Advice
Checking levels Fig. 236
Diagram for the location of the various ele-
ments. 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
Engine oil level dipstick
Engine oil filler cap
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery
Windscreen washer reservoir
The checking and refilling of service fluids
are carried out on the components men- 1 2
3
4
5
6 tioned above. These operations are descri-
bed in
››
›
page 267.
Overview
You will find further explanations, instruc-
tions and restrictions on the technical speci-
fications as of ››› page 285. Note
The layout of parts may vary depending on
the engine. Engine oil
Gener a
l
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
270
Checking and refilling levels
diesel engines together, it means that the oil
c an be u
sed f
or both types of engines.
We recommend that the oil change indicated
in the Maintenance Programme, be per-
formed by a technical service or specialised
workshop.
The correct oil specifications for your engine
are listed in the ›››
page 56.
Service intervals
Service intervals can be flexible (LongLife
service) or fixed (dependent on time/dis-
tance travelled).
If the PR code that appears on the back of the
Maintenance Programme booklet is PR QI6,
this means that your vehicle has the LongLife
service program. If it lists the codes QI1, QI2,
QI3, QI4 or QI7, the interval service is de-
pendent on the time/distance travelled.
Flexible service intervals (LongLife service
intervals*)
Special oils and processes have been devel-
oped which, depending on the characteris-
tics and individual driving profiles, enable
the extension of the oil change service (Long-
Life service intervals).
Because this oil is essential for extending the
service intervals, it must only be used ob-
serving the following indications: ●
Avoid mi xing it with oil for fixed service in-
tervals.
● Only in exceptional circumstances, if the
engine oil
level is too low ››› page 272 and
LongLife oil is not available, it is permitted to
top up (once) with oil for fixed service inter-
vals ›››
page 56 (up to a maximum of 0.5
litres).
Fixed service intervals*
If your vehicle does not have the “LongLife
service interval” or it has been disabled (by
request), you may use oils for fixed service
intervals, which also appear in
››› page 56. In this case, your vehicle
must be serviced after a fixed interval of 1
year/15,000 km (10,000 miles)(whatever
comes first) ››› Booklet Maintenance Pro-
gramme.
● In exceptional circumstances, if the engine
oil l
evel is too low ››› page 272 and you can-
not obtain the oil specified for your vehicle,
you can add a small quantity of oil conform-
ing to the specification ACEA A2 or ACEA A3
(petrol engines) or ACEA B3 or ACEA B4 (die-
sel engines) (up to 0.5 l).
Vehicles with diesel particulate filter*
The Maintenance Programme states whether
your vehicle is fitted with a diesel particulate
filter. Only VW 507 00 engine oil, with reduced ash
formation, m
ay be used in diesel engines
equipped with particulate filter. Using other
types of oil will cause a higher soot concen-
tration and reduce the life of the DPF. There-
fore:
● Avoid mixing this oil with other engine oils.
● Only in exceptional circumstances, if the
engine oil
level is too low ››› page 272 and
you cannot obtain the oil specified for your
vehicle, you can use a small quantity of oil
(once) conforming to the VW 506 00,
VW 506 01, VW 505 00, VW 505 01 or
ACEA B3/ACEA B4 specification. (up to 0.5 l). Note
Before a long trip, we recommend finding an
engine oi l
that conforms to the correspond-
ing VW specifications and recommend keep-
ing it in the vehicle. This way, the correct en-
gine oil will always be available for a top-up if
needed. Warning lamp
If this warning lamp
is
r
ed it indicates
that the engine oil pressure is too low.
If this warning symbol starts to flash, and is
accompanied by three audible warnings,
switch off the engine and check the oil level.
If necessary, add more oil ›››
page 272. »
271
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
If the warning lamp flashes although the oil
l ev
el
is correct, stop driving. Do not even run
the engine at idle speed! Obtain technical as-
sistance.
Checking oil level
If the warning lamp is yellow the engine
oil level should be checked as soon as possi-
ble. Top up the oil at the next opportunity
››› page 272.
Oil level sensor faulty*
If the yellow warning lamp flashes, take
the vehicle to a specialised workshop to have
the oil level sensor checked. Until then it is
advisable to check the oil level every time
you refuel.
Check engine oil level Fig. 237
Engine oil dipstick. Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 55
Checking oil level
– Park the vehicle in a horizontal position.
– Briefly run the engine at idle speed until
the operating t
emperature is reached and
then stop.
– Wait for about two minutes.
– Pull out the dipstick. Wipe the dipstick with
a cle
an cloth and insert it again, pushing it
in as far as it will go.
– Then pull it out again and check the oil lev-
el. T
op up with engine oil if necessary.
Depending on how you drive and the condi-
tions in which the vehicle is used, oil con-
sumption can be up to 0.5 l/1000 km. Oil
consumption is likely to be higher for the first
5,000 km. For this reason the engine oil level
must be checked at regular intervals, prefera-
bly when filling the tank and before a jour-
ney. WARNING
Any work carried out in the engine compart-
ment or on the en gine mu
st be carried out
cautiously.
● When working in the engine compartment,
alwa
ys observe the safety warnings
››› page 267. CAUTION
If the oil level is above the area A do not
st ar
t the engine. This could result in damage
to the engine and catalytic converter. Contact
a Technical Service. Topping up engine oil
Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 55
Before opening the bonnet, read and observe
the warnings ››› in safety notes for work in
the en gine c
omp
artment on page 267.
The position of the filler neck is shown in the
corresponding engine compartment image
››› page 270.
Engine oil specification ›››
page 56. WARNING
Oil is highly inflammable! Ensure that no oil
come s
into contact with hot engine compo-
nents when topping up. CAUTION
If the oil level is above the area A do not
st ar
t the engine. This could result in damage
to the engine and catalytic converter. Contact
a specialised workshop. 272
Checking and refilling levels
For the sake of the environment
The oil level must never be above area A .
Otherw i
se oil can be drawn in through the
crankcase breather and escape into the at-
mosphere via the exhaust system. Changing engine oil
Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 55
The engine oil must be changed at the inter-
vals given in the service schedule.
We recommend that you have the engine oil
changed by a Technical Service.
The oil change intervals are shown in the
Maintenance Programme. WARNING
Only change the engine oil yourself if you
hav e the s
pecialist knowledge required!
● Before opening the bonnet, read and ob-
serve the w
arnings ››› page 267, safety notes
for work in the engine compartment .
● Wait for the engine to cool down. Hot oil
may
cause burn injuries.
● Wear eye protection to avoid injuries, such
as ac
id burns, caused by splashes of oil.
● When removing the oil drain plug with your
finger
s, keep your arm horizontal to help pre-
vent oil from running down your arm. ●
Wa sh
your skin thoroughly if it comes into
contact with engine oil.
● Engine oil is poisonous! Used engine oil
must
be stored in a safe place out of the
reach of children. CAUTION
No additives should be used with engine oil.
Thi s c
ould result in engine damage. Any dam-
age caused by the use of such additives
would not be covered by the factory warranty. For the sake of the environment
● Bec au
se of disposal problems and the spe-
cial tools and specialist knowledge required,
we recommend that you have the engine oil
and filter changed by a Technical Service.
● Never pour oil down drains or into the
ground.
● U
se a suitable container when draining the
used oil
. It must be large enough to hold all
the engine oil. Cooling system
C ontr o
l lamp There is a fault if:
● The l amp does not go out again after a
f ew sec
onds. ●
The lamp lights up or fl
ashes while the
vehicle is running, and three acoustic warn-
ing signals are emitted ››› .
Thi s
me
ans that either the coolant level is too
low or the coolant temperature is too high.
Coolant temperature too high
If the lamp lights up, stop the vehicle,
turn off the engine and wait for it to cool
down. Check the coolant level.
If the coolant level is correct, the overheating
may be caused by a malfunction of the radia-
tor fan. Check the radiator fan fuse and have
it replaced if necessary ››› page 100.
If the control lamp lights up again after driv-
ing on for a short distance, stop the vehicle
and switch the engine off. Contact a Techni-
cal Service or a specialised workshop.
Coolant level too low
If the lamp lights up, stop the vehicle,
turn off the engine and wait for it to cool
down. First check the coolant level. If the lev-
el of the coolant is below the “MIN” mark,
top up with coolant liquid ››› .
WARNING
● If y
our vehicle is immobilised for technical
reasons, move it to a safe distance from traf-
fic. Turn the engine off, turn the hazard lights
on and place the warning triangle. » 273
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
●
Never open the bonnet if
you can see or
hear steam or coolant escaping from the en-
gine compartment. Risk of scalding. Wait un-
til you can no longer see or hear escaping
steam or coolant.
● The engine compartment is a dangerous
area. B
efore carrying out any work in the en-
gine compartment, switch off the engine and
allow it to cool down. Always note the corre-
sponding warnings ››› page 267. Topping up coolant
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 56
Top up coolant when the level is below the
MIN (minimum) mark.
Checking coolant level – Park the vehicle in a horizontal position.
– Switch the ignition off.
– Read off the coolant level on coolant ex-
pans
ion tank. When the engine is cold, the
coolant level should be between the marks.
When the engine is hot, it may be slightly
above the upper mark.
Topping up coolant – Wait for the engine to cool down. –
Cov
er the coolant expansion tank cap with
a cloth and carefully unscrew it to the left
››› .
– Top up the coolant only if there is still cool-
ant in the e
xp
ansion tank, otherwise you
could damage the engine. If there is no
coolant in the expansion tank, do not con-
tinue driving. You should obtain professio- nal assistance ››› .
– If there is still some coolant in the expan-
sion t
ank, t
op up to the upper mark.
– Top up with coolant until the level becomes
stab
le.
– Screw the cap back on correctly.
Any lo
ss of coolant fluid normally indicates a
leak in the cooling system. Take the vehicle
straight to a specialised workshop to have
the cooling system examined. If there are no
leaks in the engine cooling system, a loss of
coolant can only occur if the coolant boils
and is forced out of the system as a result of
overheating. WARNING
● The coo lin
g system is under pressure. Do
not unscrew the cap on the coolant expan-
sion tank when the engine is hot: risk of
burns!
● The antifreeze and coolant fluid can be a
health h
azard. Therefore, the antifreeze
should be stored in the original container in a safe place out of reach of children. Failure to
comp
ly
could result in poisoning.
● If working inside the engine compartment,
remember that, ev
en when the ignition is
switched off, the radiator fan may start up au-
tomatically, and therefore there is a risk of in-
jury. WARNING
If there is not enough anti-freeze in the cool-
ant sys
tem, the engine may fail leading to se-
rious damage.
● Please make sure that the percentage of
additiv
e is correct with respect to the lowest
expected ambient temperature in the zone in
which the vehicle is to be used.
● When the outside temperature is very low,
the cool
ant could freeze and the vehicle
would be immobilised. In this case, the heat-
ing would not work either and inadequately
dressed passengers could die of cold. CAUTION
Do not top up the expansion tank with cool-
ant fluid if it
is empty! Air could enter the
cooling system. In this case, stop driving.
Seek specialist assistance. Otherwise, there
is a risk of engine damage. 274
Checking and refilling levels
CAUTION
The original additives should never be mixed
with c oo
lants which are not approved by
SEAT. Otherwise, you run the risk of causing
severe damage to the engine and the engine
cooling system.
● If the fluid in the expansion tank is not pur-
ple b
ut is, for example, brown, this indicates
that the G13 additive has been mixed with an
inadequate coolant. The coolant must be
changed as soon as possible if this is the
case! This could result in serious faults and
engine damage. For the sake of the environment
Coolants and additives can contaminate the
env ir
onment. If any fluids are spilled, they
should be collected and correctly disposed
of, with respect to the environment. Brake fluid
Chec k
in
g the brake fluid levelRead the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 57
The position of the brake fluid reservoir is
shown in the corresponding engine compart-
ment image ›››
page 270. The brake fluid res-
ervoir has a black and yellow cap. The brake fluid level drops slightly when the
vehicl
e is being used as the brake pads are
automatically adjusted as they wear.
However, if the level goes down noticeably in
a short time, or drops below the “MIN” mark,
there may be a leak in the brake system. A
display on the instrument panel will warn you
if the brake fluid level is too low ››› page 117. WARNING
Before opening the bonnet to check the brake
fluid lev el, r
ead and observe the warnings
››› page 267. Changing the brake fluid
The Maintenance Programme indicates brake
fluid c
h
an
ge intervals.
We recommend that you have the brake fluid
changed by a Technical Service.
Before opening the bonnet, please read and
follow the warnings ››› in safety notes for
w ork
in the en
gine compartment on
page 267 in section “Safety notes for work-
ing in the engine compartment”.
In the course of time, brake fluid becomes
hygroscopic and absorbs water from the am-
bient air. If the water content in the brake flu-
id is too high, the brake system could cor-
rode. This also considerably reduces the boil-
ing point of the brake fluid. Heavy use of the brakes may then cause a vapour lock which
coul
d impair the braking effect.
Be sure to always use the correct brake fluid.
Only use brake fluid that expressly meets the
VW 501 14 standard.
You can buy VW 501 14 standard brake fluid
in a SEAT dealership or a SEAT Official Serv-
ice. If none is available, use only high-quality
brake fluid that meets DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
standards, or USA Standards FMVSS 116 DOT
4.
Using any other kind of brake fluid or one
that is not of a high quality may affect opera-
tion of the brake system and reduce its effec-
tiveness. Never use a brake fluid if the con-
tainer does not state that it complies with VW
501 14, DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards, or
USA standards FMVSS 116 DOT 4. WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous. Old brake fluid im-
pair s
the braking effect.
● Before opening the bonnet to check the
brake fluid l
evel, read and observe the warn-
ings ››› page 267.
● Brake fluid should be stored in the closed
original
container in a safe place out of reach
of children. There is a toxic risk.
● Perform the brake fluid change according to
the Mainten
ance Programme. Heavy use of
the brakes may cause a vapour lock if the
brake fluid is left in the brake system for too » 275
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
The position of the battery is shown in the
c orr
e
sponding engine compartment diagram
››› page 270.
The “magic eye” indicator, located on the top
of the battery changes colour, depending on
the charge state and electrolyte level of the
battery.
There are two different colours:
● Black: correct charge status.
● Transparent/clear yellow: the battery must
be repl
aced. Contact a specialised workshop.
Charging or changing the battery The battery is maintenance-free and is
c
hec
k
ed during the inspection service. All
work on the vehicle battery requires special-
ist knowledge.
If you often drive short distances or if the ve-
hicle is not driven for long periods, the bat-
tery should be checked by a specialised
workshop between the scheduled services.
If the battery has discharged and you have
problems starting the vehicle, the battery
might be damaged. If this happens, we rec-
ommend you have the vehicle battery
checked by a Technical Service where it will
be re-charged or replaced. Charging the battery
The vehic
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.
Replacing a vehicle battery
The battery has been developed to suit the
conditions of its location and has special
safety features.
Genuine SEAT batteries meet the mainte-
nance, performance and safety specifications
of your vehicle. WARNING
● We r ec
ommend you use only maintenance-
free or cycle free leak-proof batteries which
comply with standards T 825 06 and
VW 7 50 73. This standard applies as of
2001.
● Before starting any work on the batteries,
you mus
t read and observe the warnings
››› in Symbols and warnings on handling
the batt er
y on page 276. For the sake of the environment
Batteries contain toxic substances such as
su lphuric
acid and lead. They must be dis-
posed of appropriately and must not be dis-
posed of with ordinary household waste. Wheels
Wheel s
and ty
res
General notes Avoiding damage
– If you have to drive over a kerb or similar
ob s
tacle, drive very slowly and at a right
angle.
– Keep grease, oil and fuel off the tyres.
– Inspect the tyres regularly for damage
(cuts, c r
acks or blisters, etc.). Remove any
foreign objects embedded in the treads.
Storing tyres
– When you remove the tyres, mark them in
order to m
aintain the same direction of ro-
tation when they are installed again.
– When removed, the wheels and/or tyres
should be s
tored in a cool, dry and prefera-
bly dark location.
– Store tyres in a vertical position, if they are
not fitted on wheel
rims.
New tyres
New tyres must be run in ›››
page 191.
The tread depth of new tyres may vary, ac-
cording to the type and make of tyre and the
tread pattern.
278
Index
steel wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
w a
shin
g the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
windows and exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
wooden trim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 adjusting the temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
automatic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
fan regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
general notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
windscreen defrost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Clutch (warning lamp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Coming Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Coming Home Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Connectivity Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Contact key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Control and warning lamps alternator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
ASR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
blind spot detector (BSD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
braking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
diesel particulate filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
EDL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
emission control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
ESC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
parking assistant (RCTA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
speed limiter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 steering column lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
tyre
s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Controls and displays general instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Controls on the steering wheel operating the audio system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
operating the telephone and audio system . . 121
Coolant checking level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Coolant level control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Coolant temperature control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Cooling system checking coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273, 274
coolant temperature gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
topping up coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273, 274
Correct position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Correct sitting position front passenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
rear seat passengers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Cruise control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
warning and indication lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
D Dangers in not using the seat belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Dash panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Data sticker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Deactivation of front passenger front airbag . 21, 86
Detachable ball assembling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
checking attachment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 placing in standby position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
remov
ing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248, 249
standby position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Diesel diesel particulate filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Diesel particulate filter malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Digital clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Direction of rotation tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113, 114
Display messages speed limiter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Disposal seat belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Distance control see Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Door cylinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Door handle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 de-icing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Door lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 de-icing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Door lock cylinder de-icing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Door release lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Doors childproof locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
opening and closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Downhill speed control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Downhill speed control function . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Driver see Correct sitting position . . . . . . . . . 72, 73, 74
Driver-side general instrument panel left-hand drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
right-hand drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
295