
Operation
The City Safety Assist function is limited by
the l a
w
s of physics and by the nature of the
system itself. For this reason, this may pro-
duce reactions from the City Safety Assist
system in certain circumstances that are late
or unexpected by the driver. For this reason,
always pay due attention and if necessary, in-
tervene.
For example, the following driving situations
require special attention:
Driving through a bend
When entering or leaving a “long” bend, the
vehicle may decelerate when the laser sensor
detects a vehicle travelling in the adjoining
lane ››› Fig. 156 A. To interrupt deceleration
you can accelerate, turn the steering wheel or
press the clutch.
Narrow vehicles in front
The laser sensor will only detect narrow vehi-
cles in front if they are in the sensor detec-
tion zone ››› Fig. 156 B. This applies especial-
ly to narrow vehicles such as motorbikes.
Other vehicles changing lanes
Vehicles moving into your lane in close prox-
imity can cause unexpected braking from the
City Safety Assist system ›››
Fig. 157. To inter-
rupt deceleration you can accelerate, turn the
steering wheel or press the clutch. Possible malfunction to the laser sensor
If the la
ser sensor operation function is im-
paired, for example due to heavy rain, mist,
snow or dirt, the City Safety Assist system
function is temporarily disconnected. On the
instrument panel display the control lamp
flashes.
When the malfunction in the laser sensor has
been rectified, the availability of the City
Safety Assist system function is automatically
restored. The control lamp switches off.
The following conditions could prevent the
City Safety Assist system from functioning:
● Tight bends.
● Accelerator pressed all the way down to the
floor.
● If the C
ity Safety Assist system is switched
off or there i
s a fault ››› page 157.
● If the laser sensor is dirty, covered or over-
heated ›
›› page 158.
● In the event of snow, heavy rain or dense
fog.
● If ther
e are vehicles in front.
● Vehicles changing lanes.
● Vehicles moving in the opposite direction
in the same lane.
● V
ery dirty vehicles with a low degree of re-
flection.
● Pr e
sence of thick dust. Hill driving assistant*
Operation This function is only included in vehicles with
ESC.
The hi l
l driving assistant helps the driver to
move 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 hill/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 positions S, D or R in vehi-
cles with an automatic gearbox.
This system is also active when reversing up-
hill.
160

Advice
Advice
C ar
e and m
aintenance
Accessories, replacement of
parts and modifications Introduction WARNING
The use of spare parts and accessories, or in-
corr ectly
performed modifications or repairs
may result in damage to the vehicle, acci-
dents and serious injury.
● SEAT strongly recommends you to only use
SEAT ap
proved accessories and SEAT ®
origi-
nal spare parts. These parts and accessories
have been specially tested by SEAT for suita-
bility, reliability and safety.
● Have any repairs or modifications carried
out at a s
pecialised workshop. These work-
shops have the necessary tools, diagnostics
equipment, repair information and qualified
personnel.
● Only mount parts with the same specifica-
tions a
s the parts fitted at factory.
● Never mount, fasten or fit objects such as
drink hol
ders or telephone cradles over the
covers of the airbag modules or within their
deployment zones. ●
Only u
se wheels and tyre combinations
which have been approved by SEAT for your
vehicle type. Accessories and spare parts
SEAT recommends you consult an Official
Serv
ic
e before purchasing accessories and
spare parts or consumables. For example,
when fitting accessories at a later date, or
when replacing a component. A SEAT Official
Service will advise you as to the legal require-
ments and manufacturer's recommendations
regarding accessories, spare parts and other
components.
SEAT recommend you use only approved
SEAT accessories and genuine SEAT spare
parts ®
. These parts and accessories have
been specially tested by SEAT for suitability,
reliability and safety. In addition, SEAT tech-
nical services will guarantee that assembly is
performed professionally.
Although we continually monitor the market,
SEAT cannot guarantee that products not ap-
proved by SEAT are reliable, safe or suitable
for the vehicle. Therefore, SEAT cannot accept
liability, even in those cases authorised by
an officially recognised technical inspection
office or other official body.
Any retro-fitted equipment which has a direct
effect on vehicle control must be approved by SEAT for use in your vehicle and bear the
e
mark (the E
uropean Union's authorisation
symbol). This includes cruise control systems
or electronically controlled suspension.
If any additional electrical devices are fitted
which do not serve to control the vehicle it-
self, these must bear the mark (European
Union manufacturer conformity declaration).
This includes refrigerator boxes, laptops or
ventilator fans. WARNING
Unprofessional repairs or modifications to
the v ehic
le may affect the performance of the
airbags, and may cause operating faults or fa-
tal accidents.
● Never mount, fasten or fit objects such as
drink hol
ders or telephone cradles over or
next to the covers of the airbag modules or
within their deployment zones.
● Objects placed over the airbag covers, or
within their deplo
yment zones, could lead to
serious injury or loss of life if the airbags are
triggered. Service fluids and components
All vehicle fluids and consumables
, suc
h a
s
notched belts, tyres, coolant fluids, engine
oils, spark plugs and batteries are continual-
ly being developed. Therefore all fluids and
164

Advice
●
All
repairs and modifications to the vehicle
should only be performed by a specialised
workshop. Repairs and malfunctions in the air-
bag sy
s
tem When performing repairs and technical mod-
ification
s,
SEAT's directives must be ob-
served! ››› Modifications and repairs to the front bump-
er
, door
s, fr
ont seats, and repairs to the roof
or chassis should only be carried out in a
specialised workshop. These components
may contain parts or sensors belonging to
the airbag system.
If work is carried out on the airbag system or
parts have to be removed and fitted on the
system when performing other repair work,
parts of the airbag system may be damaged.
The consequence may be that, in the event of
an accident, the airbag inflates incorrectly or
does not inflate at all.
So that the effectiveness of the airbag is not
reduced and that removed parts do not cause
any injuries or environmental pollution, regu-
lations must be observed. These require-
ments are known to specialised workshops.
Modifications to the vehicle suspension may
affect the operation of the airbag system in
the event of collision. For example, if wheel and tyre combinations not approved by SEAT
are used, or if
the vehicle height is lowered,
the suspension is stiffened or the suspension
springs, telescopic arms, dampers, etc., are
modified, the results received by the airbag
sensors and sent to the control unit may not
be accurate. For example, some modifica-
tions to the suspension could increase the
force measured by the sensors and result in
the triggering of the airbag systems in colli-
sions. Under normal conditions, the meas-
ured values would be lower and the airbag
would not have been triggered. Other modifi-
cations may reduce the forces measured by
the sensors and prevent the airbags from be-
ing triggered when they should. 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 airbag systems. This could
result in serious or fatal accidents.
● All repairs and modifications to the vehicle
should on
ly be performed by a specialised
workshop.
● Airbag modules must never be repaired: if
damag
ed, they must be replaced.
● Never fit recycled or reused airbag compo-
nents in
your vehicle. WARNING
Modifications to the vehicle suspension, in-
cludin g the u
se of unauthorised wheel and
tyre combinations, may affect the perform-
ance of the airbags and increase the risk of
serious or fatal injury in the event of acci-
dent.
● Never fit suspension components which are
not identica
l to the original parts in the vehi-
cle.
● Never use wheel and tyre combinations not
appro
ved by SEAT. Retrofitting of mobile phones
An exterior aerial is required for the use of
tw
o-w
a
y radios in the vehicle.
The retro-fitting of electrical or electronic ap-
pliances in the vehicle is subject to their ap-
proval for use in your vehicle. Under certain
circumstances, this could mean that your ve-
hicle registration documents are no longer
valid.
SEAT has approved your vehicle for use with
two-way radios providing the following condi-
tions are observed:
● The exterior aerial must be mounted pro-
fes
sionally.
● The maximum transmitting power is 10
watts.
166

Care and maintenance
waste. Observe information provided by the
manuf
act
urer. Washing the vehicle
The longer substances such as insects, bird
drop
pin
gs, resinous tree sap, road dirt, in-
dustrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt and
other aggressive materials remain on the ve-
hicle, the more damage they do to the paint-
work. High temperatures (for instance due to
strong sunlight) further intensify the corro-
sive effect. The vehicle undercarriage should
also be thoroughly washed at regular inter-
vals.
Automatic car washes
Always observe the instructions provided at
the automatic car wash. The standard pre-
cautionary measures prior to entering the car
wash should be taken to avoid damage to
the vehicle (close all windows, fold in exterior
mirrors). If the vehicle is fitted with additional
components (spoiler, roof-rack, aerial, etc.),
check with the car wash supervisor whether
these can enter the car wash ››› .
The v
ehic
le paintwork is so durable that the
vehicle can normally be washed without
problems in an automatic car wash tunnel.
However, wear and damage to the paintwork
will depend on the type of car wash used. SEAT recommends the use of car washes
without bru
shes.
To remove traces of wax on windows and to
prevent wiper blades from scratching, please
observe the following ››› page 172, Cleaning
windows and exterior mirrors .
Washing the car by hand
When washing the car by hand, use plenty of
water to soften the dirt first, and rinse off as
well as possible.
Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge,
glove or brush using only slight pressure.
Start at the roof and work downwards. Spe-
cial car shampoo should only be used for
very persistent dirt.
Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and of-
ten.
Wheels, sills and similar should be cleaned
last. Use a second sponge for this. WARNING
Sharp components on the vehicle may cause
injury .
● Pr
otect arms and hands from sharp edges
when cle
aning the vehicle undercarriage or
the interior of the wheel hubs. WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the brak-
ing eff ect
will be reduced (and the braking
distance increased) due to moisture (and ice
in winter) on the brakes.
● “Dry the brakes and remove ice” by braking
caref
ully. Ensure that you are not endanger-
ing other road-users or breaking traffic regu-
lations in the process. CAUTION
● The wat er t
emperature should not exceed
+60 °C (+140 °F).
● To avoid damage to the paintwork, do not
wash the
vehicle in full sun.
● Do not use rough sponges or similar which
coul
d damage the surface to clean away the
traces of insects.
● Never wipe the headlights with a dry cloth
or spong
e, always moisten first. It is best to
use soapy water.
● Washing the vehicle in low temperatures:
When washin
g the vehicle with a hose, do
not direct water into the lock cylinders or the
gaps around the doors or roof. Locks and
seals could freeze! CAUTION
To avoid any risk of damage to the vehicle,
pl e
ase check the following points before us-
ing an automatic car wash: » 171
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
●
Comp ar
e the distance between the vehicle
wheels and the distance between the guide-
rails of the car wash to prevent damage to the
wheels and tyres!
● Switch off the rain sensor before taking the
vehicl
e to an automatic car wash.
● Compare the height and width of your vehi-
cle w
ith the available height and width when
entering and driving through the car wash.
● Fold in exterior mirrors Electrically retracta-
ble e
xterior mirrors must not be folded in or
out by hand. Always use the electrical power
control.
● To avoid damaging the bonnet paintwork,
res
t the windscreen wipers on the windscreen
after drying the wiper blades. Do not let them
fall!
● Lock the rear lid to prevent it from opening
unexpect
edly while inside the car wash. Washing the vehicle with a high pres-
s
ur
e c
leaner When cleaning the vehicle with a high-pres-
s
ur
e c
leaner, always follow the operating in-
structions for the equipment. Pay special at-
tention to the required pressure of the jet
and the distance between the jet and the ve-
hicle ››› .
K eep a s uit
able distance from soft materials,
such as rubber hoses or insulating material,
and from the parking distance warning sys- tem sensors. The sensors of the parking dis-
tance w
arning system are situated on the rear
bumper ››› .
Do not u
se a no
zzle that sprays the water out
in a direct stream or one that has a rotating
jet for forcing off dirt ››› .
WARNING
The incorrect use of high pressure cleaning
equipment c ou
ld result in permanent dam-
age, visible or invisible, to the tyres or other
materials. This could result in a serious acci-
dent.
● Ensure there is a suitable distance between
the nozzl
e and the tyres.
● Never wash tyres with a concentrated jet or
so-cal
led “dirt blasters”. Even at large spray-
ing distances and short cleaning times, you
may damage the tyres. WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the brak-
ing eff ect
will be reduced (and the braking
distance increased) due to moisture (and ice
in winter) on the brakes.
● “Dry the brakes and remove ice” by braking
caref
ully. Ensure that you are not endanger-
ing other road-users or breaking traffic regu-
lations in the process. CAUTION
● The wat er t
emperature should not exceed
+60 °C (+140 °F).
● To avoid damage to the paintwork, do not
wash the
vehicle in full sun.
● To ensure that the system functions well,
the sensors
located on the bumper must be
kept clean and free from ice. When cleaning
with pressure hoses and steam cleaners, the
sensors should be sprayed only briefly. A dis-
tance of 10 cm between the sensors and the
steam / hose nozzle must be observed.
● Do not use a high pressure cleaner to re-
move ic
e or snow from windows
● Washing the vehicle in low temperatures:
When washin
g the vehicle with a hose, do
not direct water into the lock cylinders or the
gaps around the doors or roof. Locks and
seals could freeze! Cleaning windows and exterior mir-
r
or
s Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors
S
pr
a
y windows and exterior windows with a
standard window cleaner containing alcohol.
Dry the windows with a clean chamois leath-
er or a lint-free cloth. The chamois leathers
used on painted surfaces are not suitable for
cleaning windows because they are soiled
172

Advice
Polishing
P o
li
shing is only necessary if the paint has
lost its shine, and the gloss cannot be
brought back by applying wax.
If the polish does not contain wax, a wax
product should be applied after polishing. CAUTION
● To pr ev
ent damage, car polish or hard wax
should not be used on components painted in
matt paint, plastic components and the glass
headlamp and tail light covers.
● Do not polish your vehicle in a sandy or
dusty
environment. Care and cleaning of chrome and alu-
minium wheel
rims●
Use a clean, damp, lint-free, smooth cloth
t o c
l
ean anodized surfaces.
● If there is a lot of dirt, use a special clean-
ing product
which does not contain solvents.
● Then, polish the chrome and aluminium
wheel trims w
ith a smooth dry cloth. CAUTION
In order to prevent damage to the aluminium
and chr ome wheel
trims:
● Do not clean or polish them in direct sun-
light. ●
Do not c l
ean or polish them in sandy or
dusty environments.
● Do not use abrasive cleaning agents such
as home c
ream cleaners.
● Do not use insect sponges, scouring pads,
or simil
ar products to clean insect deposits.
● Do not polish dirty surfaces.
● Do not use products containing solvents.
● Do not use hard wax. CAUTION
Chrome hub caps or wheel covers may have
been p ainted a
dditionally. Do not treat them
with aluminium or chrome wax products, nor
chrome or aluminium polish. Instead, use
commercial paint wax or polish. Cleaning wheels
Cleaning steel wheels
U
se an indu
s
trial cleaner to remove brake
dust. Therefore, clean wheels regularly with a
separate sponge.
Any damage to the paint on steel wheels
should be touched up before the metal starts
to rust.
Caring for and cleaning alloy wheels
Remove road salt and brake dust by washing
the wheels approximately once a fortnight.Use an acid free detergent to clean the wheel
rims. SEA
T recommends treating the wheel
rims thoroughly with a hard wax about once
every three months.
It is important to remove road salt and brake
dust by washing the wheels at regular inter-
vals, otherwise the finish will be impaired.
Always use an acid-free detergent for alloy
wheel rims. Car polish or other abrasive
agents should not be used for maintaining
the rims.
If the protective coating on the paint has
been damaged (for example, hit by a stone),
it should be repaired immediately.
Caring for rubber seals The rubber seals on doors, windows, etc., re-
m
ain fl
e
xible, provide a better seal and last
longer if they are regularly treated with a
product specifically designed for use on rub-
ber.
Before applying the product, use a soft cloth
to remove dust and dirt from the rubber
seals.
174

Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
Refuelling or handling fuel carelessly can
cau se an e
xplosion or fire resulting in serious
burns and injuries.
● Always make sure that you correctly close
the fuel c
ap to avoid evaporation and fuel
spillage.
● Fuels are highly explosive and inflammable
subs
tances that can cause serious burns and
injuries.
● Fuel could leak out or be spilt if the engine
is not
switched off or if the filler fuel nozzle is
not fully inserted into the tank filler neck
when refuelling. This could lead to a fire, ex-
plosion and severe injuries.
● When refuelling, turn off the engine and
turn off the ignition f
or safety reasons.
● Always turn off mobile telephones, radio
appar
atus and other radio wave emitting
equipment before refuelling. Electromagnetic
waves could cause sparks and lead to a fire.
● Never enter the vehicle while refuelling. If it
is ab
solutely necessary to enter, close the
door and touch a metal surface before touch-
ing the filler nozzle again. This will prevent
the generation of static electricity. Sparks
could cause a fire when refuelling.
● Never handle fuel close to flames, sparks or
obj
ects with slow combustion (e.g. ciga-
rettes).
● Avoid static electricity and electro-magnet-
ic ra
diation when refuelling. ●
Ob ser
ve the safety regulations of the serv-
ice station.
● Never spill fuel on the vehicle or in the lug-
gage c
ompartment. WARNING
For safety reasons, SEAT does not recommend
c arr y
ing a spare fuel canister in the vehicle.
Fuel could be spilled and catch fire, above all
in case of an accident and this applies to a
full container as well as empty containers.
This could lead to explosions, fires and inju-
ries.
● Observe the following if you exceptionally
have t
o carry fuel in a canister:
– Never place a fuel container, to fill it, in-
side the vehicle or on the vehicle, for ex-
ample, in the luggage compartment. Fill-
ing in these circumstances could create
an electrostatic charge and spark that
could ignite fuel fumes.
– Always place the canister on the ground
to fill it.
– Insert the fuel nozzle into the neck of the
canister as far as possible.
– If you are using a metal fuel canister, the
nozzle must always touch the canister
while it is being filled to avoid static elec-
tricity.
– Follow the legal requirements for the use,
storage and transport of spare fuel canis-
ters. –
Ins ur
e that the fuel container complies
with manufacturing standards, for exam-
ple, ANSI or ASTM F852-86. CAUTION
● Alw a
ys remove any fuel spilled anywhere
on the vehicle to avoid damage to the wheel
housing, the tyre and vehicle paintwork.
● Refuelling a petrol engine with diesel can
cause seriou
s engine and fuel system dam-
age; the resulting malfunctions are not cov-
ered by the SEAT warranty. If you refuel with
the wrong type of fuel, never start the engine.
This applies to even the smallest amount of
the wrong fuel. Seek specialist assistance.
With the engine running, the composition of
the wrong fuel could significantly damage the
fuel system and the engine itself. For the sake of the environment
Fuels can contaminate the environment. Col-
lect an
y spilt service fluids and allow a pro-
fessional to dispose of them. 183
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Checking and refilling levels
CAUTION
● Alw a
ys pay attention to any lit control
lamps and to the corresponding descriptions
and instructions to avoid damage to the vehi-
cle.
● Never run the fuel tank completely dry. An
irregu
lar fuel supply may lead to ignition
faults and unburnt fuel could enter the ex-
haust system. This could damage the catalyt-
ic converter. Note
The arrow next to the fuel pump symbol on
the ins trument
panel ››› Fig. 164 indicates the
side of the vehicle on which the fuel tank flap
is located. Refuelling with petrol
Fig. 166
Open fuel tank flap with tank cap in
the ho l
der Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 31
Before refuelling, always turn off the engine,
the ignition, mobile telephones, auxiliary
heating and keep them off during refuelling.
Refuelling
The correct petrol type for the vehicle is loca-
ted on a sticker inside the fuel tank flap
››› page 181.
● If the automatic filler nozzle is operated
correctly
, it will switch itself off as soon as
the fuel tank is full ››› .
● Do not continue to refuel if it is turned off!
Other w
i
se, this will fill the expansion cham-
ber and fuel may leak out if the ambient con-
ditions are warm.
Vehicles with a natural gas engine
Every 6 months it is necessary to run on pet-
rol until the control lamp switches off and
then the tank must be refilled. This is neces-
sary to ensure the efficient operation of the
system and the fuel quality required for run-
ning on gas. WARNING
Do not continue refilling once the fuel nozzle
ha s
switched itself off. The fuel tank may be
filled too much. As a result, fuel may spurt
out and spill. This could lead to a fire, explo-
sion and severe injuries. CAUTION
● Alw a
ys remove any fuel spilled anywhere
on the vehicle to avoid damage to the wheel
housing, the tyre and vehicle paintwork. For the sake of the environment
Fuels can contaminate the environment. Col-
lect an
y spilt service fluids and allow a pro-
fessional to dispose of them. Refuelling with natural gas
Fig. 167
Tank flap open: gas filler mouth 1 ,
fi l
l
er mouth retainer 2 Before r
efuelling, the engine and the igni-
tion, mo b
ile telephone and heating must be
switched off separately ››› .
It i
s
also essential to carefully read the in-
structions for the natural gas pump. »
185
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety