2016 Seat Mii Owner's manual

Driving
If the brake servo does not operate or the ve-
hic l
e mu
st be towed, then the brake pedal
will have to be pressed with more force given
that the braking distance will be increased
when the brake servo does not operate ››› .
WARNING
New brake pads do not brake to full efficien-
cy.
● For the fir

st 320 km, new brake pads have
not y
et reached their maximum braking ca-
pacity, and need to be “run in” first. For this,
to compensate for reduced braking efficiency
the brake pedal will have to be pressed with
more force.
● To avoid losing control of the vehicle and
caus
ing serious accidents, always take great
care when driving with new brake pads.
● When running in new brake pads, always
res
pect the safety distances between you and
other vehicles and do not cause situations re-
quiring extreme braking performance. WARNING
When brakes overheat, braking is less effi-
cient and br

aking distances increase.
● When driving on slopes, brakes can be
overlo
aded and overheat quickly.
● Reduce speed or change down a gear when
faced w
ith steep and long slopes. This allows
you to use the engine braking effect and to
reduce the strain on the brake system. ●
Non-s t

andard or damaged front spoilers
could restrict the airflow to the brakes and
cause them to overheat. WARNING
Wet, frozen or salt-covered brakes take lon-
g er t o en

gage and this increases braking dis-
tances.
● Test the brakes carefully.
● Dry the brakes, free them of ice and salt by
brakin
g gently several times, when visibility,
weather, and road and traffic conditions per-
mit. WARNING
Driving without the brake servo may signifi-
cantly inc

rease the braking distance and re-
sult in a severe accident.
● Never allow the vehicle to move forwards
when the engine is
switched off.
● If the brake servo does not operate or the
vehicl
e must be towed, then the brake pedal
will have to be pressed with more force given
that the braking distance will be increased
when the brake servo does not operate. CAUTION
● Never m ak

e the brakes “slip” by pressing
the pedal gently, if it is not really necessary
to brake. Continuously pressing on the brake
pedal will heat the brakes. This could signifi-
cantly reduce braking power, increase brak- ing distance or even result in the total failure
of the br
ak

e system.
● Reduce speed or change down a gear when
faced w
ith steep and long slopes. This allows
you to use the engine braking effect and to
reduce the strain on the brake system. Other-
wise, the brakes may overheat and fail. Only
use the brakes to reduce speed or to stop. Note
Make use, when having the front brake pads
c hec k

ed, and have the rear pads checked al-
so. The thickness of the brake pads should be
checked visually and regularly, by looking
through the openings in the wheel rims or
from underneath the vehicle. If necessary, re-
move the wheels to check them thoroughly.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech-
nical service. Changing gear
Intr oduction When reverse gear is engaged and the igni-
tion i
s
sw

itched on the following takes place:
● Reverse lights light up.
● The rear wiper blade performs one move-
ment when the wind
screen wiper is activa-
ted. »
143
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
● If nec
e
ssary, connect the parking distance
warning system. WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction
and skid din

g, especially on slippery ground.
This could cause loss of control of the vehicle
resulting in an accident and considerable
damage.
● Use rapid acceleration only when visibility,
weather
, road conditions and traffic permit. WARNING
Do not allow the brakes to “rub” for a pro-
long ed period of

time, or brake frequently or
for long periods of time. Continuous braking
heats up the brakes. This could significantly
reduce braking power, increase braking dis-
tance or even result in the total failure of the
brake system. Control and warning lamps

It lights up red
Fault in the auto-
matic gearbox.
 Do not drive on!
Seek professional advice. Failure to
do so could result in considerable
damage to the transmission
››› page 147. 
It lights up yellow
In the automatic
gearbox the
gears can en-
gage incorrectly.Switch the ignition on and off.
When the control lamp does not
light up, find the nearest special-
ised workshop and have the auto-
matic gearbox checked.
The automatic
gearbox over-
heats temporari-
ly.Let the transmission cool with the
gearbox lever in the position .
When the control lamp does not
light up, find the nearest special-
ised workshop and have the auto-
matic gearbox checked. 
It lights up
Place the automatic
gearbox lever in the
position
 and do not
press the brake pedal.
Press the brake pedal to select
a gear range.
Together with the yel-
low control lamp for
the temperature of the
transmission
: the
automatic gearbox
overheats.
Press brake pedal and let the
transmission cool. Avoid
pressing the accelerator. When
the control lamp does not light
up, find the nearest special-
ised workshop and have the
automatic gearbox checked.
Together with the turn
signal display in the
instrument panel dis-
play: the automatic
gearbox lever is not in
the position
, indica-
tion to start the en-
gine.
Move the gearbox lever to the
position  and start the en-
gine. 
Flashes
An automatic gearbox
in the vehicle does
not guarantee that the
vehicle will not roll
away.Apply the handbrake.

Flashes
In the instrument pan-
el display, in addition
to the control lamp re-
questing the brake
pedal to be pressed
: indicated for start-
ing the engine.
Move the gearbox lever to the
position  and start the en-
gine.
On the instrument
panel display: Whilst
driving in a forward di-
rection, try to move
the automatic gearbox
lever to the position
.
Stop the vehicle and move the
gearbox lever to the position in order to subsequently
change to the position .
On the instrument
panel display: The au-
tomatic gearbox lever
was placed in the po-
sition
 or , but the
brake pedal was not
pressed.
Press the brake pedal, move
the gearbox lever to the posi-
tion
, and subsequently to
the required position  or . When switching on the ignition some warn-
in
g and indic
ation l

amps light up for a short
time to check the operations. They will switch
off after a few seconds.
144

Driving
Manual gear change Fig. 147
Gear shift pattern of a 5-speed man-
ual g
e
arbox Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 26
Shifting down a gear
Shifting down a gear while driving must be
carried out gear by gear, i.e. to the gear im-
mediately preceding the current gear and at
an engine speed that is not excessive ››› .
At high s
peed

s, or high engine speeds, skip-
ping one or various gears when shifting
down a gear can cause damage to the clutch
and the gearbox, even if the clutch is not en-
gaged during the process ››› .
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. ●
Never en g

age the reverse gear when a vehi-
cle is moving forward. WARNING
As a consequence of shifting down a gear in-
c orr ectly

, you may lose control of the vehicle
and cause an accident with serious conse-
quences. CAUTION
If, at high speeds or high engine speeds, the
ge ar l

ever is shifted down to a gear that is too
low, serious damage can be caused to the
clutch and gearbox. This may also happen if
you press the clutch pedal and it does not en-
gage. CAUTION
To prevent damage and avoid premature
we ar

, please observe the following:
● While driving, do not leave your hand rest-
ing on the ge
ar stick. The pressure applied by
your hand is transmitted to the gearbox se-
lector forks.
● Always ensure that the vehicle is complete-
ly st
opped before engaging the reverse gear.
● When changing gear, always make sure the
clutc
h pedal is pushed right to the floor.
● Never hold the vehicle “on the clutch” on
hill
s with the engine on. Automatic gear change
Fig. 148
Automatic gearbox diagram of gears Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 26
Put the selector lever into position N for:
● Starting up the engine
● Remove the key from the ignition switch
● Engage the steering wheel lock
Move the sel
ector lever to the D or R position
to:
● Park the vehicle
● Repair a puncture
● Changing a wheel
To mov
e the gear selector lever from the posi-
tion N to D or to R, first press and hold the
brake pedal. »
145
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
In the instrument panel display, with the igni-
tion sw it
c
hed on, the selected gear range or
the gear engaged in the gearbox is shown.
 - Reverse gear
Reverse gear is selected. Engage only when
the vehicle is stopped.
 - Neutral
The gearbox is in neutral. No movement is
transmitted to the wheels and the engine
does not act as a brake.
 - Standard driving position
The gears are changed (up and down) auto-
matically. The gear shifts are determined by
the engine load, your individual driving style
and the speed of the vehicle.
 - Tiptronic driving position (manual shift
programme)
All gears can be changed (up and down)
manually ››› page 146. This is possible as
long as the system is not changing gear auto-
matically due to a traffic situation. WARNING
Placing the selector lever in an incorrect posi-
tion ma y

cause loss of control of the vehicle
and a serious accident.
● Do not press the accelerator when engag-
ing a ran
ge of gears. ●
With the en gine ru

nning and a gear range
selected, the vehicle will move when the ac-
celerator is pressed.
● Never engage reverse gear while driving.
● Unintentional movements of the vehicle
coul
d cause serious injury.
● As a driver, you should never leave your ve-
hicle if
the engine is running and a gear range
is engaged. If you have to leave your vehicle
while the engine is running, you must always
apply the handbrake and put the selector lev-
er in position N.
● Never engage the R gear range when the
vehicl
e is moving.
● Never leave the vehicle without applying
the handbrak
e. With the engine running the
vehicle moves downhill regardless of the gear
range selected. Note
If, while driving, the selector lever is acciden-
ta l

ly placed in position N, lift your foot off the
accelerator. Wait until the engine is running
at idle speed before selecting a new gear
range. Engaging gear with Tiptronic
Fig. 149
Lever in the Tiptronic position With Tiptronic, the gears can be changed up
or do
wn m
anual

ly with the automatic gear-
box. When you change to the Tiptronic pro-
gramme, the vehicle remains in the currently
selected gear. This is possible as long as the
system is not changing gear automatically
due to a traffic situation.
Using Tiptronic
● Place the lever in the position D to the lef
t
on the Tiptronic shift gate M ››› in Auto-
m atic
g
ear change on page 146.
● Press the lever forwards + or backwards
– to move up or down a gear
››
›
Fig. 149.
● Place the lever back to the position M to
the lef
t on the Tiptronic shift gate, to leave
Tiptronic mode ››› in Automatic gear
c h
an

ge on page 146.
146

Driving
With the lever in the position D, and pr e
s sing
forwards + or backwards
– the Tiptronic
pr ogr
amme c
an be selected M. CAUTION
● When acc el

erating, the gearbox automati-
cally shifts up into the next gear shortly be-
fore the maximum engine speed is reached.
● When reducing speed manually, the gear-
box on
ly shifts gear when the engine can no
longer exceed the maximum engine speed. Driving with automatic gearbox
The gearbox changes gear ratios automatical-
ly
a
s

the vehicle moves.
Driving down hills
The steeper the gradient, the lower the gear
you will need to select. The lowest gears in-
crease the engine braking work. Never go
down hills with the selector lever in neutral
N.
● You should reduce speed accordingly.
● Place the lever in the position D to the lef
t
on the Tiptronic shift gate M ›››
page 146.
● Gently pull the selector lever back – to
c h
an

ge down a gear. Starting when going up a slope
The steeper the gr

adient, the lower the gear
you will need.
When stopping on a slope with a gear range
engaged, the vehicle must be prevented from
rolling backwards by always pressing the
brake pedal or pulling the handbrake lever
up. When starting, release the brake pedal or
the handbrake ››› .
Kic k
-do

wn
The kickdown system provides maximum ac-
celeration when the gear selector lever is in
the position D, or in the Tiptronic position M.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right
down, the automatic gearbox will shift down
to a lower gear, depending on road speed
and engine speed. This takes advantage of
the maximum acceleration of the vehicle
››› .
When the ac c
el

erator is pressed to the floor,
the automatic gearbox shifts to the next gear
only after the engine reaches the specified
maximum engine speed. WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction
and skid din

g, especially on slippery ground.
This could cause loss of control of the vehicle
resulting in an accident and serious injury. ●
Alw a

ys adapt your driving style to suit the
flow of traffic.
● Only use the kick-down function or rapid
accel
eration if visibility, weather, road and
traffic conditions so permit.
● Never put other road users in danger by ac-
celer
ating or with your driving style. CAUTION
If you stop on a hill with a gear range engag-
ed, do not try

to prevent the vehicle from roll-
ing back by pressing on the accelerator. Oth-
erwise, the automatic gearbox may overheat
causing damage. Automatic gearbox malfunction
Back-up programme
When aut
om
atic

gearbox warning and indica-
tion lamps light up on the instrument panel,
there may be a system malfunction
››› page 143. In the event of some faults the
automatic gearbox functions using a backup
programme. When the programme is activa-
ted, it is possible to drive the vehicle, howev-
er, at low speeds and within a selected range
of gears.
With the manual gearbox, in some cases it is
not possible to drive with all the gears .
In all cases the automatic gearbox must be
checked at a specialised workshop. »
147
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
Automatic gearbox overheating
The aut om
atic
gearbox can overheat with a
prolonged start up, or when stopping and
starting continuously. This overheating is dis-
played with a warning lamp  in the instru-
ment panel. Additionally, an audible warning
can be heard. Stop and let the gearbox cool
››› .
The v
ehic

le moves forward or back despite
having selected a gear range
When the vehicle does not move in the re-
quired direction, the system may not have
the gear range correctly engaged. Press the
brake pedal and engage the gear range
again. If the vehicle still does not move in the
required direction, there is a system malfunc-
tion. Seek specialist assistance and have the
system checked. CAUTION
● When the ge arbo

x is displayed as overheat-
ing for the first time, the vehicle must be
parked safely or must be driven at a speed of
more than 20 km/h (12 mph).
● When the warning lamp lights up and the
audible w
arning is heard, the vehicle must be
parked safely and the engine switched off.
Let the gearbox cool down.
● To prevent damage to the gearbox, driving
must
only be continued when the warning
lamps are no longer lit up. While the gearbox is overheated, starting up and driving, even
at a s
lo

w speed should be avoided. Recommended gear display
In some vehicles, the recommended gear for
reduc
in

g fuel consumption is displayed on
the instrument panel:
DisplayMeaning 
Optimum gear.

Recommendation to change up a gear.

Recommendation to change down a
gear.
WARNING
The recommended gear display is intended as
a guideline only; it shou

ld never replace the
driver's attention to driving carefully.
● Responsibility for selecting the correct gear
for eac
h situation continues to lie with the
driver, for example when overtaking or climb-
ing a hill. For the sake of the environment
Selecting the most appropriate gear for the
sit uation w

ill help you to save fuel. Note
The recommended gear display is switched
off when the c lut

ch pedal is pressed. Run-in and economical driving
Ru nnin

g in Please observe the instructions for running-in
new components.
R u

nning-in the engine
The engine needs to be run in over the first
1,500 km. During its first few hours of run-
ning, the internal friction in the engine is
greater than later on when all the moving
parts have bedded down.
How the vehicle is driven for the first 1,500
km influences the future engine perform-
ance. Throughout the life of the vehicle, it
should be driven at a moderate speed, espe-
cially when the engine is cold, as this will re-
duce engine wear and increase its useful life.
Never drive at extremely low engine speeds.
Change down to a lower gear when the en-
gine no longer runs “smoothly”. Up to 1,000
kilometres the following instructions apply:
● Do not use full throttle.
● Do not force the engine above two thirds of
its m ax

imum speed.
148

Driving
Between 1,000 and 1,500 kilometres, gr adu-
a l
ly increase power until reaching the maxi-
mum speed and high engine speeds.
Running in new tyres and brake pads
● Replacement of wheel rims and new tyres
›››
page 199
● Notes on the brakes ›››
page 137 For the sake of the environment
If the engine is run in gently, the life of the
engine w i

ll be increased and the engine oil
consumption reduced. Environmental compatibility
Environmental protection is a top priority in
the de
s
ign, c

hoice of materials and manufac-
ture of your new SEAT.
Constructive measures to encourage recy-
cling
● Joints and connections designed for easy
dismantlin
g
● Modular construction to facilitate disman-
tling
● Incr

eased use of single-grade materials.
● Plastic parts and elastomers are marked in
accor
dance with ISO 1043, ISO 11469 and
ISO 1629. Choice of materials
●
Use of recycled materials.
● Use of compatible plastics in the same part
if its c
omponents 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 Fig. 150
Fuel consumption in litres per
100 km at 2 diff
er

ent outside temperatures Fuel consumption, environmental impact and
en
gine, br
ak

e and tyre wear depend largely
on three factors:
● Personal driving style.
● Conditions of use (weather, road surface).
● Technical requirements.
Saving
s of up to 25% in fuel consumption
are possible with an appropriate driving style
and the adoption of certain simple tips.
Changing gear early
General instructions: The highest gear is al-
ways the most economical. As a guide, for
most vehicles at a speed of 30 km/h
(19 mph), drive in third gear, at 40 km/h »
149
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
(25 mph) in fourth gear and at 50 km/h
(31 mph) in fif th g
e
ar.
In addition, “skipping” gears when shifting
up helps to save fuel, weather and traffic
conditions permitting.
Do not wait until the last moment before
changing gear. Only use first gear when you
move off and change to second gear quickly.
Avoid the kick-down function in vehicles with
automatic gearbox.
Vehicles with a gear display help to achieve
an economical driving style as the display in-
dicates the best moment to change gear.
Let the vehicle roll
If you take your foot off the accelerator, the
fuel supply is stopped and consumption is
reduced.
Allow the vehicle to roll without accelerating,
for example when approaching a red traffic
light. However, if the vehicle is rolling too
slowly or the distance is too long, the clutch
pedal should be pressed to declutch. The en-
gine will then operate at idle speed.
If the vehicle is going to be at a standstill for
a period of time, switch off the engine; for ex-
ample, while waiting at a level crossing.
Think ahead and “flow” with the traffic
Frequent acceleration and braking considera-
bly increase fuel consumption. If you think ahead as you drive and keep a safe distance
from the v
ehicle in front, it is possible to slow
down by simply lifting your foot off the accel-
erator. This eliminates the need for constant
braking and acceleration.
Calm and steady driving
Constancy is more important than speed: The
more you drive at a constant speed, the lower
the fuel consumption.
When driving on the motorway, it is more effi-
cient to drive at a constant and more moder-
ate speed than to be continuously accelerat-
ing and braking. As a general rule, you will
reach your destination just as quickly when
you drive at a constant speed.
The cruise control function helps you to ach-
ieve a constant style of driving.
Moderate use of additional devices
It is important to travel in comfort, but con-
venience systems should be used ecological-
ly.
Some equipment, when connected, increase
fuel consumption considerably, for example:
● Air conditioning cooling system: If the air
conditioning sy
stem is required to cool to
significantly lower temperatures than the true
outside temperature, it will require a large
amount of energy from the engine. Therefore,
we recommend that the selected temperature for the vehicle is not too different to the out-
side temper

ature. It is a good idea to air the
vehicle before starting your journey and to
drive a short distance with the windows
open. Then you can close the windows and
switch on the air conditioning. Keep windows
closed when travelling at high speeds. Driv-
ing with the windows open increases fuel
consumption.
● Switch off the seat heating when the seats
have w
armed up.
● Switch off the heated rear window when it
is not
moist or covered in ice.
Avoid short journeys
Fuel consumption is much higher when the
engine is cold, immediately after it has been
started. It takes a few kilometres of driving
for the engine to warm up and to normalise
consumption.
The engine and catalytic converter need to
reach their proper working temperature in or-
der to minimise fuel consumption and emis-
sions. The ambient temperature has a deci-
sive influence.
Fig. 150 shows the difference in consump-
tion for the same journey at +20 °C (+68 °F)
and at -10 °C (+14 °F).
Therefore, unnecessary short journeys
should be avoided. Try to combine trips.
150