Operation
Note
● The use of el
ectrical appliances with the
engine switched off will cause a battery dis-
charge.
● Before using any electrical accessories, see
the instruction
s in ››› page 255. Cigarette lighter*
Fig. 161
Lighter. –
Press on the cigarette lighter ››
›
Fig. 161 to
activate it ››› .
– Wait for the lighter to spring out.
– Pull out the cigarette lighter and light the
cig
ar
ette on the glowing coil. WARNING
● Improper u se of
the cigarette lighter can
lead to serious injuries or start a fire. ●
Us in
g the lighter carefully. Carelessness or
negligence when using the cigarette lighter
can cause burns and serious injuries.
● The lighter only works when the ignition is
turned on or the engine i
s running. To avoid
the risk of fire, never leave children alone in-
side the vehicle. Luggage compartment
Lo a
ding the luggage compartment Fig. 162
Position heavy items as far forward
a s
po
ssible. All luggage and other loose objects must be
s
af
ely
secured in the luggage compartment.
Unsecured objects which shift back and forth
could affect safety or driving characteristics
of the vehicle by shifting the centre of gravity. –
Distrib
ute the load evenly in the luggage
compartment.
– Place heavy objects as far forward as possi-
ble in the lug
gage compartment
››› Fig. 162.
– Place the heavy objects first.
– Secure heavy objects to the fitted fastening
rings* ›
›› page 154.
– Secure loose loads with a luggage net* or
with non-ela
stic straps secured to the fas-
tening* rings. WARNING
● Loo se lug
gage and other objects in the lug-
gage compartment could cause serious inju-
ries.
● Always stow objects in the luggage com-
partment
and secure them with the fastening
rings*.
● During sudden manoeuvres or accidents,
loose ob
jects can be thrown forward, injuring
vehicle occupants or even third parties. This
increased risk of injury will be further in-
creased if a loose object is struck by an inflat-
ing airbag. If this happens, objects may
shoot outward like a missile. Risk of fatal in-
jury.
● Always keep all objects in the luggage com-
partment
and use appropriate grips to secure
them, particularly in the case of heavy ob-
jects. 152
Driving
Driving Ad dr
e
ss
Introduction The power steering is not hydraulic but elec-
tromec
h
anical. The advantage of this steer-
ing is that it foes not need flexible hydraulic
pipes, hydraulic oil, pump, filter or other
parts. The electromechanical system saves
fuel. Whereas a hydraulic system needs con-
tinuous oil pressure, electromechanical
steering only needs power when it is used.
In vehicles with electromechanical steering,
the assisted steering function automatically
adjusts according to vehicle speed, steering
wheel torque and wheel orientation. The
power steering only works when the engine
is running. WARNING
If the power steering does not work, you will
need much mor e s
trength to turn the wheel.
This has a considerable effect on vehicle
safety.
● The power steering only works when the
engine is
running.
● Never allow the vehicle to move when the
engine is
switched off.
● Never remove the key from the ignition
while the
vehicle is moving. The steering lock could be engaged and vehicle steering would
not w
ork. Note
The ignition of the vehicle being towed must
be sw itc
hed on to prevent the steering wheel
from locking and also to allow the use of the
turn signals, horn, windscreen wipers and
washers. Control lamp
The control lamp should light up for a few
sec
ond
s
when the ignition is switched on. It
should go out once the engine is started.
It lights up red
The electromechani-
cal steering is dam-
aged.Have the steering checked im-
mediately by a specialised work-
shop.
It lights up yellow
Electromechanical
steering operation
is limited.See a specialised workshop im-
mediately and have the steering
checked.
If the yellow warning lamp does
not light up again after the en-
gine is restarted and the vehicle
has travelled a short distance,
you do not need to take it to a
specialised workshop.
It lights up yellow
The 12-volt battery
was disconnected
and has been recon-
nected.Take the vehicle for a short run
at 15-20 km/h (9-12 mph).
It flashes yellow
The steering column
is tight.Turn the wheel a little to both
sides.
The steering column
does not unlock or
lock.Remove the key from the ignition
and switch the ignition back on.
If necessary, check the messag-
es displayed on the instrument
panel display.
Do not drive on if
the steering
column remains locked after the
ignition has been switched on.
Seek specialist assistance. WARNING
If the warning lamps and the corresponding
mes s
ages are ignored when they light up, the
vehicle may stall in traffic and cause acci-
dents and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps or messag-
es.
● Stop the
vehicle at the next opportunity
and in a safe p
lace. » 167
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
Switching the ignition or the glow plug sys-
t em on 2 Turn the ignition key to this position and re-
l
e
a
se it. If the key cannot be turned or it is
difficult to turn from position 1 to position
2 , move the steering wheel from one side to
the other; thi s
w
ill release it.
Starting 3The engine is started when the key is in this
po
s
ition. El
ectrical devices with high power
consumption are switched off temporarily at
the same time.
Each time that the vehicle is restarted, the ig-
nition key must be turned to position 1 . The
r epetitiv
e s
tart prevention lock of the igni-
tion prevents possible damage to the starter
motor if the engine is already running. WARNING
● The ignition key mu
st NOT be removed from
the lock until the vehicle comes to a stand-
still. Otherwise, the steering could be imme-
diately blocked- Risk of accident!
● Always remove the key from the ignition
when leav
ing the vehicle, even if only for a
short period. This is especially important if
children or disabled people are left alone in
the vehicle. They could accidentally start the
engine or work electrical equipment such as
the electric windows, resulting in an acci-
dent. ●
Uns uper
vised use of the key could start the
engine or any electrical system, such as the
electric windows. This could result in serious
injury. CAUTION
The starter motor will only work when the en-
gine i s s
topped (ignition key position 3 ).
Electronic immobiliser “SAFE”
The electronic immobiliser prevents unau-
thori
sed per
son
s from driving the vehicle.
Inside the key there is a chip that deactivates
the electronic immobiliser automatically
when the key is inserted into the ignition.
The electronic immobiliser will be activated
again automatically as soon as you pull the
key out of the ignition lock.
The engine can only be started using a genu-
ine SEAT key with its correct code.
If the following message* is shown on the in-
strument panel display: SAFE, the vehicle
cannot be started.
The engine can, however, be started if the
appropriate coded SEAT genuine key is used. Note
A perfect operation of the vehicle is ensured
if g enuine
SEAT keys are used. Starting petrol engines
The engine can only be started using a genu-
ine S
EA
T key with its correct code.
– Move the gearbox lever to the neutral posi-
tion and depres
s the clutch pedal thor-
oughly and hold it in this position for the
starter to turn the engine on.
– Turn the ignition key to the starting posi-
tion ››
›
page 168.
– Let go of the ignition key as soon as the en-
gine star
ts; the starter motor must not run
on with the engine.
After starting a very hot engine, you may
need to slightly press down the accelerator.
When starting a cold engine, it may be a little
noisy for the first few seconds until oil pres-
sure has built up in the hydraulic valve com-
pensators. This is quite normal, and no cause
for concern.
If the engine does not start immediately,
switch the starter off after 10 seconds and try
again after half a minute. If the engine still
does not start, the fuel pump fuse should be
checked ›››
page 100, Fuses. »
169
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
WARNING
● Never s t
art or run the engine in unventila-
ted or closed rooms. The exhaust gases con-
tain carbon monoxide, an odourless and col-
ourless poisonous gas. Risk of fatal acci-
dents. Carbon monoxide can cause loss of
consciousness and result in death.
● Never leave the vehicle unattended if the
engine is
running.
● Never use “cold start sprays”, they could
explode or c
ause the engine to run at high
revs. Risk of injury. CAUTION
● When the engine i s
cold, you should avoid
high engine speeds, driving at full throttle
and over-loading the engine. Risk of engine
damage.
● The vehicle should not be pushed or towed
more than 50 metr
es to start the engine. Un-
burnt fuel could enter the catalytic converter
and damage it.
● Before attempting to push-start or tow a ve-
hicle in or
der to start it, you should first try to
start it using the battery of another vehicle.
Please observe and follow the notes on the
››› page 67, How to jump start. For the sake of the environment
Do not warm-up the engine by running the
engine w ith the
vehicle stationary. Start off
immediately, driving gently. This helps the engine reach operating temperature faster
and reduc
e
s emissions. Starting diesel engines
The engine can only be started using a genu-
ine S
EA
T key with its correct code.
– Move the gearbox lever to the neutral posi-
tion and depres
s the clutch pedal thor-
oughly and hold it in this position for the
starter to turn the engine on.
– Turn the ignition key to position ›››
Fig. 173
2 . The warning lamp
wi
l l light for en-
gine pre-heating.
– When the lamp turns off, turn the ignition
key t
o position 3 to start the engine. Do
not pr
e
ss the accelerator.
– Release the ignition key as soon as the en-
gine star
ts. The starter motor should not
turn at the same time.
When starting a cold engine, it may be a little
noisy for the first few seconds until oil pres-
sure has built up in the hydraulic valve com-
pensators. This is quite normal, and no cause
for concern.
If there are problems starting the engine, see
the ›››
page 67. Glow plug system for the diesel engine
To avoid u
nnecessary discharging of the bat-
tery, do not use any other major electrical
equipment while the glow plugs are pre-heat-
ing.
Start the engine as soon as the glow plug
warning lamp goes out.
Starting a diesel engine after the fuel tank
has been completely run dry
If the fuel tank has been completely run dry,
it may take longer than normal (up to one mi-
nute) to start a diesel engine after refuelling.
This is because the fuel system must elimi-
nate air first. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Starting
petro l
engines on page 170. CAUTION
● When the engine i s
cold, you should avoid
high engine speeds, driving at full throttle
and over-loading the engine. Risk of engine
damage.
● The vehicle should not be pushed or towed
more than 50 metr
es to start the engine. Un-
burnt fuel could enter the catalytic converter
and damage it.
● Before attempting to push-start or tow a ve-
hicle in or
der to start it, you should first try to170
Driving
a great extent on the conditions under which
the v
ehic
le is operated and the way the vehi-
cle is driven. If you often drive in town, drive
short distances or have a sporty driving style,
we recommend that you have the thickness
of your brake pads checked by technical serv-
ices more frequently than recommended in
the Maintenance Programme.
If you drive with wet brakes, for example, af-
ter crossing areas of water, on days of heavy
rainfall or even after washing the car, the ef-
fect of the brakes is reduced as the brake
discs are wet or even frozen (in winter): in
this case, the brakes should be “dried” by
pressing the brake pedal several times. WARNING
Longer braking distances and faults in the
brak e sy
stem increase the risk of accidents.
● New brake pads must be run in and do not
have the c
orrect friction during the first
200 km. This reduced braking capacity may
be compensated for by pressing on the brake
pedal a little harder, which also applies when
the brake pads have to be changed further
on.
● If brakes are wet or frozen, or if you are
driving on r
oads which have been salted,
braking power may be lower than normal.
● On steep slopes, if brakes are excessively
used, they w
ill overheat. Before driving down
a long steep slope, it is advisable to reduce
speed and change down into a lower gear or range (depending on the type of transmis-
sion).
Thu
s, make use of engine braking and
relieve the brakes.
● Never let the brakes “drag” by applying
light pre
ssure. Continuous braking will cause
the brakes to overheat and the braking dis-
tance will increase. Apply and then release
the brakes alternately.
● Never let the vehicle run with the engine
switc
hed off. The braking distance is in-
creased considerably when the brake servo is
not active.
● If the brake fluid loses its viscosity and is
subj
ected to heavy use, vapour bubbles can
form in the brake system. This reduces the ef-
ficiency of the brakes.
● Non-standard or damaged front spoilers
coul
d restrict the airflow to the brakes and
cause them to overheat. Before purchasing
accessories please observe the relevant in-
structions ››› page 255, Modifications.
● If a brake system circuit fails, the braking
dist
ance will be increased considerably. Con-
tact a specialised workshop immediately and
avoid unnecessary journeys. Control lamp
Situations in which the warning lamp lights
up *
●
the brake fluid level is too low
› ›
›
page 275. ●
there is
a fault in the brake system.
This warning lamp can light up together with
the ABS system warning lamp. WARNING
● If the br ak
e warning lamp does not go out
or if it lights up when driving, the brake fluid
level in the reservoir is too low so there is a
risk of an accident ››› page 275, Brake fluid.
Stop the vehicle and do not drive on. Obtain
technical assistance.
● If the brake warning lamp lights up to-
gether w
ith the ABS lamp this could be
due to an ABS fault. This could cause the rear
wheels to lock quickly when you brake. This
could cause the rear to break away. Risk of
skidding. Stop the vehicle and seek technical
assistance. Handbrake
Fig. 176
Handbrake between the front seats. » 175
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
Run-in and economical driving R u
nnin
g in a new engine The engine needs to be run-in over the first
1500 km (900 mil
e
s).
For the first 1,000 kilometres (600 miles)
– Do not drive at speeds of more than 2/3
the maximum s
peed.
– Do not accelerate hard.
– Avoid high engine revolutions.
– Do not tow a trailer.
From 1,000 k i
lometres (600 miles) to 1,500
kilometres (900 miles)
– Speeds can be gradual
ly increased to the
maximum road speed or maximum permis-
sible engine speed (rpm).
During its first few hours of running, the in-
ternal friction in the engine is greater than
later on, when all the moving parts have bed-
ded in. For the sake of the environment
If the engine is run in gently, its life will be in-
cr e
ased and its oil consumption reduced. Tyre and brake pad run-in
New tyres should be run in carefully for the
firs
t
500 km (300 miles) and new brake pads
should be run in carefully for the first 200 km
(125 miles).
During the first 200 km (125 miles) you have
to compensate for the reduced braking effect
by applying more pressure to the brake ped-
al. In case of a sharp braking, the braking
distance will be longer with new brake pads
than with brake pads which have been run-
in. WARNING
● At fir s
t, new tyres do not give maximum
grip, and require running-in. This may cause
an accident. Drive particularly carefully in the
first 500 km (300 miles).
● New brake pads must be “run in” and do
not hav
e the correct friction properties during
the first 200 km (125 miles). However, the re-
duced braking capacity may be compensated
by pressing on the brake pedal a little harder. Environmental compatibility
Environmental protection is a top priority in
the de
s
ign, c
hoice of materials and manufac-
ture of your new SEAT. Constructive measures to encourage recy-
cling
● Joints
and connections designed for easy
dismantlin
g.
● Modular construction to facilitate disman-
tling.
● Incr
eased use of single-grade materials.
● Plastic parts and elastomers are marked in
accor
dance with ISO 1043, ISO 11469 and
ISO 1629.
Choice of materials
● Use of recycled materials.
● Use of compatible plastics in the same part
if its c
omponents are not easily separated.
● Use of recycled materials and/or materials
originating fr
om renewable sources.
● Reduction of volatile components, includ-
ing odour, in p
lastic materials.
● Use of CFC-free coolants.
Ban on heavy
metals, with the exceptions
dictated by law (Annex II of ELV Directive
2000/53/EC): cadmium, lead, mercury, hexa-
valent chromium.
Manufacturing methods
● Reduction of the quantity of thinner in the
protectiv
e wax for cavities.
● Use of plastic film as protection during ve-
hicle tr
ansport. »
191
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
– For en
gine oi
l changes, do not replenish
with too much engine oil ››› page 272, Top-
ping up engine oil.
– Never tow the vehicle to start it, use jump
lea
ds if necessary ›››
page 67.
If you notice misfiring, uneven running or
loss of power when the vehicle is moving, re-
duce speed immediately and have the vehi-
cle inspected at the nearest specialised
workshop. In general, the exhaust warning
lamp will light up when any of the described
symptoms occur ››› page 117. If this hap-
pens, unburnt fuel can enter the exhaust sys-
tem and escape into the environment. The
catalytic converter can also be damaged by
overheating. CAUTION
Never run the fuel tank completely dry be-
cau se the irr
egularity of the fuel supply may
cause ignition problems. This allows unburnt
fuel to enter the exhaust system, which could
cause overheating and damage the catalytic
converter. For the sake of the environment
Even when the emission control system is
work in
g perfectly, there may be a smell of
sulphur from the exhaust gas under some
conditions. This depends on the sulphur con-
tent of the fuel used. Quite often the problem
can be solved by changing to another brand
of fuel. Diesel particulate filter
3 Applies to vehicles with diesel engine
The die sel
engine particulate filter eliminates
most of the soot from the exhaust gas sys-
tem. Under normal driving conditions, the fil-
ter cleans itself. The diesel particulate filter is
cleaned automatically without need for indi-
cation by the warning lamp . This may be
noticed because the engine idle speed in-
creases and an odour may be detected.
If automatic filter purification cannot be car-
ried out (because only short trips are taken,
for example), soot will accumulate on the fil-
ter and the Diesel particulate filter warning
lamp will switch on.
Facilitate the automatic filter cleaning proc-
ess by driving in the following manner: drive
for approximately 15 minutes at a minimum
speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) in 4th or 5th gear
(automatic gearbox: gear S). Maintain the en-
gine speed at approximately 2,000 rpm. The
rise in temperature causes the soot on the fil-
ter to burn. On completion of the cleaning
the warning lamp will switch off. If the warn-
ing lamp does not switch off, go immediately
to a specialised workshop to rectify the prob-
lem. 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 to have the engine checked.
194
Driver assistance systems
On-screen warning lamps and mes-
s ag
e
s Fig. 187
On the instrument panel display:
W arnin
g indic
ations. Distance warning
If
the s
af
e distance with regard to the vehicle
in front is exceeded, the relevant warning will
appear on the instrument panel display
. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Warning
symbol s on p
age 117. Note
When the Front Assist is connected, the indi-
cation s
on the instrument panel screen may
be concealed by warnings from other func-
tions, such as an incoming call. Radar sensor
Fig. 188
On the front bumper: radar sensor. A radar sensor is installed on the front bump-
er t
o det
ermine the tr
affic situation
››› Fig. 188 1 .
The r a
d
ar sensor's visibility may be impaired
by dirt, mud or snow, or by environmental in-
fluences such as rain or mist. In this case the
Front Assist monitoring system does not
work. The instrument panel displays the fol-
lowing message: Front Assist: No sensor vision! If necessary clean the ra-
dar sensor ››› .
When the r a
d
ar sensor begins to operate
properly again, the Front Assist will automati-
cally be available again. The message will
disappear from the instrument panel display.
Front Assist operation may be affected by a
strong radar reverse reflection. This may oc-
cur, for example, in a closed car park or due to the presence of metallic objects (e.g. rails
on the roa
d or sheets used in road works).
The area in front of and around the radar sen-
sor should not be covered with adhesives,
additional or similar headlights, as this may
negatively affect Front Assist operation.
If structural modifications are made to the ve-
hicle, for example, if the suspension is low-
ered or the front spoiler is modified, Front As-
sist operation may be affected. So structural
modifications should only be made by speci-
alised workshops. SEAT recommends visiting
a SEAT dealership for this purpose.
If work is done incorrectly on the front of the
vehicle, the radar sensor could be damaged
or lose its settings, and Front Assist opera-
tion may be affected. So repair work should
only be made by specialised workshops.
SEAT recommends visiting a SEAT dealership
for this purpose. CAUTION
If you have the sensation that the radar sen-
sor is d
amaged or has lost its settings, dis-
connect the Front Assist. This will avoid pos-
sible damage. If this occurs have it adjusted.
● The sensor may become damaged or lose
its settin
gs when knocked, for example, dur-
ing a parking manoeuvre. This may compro-
mise the system's efficacy or disconnect it. » 205
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety