Driving
Note
● To en s
ure that the ESC*, ASR and TC work
properly, all four wheels must be fitted with
identical tyres. Any differences in the rolling
radius of the tyres can cause the system to
reduce engine power when this is not de-
sired.
● If a malfunction should occur in the ABS,
the ESC*, ASR, T
C and EDL will also be affec-
ted.
● Noises may be heard while any of the
above sy
stems are operating. Handbrake
Fig. 146
Between the front seats: handbrake. Using the handbrake
●
Pull firmly in an upwards direction on the
h andbr
ak
e lever while pressing the button.
● The handbrake is applied when the control
lamp lights up on the in
strument panel›››
page 138 when the ignition is switched
on.
Rel
easing the handbrake
● Pull gently in an upwards direction on the
handbrak
e lever and press the lock button
››› Fig. 146 (arrow).
● Move the handbrake lever downwards
keeping the loc
k button pressed. WARNING
The incorrect use of the handbrake may result
in a serious ac
cident.
● Never use the handbrake to brake the vehi-
cle e
xcept in an emergency. The braking dis-
tance is considerably longer, because braking
is only applied to the rear wheels. Always use
the foot brake.
● Never drive with the handbrake gently ap-
plied. Thi
s can overheat the brake, affecting
the brakes system. This also causes prema-
ture wear on the rear brake pads.
● Never accelerate from the engine compart-
ment with the en
gine running and a gear en-
gaged. The vehicle could move, even if the
handbrake is applied. Note
If the vehicle moves at a speed superior to
6 km/h (4 mph) with the h andbr
ake applied,
an audible warning is sounded. Parking
When parking your vehicle, all legal require-
ments shou
l
d be observed.
To park the vehicle
Complete operations only in the sequence
given. ● Park the vehicle on a suitable surface ›››
.
● Press and hold the brake pedal until the ve-
hicl e c
omes to a standstill.
● Apply the handbrake firmly ›››
page 141.
● For an automatic gearbox, move the selec-
tor lev
er to position N.
● Switch off the engine and release the brake
pedal.
● R
emove the key from the ignition.
● If necessary, turn the steering wheel slight-
ly to loc
k the steering.
● With a manual gearbox, engage 1st gear on
flat gr
ound and slopes, or even reverse gear
on hills, and release the clutch pedal.
● Ensure that all passengers leave the vehi-
cle, e
specially children.
● When leaving the vehicle, take all keys with
you.
● Loc
k the vehicle. »
141
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Care and maintenance
Cleaning padding and textile covers Normal cleaning
● Before applying cleaning products, please
re a
d the instructions for handling and the
warnings shown on the container.
● The upholstery, textile covers, and carpet
should be r
egularly vacuumed (with vacuum
brush).
● We recommend that you use a soft sponge
or lint-free, mic
ro-fibre cloth for normal clean-
ing ››› .
Gener al
s
uperficial dirt on upholstery and
textile covers can be cleaned with a normal
foam cleaning product.
If the upholstery and the material trims are
very dirty, we recommend you have them
cleaned by a specialist cleaning form.
Cleaning stains
It may be necessary to clean the whole sur-
face and not only the stain itself. Especially if
the surface has been dirtied through normal
use. Otherwise, the stained area may be-
come lighter than the rest of the surface after
treatment.
Type of
stainCleaning the vehicle
Water-based
stains, e.g.
coffee or fruit
juice.– Use a sponge and wipe with a solu-
tion of water and wool wash.
– Dry with a dry, absorbent cloth.
Persistent
stains, e.g.
chocolate or
make-up.– Apply a washing paste a)
directly to
the stain and allow it to work.
– Apply clean water using a sponge or
damp cloth to remove the cleaning
product deposits.
– Dry with a dry absorbent cloth.
Grease-based
stains, e.g. oil
or lipstick.– Apply neutral soap or cleaning
paste a)
and allow it to work.
– Remove dissolved grease or colour
particles with an absorbent cloth.
– Then apply clean water. Take care not
to soak the upholstery.
a) Bile soap can be used as a cleaning paste. CAUTION
● Brushe s
should only be used to clean the
mats and floor mat! Other surfaces may be
damaged if a brush is used.
● Do not use steam cleaning equipment, as
the dirt bec
omes more encrusted in the mate-
rial when steam is applied.
● Never use brushes for cleaning damp mate-
rial
as they could damage the surface. Cleaning storage compartments,
drink
s
ho
lders and ashtrays Fig. 161
In the front part of the centre con-
so l
e:
Storage compartment with cup holder. Fig. 162
Ashtray removed and open with area
t o s t
ub cigarettes » 177
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
Checking and refilling levels
●
The brak e fluid shou
ld be changed regular-
ly in accordance with the instructions given
in the Maintenance Programme.
● Always ensure that you use suitable brake
fluid. Only u
sed brake fluid that conforms to
the VW 501 14 standard, FMVSS 116 DOT 4
standard or even the DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
standard. Other types of brake fluid could af-
fect brake operation and reduce braking pow-
er. Do not use a brake fluid if the container
does not specify compliance with the
VW 501 14, FMVSS 116 DOT 4 or
DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards.
● The replacement brake fluid must be new.
● Brake fluid should be stored in the closed
original
container in a safe place out of reach
of children. Risk of poisoning!
● If the brake fluid is left in the system for
too long and the br
akes are subjected to
heavy use, vapour bubbles may form in the
brake system. This would seriously affect the
efficiency of the brakes and the safety of the
vehicle. This may cause an accident. CAUTION
Brake fluid damages the vehicle paintwork.
Wipe off an
y brake fluid from the paintwork
immediately. For the sake of the environment
Brake fluid is an environmental pollutant.
Co l
lect any spilt service fluids and allow a
professional to dispose of them. Windscreen washer reservoir
Chec k
in
g and topping up the wind-
screen washer reservoir with water Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 33
Check the water level in the windscreen
washer reservoir regularly and top up as re-
quired.
● Open the bonnet ›››
page 186.
● The washer reservoir is marked with the
symbol
on the lid.
● Check there is enough water in the reser-
voir.
● T
o top up, mix water with a window cleaner
recommended b
y SEAT ››› . Please follow
the in s
truction
s for use found on the packag-
ing.
● In cold weather, a special antifreeze should
also be ad
ded to prevent the water from
freezing.
Reservoir capacity
The washer bottle capacity is approximately 3
litres. WARNING
If the water from the windscreen washer does
not c ont
ain enough anti-freeze, it may freeze on the windscreen and rear window, reducing
for
w
ard and rear visibility.
● In winter, ensure the windscreen washer
contain
s enough anti-freeze.
● In cold conditions, you should not use the
winds
creen wiper system unless you have
warmed the windscreen with the ventilation
system. The antifreeze could freeze on the
windscreen and reduce visibility. WARNING
Never mix an unsuitable antifreeze or other
s imi l
ar additives with the windscreen washer
water. A greasy layer may be formed on the
windscreen which will impair visibility.
● Use clean water with a window cleaner rec-
ommended by
SEAT.
● If necessary, add a suitable antifreeze to
the water in the r
eservoir. CAUTION
● Do not mi x
cleaning products recommen-
ded by SEAT with other products. This could
lead to flocculation and may block the wind-
screen washer jets.
● When topping up service fluids, make abso-
lutely c
ertain that you fill the fluids into the
correct reservoirs. Using the wrong fluids
could cause serious malfunctions and engine
damage! 195
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Checking and refilling levels
Several warning and control lamps light up
f or a f
ew sec
onds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in On the
ins trument
panel on page 26. Checking the electrolyte level of the
vehic
l
e battery Fig. 172
In the engine compartment: Remove
the c o
v
er from the vehicle's battery. The battery's electrolyte level should be
c
hec
k
ed regularly in high-mileage vehicles,
in hot countries and in older batteries. Other
batteries do not require maintenance.
Vehicles fitted with the Start-Stop system are
equipped with special batteries. For technical reasons, the electrolyte level cannot be
check
ed in these batteries.
Preparations ● Prepare the vehicle for work in the engine
compar
tment ››› page 186
● Open the bonnet ›››
page 186.
● Press on the tabs ›››
Fig. 172 (arrows) in the
direction of the arrows and lift the battery
cover up.
Checking the battery electrolyte level
● Make sure there is sufficient lighting to
cle
arly recognise the colours. Never use
flames or shiny objects as a light source.
● Depending on the level of acid, the Magic
eye on the top of
the battery will change col-
our.
Colour in-
dicatorNecessary operations
Light yellow
or colourlessThe electrolyte level of the vehicle's bat-
tery is too low. Have the battery checked
and, where applicable, replaced by a
specialised workshop.
BlackThe electrolyte level of the vehicle's bat-
tery is correct. WARNING
Working with the vehicle battery involves a
risk of
corrosion, explosions and electric
shock.
● Never tilt the vehicle battery. Battery acid
coul
d spill out of the openings for the release
of gases and cause corrosion damage.
● Never open the vehicle battery.
● If battery acid splashes on you, immediate-
ly rinse
your eyes and skin abundantly with
water for several minutes. Then seek medical
care immediately.
● If acid is swallowed by mistake, consult a
doctor immediat
ely. Charging, replacing and connecting or
di
s
c
onnecting the battery Charging the battery
The
v
ehic
le battery should be charged by a
specialised workshop only, as batteries us-
ing special technology have been installed
and they must be charged in a controlled en-
vironment ››› . SEAT recommends taking
y our c
ar in f
or technical service.
Replacing a vehicle battery
The battery has been developed to suit the
conditions of its location and has special »
197
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Index
Index
A
Abr o
a
d
extended stay abroad with your vehicle . . . . . 179
sale of vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
ABS see Anti-lock brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Acoustic alarm seatbelt unfastened . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Adjust front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Adjusting lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
rear head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51, 112
seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Adjusting the head restraints rear head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Advice for driving spare wheel or temporary spare wheel . . . . . . 206
Airbag covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 59 activation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
cleaning dash panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 62
functioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
locking the vehicle after deployment . . . . . . . . 95
repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
use of child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
vehicle care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Air conditioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
air recir culation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
air vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
application tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
instructions for use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
water under the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Air conditioning climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27, 130
malfunction in the operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Air recirculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
disconnecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
functioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Air vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166, 180
Anti-freeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Anti-lock brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Anti-lock system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Anti-puncture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35, 72
Anti-puncture kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35, 72 check after 10 minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Anti-puncture set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Anti-theft security system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Aspects to take into account before starting the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
ASR see Traction control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Assistance systems brake assist system (BAS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
electronic differential lock (EDS) . . . . . . . . . . . 140
optical parking system (OPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
parking aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
parking distance warning system . . . . . . . . . . 154
safety Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Assisted starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Assist systems
traction contr ol (ASR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
traction control (TC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Audible warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Audible warnings control and warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Automatic belt retractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Automatic device disconnection battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Automatic dipped beam control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Automatic gearbox driving tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
ignition key removal lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
kick-down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
starting on a slope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
stopping on a slope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Automatic gear change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Axle loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
B Bag support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
BAS see Brake assist systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Battery changing in the vehicle key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Battery acid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Before starting the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Belt tension device service and disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Belt tensioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Belt tension limiter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Belt tightening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 186
217