Care and maintenance
WARNING
Do no use a nozzle that sprays the water out
in a direct s
tream or one that has a “rotating
jet”! CAUTION
Do not use water hotter than +60°C (140°F).
Risk of
damage to the vehicle! Stickers attached by the factory
Follow these directions to avoid damaging
the s
tic
k
ers:
● Do not use high pressure cleaners.
● To remove ice or snow from the stickers do
not use w
indow scrapers or ice scrapers.
● Do not polish the stickers.
● Do not use dirty cloths or sponges.
● Preferably wash using a soft sponge and
soft neutr
al soap.
Sensors and camera lenses ●
Use a small brush to remove snow and a
de-ic er s
pr
ay to remove ice.
● Clean the sensors with a solvent-free prod-
uct and a sof t, dr
y cloth. ●
Mois t
en the camera lens using a standard
alcohol-based glass cleaning agent and
clean the lens with a dry cloth. CAUTION
● When y ou c
lean the vehicle with a pressure
washer:
–Stay a suitable distance from the sensors
on the front and rear bumpers.
– Do not clean the camera lenses or sur-
rounding area with the pressure washer.
● Never use warm or hot water to remove
snow and ic
e from the reverse camera lens,
as it could crack the lens.
● Never use abrasive cleaning agents on the
lens. Vehicle paint waxing and polishing
Care
T
o a gr
e
at extent, good waxing protects the
vehicle surface from the harmful effects of
the environment.
The vehicle must be treated with a high qual-
ity, hard wax when water no longer forms
droplets on clean paintwork.
A new coat of high quality, hard wax can be
applied to the clean, painted surface only
when it has fully dried. Even if a wax solution
is used regularly in the car wash, it is advisa- ble to protect the paint with a coat of wax at
lea
st twice a year.
Polishing
Polishing is only necessary if the paint has
lost its shine, and the gloss cannot be
brought back by applying wax.
The vehicle must be waxed after polishing if
the polish used does not contain wax com-
pounds to seal the paint. CAUTION
● Never w ax
the windows.
● Do not use polishes and hard wax on pain-
ted par
ts with a matt finish or on plastic
parts.
● Do not polish your vehicle in a sandy or
dusty
environment. Cleaning of chromed parts
Clean the chrome first with a clean cloth and
then b
uff
up w
ith a soft, dry cloth. If this does
not clean the chrome properly, use a special
chrome cleaner. CAUTION
Do not polish the chrome in a dusty environ-
ment or it c
ould be scratched. 195
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Care and maintenance
Wheels Wheel trims
If
y
ou wash the vehicle regularly, you should
also thoroughly wash the wheel trim. Regu-
larly remove any brake dust and road salt
from the wheels, otherwise the wheel materi-
al could be damaged. Repair any damage to
the wheel paintwork immediately.
Alloy wheels
After thorough washing, treat the wheels
with a protective product for alloy wheels. Do
not use abrasive products to care for the
wheels. WARNING
Moisture, ice and road salt may affect braking
efficiency . Ri
sk of accident! CAUTION
Heavy dirt on the wheels could lead to their
mis a
lignment. This could result in vibrations
being transmitted to the steering wheel that
under certain conditions may cause prema-
ture steering wear. This dirt must be re-
moved. Note
We recommend you leave paint damage re-
pair s
to a SEAT Authorised Service. Vehicle underbody protection
The underside of the vehicle is coated to per-
manently
pr
otect it from chemical and me-
chanical agents.
Given that damage to the protective coating
during driving cannot be completely ruled
out, we recommend you check the condition
of the protective coating on the underbody
and suspension at regular intervals, prefera-
bly before the start and end of the coldest
season of the year.
Authorised SEAT dealers have suitable spe-
cial products and the necessary facilities and
are aware of the techniques required for their
application. We therefore recommend all
touch-up work or additional anti-corrosion
measures be performed by an authorised
SEAT dealer. WARNING
Do not apply underseal or anti-corrosion
co atin
gs to the exhaust pipes, catalytic con-
verter, particulate filter or heat shields on the
exhaust system. Once the engine has
reached operating temperature, these sub-
stances could catch fire. Risk of fire! Cavity waxing
All cavities on the vehicle exposed to corro-
sion ar
e perm
anently factory-protected by a
wax solution .
This wax solution does not need to be
checked or touched up. Should wax run out
of the cavities at high ambient temperatures,
remove it using a plastic scraper and clean
away any stains using lighter fluid. WARNING
Note the regulations concerning safety and
env ir
onmental protection if you use lighter
fluid to remove the wax. Risk of fire! Leatherette and upholstery
Leatherette can be cleaned with a damp
c
loth. If
thi
s is not sufficient, these parts
should only be cleaned with solvent-free
plastic care and cleaning products .
Textile covers and trim parts on doors, boot
lid, etc. can be cleaned with special deter-
gents, e.g. dry foam. A soft sponge or brush
or a micro-fibre cloth for normal cleaning can
be used. Use special products to clean the
headliner. »
197
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Checking and refilling levels
Check the condition of all seat belts at regu-
l ar int
er
vals.
Very soiled belts may not retract properly. WARNING
● The seat belt
s should never be removed
from the vehicle for cleaning.
● Never clean using chemical products, as
chemica
l detergents destroy the fabric. En-
sure that the seat belts do not come into con-
tact with corrosive fluids such as acids, etc.
● If you find any damage to the belt webbing,
belt fitting
s, the belt retractor or the buckle,
the belt in question must be replaced by an
Official Service.
● Make sure that the inertia reel seat belts
are comp
letely dry before allowing them to
retract. Checking and refilling levels
F uel
R ef
uelling Fig. 203
Vehicle as seen from the rear right:
f uel t
ank flap/fuel tank flap with tank un-
screwed cap attached. Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 39 The correct type of fuel for your vehicle is in-
dicated on a s
ticker on the inside of the fuel
tank flap, along with the tyre size and pres-
sure ››› Fig. 203 .
Vehicles with a fuel cap with key
– Press the flap in the direction of the arrow
1
› ››
Fig. 203
.
– Open the c
over in the direction indicated
by the arr
ow 2 .
– Hold onto the fuel tank cap with one hand
and u n
loc
k it using the ignition key, turning
it anti-clockwise.
– Unscrew the tank cap anti-clockwise and
plac
e it on top of the tank flap ››› Fig. 203
.
– Insert the pump nozzle into the fuel feed
tube as
far as it will go.
The fuel tank is full as soon as the automatic
filler nozzle cuts out ››› .
– Remove the pump nozzle from the fuel feed
tube and p
l
ace it back on the pump.
– Screw the tank cap clockwise until it clicks
into pl
ace.
– Hold onto the fuel tank cap with one hand
and lock it
using the ignition key, turning it
clockwise.
– Press the tank flap with your hand to close
it. »
199
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Checking and refilling levels
Super unleaded 98 octane or super 95 oc-
t ane u
n
leaded petrol
We recommend you use super plus 98 octane
petrol. If this is not available: super 95 oc-
tane petrol, with a slight decrease in power.
If super is not available, in an emergency you
may refuel with normal 91 octane petrol. In
this case only use moderate engine speeds
and a light throttle. Refuel with super as soon
as possible.
Petrol additives
The quality of the fuel influences the behav-
iour, power and service life of the engine.
This is why the petrol you use should carry
suitable additives already included by the
petrol industry, free of metals. These addi-
tives will help to prevent corrosion, keep the
fuel system clean and prevent deposits from
building up in the engine.
If good-quality petrol with metal-free addi-
tives is not available or engine problems
arise, the necessary additives must be added
when refuelling ››› .
Not al
l
petrol additives have been shown to
be effective. The use of unsuitable petrol ad-
ditives may cause significant damage to the
engine and the catalytic converter. Metal ad-
ditives should never be used. Metal additives
may also be contained in petrol additives for
improving anti-detonation ratings or octane
ratings ››› . SEAT recommends “genuine Volkswagen
Gr
oup F
uel
Additives for petrol engines”.
These additives can be bought at SEAT deal-
ers, where information on how to use them
can also be obtained. CAUTION
● Do not r ef
uel if the filler indicates that the
fuel contains metal. LRP ( lead replacement
petrol) fuels contain high concentrations of
metal additives. Using them may damage the
engine!
● Never refuel with fuels containing a large
proportion of
ethanol (for example, E50, E85).
This could damage the fuel system.
● Just filling one full tank of leaded fuel or
fuel c
ontaining other metal additives would
seriously impair the efficiency of the catalytic
converter.
● Only use fuel additives that have been ap-
prov
ed by SEAT. Octane boosting or anti-
knock additives may contain metal additives
that could seriously damage the engine or
the catalytic converter. These additives must
not be used.
● High engine speed and full throttle can
damag
e the engine when using petrol with an
octane rating lower than the correct grade for
the engine. Note
● You m a
y use petrol with a high octane num-
ber than the one recommended for your en-
gine.
● In those countries where unleaded petrol is
not avai
lable, you may refuel with a fuel with
a low lead content. Diesel fuel
Please note the information on the inside of
the f
uel
t
ank flap.
We recommend the use of diesel fuel which
complies to European standard EN 590. If
diesel fuel which meets European standard
EN 590 is not available, the Cetane number
(CZ) must, at minimum, be 51. If the engine
is equipped with a particulate filter, the sul-
phur content of the fuel must be below 50
parts per million.
Winter-grade diesel
Summer fuel becomes thicker in winter and it
is more difficult to start the engine. For this
reason, petrol stations in some countries al-
so offer winter diesel with improved fluidity
when cold (winter-grade diesel). »
201
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Checking and refilling levels
●
When work in
g underneath the vehicle, se-
cure it so that it cannot roll away and support
it safely on suitable supports. The hydraulic
jack is not sufficient for this purpose. Risk of
injuries!
● If any tests have to be performed with the
engine runnin
g, there is an extra safety risk
from rotating parts, such as the drive belt, al-
ternator and radiator fan, etc., and from the
high-voltage ignition system. You should also
note the following:
– Never touch the electrical wiring of the
ignition system.
– Keep away from moving engine parts
when wearing jewellery, loose clothing or
long hair. Risk of fatal injuries! All jewel- lery must be removed, hair tied back and
close-fitting clothing worn.
● Observe the following additional warnings
if work
on the fuel system or the electrical
system is necessary.
–Always disconnect the battery from the
on-board network.
– Do not smoke.
– Never work near naked flames.
– Always keep an approved fire extinguish-
er immediately available. CAUTION
● When top pin
g up fluids, make sure the cor-
rect fluid is put into the correct filler opening. Otherwise this can cause serious malfunc-
tions
or en
gine damage!
● Never open the bonnet using the release
catc
h. Risk of damage! For the sake of the environment
Due to the environmentally-friendly disposal
of fluid s, the equipment
necessary and the
knowledge required, let an authorised SEAT
dealer change fluids during service inspec-
tions of the vehicle. Note
● Ple a
se contact an authorised SEAT dealer
with any doubts regarding fluids.
● Fluids of the correct specifications can be
acquired fr
om the selection of SEAT Original
Accessories. Opening and closing the bonnet
Fig. 204
Unlocking the bonnet. » 203
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Checking and refilling levels
Checking levels Fig. 206
Diagram for the location of the various elements. From time to time, the levels of the different
fluid
s
in the
vehicle must be checked. Never
fill with incorrect fluids, otherwise serious
damage to the engine may be caused.
Coolant expansion tank . . . . . . . . . . .208
Window washer water tank . . . . . . . .210
Engine oil filler cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207
Engine oil level dipstick . . . . . . . . . . .207
Brake fluid reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
The checking and replenishment of the serv-
ice fluids
are carried out on the components
mentioned above. These operations are de-
scribed in the ››› page 202.
1 2
3
4
5
6 Overview
Y
ou w
i
ll find further explanations, instruc-
tions and restrictions on the technical speci-
fications as of ››› page 221. Note
The layout of the engine compartment is very
simi l
ar to all petrol and diesel engines. Radiator fan
The radiator is driven by an electric motor
and c
ontr
o
lled according to the temperature
of the coolant.
After the engine has been stopped and the
ignition switched off, the radiator fan may
continue running for around 10 minutes. Engine oil
General
notes The engine comes with a special, multi-grade
oil
th
at can be used all year round.
Because the use of high-quality oil is essen-
tial for the correct operation of the engine
and its long useful life, when topping up or
changing oil, use only those oils that comply
with VW standards.
The specifications (VW standards) set out in
the following page should appear on the con-
tainer of the service oil; when the container
displays the specific standards for petrol and
diesel engines together, it means that the oil
can be used for both types of engines.
We recommend that the oil change indicated
in the Maintenance Programme, be »
205
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Checking and refilling levels
The control lamp lights
up yellow (insuf-
ficient oil level)
The informative display indicates:
Check the oil level!
Stop the vehicle, switch off the engine and
check the engine oil level ››› page 207
If the bonnet remains open for more than 30
seconds, the warning lamp switches off. If
the engine oil is not refilled, the warning
lamp illuminates again after 100 km (62
miles).
The control lamp flashes yellow (oil level
sensor faulty)
The informative display indicates:
Oil sensor. Workshop!
If the engine oil level sensor is faulty, The
warning lamp flashes various times after
the ignition is switched on and an audible
warning is given.
Go to a technical service. Checking engine oil level Fig. 207
Engine oil dipsticks. Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 40
The dipstick shows the engine oil level.
››› Fig. 207.
Checking oil level – Park the vehicle on a level surface and en-
sure the en
gine is at operating tempera-
ture.
– Switch the ignition off.
– Open the bonnet.
– Wait a few minutes for the engine oil to
flow bac
k to the sump and remove the dip-
stick.
– Wipe the dipstick with a clean cloth and in-
sert it
again as far as it will go. –
Then pul
l the dipstick out again and check
the oil level.
It is normal for the engine to consume a cer-
tain amount of oil. Depending on how you
drive and the conditions in which the vehicle
is used, oil consumption can be up to 0.5 li-
tres per 1,000 km. Oil consumption can also
be higher for the first 5,000 km (3000 miles).
You should therefore check the oil level at
regular intervals, ideally every time you fill
the tank or before setting off on a long trip. CAUTION
● The oil l
evel must never exceed area A ›››
Fig. 207. Risk of damage to the exhaust
system!
● If the engine oil cannot be topped up under
the given condition
s, do not drive on! Stop
the engine and seek the professional assis-
tance of an Official Service, as this could
cause serious damage to the engine. Topping up engine oil
–
Check the engine oil level ››
›
page 207,
Checking engine oil level .
– Unscrew the cap from the filler opening.
– Put in the specified grade of oil 0.5 litres at
a time ›››
page 205.
– Check the oil level ›››
page 207. »
207
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Checking and refilling levels
– Re
a
d off the coolant level on coolant ex-
pansion tank ››› Fig. 208. When the engine
is cold, the coolant should be between marks B (min.) and
A (max.). When the
en gine i
s
hot, it may be slightly above mark
A (max.).
If the c
oo
lant fluid level in the reservoir is too
low, this will be indicated by the red warn-
ing lamp illuminating on the general dash
panel ››› page 208, Control lamp . However,
we recommend checking the coolant level di-
rectly in the tank.
Coolant fluid loss
Any loss of coolant normally indicates a leak.
It is not sufficient merely to top up the cool-
ant. The cooling system should be inspected
by an Official Service without delay. CAUTION
● In the event of
a fault that causes the en-
gine to overheat, contact an authorised SEAT
dealer immediately, as this could damage the
engine.
● Anti-freeze that does not correspond to the
correct
specification may particularly affect
corrosion protection considerably.
● Faults caused by corrosion may lead to
cool
ant leaks. Risk of serious engine faults! Topping up the coolant level
–
Switch the ignition off.
– Wait for the engine to cool down.
– Cover the cap on the coolant expansion
tank ›
›› Fig. 208 with a cloth and carefully
unscrew the cap.
– Refill the level of coolant.
– Screw the cap on again until it clicks into
plac
e.
Do not use a different type of additive if the
prescribed anti-freeze additive is not availa-
ble, in the event of an emergency. In this
case, use only water and bring the coolant
concentration back up to the correct level as
soon as possible at an Official Service.
Always top up with unused coolant.
Never fill the coolant tank above mark A (max.)
››
›
Fig. 208 Excess coolant is forced
out of the cooling system through the over-
pressure valve in the filler cap of the expan-
sion tank when the engine heats up. WARNING
● The anti-freez e a
dditive and, therefore, the
entire coolant, are a health hazard. Avoid
touching the coolant. Coolant fumes are also
a health hazard. For this reason, always store
the coolant additive in a safe place out of the
reach of children. Risk of poisoning! ●
If s p
lashed into eyes, rinse immediately
with clean water and seek immediate medical
attention.
● Seek immediate medical attention if the
cool
ant is accidentally ingested. CAUTION
If the coolant cannot be topped up under the
giv en c ondition
s, do not drive on. We rec-
ommend contacting an authorised SEAT deal-
er, as this can damage the engine. Brake fluid
Chec kin
g brake fluid level Fig. 209
Engine compartment: brake fluid
r e
ser
voir. Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 41 »
209
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety