The essentials
Removing
● Attach the wire hook (vehicle tools
› ›
›
Fig. 75 6 ) to one of the chambers of the
c entr
al
wheel trim.
● Insert the box spanner through the hook,
suppor
ting it on the tyre and remove the
wheel trim.
Fitting
● Fit the central wheel trim onto the rim. The
bottom of the
“S” of the SEAT badge should
align with the inflation valve ››› Fig. 76 1 .
● Press the central trim firmly until it locks in
w ith an audib
l
e click. Note
There is also a valve mark on the back of the
centr a
l wheel trim that indicates the correct
alignment. Central trim for alloy rims*
Fig. 77
Removing the central wheel trim. Fig. 78
Fitting the central wheel trim. Removing
● Attach the wire hook (vehicle tools
› ››
Fig. 75 6 ) to the housing provided for this
› ›
›
Fig. 77. ●
Pul
l on it to remove the trim ››› Fig. 77.
Fitting
● Fit the central wheel trim onto the rim, fit-
ting the protru
sion on the trim into the recess
in the rim ››› Fig. 78 (arrows).
● Press the central trim firmly until it locks in
with an audibl
e click.
Wheel bolt caps* Fig. 79
Wheel: wheel bolts with caps. Removal
● Fit the plastic clip (vehicle tools) over the
c ap u
nti
l it clicks into place ››› Fig. 79.
● Remove the cap with the plastic clip. 62
The essentials
Wheel bolts Fig. 80
Changing a wheel: loosen the wheel
bo lts. Fig. 81
Changing a wheel: tyre valve 1 and
the c orrect
position for the anti-theft wheel
locking bolt 2 or
3 .
Use only the wheel wrench belonging to the
c
ar t
o loo
sen the wheel bolts.
Loosen the wheel bolts only about one turn
before raising the vehicle with the jack. If the wheel bolt is very tight, carefully push
on the end of the wheel wr
ench with your
foot. Hold on to the vehicle for support and
take care not to slip during this operation.
Loosening wheel bolts
● Fit the wheel wrench on as far as it will go
›››
Fig. 80.
● Hold the wrench at the end and rotate the
bolt ap
proximately one turn anticlock-
wise ››› in Removing and fitting the wheel
on p ag
e 65
.
The caps protect the wheel bolts and should
be pushed fully on again after changing the
tyre.
Loosening the anti-theft wheel bolt
● Take the adapter for the anti-theft wheel
bolts out
of the vehicle tool kit.
● Insert the adapter fully onto the anti-theft
wheel bolt
››› Fig. 81.
● Fit the wheel wrench as far as it will go over
the adapt
er.
● Hold the wrench at the end and rotate the
bolt ap
proximately one turn anticlock-
wise ››› in Removing and fitting the wheel
on p ag
e 65
.
The anti-theft wheel bolt has a different cap.
This cap only fits on anti-theft locking bolts
and is not for use with standard wheel bolts. Important information about wheel bolts
Factor
y-fitted rims and wheel bolts are spe-
cially matched during construction. There-
fore, if different rims are fitted, the correct
wheel bolts with the right length and heads
must be used. This ensures that wheels are
fitted securely and that the brake system
functions correctly.
In certain circumstances, you should not
even use wheel bolts from vehicles of the
same model.
In wheels with full hubcaps, the anti-theft
locking bolt must be threaded onto positions 2 or
3 , taking the tyre valve’s position as
r ef
er
ence 1 . Otherwise it will not be possi-
b l
e t
o mount the hubcap. 63
The essentials
Attach the tow rope or the tow bar only to the
t o
wline anc
horages provided or a towing
bracket.
Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
● The tow rope must be taut before you drive
off.
● Rel
ease the clutch very carefully when start-
ing the v
ehicle (manual gearbox), or acceler-
ate gently (automatic gearbox).
Driving style
Towing requires some experience, especially
when using a tow rope. Both drivers should
realise how difficult it is to tow a vehicle. In-
experienced drivers should not attempt to
tow.
Do not pull too hard with the towing vehicle
and take care to avoid jerking the tow rope.
When towing on an unpaved road, there is al-
ways a risk of overloading and damaging the
anchorage points.
The ignition of the vehicle being towed must
be switched on to prevent the steering wheel
from locking and also to allow the use of the
turn signals, horn, windscreen wipers and
washers.
Place the gear lever in neutral on vehicles
with a manual gearbox. With an automatic
gearbox, place the lever in N. The brake servo only works when the engine
is ru
nning. When not running, you must ap-
ply considerably more pressure to the brake
pedal.
As the power assisted steering does not work
if the engine is not running, you will need
more strength to steer than you normally
would.
››› in General information on page 96
››› page 96 Tow-starting
If the engine will not start, first try starting it
u
s
in
g the battery of another vehicle
››› page 67. You should only attempt to tow-
start a vehicle if charging the battery does
not work. This is done by leveraging wheel
movement.
When tow-starting a vehicle with a petrol en-
gine, do not tow it more than a short dis-
tance, otherwise unburned fuel can enter the
catalytic converter.
However, if your vehicle has to be tow-star-
ted:
● Engage 2 nd
or 3 rd
ge
ar.
● Keep the clutch pressed down. ●
Switc
h the ignition on.
● Once both vehicles are moving, release the
clutc
h.
● As soon as the engine starts, press the
clutc
h and move the gear lever into neutral.
This helps to prevent driving into the towing
vehicle.
››› in General information on page 96
››› page 96 How to jump start
Jump l e
a
ds The jump lead must have a sufficient wire
c
r
o
ss section.
If the engine fails to start because of a dis-
charged battery, the battery can be connec-
ted to the battery of another vehicle to start
the engine.
Jump leads
Jump leads must comply with standard DIN
72553 (see cable manufacturer's instruc-
tions). The wire cross section must be at least
25 mm 2
for petrol engines and at least
35 mm 2
for diesel engines. » 67
The essentials
Note
● The v ehic
les must not touch each other,
otherwise electricity could flow as soon as
the positive terminals are connected.
● The discharged battery must be properly
connected t
o the on-board network. How to jump start: description
Fig. 86
Diagram of connections for vehicles
w ithout
Start-Stop system. Fig. 87
Diagram of connections for vehicles
with St
art-Stop system. Jump lead terminal connections
1. Switch off the ignition of both vehicles
››
›
.
2. Connect one end of the re
d
jump lead to
the positive + terminal of the vehicle
w ith the fl
at
battery A
› ›
› Fig. 86 .
3. Connect the other end of the red
jump
lead to the positive terminal + in the ve-
hic l
e pr
oviding assistance B .
4. For vehicles without Start-Stop system:
connect
one end of
the black jump lead to
the negative terminal – of the vehicle
pr o
v
iding the current B
› ›
› Fig. 86 .
– For vehicles with Start-Stop system: con-
nect one end of
the black jump lead X to a
s uit
ab
le ground terminal, to a solid piece of
metal in the engine block, or to the engine
block itself ››› Fig. 87. 5. Connect the other end of the
black
jump
lead X to a solid metal component bolted
t o the en
gine b
lock or to the engine block
itself of the vehicle with the flat battery.
Do not connect it to a point near the bat-
tery A .
6. Position the leads in such a way that they cannot
c
ome into contact with any moving
parts in the engine compartment.
Starting
7. Start the engine of the vehicle with the boostin
g battery and let it run at idling
speed.
8. Start the engine of the vehicle with the flat batter
y and wait for 2 or 3 minutes until
the engine is running.
Removing the jump leads
9. Before you remove the jump leads, switch off the dipped be
am headlights if they are
switched on.
10.
Turn on the heater blower and heated rear
window in the vehicle with the flat battery.
This helps minimise voltage peaks which
are generated when the leads are discon-
nected.
11.When the engine is running, disconnect the lea
ds in reverse order to the details
given above. 68
Safe driving
●
Adjus t
the driver's seat so that there is at
least 25 cm distance between the centre of
the chest and the centre of the steering
wheel ››› Fig. 91. If distance is less than 25
cm, the airbag system may not protect you
properly.
● If your physical constitution prevents you
from maint
aining the minimum distance of 25
cm, contact a specialised workshop. The
workshop will help you decide if special spe-
cific modifications are necessary.
● When driving, always hold the steering
wheel with both h
ands on the outside of the
ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions.
This reduces the risk of injury when the driver
airbag is triggered.
● Never hold the steering wheel at the 12
o'clock
position, or in any other manner (e.g.
in the centre of the steering wheel). In such
cases, if the airbag is triggered, you may sus-
tain injuries to the arms, hands and head.
● To reduce the risk of injury to the driver
during sud
den braking manoeuvres or an ac-
cident, never drive with the backrest tilted far
back! The airbag system and seat belts can
only provide optimal protection when the
backrest is in an upright position and the
driver is wearing his or her seat belt correct-
ly.
● Adjust the head restraint properly to ach-
ieve optima
l protection. Adjusting the steering wheel position
Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 20 WARNING
● Never a dju
st the position of the steering
wheel when the vehicle is moving, as this
could cause an accident.
● Move the lever up firmly so the steering
wheel pos
ition does not accidentally change
during driving. risk of accident!
● Make sure you are capable of reaching and
firmly ho
lding the upper part of the steering
wheel: risk of accident!
● If you adjust the steering wheel so that it
points t
owards your face, the driver airbag
will not protect you properly in the event of
an accident. Make sure that the steering
wheel points towards your chest. Correct sitting position for front pas-
sen
g
er For your own safety and to reduce the risk of
injur
y
in the ev
ent of an accident, we recom-
mend the following adjustments for the front
passenger:
– Move the front passenger seat back as far
as po
ssible ››› .–
Mo v
e the se
at backrest to an upright posi-
tion so that your back rests completely
against it.
– Adjust the head restraint so that its upper
edge is
at the same level as the top of your
head, or as close as possible to the same
level as the top of your head ››› page 75.
– Always keep both feet in the footwell in
front of
the front passenger seat.
– Fasten your seat belt securely ›››
page 77.
It is possible to deactivate the front passen-
ger airbag in exceptional circumstances
››› page 86.
Adjusting the front passenger seat
››› page 18. WARNING
● An incorr ect
sitting position of the front
passenger can lead to severe injuries.
● Adjust the front passenger seat so that
there is
at least 25 cm between your chest
and the dash panel. If distance is less than
25 cm, the airbag system may not protect you
properly.
● If your physical constitution prevents you
from maint
aining the minimum distance of 25
cm, contact a specialised workshop. The
workshop will help you decide if special spe-
cific modifications are necessary. » 73
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Seat belts
●
The slot in the se
at belt buckle must not be
blocked with paper or other objects, as this
can prevent the latch plate from engaging se-
curely.
● Never use seat belt clips, fastening rings or
simil
ar items to alter the position of the belt
webbing.
● Frayed or torn seat belts or damage to the
connections, belt
retractors or parts of the
buckle could cause severe injuries in the
event of an accident. Therefore, you must
check the condition of all seat belts at regular
intervals.
● Seat belts which have been worn in an acci-
dent and str
etched must be replaced by a
specialised workshop. Renewal may be nec-
essary even if there is no apparent damage.
The belt anchorage should also be checked.
● Do not attempt to repair a damaged seat
belt y
ourself. The seat belts must not be re-
moved or modified in any way.
● The belts must be kept clean, otherwise the
retract
ors may not work properly. Head-on collisions and the laws of
ph
y
s
ics Fig. 98
A driver not wearing a seat belt is
thr o
wn f
orward violently. Fig. 99
The unbelted passenger in the rear
se at
i
s thrown forward violently, hitting the
driver who is wearing a seat belt. It is easy to explain how the laws of physics
w
ork
in the c
ase of a head-on collision: when
a vehicle starts moving, a type of energy called “kinetic energy” is created both in the
pas
sengers and inside the vehicle.
The amount of “kinetic energy” depends on
the speed of the vehicle and the weight of
the vehicle and its passengers. The higher
the speed and the greater the weight, the
more energy there is to be “absorbed” in an
accident.
The most significant factor, however, is the
speed of the vehicle. If the speed doubles
from 25 km/h (15 mph) to 50 km/h
(30 mph), for example, the corresponding ki-
netic energy is multiplied by four.
Because the vehicle occupants in our exam-
ple are not restrained by seat belts, in the
event of crashing against a wall, all of the oc-
cupants' kinetic energy will be absorbed
solely by said impact.
Even at speeds of 30 km/h (19 mph) to
50 km/h (30 mph), the forces acting on bod-
ies in a collision can easily exceed one tonne
(1000 kg). At greater speed these forces are
even higher.
Vehicle occupants not wearing seat belts are
not “attached” to the vehicle. In a head-on
collision, they will move forward at the same
speed their vehicle was travelling just before
the impact. This example applies not only to
head-on collisions, but to all accidents and
collisions. »
79
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Safety
Even at low speeds the forces acting on the
body in a c
o
llision are so great that it is not
possible to brace oneself with one's hands.
In a frontal collision, unbelted passengers
are thrown forward and will make violent con-
tact with the steering wheel, dash panel,
windscreen or whatever else is in the way
››› Fig. 98.
It is also important for rear passengers to
wear seat belts properly, as they could other-
wise be thrown forward violently through the
vehicle interior in an accident. Passengers in
the rear seats who do not use seat belts en-
danger not only themselves but also the front
occupants ››› Fig. 99. How to properly adjust your
seatbelt
F
astening and unfastening the seat
belt Fig. 100
Positioning and removing the seat
belt b
uc
kle. Fig. 101
Position of seat belt during pregnan-
cy . Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 19.
Fasten your seat belt
The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if
the seat belt is not positioned correctly.
● Adjust the seat and head restraint correctly.
● To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch
plat
e and pull it slowly across your chest and
lap.
● Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the
appropri
ate seat and push it down until it is
securely locked with an audible click
››› Fig. 100.
● Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is
securely
engaged in the buckle.
80
Seat belts
The seat belts are equipped with an automat-
ic r
etr
actor on the shoulder strap. Full free-
dom of movement is permitted when the
shoulder belt is pulled slowly. However, dur-
ing sudden braking, during travel in steep
areas or bends and during acceleration, the
automatic retractor on the shoulder belt is
locked.
The automatic belt retractors on the front
seats are fitted with seat belt tensioners
››› page 81.
Releasing the seat belt ● Press the red button on the belt buckle
›››
Fig. 100. The latch plate is released and
springs out ››› .
● Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls
up e a
s
ily and the trim is not damaged.
Positioning seat belts
Seat belts offer their maximum protection on-
ly when they are properly positioned. WARNING
● The seat belt
s offer best protection only
when the backrests are in an upright position
and the seat belts have been fastened prop-
erly.
● Never put the latch plate in the buckle of
another seat. If
you do this, the seat belt will
not protect you properly and the risk of injury
is increased. ●
Never u nb
uckle a seat belt while the vehi-
cle is in motion. If you do, you increase the
risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.
● An incorrectly worn seat belt can cause se-
vere injurie
s in the event of an accident.
● The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie
on the centre of
the shoulder, never across
the neck. The seat belt must lie flat and fit
comfortably on the torso
● The lap part of the seat belt must lie across
the pelvis, nev
er across the stomach. The
seat belt must lie flat and fit comfortably on
the pelvis Pull the belt tight if necessary to
take up any slack.
● For pregnant women, the lap part of the
seat belt
must lie as low as possible over the
pelvis, never across the stomach, and always
lie flat so that no pressure is exerted on the
abdomen ››› Fig. 101.
● Always engage the retractor lock when you
are securin
g a child seat in group 0, 0+ or 1
››› page 88.
● Read and observe the warnings ›››
page 78. Belt pretensioners*
Ho w the se
at
belt tensioner works Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 20 The seat belts for the front and side rear oc-
cupants
are equipped with belt tensioners.
The belt tensioners are activated by sensors,
although only in severe head-on and lateral
collisions. This retracts and tightens the seat
belts, reducing the forward motion of the oc-
cupants.
The belt tensioners will not be triggered in
the event of minor collisions, if the vehicle
overturns, or in accidents where no major
forces act on the vehicle. Note
● If the se at
belt tensioners are triggered, a
fine dust is produced. This is normal and it is
not an indication of fire in the vehicle.
● The relevant safety requirements must be
obser
ved when the vehicle or components of
the system are scrapped. Specialised work-
shops are familiar with these regulations,
which are also available to you. Service and disposal of belt tension-
er
s The belt tensioners are components of the
se
at
belts
that are installed in the seats of
your vehicle. If you work on the belt tension-
ers or remove and install parts of the system
when performing other repair work, the seat
belt may be damaged. The consequence may
be that, in the event of an accident, the belt »
81
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety