Operation
Unlock the tow hitch and remove it
● Stop the vehicle and connect the electronic
p ark
ing brake ››› page 170.
● Switch off the engine.
● Open the rear lid.
● Pull the ››› Fig. 217
button briefly. The tow
hitch unlocks electrically and automatically
turns outwards. The control lamp in the but-
ton will flash ››› Fig. 217.
● Remove the tow hitch with your hand until
you f
eel and see that it has engaged and the
control lamp on the button stays on.
● Close the tailgate.
Co
ver the tow hitch
● Stop the vehicle and apply the electronic
park
ing brake.
● Switch off the engine.
● Unhook the trailer and interrupt the electri-
cal
connection between it and the vehicle. If
you are using an adapter, remove it from the
trailer's power socket.
● Open the rear lid.
● Pull the ››
› Fig. 217 button briefly. The tow
hitch unlocks electrically.
● Turn the tow hitch under the bumper with
your h
and until you feel and see that it en-
gages and the control lamp on the ››› Fig. 217
button stays on.
● Close the tailgate. Meaning of control lamp
●
If the warning light of the button ››
› Fig. 217
is flashing , this means that the tow hitch has
not been attached properly or is damaged
››› .
● If the warning lamp st
ays on with the rear
lid open, the tow hitch is correctly in place
both when engaged and when covered.
● The control lamp of the button will go off
appr
ox. 1 minute after closing the rear lid. WARNING
Undue use of the towing bracket may cause
injur y
and accidents.
● Only use the tow hitch if it is properly en-
gag
ed.
● Always ensure that no person, animal or
ob
ject is to be found in the path of the tow
hitch.
● Never use a tool or instrument while the
to
w hitch is moving.
● Never press the ››
› Fig. 217 button when
there is a trailer hooked to the vehicle or
when a carrier system or other accessories
are mounted on the tow hitch.
● If the tow hitch is not attached properly, do
not u
se it. Instead, go to a specialised work-
shop and have the towing bracket checked.
● If you detect any fault in the electrical sys-
tem or in the t
owing bracket, contact a speci-
alised workshop and ask them to check it. ●
If the b
all has a diameter of less than 49
mm at any one point, do not use the towing
bracket under any circumstances. CAUTION
If you clean the vehicle with high-pressure or
s t
eam devices, do not point the jet directly
towards the retractable tow hitch or the trail-
er power socket, as this may damage the
joints or remove the grease necessary for lu-
brication. Note
At extremely low temperatures, the tow hitch
m a
y be impossible to use. In this case, place
the vehicle in a warmer location (for example,
a garage). Fitting a bicycle carrier on the retract-
ab
l
e tow hitch The maximum allowed weight of the carrier
sy
s
tem, including the load, is 75 kg. The car-
rier system should not protrude more than
700 mm backwards from the spherical head.
Only carrier systems on which up to 3 bikes
can be mounted are allowed. Heavier bicy-
cles must be mounted as close to the vehicle
as possible (tow hitch).
258
Towing bracket device*
WARNING
The incorrect use of the tow hitch with a bicy-
c l
e rack mounted on the tow hitch can cause
accidents and injury.
● Never exceed the maximum weight or the
limits
indicated above.
● The bicycle rack may not be mounted to the
neck
of the hitch below the ball because, due
to the shape of the neck and depending on
the rack model, the rack could be incorrectly
mounted on the vehicle.
● Always read and take the manufacturer as-
sembly
instructions into account. CAUTION
If the maximum weight and limits indicated
abo v
e are exceeded, the vehicle may suffer
considerable damage.
● Never exceed the values indicated! Note
SEAT recommends removing, as far as possi-
b l
e, all removable parts of the bicycles before
setting off. These parts include, for example,
baskets and saddlebags, child seats or bat-
teries. This improves aerodynamics and the
centre of gravity of the rack system. Hooking up and connecting a trailer
Fig. 218
Schematic diagram: assignment of
the pins
of the trailer's power socket.
Key to the Fig. 218:
PinMeaning
1Left turn signal
2Rear fog light
3Table of pins 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8
4Right turn signal
5Rear light, right
6Brake lights
7Rear light, left
8Reverse lights
9Permanent live
10Live charge cable
11Table for pin 10
Key to the Fig. 218:
PinMeaning
12Unassigned
13Table for pin 9 Trailer power socket
The
v
ehicle is fitted with a 13-pole power
socket for the electrical connection between
the trailer and the vehicle. With the engine
running, electrical devices on the trailer re-
ceive power from the electrical connection
(pin 9 and pin 10 of the trailer power socket).
If the system detects that a trailer has been
connected electrically, the electrical equip-
ment on the trailer will receive voltage
through this connection (pins 9 and 10). Pin
9 has a permanent live. This powers, for ex-
ample, the trailer's interior lighting. Electrical
devices such as a fridge in a caravan only re-
ceive electrical power if the engine is running
(through pin 10).
To avoid overloading the electrical system,
you cannot connect the ground wires of pin
3, pin 11 or pin 13.
If the trailer has a 7-contact connector , you
will need to use an adapter cable. In this case
the function corresponding to pin 10 will not
be available. »
259
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
Driving with a trailer Adjusting the headlights
When t
o
wing a trailer, the front part of the ve-
hicle could lift up, and if the dipped beams
are on, this could dazzle other drivers. Use
the headlight range control to lower the cone
of light. If you do not have headlight range
control, have the headlights adjusted by a
specialised workshop.
Special characteristics of driving with a trail-
er
● If your trailer has an ov
errun brake, brake
gently at first and then rapidly. This will pre-
vent the jerking that can be caused by the
locking of trailer wheels.
● Due to the gross combination weight of the
to
wing vehicle and trailer, the braking dis-
tance increases.
● When going down a slope, go into lower
ge
ar (if using a manual gearbox or the Tip-
tronic automatic gearbox) to take advantage
of the braking power provided by the engine.
Otherwise, the braking system could over-
heat and even fail.
● The trailer weight, as well as the gross com-
bin
ation weight of the towing vehicle and
trailer, change the centre of gravity and the
properties of the vehicle.
● If the towing vehicle is empty and the trail-
er is
loaded, then the load distribution is in- correct. Under these conditions, drive slowly
and with e
xtra caution.
Hill starts with a trailer
Depending on the slope of the hill and the
combination weight of the towing vehicle
and trailer, the vehicle might start rolling
backwards slightly when you first start up.
For hill-starting with a trailer, do the follow-
ing:
● Press and hold the brake pedal.
● Press the butt
on to disconnect the elec-
tronic parking brake ››› page 170.
● If the vehicle is equipped with a manual
ge
arbox, push the clutch pedal all the way
down.
● Put the vehicle into first gear or turn the se-
lect
or lever to position D/S ››› page 176.
● Pull out the butt
on and hold it in that
position to stop the towing vehicle and trailer
with the electronic parking brake.
● Release the brake pedal.
● Start driving slowly. To do this, in the case
of a m
anual gearbox, slowly release the
clutch pedal.
● Do not release the butt
on until the en-
gine has sufficient force to start driving. WARNING
If a trailer is pulled incorrectly, this may lead
t o lo
ss of control of the vehicle and serious
injury.
● Driving with a trailer and transporting
heavy
or large objects will change the vehicle
handling and braking distances.
● Always drive cautiously and carefully.
Brak
e earlier than usual.
● Adapt your speed and driving style at all
times
to suit visibility, weather, road and traf-
fic conditions. Slow down, especially when
driving down hills or slopes.
● Accelerate with particular care and caution.
Av
oid sudden braking and manoeuvres.
● Take great care when overtaking. Reduce
speed immedi
ately if you notice that the trail-
er is swaying, however slightly.
● Never attempt to “straighten” the towing
vehic
le and trailer while accelerating.
● Take into account the speed limit for vehi-
cl
es with a trailer, as it could be lower than
for vehicles without a trailer. Stabilisation of the towing vehicle
and tr
ai
ler The stabilisation of the towing vehicle and
tr
ai
ler together is an additional function of
the electronic stability control (ESC).
262
Towing bracket device*
If the system detects that the trailer is sway-
in g, it
intervenes automatically with the driv-
er steering recommendation to reduce the
swaying of the trailer.
Requirements for the stabilisation of the
towing vehicle and trailer
● The vehicle is factory-equipped with a tow-
ing br
acket or has been retro-fitted with a
compatible towing bracket.
● The ESC and ASR are active. The control
lamp
or is not lit up on the instrument
panel.
● The trailer is electrically connected to the
to
wing vehicle through the trailer power
socket.
● The vehicle is travelling at over 60 km/h
(appr
ox. 37 mph).
● The maximum vertical load technically per-
mis
sible is being utilised on the coupling de-
vice.
● The trailer has a rigid draw bar.
● If the trailer has brakes, it must be equip-
ped with a mec
hanical overrun brake. WARNING
The enhanced security provided by the elec-
tric s
tability control of the towing vehicle and
trailer should not lead you to take any risks
that could compromise your safety. ●
Ad apt
your speed and driving style at all
times to suit visibility, weather, road and traf-
fic conditions.
● Accelerate with caution when the road is
slip
pery.
● When adjusting any settings, stop acceler-
ating. WARNING
The electric stability control for the towing
v ehic
le and trailer may not correctly detect all
driving conditions.
● When the ESC is switched off, the stabilisa-
tion of the t
owing vehicle and trailer is also
switched off.
● The stability system does not always detect
light and u
nstable trailers, so it may not sta-
bilise these correctly.
● When driving on slippery surfaces with
poor grip, the tr
ailer can even interfere with
the stability system.
● Trailers with a high centre of gravity can tip
even w
ithout having previously swayed.
● If a trailer is not attached, but the trailer
pow
er socket is connected (e.g. installation
of a bicycle rack with lights), repeated auto-
matic braking may occur in extreme driving
conditions. Retrofitting a towing bracket
Fig. 219
Limits and attachment points for ret-
r ofittin
g a towing bracket. » 263
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Care and maintenance
Automatic car washes
B ef
ore going through a car wash, be sure to
take the usual precautions such as closing
the windows and roof. If the vehicle has spe-
cial accessories such as spoilers or a roof
rack or two-way radio aerial, etc., it is advisa-
ble to consult the car wash tunnel operator.
It is best to use a car wash without revolving
bristles if possible.
Washing the vehicle with a high pressure
cleaner
When washing the vehicle with a high-pres-
sure cleaner, always follow the operating in-
structions for the equipment. This applies
particularly to the operating pressure and the
spraying distance. Do not hold the nozzle too
close to soft materials such as rubber hoses
or seals. The same applies to the parking aid
sensors*, which are located in the rear bump-
er.
Do not use a nozzle that sprays the water out
in a direct stream or one that has a rotating
jet for forcing off dirt.
Washing the car by hand
When washing the car by hand, use plenty of
water to soften the dirt first, and rinse off as
well as possible.
Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge,
glove or brush using only slight pressure.
You should start on the roof and work down. Special car
soap should only be used for very
persistent dirt.
Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and of-
ten.
Wheels, sills and similar should be cleaned
last. Use a second sponge for this. WARNING
● The v
ehicle should only be washed with the
ignition switched off. Failure to follow this in-
struction could result in an accident.
● Do not clean the underside of chassis, the
ins
ide of wheel arches or wheel trims without
protecting your hands and arms. You may cut
yourself on sharp-edged metal parts. Other-
wise, there is a risk of sustaining cuts.
● When washing the car during the winter
sea
son: water and ice in the brake system
can reduce braking effectiveness: risk of acci-
dent! CAUTION
● Do not w
ash the vehicle in direct sunlight –
otherwise the paint can be damaged.
● Do not use sponges, abrasive household
spon
ges or similar to clean insect remains.
This could damage the surface.
● Clean off stubborn dirt (insects, etc.) from
the hea
dlights at regular intervals, for in-
stance when filling the fuel tank. The head-
lights should only be washed with water, do not wipe them with a dry cloth or sponge. It
i
s
best to use soapy water.
● Never wash tyres with a jet that sprays the
wat
er out in a direct stream. This could dam-
age the tyres even if the spray is kept at a
distance and only used for a very short time.
● Before washing the vehicle in an automatic
car w
ash, please make sure to retract the ex-
terior mirrors to prevent them from being
damaged. Electrically retractable exterior
mirrors must not be folded in or out by hand,
always use the electrical power control. CAUTION
● Bef
ore washing the vehicle in an automatic
car wash, please proceed as follows to lock
the wiper arms so that they are not moved to-
wards the top of the windscreen:
–the bonnet must be closed.
– switch the ignition on and off.
– press the windscreen wiper lever forward
briefly (windscreen washer function).
This will lock the wiper arms. For the sake of the environment
The car should only be washed in special
w a
sh bays. These areas are prepared to pre-
vent oily water from getting into the public
drains. In some places, washing vehicles out-
side the areas intended for this purpose is
prohibited. 267
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Care and maintenance
Carbon parts The carbon parts on your vehicle have a pain-
t
ed s
urface. They do not need any special
care and are cleaned just like any other pain-
ted part ››› page 266.
Paint damage Minor damage to the paint, such as scratches
or s
t
one chips, should be touched up without
delay before the metal starts to corrode. Suit-
able touch-up brushes or sprays for your car
can be obtained from a SEAT Official Service.
The number of the original paint finish on the
vehicle is given on the data sticker
››› page 301.
If corrosion is already visible it must be thor-
oughly removed by a specialised workshop.
Windows Clear vision is an essential safety factor.
The w
ind
screen must not be cleaned with in-
sect remover or wax, otherwise the wind-
screen wipers will not function properly (jud-
dering).
Traces of rubber, oil, grease or silicone can
be removed with a window cleaning solution
or a silicone remover. Wax residue can only be removed with a special cleaner. Your SEAT
Offic
ial Service will be able to provide you
with more detailed information.
The windows should also be cleaned on the
inside at regular intervals.
Use a separate cloth or chamois to dry the
windows. Cloths used for waxing and polish-
ing contain residues that will cause smears
on the glass. WARNING
Do not use water-repellent coatings on the
w ind
screen. In bad visibility conditions (e.g.
in the rain, dark or with a low sun), these
coatings may cause dazzle: risk of accident!
Such coatings can also cause the windscreen
wiper blades to make noise. CAUTION
● Remo
ve snow and ice from windows and ex-
terior mirrors with a plastic scraper only. To
avoid scratches caused by dirt on the glass,
the scraper should only be pushed in one di-
rection and not moved to and fro.
● The heating element for the rear window is
locat
ed on the inner side of the window. To
avoid damaging them, do not apply stickers
to these heating elements.
● Never use warm or hot water to remove
sno
w and ice from windows and mirrors. This
could cause the glass to crack! Wheels
The wheels require regular attention to pre-
ser
v
e their appearance. It is important to re-
move road salt and brake dust by washing
the wheels at regular intervals, otherwise the
finish will be impaired.
After washing, the wheels should only be
cleaned with an "acid-free" cleaning agent
for alloy wheels. This is available from SEAT
Official Services and specialist retailers. Nev-
er leave the cleaning agent on the rims for
any longer than specified in the instructions
before rinsing it off. If the wheel cleaner fluid
contains acid it can attack the surfaces of the
wheel bolts.
Car polish or other abrasive agents should
not be used for maintaining the rims. If the
protective coating is damaged, e.g. by flying
stones, the damaged area should be re-
paired immediately. WARNING
Please note when cleaning the wheels that
w at
er, ice and road salt can impair the effec-
tiveness of the brakes; this can cause an acci-
dent. Exhaust tail pipe
It is important to remove road salt and brake
du
s
t by washing the wheels at regular »
269
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
Engine compartment Chec k
ing levels Fig. 221
Diagram for the location of the various
el ements. 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 dipstick
Engine oil filler cap
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery (underneath the cover)
Windscreen washer reservoir
1 2
3
4
5
6 The checking and refilling of service fluids
ar
e c
arried out on the components men-
tioned above. These operations are descri-
bed in ››› page 282.
Overview
You will find further explanations, instruc-
tions and restrictions on the technical speci-
fications as of ››› page 301. Work in the engine compartment Read the additional information carefully
› ›
› page 11
Always be aware of the danger of injury and
scalding as well as the risk of accident or fire
when working in the engine compartment
(e.g. when checking and refilling fluids). Al-
ways observe the warnings listed below and
follow all general safety precautions. The en-
gine compartment of the vehicle is a poten-
tially hazardous area ››› .
282
Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
● Sw it
ch the engine off, remove the key from
the ignition and apply the hand brake. If the
vehicle has a manual gearbox, place the lever
in neutral; if it has an automatic gearbox,
place the selector lever in position P. Wait for
the engine to cool down.
● Keep children away from the engine com-
par
tment.
● Never spill liquids used for vehicle opera-
tion on the engine c
ompartment, as these
may catch fire (e.g. the antifreeze in coolant).
● Take care not to cause short circuits in the
electric
al system, especially when working
on the battery.
● If working inside the engine compartment,
remember th
at, even when the ignition is
switched off, the radiator fan may start up au-
tomatically, and therefore there is a risk of in-
jury.
● Never cover the engine with additional in-
su
lating materials such as a blanket. Risk of
fire!
● Do not unscrew the cap on the coolant ex-
pan
sion tank when the engine is hot. The
cooling system is under pressure.
● Protect face, hands and arms by covering
the cap w
ith a large, thick rag to protect
against escaping coolant and steam.
● If it is necessary to work in the engine com-
par
tment while the engine is running, the ro-
tating components (for example, poly-V belt, alternator, radiator fan) and the high voltage
ignition sy
s
tem are an additional hazard.
● Observe the following additional warnings
if w
ork on the fuel system or the electrical
system is necessary:
– Always disconnect the battery from the
on-board network.
– Do not smoke.
– Never work near naked flames.
– Always keep an approved fire extinguish-
er immediately available. CAUTION
When topping up fluids make sure the correct
fluid i s
put into the correct filler opening, oth-
erwise this can cause serious malfunctions or
engine damage. For the sake of the environment
Inspect the ground underneath your vehicle
r e
gularly so that any leaks are detected at an
early stage. If you find spots of oil or other
fluids in the area where it was parked, have
your vehicle inspected at the workshop. Note
In right-hand drive vehicles* some brake flu-
id r e
servoirs are on the other side of the en-
gine compartment ››› Fig. 221. Opening the bonnet
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
› page 11
The bonnet is released from inside the vehi-
cle.
Check that the windscreen wiper arms are
not unfolded. Otherwise the paint may be
damaged.
The bonnet can only be unlocked when the
driver door is open. WARNING
Never open the bonnet if you see steam or
drip s
of coolant being released from the en-
gine compartment. Failure to comply could
result in burns. Wait until no steam or coolant
can be seen before opening the bonnet. Closing the bonnet
–
Slightly lift the bonnet.
– Release the bonnet stay before pressing it
bac
k into its support.
– Carefully close the bonnet.
– Press the bonnet down until it locks into
pl
ace.
– Make sure that the bonnet catches onto its
cl
asp. Do not press down too hard ››› .
»
283
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety