
Operation
Air conditioning
He atin
g,
ventilation and cool-
ing
General notes Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 48
Pollution filter
The pollution filter (a combined particulate
filter and active carbon filter) serves as a bar-
rier against impurities in the outside air, in-
cluding dust and pollen.
For the climate control system to work with
maximum efficiency, the pollution filter must
be replaced at the specified intervals in the
Maintenance Programme.
If the filter loses efficiency prematurely due
to use in areas reaching very high pollution
levels, the pollen filter must be changed
more frequently than stated in the Service
Schedule. WARNING
Reduced visibility through the windows in-
cr e
ases the risk of serious accidents.
● Always ensure that all windows are free of
ice and sno
w, and that they are not fogged, so as to maintain good visibility of everything
outs
ide.
● The m
aximum heat output required to de-
fros
t windows as quickly as possible is only
available when the engine has reached its
normal running temperature. Only drive when
you have good visibility.
● Always ensure that you use the heating
syst
em, fresh air system, air conditioner and
the heated rear window to maintain good visi-
bility to the outside.
● Never leave the air recirculation on for a
long period of time. If
the cooling system is
switched off and air recirculation mode
switched on, the windows can mist over very
quickly, considerably limiting visibility.
● Switch air recirculation mode off when it is
not requir
ed. WARNING
Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and re-
duce driv er c
oncentration possibly resulting
in a serious accident.
● Never leave the fresh air fan turned off or
use the air rec
irculation for long periods of
time; the air in the vehicle interior will not be
refreshed. CAUTION
● If y
ou suspect that the air conditioner is
damaged, switch it off with the A/C button to prevent further damage and have it checked
by
a s
pecialised workshop.
● Repairs to the air conditioner require spe-
cia
list knowledge and special tools. There-
fore, we recommend you to take the vehicle
to a specialised workshop. Note
● If the humidity and t
emperature outside the
vehicle are high, condensation can drip off
the evaporator in the cooling system and
form a pool underneath the vehicle. This is
normal and does not indicate a leak.
● Keep the air intake slots in front of the
winds
creen free of snow, ice and leaves to en-
sure heating and cooling are not impaired,
and to prevent the windows from misting
over.
● The air from the vents flows through the ve-
hicle int
erior and is extracted by slots in the
luggage compartment designed for this pur-
pose. Therefore, you should avoid obstruct-
ing these slots with any kind of object.
● The air conditioner operates most effective-
ly with the w
indows closed. However, if the
temperature inside the vehicle is excessive
because of the sun, the air inside can be
cooled faster by opening the windows for a
short time.
● Do not smoke while air recirculation mode
is on, a
s smoke drawn into the air condition-
ing system leaves residue on the evaporator,
producing a permanent unpleasant odour. 158

Air conditioning
●
At lo w out
side temperatures, the compres-
sor switches off automatically and cannot be
switched on even with the AUTO button.
● It is advisable to turn on the air condition-
ing at l
east once a month, to lubricate the
system gaskets and prevent leaks. If a de-
crease in the cooling capacity is detected, a
Technical Service should be consulted to
check the system.
● To ensure correct operation, the grilles on
both sides
of the screen must not be obstruc-
ted. ●
When the engine i s
under extreme strain,
switch off the compressor for a moment. Economic use of the air conditioning
When the air conditioning is switched on, the
compr
e
ssor consumes engine power and has
influence on fuel consumption. Consider the
following points in order to have the system
operating in the minimum possible time. ●
If the v
ehicle interior has overheated due to
an excessive solar radiation, it is best to
open the windows or doors to allow the hot
air to escape.
● While in motion, the air conditioning
should not
be switched on if the windows are
open.
Air outlets Fig. 169
Air vents. To ensure proper heating, cooling and venti-
l
ation in the
v
ehicle interior, air vents
››› Fig. 169 1 should remain open.
●
The outl ets
c
an be closed or opened sepa-
rately using the slats and the air flow direc-
ted according to need. There are other additional, non-adjustable air
vents in the d
ash panel 2 , in the footwell
and in the r e
ar ar
ea of the interior. »
159
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
● Adju s
t
the vents so that the air flow is di-
rected slightly upwards.
Change between degrees Centigrade and de-
grees Fahrenheit
Keep the and buttons held down for 2
seconds at the same time. The data is dis-
played on the screen in the units required.
Automatic mode
Automatic mode is used to maintain a con-
stant temperature and demist the windows
inside the vehicle.
● Set the interior temperature between +16°C
(+64°F) and +29°C (+84°F).
● Adjus
t the vents so that the air flow is di-
rected s
lightly upwards.
● Press the butt
on, AUTO is displayed on
the screen.
Automatic mode is switched off by pressing
the air distribution buttons or increasing or
decreasing the blower speed. However, the
temperature remains regulated.
Adjusting the temperature
● When you switch on the ignition, control 1›››
Fig. 172 can be u sed t
o set the required in-
terior temperature.
It is possible to select interior temperatures
from +16°C (+64°F) to +29°C (+84°F). In this range the temperature is regulated automati-
cal
ly
. If a temperature below +16°C (+64°F) is
selected, “LO” is displayed on the screen. If a
temperature above +29°C (+84°F) is selected,
“HI” is displayed on the screen. At both ex-
tremes, Climatronic works at maximum cool-
ing or heating power, respectively. The tem-
perature is not regulated.
In the event of prolonged, irregular distribu-
tion of the air flow from the outlets (particu-
larly the footwells) and significant differen-
ces in temperature, e.g. on leaving the vehi-
cle, sensitive people may catch cold.
Fan regulation
Climatronic automatically regulates blower
speed according to the interior temperature.
It is possible, however, to set the blower
speed to suit requirements.
● Press the 2 buttons to increase or reduce
f an s
peed.
C
limatronic will switch off when the blower
switches off.
Turn on windscreen defrost
● Press the button ›››
Fig. 172.
Switching off windscreen defrosting
● Press the button sev
eral times or
press the button. The temperature is regulated automatically.
The air output fr
om the vents ››› Fig. 169 2 is increased.
WARNING
Read and observe the safety warnings ›››
in
Genera l
notes on page 158. Note
● A v i
sit to the specialised service once a
year is recommended to clean the Climatronic
system.
● The interior temperature sensor is at the
bottom. Do not c
over it with stickers or the
like, as this could have a negative effect on
Climatronic operations. 166

Operation
Via the ESC, the XDS will brake the inside
wheel and c
ou
nter the excess driving torque
of that wheel. This means that the driver's
desired trajectory is much more precise.
The XDS system works in combination with
the ESC and is always active, even when ASR
traction control is disconnected or the ESC is
in Sport mode.
Brake servo The brake servo increases the pressure you
ap
p
ly
to the brake pedal. It works only when
the engine is running .
If the brake servo is not functioning, e.g. due
to a malfunction, or if the vehicle is being
towed, you will have to press the brake pedal
considerably harder to make up for the lack
of servo assistance. WARNING
The braking distance can also be affected by
ext ern
al factors.
● Never let the vehicle coast with the engine
switc
hed off. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in an accident. The braking dis-
tance is increased considerably when the
brake servo is not active.
● If the brake servo is not working, for exam-
ple when the
vehicle is being towed, you will
have to press the brake pedal considerably
harder than normal. Hill driving assistant*
Fig. 177
Related video This function is only included in vehicles with
ESC.
The hi l
l driving assistant helps the driver to
move off and upward on a hill when the vehi-
cle is stationary.
The system maintains brake pressure for ap-
proximately two seconds after the driver
takes his foot off the brake pedal to prevent
the vehicle from lurching backward when it is
started. During these 2 seconds, the driver
has enough time to release the clutch pedal
and accelerate without the vehicle moving
and without having to use the handbrake,
making start-up easier, more comfortable
and safer.
These are the basic operation conditions:
● being on a ramp or hill/slope,
● doors closed,
● vehicle completely stationary,
● engine running and foot on the brake, ●
bes ide
s having a gear engaged or being in
neutral for manual gear change and with the
selector lever at position S, D or R for an au-
tomatic gearbox.
This system is also active when reversing up-
hill. WARNING
● If y
ou do not start the vehicle immediately
after taking your foot off the brake pedal, the
vehicle may start to roll back under certain
conditions. Depress the brake pedal or use
the hand brake immediately.
● If the engine stalls, depress the brake ped-
al or u
se the hand brake immediately.
● When following a line of traffic uphill, if you
want t
o prevent the vehicle from rolling back
accidentally when starting off, hold the brake
pedal down for a few seconds before starting
off. Note
The Official Service or a specialist workshop
can t el
l you if your vehicle is equipped with
this system. 182

Operation
● Use of
so
lvent-free adhesives.
● Use of CFC-free coolants in cooling sys-
tems.
● Recy
cling and energy recovery from resi-
dues (RDF).
● Impr
ovement in the quality of waste water.
● Use of systems for the recovery of residual
heat (therm
al recovery, enthalpy wheels,
etc.).
● The use of water-soluble paints.
Economical and environmentally-
friendly drivin
gFuel consumption, environmental pollution
and w
e
ar t
o the engine, brakes and tyres de-
pends in large part on your driving style. By
adopting an economical driving style and an-
ticipating the traffic situation ahead, you can
easily reduce fuel consumption by 10-15%.
Some tips on how to help you reduce pollu-
tion while saving money are listed below.
Drive anticipating the traffic situation
A vehicle uses most fuel when accelerating.
When you anticipate situations, you have to
brake less often and, thus, accelerate less. If
it is possible, let the vehicle roll with a gear
engaged, for example, if you see a red light
ahead. The braking effect achieved in this
way helps to reduce the wear of brakes and tyres; emissions and fuel consumption are
reduced t
o zero (disconnection due to iner-
tia).
Change gear early to save energy
An effective way of saving fuel is to change
up quickly through the gears. Running the
engine at high rpm in the lower gears uses
an unnecessary 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 190.
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 maintenance 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.
192

Driving
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.
Driving tips Drivin g abr
oadTo drive abroad, the following must be taken
int
o c
on
sideration:
● For vehicles fitted with a catalytic converter
ensur
e that unleaded petrol is available for
the journey. See the chapter “Refuelling”. Au-
tomobile organisations will have information
about service station networks selling unlea-
ded fuel. ●
In some countrie
s, it is possible that your
car model is not sold, and therefore some
spare parts are not available or the technical
services may only be able to carry out limited
repairs.
SEAT importers and distributors will gladly
provide information about the technical prep-
aration that your vehicle requires and also
about necessary maintenance and repair
possibilities.
Adhesive strips for headlights
In countries where vehicles drive on the other
side of the road to your home country, the
asymmetric dipped beam may dazzle drivers
of oncoming vehicles.
To prevent dazzling, you must apply stickers
to certain parts of the headlight lenses. Fur-
ther information is available at any Technical
Service.
Driving on flooded roads To prevent damage to the vehicle when driv-
in
g thr
ough w
ater, for example, along a floo-
ded road, please observe the following:
● The water should never come above the
lower edg
e of the bodywork.
● Drive at pedestrian speed. WARNING
After driving through water, mud, sludge,
etc ., the br
aking effect can be delayed slight-
ly due to moisture build-up on the discs and
brake pads. Applying the brakes carefully
several times will remove the moisture and
restore the full braking effect. CAUTION
● Drivin g thr
ough flooded areas may severely
damage vehicle components such as the en-
gine, transmission, running gear or electrical
system.
● Whenever driving through water, the Start-
Stop sys
tem* must be switched off
››› page 196. Note
● Check the depth of
the water before enter-
ing the flooded zone.
● Do not stop in the water, drive in reverse, or
stop the en
gine in any situation.
● Note that vehicles travelling in the opposite
direction ma
y splash water that could exceed
the maximum permitted water height for your
vehicle.
● Avoid driving through salt water (corro-
sion). 195
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Driver assistance systems
–
Ob j
ects with certain surfaces or struc-
tures, such as wire mesh fences or
powder snow.
● Certain surfaces of objects and garments
do not refl
ect the ultrasound sensors' sig-
nals. The system cannot detect, at least cor-
rectly, these objects or people wearing such
clothes.
● Ultrasound sensor signals may be affected
by e
xternal sound sources. In certain circum-
stances this may prevent them from detect-
ing people or objects.
● Please note that low obstacles detected by
the syst
em may no longer be registered by
the sensors as the car moves closer, so the
system will not give any further warning. In
certain circumstances, objects such as high
kerbs that could damage the bottom of the
vehicle are not detected either.
● If the first warning from the ParkPilot is ig-
nored, the v
ehicle could suffer considerable
damage.
● The knocks or damage on the radiator
grill
e, bumper, wheel arch and vehicle under-
body can adjust the orientation of the sen-
sors. This can affect the parking aid function.
Have the function checked by a specialised
workshop. Note
● In cer t
ain situations, the system can give a
warning even though there is no obstacle in
the detected area, e.g: –
with r ough or c
obbled floors or ground
with long grass;
– with external ultrasound sources, such as
cleaning vehicles or other vehicles;
– In downpours, intense snow or dense ex-
haust gases;
– or in locations such as the brow of a hill.
● A registration plate or plate holder on the
front w
ith larger than the space for the regis-
tration plate, or a registration plate that is
curved or warped can cause:
– false detections,
– loss of sensor visibility,
● In order to guarantee good system opera-
tion, keep the ultr
asound sensors clean, free
of snow or ice, and do not cover them with
adhesives or other objects.
● If you use high-pressure or vapour equip-
ment to c
lean the ultrasound sensors, apply
it directly only very briefly and always from a
distance of more than 10 cm.
● Retrofitting of accessories to the vehicle,
such a
s a bicycle rack, may interfere with the
operation of the Parking Aid.
● In order to familiarise yourself with the sys-
tem, it i
s advised that you practice parking in
an area or car park that is free from traffic.
There must be good weather and light condi-
tions.
● The volume and tone of the warnings can
be modified, in addition t
o the indications
››› page 240. ●
In v ehic
les without a driver information
system, these parameters can be modified in
a SEAT Official Service or in a specialised
workshop.
● Please observe information on towing a
trail
er ››› page 241.
● The display on the Easy Connect screen
shows
a slight time delay. Rear parking aid*
The rear Parking Aid assists the driver in
p
ark
in
g by means of audible warning
sounds.
Description
There are sensors integrated in the rear
bumper. When the sensors detect an obsta-
cle, you are alerted by audible warnings.
Make particularly sure that the sensors are
not covered by adhesives, residues and the
like, as this could affect the system's opera-
tion. Cleaning instructions ››› page 259.
The approximate measurement range of the
rear sensors is:
side area0.60 m
central area1.60 m» 237
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Towing bracket device
Towing bracket device
T o
w
ing bracket device*
Introduction The towing bracket device fitted to your vehi-
cl
e, be it
factory-fitted or a genuine SEAT ac-
cessory, meets all the national technical and
legal requirements for towing.
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin connector
for the electrical connection between the
trailer and the vehicle. If the trailer is equip-
ped with a 7-pin connector you can use the
corresponding adaptor, which is available as
a genuine SEAT accessory.
The maximum authorised towing load is
48 kg. WARNING
● Bef or
e each journey, make sure that the de-
tachable ball joint is properly fitted and se-
cured in its housing.
● If the detachable ball joint is not properly
fitted and secur
ed, do not use it.
● Do not use the towing bracket device for
tow
ing if it is damaged or has missing parts.
● Do not modify or adapt the towing device
connection.
● Never u
nhook the detachable ball joint
when the trail
er is hitched. CAUTION
Handle the detachable ball joint with care in
order t o av
oid damaging the bumper paint-
work. Note
Towing the vehicle with the detachable ball
joint ›
›› page 98. Description
Fig. 222
Towing bracket device support / de-
t ac h
able ball joint / key. Depending on the country or version, the
t
o
w
ing bracket device's detachable ball joint
is located:
● underneath the floor panel of the luggage
compar
tment.
The ball joint is fitted and removed by hand.
The towing device bracket is supplied with a
key.
Key to ››› Fig. 222
13-pin connector
Safety lug
Hook housing
Hook housing cap
Ball protective cover
Detachable ball
Locking lever
Lock cover
Release bolt
Lock
Locking balls
Key Note
Contact an Authorised Service Partner if you
lose y
our key. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
245
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety