
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

Care and maintenance
consumables should be changed at a speci-
ali sed w
ork
shop. Technical services are per-
manently informed of any modifications. WARNING
The incorrect use or handling of fluids or con-
sum ab
les may result in accident, serious in-
jury, burns or intoxication.
● Therefore, fluids must always be stored
closed in their origin
al container.
● Never store fluids in empty food containers
or bottles
as other people may accidentally
drink the fluid.
● Keep all fluids and consumables out of
reac
h of children.
● Read and observe the information and
warning
s given on the fluid containers.
● Only work in the open air or in well-ventila-
ted z
ones, when using products which give
off harmful vapours.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, ace-
tone or any
other volatile liquid in the main-
tenance of the vehicle. These are toxic and
highly flammable. They could lead to fire or
explosions! CAUTION
● Only u
se appropriate fluids. Do not confuse
fluids as this can cause serious malfunctions
or engine damage.
● Accessories and other components moun-
ted in front
of the air inlet reduce the cooling effect of the coolant. If the engine is running
under gr
e
at strain in high outside tempera-
tures, it could overheat. For the sake of the environment
Leaking fluids could pollute the environment.
C o l
lect any spilt fluids in suitable containers
and dispose of them in accordance with legis-
lation and with respect for the environment. Repairs and technical changes
When performing repairs and technical mod-
ific
ation
s,
SEAT's directives must be ob-
served! ››› Unauthorised modifications to the electronic
c
omponents
or sof
tware in the vehicle may
cause malfunctions. Due to the way the elec-
tronic components are linked together in net-
works, other indirect systems may be affec-
ted by the faults. This may significantly affect
the vehicle's performance, increase compo-
nent wear and could mean that the vehicle
registration documents are no longer valid.
Your SEAT Official Service cannot be held lia-
ble for any damage caused by technical mod-
ifications or repairs performed incorrectly.
The SEAT Official Service does not accept lia-
bility for damage resulting from technical
modifications or repairs performed incorrect- ly; neither is the SEAT warranty valid in these
case
s.
SEAT recommends you have any technical
modifications or repairs performed at a SEAT
Official Service and that you use genuine
SEAT spare parts ®
.
Vehicles with special accessories and equip-
ment
The manufacturers of additional equipment
guarantee that the equipment complies with
applicable laws and regulations with respect
to the environment, in particular Directives
2000/53/CE and 2003/11/CE. The first direc-
tive governs the disposal of end-of-life vehi-
cles while the second refers to the restric-
tions on the marketing and use of certain
dangerous substances and preparations.
The vehicle owner should keep the documen-
tation for the additional equipment safely
and hand it over to the scrap yard at the end
of the vehicle's service life. This ensures that
any additional equipment mounted in end-of-
life vehicles is correctly disposed of with re-
spect for the environment. WARNING
Repairs or modifications which are not per-
formed c orr
ectly may result in damage or er-
rors in the vehicle operation, affecting the ef-
fectiveness of the driver assist systems. This
could result in serious accident. » 165
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
●
In those c ou
ntries where unleaded petrol is
not available, you may refuel with a fuel with
a low lead content. Natural gas
Natural gas
Natur
al
gas can be compressed or in liquid
form, addition to others.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the result of
heavy cooling of natural gas. Therefore its
volume is considerably reduced compared
with compressed natural gas (CNG). In vehi-
cles with a natural gas engine, liquefied nat-
ural gas cannot be directly refilled, as the gas
would expand excessively in the vehicle gas
tank.
Therefore, vehicles with a natural gas engine
must only be refuelled using compressed
natural gas ››› .
Nat ur
a
l gas quality and consumption
Natural gas is divided into the groups H and
L depending on its quality.
Gas type H has a superior heating power and
inferior nitrogen and carbon dioxide content
than type L. The higher the heating power of
the natural gas, the lower the consumption
will be. However, the heating power and the propor-
tion of nitrog
en and carbon dioxide can fluc-
tuate within the quality groups. Therefore, ve-
hicle consumption can also vary when using
a single type of gas only.
The engine management automatically
adapts to the natural gas used according to
its quality. Therefore, different quality gases
can be mixed in the tank, without the need
for comprehensive draining before applying a
different quality gas.
Natural gas and safety
If you can smell gas or suspect that there is a
leak ››› :
● Stop the vehicle immediately.
● Switch the ignition off.
● Open the doors to appropriately ventilate
the v
ehic
le.
● Extinguish cigarettes immediately.
● Move away from the vehicle or switch off
obj
ects that may cause sparks or a fire.
● If you continue to smell gas, do not contin-
ue driving!
● Seek
specialist assistance. Have the fault
repair
ed. WARNING
Failure to act when you can smell gas in the
vehic l
e or when refuelling can cause serious
injuries.
● Carry out the necessary operations.
● Leave the danger zone.
● If necessary, warn the emergency services. WARNING
The vehicle is not prepared to use liquefied
nat ur
al gas (LNG) and this fuel must not be
added under any circumstances. Liquefied
natural gas can cause the natural gas tank to
explode, resulting in serious injury. Note
Have the natural gas system checked regular-
ly b y
a specialised workshop, according to
the Maintenance Programme. Filling the tank
Intr oduction The fuel tank flap is on the rear right of the
v
ehic
l
e.
182

Advice
Control lamps and fuel gauge Fig. 164
On the instrument panel: fuel gauge
f or petr
o
l Fig. 165
On the instrument panel: Fuel gauge
f or petr
o
l and natural gas. The fuel gauge can vary depending on the ve-
hic
l
e equipment
››› Fig. 164 or ››› Fig. 165.
It lights
upPossible cause / Solution ›››
a)
Fuel tank is almost empty. The reserve
tank is being used (red mark
››› Fig. 164)
››› page 31.
Refuel as soon as possible ›››
.
a)
The natural gas tank is almost empty. The
reserve tank is being used (red mark
››› Fig. 165) ››› page 31.
Refuel as soon as possible ›››
.
a)
This only applies to vehicles with the fuel gauge on the dash
panel ››› Fig. 164.
Flashes for
about 10 sec- ondsPossible cause / Solution
›››
and the seg-
ments remaining a)Fuel tank is almost empty. The re-
serve tank is being used
››› page 31.
Refuel as soon as possible ›››
.
a)
This only applies to vehicles with the fuel gauge on the dash
panel display.
Several warning and control lamps light up
for a few seconds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds.
In natural gas engines
While in gear, the fuel level indicator gauge
appears in the fuel area with which it is flow- ing at that time. When the ignition is connec-
ted, the gaug
e first changes for a few sec-
onds to the petrol area to show the actual
level of this petrol. Then, the gauge moves to
the natural gas level. After turning on the en-
gine, the gauge changes to the area corre-
sponding to the operating mode at that time.
Problem: if the vehicle is left parked for a
long time just after refuelling, the gas level
indicator does not accurately indicate the
same level shown after refuelling when the
vehicle is started up again. This is not due to
a leak in the system, but to a drop in pres-
sure in the gas tank for technical reasons af-
ter a cooling phase immediately after refuel-
ling. WARNING
Driving with insufficient fuel reserve could re-
su lt
in the vehicle breaking down in traffic
and a serious accident.
● If the fuel level is too low then the fuel sup-
ply t
o the engine can become irregular espe-
cially on slopes.
● If the engine “is choked” or stalls due to
lack
of or irregularity of the fuel supply, the
power steering as well as all of the driver as-
sistance systems including braking assis-
tance will stop working.
● Always refuel when there is only one quar-
ter of the f
uel tank left to avoid running out of
fuel. 184

Checking and refilling levels
●
Never w ork
under the vehicle if it has not
been immobilized. If you must work under-
neath the vehicle with the wheels in contact
with the ground then it should be parked on
flat ground, the wheels should be prevented
from moving and the key should be removed
from the ignition.
● If you have to work underneath the vehicle,
you mus
t use suitable stands additionally to
support the vehicle, there is a risk of acci-
dent!. The jack is not intended for this kind of
work and its failure could lead to severe inju-
ries.
● Disconnect the Start-Stop system. WARNING
The engine compartment is a dangerous area
cap ab
le of causing serious injury.
● For all type of work, always take the utmost
precaution
s, work carefully and note the gen-
eral safety standards in force. Never take per-
sonal risks.
● Never work on the engine or in the engine
compar
tment if you are not familiar with the
necessary operations. If you are not sure
about procedures then visit a specialised
workshop to carry out the necessary work.
Working incorrectly can cause serious inju-
ries.
● Never open the bonnet if you see steam or
cool
ant escaping from the engine compart-
ment. This may cause serious burns. Always
wait until you cannot see or hear the sound of steam or coolant coming from the engine
comp
ar
tment.
● Always allow the engine to cool down be-
fore openin
g the bonnet.
● Contact with hot elements of the engine
and the exhau
st system can cause burns.
● Once the engine has cooled, follow the in-
structions
below before opening the bonnet:
– Engage the handbrake and place the gear
selector lever in N or the gear stick in
neutral.
– Remove the key from the ignition.
– Keep children away from the engine com-
partment and never leave them unsuper-
vised.
● When the engine is warm or hot, the cool-
ing sys
tem is pressurised. Do not unscrew
the cap on the expansion tank when the en-
gine is hot. Otherwise, coolant may spray out
under pressure causing burns and serious in-
jury.
– After cooling, carefully and slowly un-
screw the cap anticlockwise, gently
pressing down on it.
– Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot coolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth.
● When refilling liquids, avoid spilling them
on part
s of the engine and the exhaust sys-
tem. Spilled liquids could cause a fire. WARNING
The high voltages of the electrical system can
give el ectric
shocks as well as causing burns
and serious injury and possibly even death!
● Never cause short circuits in the electrical
syst
em. The battery could explode.
● To minimise the risk of electric shock and
serious c
onsequences while the engine is
running or starting the engine, note the fol-
lowing:
– Never touch the electrical wiring of the
ignition system. WARNING
In the engine compartment, there are rotat-
ing p ar
ts that could cause serious injury.
● Never place your hands directly on or near
the radi
ator fan. Touching the rotor blades
could seriously harm you. The ventilator
works according to the engine temperature
and could start suddenly even when the igni-
tion is turned off and the key is removed.
● If any work has to be performed when the
engine is
started or with the engine running,
there is an additional, potentially fatal, safety
risk from rotating parts, such as the drive
belts, alternator, radiator fan, etc., as well as
from the high-voltage ignition system. Al-
ways work with the utmost caution.
– Always make sure that no parts of your
body, jewellery, ties, loose clothing and
long hair can be trapped by the rotating » 187
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Checking and refilling levels
● If the l
ev
el is below the “MIN” mark, top up
with coolant. When the engine is hot it may
be slightly above the marked area.
Topping up the engine coolant level
● Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot c
oolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth over the coolant expansion tank
cap.
● Remove the cap very carefully ›››
.
● Only refill using new engine c
oo
lant ac-
cording to SEAT specifications
( ›››
page 32)
››› .
● The engine coolant level should be be-
tw een the m
ark
s on the coolant expansion
tank ››› Fig. 170. Do not exceed the top level
of the marked area ››› .
● Screw on the cap tightly.
● If, in the event of an emergency, you have
no c oo
l
ant that is compliant to the required
specifications ( ›››
page 32), do not use
another type of additive. Instead, top up with
distilled water only ››› . Then re-establish
the c orr
ect
proportion of the mixture with the
correct additive as soon as possible
››› page 32. WARNING
Hot vapours and coolant can cause serious
burn s. ●
Never open the c oo
lant expansion tank if
steam or coolant is coming from the engine
compartment. Wait until you cannot see or
hear any steam or coolant escaping.
● Always wait until the engine has complete-
ly coo
led before very carefully opening the
expansion tank cap. Contact with hot ele-
ments of the engine can cause skin burns.
● When the engine is warm or hot, the cool-
ing sys
tem is pressurised. Do not unscrew
the cap on the expansion tank when the en-
gine is hot. Otherwise, coolant may spray out
under pressure causing burns and serious in-
jury.
– Carefully and slowly unscrew the cap an-
ti-clockwise, gently pressing down on it.
– Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot coolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth.
● When refilling liquids, avoid spilling them
on part
s of the engine and the exhaust sys-
tem. Spilled liquids could cause a fire. Under
specific circumstances, the ethylene glycol
can catch fire. WARNING
If there is not enough anti-freeze in the cool-
ant sy s
tem, the engine may fail leading to se-
rious damage.
● Please make sure that the percentage of
additiv
e is correct with respect to the lowest
expected ambient temperature in the zone in
which the vehicle is to be used. ●
When the outs ide t
emperature is very low,
the coolant could freeze and the vehicle
would be immobilised. In this case, the heat-
ing would not work either and inadequately
dressed passengers could die of cold. CAUTION
● If ther e i
s no appropriate coolant liquid
available, fill it using distilled water, and
nothing else. Any other type of water may
lead to considerable rusting in the engine
due to its chemical components. This could
consequently damage the engine. If you have
not used distilled water but another type of
water to top up the coolant, a specialised
workshop must immediately replace all of the
fluid in the engine cooling system.
● Only top up coolant to the top level of the
marked ar
ea ››› Fig. 170. Otherwise the ex-
cess coolant will be forced out of the cooling
system when the engine is hot, causing dam-
age.
● If a lot of liquid coolant has been lost, wait
for the engine t
o cool down completely before
adding coolant. Extensive coolant loss is an
indication of leaks in the engine cooling sys-
tem. Have the engine cooling system inspec-
ted immediately by a specialised workshop.
Otherwise engine damage may occur.
● When refilling service liquids, ensure that
you put
the liquids into the right tank. Mak-
ing a mistake when refilling could cause seri-
ous malfunctions and damage the engine! » 193
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
CAUTION
The original additives should never be mixed
with c oo
lants which are not approved by
SEAT. Otherwise, you run the risk of causing
severe damage to the engine and the engine
cooling system.
● If the fluid in the expansion tank is not pur-
ple b
ut is, for example, brown, this indicates
that the G13 additive has been mixed with an
inadequate coolant. The coolant must be
changed as soon as possible if this is the
case! This could result in serious faults and
engine damage. Brake fluid
Chec k
in
g the brake fluid levelRead the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 33
In the course of time, the brake fluid absorbs
water from the ambient air. If there is too
much water in the brake fluid, the brake sys-
tem could be damaged. In addition, the boil-
ing point of the brake fluid is significantly
lowered. When the brake fluid contains too
much water and the brakes are subject to
considerable forces, bubbles of water vapour
can form in the system. These bubbles can
significantly reduce braking power, notably
increasing braking distance, and could even
result in the total failure of the brake system. Ensuring that the brake system is always
functionin
g correctly is essential for your own
safety and the safety of other road users
››› .
Br ak
e fluid s
pecifications
SEAT have developed a special brake fluid
optimised for the brake systems of their vehi-
cles. To ensure the optimum working of the
brake system, SEAT recommends the use of
brake fluid in accordance with the VW 501 14
standard. If this brake fluid is not available or
another brake fluid is used for different rea-
sons, use a brake fluid that complies with the
United States standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 or
the German standard DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
››› .
Br ak
e fluid
s conforming to the standard
VW 501 14, fulfil the American requirements
of the FMVSS 116 DOT 4 standard and the
German DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standard.
However, fluids that comply with the Ameri-
can FMVSS 116 DOT 4 standard or the Ger-
man DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standard do not
necessarily comply with the VW 501 14
standard. Always check the information on
the brake fluid container and ensure that you
are using suitable brake fluid.
A suitable brake fluid can be obtained from
SEAT dealerships. Brake fluid level
The level
of the brake fluid should always be
between the MIN and MAX marks, or above
the MIN mark ››› .
It i
s
not always possible to check the level of
the brake fluid, as in some models the en-
gine components make it difficult to see the
brake fluid reservoir. If you cannot read the
exact brake fluid level, consult a specialist.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the
vehicle is being used due to wear of the
brake pads and the automatic readjustment
of the brake.
Changing the brake fluid
The brake fluid should be changed in accord-
ance with the instructions given in the Main-
tenance Programme. Have the brake fluid
changed by a specialised workshop. SEAT
recommends taking your car in for technical
service. This means that only brake fluid
complying with the required specifications
will be used. WARNING
If the brake fluid level is low or unsuita-
bl e/o
ld brake fluid is used, the brake system
may fail or braking power may be reduced.
● Check the brake system and the brake fluid
level
regularly!194