2016 Seat Mii ignition

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

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
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

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

Advice
should be collected and correctly disposed
of, w
ith r
espect to the environment. Coolant warning lamp
Several warning and control lamps light up
for 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. 
It lights up red
Excessive engine
coolant temperature.
 Stop the vehicle!
Stop the vehicle safely as soon
as possible. Switch off the en-
gine and let it cool.
Insufficient engine
coolant level. 
¡Stop the vehicle!
Check the engine coolant
when the engine has cooled
and, if it is low, refill with en-
gine coolant ››› page 192.
Engine coolant sys-
tem faulty.  Do not drive any further.
Obtain professional assis-
tance. 
Flashes red
Engine coolant sys-
tem faulty.Seek specialist assistance. 
It lights up blue
The temperature of
the natural gas en-
gine coolant is too
low. The engine has
not reached the oper-
ating temperature.Avoid high engine speeds and
pushing the engine too hard
while the warning lamp re-
mains lit.
WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in On the
ins trument
panel on page 26. Checking the coolant level and top-
pin
g up Fig. 170
In the engine compartment: Marking
on c oo
l

ant expansion tank Fig. 171
In the engine compartment: Coolant
exp an

sion tank cap Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 32
If the coolant level is low, the coolant warn-
ing indicator will light.
Preparations
● Park the vehicle on even, flat and firm
ground.
● A

llow the engine to cool ›››
.
● Open the bonnet  › ›
›
page 186.
● The coolant expansion tank is easily recog-
nisab
le because of the symbol  on the cap
››› Fig. 171.
Checking the engine coolant level ● When the engine is cold, check the coolant
level
using the side marking on the expan-
sion tank ››› Fig. 170.
192

Advice
Vehicle battery Intr oduction Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
 page 33.
The battery is a component of the vehicle's
electrical system.
Never work on the electrical system without
fully understanding the operations required,
the applicable safety standards and without
the correct tools ››› ! If required, have any
w ork
c

arried out by a specialised workshop.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech-
nical service. Negligent work can cause seri-
ous injury.
Location of the vehicle battery
The battery is located in the engine compart-
ment.
Explanation of the warning indications on
the vehicle's battery
SymbolMeaning 
Wear eye protection!

Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic.
Always wear protective gloves and eye
protection!

Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking
are prohibited.
SymbolMeaning 
A highly explosive mixture of gases is re-
leased when the battery is under charge.

Keep children away from acid and batter-
ies!
WARNING
Working on the vehicle battery and the elec-
trica l

system can cause corrosion, fire and
electric shocks. Always read and take into ac-
count the following warnings and safety
standards before carrying out any work:
● Before working on the battery, switch off
the engine, the ignition and al
l electrical de-
vices then disconnect the negative connec-
tion on the battery.
● Keep children away from acid and the bat-
tery
itself!
● Wear eye protection.
● Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. It
can burn sk
in and cause blindness. When
handling the battery, protect yourself from
splashes of acids, above all your hands, arms
and face.
● Do not smoke and never work close to pla-
ces
exposed to flames or sparks.
● Avoid sparks and electrostatic discharges
when workin
g with cables and electrical devi-
ces.
● Never short the battery terminals. ●
Never u se a d

amaged battery. It can ex-
plode. Replace a damaged battery immedi-
ately.
● Replaced damaged or frozen batteries as
soon as po
ssible. A flat battery can also
freeze at temperatures close to 0 °C (+32 °F). CAUTION
● Nev er di s

connect the battery if the ignition
is switched on or if the engine is running.
This could damage the electrical system or
electronic components.
● Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight
over a lon
g period of time, as the intense ul-
traviolet radiation can damage the battery
housing.
● If the car is left standing for long periods,
protect
the battery from extreme cold temper-
ature so that it does not “freeze up” and be-
come damaged. Warning lamp

It lights up
Faulty generator.
Contact a specialised workshop.
Have the electrical system checked.
Disconnect any unnecessary elec-
trical devices. The generator does
not charge the battery while the ve-
hicle is in motion.
196

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

Advice
safety features. If the battery must be re-
p l
ac
ed, consult a technical service for infor-
mation on electromagnetic compatibility, the
size and maintenance, performance and
safety requirements of the new battery in
your vehicle before you purchase one. SEAT
recommends you have the battery replaced
by a technical service.
Use only maintenance-free genuine batteries
conforming to TL 825 06 and VW 7 50 73
Standards. These standards must be dated
April 2008 or later.
Vehicles fitted with the Start-Stop system are
equipped with a special battery. Therefore,
this battery must only be replaced by another
with the same specifications.
Disconnecting the vehicle's battery
If you must disconnect the battery from the
electrical system, please note the following:
● Switch off the ignition and all electrical
equipment.
● The v

ehicle must be unlocked before dis-
connecting the b
attery, otherwise the alarm
will be triggered.
● First disconnect the negative cable and
then the positiv
e ››› .
C onnectin
g the
vehicle's battery
● Before reconnecting the battery, switch off
the engine and all
electrical devices. ●
First
reconnect the positive cable and then
the negative ››› .
Diff er
ent
control lamps may light up after
connecting the battery and switching the ig-
nition on. They will be turned off after a short
trip at a speed of between 15-20 km/h
(10-12 mph). If the warning indicators remain
lit, please visit a specialised workshop to
have the vehicle checked.
If the battery has been disconnected for a
long time, it is possible that the next service
date is not displayed or calculated correctly
››› page 88. Respect the maximum service in-
tervals permitted ››› Booklet Maintenance
Programme.
Automatic device disconnection
The intelligent vehicle electrical system auto-
matically implements a range of measures to
prevent the battery from discharging when
high demands are made on it:
● The idling speed is increased so that the al-
ternat
or provides more electricity.
● Where necessary, the power to the most
power
ful devices is reduced or even com-
pletely disconnected.
● On starting the engine, the power supply
from the 12-v
olt power sockets and the ciga-
rette lighter may be interrupted for a short
time. The on-board management program cannot
alway

s prevent the battery from running flat.
For example, if the ignition is left on for a
long period with the engine off or if the side
lights or parking lights are left on while the
vehicle is stationary.
Why the battery runs flat:
● When stationary for a long time without
star
ting the engine, particularly if the ignition
is switched on.
● Use of electrical devices with the engine
switc
hed off. WARNING
Incorrectly securing the battery or using the
wron g b

attery can cause short-circuits, fire
and serious injuries.
● Always use only maintenance-free batter-
ies, prot
ected to prevent a leak, and whose
properties, specifications and size corre-
spond to the standard battery. WARNING
A highly explosive mixture of gases is re-
le a

sed when the battery is under charge.
● The batteries should be charged in a well-
ventil
ated room only.
● Never charge a frozen or recently thawed
batter
y. A flat battery can also freeze at tem-
peratures close to 0 °C (+32 °F).
● Always replace a battery which has frozen. 198