Driving
petrol engine vehicle at low speed. Other-
wi
se, the br
ake servo might not work proper-
ly. Risk of accident!
● In the event of damage to the standard
front s
poiler or where a different front spoil-
er, wheel trims, etc. are subsequently fitted,
make sure the air vent to the brakes on the
front wheels is not blocked. Otherwise, brak-
ing operations may be impaired. Risk of acci-
dent!
● Always fully release the handbrake. If it is
only p
artially released, this will cause over-
heating of the rear brakes, which can impair
the function of the brake system. Risk of acci-
dent!
● Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicl
e. They could release the handbrake or
move the gear lever. The vehicle could start
moving. Risk of accident!
● Insufficient fuel can cause the engine to run
irregu
larly or to switch off. Brake assist sys-
tems could be impaired. Risk of accident!
● Always adjust your driving style to suit visi-
bility
, the weather and road and traffic condi-
tions. The best vehicle safety offered by
brake assist systems must never encourage
you to run greater risks. Risk of accident! CAUTION
● Ob ser
ve the information concerning new
brake pads ››› page 161.
● Where braking is not necessary, do not
wear do
wn the brake pads by pressing down gently on the brake pedal. This causes the
brak
e
s to overheat, increasing their wear and
increasing braking distances.
● To ensure the brake assist systems work
properly, a
ll wheels must be fitted with tyres
approved by the manufacturer. Note
● If y
ou brake suddenly and the brake system
control unit regards the situation as hazard-
ous for the drivers behind you, the brake
lights will begin to flash automatically. After
reducing speed to approximately 10 km/h (6
mph) or stopping the vehicle, the brake lights
will stop flashing and the hazard warning
lights will switch on. The hazard warning
lights are automatically switched off when
you accelerate or restart the vehicle.
● On long, steep gradients, reduce your
speed and ch
ange to a lower gear (manual
gearbox) or move the selector lever to a lower
gear position (automatic gearbox). This uses
the force of the engine and the brakes do not
suffer as much. If you still have to brake, do
so intermittently, pressing down repeatedly
on the brake pedal.
● Vehicle modifications (e.g. to the engine,
brake
s, frame or a combination of wheels and
tyres) could impair the brake assist systems
››› page 192, Accessories and modifications
to the vehicle .
● In the event of a fault in the ABS system,
the ESC, T
CS and EDL are switched off auto- matically. A fault in the ABS is indicated by
the
›››
page 155 warning lamp. Control lamp
The warning lamp il
lumin
ates if the brake
fluid level is too low or if there is a fault in the
ABS system.
The informative display indicates:
Brake fluid Instruction Manual!
Stop the vehicle, switch off the engine and
check the level of the brake fluid
››› page 209 WARNING
● The fo l
lowing indications must be taken in-
to account when opening the engine com-
partment to check the brake fluid
››› page 202, Engine compartment.
● If the warning lamp illumin
ates together
with the warning lamp ››› page 155, ,
stop the vehicle! Go to a technical service.
● A fault in the brake system or in the Anti-
lock br
ake system (ABS) can lead to longer
braking distances – Risk of accident! 153
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
engine at high rpm in the lower gears uses
an u nnec
e
ssary amount of fuel.
Manual gearbox: shift up from first to second
gear as soon as possible. We recommend
that, whenever possible, you change to a
higher gear upon reaching 2000 rpm. Follow
the “recommended gear” indication that ap-
pears on the instrument panel
››› page 25.
Avoid driving at high speed
We advise you not to drive at the top speed
permitted by the vehicle. Fuel consumption,
exhaust emissions and noise levels all in-
crease very rapidly at higher speeds. Driving
at moderate speeds will help to save fuel.
Avoid idling
It is worthwhile switching off the engine
when waiting in a traffic jam, at level cross-
ings or at traffic lights with a long red phase.
The fuel saved after only 30 - 40 seconds is
greater than the amount of fuel needed to re-
start the engine.
The engine takes a long time to warm up
when it is idling. Mechanical wear and pollu-
tant emissions are also especially high dur-
ing this initial warm-up phase. It is therefore
best to drive off immediately after starting
the engine. Avoid running the engine at high
speed. Periodic maintenance
Periodic m
aintenance work guarantees that,
before beginning a journey, you will not con-
sume more than the required amount of fuel.
A well-serviced engine gives you the benefit
of improved fuel efficiency as well as maxi-
mum reliability and an enhanced resale val-
ue.
A badly serviced engine can consume up to
10% more fuel than necessary.
Avoid short journeys
To reduce the consumption and emission of
polluting exhaust gases, the engine and the
exhaust gas filtration systems should reach
the optimum operating temperature.
With the engine cold, fuel consumption is
proportionally higher. The engine does not
warm up and fuel consumption does not nor-
malise until having driven approximately four
kilometres (2.5 miles). This is why we recom-
mend avoiding short trips whenever possi-
ble.
Maintain the correct tyre pressures
Bear in mind that keeping the tyres at an ad-
equate pressure saves fuel. If the tyre pres-
sure is just one bar (14.5 psi/100 kPa) too
low, fuel consumption can increase by as
much as 5%. Due to the greater rolling resist-
ance, under-inflation also increases tyre wear
wear and impairs handling. The tyre pressures should always be checked
when the tyre
s are cold.
Do not use winter tyres all year round as they
increase fuel consumption by up to 10%.
Avoid unnecessary weight
Given that every kilo of extra weight will in-
crease the fuel consumption, it is advisable
to always check the luggage compartment to
make sure that no unnecessary loads are be-
ing transported.
A roof rack is often left in place for the sake
of convenience, even when it is no longer
needed. At a speed of 100 km/h (62 mph)
and 120 km/h (75 mph) your vehicle will use
about 12% more fuel as a result of the extra
wind resistance caused by the roof rack even
when it is not in use.
Save electricity
The engine activates the alternator, which
produces electricity. With the need for elec-
tricity, fuel consumption also increases. Be-
cause of this, always turn off electrical devi-
ces when you do not need them. Examples of
devices that use a lot of electricity are: the
fan at high speeds, the rear window heating
and the seat heaters*. Note
● If y
ou vehicle has Start-Stop, it is not rec-
ommended to switch this function off. » 163
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
rise in temperature causes the soot on the fil-
t er t
o b
urn. On completion of the cleaning
the warning lamp will switch off.
If the lamp does not turn off, or the three
lamps turn on (particulate filter , fault in
the emission control system and glow
plugs ), drive the vehicle to a specialised
workshop and have the fault repaired at the
earliest opportunity. WARNING
● Alw a
ys drive according to the road weather
conditions, the terrain and traffic.
● The particulate filter attains very high tem-
peratur
es. Therefore, do not park the vehicle
in places where the exhaust pipe could come
into contact with dry grass or with highly-
flammable materials. Risk of fire! CAUTION
While the warning lamp is lit
up, the fuel
consumption is high, and in certain condi-
tions, the engine power is reduced. Note
● In order f or the p
articulate filter to burn off
soot in a correct manner, avoid carrying out
frequent short journeys.
● Using diesel fuel with a high sulphur count
can con
siderably reduce the useful life of the
particulate filter. The specialised service pro- vides information about the countries where
fuel
w
ith a high sulphur content is used. Engine management*
This warning lamp monitors the engine man-
agement
sy
stem for petrol engines.
The warning lamp (Electronic Power Con-
trol) lights up when the ignition is switched
on while system operation is being verified. It
should go out once the engine is started.
If there is a fault in the electronic engine
management system while you are driving,
this warning lamp will light up. Take the vehi-
cle to a specialised workshop as soon as
possible and have the engine checked.
Emission control system* Control lamp
fla
she
s:
When there is misfiring that can damage the
catalytic converter. Reduce speed and drive
carefully to the nearest specialised workshop
to have the engine checked.
The control lamp lights up:
If a fault has developed during driving which
has reduced the quality of the exhaust gas
(e.g. lambda probe fault). Reduce speed and drive carefully to the nearest specialised
workshop t
o have the engine checked.
Engine pre-heating/fault system* The warning lamp lights up to show that the
glow p
lug
s are preheating the diesel engine.
The control lamp lights up
If the control lamp lights up when the en-
gine is started it means that the glow plugs
are preheating. The engine can be started
straight away when the lamp switches off.
Control lamp flashes
If a fault develops in the engine management
system while you are driving, the glow plug
system lamp will flash . Take the vehicle to
a specialised workshop as soon as possible
and have the engine checked.
165
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Towing bracket device
Driving with a trailer Exterior mirrors
Check
whether
you can see enough of the
road behind the trailer with the standard rear
vision mirrors. If this is not the case, you
should have additional exterior mirrors fitted.
Observe the relevant statutory requirements
of the country you are in.
Headlights
Before starting a journey, also check the
headlight beam settings with the trailer
hitched up. Adjust the headlight range set-
tings if necessary ›››
page 117, Main light
range control .
Driving speed
For your own safety do not drive faster than
the maximum permitted speed indicated on
the trailer.
At all times, immediately reduce speed if you
detect the slightest swaying movement of the
trailer. Never try to “return the trailer to a
straight position” by accelerating.
Brakes
Brake in due course! If the trailer has an over-
run brake, apply the brakes gently at first and
then, firmly. This will prevent the jerking that
can be caused by locking of trailer wheels.
Change to a lower gear in good time before descending a slope in order to take advant-
age of
the en
gine brake.
The trailer is incorporated into the vehicle's
anti-theft alarm system:
● When the vehicle has a factory-fitted anti-
theft al
arm and a towing bracket.
● When the trailer is electrically connected to
the vehic
le via the towing bracket socket.
● When the vehicle electrical device and the
tow
ing bracket are operational.
● When the vehicle is locked and the vehi-
cle's
anti-theft alarm device is activated.
Once the electrical connection is interrupted
with the vehicle trailer locked, the alarm
sounds.
Always switch off the vehicle anti-theft alarm
device before connecting or disconnecting a
trailer. The vehicle anti-theft alarm device
could cause the alarm to sound ››› page 112,
Anti-theft alarm system*.
Engine overheating
In the event that the coolant temperature
gauge needle moves to the right section of
the scale or to the red area, immediately re-
duce speed. If the control lamp flashes on
the general instrument panel, stop the vehi-
cle and switch off the engine. Wait several
minutes and check the coolant level in the
tank ››› page 208. Please observe the following indications
›››
page 208, Control lamp .
The coolant temperature can be reduced by
switching on the heating. WARNING
● Adjus t
your speed to suit the road and traf-
fic conditions.
● An electrical installation that is connected
incorrectly
or by non-specialised personnel
can prevent the connection of the current to
the trailer and cause faults in the operation of
the electrical system throughout the entire
vehicle, leading to accidents and serious in-
jury.
● All electrical work must be carried out only
by s
pecialised services.
● Never directly connect the trailer electrical
device t
o the electrical sockets of the reverse
driving lights or other sources of electrical
current. CAUTION
● Av oid c
orners, and sudden and sharp brak-
ing.
● Once the trailing arm has been removed,
plac
e the corresponding cover on the hole of
the fastening point. This prevents dirt from
entering the hole – see the trailer system as-
sembly manual. » 185
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
Advice
– Chec k
th
at the fuel flap is correctly closed.
Vehicles with a keyless fuel cap (the side
flap will unlock using the central locking sys-
tem)
– Once the vehicle has been unlocked using
the central
locking button, press the fuel
flap in the direction of the arrow 1›››
Fig. 203.
– Open the cover in the direction indicated
by
the arr
ow 2 .
– Unscrew the tank cap anti-clockwise and
pl
ac
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.
– Close the tank flap. Make sure you hear it
click
into place.
– Check that the fuel flap is properly closed. WARNING
Observe all relevant statutory regulations on
tran s
porting spare fuel canisters. For safety reasons, we do not recommend carrying a
sp
ar
e canister in the vehicle. The canister
could be damaged in an accident and fuel
may leak. Risk of fire! CAUTION
● Sw itc
h off the auxiliary heater (heater and
independent heater) before filling the tank.
● The fuel tank is full as soon as the automat-
ic fil
ler nozzle cuts out. Do not continue fill-
ing, as this will fill the expansion chamber.
● Never completely empty the tank! An irreg-
ular f
uel supply can cause ignition faults,
which can result in damage to a substantial
amount of engine parts and the exhaust sys-
tem.
● If any fuel is spilt onto the paintwork of the
vehicl
e, it should be removed immediately.
Risk of damage to paintwork! Note
There is no emergency mechanism for the
manua l
release of the fuel tank flap. If neces-
sary, request assistance from specialised per-
sonnel. Note
The fuel tank capacity is around 55 litres, of
which 7 litr e
s are the reserve. Types of petrol
The correct grade of petrol is listed inside the
fuel
t
ank flap.
The vehicle is equipped with a catalytic con-
verter and must only be run on unleaded pet-
rol. The petrol must comply with European
Standard EN 228 or German standard DIN
51626-1 and must be unleaded. You can re-
fuel with a maximum ethanol proportion of
10 % (E10). The types of petrol are differenti-
ated by their octane rating (RON).
The following titles appear on the corre-
sponding adhesive on the fuel tank flap:
Super unleaded 95 octane or normal 91 oc-
tane unleaded petrol
We recommend you use super 95 octane pet-
rol. If this is not available: normal 91 octane
petrol, with a slight decrease in power.
Super unleaded petrol with a minimum of 95
octanes
You should use super petrol with a minimum
of 95 octanes.
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.
200
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
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