
y cables is disconnected while the
alarm system is active. Vehicle interior monitoring and anti-
to
w sy
stem* It is a monitoring or control function incorpo-
r
at
ed in the anti-thef
t alarm* which detects
unauthorised vehicle entry by means of ultra-
sound.
Activation
– It is automatically switched on when the
anti-theft al
arm is activated.
Deactivation – Open the vehicle with the key, either me-
chanic
ally or by pressing the button on
the r emot
e c
ontrol. The time period from
when the door is opened until the key is in-
serted in the contact should not exceed 15
seconds, otherwise the alarm will be trig-
gered. –
Pres
s the button on the remote control
tw ic
e.
The volumetric sensor and tilt sen-
sors will be deactivated. The alarm system
remains activated.
The vehicle interior monitoring and the anti-
tow system are automatically switched on
again next time the vehicle is locked.
The vehicle interior monitoring and anti-tow
sensor (tilt sensor) are automatically switch-
ed on when the anti-theft alarm is switched
on. In order to activate it, all the doors and
the rear lid must be closed.
If you wish to switch off the vehicle interior
monitoring and the anti-tow system, it must
be done each time that the vehicle is locked;
if not, they will be automatically switched on.
The vehicle interior monitoring and the anti-
tow system should be switched off if animals
are left inside the locked vehicle (otherwise,
their movements will trigger the alarm) or
when, for example, the vehicle is transported
or has to be towed with only one axle on the
ground.
False alarms
Interior monitoring will only operate correctly
if the vehicle is completely closed. Please ob-
serve related legal requirements.
The following cases may cause a false alarm: ● Open windows (partially or fully). ●
Panoramic/ti lting sunroof open (partially or
completely).
● Movement of objects inside the vehicle,
such a
s loose papers, items hanging from
the rear vision mirror (air fresheners), etc. Note
● If the v
ehicle is relocked and the alarm is
activated without the volumetric sensor func-
tion, relocking will activate the alarm with all
its functions, except the volumetric sensor.
This function is reactivated when the alarm is
switched on again, unless it is deliberately
switched off.
● If the alarm has been triggered by the volu-
metric sensor
, this will be indicated by a
flashing of the warning lamp on the driver
door when the vehicle is opened. The flash is
different to the flash indicating the alarm is
activated.
● The vibration of a mobile phone left inside
the vehic
le may cause the vehicle interior
monitoring alarm to trigger, as both sensors
react to movements and shakes inside the ve-
hicle.
● If on activating the alarm, any door or the
rear lid i
s open, only the alarm will be activa-
ted. The vehicle interior monitoring and the
anti-tow system will only be activated once
all the doors are closed (including the rear
lid). 125
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Transport and practical equipment
Storing objects Lo
a
ding the luggage compartment
›› ›
table on page 2
All luggage and other loose objects must be
safely secured in the luggage compartment.
Unsecured objects which shift back and forth
could impair the driving safety or driving
characteristics of the vehicle by shifting the
centre of gravity. – Distribute the load evenly in the luggage
comp ar
tment.
– Place heavy objects as far forward as possi-
ble in the lug
gage compartment.
– Place the heavy objects first.
– Secure heavy objects to the fitted fastening
rings
›››
page 157. WARNING
● Loo se lug
gage and other objects in the lug-
gage compartment could cause serious inju-
ries.
● Always stow objects in the luggage com-
partment
and secure them on the fastening
rings.
● Use suitable straps to secure heavy ob-
jects.
● D
uring sudden manoeuvres or accidents,
loose ob
jects can be thrown forward, injuring vehicle occupants or passers-by. This in-
cr
e
ased risk of injury will be further increased
if a loose object is struck by an inflating air-
bag. If this happens, objects may shoot out-
ward like a missile. Risk of fatal injury.
● Please note that the centre of gravity may
shift when tr
ansporting heavy objects; this
may affect vehicle handling and lead to an ac-
cident. Therefore, it is essential to adjust
your speed and driving style accordingly, to
avoid accidents.
● Never exceed the allowed axle weights or
allo
wed maximum weight. If said weights are
exceeded, the driving characteristics of the
vehicle may change, leading to accidents, in-
juries and damage to the vehicle.
● Never leave your vehicle unattended, espe-
cia
lly when the rear lid is open. Children
could climb into the luggage compartment,
closing the door behind them; they will be
trapped and run the risk of death.
● Never allow children to play in or around
the vehic
le. Close and lock all the doors and
rear lid when you leave the vehicle. Before
you lock the vehicle, make sure that there are
no adults or children in the vehicle. Note
● Air cir c
ulation in the vehicle helps reduce
fogging of the windows. Used air escapes
through ventilation slits in the side trim of
the luggage compartment. Ensure that the
ventilation slots are never covered. ●
Strap s
for securing the load to the fasten-
ing rings are commercially available. Luggage compartment cover
3 Applies to the model: LEON/LEON SC
Fig. 159
In the luggage compartment: remov-
in g and in
s
talling the rear shelf. Fig. 160
In the luggage compartment: remov-
in g and in s
talling the rear shelf. » 151
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
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
Driving
the Start-Stop system it is worth switching off
the en gine, f
or e
xample, at level crossings
and at traffic lights that remain red for long
periods of time. When an engine has reached
operating temperature, and depending on
the cylinder capacity, keeping it switched off
for a minimum of about 5 seconds already
saves more than the amount of fuel necessa-
ry for restarting.
The engine takes a long time to warm up
when it is idling. Mechanical wear and pollu-
tant emissions are also especially high dur-
ing this initial warm-up phase. It is therefore
best to drive off immediately after starting
the engine. Avoid running the engine at high
speed.
Regular maintenance
Regular servicing helps in saving fuel even
before the engine is started. A well-serviced
engine gives you the benefit of improved fuel
efficiency as well as maximum reliability and
an enhanced resale value. A badly serviced
engine can consume up to 10% more fuel
than necessary.
Avoid short journeys
The engine and catalytic converter need to
reach their optimal operating temperature in
order to minimise fuel consumption and
emissions. A cold engine consumes a disproportionate
amount of
fuel. The engine reaches its work-
ing temperature after about four kilometres
(2.5 miles), when fuel consumption will re-
turn to a normal level.
Check tyre pressure
Always make sure the tyres are inflated to the
correct pressures ››› page 272 to save fuel. If
the pressure is below half bar, fuel consump-
tion may increase by 5%. Due to the greater
rolling resistance, under-inflation also increa-
ses tyre wear and impairs handling.
Do not use winter tyres all year round as they
increase fuel consumption by up to 10%.
Avoid carrying unnecessary loads
Given that every kilo of extra weight will in-
crease the fuel consumption, it is advisable
to always check the luggage compartment to
make sure that no unnecessary loads are be-
ing transported.
Since the luggage rack increases the aerody-
namic drag of the vehicle, you should remove
it when not needed. At speeds of 100-120
km/h (62-75 mph), this will save 12% of fuel.
Save electrical energy
The engine drives the alternator, thereby gen-
erating electricity. This implies that any in-
crease in power consumption also increases
fuel consumption! For this reason, switch off any unneeded electrical devices. Devices that
use a lot of
electricity includes the blower at
a high setting, the rear window heating or
the seat heating*.
Engine management and ex-
haus
t gas purification system
Introduction WARNING
● Bec au
se of the high temperatures which
can occur in the exhaust purification system
(catalytic converter or diesel particulate fil-
ter), do not park the vehicle where the ex-
haust can come into contact with flammable
materials under the car (e.g. on grass or at
the forest edge). Fire hazard!
● Do not apply wax underneath the vehicle
around the ar
ea of the exhaust system: Fire
hazard! Note
While the control lamps , , or re-
m ain lit, ther
e may be engine problems, fuel
consumption may increase and the engine
may lose power. 189
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
Auto Hold Function* D e
s
cription and operation Fig. 195
In the lower part of the centre con-
so l
e: Aut
o Hold function button. The control light of the
› ›
›
Fig. 195 button
remains on when the Auto Hold function is
connected.
Once connected, the Auto Hold function as-
sists the driver in keeping the vehicle station-
ary at repeated intervals or for a certain peri-
od of time with the engine running, for exam-
ple, when going up a slope, when stopped at
traffic lights or in heavy traffic with intermit-
tent stops.
When connected, the Auto Hold function au-
tomatically prevents the vehicle from rolling
when stationary without pressing the brake
pedal. After detecting that the vehicle is stationary
and the brake ped
al has been released, the
Auto Hold function holds the vehicle. The
driver can lift their foot off the brake pedal.
When the driver touches the accelerator ped-
al or accelerates slightly to continue driving,
the Auto Hold function releases the brake.
The vehicle moves according to the slope of
the road.
If the vehicle is stationary and one of the con-
ditions required by the Auto Hold function is
impaired, it disconnects itself and the but-
ton's control light goes out ››› Fig. 195. The
electronic parking brake connects automati-
cally, if necessary, to park the vehicle safe-
ly ››› .
C ondition
s
for keeping the vehicle stationary
with the Auto Hold function
● The driver door must be closed.
● The driver's seat belt must be fastened.
● The engine is running.
Switc
hing the Auto Hold function on and off
Press the button ››› . The control lamp on
the b utt
on g
oes out when the Auto Hold func-
tion is switched off. Automatically engaging and disengaging the
Auto Hol
d function
If the Auto Hold function was switched on
with the button before disengaging the ig-
nition, the function will remain on after the
ignition is re-engaged.
If the Auto Hold function was not switched
on, it will automatically remain off next time
the ignition is engaged.
The Auto Hold function is automatically
switched on if the following conditions are
met:
All conditions must be met at the same time
››› :
Manual gearboxAutomatic gearbox
1.The vehicle is kept stationary with the brake ped-
al on a flat surface or on a slope.
2.The engine rotates “correctly”.
Upon pressing the
clutch and accelerating
at the same time, the
brake releases gradu-
ally.Upon accelerating, the
brake releases gradu-
ally. 194
Intelligent technology
still has good acceleration in these
condition
s. Ri
sk of accident!
● On wet roads bear in mind that the front
wheels m
ay start to “aquaplane” and lose
contact with the road if the car is driven too
fast. If this should happen, there will be no
sudden increase in engine speed to warn the
driver, as occurs with a front-wheel drive car.
For this reason you should always choose a
driving speed suitable for the road condi-
tions. Risk of accident! Power Management
Thi s
sy
stem helps to ensure reliable
starting The power management controls the distribu-
tion of
el
ectric
al energy and thus helps to en-
sure that there is always enough power avail-
able to start the engine.
If a vehicle with a conventional electrical sys-
tem is left parked for a long time, the battery
will gradually lose its charge because certain
electrical devices, such as the electronic
gearbox lock continues to draw current even
when the ignition is off. In some cases there
may not be enough power available to start
the engine.
Your vehicle is equipped with an intelligent
power management system to control the distribution of electrical energy. This signifi-
cantly impr
oves reliability when starting the
engine, and also prolongs the useful life of
the battery.
The main functions incorporated in the power
management system are battery diagnosis,
residual current management and dynamic
power management.
Battery diagnosis
The battery diagnosis function constantly
registers the condition of the battery. Sen-
sors detect the battery voltage, battery cur-
rent and battery temperature. This enables
the system to calculate the current power lev-
el and charge condition of the battery.
Residual current management
The residual current management reduces
power consumption while the vehicle is
parked. It controls the supply of power to the
various electrical devices while the ignition is
switched off. The system takes the battery di-
agnosis data into consideration.
Depending on the power level of the battery,
switch off the individual electrical devices
one after the other to prevent the battery
from losing too much charge and to ensure
that the engine can be started reliably. Dynamic power management
While the
vehicle is moving, this function dis-
tributes the available power to the various
electrical devices and systems according to
their requirements. The power management
ensures that on-board systems do not con-
sume more electrical power than the alterna-
tor can supply, and thus maintains the maxi-
mum possible battery power level. Note
● Neither is the po
wer management system
able to overcome the given physical limits.
Please remember that the power and useful
life of the battery are limited.
● When there is a risk that the vehicle will
not st
art, the alternator power failure or low
battery charge level warning lamp will be
shown ››› page 109. Flat battery
Starting ability has first priority.
Shor
t
trip
s, city traffic and low temperatures
all place a heavy load on the battery. In these
conditions a large amount of power is con-
sumed, but only a small amount is supplied.
The situation is also critical if electrical devi-
ces are in use when the engine is not run-
ning. In this case power is consumed when
none is being generated. »
255
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety